Description
Charge Concerning Her
The JST and the Compassionate Christ
What I am about to share comes of my own life experiences, independent of anyone else—in fact, what I’m going to share is likely to put some people off and infuriate others.
The Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible is the most correct and powerful Bible on earth today. It comes closer to the mind and heart of the original authors than any other translation and reveals the doctrine of Christ in greater plainness and purity.
Moreover, and most important, it reveals the Lord Jesus Christ as more divine, more perfect, more powerful, more compassionate.
Many examples can be cited, but I share just one.
Somewhere in the Galilee, early in the Savior’s ministry, He “went into an house, and the multitude cometh together again so that they could not so much as eat bread” (Mark 3:19-20).
The crowd gathers and Jesus begins teaching. “While He was yet with them, and while He was yet speaking, there came then some His brethren and His mother, and, standing without, sent unto Him, calling unto Him” (Mark 3:31).
Can you visualize the scene, Jesus is in the house, surrounded by and teaching a large crowd. His mother and brothers come to speak to Him. They call to Him and send a message in to Him that they need to talk to Him.
This is how the King James Version of the Bible describes what followed:
“And the multitude sat about Him, and they said unto Him, Behold, thy mother and brethren without seek for thee. And He answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or who are my brethren? And He looked round about on them which sat about Him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sisters, and mother” (Mark 3:32-35).
As it stands, the text leads you to conclude that he snubbed her—that He was too busy where He was to take the time for her. The people He was teaching were now His family. A troubling passage to say the least…
However, the Joseph Smith Translation reveals this moment closer to the Lord’s own heart and what actually happened. It reads:
“Thy mother and thy brethren stand without desiring to speak with thee. But He answered and said unto the man that told Him, Who is my mother? And who are my brethren? And He stretched forth His hand toward His disciples and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! And He gave them charge concerning her, saying, I go my way, for my Father hath sent me. And whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in Heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (JST Matthew 12:47-50).
The JST casts the passage in an entirely different light. Jesus never renounced His love and affection for His earthly mother and family, rather, He taught that all who would obey the Father would become His family, loved as He loved His own mother. And, Jesus could not attend to His mother at that moment because His Father had sent Him elsewhere. His loyalty was first to His Father, but He did not ignore or scorn her. Rather, He gave others, probably his disciples, charge to see to her needs when He could not—something He would do again at the Cross.
More kindness, more compassion, and more dedication to the Father—a greater and more divine Christ revealed by the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible. One small example of many that could be cited.
Sources:
Mark 3:19-20, 31, 32-35
JST Matthew 12:47-50
