Here we are again with the next devotional in this Advent series on “Parenting Jesus.”
After the wedding celebration in Cana described in John chapter 2, Jesus went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers and his disciples. This is the apostle John’s first mention of Jesus’ brothers. Often I forget that Jesus had brothers. We tend to think of him as an only child, but we know from Matthew 13:55 that there were at least seven children in the family. Taking the whole family to Capernaum for a few days required no small effort!
Why did the family go along? This period marked the beginning of Jesus public ministry. Was Mary like any proud mother or father who eagerly attends her child’s first football game, piano recital or school play? Did Mary simply want to be on hand for the “grand opening,” to see Jesus begin his work?
Or did Mary remember old Zacharias quoting the prophecy in Isaiah 9, a promise that Jesus would now fulfill in Capernaum, in the land of Zebulun? Read Matthew 4:13-17. Did Mary have a stark premonition that this time period was the beginning not only of Jesus’ ministry but also of the opposition that her son would face? She knew that she could no longer hold on to him as she had when he was 12 years old. She could no longer protect him from those events that would one day pierce her heart. But she still wanted to be there to support her son.
We all want to protect those we care about, especially when they enter into dangerous territory. Will you again place those you love in God’s hands and ask him to protect them from harm today?
