Why Spiritual Family Trumps Biology | Mark 3:31-35

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every single day.

And a big shout-out today to Jared Gatti from Prinsburg, MN. Jared, thank you for being a part of our family through Project23. You are making a difference for the Gospel. This one’s for you.

Today, we’re looking at Mark 3:31-25:

And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” — Mark 3:31-35

Jesus was teaching inside a packed house. People are all tuned in. Then word came that his mother and brothers were outside looking for him.

But, remember—his family had just tried to stop him earlier in the chapter. Some of his family even said he was out of his mind. It seems here they were trying to intervene again.

So someone interrupts the moment and says his family's outside. But Jesus doesn’t rush out. Instead, using good Socratic method, he interjects a question that reframes spiritual family:

“Who are my mother and my brothers?”

And then he looks at the crowd sitting at his feet—the learners, the listeners, the faithful—and says:

“Here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does the will of God is my family.”

When Jesus says this, he isn’t rejecting his earthly family. He’s expanding the definition of family altogether. He is declaring that the deepest connection in the kingdom isn’t physical family—it’s spiritual family. It’s not shared DNA—it’s shared devotion. Thus he reframes family around the Father and thus reframes family. The ones closest to Jesus aren’t always the ones with blood ties—but those who listen to God and do his will.

In the kingdom of God, Christ's blood is thicker than biological blood. His blood paid the price for our sins and brought us into a spiritual family that takes precedence over our biological family. And here’s the beauty of it—Jesus isn’t just stating a fact. He’s offering an invitation to you.

You don’t have to be born into the right family, earn the right status, or carry the perfect spiritual record. Jesus invites you into his family. Right now. Through faith in him—his life, death, and resurrection—you can be forgiven, adopted, and called his own.

If you’ve never said "yes" to that invitation, say it today. Just write the words "I choose Jesus" in the comments below. Trust in Jesus. Follow him. Be called brother... sister... family.

And if you already belong to him—live like it. Keep walking in obedience to your Father. Because family doesn’t just hear his Word—we do his will.

#FamilyInChrist, #KingdomConnections, #Mark335

ASK THIS:

1. What expectations do you carry from your biological family?
2. How has Jesus expanded your sense of belonging?
3. In what ways do you “do the will of God” today?
4. Who in your community feels like spiritual family?

DO THIS:

Reach out today to someone outside your biological circle and affirm them as your spiritual brother or sister.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, thank you for adopting me into your eternal family and calling me your child. I choose to obey your will and live as your brother/sister every day. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

I Belong to Jesus.