Lessons to Learn from Jesus and his Unbelieving Family Members

Jesus also had Unbelieving Family Members: What We Can Learn from his Experience

Do you have family members who do not believe in Jesus? You are not alone. Jesus also had family members who did not believe in him. In fact, his own brothers did not believe in him during his pre-crucifixion ministry. This is recorded in John 7:5 where it says, “not even his brothers believed in him.”

This fact can bring us comfort and hope. If Jesus, the Son of God, had family members who did not believe in him, we should not be surprised if we also have family members who struggle with faith. But what can we learn from Jesus’s experience with his unbelieving family members?

1. We should not be discouraged by lack of faith in our families

It is easy to become discouraged and lose hope when our family members do not believe in Jesus. We may feel like we have failed in our witness or that our loved ones are beyond salvation. But Jesus’s experience shows us that lack of faith in our families is not a new problem. In fact, it was a problem that Jesus himself faced.

Jesus’s own brothers did not believe in him, but that did not stop him from fulfilling his mission. He continued to preach and teach, and ultimately gave his life for the salvation of all people, including his unbelieving family members. We should follow Jesus’s example and not be discouraged by lack of faith in our families. Instead, we should continue to pray for them and share the gospel with them, trusting that God is able to save even the hardest of hearts.

2. We should not be surprised if our families reject us

Jesus said, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household” (Matthew 13:57). This means that it is common for people to reject those who are closest to them, even if those people are prophets or messengers of God.

We should not be surprised if our families reject us because of our faith. In fact, Jesus warned his disciples that they would be hated by all because of his name (Matthew 10:22). But he also promised that those who endure to the end will be saved (Matthew 10:22).

So, if your family members reject you because of your faith, take heart. You are in good company. Jesus himself experienced rejection from his own family members. But he did not let their rejection stop him from fulfilling his mission, and neither should we.

3. We should love our unbelieving family members

Jesus commanded us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). This command applies not only to our enemies, but also to our family members who do not believe in Jesus.

We should love our unbelieving family members and pray for them, even if they reject us and our message. This does not mean we should compromise our faith or stop sharing the gospel with them, but it does mean that we should approach them with love and grace.

Jesus himself demonstrated this love and grace when he prayed for his enemies on the cross (Luke 23:34). He did not retaliate or condemn them, but instead asked God to forgive them. We should follow Jesus’s example and love our unbelieving family members, even if they reject us.

4. We should trust God’s timing and plan

Jesus’s brothers did not believe in him during his pre-crucifixion ministry, but after his resurrection and ascension, they were in the upper room worshiping him as God (Acts 1:14). This shows us that God’s timing and plan are perfect, even if we do not understand them at the time.

We should trust God’s timing and plan for our unbelieving family members. We may not see them come to faith in Christ right away, but we should continue to pray for them and trust that God is working in their hearts.

As Peter writes, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). We should trust that God desires the salvation of all people, including our unbelieving family members, and that he is working in their hearts according to his perfect timing and plan.

Conclusion

Jesus’s experience with his unbelieving family members teaches us several important lessons. We should not be discouraged by lack of faith in our families, but continue to pray for them and share the gospel with them. We should not be surprised if our families reject us because of our faith, but love them and approach them with grace. We should trust God’s timing and plan for our unbelieving family members, knowing that he desires their salvation and is working in their hearts according to his perfect will.

Let us take comfort and hope in Jesus’s example, and continue to trust in him as we seek to love and witness to our unbelieving family members.