Could you imagine being raised as Jesus’ half brother or half sister? While your mother would freely confess that your big brother was not conceived by your dad, Joseph, but by the Holy Spirit, it is quite radical to believe that this guy really is the only begotten Son of God. You witnessed Him doing carpentry work with your father. You played games with Him growing up, but now He is healing the sick and resurrecting the dead while the masses are following Him. How could you believe upon Him? Yet, through His resurrection, that is exactly how his half-brothers believed upon Him. 

Mark 6:3 says, “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.” Two of the names mentioned here are James and Jude, both of whom wrote letters in the New Testament. James (1:1) opened his letter by saying, “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.” Jude (1:1) said, “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called.” Both James and Jude considered themselves as servants of Christ, recognizing who Jesus really was, is and is to come. They served Him wholeheartedly, laying their lives down for Him and writing a message to the body of Christ that is still being sounded in churches all across the world. He truly made the unbeliever believe!

Today, we do not need to live as Christian atheists, people who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ but live as though He is still dead and buried in a tomb. He is alive and well, and the power of His resurrection should still be in operation in us today. With signs, wonders and miracles following us, we should definitely make the unbeliever believe, not to mention bearing the fruits of the Spirit to be an effective witness with the love and joy of God our Father! So, just as Jesus proved the naysayers wrong, be encouraged to do what is necessary to stand up for Jesus and be the example of His righteousness to the world.