The Brothers of Jesus
“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us?” Matthew 13:55-56. Such were the words of Jesus’ critics in his hometown of Nazareth. He had taught in their synagogue, they knew his family, had watched him grow up, but now, as he asserts himself in ministry, they doubt this hometown boy. “Where did this man get such wisdom and these mighty works?... and they took offense at him” verses 54, 57. Jesus would respond, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown.”
But the doubters were more personal than just hometown people. Even his brothers struggled to accept him as he transitioned in ministry. In John 7 we are told that as Jesus went about in Galilee, during the Feast of Booths, his brothers said, “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.” Then we are told, “For not even his brothers believed in him.”
Why wouldn’t his brothers believe? We don’t know a definitive answer, but possibly because he did no miracles until launching his ministry, because he had a normal Jewish upbringing with them, maybe because there was no talk within the home about who he might be by his parents. So, now they are perplexed, and especially since he often tells the recipients of his miracle not to tell anyone. That was because he did not want the crowds to force anything on him too early (to be King) but this could be misunderstood by the brothers as wanting secrecy to stay on safe ground as a fraud. For whatever reason, they did not yet believe.
As they struggled with who their brother really was, it does not appear they were without convincing evidence. They look to be at the wedding feast in Cana, when Jesus turns water into wine, and then we are told, “After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples” (John 2:12). So, it’s not like they are off working remotely and ignorant of his verifying miracles, at least not all the time.
It has always intrigued me that Jesus hands off care of his mother to John, rather than to his brothers (John 19:26, 27). Maybe they were not present at the crucifixion, and this was temporary. Maybe they took over later once they believed. We just don’t know for sure.
When did the brothers finally believe? We aren’t told, but the best guess is that with Jesus’ resurrection they finally saw the convincing evidence that was beyond doubt. Like the apostles who continued to have misgivings until after the resurrection, the pieces start coming into place once they experience Jesus’ death and resurrection. He will not be an earthly king, but an eternal king, providing salvation not just to a political nation, but to all who follow him in faith! That changed everything for them. Hopefully it has for you too.
We don’t have the Bible telling us a lot about the brothers after the resurrection. Here’s what we know. In Acts 1:14 we are told, “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” So, by Pentecost they are with Mary and praying with the others. Then we know that Jesus’ brother James becomes a leader in the Jerusalem church, his counsel second only to the apostles, with him presiding over the Jerusalem counsel in Acts 15. Paul sought him out during his first visit to Jerusalem after his conversion. He is called a “pillar” by Paul, along with Peter and John in Galatians 2:9. Two books of the New Testament are attributed to two of Jesus’ brothers (James and Jude). We learn nothing about his brothers Joseph or Simon, nor about his sisters, mysteries to uncover in heaven one day.
Question: What about your brothers or sisters, do they follow Jesus? What beyond prayer is needed?
But the doubters were more personal than just hometown people. Even his brothers struggled to accept him as he transitioned in ministry. In John 7 we are told that as Jesus went about in Galilee, during the Feast of Booths, his brothers said, “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.” Then we are told, “For not even his brothers believed in him.”
Why wouldn’t his brothers believe? We don’t know a definitive answer, but possibly because he did no miracles until launching his ministry, because he had a normal Jewish upbringing with them, maybe because there was no talk within the home about who he might be by his parents. So, now they are perplexed, and especially since he often tells the recipients of his miracle not to tell anyone. That was because he did not want the crowds to force anything on him too early (to be King) but this could be misunderstood by the brothers as wanting secrecy to stay on safe ground as a fraud. For whatever reason, they did not yet believe.
As they struggled with who their brother really was, it does not appear they were without convincing evidence. They look to be at the wedding feast in Cana, when Jesus turns water into wine, and then we are told, “After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples” (John 2:12). So, it’s not like they are off working remotely and ignorant of his verifying miracles, at least not all the time.
It has always intrigued me that Jesus hands off care of his mother to John, rather than to his brothers (John 19:26, 27). Maybe they were not present at the crucifixion, and this was temporary. Maybe they took over later once they believed. We just don’t know for sure.
When did the brothers finally believe? We aren’t told, but the best guess is that with Jesus’ resurrection they finally saw the convincing evidence that was beyond doubt. Like the apostles who continued to have misgivings until after the resurrection, the pieces start coming into place once they experience Jesus’ death and resurrection. He will not be an earthly king, but an eternal king, providing salvation not just to a political nation, but to all who follow him in faith! That changed everything for them. Hopefully it has for you too.
We don’t have the Bible telling us a lot about the brothers after the resurrection. Here’s what we know. In Acts 1:14 we are told, “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” So, by Pentecost they are with Mary and praying with the others. Then we know that Jesus’ brother James becomes a leader in the Jerusalem church, his counsel second only to the apostles, with him presiding over the Jerusalem counsel in Acts 15. Paul sought him out during his first visit to Jerusalem after his conversion. He is called a “pillar” by Paul, along with Peter and John in Galatians 2:9. Two books of the New Testament are attributed to two of Jesus’ brothers (James and Jude). We learn nothing about his brothers Joseph or Simon, nor about his sisters, mysteries to uncover in heaven one day.
Question: What about your brothers or sisters, do they follow Jesus? What beyond prayer is needed?
Posted in Waking Up Eutychus