Simon Brother of Jesus

When Simon was eight years old, he started school. By the time he was eleven years old, the teaching that Jesus gave in the home had influenced Simon so much that he did his best to follow Jesus’ advice about how to deal with difficult playmates with nonresistance and persuasion. He was not always successful. But nonresistance was not a rule of the family.

As a result of several family conferences, it was decided that it was unwise for all the boys to take up carpentry. It was thought that by diversifying their trades, they would be prepared to take contracts for putting up entire buildings. And so, when Simon graduated from school at fourteen, he began work with Jesus’ old boyhood playmate and ever-ready defender, Jacob (the stone mason), who later became a business associate of James and Joseph.

In April, 17 CE, when Simon was fifteen and Jesus twenty-three, the family finances were looking slightly better than they had been since their father Joseph’s death. The situation was so much better that Jesus stopped work for three weeks to take Simon to Jerusalem for the Passover.

At Philadelphia, Jesus and Simon became acquainted with a merchant from Damascus who developed such a great liking for the Nazareth duo that he insisted they stop with him at his Jerusalem headquarters.

Simon greatly enjoyed his visit to Jerusalem. He was duly received into the commonwealth of Israel at the Passover consecration of the new sons of the commandment.

On the Sunday after Passover week, Simon and Jesus started on their way back to Nazareth. Simon never forgot what Jesus taught him on this trip. He had always loved Jesus, but now he felt that he had begun to know his father-brother. They had many heart-to-heart talks as they journeyed through the country and prepared their meals by the wayside. They arrived home Thursday noon, and Simon kept the family up late that night relating his experiences.

Part of Simon’s report was that Jesus spent most of their time in Jerusalem "visiting with the strangers, especially those from far countries." This was upsetting to Mary. Jesus’ family never could comprehend his great interest in people, his urge to visit with them, to learn about their way of living, and to explore what they were thinking about. Nevertheless, it appears that Simon still got a lot out of his personal time with Jesus in Jerusalem.

By the time Simon was 22 years old, he and his brother Jude were ready to get married to their sweethearts, but they didn't want to go ahead with marriage plans without Jesus’ consent. Though Simon regarded James as the head of the family in most matters, when it came to getting married, he wanted the blessing of Jesus.

Jesus returned to Nazareth after his twenty-month Mediterranean tour, and Simon and his brother were married at a double wedding in early March of 24 CE.

In March through June, 26 CE, Jesus and his first six apostles were hard at work at Zebedee’s home in Capernaum. Jesus was supplying vital training for them and their future work. And when, at last, the six were sent on their first public preaching tour, Jesus went over to Nazareth to visit Simon and other members of his family living in that vicinity. Jesus did everything humanly possible, consistent with his dedication to the doing of his Father’s will, to retain the confidence and affection of his family.