Mark 3:35

Those who do God’s will, not just those who profess discipleship, constitute Jesus’ spiritual family. The terms "brother and sister and mother" are figurative. "Father" is absent because Jesus had only one spiritual Father. His spiritual mothers were those believing female disciples who sustained Him in motherly ways. Jesus claimed the authority to redefine motherhood and sibling relationships according to doing God’s will rather than blood lineage (cf. Mark 6:1-6). [Note: Edwards, p. 224.]

This pericope should be a great encouragement to any disciple who is suffering persecution for his or her faith. Such disciples were Mark’s original readers. Some disciples suffer broken family relationships and even ostracism because of their commitment to do God’s will. Some experience intense opposition from unbelievers who try to make their good works look bad. One reward for such sacrifices is intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.