An only child often gets a bad rap—Stereotyped as entitled and self-important, people who grow up without siblings aren’t always looked upon favorably—especially by those of us with at least a sibling or two. So often we think of Jesus as an only child, but all of the evangelists who wrote the gospels make some mention of Jesus’ brothers and sisters.
In Mark, a crowd asks of Jesus, “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon, and are his sisters here with us?” (Mark 6:3). What would it have been like to live in the same house and grow up in the same family as the Lord Jesus? To grow up in the shadow of the Savior of the world. The question is not hypothetical, the question is actual. Brothers and sisters living with the incarnate God seems to have been a reality.
Jesus, while being the true son of Mary, was not Joseph’s biological son, so His brothers and sisters were half-brothers and half-sisters, but they lived together from birth as a family. He lived with the family as the earthly son of Mary and Joseph. His brothers were a part of His daily life, as were His sisters, all the way until He developed into manhood.
One of His brothers was James whose life provides some important lessons for us. His conversion gives testimony to the overwhelming power that came from being a witness of Jesus’ resurrection: James turned from being a skeptic ‘My brother the savior of the world?’ to a leader in the church based on his meeting the resurrected Christ. Join us this week at Sedona United Methodist Church as the Rev. Fred Mast shares an inspired message entitled “Sibling Rivalries”.
Sunday mornings we enter the spirit of in-person worship at 9:30am featuring meaningful and uplifting music, special times of prayer and passionate life changing messages designed to move you closer in your relationship with Jesus Christ and others. We look forward to seeing you! We also offer an amazing Spirit Filled On-Line Worship experience each week accessed at www.sedonaumc.org.
On Saturday morning September 4th the men of the Verde Valley are invited to gather for a delicious SUMC Men’s Breakfast at 8:00a.m at Café Jose’s in West Sedona. Bring a canned food item for the Food Bank—All men are welcomed and invited to attend—Come and make some new friendships.
Sedona UMC offers several weekly book and bible studies: Tuesday’s @ 2PM Adult Studies at “The Gathering Place” in West Sedona; Wednesday’s Men’s Bible Study at 9am; and Thursday’s Women’s Bible Study at 9:45am. We offer so many great missions, ministries, and fellowship opportunities at Sedona UMC—Visit our website at us on www.sedonaumc.org and “Like” us on Facebook.
We would love to pray for you! —Prayer requests may be submitted online or by calling us at 928-282-1780. We are conveniently located at 110 Indian Cliffs Road off the Back O’Beyond roundabout on Route 179 in Sedona. All are welcome at Sedona UMC—We look forward to seeing you!—Come and grow with us!
