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The testimony of the family of Jesus the Messiah

This article explores the strained relationships between Jesus, his family and the religious authorities, drawing mainly on the Gospel according to Mark. While describing his family's initially skeptical view, it highlights the dynamics with the Pharisees and the later conversion of some family members after the resurrection.

3 min Jesus Mark family Pharisees Capernaum 1 verse 1 book

Resources

Biblical texts

Matthew
Matthew (King James Version) not cited in the book
Mark
Mark 3.20-21 (King James Version)

And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.

And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

Luke
Luke (King James Version) not cited in the book
John
John (King James Version) not cited in the book

Technical details

Bar chart for the year 31

Place: The house in Capernaum in Galilee

Date: October or November AD31

Method: We return to Mark

Note on the method: Mark alone recalls the words of the family of Jesus the Messiah

Capernaum

Mark provides information about the family of Jesus the Messiah.

The testimony of the family of Jesus the Messiah

The testimony of the family of Jesus the Messiah

Comments

Mark refers to a particular house in Capernaum, probably made available by the disciples, where Jesus could rest. This was where the disciples would join him.

Local residents also knew this house and gathered around Jesus the Messiah, so that the constant demands left him no time to eat. This success seems to have encouraged the to try to discredit Jesus out of jealousy.

This situation may explain why Mark reported the views of Jesus' family. One particular point about the Master's family deserves emphasis: they considered him mentally unstable. The opposition of the that Jesus faces seems to affect his family, who feel compelled to distance themselves to avoid reprisals of the authorities.

We are told that they wanted to seize him, apparently to take him back to Nazareth.

These statements probably came from Jesus' half-brothers and half-sisters. Given Mary's understanding of her son's destiny, it seems unlikely that she would have approved such a statement. We believe she was absent.

Those concerned, who came from Nazareth, had been brought by the Jewish religious authorities. How should he respond to this situation? In this atmosphere of conflict, it could be interpreted as an attempt at strategic manipulation.

After the resurrection, several of these half-brothers would be converted. As for his half-sisters, there is no specific information about what became of them; we may suppose that they could have followed a similar path.

We wish to add this observation: Jesus' family, aware of the worsening situation and the power of the to condemn him to death, may have tried to find a way to protect him. The claim of madness could then serve as an excuse.