Luke 8:20

‘And it was told him, “Your mother and your brethren are standing outside, desiring to see you.'

Someone then came and informed Jesus that His family were outside wanting to see Him. Note that they wanted Him to come to them ‘outside', away from where God was working. How delicately the gentle Luke puts it. But Jesus knew very well why they wanted to see Him, and that it would therefore be unwise for Him to see them. It would only cause a disturbance all round.

‘And it was told him, “Your mother and your brethren are standing outside, desiring to see you.'

The emphasis is put on the fact that they were ‘standing outside'. Someone then came and informed Jesus that His family were ‘outside' wanting to see Him. ‘He came to His own, and His own received Him not' (John 1:11). Jesus knew very well why they wanted to see Him, and that it would therefore be unwise for Him to see them. He was here for those who were on the inside. As Messiah He would respond to those who followed the Messiah.