HALF-BROTHERS OF FAME
Galatians 1:19-20: “I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I’m writing you is no lie.” Written by Apostle Paul to his new church founded in Galatia.
“Who does He think He is?” James wondered aloud to his little brother, Jude.
For those who’re raised by God-fearing parents, God is worshipped and obeyed. It’s odd to these kids that the world sees things differently. While youngsters thrive on learning both good and evil, they’re not mature enough to choose correctly. Having fun is the top priority and rebelling against parent’s authority seems cool.
That was true for Jesus’ half-brothers. Being raised solidly Jewish, they grew up following God’s Law and obeying Holy Days’ worship in Jerusalem. Jesus made little sense to them. How confusing that their brother was God’s Son … when Joseph was their dad!
Jesus never thought or acted like a regular kid (Ephesians 2:3).
John 7:5 records, “For even His own brothers did not believe in Him.”
James and Jude rebelled against what they figured was impossible to believe. Their radical realization, Jesus truly is God’s Son! only came after Jesus’ resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:7 says Jesus showed Himself alive: “Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.” Paul wrote to another newly-founded church in Corinth.
That they saw Jesus alive with their own eyes changed everything for James and Jude. Imagine the scene when they confided this truth to their brothers! They joined other Believing out-liers, convinced that Jesus IS the promised Messiah AND Son of God (Acts 1:14).
When the Feast of Tabernacles came, Jesus (half-) brothers challenged Him: “Hey, you ought to go to Judea! Your disciples need to witness the miracles You do! Why be a hero in secret? Show Yourself!” (Paraphrased from John 7:2-4).
Jesus’ heart may have melted at recognizing that His brothers finally believed in Him! He replied what was probably rolling around in His mind for a while, “The right time for Me has not yet come; for you any time is right. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify that what it does is evil. You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for Me the right time has not yet come. Having said this, He stayed in Galilee.” (John 7:5-9).
If you think that home life wasn’t easy for Jesus’ four half-brothers, you’d be correct. His family constantly “looked out” for Jesus’ welfare. One time, Jesus worked all day without eating. “When the family heard about this, they went up to take charge of Him, for they said, ‘He is out of His mind.’” (Mark 3:21).
Mark 3:31-35 says, “Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call Him. A crowd was sitting around Him, and they told Him, ‘Your mother and brothers are outside looking for You.”
“Who are My mother and brothers?” He asked. Then He looked around at the circle around Him and said, “Here are My mother and brothers! Whoever does God’s will is My brother and sister and mother.”
“Where did this man get these things?” the congregation asked after hearing Jesus teach in the Synagogue. They were amazed. “What’s this wisdom that has been given Him that He even does miracles! Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas [who later wrote the epistle Jude], and Simon? Aren’t His sisters with us?” the crowd wondered out loud in Mark 6:2-3.
“‘Only in His hometown among His own relatives and in His own house is a prophet without honor.’ He could not do any miracles there, except lay His hands on a few sick people and heal them. And He was amazed at their lack of faith.” (Mark 6:4-6).
Growing up around Jesus was hard for everyone! Jesus held back doing what He longed to do around people who did not believe who He is. Nazareth is a small town where everyone knows everyone. Jesus’ family were forever apologizing for His strange words and behavior to ones who didn’t understand His way.
Who do you sympathize with more, Jesus or His family?
James prayed with his mom, apostles, and other believers in the now famous upper room awaiting the Holy Spirit to arrive—what Jesus promised before ascending to heaven. (Acts 1:14).
Suddenly, a roar from heaven whisked inside the house. Astounded, James looked around to see tongues of fire resting on each of them. When they determined that each spoke in different languages, they went outside. Jews from every nation heard someone speak in whatever language was each’s native tongue (Acts 2:8).
Take Home Nugget
James earned the nickname “Camel Knees” from Hegesippus who commented that James spent so much time praying that his knees became calloused. Years later, writing his epistle—[e-PISS-l] means letter—James never claimed to be Jesus’ half-brother. Rather, he identified himself as a servant of God and Jesus. In like manner, Jude simply identifies himself as a brother of James in his epistle published in the Bible.
James devoted the rest of his life entirely to God. He quickly became a pillar of the early Church. Acts 15:13-21 shows that James had apparently become the pastor who oversaw the Jerusalem church. Check out the lesson linked below for passages from James and Jude, who share a concern that Christian faith remains pure.
These two brothers might have remained anonymous ([a-NON-e-mus] means unrecognized by others), until God’s Spirit provided events to record in His Word. Today, both James and Jude are half-brothers of fame to Jesus.
James felt privileged to be martyred for his faith. Being stoned to death instead of turning away from believing in Christ, James quoted his big brother, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34).
Thank You, Abba, for revealing more about Jesus’ life and family to us today! Amen.
English name Jewish name Scriptural reference / Other Name
Jesus Yeshua Matthew 1:21 “God is salvation”/ Joshua
Mary Miriam Numbers 26:59 sister of Moses and Aaron
Joseph Yosef One of 12 sons of Jacob, Mary’s husband
Matthew 1:16, 19-25, / Joses
James Ya’akov Son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham/ Jacob
Jude Yehudah Name of another of Abraham’s sons /Judah, Judas
Research of James and Jude as half-brothers of Jesus on the Internet on May 1, 2018.
Jerold Aust served in ministry as a senior writer at United Church of God and public speaker for 54 years. He interviews and is editor for Beyond Today Magazine, employed by UCG’s Media and Communications Services. He teaches speech Communication for UCG’s ministerial online program and the Book of Revelation for ABC.
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