Apr 28 – Who is My mother? Who are My brothers?

“Who is My mother? Who are My brothers?” Then He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers.” (Matthew 12:48-49)

During His earthly ministry, many questioned the authority of Jesus. The Pharisees and Jews demanded, “Who gave You this authority?” (Luke 20:2). But Jesus Himself posed a deeper question—“Who is My mother? Who are My brothers?” He was revealing a profound truth: those who do the will of God are His true family.

Apostle Paul embodied this spiritual motherhood. In his letter to the Galatians, he wrote, “My little children, for whom I labour in birth again until Christ is formed in you” (Galatians 4:19). Though he was a prisoner in Rome, he continued to nurture souls, referring to Onesimus as his spiritual child (Philemon 1:10). Likewise, the prophet Jeremiah also bore a mother’s heart for God’s people (Jeremiah 4:31).

One day, a Muslim man asked, “Who is God? He has no father, no mother, no siblings, and existed before creation. If Jesus is God, how could Mary be His mother?”

I explained to him, “Jesus existed before the world was created. He existed before Mary was born. That is why He said, ‘Before Abraham was, I AM’” (John 8:58). Mary was the chosen vessel through whom the eternal Son took the form of man. Joseph provided Him with a home, but Jesus never called Mary “Mother.” Instead, He addressed her as “Woman” (John 2:4), signifying His divine nature.

Jesus stretched out His hand toward His disciples and declared, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:49-50).

Children of God, if you walk in obedience to the Father’s will, you are counted as Christ’s family; as His mother, His brother and His sister!

Verse for further meditation: “For this reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers, but says: ‘I will declare Your name to My brothers; in the midst of the church, I will sing praises to You.’” (Hebrews 2:11-12)