Sibling rivalry is common isn't it?
 

Here is what kidshealth.org has to say. . .

"Often, sibling rivalry starts even before the second child is born, and continues as the kids grow and compete for everything from toys to attention. As kids reach different stages of development, their evolving needs can significantly affect how they relate to one another.
It can be frustrating and upsetting to watch - and hear - your kids fight with one another. A household that's full of conflict is stressful for everyone. Yet often it's hard to know how to stop the fighting, and or even whether you should get involved at all. But you can take steps to promote peace in your household and help your kids get along."

It is not often that siblings become good friends, less often that they work for one another and even less often that they take on each other's value systems and promote each other with complete dedication. It's a rare occurrence when this happens!

Jesus was probably the head of his household. We make this assumption because already at the time of the wedding in Cana, his mother seems to be asking him to do things that the head of the house would do, and from that point on his step-father is never spoken of again.

We know Jesus had at least four brothers and we even know their names. James who probably wrote the book of James, Jude who wrote the book of Jude, as well as Judas and Simon. We know these are his relations because the bible says...

Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son? Isn't this the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?"[1]

Notice this verse says the Nazareth townsfolk knew about Jesus family.

Living in a small town people knew a lot about each other so they would have known this family well.

In fact Jesus' comment is quite direct. . . "A prophet is not honored in his hometown. He doesn't receive any honor among his relatives. And he doesn't receive any in his own home."[2]  

Jesus points out being a servant of God within his own town among his relatives was not always appreciated and that even in his home he had strife.

We often think of Jesus as the child who every parent would love to have, but actually it appears as if it was quite a challenge for his mom. Take a look at luke 2 where Jesus stays behind in the temple without telling his parents, at only twelve years of age.

"After the Feast was over, his parents left to go back home. The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But they were not aware of it. They thought he was somewhere in their group. So they traveled on for a day. 
Then they began to look for him among their relatives and friends. They did not find him. So they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courtyard. He was sitting with the teachers."[3]

This shows firstly that Jesus often played with other kids and was with the relatives a lot because the parents first start to look in among relatives for him. Then they have to go back to the temple to find him.

Notice they didn't start looking for him for a day! So I guess they really trusted others to feed and look after Jesus. Now they have to walk back a day, get him and walk again for a day just to get to the same place. Imagine how the brothers and sisters felt about that!

Yet, years later when the trouble starts for Jesus, when he is finally killed and rises from the dead, we know at least two of his brothers became promoters of everything he did, said and believed in. Only writings from James and Jude have survived, so we cannot comment on Judas and Simon, but perhaps they also were supporters.

Here is how Jude describes himself...

I, Jude, am writing this letter. I serve Jesus Christ. I am a brother of James[4]

Notice anything strange about this?

If I was writing and if I was from a normal family, I would probably say, "I Jude, brother of Jesus and James"

Jude does not do this. He writes he serves Jesus! How many brothers do you know, would indicate they serve another brother. This would be an extreme case of loyalty wouldn't it?

Next notice, he doesn't say "Jesus", Jude says "Jesus Christ".

He wants to point out Jesus is the Messiah, the chosen one of God! 


Jude makes clear the relationship with brother James is NOT the same as the relationship with brother Jesus. His relationship with Jesus is more than that of a man with his brother. It is a relationship of a man with God.

The fact that a brother can say this, points out to the absolutely incredible life Jesus must have led! In normal families we hardly get siblings to agree, never mind serve one another willingly. We never ever get them pointing out their brother is a God!

This is another fact that supports Jesus being the son of God in a simple way. I would like to have known how his sisters thought, but that we do not have the privilege of knowing. We are not even sure how many sisters he had, two definitely, but there could have been more.

When his step-dad died, Jesus would have been eldest in the family and so would have taken on the family business. He would have run that carpentry shop and ordered his brothers and sisters about. He had to get income in to the family to look after them. Food, clothing and shelter for at least seven people became his responsibility.

Jesus worked hard and lived well! He built strong family in his human relationships and with us his followers. Jesus was a real person, who was really loved by those around him.

Today, as we go about our day, let's know Jesus understands our stresses and strains. He wants to help us, teach us and love us. All we have to do is allow Holy Spirit who Jesus left behind, to help us, to guide us.

Let's go have a wonderful spirit filled day and know we have heavenly family!

[1] Mark 6:3 NIRV
[2] Mark 6:4 NIRV
[3] Luke 2:41-46 NIRV
[4] Jude 1:1