P1538:1, 138:0.1
After preaching the sermon on "The Kingdom," Jesus called the six apostles
together that afternoon and began to disclose his plans for visiting the cities
around and about the Sea of Galilee. His brothers James and Jude were very
much hurt because they were not called to this conference. Up to this time
they had regarded themselves as belonging to Jesus' inner circle of associates.
But Jesus planned to have no close relatives as members of this corps of apostolic
directors of the kingdom. This failure to include James and Jude among the
chosen few, together with his apparent aloofness from his mother ever since
the experience at Cana, was the starting point of an ever-widening gulf between
Jesus and his family. This situation continued throughout his public ministry
-- they very nearly rejected him -- and these differences were not fully removed
until after his death and resurrection. His mother constantly wavered between
attitudes of fluctuating faith and hope, and increasing emotions of disappointment,
humiliation, and despair. Only Ruth, the youngest, remained unswervingly loyal
to her father-brother.
P1538:2, 138:0.2
Until after the resurrection, Jesus' entire family had very little to do with
his ministry. If a prophet is not without honor save in his own country, he
is not without understanding appreciation save in his own family.