The Obscure Years XI

With so many children coming with such regularity, Mary must have had her hands full.  After Jesus was born there were four more boys born and at least two girls.  It is likely there were any unused and dull moments.  The possibilities bring to mind Susanna Wesley who had nineteen children with nine of them dying at birth.  Historians speaks of her as a disciplined mother who spent intentional time with each of her children each day.  Perhaps, Mary and Joseph had a similar home life, or then again, it may have been mostly sheer chaos.  Here is one of those Biblical mysteries we will not know in this life.    

For those who are prone to think of Jesus as an only child who had little difficulties with which to deal, this may change the picture a bit.  As we remember the Old Testament families of Genesis and beyond, we know that even those families with faithful parents had problems rearing children.  All the things that could go wrong often seemed to go wrong.  While Jesus was not sold into slavery by His jealous brothers, it is not hard to imagine that they might have had some degree of resentment toward Him as the oldest and One who seemed so favored at birth.    

Exactly how life was lived within the home when brothers and sisters were constantly being born is something we do not know about Jesus.  It is indeed a part of those obscure years.  It would probably be a mistake to think that the home was empty of strife just as it would be a mistake to think that it was always chaotic.  Mary and Joseph surely brought their faith to bear in the lives of their children.  They were faithful in their observance of community religious practices and faithful in their obedience to God.  Their spiritual influence did not create a  perfect home empty of the things with which families struggle, but it was an influence which provided guidance for everyone.