Conflict and betrayals within the earthly family of Christ: He had four unbelieving brothers and at least two sisters. Mary and Joseph knew their son was the Son of God.

John 7:10-13.

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“But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?” John 7:10-11

Jesus did not reveal to His unbelieving brothers of any intentions of going to the feast, and He made it clear that He would not attend the feast with them. Jesus kept a low profile, and as it was, He went to the feast in secret. As to be expected, the Jews were looking for Jesus at the feast, who were plotting to kill Him, and so they asked His brothers, “Where is He?”

Jesus always knew that those who were against Him would use His family to come against Him. That situation would cause a lot of stress and conflict within the family of Mary and Joseph. Mary and Joseph knew Jesus was the Son of God and was the Christ and they would not do anything to betray Him and would even protect Him from His four unbelieving brothers. We know Jesus had at least two sisters, but whether they came to believe in Him or not is not known.

The names of the brothers and the mention of the sisters of Jesus are referred to in Mark 6:3, and also recorded in Matthew 13:55-57. Today, the siblings of Jesus are referred to as half-brothers or half-sisters. That’s because Jesus and His brothers and sisters had different fathers. The Father of Jesus was God through the virgin birth, but the father of His siblings was Joseph.

After the Feast of Tabernacles, we know two of His brothers did come to accept what Jesus did for them on the Cross for the atonement of sin. They were James and Jude (Judas) who wrote the epistles James and Jude. So, now there is even conflict and division among the believing and unbelieving brothers. From that, we see how the earthly family of Christ could be embroiled in conflict and betrayals.

Jesus wants us to know that in today’s world, there is definitely conflict in the family between those who live for Him and those who live for the thing which forms what they think, feel, do, and tspeak, as quoted,

“Brothers will turn against their own brothers and hand them over to be killed. Fathers will hand over their own children to be killed. Children will fight against their own parents and will have them killed. Everyone will hate you because you follow me. But the one who remains faithful to the end will be saved. When you are treated badly in one city, go to another city. I promise you that you will not finish going to all the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes again.

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace. I came to bring trouble.I have come to make this happen: ‘A son will turn against his father. A daughter will turn against her mother. A daughter-in-law will turn against her mother-in-law. Even members of your own family will be your enemies.’Matthew 10:21-23, 34-36

As Jesus said, He did not come to bring peace but a sword, meaning He offered the people a choice. It was a choice between living for the Pharisees or living for God through the sacrifice Jesus made on the Cross for the remission of sin. That simple choice tore families and the Jewish nation apart. Today, we have the same option of choices, to live by the thing which forms what we think, feel, do and say, or to live for God through Jesus Christ.

The thing which forms thoughts and feelings enables the image of the best to live and speak through people, but we can choose to allow the image of Christ to live and speak through us by the Holy Spirit. Those who choose the thing which forms what they think and speak are conformed to their place in life by what they say and do. They are conformed to their mark in life as they are groomed to the mark of the beast. Those of us who choose Jesus are conformed to our place in Heaven.

Today, the world is filled with controversy and conflict, which will intensify into global tribulation, and will persist until the day Jesus Christ comes back as King of kings. As we know today, the voice of the Gospel of Christ has been silenced, and to speak of Jesus Christ in public places has fearful consequences. As quoted, “And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.” John 7:12-13

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1