( Mark 3:32-35)
Kinship may be broadly defined as a system of special relationships among a certain people. It has to do with family—those who are related and share a common bloodline, a common ancestor.
Spiritually speaking however, this relationship is not by having a christian name or by regularly attending church. It is a special bound made possible by faith in Christ and obedience to his words.
The cornerstone of this faith is the faith in the blood of Jesus since kinship goes beyond association, rules and regulations, but relationship established by a blood line. It is made unique by a special privilege of the blood of Jesus.
In Ephesians 2:13 we read about this relationship made only possible by a redemption by the blood of Jesus:
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ”.
Christians in true kinship with Jesus enjoy a special blood covenant in Christ. In Revelation 12:11 we see a covenant of victory over the devil made possible by this blood of Jesus:
“And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”
Those who enjoy this life of victory obtain it through a true kinship in Jesus’ kingdom; they are bound together by a living faith in his word, and also do the will of God. (Mark 3:31-35).
What does it mean to have faith in this special blood covenant? It is to believe and know that we have been bought with His blood. Washed in it. Redeemed by it. Born again to His family through it.
In Ephesians 2:19 Paul affirms that “you are members of God’s very own family.” This is true spiritual kinship made possible by the atoning blood of Jesus to those who believe.
In Revelation 5:9 we read this important revelation of our redemption made possible by His blood:
‘And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
True kinship has a price. It is about surrendering all fleshly affections, selfish preservations, inordinate earthly ambitions and giving the reins of our life over to Jesus: the King of the heavenly Kingdom that is established within us.
Jesus wants to reign in our lives that we may have the power to express the power of this true kinship. In Luke 17:20-21 Jesus says:
“…The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
Having now known about true kinship made possible by the redeeming blood of Jesus, faith in this work of redemption and obedience to the will of the father, we are left with a warning, especially in these last days where everything seems to be drawing us away from our kinship values into worldly values:
“How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:29)
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