I was thinking about young kid Jesus the other day.
Jesus didn’t have a surname. Not really. His full name was “Yeshua Ben Yussuf,” which translates as “Jesus, son of Joseph.”
However, back in the first century, surname’s weren’t really a thing, particularly not for carpenters. So, in modern terms, he would have been known as Jesus Josephson.
Many people think of him as Joseph and Mary’s only kid. He definitely was the standout in the family, as far as I know. I don’t recall hearing much about the other Josephson children, quite honestly. But sure enough, they were there.
Thank goodness, because “only children” get a bad rap in my book. They are often stereotyped as entitled and self-important. Many times, people who grow up without siblings aren’t always looked upon favorably—especially by those of us with at least a sibling or two.
But here it is. Jesus may have seemed like an only child at times in the gospels. But, all of the four evangelists made some mention of his brothers and sisters.
In Mark, a crowd asks of Jesus, “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are his sisters here with us?” (6:3).
And then, in Luke, when Jesus is told by a crowd gathered to hear him speak, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you,” Jesus famously rejects them: “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it” (8:19-21).
But there they were. The Josephson kids. Standing in the wings, old James, Joses, Judas, Simon, and unnamed sisters.
But now, the question must be asked, what would Jesus do? In this world, in our recent times, we spend more time with our siblings than anyone else, at least to a point.
A Pennsylvania State University study revealed that by the time children turn 11, they spend about 33% of their spare time with their siblings. And some of that continues into adulthood for many people. Even after some of us grow up and get busy with our lives, we spend about 11 hours a week with our siblings. This duration escalates to 17 hours if the siblings are part of a big family.
For me, it isn’t true. I rarely see my siblings, as we are spread out across the country. There is a clump of four of us still in Ohio, but different cities. So.
Scientists have studied all sorts of things about siblings. For instance, they found that “fighting” between siblings is natural. A study has said that siblings between 3 and 7 years old are involved in fights 3 1/2 times an hour. The frequency is even worse with toddlers. They have a skirmish every 10 minutes.
The next item in studies is always curious to me. They have found that people are more likely to follow gender rules if they have a sibling of the opposite sex. The brother / sister thing. Girls try to adhere to the traditional feminine traits more while their brothers try to be all rough and tumble.
Truthfully? I don’t know what happened with our family. I think our parents always told us to be ourselves, which might be what happened. Or we are genetically predisposed. So. Seven kids. Five girls. Two boys. Three of us are gay. One is bisexual. Currently, six of us live with a spouse or partner. Call the research center, I guess.
There’s a lot more about siblings and scientific studies. But the last item I’ll mention is favoritism. Parents DO have a favorite among their children. I know this to be true. Research revealed that 65% of mothers and 70% of fathers show a preference for one child over another.
Parents will deny this time and time again. But we know what the deal is, as children. We can tell. Science has even stated we are well-aware of this situation. Those same studies say that the truth about being “less than favorite” damages self-esteem and confidence in the long run.
Tying this in with Jesus. Clearly, he was the favorite. The bible also says that God chose his only son. Technically, the rest of those Josephson kids were half-brothers and sisters, if you follow Mary’s immaculate conception. Even still, I bet they had issues with the wonder kid.
============
“Adults are just obsolete children and the hell with them.”
― Dr. Seuss
=============
“It’s never too late to have a happy childhood.”
― Tom Robbins, Still Life with Woodpecker
==============
“For in every adult there dwells the child that was, and in every child there lies the adult that will be.”
― John Connolly, The Book of Lost Things
============
Jesus, oh brother. I have them too.
