The Family of Jesus

“Mary gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger.” ~ Luke 2:7

    “The Messiah went to His home town, and His disciples accompanied Him. With the coming of the Sabbath, He began teaching in the synagogue, and most of the people there were astonished when they heard Him. They said, ‘Where did the man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been granted him, and these miracles that are worked through him? This is the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joseph and Jude and Simon? His sisters, too, are they not here with us?” [Mark 6:1-3] According to this verse, Jesus had at least four younger brothers, and at least two sisters.

    Contrary to Catholic doctrine, Yahshua had brothers and sisters: siblings who were the children of Mary and Joseph. Although the Bible is plain about the matter, it seems that most Christians are unaware of the family of the Messiah, and some even disbelieve.

    “James the Lord’s brother” was an Apostle. [Galatians 1:19] More than that, James [whose name in Hebrew was Jacob] was the leader of the Church in Jerusalem following the crucifixion. He is the one who was the final authority over the council of Apostles and Elders. It was “James the Lord’s brother” who had the position of giving the final verdict in matters of the Church. [Acts 15:1-21; 12:17, 21:18] James, who is often called ‘the Just’, was the presiding Bishop or President of the Church [and not Peter, as Catholic tradition suggests].

    Some of the Redeemer’s brothers were traveling Evangelists. Paul wrote: “Have we not the right [as traveling ministers] to eat and drink? And every right to be accompanied by a sister-wife, like the other Apostles, and like the brothers of the Lord, and like Cephas [Peter]?

    The epistle of James, which emphasizes the importance of works of righteousness and the observance of the Torah [in addition to faith], was written by Yahshua’s brother. In fact, his emphasis on the importance of the Law and the necessity of good works was identical to the doctrine of Christ.

    Jude [Judah in Hebrew], who wrote the epistle, was the same Jude mentioned in Mark chapter 6. He was a brother of the Messiah, and brother of James.

    Yahshua the Messiah [Jesus Christ] was the firstborn son of Mary, who was the wife of Joseph. While Mary was still a virgin, the Spirit of Elohim impregnated her. [Matthew 1:18] Afterward, through the usual manner of reproduction, Mary gave birth to at least six more children. Of those children, two [James and Jude] wrote epistles that are part of the New Testament, one [James] was the Presiding Elder of the Church, and some were traveling Evangelists.

    The family of Jesus - His brothers and sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews,  aunts and uncles, had a place of prominence in the earliest years of the Church. Shall it likely be so in the Pre-Millennial era?