or, as it might rather be translated, " He is trans- ported too farb." It should seem that it was with that view that they called for him at this time : they were afraid that he would sink under the weight of his continued labours. But he felt, that both health, and life too, were well sacrificed in such a cause : and therefore he disregarded their message, and turned it into an occasion of expressing the greatness of his regard for his obedient followers.
From this declaration of our Lord, we shall be led to shew,
I. The character of those whom Jesus loves — This is expressed in few, but comprehensive words; " They do the will of God." But what is this will ? It includes two things :
1. They believe in Jesus Christ —
[This is eminently the will of Godc : and till this be done, nothing is done to any good purpose : the persons remain, and
ever must remain, objects of his wrath d This therefore
they do in the first place And they do it humbly,
renouncing utterly every other ground of hope and
thankfully adoring God from their inmost souls for such a refuge ]
2. They seek after universal holiness —
[This also is the will of Gode; nor are the loudest pro- fessions of attachment to Christ of any avail without itf
And this also they do. And they do it unreservedly, accounting
" no commandment grievous^" and in a progressive
manner, never thinking they have attained, while any thing remains to be attained11 ]
We pass on to consider, II. The regard he bears towards them —
Our Lord gives them the preference to his nearest relations, as such ; and honours them with the most endearing appellations of brother, sister, mother. Now from this we must understand, that,
1. He bears the tenderest affection towards them —
* ver. 20, 21. ori ziiari). c 1 John iii. 23. John vi. 29.
d John iii. 18, 36. e 1 Thess. iv. 3. f Matt. vii. 21.
8 1 John v. 3. »» Phil. iii. 12—14.
1422.] Christ's love to his people. 27
[We naturally expect the warmest affection to subsist between persons so closely allied to each other. But the love that is found amongst earthly relatives is but a faint image of that which both Christ and his Father feel towards all their obedient followers1 ]
2. He will give them the most familiar access to him —
[His mother and his brethren were all this time without, whilst Jesus and his attentive followers were within, the house : and, though solicited by his own mother, he would not go out to her, because it would deprive them of the instructions which they were anxious to receive. And who can tell, what gracious communications Jesus will vouchsafe to those who serve him in spirit and in truth ? They shall never seek his face in vain : they shall never call for him, but he will answer them, Here I amk ]
3. He will order every thing for their good —
[Any man that is not devoid of principle will consult the good of his family, when the management of their affairs is committed to him. And will not Jesus, who is constituted " Head over all things for the express benefit of his Church1,'' be attentive to the interests of his obedient people ? Will he not supply all their wants, mitigate all their sorrows, and over- rule all things for their eternal good™? ]
4. He will own them as his, in the last day —
[Suppose him in that day surrounded by the whole assembled universe ; and many who were once related to him in the flesh, or who once professed themselves his followers, calling upon him, and saying, ' We want a nearer access to thee ; " we have eaten and drunk in thy presence ; we have cast out devils in thy name, and in thy name done many wonderful works;" we are thy brethren, thy sisters, thy nearest and dearest relatives.' Methinks he will then renew the same gracious declaration that is contained in our text ; " Who is my mother, or my brethren ?" And then, " stretching out his hand towards his obedient followers, he will say, Behold my mother, and my brethren : for, whosoever did the will of God, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."]