Is there a living relative of Jesus?

Answer 1

OpinionThe question does not ask 'does Jesus have any descendants?'. If this was the case the answer would be 'no' because nowhere in scripture, nor in secular historical accounts nor in tradition, does it mention that Jesus was married (which would be certainly be mentioned if he was!).

The silly notion that he was married to Mary Magdalene raised its head recently through Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code but is based on nothing at all except Dan Brown's desire to make money by writing something controversial. Nowhere in scripture or history or in verbal history through John to Polycarp, and the early church is there one scrap of evidence that he had any sort of 'relationship' with Mary or any other woman for that matter.

The even sillier claim that he might have had an illegitimate child goes against everything Jesus taught about relationships and marriage and shows a total lack of scriptural understanding - and could be seen tantamount to blasphemy by all but the hardened critic of Christianity.

In addition, some claim that being unmarried as a Jewish man was somehow 'strange' and against Jewish law. However, whilst we are told that Peter indeed was married (or at least we are told he had a mother-in-law), the Jewish Pharisee Saul, who later became the Apostle Paul was not only unmarried but celibate, he himself stating as such in his letters, and, as he believed that Christ's return would be imminent, he even praised celibacy as an institution. Therefore the lack of sexual relationship between Jesus and another woman is supported by not only scripture but the custom of the day, and, as stated above, there is not one scrap of evidence to support such a relationship, but a great deal to support the celibacy of Christ.

The question actually asks 'is there a living relative of Jesus?' In this case the answer is almost certainly 'yes', if we mean biological relatives. Roman Catholics believe in the continued virginal state of Mary, but this doctrine is not to be found anywhere in scripture. We are told in scripture (Matthew 13: 55-56) that Jesus had brothers and sisters:

• "Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?"

OpinionThere are many other references to Jesus' siblings. One can argue that as Christians believe Jesus was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and Mary, these siblings are only half-brothers and half-sisters, but in law they would still be classed as 'relatives'. No one knows very much about these siblings. Judas (mentioned in the quote above) of course was not Judas Iscariot (his name suggests he came from Iscaria not Galilee). We are not told that James was married but probably the other brothers and sisters would be - and have offspring, who in turn would have their own children right through the generations.

In parts of Syria today there are many thousands who still speak Aramaic - the language Jesus spoke, and it is almost certain that at least a few these would, in some way, be very distantly related, at least in law, to Our Lord.

Finally, if we do not consider the biological route, but the spiritual route, then all Christians who follow Christ can be considered as 'brothers' and 'sisters' in Christ - as Paul himself put it - and so, spiritually we are all 'relatives' in a way of Jesus Christ alive today - as Christians believe he is too, of course.

Opinion

The first answer does not take into account other relatives Jesus may have had, such as cousins, which he did have. Or, for that matter, any relation who would have shared a common ancestor with Jesus.

There is no genealogy that I could find quickly on the 'net that shows a family tree for Jesus. Obviously, Saint Joseph was only his foster father. But Mary would have had parents, maybe siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. Anyone who has ever made or seen a Family Tree will acknowledge that with each generation back the number of relatives doubles -- at the very least!

Example: If you start with Mary being Generation 1 (1 person)

Gen 2 Mary's mother and father (2 people)

Gen 3 Mary's ''maternal'' grandmother and grandfather + her ''paternal'' grandmother and grandfather (4 people)

Gen 4 her grandparents' parents, in other words, Mary's great grandparents (8 people) and so on...One hundred and twenty-seven individuals already by the seventh generation and this does not take into account siblings or half-siblings each individual may have had! However, it would seem to me that if someone alive today ''were'' related to Jesus, however distantly, it would be a matter of public knowledge (or public debate). Even if this hypothetical living relative knew of his lineage (Over two thousand years of family tree here, folks, keeping in mind most people couldn't tell you the maiden names of their great grandmas), he'd have plenty of reasons to keep it to himself; yet scientists, theologians and other scholars would probably have ferreted him out by now. So, without having access to Mary's family tree, the best I could say is that it is ''possible'' but ''unlikely'' that Jesus has any living relatives.

Opinion

Adam is the father of all humans existing on earth. Adam also came directly from God. While Jesus's birth came though Abraham's line by Mary, like Adam. Jesus's human existence was,not due to man but from God. Even though Jesus had brothers and sisters, biologically these were from Adam, Jesus was not. There is no one on earth geaneologically related to Jesus. Also, it would be impossible to trace the relatives of Jesus's mother, brothers and sisters because of the destruction of the temple(where all of isreal's record were kept) in 70 AD.Jesus is related, spiritually, to all who faithfully serve his Father in spirit and truth.

Opinion

Jesus had half-brothers and sisters...Im sure that their descendants still live today

Opinion

I believe the idea of Jesus and Mary M. having children is a Gnostic story. If Jesus had a wife and/or children, why does the Bible only mention Him asking John to take care of his mother, and not his wife and children also? That would not make him a very good husband or father if he failed to secure someone to take care of his wife/children, now would it? Since Jesus did not sin, and the Bible says that one who does not provide for his family is worse than an infidel, then I see no way He could have had a wife/children, and yet not have seen to it they were cared for after his death, like he did for his mother with John.

Opinion

Just because Jesus had half-siblings doesn't mean he has any relatives alive today approximately ''two thousand'' years later! It takes far less time than that for entire family lines to die out. I believe that if Jesus had any living relatives today ''someone'' would know of it. This would not likely be a family to simply ignore or forget its heritage.

Opinion

Consider the possibility of Jesus having a true descendant as The Da Vinci Code and other works posit. Sin came into the world through Adam (Romans 5:12-15). Jesus "bypassed" the curse by being born of a virgin. Therefore, any descendant of the man Jesus would also be born without the curse. This goes against the Scripture that '''all''' have sinned and fallen short of God's glory (Romans 3:23).

This doesn't say anything about other relatives, such as descendants of Jesus' half-brothers, cousins, etc. As stated elsewhere here, go back far enough (to Noah, even) and we're all related.

Opinion

Yes, there are millions. Jesus' cousin once removed (the Virgin Mary's cousin), Anna, has a wide and extensively researched bloodline that continues to the present day