John Calvin Commentary John 7:5

"For even his brethren did not believe on him." — John 7:5 (ASV)

For even his brethren did not believe in him. From this we infer how small is the value of carnal relationship; for the Holy Spirit stamps with a perpetual mark of infamy the relatives of Christ, because, though convinced by the testimonies of so many works, they did not even then believe.

Therefore, whoever wishes to be considered to be in Christ, as Paul says, let him be a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15); for those who dedicate themselves wholly to God obtain the place of father, mother, and brothers to Christ, and all others he utterly disavows (Matthew 12:50).

So much the more ridiculous is the superstition of Papists, who, disregarding everything else in the Virgin Mary, extol her only on the ground of relationship, bestowing on her the title of the Mother of Christ, as if Christ himself had not reproved the woman who exclaimed from the midst of the crowd, Blessed is the womb that bore thee, and the breasts that suckled thee; for Christ replied, Nay, rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God, (Luke 11:27, 28).