Daily Archives: December 27, 2015

Who Are Jesus’ Brethren?

Teaching, , ,

Jesus promised great blessing to those who ministered to His “Brethren,” Matthew 25:40 and great judgment to those who refused to minister to them, verse 45. So who are His Brethren?

Matthew 12:46-50 KJV –

“46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, [his] mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. 47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, ‘Behold my mother and my brethren. 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.’”

Here we see that Jesus is identifying Himself by His spiritual family and not his kindred after the flesh. He even would have included His mother in those He denied as His kindred, but she was certainly also one who did the will of His Father, God, and so was His mother both spiritually and physically. He denies kinship with all those who do not the will of God. Therefore, He only recognizes Christians as kindred.

Are those calling themselves “Israel” today really Jesus’ Brethren?

Many prominent ministers and theologians are declaring that those calling themselves “Israel” today are Jesus’ Brethren, and therefore in order to be blessed, we must support them with all necessary material means. This ignores the fact that their religion is anti-Christian, using the Talmud as their authority instead of the Bible, cursing Christ and blaspheming. The USA has provided and is continuing to provide finances, military protection, grants, and loans which become grants for the establishment and military protection of that wicked state since its inception, all under the guise of their supposed kinship to Jesus.

This is deceit at its worst.

Where Was Mary’s Mother?

Teaching

 

Luke chapters 1 and 2.

It is a great mystery to me that Mary’s mother is never once mentioned in these Scriptures. After the astounding visit of Gabriel with the even more astounding news that the Virgin Mary was to bear the Christ-Child, Mary went immediately to see her cousin Elizabeth:

“And Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste into a city of Judea and entered into the house of Zacharias and Elizabeth.” Did she not talk with her mother about this? and if not, why not?

What Would You Have Done If You Were Mary’s Mother?

What would you have thought and said to your teen-age daughter in such circumstances? Would you have allowed her to go away like that? It is understandable that Mary would want to go see Elizabeth to confirm the words of the Angel concerning her pregnancy. But, if you had been her mother, would you not have at least talked with her about it?

Then, after about 3 months, Mary returned to her home and was married to Joseph. Still no mention of a mother or the wedding. As a mother, you would have insisted that the wedding should have been immediately, not after three months! And mothers like to be included in wedding plans.

And, Good Heavens! Going on a long, hard trip near her due date?

But most amazing is the fact that this young woman, near the time for the birth of her baby, set out for a journey to Bethlehem. Her transportation would probably have been a donkey or by foot. What mother would have allowed her daughter to go on such a journey at such a time!?

Was her mother dead? Or was she so aware of the true nature of this event that she wholly agreed to whatever Mary did? Or was her opposition just totally ignored by the writers of the Gospels?

If you or I had been her mother, would we not have opposed her journeys, thus trying to hinder the work of the Holy Spirit?

But since we are not Mary’s mother, what would we do if our child, son or daughter, should be called of God to make great personal sacrifice to fulfill God’s call upon their lives?