Family, marriage, brothers and sisters.

John 1:1-18

           But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God . When I studied scripture throughout the years, the question arose as to whom Jesus' brothers an sisters were.   This question has never been settled although the passages of Mark 6:3 and Matthew 13:55-56 seem clear,  just name just a few. Should it matter if Jesus had siblings? Should we look at this question as I did when one of my fellow Deacons fell ill in the Dominican Republic and I responded to "who is this man to you?" and my response was, he is my brother. I meant it too.

           I think in this passage the reference to brothers and sisters and who children of God are has quite a broad meaning. Many would have you believe that family is of blood with a mom and dad. Recent history, say from the 1960's forward, show that the idea of family is forever changing. The concept of a nuclear family is coming more around to what perhaps God had intended. If we are all brothers and sisters and God is our father, what limits are there then to family? With the increase in divorces and the decline of 'traditional' families, we have come to know a wide variety of family dynamics that are no less valid and in many cases, far more loving and nurturing. Is it any wonder that same sex couples, stepping into the light of day and into God's embracing love feel, nay, know that they too can be a loving, nurturing honest to God real family. After all, the 'traditional' family, at least biblically speaking, was most often one of betrothals for sale,  bartering for better livestock and property; concubines were everywhere. The construct of the perfect man-woman marriage is a fantasy that has never been reality - ever. 

          Marriage, family, brothers and sisters are all born of love, concern, mutual respect and dignity. It is not specifically born of law but born of God. With God, we are all children , all brothers and sisters . What marriage becomes is an attraction of souls, a mutual respect and a commitment to love and each other.  

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” ’) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.