Family And Friends: Read Mark 3:7-4:1
Contemplation
People, people, everywhere. Jesus in the middle, healing and giving hope, sometimes standing on the beach, the sound of the waves and the smell of the salt in the air, together with the smells and sounds of hundreds and hundreds gathered there – pushing, shoving. The sounds, the crowds are too much. We need to get away. A short break up the mountain, picking the people who will work with him, before diving back into the crowd. Angry voices rise over the crowd, as family members come down to the beach. “We’re worried about you! Come home! What are you doing with all these strangers?” But they can’t get close. The people around Jesus tell him that his family are here. He’s calm, though. “Who are my family,” he asks, standing on the boat because of the crowd, “the ones who listen to me”.
What do I do in a crowd?
Am I chosen?
For what?
What do I do when I have conflicting demands?
What does following Jesus mean for me?
Is there a cost?