Jesus as a Child and as a Young Man

(The Bible does not tell us much about Jesus as a child or as a young man.)

Mark 6:3 says, "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?..."

It is a surprise to most people, but from this verse we know that Jesus was not an only child.  He had at least 4 brothers and two sisters.  These brothers and sisters could have been sons and daughters of Joseph from another marriage, because we know that Mary had not had children before Jesus was born, or some may have been younger brothers and sisters, born to Mary after Jesus was born. The Bible does not say.

Also, from this verse, we know that Jesus worked as a carpenter.  Most of us knew that Joseph was a carpenter and that Jesus worked with him, but we do not think of Jesus as working as a carpenter even at age 29 and 30.

Mark 15:47  says, "And Mary Magdalene and Mary [the mother] of Joses beheld where he was laid."

From these verses it appears that Mary had at least one other son after Jesus, whose name was Joses, unless Mary is looked at as being "Joses" stepmother.

For further study read: