Well Bro. Lew, I think its because he’s not from the South. We only refer to people from the Southern United States as brother, unless you’re Hulk Hogan. Then everyone is a brother, “BROTHER!”
I can’t think of anything comical to say to this because of all the QotW’s you have posed, this one grieves me the most. (I wonder if Jesus feels the same way.)
I personally think that it is due to an over-emphasis on the deity of Jesus to the loss of some other important revelations, such as our sonship, and the fact that he is our brother.
Heresy-hunters: Please note that I did not deny the deity of Jesus in the above paragraph. But whatever we do believe about the deity of Jesus still has to be in the context of (and in relation to) the rest of the revealed information, as well.
I’m with Steve on this one. I can’t think of anything humorous about this. I think, perhaps, we don’t recognize Jesus as brother for similar reasons that we don’t recognize and treat one another as brothers and sisters. These are all “theoretical” and “metaphorical” terms to us instead of simple reality. In reality, we are adopted children of God with Jesus as our elder brother and each of us as siblings – brother and sisters – born not of the flesh, but by the will of God.
I have often reminded congregations that Jesus is our elder brother. In saying that, I would find it impossible to refer to the One who is both Saviour and Lord, as ‘brother’.
Why is it not comfortable to hold the two concepts in parallel whilst showing those, who hear us speak, the high place, adoration, esteem, and love, with which we hold Him?
He is my Brother, but He is much, much more, because He is my God, my Saviour, my Lord, my friend who gave His all for me.
He saw me in all the filth and abhorrence of my Adamic natural state, even before the foundation of the world, and instead of recoiling in horror at the sight of what He saw, He walked the horrendous journey to pay for my sin, and to purchase a place for me with Him in His Father’s house, for all eternity.
He made my resurrection sure, and even now, is my Advocate before the Father.
With His blood He signed the adoption papers, which allow me to be a son of His Father,with all of my brethren worldwide.
He IS my Brother! He IS the Holy One of God, my Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ!
Good question. Maybe it’s because we have a hard time understanding the paradox of both God and Man in one entity. “Son of God” seems to trump “Son of Man”. When we think of Jesus as Man/Brother, we assume a certain weakness, as opposed to Jesus as God. Dan at Cerulean sanctum has a post called “Nowhere Men” that talks about the feminized (neutered) view of Jesus that has pervaded much of our thinking…appealing to women as boyfriend or husband, the need-fulfiller. Sort of soft and romantic. Perhaps the notion of Jesus as Brother seems a bit more anti-feminine and competitive. Not “spiritual” enough and too threatening. I have no human big brother. My ideal big brother, though, would be my protector, my model, the one who would stick up for me and pick me up when I fell down, who would show me how to live and find me when I got lost. Not at all soft and weak, but One who would go to the cross for me. I’d be proud to call Him Brother. Kat
At one time, God told the nation of Israel his name. He desired to have a relationship with them. Instead, they feared misusing his name so much that they forgot what it was.
If we forget that Jesus is our brother, do we get to experience the full relationship he desires to have with us?
First, it could be something as simple as context. I’m not sure what situation really provides a good opportunity for referring to Jesus as brother. I suppose that when I talk about Jesus saying or doing something that I might say something like, “Brother Jesus spoke to the woman at the well.” It’s awkward though. I never say, “Brother Lew wrote a great post.” Really, I never say that. ;-) I just use your first name. I often introduce people as brother so-and-so, but that’s not really something I can do with Jesus, at least not in the physical sense.
Second, when people use the word “brother,” what they mean is “brother in Christ.” It seems kinda awkward to say that Christ is our brother in Christ, even though that may very well be the case.
Third, is their any real biblical precedent for referring to Jesus as brother? I know we are fellow heirs with him, but I don’t know of any passage where Jesus is referred to as brother except in reference to those who are his blood relation brothers. I’ve never heard “elder brother,” and I don’t recall reading it in Scripture. That’s not to say that it’s not there, only that I don’t recall. Besides, I’ve never seen the word “trinity” in Scripture either.
All I’m really trying to say, however, is that maybe there is no deep religious or philosophical issue here. Perhaps it’s primarily a matter of practicality. I fully acknowledge that Jesus is my brother and that I am a fellow-heir with him to the kingdom of God, but I might live the remainder of my life only referring to him as brother in the following sentence:
Jesus is my brother and I am a fellow heir with him to the kingdom of God.
Well Bro. Lew, I think its because he’s not from the South. We only refer to people from the Southern United States as brother, unless you’re Hulk Hogan. Then everyone is a brother, “BROTHER!”
I can’t think of anything comical to say to this because of all the QotW’s you have posed, this one grieves me the most. (I wonder if Jesus feels the same way.)
I personally think that it is due to an over-emphasis on the deity of Jesus to the loss of some other important revelations, such as our sonship, and the fact that he is our brother.
Heresy-hunters: Please note that I did not deny the deity of Jesus in the above paragraph. But whatever we do believe about the deity of Jesus still has to be in the context of (and in relation to) the rest of the revealed information, as well.
Lew,
I’m with Steve on this one. I can’t think of anything humorous about this. I think, perhaps, we don’t recognize Jesus as brother for similar reasons that we don’t recognize and treat one another as brothers and sisters. These are all “theoretical” and “metaphorical” terms to us instead of simple reality. In reality, we are adopted children of God with Jesus as our elder brother and each of us as siblings – brother and sisters – born not of the flesh, but by the will of God.
-Alan
Lew,
Good question,brother!
I have often reminded congregations that Jesus is our elder brother. In saying that, I would find it impossible to refer to the One who is both Saviour and Lord, as ‘brother’.
Why is it not comfortable to hold the two concepts in parallel whilst showing those, who hear us speak, the high place, adoration, esteem, and love, with which we hold Him?
He is my Brother, but He is much, much more, because He is my God, my Saviour, my Lord, my friend who gave His all for me.
He saw me in all the filth and abhorrence of my Adamic natural state, even before the foundation of the world, and instead of recoiling in horror at the sight of what He saw, He walked the horrendous journey to pay for my sin, and to purchase a place for me with Him in His Father’s house, for all eternity.
He made my resurrection sure, and even now, is my Advocate before the Father.
With His blood He signed the adoption papers, which allow me to be a son of His Father,with all of my brethren worldwide.
He IS my Brother! He IS the Holy One of God, my Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ!
Aussie John,
Amen! It’s time for the piano to start playing softly, or either to pass the offering plate.
Seriously, you are absolutely correct!
-Alan
Good question. Maybe it’s because we have a hard time understanding the paradox of both God and Man in one entity. “Son of God” seems to trump “Son of Man”. When we think of Jesus as Man/Brother, we assume a certain weakness, as opposed to Jesus as God.
Dan at Cerulean sanctum has a post called “Nowhere Men” that talks about the feminized (neutered) view of Jesus that has pervaded much of our thinking…appealing to women as boyfriend or husband, the need-fulfiller. Sort of soft and romantic.
Perhaps the notion of Jesus as Brother seems a bit more anti-feminine and competitive. Not “spiritual” enough and too threatening.
I have no human big brother. My ideal big brother, though, would be my protector, my model, the one who would stick up for me and pick me up when I fell down, who would show me how to live and find me when I got lost. Not at all soft and weak, but One who would go to the cross for me. I’d be proud to call Him Brother.
Kat
At one time, God told the nation of Israel his name. He desired to have a relationship with them. Instead, they feared misusing his name so much that they forgot what it was.
If we forget that Jesus is our brother, do we get to experience the full relationship he desires to have with us?
Thanks for the comments everyone!
God’s Glory,
Lew
Lew,
First, it could be something as simple as context. I’m not sure what situation really provides a good opportunity for referring to Jesus as brother. I suppose that when I talk about Jesus saying or doing something that I might say something like, “Brother Jesus spoke to the woman at the well.” It’s awkward though. I never say, “Brother Lew wrote a great post.” Really, I never say that. ;-) I just use your first name. I often introduce people as brother so-and-so, but that’s not really something I can do with Jesus, at least not in the physical sense.
Second, when people use the word “brother,” what they mean is “brother in Christ.” It seems kinda awkward to say that Christ is our brother in Christ, even though that may very well be the case.
Third, is their any real biblical precedent for referring to Jesus as brother? I know we are fellow heirs with him, but I don’t know of any passage where Jesus is referred to as brother except in reference to those who are his blood relation brothers. I’ve never heard “elder brother,” and I don’t recall reading it in Scripture. That’s not to say that it’s not there, only that I don’t recall. Besides, I’ve never seen the word “trinity” in Scripture either.
All I’m really trying to say, however, is that maybe there is no deep religious or philosophical issue here. Perhaps it’s primarily a matter of practicality. I fully acknowledge that Jesus is my brother and that I am a fellow-heir with him to the kingdom of God, but I might live the remainder of my life only referring to him as brother in the following sentence:
Jesus is my brother and I am a fellow heir with him to the kingdom of God.
Gary