In this five minute video I answer the question of whether Jesus had brothers and sisters. Did Mary and Joseph have children together after Jesus was born, or did Mary remain perpetually a virgin, as the Catholic Church teaches?
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This was great, Devin!
It reminded me of a series I had on my blog the year I began it. My husband and I watched The Nativity Story and I posted a review by an Orthodox writer on the blog that was inaccurate in some ways. I posted my reaction to that review and my husband posted on the life-long virginity of the Mother of God as well.
http://charmingthebirdsfromthetrees.blogspot.com/2006/12/nativity-story.html
http://charmingthebirdsfromthetrees.blogspot.com/2006/12/my-take-on-nativity-story-film.html
http://charmingthebirdsfromthetrees.blogspot.com/2006/12/response-by-father-john.html
Thanks Emily! I neglected to mention in the video that (of course) the Orthodox also affirm Mary’s perpetual virginity, since this podcast is geared to Joe Protestant who searches in Google and finds the video, and most Protestants (sadly) have no idea who the Orthodox are.
Like you, I found the Nativity Story movie a mixed bag. On the one hand, it was great to see a big-time movie about these holy events and persons of our Faith, but on the other hand seeing a young Mary “sass” her parents and act like a 21st century petulant teenager was disappointing (along with some of the other things you mentioned that, historically, were inaccurate).
God bless!
Thanks for this Devin. You do a good job of making your points. I did wonder why you left out what I consider to be the most convincing argument. That is Mary’s response to the angel’s statement that she would have a son. She asked, “How can this be?” That is not the response of a woman planning on marrying and having sex. It strongly suggests Mary and Joseph had already agreed to a marriage without sex. This is supported in Matthew 1. Joseph is recorded as Marrying Mary and not having sex with her. The word “until” is the focus of protestants. You respond to that. But what about the fact that the angel never tells Joseph not to have sex with Mary. Would that instruction not be needed if that was not already their plan?
Good point, Randy. That is a good argument as well, but in my experience Protestants brush it aside with something like “since Mary and Joseph weren’t really married yet, they hadn’t had sexual relations so of course Mary thought it was impossible for her to conceive at that time.”
Of course, we believe that that interpretation is incorrect, but trying to demonstrate that to a Protestant is hard, because why should they take your interpretation over their own?
I know I found it convincing. Luke says they were engaged. I remember being engaged and talk of children was not uncommon. It never occurred to me to respond, “How can this be?”
That’s good to know that you found it convincing. It shows me that different arguments and ideas make a stronger impact on different people. I recall that the NIV translates it something like “how can this be, since I am a virgin,” which most Evangelicals would then think is the obvious interpretation–”oh of course, Mary had not had sexual relations ever so she was bewildered that the angel would tell her that she would be pregnant.”
In any event, your point is good. Maybe you will need to join me in making some video podcasts soon.