Part of the purpose for Jesus coming to earth was to live and experience a typical mortal life. To that end Jesus was the first-born of a family of 9: Jesus, born 7 B.C.; James, 3 B.C., Miriam, 2 B.C.; Joseph, 1 A.D.; Simon, 2 A.D., Martha, 3 A.D., Jude, 5 A.D., Amos, 7 A.D., and Ruth, 9 A.D. who was born about 8 months after the death of her father, Joseph, at which time Jesus became head of the household at age 15.

A similar question was recently asked: “Can you give me the Biblical references to the physical brothers and sisters of Jesus.” to which the reply was:

The Gospel According to St. Matthew – –

27:56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

The Gospel According to St. Mark – –

6:3. Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

15:40. There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians – –

1:19. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.

The General Epistle of Jude – –

1:1. Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

These references were found by a text search for “brother” and “casting lots” in the King James text version of the New Testament. There may be other references as well, but these were the most obvious.

It is thought by some that most references to Jesus’ family, if they ever did exist, may have been removed from what became our Scripture during the early Church’s attempt to deify Mary. The best existing references to Jesus’ earth family, mother, father, brothers and sisters, will be found in The Urantia Book which is produced from the angelic records made at that time.

I am including a link to one of our features on Truthbook which explores The Siblings of Jesus. I hope you will enjoy it!