THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY OF JESUS CHRIST
1. Joseph was of the lineage of King David via Solomon.
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of
Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah
and his brothers. Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot
Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot
Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz
begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.
David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.
Matthew 1:1-6.
2. Mary was of the lineage of King David via Nathan.
the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David, Luke 3:31.
3. Mary became pregnant by the Holy Spirit not by the human seed from a natural father.
And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon
you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also,
that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.” Luke
1:35.
4. Mary was a virgin and had never had sex with a man.
Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” Luke 1:34.
5. Mary fulfilled Biblical prophecy by conceiving and giving birth to Jesus Christ as a virgin.
So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the
Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with
child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is
translated, “God with us.” Matthew 1:22-23.
6. Mary had started a lie stating that Joseph was the father of Jesus Christ.
His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according
to the custom of the feast. When they had finished the days, as they
returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and
His mother did not know it; but supposing Him to have been in the
company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their
relatives and acquaintances. So when they did not find Him, they
returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. Now so it was that after three days
they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers,
both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him
were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when they saw Him,
they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done
this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” Luke
2:41-48.
7. People in Nazareth had assumed that Joseph was the father of Jesus Christ based on Mary’s lie.
Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, Luke 3:23.
8. Jesus Christ corrected Mary on who was His Father when He was just 12 years old.
And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” Luke 2:49.
9. The Gospel implies that Joseph and Mary did have sex after the birth of Jesus Christ.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was
betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with
child of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:18.
10. Mary and her other sons tried to stop the ministry of Jesus Christ.
While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and
brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Matthew 12:47.
11. Mary and her other sons were out of the will of God.
Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing
outside, seeking to speak with You.” But He answered and said to the
one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He
stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My
mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in
heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:48-50.
12. Joseph and Mary had four sons naturally and were half brothers of Jesus Christ.
When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue,
so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this
wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not
His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and
Judas? Matthew 13:54-55.
13. Joseph and Mary had daughters naturally who were non-believers.
And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get
all these things?” So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to
them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in
his own house.” Now He did not do many mighty works there because of
their unbelief. Matthew 13:56-58.
14. The half-brothers of Jesus Christ were non-believers along with His other family members.
After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk
in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. Now the Jews’ Feast of
Tabernacles was at hand. His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart
from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works
that You are doing. For no one does anything in secret while he himself
seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the
world.” For even His brothers did not believe in Him. John 7:1-5.
15. Mary witnessed the death of Jesus Christ and He ensured the well-being of His mother.
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s
sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus
therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by,
He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the
disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took
her to his own home. John 19:25-27.
16. Mary and her natural sons became believers after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is
near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. And when they had entered,
they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James,
John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the
son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. These
all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the
women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. Acts 1:12-14.
17. Paul acknowledged James the half brother of Jesus Christ as being a church leader.
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and
called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might
preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh
and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles
before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then
after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained
with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except
James, the Lord’s brother. Galatians 1:15-19.
18. Peter acknowledged James the half brother of Jesus Christ as being a church leader.
Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw
him, they were astonished. But motioning to them with his hand to keep
silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the
prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the
brethren.” And he departed and went to another place. Acts 12:16-17.
19. Paul had a problem with Peter and James on the treatment of Gentile believers.
Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face,
because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he
would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and
separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the
rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even
Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. Galatians 2:11-13.
20. James acknowledged that Gentile believers should not be burdened with Jewish laws.
Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul
declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them
among the Gentiles. And after they had become silent, James answered,
saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: Simon has declared how God at
the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His
name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is
written: ‘After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of
David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set
it up; So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the
Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does all these
things.’ “Known to God from eternity are all His works. Therefore I
judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are
turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things
polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and
from blood. Acts 15:12-20.
21. The half brothers of Jesus Christ were married and were being supported by the church.
Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our
Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? If I am not an apostle to
others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my
apostleship in the Lord. My defense to those who examine me is this: Do
we have no right to eat and drink? Do we have no right to take along a
believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the
Lord, and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to
refrain from working? Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who
plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock
and does not drink of the milk of the flock? Do I say these things as a
mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? For it is written in
the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the
grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? Or does He say it altogether
for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who
plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be
partaker of his hope. If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a
great thing if we reap your material things? If others are partakers of
this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not
used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of
Christ. 1 Corinthians 9:1-12.
22. James the half brother of Jesus Christ wrote Scripture with a ministry to Jewish believers.
James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. James 1:1.
23. Jude the half brother of Jesus Christ wrote Scripture warning of false teachers.
Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who
are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus
Christ: Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. Jude 1:1-2.
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