"THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

The Family Of Jesus (3:20-21)

INTRODUCTION
  1. The ministry of Jesus in Galilee certainly drew the attention of many...
    1. Multitudes followed Him everywhere - Mk 3:7-8
    2. Jesus' very life was endangered by the crowds - Mk 3:9-10
    3. The house where he stayed was besieged - Mk 3:19b-20
  2. It also drew the attention of His physical family...
    1. Who were concerned about what they heard - Mk 3:21a
    2. Who sought to take Him into custody - Mk 3:21b
    3. For they even questioned His sanity - Mk 3:21c

[The reaction of His family is interesting, somewhat understandable. Before we consider their reaction, and how they later responded to Jesus, let's review what is revealed in the Scriptures about...]

  1. THE MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY
    1. HIS PARENTS...
      1. Mary - His birth mother
        1. A virgin until Jesus was born - Mt 1:18-25; Lk 1:26-38
        2. Visited her cousin Elizabeth - Lk 1:39-56
        3. Gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem - Lk 2:1-19
        4. Took Jesus to Jerusalem when He was 12 - Lk 2:48-51
        5. Present with Jesus at a marriage in Cana - Jn 2:1-10
        6. Sought Jesus when He was teaching - Mt 12:46; Mk 3:31; Lk 8:19
        7. Present at the cross, committed to John's care - Jn 19:27
        8. With the disciples in Jerusalem following the ascension - Ac 1:14
      2. Joseph - His adoptive father
        1. Descendant of David - Mt 1:1-16
        2. Took Mary as wife, did not know her until Jesus was born - Mt 1:18-25
        3. From Nazareth, enrolled at Bethlehem - Lk 2:1-5
        4. Presented Jesus at the temple in Jerusalem, returned to Nazareth - Lk 2:22-30
        5. Fled to Egypt, later re-settled in Nazareth - Mt 2:13-15, 19-23
        6. Took Jesus to Jerusalem when He was 12 - Lk 2:48-51
        7. Supposed father of Jesus, a carpenter - Mt 13:55; Lk 3:23; 4:22; Jn 1:45; 6:42
        -- Jesus was blessed to be born of a virtuous woman, and raised by a just man
    2. HIS SIBLINGS...
      1. Brothers - James, Joses, Simon, Judas
        1. All four mentioned by name on one occasion - Mk 6:3; Mt 13:55
        2. They accompanied Jesus and His mother from Cana to Capernaum - Jn 2:11-12
        3. Later, with Mary they sought to see Jesus - Mk 3:31; Mt 12:46; Lk 8:19-20
      2. Sisters - Mary, Salome
        1. There were at least two sisters - Mt 13:56; Mk 6:3
        2. No names are given in the Scriptures
        3. Later Christian literature gives the names Mary and Salome - Protevangelium of James 19:3-20:4; Gospel of Philip 59:6-11; Epiphanius, Pan. 78.8.1; 78.9.6
        -- Jesus was blessed to have a number of half-siblings

      [Some believe these "brothers" and "sisters" were actually step-siblings or cousins, that His mother Mary remained a virgin all her life. In any case, let's now direct our attention to...]

  2. THE MISGIVINGS IN HIS FAMILY
    1. BEFORE HIS RESURRECTION...
      1. Some thought He was crazy - Mk 3:21
        1. They thought "He is out of His mind"
        2. They endeavored to take custody of Him
      2. His brothers did not believe in Him - Jn 7:3-5
        1. They taunted Him to prove Himself
        2. To show Himself openly to the world
        -- When their brother claimed to be the Messiah, the Son of God, who can blame them?
    2. AFTER HIS RESURRECTION...
      1. Jesus appeared to James - 1Co 15:8
      2. His brothers became His disciples - Ac 1:14
      3. James
        1. Became identified as "the Lord's brother", a pillar in the church, likely author of the epistle of James - Ac 12:17; 15:13; 21:18; Ga 1:19; 2:19; Jm 1:1
        2. Martyred by being thrown from the pinnacle of the temple - Josephus, Eusebius
      4. Joses - little known, evidently became a traveling missionary - 1Co 9:5
      5. Simon - little known, likewise a traveling missionary - 1Co 9:5
      6. Judas - believed to be the author of the epistle of Jude - Ju 1:1
      -- Jesus' resurrection from the dead overcame any misgivings by His brothers
CONCLUSION
  1. The initial unbelief of some members of His family is understandable...
    1. Mary never doubted, for she alone really knew the truth about Jesus' birth
    2. But the doubt of His brothers was a normal reaction to His outlandish claims
  2. Their initial unbelief and eventual faith can be thought-provoking...
    1. They did not believe despite the miracles of His ministry (why not?)
    2. Yet they later chose to follow His apostles and suffer for His cause (how come?)
  3. The transformation in the skeptical members of Jesus' family is easily understood...
    1. If in fact Jesus did rise from the dead and appear to them afterward!
    2. Thus "The Family Of Jesus" serves as a powerful testimony to the resurrection of Jesus!

One last thought: if Jesus was not truly born of a virgin, what kind of mother would let her son suffer like Jesus did on the cross and not say a word? A simple admission that Joseph (or someone else) was the father of Jesus, and He could have come down from that cross. Her silence speaks volumes...!