A closer look at the literal family of Christ
Someone told him (Jesus), “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
Matthew 12:47
Let’s begin with an obvious statement: Joseph was not Jesus’ father. Matthew Chapter 1 tells us the genealogy of Jesus goes through Joseph’s bloodline, but we know that Mary conceived through the Holy Spirit. Females were also mentioned in this bloodline; Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. Further, three of these four women were Gentiles. Jesus came to save all peoples! The genealogy in Luke differs some, but that reason will have to be discovered through your own study. These are just some interesting facts to lay some groundwork.
There is no mention of Joseph after the family visit to Jerusalem during Passover when Jesus was 12 (Luke 2:41-52). So sometime between when Jesus was 12 and when He started His public ministry at age 30 (Luke 3:23), Joseph probably died. During that 18-year period, he most likely taught Jesus his occupation, carpentry.
In Matthew 13:53-58 (also Mark 6:1-6), the people who came to hear Jesus teach in the synagogue in His hometown of Nazareth were amazed.
“’Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?’ they asked. ‘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? Where then did this man get all these things?’”
So, during this 18-year period, we are left to assume that Joseph and Mary had four more sons and at least two daughters. Large families were common during this time. It is possible that Joseph was much older than Mary when they were married, and some of the children were from a previous marriage of his. I lean towards them being Joseph and Mary’s children.
We never hear any more about Jesus’ sisters or His brothers, Joseph and Simon. James, however, was a prominent leader in the early church, and is mentioned several times (Acts 1:13-14, 12:17 and 15:13, 1 Corinthians 15:7, and Galatians 1:1). He is also most likely the author of the book of James. Likewise, Jesus’ brother Jude was probably the author of the book of Jude. He identifies his brother, James, in the first verse of this short letter.
Here are some sobering hyperbolic words from Jesus as to the cost of being a disciple:
Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:25-27
