My Big Brother was Amazing
He was 10 years older than me and while he was nearly grown in my earliest memories I still recall thinking he was the greatest big brother in the world. Now that I am grown I realize that he has his faults like everyone else. But one thing is for sure, I still think he is a pretty cool guy.
So what does that have to do with Jesus? Well, Imagine Jesus as a big brother. He was after all Mary’s first born. The Bible talks about his brothers and sisters. Imagine being a younger sibling to the man who “knew no sin”. That had to be a hard act to follow. Anyone from a large family knows that no two kids are exactly alike. Jesus knows what it is like to be a big brother to all types of personalities. I guarantee it!
I knew a family who had 4 children. The parents used to say that they thought they were great parents because their first child was so well behaved and such a sweet good natured kid. Then they had twin girls and realized that God had a sense of humor. Their girls were wild and while not disobedient, they were quite the handful. Then their fourth child came. He was disobedient and when he was a teenager had many problems. They were beside themselves with what to do. He is now a youth leader and a high school teacher, but it was a long journey. They never gave up on him.
Jesus is our big brother, too. Through His death, burial and resurrection we have been adopted and are co-heirs with Him. So He is our big brother in every sense of the word.
Now Imagine Jesus being there like a big brother when you have a problem that maybe you are too afraid to take to the Father. Imagine Him listening to you as you pour your heart out about your hopes and your dreams or confide in Him when you have failed. Big brother’s listen, and then they grab you and tickle you until you can’t breath.
Imagine Jesus giving you a brotherly shove and telling you, “Dad still loves you. Nothing you can do will change that. Go on, talk to Him. Tell Him everything you just told me. I promise, He has already forgiven you. See, my hands and feet are proof of that.”
Imagine just how cool it is to know that your big brother Jesus is always there to hang out with and remind you that you are loved, adopted, accepted and forgiven.
“He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will” Ephesians 1:5
“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Romans 8:17
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