Scripture tells us that Mary had other children—James, Joseph, Judas, Simeon and at least two daughters (Mark 6:3). One can only speculate what it was like to live with an older brother like Jesus! But scripture does give us a few glimpses into their relationship.

Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

John 7:3—5 NIV

Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” 

Mark 3:20—22 NIV

Jesus’s brothers did not believe in him! They thought he was crazy! They tried to take charge of him. And they were nowhere to be seen when Jesus was falsely convicted and executed. Perhaps the fact that he wasn’t carrying his weight around the home was the problem. Perhaps his perfection convicted them. Perhaps they were tired of him always being right. Perhaps they resented his popularity. Perhaps they hated being pushed into the spotlight to answer questions about him. After all, to them he was just Jesus, their big brother.

What strain this must have put on Mary’s relationship with them. How hard it must have been to have children who didn’t believe, even after all the years of recounting the angel’s visit, promises, the evacuation, the miracles.

Parent of prodigals! Pierced! Mary knew the pain of a mother whose children do not follow the Savior, even though they have have been raised hearing the Gospel and seeing the handiwork of God. Any mother is torn when her children don’t get along or have each other’s back. Mary balanced the piercing tightrope of supporting her son’s mission and loving her prodigals.

Thankfully, Mary’s pain didn’t last forever. Somewhere along along the way, her prodigals began to hear, listen and believe the truth about their very unique brother. After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to her son, James (1 Corinthians 15:7) and all the brothers were found joined together in constant prayer with the new church (Acts 1:14). James then became a leader of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:13-22, Galatians 2:9) and is believed by most scholars to have written the epistle of James. Mary’s other son, Judas, also wrote an epistle (Jude) and her sons and their wives took missionary journeys (1 Corinthians 9:5). I think we can safely assume that Mary’s stalwart faith and unwavering belief in her son, Jesus, eventually helped her other children to also believe.

Many of my dear friends have children who are prodigals. I often sit and pray with them as tears and sorrow overtake. They wonder what they did wrong. They are quick to blame themselves. Their greatest desire is for their children to love and follow Jesus.

The Apostle John says: No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God (I John 3:9). May this be a comfort to those with prodigals. If the seeds of faith and salvation are in your children, they will not be able to run forever. The Spirit will draw back a wayward child. May we be the example Mary was to her prodigals.

In what ways are you a parent of prodigals? How does Mary’s example encourage you today?

PRAYER

Jesus, thank you that the example of a godly mother can influence a prodigal child. I pray for my friends who know the piercing of this pain. Please help them to have stalwart faith and unwavering belief in you and your Spirit to draw back a wayward child.

Next in Series: Rejected

For an updated version of this, purchase Favored Blessed Pierced: A Fresh Look at Mary of Nazareth, available on Amazon.