As members of the church, we often hear that we are brothers and sisters or siblings in Christ. While the significance of this statement is fairly apparent to adults, children can be confused by the idea. How can someone who is unrelated be a sibling? Why don’t these brothers and sisters live with us? And how do they have different parents? This lesson provides an opportunity to explore what it means to be siblings through Jesus Christ.
Begin the time with your children by asking them to list all of the people who are a part of your family. Encourage them to name people beyond those living in your household. Make a list of these on the left side of a piece of paper or a whiteboard. Then, ask your children to list all of the people who are “like family.” Which people do they feel particularly close to? Write these names down on the right side of the paper or the whiteboard. Ask your children to describe how they selected people to go on the “like family” list.
Prepare to read aloud the lectionary Gospel reading for this week. Note that this text is tricky. In the first part of Jesus’ speech, he recounts the negative ways that the scribes from Jerusalem have described him and speaks pointedly about Satan. These verses may be challenging for younger children to understand. I suggest reading aloud the summary of verses 20-30 below, and then reading only Mark 3:31-35 from the actual text.
Explain to your children that the story they will hear takes place when Jesus has arrived at the home he grew up in. His siblings and mother still live there. Strange stories about Jesus have been making their way back to the town. People, including Jesus’ family, hear about him teaching in places where only religious leaders have been allowed to teach. They hear he has been interacting with individuals who have been pushed out of their communities because they were considered dangerous. And he has gathered together a ragtag group of followers.
When Jesus comes into town, a large crowd gathers around him. His family hears the crowd and goes out to get Jesus, concerned that something is wrong with him. The religious leaders express their concern, saying that Jesus is dangerous. Jesus answers telling them they can say whatever they like, but they should always speak the truth about God.
Pick up the text in your Bible at verse 31. Read aloud through verse 35. Ask your children who comes out of their home and calls to Jesus in these verses. In verse 31, Jesus’ mother and brothers step outside and call to him. The people in the crowd tell him they are asking for him. Jesus replies by asking an odd question: “’Who are my mother and my brothers?’” (Mark 3:33). Ask your children what Jesus’ answer to this question is. Jesus calls all who “do the will of God” his “brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:35). Have your children wonder about what this statement might mean. Who, then, are Jesus’ siblings? Anyone who does as God does is part of Jesus’ family. This means that anyone who cares for another as God does becomes part of Jesus’ family.
To help your children visualize the breadth and depth of Jesus’ statement, complete this art activity with them. Prior to your time with your children, print out copies of these paper people. Go to this website and download the paper person template. In the print window, change the number of copies per page from 1 to 6. Print at least 2 sheets of 6 people per child. Gather the other supplies you’ll need: crayons or markers and scissors.
Hand each child two of the paper people sheets. Remind them what Jesus said made a person his sibling. Ask them to think of people they know who fit that description. Have them color the paper people so that they look like those people. Encourage them to label each person or you can write the names for them. When they have made all of their paper people, ask them to cut them out. Younger children may need assistance with this task.
Spread out the paper people in front of your child. If time allows, have them make more paper people to represent additional members of Christ’s family. Note that there are many more individuals who are our siblings in Christ. Some we know; some we may never meet. In fact, the number of people who are part of God’s family grows and grows. Anyone who works to spread God’s love and care is Jesus’ sibling.
JOELLE BRUMMIT-YALE is the director of children’s and youth ministries at Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. When not at the church, she can usually be found at home with her son and husband caring for their many animals and developing their family homestead.