Dear Explorer,
Read Matthew 13:53-58
And
Read Mark 6:1-6
We get some interesting information about Jesus' earthly family. He apparently had 4 half-brothers and several half-sisters. (A half-brother or half-sister means that they share only one parent – not two. In Jesus' case, they shared the same mother). We know that James and Judas (or Jude) became followers, but I don't know if the others ever invited Jesus into their lives as their Messiah.
Now Jesus has returned to Judea to the city of Nazareth where his brothers and sisters and mother still lived. We've talked before that the people He grew up with just refused to believe that He could be the Messiah because they felt He was no different from them – even though He had lived a sinless life before them.
Know that our faith pleases God and opens the door for healings and miracles and provision. But know that it is not our faith that causes it – it is God who provides the healings and miracles and provision. Don't become focused on how much faith we need to have to get God to do our bidding. Then ‘faith' becomes an idol. We don't praise our faith for healing or provision. We praise God because He's the One who provides for us. But our lack of faith or unbelief can block God's desire to provide for us because He knows that we are not ready to receive what He has planned.
Jesus continued to minister in the area of Judea for a while.
In His service, dale