When we read the Gospels carefully, we see a number of family connections
that help us better understand certain events.
We find one of the most important connections in Luke 1:36, where
the same angel who informs Mary that she will bear a Son also tells
her, "Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her
old age." This same Elizabeth would give birth to a son named John,
who would be known to history as John the Baptist (verses 57-60,80).
The exact relationship between Mary and Elizabeth isn't spelled out,
but apparently they were cousins, which made Jesus and John cousins.
The two of them were clearly aware of each other's ministries, and when
John saw Jesus coming to him to be baptized, he exclaimed, "Behold!
The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).
While it was divinely revealed to John that his cousin Jesus was the
prophesied Messiah (verses 30-34), the fact that John so unhesitatingly
accept-ed the truth of this revelation testifies to the fact that Jesus
had to have lived a sinless and upright life.
Some apostles were cousins
Although few people are aware of it, at least two of Jesus' apostles
also apparently were cousins. We discover this when we compare the lists
of the four women who witnessed Jesus' crucifixion as recorded in Matthew 27:56, Mark 15:40 and John 19:25. Comparing these accounts we see that
the women included:
