Question
Did Jesus have siblings?
Jim
Answer
Dear Jim,
Yes, Jesus had siblings. John tells us that after the first miracle, where Jesus turned water to wine, “he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days” (John 2:12). His brothers show up again in the middle of His ministry (Matthew 12:46-50). Some, if not all, of His brothers were hostile towards Him:
“After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.
Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand. His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judæa, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.
For neither did his brethren believe in him” (John 7:1-5).
The scriptures are even so generous as to give us the name of these scoundrels! Doubters in Christ’s hometown wondered aloud, “Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?” (Matthew 13:55-56). Not only did Jesus have brothers, he also had sisters.
Notable in this list is James. He is the author of the Epistle of James in the New Testament. So James either stood up to his brothers in mocking Jesus, or he stands as a great witness to the power of repentance.
Gramps
