Where are the Brothers of Jesus?
John 13:34
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another:
just as I have loved you,
you also are to love one another.
Sunday Easter. Mary and the Brothers, Sisters of Jesus have heard Jesus is alive. Probably no one, except Mary Magdalene, has seen Jesus. Biblically, we are told a sword will pierce Mary's heart. We know, medically, this can kill people. Jewish customs run life in Judea and the funeral, even of convicted felons, is to be done by the family immediately. John is there to help Mary, but he isn't at home with his family in Capernaum. The sons of Zebedee are a long way from the fisherman's village.
Mercy and charity swept Jesus into fine surroundings for the dead. The grave didn't hold Him.
Yet, if we look at Mary today, we know James, 5 chapters, and Jude, 1 chapter, are written to have grown up in family life with Jesus and contain what these sons learned from Mary as well.
Acts 1 hasn't occurred, neither has 1 Corinthians 15. Luke 24 has happened. The women have gone to the tomb to clean and prepare the Lord's body for burial. This chapter makes it clear Mary, the Mother of God, wasn't there Holy Saturday. Mary, here is the mother of James the less, the disciple.
Mark 15:40
Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome.
Mary, Jesus' mother, is living Luke 2.
34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
Mary appears in the ministry of Jesus, several times. Luke includes Mary 10 times. Very interesting, the Gospel of John only refers to Mary as Mother of the Lord 8 times. Really, John isn't mentioning other mothers. Announcement of Jesus. Annunciation. Visiting Elizabeth. Birth. Losing Jesus by Him staying in the Temple. Being the catalyst, starting the ministry of Jesus at the Wedding. (As well as the death of John the Baptist.) Vacation with the Wedding in Cana, with His Disciples. The witness of all Nazareth, saying this family was extremely close. This witness occurs twice. Then the difficult parts of Mary's life, revealing more of her truth and sincerity in her conversation. Mary and Jesus' brothers seek Jesus to just come home.
Luke 11:27-28
27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!”
28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
I would bet you, Mary was thinking about what Jesus said to her. The Verses in the Scriptures.
Seasons. Her soul magnifies the Lord and her spirit rejoices in God her Savior. Turbulent days. Jesus grew in wisdom and stature. The blind could see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, the leper cleansed and the poor have Good News preached to them. Ending up with multitudes to walk with Jesus, condemned for Heresy. The Government of Laws letting Him die for public and whim crowd opinion.
Luke 24 is also the Easter Sunday of Road to Emmaus. Jesus is back. Yet, Thomas has not put his finger into Jesus' pierced side.
How would this healing of Acts 1, praying together, come together?
Romans 12:9-12
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
10 Be devoted to one another in love.
Honor one another above yourselves.
11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Mary and her sons would be seeking healing. Raw emotions, then healing.
Philippians 4
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.
And the God of peace will be with you.
Thanks for Their Gifts
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
How could we suppose this?
Hebrews 6:5
Those who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and
the powers of the coming age
Jeremiah 17:7
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him
Psalm 36:7,10
How excellent is thy loving kindness, O God!
Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings
1 Corinthians 15
4 that he was buried,
that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time,
most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them,
though it was not I,
but the grace of God that is with me.
John 1
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
16 For from his fullness we have all received,
grace upon grace.
Romans 3:24
And all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 1:2
Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
2 Timothy 1:2
To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 3:24
And all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God
Titus 2:11
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
Ephesians 1:7
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
2 Corinthians 1:2
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Abba, Father,
Blessed are You, Lord Father our God,
Blessed is Your Son, Jesus.
We ask You to put Your Name,
"Jesus"
upon us
and say, "I will Bless them."
The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you
and give you peace.
Let Your Heavenly Kingdom come,
Let Your Will be done,
on earth
as in Heaven.
Thank You for Your Son's Life,
He has given us immeasurably more
than all we ask or imagine,
according to His power that is at work within us,
To our Father and Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit,
be the glory in the church and
in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
forever and ever. Amen
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