Mike+ & Glenn+,

Mike+'s version is more along the lines of what I've read....though I've 
read that the way Jesus' brothers take him to task suggests they are 
older and, thus, in line with tradition, Joseph's sons.  I do think, 
though, that the Perpetual Virginity tradition, which mainly arose 
during the 4th & 5th centuries, has much more to do with Platonism and 
that century's rather dim view of sexual relations.  Certainlyt, 
perpetual virginity has never been a Jewish virtue!  With regards to 
entrusting Mary to John...I don't how much we can really read into it 
considering Jesus' explosive ideas about family.  Loyalty to family is 
one of the ideas he roundly attacks in the Gospels.

Mark+