Family of Jesus
Introduction: Jesus the “son of David” was conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit, as prophecy had declared would happen. Mary and Joseph were both obedient to their separate messages from the LORD that the child who was to be born is the Son of God. They were both from the line of David, and they followed the Jewish matters of the law such as circumcision and dedication for Jesus. Mary and Joseph had other children by natural birth; and belief in Christ for those children could only come by faith. Jesus apparently lived around family and friends for about thirty years before his baptism by John.
NOTE: Bible passages are from the 1881 English Revised Version.
A — God Gave David a Message About an Everlasting House
1 Chronicles 17 “11 And it shall come to pass, when thy days be fulfilled that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build me an house, and I will establish his throne for ever. 13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. 14 But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for ever more.”
Comments: In chapter 17 of 1 Chronicles, David spoke of the house of cedar he had, and he desired to build a house for the LORD. The message Nathan took to David from the LORD first said David would not build a house for the LORD — instead, the LORD would build a house for David! When David’s time had come, the LORD would set up his seed after him, who would build a house for the LORD; and the LORD would establish his kingdom forever. The Son of God the Father shall be settled in the house and Kingdom of the LORD forever, and his throne shall be established for ever. Though David’s son Solomon did build a physical temple, that temple did not last. The Son of God would have an eternal throne as King, and his subjects would have eternal life in the Kingdom of God!
B — Mary and Joseph Each Obeyed Their Message from the LORD
Luke 1 “31 Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 38 And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”
Matthew 1 “21 And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins. 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth a son: and he called his name JESUS.”
Comments: The angel Gabriel gave Mary many very important facts about Jesus, and she believed Gabriel and willingly submitted herself to the will of the LORD. When Joseph heard that Mary was pregnant before they had been together, he intended to quietly end the betrothal agreement. Before Joseph took any action, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, told him that Mary’s pregnancy was of the Holy Spirit, that the child would save his people from their sins, and that he should name him Jesus. He woke from sleep and followed the instructions from the angel, taking Mary to be his wife. Jesus is both son of David through the genetic line of Mary, and Son of God through conception in the womb of that virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit!
C — Jesus Had Strong Rejection from Those Who Knew His Family
Mark 6 “2 And when the sabbath was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, Whence hath this man these things? and what is the wisdom that is given unto this man? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended in him. 4 And Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.”
Comments: The passages from Matthew and Mark both include the response that the people in the synagogue knew Jesus and his family, and were offended by him. Jesus remarked that a prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. When Jesus was at the temple in John chapter 6, knowledge about him and his family again gave cause for rejection, especially when Jesus said that he had come down from heaven. Jesus directed their attention to scripture written by the prophets: all who have heard from the Father and have learned, do come to Jesus.
D — Jesus Said Those Who Do the Will of God Are His Mother and Brothers
Mark 3 “33 And he answereth them, and saith, Who is my mother and my brethren? 34 And looking round on them which sat round about him, he saith, Behold, my mother and my brethren! 35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
John 7 “5 For even his brethren did not believe on him.”
Comments: When someone told Jesus that his mother and brethren stood outside and wanted to speak with him, Jesus brought attention to his disciples and made the important point that there is a family relationship with him that belongs to those who do the will of his Father in heaven. In John chapter 7 the brothers of Jesus were at the feast in Jerusalem, and the text says plainly that even his brethren did not believe on him. Jesus told them his time had not yet come. But after the resurrection, Acts 1 verse 14 identifies Mary the mother of Jesus and his brethren gathering with the apostles steadfastly in prayer. And Paul wrote in Galatians that he saw James, the brother of the Lord, in Jerusalem — now an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.
E — Jesus Placed His Mother in the Care of the Disciple He Loved
John 19 “25 But there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold, thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold, thy mother! And from that hour the disciple took her unto his own home.”
Comments: Matthew, Mark, and Luke do not have this detail about Christ speaking from the cross to Mary and John. There are no names of other disciples of Jesus, or of his brethren, being present at the cross in any of the four gospels. There is no explanation of why Jesus wanted John to take care of Mary his mother, but the scripture states that John did so from that day forward. Lord Jesus, I thank you for the scripture that has allowed me to take some time and consider how difficult it must have been for friends and family of the Son of God who had observed common routines for several decades. May the first thirty years of family life for the only one who was with the Father God before the foundation of the world, remind me to daily seek guidance from scripture as it is made more clear to me by the Holy Spirit. I am humbled and thankful that the Father has drawn me to my Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. Hallelujah, Amen!
Reflections in Prayer
Lord Jesus, I thank you for the scripture that has allowed me to take some time and consider how difficult it must have been for friends and family of the Son of God who had observed common routines for several decades as Mary and Joseph had other children. What a change then to know Jesus at age thirty, as he began to teach with authority and work wonders before many people. Mary and Joseph had been given very unique messages about the only one who is truly son of man and Son of God; but others who knew Jesus personally could only reason from the natural realm until the Holy Spirit opened understanding of scripture about the one who came down from heaven to be born of a virgin. I am humbled and thankful that the Father has drawn me to my Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. Hallelujah, Amen!
Published 28 May 2021