Why It Matters That Jesus Came From a Dysfunctional Family
The story of Jesus’ birth is well-known: a virgin named Mary is visited by the angel Gabriel, who tells her that she will bear a son who will be the son of God. But what’s often overlooked is the fact that Jesus’ family was far from perfect. In fact, his family was dysfunctional in many ways.
Mary, Jesus’ mother, was engaged to Joseph, but they were not yet married when Gabriel appeared to her. This was a scandalous situation in Jewish culture, as an unmarried woman who became pregnant was considered to be in a state of sin. Mary’s pregnancy was a source of shame and embarrassment for her and her family.
Joseph, Jesus’ father, was also not the most stable person. According to the biblical account, Joseph was a carpenter who was visited by an angel in a dream, telling him to take Mary as his wife and name the child Jesus. But Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus, which would have been a source of shame and embarrassment for him as well.
Jesus’ family was also poor and struggled to make ends meet. The Bible describes them as living in a small, humble home in Nazareth, and Mary and Joseph had to rely on the charity of others to survive.
Despite their difficulties, Jesus’ family was not without its conflicts. The Bible describes Mary and Joseph as having different personalities and approaches to life, which sometimes led to disagreements. Mary was a devout Jew who was deeply committed to her faith, while Joseph was more practical and focused on providing for his family.
Jesus’ family was also marked by tragedy. His father, Joseph, died when Jesus was still a young man, and his mother, Mary, had to raise him and his siblings on her own. This would have been a difficult and challenging experience for Jesus, who was already struggling to come to terms with his own identity and purpose.
So why does it matter that Jesus came from a dysfunctional family? For one thing, it shows that Jesus was not immune to the challenges and difficulties that we all face. He was not born into a perfect family, and he did not have an easy life. Instead, he had to navigate the complexities and challenges of his own family dynamics, just like we do.
Moreover, Jesus’ family was not without its strengths and virtues. Despite their difficulties, they were a loving and supportive family who cared deeply for one another. Mary and Joseph were devoted to each other and to their children, and they worked together to provide for their family’s needs.
In the end, Jesus’ family was a complex and multifaceted one, full of both strengths and weaknesses. But it is precisely this complexity that makes Jesus’ story so compelling and relatable. He was not a superhero who came from a perfect family, but a real person who came from a real family with all its imperfections and challenges. And it is this humanity that makes his message of love and redemption all the more powerful and relevant to our own lives.