Bible Basics

Jesus' Brothers

In considering the evidence of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead the testimony of several hundred people is indeed strong and conclusive. But consider further, if you will, the change in those who did not believe Jesus to be the Christ before His resurrection. For instance, there was the skeptical family of Jesus. Jesus had several brothers and sisters, other children of His mother Mary, among them, “James, Joses, Simon, and Judas” (Matt. 13:55, 56). John records the obvious embarrassment of Christ’s siblings as they tried to convince Him to leave Galilee, “For not even His brothers believed on Him” (John 7:1-5). In fact, “they were offended at Him” (Mark 6:3). However, after Christ went to that degrading death on Calvary’s cross that would have so disgraced the family, and after He was buried, where do we find the family of Jesus including His brothers? We find them in the upper room with the apostles in prayer and supplication (Acts 1:14). Since His brothers had mocked Him while alive, what happened in a matter of a few days to turn their lives upside down? Paul records that the resurrected Christ “was seen by over five hundred brethren at once . . . After that He was seen by James” (1 Cor.15:6, 7). This James was clearly, “James, the Lord’s brother” (Gal. 1:19), a skeptic who now believes!

                                                                                                               -- Clark Dugger

Bible Basics