The Bible is clear that Jesus was not a solitary religious icon who represented God's love: He was raised and lived in a human family. His mother Mary, guardian father Joseph and His brothers and sisters all lived together (although by the time of Jesus' ministry Joseph is not mentioned, we presume he had died). Matthew 13:55-56 reports the people as criticising Jesus by saying, "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?"
 
Jesus had previously healed a demonised man who could not see or speak (Matthew 12:22). The Pharisees claimed that Jesus could only do this miracle because He was also demonised. The rest of the chapter is taken up with Jesus' explanation of how He is far greater than Satan. It appears that someone had sent for Jesus' family to rescue Him for his 'delusions' as they saw it. When they arrived they could not get to Jesus; there were so many people in the house.
 
When Jesus heard that they were waiting outside, He appeared to be rude to them. Instead of stopping His teaching and greeting His family, even going home with them, He asked the question, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" The answer He gave them was that the disciples were His family because they believed in Him and obeyed what He said (as the Word of God): therefore they were the obedient children of Father God (John 6:28-29).
 
The true family of Jesus is still marked out by a primary willingness to do what God wants. Although God intends that His Will should be faithfully transmitted by our parents, in some cases they do not know it - they cannot define it or make it up. It is Jesus who has the right to do that. While we have a duty of honour to our parents, we have a higher duty to Jesus. Where obligations conflict, it is the voice of Jesus which must be in control of the situation. He did not allow those who were close to Him to change His obedience to His Father. Neither must we.