Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - July /65

Contributor - John Moerman

Title - More Important Than Physical Relationship

Topic - Jesus Christ

And as He said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!" But He said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" (Luke 11 : 27, 28)

A woman in the crowd, who heard Jesus courageously and effectively deal with people who opposed him, suddenly finds herself overtaken by admiration, exclaiming, "Happy the womb that carried you!" (N.E,B.)

Such a spontaneous expression may be strange to our modern ear, however, to the oriental mind a word of this nature was normal. In our language this woman said something like this, Oh, how great to have such an intelligent and courageous son! Holy envy overtook this woman.

Whether she actually looked upon Jesus as the very Messiah of God we do not know, but there is no question that she would regard herself highly privileged to be the mother of such a rabbi in Israel as this Jesus proved himself to be.

Jesus does not reject the beatification outright. Undoubtedly, he does recognize it as an honor to his mother to be chosen by God for such an unique calling. But now that is all too. For the Savior of mankind just by-passes the whole matter of maternal prerogative and privilege, going on to an issue of far greater importance, namely, that of THE SPIRITUAL CONNECTION. Hear what Jesus said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it." Or to take the translation of the Greek as found in the New English Bible, "No, happy are those who hear the word of God and keep it."

It is the will of the Lord to take the emphasis away from the physical connection to the spiritual, from blood connection to a new birth relationship. Mary's tie with Jesus by way of his crucifixion and resurrection was to outlast the earthly relationship, even become the permanent bond of eternal life.

Apart from this new and spiritual relationship the disciples of the Lord Jesus would have been closer and more permanently related to Jesus than "the womb that carried (him) and the breast that suckled (Jesus)."

For added study, understanding, and inspiration take your Bible right now and look up Luke 8 : 19-21 and John 15 : 14.

Jesus' word to you and me is the same as that of nearly two thousand years ago: BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD AND KEEP IT. To hear the word of God means that you and I place ourselves obediently under the proclamation of the eternal truth that Christ Jesus died for our sins and arose for our justification. It is NECESSARY to repeatedly hear the word of God proclaimed. This is where the initial obedience enters in.

The word of God is spiritual nourishment unto life eternal. Just as our physical bodies need to be fed regularly, so our spiritual life is to be fed at regular intervals; this is done by hearing, reading and studying the word of God. Disobedience to regularly and faithfully "hear", even as Jesus commanded, leads to eternal death. This may not be a popular proclamation. However, it IS the unalterable harvest-law of God, the Holy Spirit.

In this same line of God's eternal truth, it is to be proclaimed that the mere hearing of the word of God shall not bring about the necessary spiritual relationship. It requires a DOING on the part of man in order to be God's real child. You and I are called upon to ACCEPT that proclaimed word of God and to believe the Christ whom God has given to a world lost in sin, misery, and despair.

When Jesus says that to hear and keep the word of God is of infinitely higher value than to successfully counteract those who by slander seek to undermine His authority and calling, message and mission, He is saying to each one individually, WHY DON'T YOU TRUST AND OBEY? And we may add, indeed, "there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

This is the Lord's CONDITION to be born in the Kingdom of God. The Creator and Redeemer of life REQUIRES A RESPONSE to the proclaimed word of God. Whether that "response" is called "accept, believe, trust, obey, keep" is not of the highest importance. The all-important issue is, that the Lord's condition or God's requirement is met: that you and I HEAR the word of God and KEEP the word of God, accept it and guard it.

Mary was not born in the Kingdom of God because according to the flesh Jesus was physically related to her. Mary was born in the Kingdom of God because she conscientiously realized that she too was a sinner and thus in need of the Savior; she believed in Christ Jesus and accepted Him as her Savior and Lord.

The children of a minister of the word do not stand in the blessed relationship of the redeemed of the Lord because their father is a preacher, they are the children of God because through the working of the Holy Spirit these children have come to meet God's condition: to hear and to keep (or guard) the word of God. So you, your mother may have been a faithful churchgoer, but that does not automatically make you a Christian, a dedicated follower of Christ the Redeemer and Lord.

Let me refer you to a few scripture passages where the Lard's requirements are clearly placed before the individual. Matt. 10 : 34-39; Mark 10 : 23-31; Luke 14 : 25-33; 18 :18-30.

As you read and meditate upon these words keep in mind that God's word is forever the same, i.e. today He speaks to you, saying, here are My requirements, My conditions, blessed are you who hear the word of God and keep it. And remember, "blessed" mean" , gloriously happy forever!

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