Isn’t it strange how life is very much like a chain, and each event that occurs forms a link that binds us to the future. How one incident seems to lead, inexorably, to the next.”
–J. Lee Butts (Ambushed)
“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed–… For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed–… For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
–1 Corinthians 15:51, 53 (NKJV)
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I want to spend one more day looking at the life of Jesus, or at least speculating upon it, before He entered His ministry. Stuck back in the writings of Paul there is a phrase that is not often mentioned. “After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.” (1 Corinthians 15:7, NKJV) For some reason, Jesus after His resurrection made it a point to see His half-brother James.
Most likely James was at least four years younger than Jesus, possibly more. He, nor the other brothers: Judas, Joseph, and Simon or His sisters of which He had at least two are mentioned until He begins His ministry. Paul mentions James one other time, “But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.” (Galatians 1:19, NKJV) Perhaps the question should be, where was Joseph, the father? Most scholars believed he died sometime after Jesus’ twelfth birthday as he is never mentioned again after that memorable trip to Jerusalem.
Were the siblings jealous of Jesus? Did they hear the stories told by Mary of the miraculous birth or did they listen to the scandalous voices of the people regarding Mary and Joseph? Surely they knew of the escape and short exile in Egypt, but in the wisdom of God we are not told anything of their relationship as children. If Joseph did indeed die when Jesus was in His adolescent years, then Jesus as the oldest would be expected to care for the family. Perhaps the income was meager and the siblings were disgruntled over that. There was one point during Jesus’ ministry where the Jews sought to kill Him and His brothers told Him to leave or to show Himself to the world. (John 7:1-10) They seemed to chide Him and there was another time where they came with Mary to see Him as recorded in Matthew 12. Whatever their relationship was in childhood or during Jesus’ ministry, Jesus especially sought out James after His resurrection.
Life was hard, Jesus for a time worked as a carpenter or stonemason, whichever you prefer until it was time for His mission. I have always wondered when He realized that He was indeed, God’s Son. Surely it was early. Joseph would have told Him the stories and while sitting with His mother as a babe, she would have told Him of His birth and sang the songs of the Jews. When He began to read I can imagine Him delving hungrily into the Scriptures. There was a time, I believe when the Holy Spirit whispered into His soul the truth of the Word of God. By the time He was twelve, He had somewhat of an understanding.
The life of the Jewish people were torn between the political/religious groups of the time. There were the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Herodians, the Essenes, and the Zealots and on top of that was the presence of Rome. It was a time of turmoil for there was a major uprising by the Zealots led by a certain Judas (no connection to Jesus) that had been crushed by the Roman general Quinctilius in which he crucified two thousand. Later there was another uprising, so we can see that the people were looking for their Messiah.
Recently I heard someone say that Jesus and John probably played together as children. Probably not. I would say that on the Passover there would be a good chance they would have met. Hmm, did John jump when he saw Jesus as he did in the womb? However, they both understood that they had a mission that came down from heaven; it was a mission that would lead to the death of them both for different reasons and in different manners.
Now that we have speculated for some time we need to understand that there is a purpose that we do not know of the early life of Jesus. We are to focus on His mission, His purpose, and His salvation for the redemption of mankind. We are to see that He was God’s only begotten Son, and that He was born of the virgin Mary–the Incarnation. So in this upcoming Easter don’t look for the child or his life as a boy, but look to the Savior of the world. Offer yourself to Him as a living sacrifice.
———————————-
I want to spend one more day looking at the life of Jesus, or at least speculating upon it, before He entered His ministry. Stuck back in the writings of Paul there is a phrase that is not often mentioned. “After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.” (1 Corinthians 15:7, NKJV) For some reason, Jesus after His resurrection made it a point to see His half-brother James.
Most likely James was at least four years younger than Jesus, possibly more. He, nor the other brothers: Judas, Joseph, and Simon or His sisters of which He had at least two are mentioned until He begins His ministry. Paul mentions James one other time, “But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.” (Galatians 1:19, NKJV) Perhaps the question should be, where was Joseph, the father? Most scholars believed he died sometime after Jesus’ twelfth birthday as he is never mentioned again after that memorable trip to Jerusalem.
Were the siblings jealous of Jesus? Did they hear the stories told by Mary of the miraculous birth or did they listen to the scandalous voices of the people regarding Mary and Joseph? Surely they knew of the escape and short exile in Egypt, but in the wisdom of God we are not told anything of their relationship as children. If Joseph did indeed die when Jesus was in His adolescent years, then Jesus as the oldest would be expected to care for the family. Perhaps the income was meager and the siblings were disgruntled over that. There was one point during Jesus’ ministry where the Jews sought to kill Him and His brothers told Him to leave or to show Himself to the world. (John 7:1-10) They seemed to chide Him and there was another time where they came with Mary to see Him as recorded in Matthew 12. Whatever their relationship was in childhood or during Jesus’ ministry, Jesus especially sought out James after His resurrection.
Life was hard, Jesus for a time worked as a carpenter or stonemason, whichever you prefer until it was time for His mission. I have always wondered when He realized that He was indeed, God’s Son. Surely it was early. Joseph would have told Him the stories and while sitting with His mother as a babe, she would have told Him of His birth and sang the songs of the Jews. When He began to read I can imagine Him delving hungrily into the Scriptures. There was a time, I believe when the Holy Spirit whispered into His soul the truth of the Word of God. By the time He was twelve, He had somewhat of an understanding.
The life of the Jewish people were torn between the political/religious groups of the time. There were the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Herodians, the Essenes, and the Zealots and on top of that was the presence of Rome. It was a time of turmoil for there was a major uprising by the Zealots led by a certain Judas (no connection to Jesus) that had been crushed by the Roman general Quinctilius in which he crucified two thousand. Later there was another uprising, so we can see that the people were looking for their Messiah.
Recently I heard someone say that Jesus and John probably played together as children. Probably not. I would say that on the Passover there would be a good chance they would have met. Hmm, did John jump when he saw Jesus as he did in the womb? However, they both understood that they had a mission that came down from heaven; it was a mission that would lead to the death of them both for different reasons and in different manners.
Now that we have speculated for some time we need to understand that there is a purpose that we do not know of the early life of Jesus. We are to focus on His mission, His purpose, and His salvation for the redemption of mankind. We are to see that He was God’s only begotten Son, and that He was born of the virgin Mary–the Incarnation. So in this upcoming Easter don’t look for the child or his life as a boy, but look to the Savior of the world. Offer yourself to Him as a living sacrifice.