There has been much discussion as to the size of Jesus family. From Luke 2:7 "She gave birth to her first child, a son." So we can be sure she gave birth to others. Many make the point that because Jesus father was God and his siblings father was Joseph , all the siblings relationship to Jesus was as a half brother or half sister.
First, according to experts, the Greek word used for brothers in Jesus case was clearly brother not cousin or anything else.
Most agree Jesus first brother was James who became one of the Apostles and authored the book of James.
Then there was Joseph who was named after his father, Mary's husband, Joseph. Most often the first born son would be named after the father but in this case Mary was instructed to name her first born Jesus.
Then there was Simeon of whom nothing is known.
Last, we see Judas (not Judas Iscariot) also named Jude. He is credited with being the author of the book of Jude.
As far as Jesus sisters we know there were at least two because they are always referred to in the plural. There could have been more than two we are not sure.
Verses 8-20 tell us of the shepherds and their encounter.
They were caring for their flocks when an angel told them of the birth of the Savior and how they could find Him. They would be the first of those who would spread the good news of the birth of Christ. Once the angel gave them the news, 13 "Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others - the armies of heaven - praising God and saying, 14 Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased."
I think we have an easy time picturing an angel speaking to the shepherds but are unable to picture he armies of heaven praising God. Can you get a picture of all the angels of heaven? Thousands, millions even billions? Who knows? But given their responsibilities and the size of the universes God created I am sure there were more angels present that we can imagine. So picture angels filling the skies for as far as you can see and beyond singing praises to God! How could anyone doubt the Messiah had been born? How better can the glory of God be viewed?
Once the shepherds had seen the Messiah they told everyone about Him and what they had seen. I compare other peoples experiences in the Bible to how we respond to what we learn. We have not seen the Savior in person but there was a day we came to believe in Him. There was a day when we became excited about Him. They told everyone they met, do we carry this same excitement and desire? Are we overwhelmed with the need to proclaim the Savior has been born? Are we excited to tell a family member? A neighbor? Or do we mostly keep it to ourselves? This is good news for all people! There is hope we can survive our sinful lives and experience eternity with Christ. Why would we keep it to ourselves?
Then 20 "The shepherds went back to their flocks, GLORIFYING AND PRAISING GOD for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them."
They realized what they had been given and that understanding brought them to a place of glorifying and praising God. Maybe we don't really grasp what we have been given, for if we had, would we not continually break out in praise to God? If we truly grasp what has happened how could anything take the place of our desire to be thankful and grateful for a new end to the end of our existence? How could we whine and complain Sunday is our only day to sleep in if we understand we have been given eternity in place of the damnation we have earned?
Verses 25-35 tell of Simeon meeting Mary and Joseph who brought Jesus to the Temple to present Him to the Lord. The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon he would not die before he had seen the Messiah and waited eagerly for that to come to pass. Simeon saw Mary, Joseph and Jesus and took Jesus in his arms and praised God. In verse 30 he said, "I have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared for ALL people. 32 He is a light TO reveal God to the nations, He is the glory of your people Israel!"
Two things to notice; one Jesus brought salvation to all people. All people everywhere. He brings that gift of God to all who believe. Next Jesus presence reveals God to all people like a light reveals what is unseen in darkness. Remember Jesus said if we see Him, then we have seen the Father. Who Jesus is and what He brought and taught gives us insight into who and what the Father is. Jesus came not to bring glory to Himself but to glorify the Father and he states that several times. We should live with the same mission in mind. We should live to bring glory to God. However, it is the way of the world to spend our live bringing glory to ourselves is it not?
Simeon blessed them and said Jesus would cause many to fall and He would be a joy to others. He said Jesus was sent as a sign from God and He will be opposed by many. 34 "As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul." All the hatred and attacks upon Jesus wold be as a sword piercing her heart. The child she had been given and loved with a whole heart would be horribly treated which would pierce her heart. I also wonder if the final blow, the piercing of Jesus side with a spear on while on the cross would be the final thrust of the sword of pain Mary would bear.
We see Anna , a prophet in the Temple. 37 "She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshipping God with fasting and prayer," Here I want to point out that in this verse, fasting and prayer are defined as forms of worship. I do this because we may think of fasting as a torturous sacrifice and a giving of ourselves to God. We may see prayer only as a method of getting things done. But perhaps we can see that when we fast and pray we are worshipping God. They are not some drudgery we "have" to do at least once in our lives. Maybe we can see them as acts of worship and enjoy them and practice them as much as we do singing praises to God .
Verses 41-62 tell us of Jesus in the Temple speaking , learning and asking questions. He stayed behind when Mary and Joseph journeyed home. They discovered He was missing and returned to Jerusalem to look for Him. Three days later they found Him in the Temple amazing those who heard Him. Jesus responds to Mary asking Him about what He had done. 49 "But why did you need to search? He asked. "Didn't you know I must be in my Father's house?" 50 But they didn't understand what He meant." He was missing and they had no idea where he could be as it took them three days to find Him. Jesus may have implied, if they couldn't find Him they should have first looked in the Temple because that was a logical part of His journey on Earth. Also they should have known His purpose would have to start being revealed and life as a normal family would soon begin to change so He could do what He came to do.