卓恩獲聘成為一所知名大學的正教授。他哥哥大維雖然替他高興，但就像許多哥哥那樣，還是忍不住取笑弟弟說，小時候他總是能輕易地就把卓恩摔倒在地上。儘管如今卓恩已頗有成就，但在大維眼裡，卓恩始終只是他的弟弟。

要讓家人對你刮目相看並不容易，即使是彌賽亞也面對同樣的問題。拿撒勒是耶穌自幼成長的地方，因此當地人很難相信祂有什麼特別之處。但他們對祂的作為感到詫異，說：「祂手所做的是何等的異能呢？這不是那木匠嗎？不是馬利亞的兒子⋯⋯嗎？」（馬可福音6章2-3節）耶穌對他們說：「大凡先知，除了本地親屬、本家之外，沒有不被人尊敬的」（4節）。這些人熟識耶穌，但卻無法相信祂就是上帝的兒子。

也許你生長在敬虔的家庭，從小就去教會和唱詩歌，一直覺得耶穌就像自己的家人。的確，若你相信並跟隨耶穌，祂就是你的家人，「祂稱[我們]為弟兄，也不以為恥」（希伯來書2章11節），在上帝的家中，耶穌就是我們的長兄（羅馬書8章29節）。這是何等的殊榮！可惜我們關係的親近，可能會讓我們覺得祂平凡無奇。其實，我們的家人也會有獨特之處。

耶穌是你的家人，甚至更勝於家人，難道你不因此而歡喜快樂嗎？今天，在你跟隨耶穌的信仰路上，願你與祂的關係更親近，而祂在你心目中更加特別。

Jon was installed as full professor in a prestigious college. His older brother David was pleased, but, as brothers do, he couldn’t resist teasing Jon how he’d wrestled him to the ground when they were boys. Jon had gone far in life, but he’d always be David’s little brother.

It’s hard to impress family—even if you’re the Messiah. Jesus had grown up among the people of Nazareth, so they struggled to believe He was special. Yet they were amazed by Him. “What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son . . . ?” (Mark 6:2-3). Jesus noted, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home” (v. 4). These people knew Jesus well, but they couldn’t believe He was the Son of God.

Perhaps you were raised in a godly home. Your earliest memories include going to church and singing hymns. Jesus has always felt like family. If you believe and follow Him, Jesus is family. He “is not ashamed to call [us] brothers and sisters” (Hebrews 2:11). Jesus is our older brother in the family of God (Romans 8:29)! This is a great privilege, but our closeness might make Him seem common. Just because someone is family doesn’t mean they’re not special.

Aren’t you glad Jesus is family, and more than family? May He become more personal, and more special, as you follow Him today.