The Parents and Brothers of Christ

Who were the parents and brothers of Christ? What do the scriptures tell us of them? Were they aware this Jesus of theirs was to be crucified? Did they understand the full implication of his role as God in the flesh?
Read Matthew chapter 12 first.
In the book of Matthew chapter 12 it starts out with those famous foes of Christ the Pharisees complaining to Christ about his decipiles picking heads of grain and eating them on the Sabbath since they were hungry. In the next scene we see that the Pharisees are upset that he is healing a man's shrivelled hand on the Sabbath, so upset they are plotting to kill him already. Next they are seen accusing Christ of being related to the demon Beelzebub because he was able to drive out demons. This all leads up to the last two paragraphs in chapter 12 titled Jesus' Mother and Brothers.

Here's the NIV Matthew 12:46-50
46 While Jesus was still talkin to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak with you."

48 He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" 49 Pointing to his decipiles, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers.50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

Matthew 13:53-58 illuminates Christ's family more.

13:53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there.54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked.55 "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brother's James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?56 Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?"
57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor."

Jesus Goes to the Feast of Tabernacles in cognito
John 7:1-52 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life.2 But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near,3 Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles that you do.4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world."5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

6 Therefore Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not come; for you any time is right.7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil.8 You go to the feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not het come."9 Having said this, he stayed in Galilee.

10 However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret.11 Now at the Feast the Jews were watching for him and asking, "Where is that man?"12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, "He is a good man."

Others replied, "No, he decieves the people."13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the Jews.

Jesus Teaches at the Feast

14 Not until half way through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach.15 The Jews were amazed and asked, "How did this man get such learning without having studied?"

16 Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me.17 If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.18 He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; There is nothing false about him.19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?"

20 "You are demon-possessed," the crowd answered. "Who is trying to kill you?"

21 Jesus said to them, "I did one miracle, and you are all astonished.22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a child on the Sabbath.23 Now if a child can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry at me for healing the whole man on the Sabbath?24 Stop judging by mere appearance, and make a right judgement."

Assignment
This article coming soon
Read John Chapter 7 , 19:25
Find out who wrote the books of
James an Jude
Mark 2:23-3:35, 6:3
Galations 2:11-13
Psalm 69:8
Acts 1:14