A few years ago, one of my deacons asked me during "Family Month" at Trinity to bring the Word of God to the intersection where he lived. "What does God have to say," he asked me, "about blended families?" These are families in which there are children by some other union. What does the Word of God have to say about blended families?

When it comes to the contemplation of marriage into such a family, I know what people say. I've seen people afraid of building a relationship because of what somebody else has said. A daddy with a mind by Mattel will tell his son, "You don't want to marry into that instant family. Now you think real hard before you do something foolish. She already has a baby by somebody else."

This demonstrates the victimization and further alienation of a woman who has already been messed over by one boy and is now being forsaken or passed over by another boy who can't think for himself but, like Oedipus, has to work out or work through some unresolved issues with his daddy. His daddy says, "You don't want to marry a woman who already has children," and he listens not to his full heart but to his empty-headed daddy who thinks that a woman with children is all right to sleep with but not to build a life with. "You can make love to them, but you can't make a life with them." This is what I mean by "a mind by Mattel". These are people who think women are toys to be played with but not persons with whom to share life.

I know what people say about marriage into such a family. Some women feel that if the first relationship doesn't work out, they are doomed to a long list of transient friends who come in and out of their lives or who say that they are committed, and stay committed to being friends, but frown on being husbands. I know what people say about those families where there is a child or children from some other union. I know what people say when it comes to contemplating marriage into such a family. But what does the Lord say? Is there any word from the Lord?

A Home Where God is Honored

I submit to you that not only does God have a lot to say on this subject of blended families, but that among the first things God says is, "Yes, I understand because my Son was part of such a family. I have a whole lot to say about such families. Look at the home where I placed my Son, and hear what to say to the church about blended families." The home where God placed his Son was a blended family: Jesus had four brothers and several sisters (Matthew 13:55-56). God was Jesus' Father; Joseph was the stepfather. "The home where I placed my Son," says God, "is a home where I was honored."

"Every year," says verse 41 of our text, "the parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover."

Going to the house of God and worshipping with others were expected family activities in Jesus' day. Notice that the verse says "every year." There was no question such as, "Well, do you think we ought to go to church this time?" "I don't know; you know, the Capernaum Bulls are competing against the Palestine Trailblazers for the NBA (that's the Nazarene Basketball Association) championship. And I was thinking, maybe we ought to let the boy see the game this year. You know, all his friends will be watching it." There was no, "Honey, over at the Galilee Mall they're having the Super Sabbath Sale, and I was wondering, would you mind if I miss the service?"