Smoodock's Blog

Perhaps there isn’t another subject that could be more divisive than this subject at hand in our study. Many brethren believe Mary was the mother of Jesus and no one else, while many other brethren believe Jesus was her first born of several other children. It is my understanding that all of us believe Joseph was not Jesus’ natural father, but, perhaps, there are a few who believe Jesus’ birth was a natural birth, like that of any other human being. My personal take on the scriptures is that Jesus lived prior to his human birth, so it would be very difficult for me to understand how that preexisting life could come through Joseph. Additionally, I believe Mary had children after Jesus, and those by Joseph.

Nevertheless, it isn’t the point of this study to prove what I believe about this matter, or to show the beliefs of others are erroneous. From where I sit, that isn’t the point of the New Testament, nor should it be a point to be made here. Suffice to say Mary was the mother of Jesus, and however Jesus’ brethren fit in is a matter of private understanding. Having said this, there are matters, still before us, that may be divisive that need to be addressed in this study.

While Jesus was yet speaking about the things I mentioned in previous studies, his mother and his brethren stood outside calling to him (Matthew 12:47; cp. Mark 3:31). So, what began in the synagogue (Matthew 12:9; Mark 3:1) was concluded in a house (Mark 3:19). We aren’t told whose house it was, but it was either Jesus’ house or one belonging to one of his disciples. After leaving the synagogue, a multitude followed Jesus. Mark tells us the people were from Jerusalem, Idumaea, beyond the Jordan and from Tyre and Sidon. This indicates that these folks probably traveled here, to Capernaum, to celebrate the fall festivals, not all Jews could go to Jerusalem to celebrate the annual Holy Days, because there simply wasn’t room for everyone. Therefore, Capernaum was, no doubt, designated to receive Jews who didn’t come to Jerusalem to celebrate the annual Holy Days.

This also explains the multitudes that heard and followed Jesus around the community. At first, Jesus entered a boat to put some distance between him and the multitudes (Marke 3:9), but when he entered the house (Mark 3:19), the multitude regathered, and there were so many that Jesus and his disciples couldn’t so much as eat (Mark 3:20). It was at this point that the scribes and Pharisees claimed Jesus cast out demons by the power of the prince of demons (Matthew 12:24), because when they heard about it, Jesus’ brethren came looking for him to take him with them (cp. Mark 3:21).

Two things stand out for me at this point. First, we already mentioned that we can explain the multitudes of people following Jesus indicates this was during the fall festivals and Capernaum was a community designated for the purpose of Jews gathering to celebrate their Holy Days. Secondly, the fact that the scriptures conclude that a person who had a demon was understood to mean “He was beside himself” (Mark 3:21), vis-à-vis Jesus’ brethren understood Jesus was having a nervous breakdown. In other words, at least for some folks, a demoniac was simply someone who didn’t have all his wits about him. This is why Jesus’ mother and brethren came calling for him. They believed the Pharisees who claimed he had a demon, and they understood this to mean, Jesus was mentally unstable, and they wanted to take him home.

How could this happen? Mary knew the circumstances of Jesus’ birth, and Jesus’ brethren were undoubtedly told that Jesus was the Messiah. How, then, should we understand what’s happening? The Gospel of John tells us that Jesus’ brethren wanted Jesus to go to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, because if he was performing miracles to show he was the Messiah, he should do those things openly, so he would be well known and accepted (John 7:1-4). This was said, indicating they didn’t believe in him (John 7:5). In other words, they did, in fact, believe Jesus was the Messiah, but they didn’t believe he was acting like the Messiah. Thus, they, as all Jews at that time, had a false image of who the Messiah would be. Jesus did not act the part they wished him to play. Therefore, Jesus’ brethren didn’t believe **in him** (John 7:5)!

At this point, Jesus was told by one standing by that his mother and brethren were outside, wanting to speak with him (Matthew 12:46), and Jesus knew why. Therefore, Jesus replied with “Who is my mother? Who are my brethren?” In other words, who are my real (spiritual family)? Then he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples and said: “Behold, my mother and my brethren!” (Matthew 12:48-49). He did this to express that his true family, his spiritual family, those, his brethren who believed him, these were his family. All who do the will of the Father in heaven are considered by Jesus to be his family (Matthew 12:50).