Face to Face - Part 6 [Notes]

Lives were changed after an encounter with Jesus... lives of people just like you and me.

Today's Takeaway //  Sometimes we have to listen to our Heavenly Father and not our earthly family.

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.”
– Luke 14:26 (HCSB)

The word hate does not suggest positive antagonism but rather “to love less.” Our love for Christ must be so strong that all other love is like hatred in comparison. In fact, we must hate our own lives and be willing to bear the cross after Him.¹
– Wiersbe
_{¹ Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 232). Victor Books.}

Every year His parents traveled to Jerusalem for the •Passover Festival.^l When He was 12 years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival. After those days were over, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents did not know it. Assuming He was in the traveling party, they went a day’s journey. Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. After three days, they found Him in the temple complex sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all those who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers.
– Luke 2:41-47 (HCSB)
_{•The Israelite festival celebrated on the fourteenth day of the first month, in the early spring; it was a celebration of the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt, commemorating the final plague on Egypt when the firstborn were killed.
^l 2:41 Ex 12:11; 23:15; Dt 16:1–6}

People traveled to the feasts in caravans, the women and children leading the way and setting the pace, and the men and young men following behind. Relatives and whole villages often traveled together and kept an eye on each other’s children.²
– Wiersbe
_{² Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 179). Victor Books.}

When His parents saw Him, they were astonished, and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.” “Why were you searching for Me?” He asked them. “Didn’t you know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” But they did not understand what He said to them. Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them.
– Luke 2:48-51a (HCSB)

On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding as well. When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother told Him,“They don’t have any wine.” “What has this concern of yours to do with Me,^l •woman?” Jesus asked. “My hour^o has not yet come.” “Do whatever He tells you,” His mother told the servants.”
– John 2:1-5 (HCSB)
_{^l 2:4 Or You and I see things differently; lit What to Me and to you; Mt 8:29; Mk 1:24; 5:7; Lk8:28
• When used in direct address, “Woman” was not a term of disrespect but of honor.
^o 2:4 The time of His sacrificial death and exaltation; Jn 7:30; 8:20; 12:23, 27; 13:1; 17:1}

Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t His sisters here with us?” So, they were•offended by Him. Then Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.” So He was not able to do any miracles there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He was amazed at their unbelief.
– Mark 6:3-6 (HCSB)
_{• The Greek word skandalizo has a root meaning of snare or trap but has no real English counterpart.}

Then His mother and His brothers came, and standing outside, they sent word to Him and called Him. A crowd was sitting around Him and told Him, “Look, Your mother, Your brothers, and Your sisters are outside asking for You.” He replied to them, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” And looking about at those who were sitting in a circle around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! Whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.”
– Mark 3:31-35 (HCSB)

Then He went home, and the crowd gathered again so that they were not even able to eat. When His family heard this, they set out to restrain Him, because they said, “He’s out of His mind.”
– Mark 3:20-21 (HCSB)

After this, Jesus traveled in Galilee, since He did not want to travel in Judea because the •Jews were trying to kill Him. The Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, so His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea so Your disciples can see Your works that You are doing. For no one does anything in secret while he’s seeking public recognition. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” (For not even His brothers believed in Him.) Jesus told them, “My time has not yet arrived, but your time is always at hand. The world cannot hate you, but it does hate Me because I testify about it—that its deeds are evil. Go up to the festival yourselves. I’m not going up to the festival yet, because My time has not yet fully come.” After He had said these things, He stayed in Galilee.
– John 7:1-9 (HCSB)
_{•In Jn, the term Jews usually indicates those in Israel who were opposed to Jesus, particularly the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem who led the nation.}

After His brothers had gone up to the festival, then He also went up, not openly but secretly. The Jews were looking for Him at the festival and saying, “Where is He?”
– John 7:10-11 (HCSB)

For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another, unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised,•brothers, if the world hates ^t you.³
– 1 John 3:11-13 (HCSB)
_{•The Greek word adelphoican be used as a reference to males only or to groups that include males and females. It is the context of each usage that The determines the proper meaning.
^t 3:13 Jn 17:14
³ The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (1 Jn 3:11–13). (2009). Holman Bible Publishers.}

1. Was your family of origin supportive of you when you began to follow Christ? Explain your answer.
2. Read Luke 14:25-27. What do you think Jesus was communicating here? How do we know He wasn’t encouraging people to have hatred toward their own family?
3. Read Mark 3:20-21 and Mark 3:31-35. Why do you think Jesus ignored His family on this occasion?
4. How is the church like a family? In what ways can our spiritual family be more important to us than our family of origin?
5. Read 1 John 2:15 and 1 John 3:10-13. Have you experienced persecution from family members because of your faith? How did you respond?
6. How can we hold to our convictions and still love well?

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