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Happy Holy Family Day!
Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI
Biblical Authority Ministries, December 30, 2025 (Donate)
Today is the fifth day of Christmas! Holy Family Day is
obviously about remembrance of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. But it is deeper than
that. Naturally, on Christmas, we tend discuss the first nativity surrounding Mary
and Joseph
and Christ’s entrance into the world.
But today is specifically about the family and to think more deeply
about them. Joseph’s obedience to God was incredible. Leading the family to
safety twice (leaving Bethlehem in the “nick of time” and turning and settling
in Nazareth!)
Before I go any further, Protestants generally agree on Holy
Family Day, however the Anglicans (Church of England) attaches Thomas
Beckett Day to the fifth day of Christmas. It is not uncommon for various
local, denominational, or regional churches to vary some of the twelve days of
Christmas and that helps in the local unity. But most celebrate Holy Family
Day.
When we think of the family of Christ, we tend to think of
Joseph and Mary and for a time that was the core of their family. After Jesus
was born to the virgin
Mary, she had other kids according to the Bible.
“Is this not the carpenter, the Son
of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters
here with us?” And they were offended at Him. (Mark 6:3, NKJV)
During Holy Family Day, it is good to remember the younger, half-siblings of Jesus. Two of which went on to write New Testament books (James and Jude/Judas—not to be confused with the betrayer who was Judas Iscariot). James was even elevated to the level of an Apostle (Galatians 1;19), like Paul (Romans 1:1) and Barnabas (Acts 14:14).
Let’s also not forget Mary and Joseph’s parents. One father is
mention in Matthew (Joseph’s father). His name was Jacob (Matthew 1:16). In
Luke 3, Mary’s father is listed in the full genealogy of Mary with Heli as her father.
Heli is a variation of the name Eli. Both Mary and Joseph were of the house and
lineage of David, one through Solomon and the other through Nathan—two of David’s
sons.
With this mind, it is likely Mary and Joseph didn’t travel
to Bethlehem alone, but in a caravan with their parents and siblings, tools, animals, and so on. We often have
the misconception that they travelled alone on a donkey. But there were surely
many others, and this permits safer travels.
On Holy Family Day, it is a good and common tradition to
ask God to bless our relatives and extended family.
Bodie Hodge, Ken
Ham's son in law, has been an apologist since 1998 helping out in various
churches and running an apologetics website. He spent 21 years working at Answers
in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding
news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight
Council.
Bodie
launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal
website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken
on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and
universities. He is married with four children.
