John chapter 7 records an encounter Jesus had with his half brothers, of whom were Jude and James. These two, as far as we know from the Biblical record, came to Jesus after His resurrection in faithful repentance and acceptance of His grace. They would go on to write two books of the New Testament. His resurrection proved to be the "event" that would change their minds and convince them of Jesus' authenticity in His claims of Messiah-ship. They would go on to, according to early church tradition, martyrdom for their faith. Dying for their faith and trust in the LORD Jesus. Such a strong testimony of their belief in Jesus as the Son of God, raised from the dead!
However, in chapter 7 they had yet to believe He was who He said He was. "For even His brothers did not believe in Him." (John 7:5)
They challenged Him to show Himself at the Feast of Tabernacles (One of the three mandatory feasts that able bodied Jewish males were to attend in Jerusalem). Jesus was living in Galilee at the time and a trip to Jerusalem would have put Him in danger of being arrested (because of His "controversial teaching about the Sabbath and His claims of deity). However, Jesus would go, according to HisFather's time line, and challenge the externally religious.
Jesus would radically teach the realities of who He is ("Before Abraham was I AM" John 8:58), about the Kingdom of God, tear down stereotypes, be rejected by His people, save an adulteress from the slanted and zealousness of Pharisitical judgment and display His divine power by healing a man born blind.
No doubt Jesus' brothers were around Jerusalem during this period of His ministry, but they are still numbered among those who did not believe. But the resurrection of Jesus from the dead would change their inward understanding of the Messiah, and radically alter their outward reality and conform it to the truth, that which is in accord with reality itself defined by the creator of reality.
Imagine these brothers, who grew up with Jesus and played the games boys play. Shopped with Him and their common mother at the market. Trained with Him under the tutelage of their father Joseph (who was of course was not Jesus' biological father, but nonetheless was their common earthly father) in the family carpentry business.
Imagine the weight of the truth, as it came washing over them as a tidal wave, that "our Brother who claimed only to be a half brother, who others accused as being a child of adultery, is in fact the long awaited and long desired Messiah of Israel, God's anointed, who Dad said would 'save His people from their sins!'"
Has this truth crashed across you waiting shores, or have you built a levy, attempting to keep the truth out?
Imagine.......what it must have been like for His brothers
Imagine what it can be like for you......
Thanks to eveyone who made Parents night a success and I think we'll have to do it again real soon.
