The earthly brothers and sisters of Jesus
Mark 6:3 informs us that Jesus had four younger brothers and at least two sisters. The sisters are not named, but the names of the brothers are given as James, Joseph, Simon, and Jude.
Bible scholars believe that when Mary’s husband Joseph died, Jesus as the oldest son took over the carpentry business to support His family, until they married, or at least until Jesus started His ministry at the age of 30.
John chapter two shows Mary and the brothers of Jesus at the wedding in Cana.
Yet when Jesus announces His ministry to His family, friends and neighbors at Nazareth, John 7:5 says, “neither did His brethren believe in Him.”
Even years later when Jesus visited Nazareth again, the city was so against Him that they tried to throw Him over a 40’ cliff!
Jesus said, “A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.” Mark 6:4 All of His relatives knew Him as a carpenter’s son. It took a long time for them to respect Him as the Messiah.
Luke 8:19-21 tells us that it was told Him that His mother and His brethren desired to see Him. Jesus answered rather harshly, “My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God and do it.” Jesus is making a point that His real family is a spiritual one who obeys the Words of His Father as He does. He speaks of family members persecuting us, and our need as His disciples to value His relationship above earthly ones, even when they are family who refuse to acknowledge Christ as Lord.
On the Cross, Jesus told Mary that Disciple John was her son, and He told Disciple John that Mary was his mother, indicating that His earthly brothers were not at His crucifixion. John 19:26-27
Yet after His Resurrection, we know that Mary and His brothers were in the Upper Room devoting themselves to prayer. Acts 1:14
It seems that His brothers and sisters believed in Him after He arose from the grave. Jesus did appear personally to James. I Corinthians 15:5-7
We also know that His brother James was the head Pastor at Jerusalem, and that James wrote the Epistle of James. (James 1:1)
Galations 1:18-19 informs us that Paul visited with James the Lord’s brother at Jerusalem.
We know that His brother Jude wrote the Epistle of Jude. (Jude 1:1)
It seems that His brothers and sisters became identified with His Name and filled with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. They were now not only part of His earthly family, but also part of His Spiritual family as Brothers and Sisters in Christ.
It must have pained Jesus to watch His brothers and sisters maintain their unbelief in Him as their Messiah. John 7:3-4 says, “So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.”
His brethren didn’t believe in Him until they, like Thomas saw the nail prints, yet they became servants of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Your Unsaved Loved Ones
How many unsaved loved ones do you have? How many of your family mock your walk with God? How many refuse to listen to you talking to them about Christ?
Jesus knows how you feel. He knows how your heart breaks. He knows how you groan for your loved ones to separate themselves unto Christ. Jesus has been where you are.
Yet, through His obeying His Father before them, and His prayers of intercession for them, each one of His brothers and sisters, and His mother Mary found their way to the upper room, where Jesus filled them with the Baptism of His Holy Spirit!
Now they are also heavenly brothers and sisters for eternity.
Hebrews 2:11-12 says, “For He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, for he said to God, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people.”
- His brothers mocked Him
- They refused to believe in Him
- They were not there for Him at the cross
- It took an earthquake opening graves of Old Testament Saints, their appearing in the City of Jerusalem
- The Veil of the Temple being torn from top to bottom
- The Sun not shining for 3 hours
- A Centurion crying out, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
- An empty tomb
- Jesus appearing to His brother James, and no doubt to His mother Mary as well as many others
- It took many things and 3 ½ years of miracles before His family could believe Him being the promised Messiah, the Son of God, the Redeemer from their sins, and their Lord and God!
How and what will it take for your loved ones to know Jesus Christ in personal relationship that is separated from the world and filled with the power of the Holy Spirit?
Keep praying because Jesus has prayed and is praying as our High Priest for your loved ones to be saved and to live with Him for eternity.
John 17:20-26
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their Word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. you have made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”