Expert: Mrs. Priscilla Lyons - 12/17/2008

Question
QUESTION: Is there any reference to Mary after the crucifixion in the Bible? Was Joseph at the crucifixion? I know these seem trivial, but I was in a discussion and it piqued my interest!

ANSWER: Dear Jill,
   Thanks for writing.  It's thought that Joseph died before the crucifixion because Jesus entrusted the care of his mother to the apostle John. (John 19:26-27)  Jesus' brothers evidently didn't believe Him till after His resurrection (John 7:5)
   Acts 1:14 mentions Mary, mother of Jesus, praying with the apostles in the upper room after Jesus went back to Heaven.
   Good to hear of your interest!
   Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.
   Priscilla

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Are there references to the brothers?

ANSWER: Yes, some references, besides the two mentioned, Acts 1:14 and John 7:5, are Matthew 12:46, 13:55, Mark 3:31, and Luke 8:19.  
   Galatians 1:19 mentions James the Lord's brother, who was probably the church leader James in Acts 12:17 and 15:13, since James the brother of John the apostle had been killed by Herod Acts 12:2.
   Jude 1 mentions Jude, brother of James, which is probably the church leader James mentioned above, brother of Jesus.  See James and Judas mentioned in Matthew 13:55.
   Thanks for your kind rating.
   It's hard to imagine how Jesus' family managed the thought of Him being God!
   Sincerely,
   Priscilla

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks again. Are James and Jude the only siblings we know of? Did Joseph bring these children into the marriage or are these Mary's kids as well? (They would surely be a hard follow-up to the savior, now wouldn't they?)

Answer
Matthew 13:55-56 mentions the brothers by name and sisters without names.  They seem to be contemporaries of Jesus and they don't seem to be in existence during the time Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were in Bethlehem and Egypt, so I surmise they are Mary's kids as well.  Being a godly Jewish woman, Mary would continue having children unless barren (considered a curse) or a widow, which she wasn't when Jesus was 12 years old.
  Normal human siblings would no doubt be jealous of the perfect Jesus.  Even people in His own home area had difficulty accepting Him as God.  Well, actually countless people through the ages have refused to accept Jesus as God.  We humans tend to choke on our own pride, instead of giving our Creator His due.
   Christmas time tends to brings out the best and worst of human responses to God.
   Priscilla