Kapitel 123		Paper 123
Jesu Tidlige Barndom		The Early Childhood of Jesus
123:0.1 (1355.1) PÅ GRUND AF usikkerheden og bekymringerne under opholdet i Betlehem fravænnede Maria ikke barnet, før de var kommet sikkert til Alexandria, hvor familien kunne slå sig ned og leve et normalt liv. De boede hos slægtninge, og Josef var i stand til at forsørge sin familie, da han fandt arbejde kort efter deres ankomst. Han var ansat som tømrer i flere måneder og blev derefter forfremmet til formand for en stor gruppe arbejdere, der var ansat på en af de offentlige bygninger, der var under opførelse. Denne nye erfaring gav ham idéen om at blive entreprenør og bygherre, når de vendte tilbage til Nazaret.		123:0.1 (1355.1) OWING to the uncertainties and anxieties of their sojourn in Bethlehem, Mary did not wean the babe until they had arrived safely in Alexandria, where the family was able to settle down to a normal life. They lived with kinsfolk, and Joseph was well able to support his family as he secured work shortly after their arrival. He was employed as a carpenter for several months and then elevated to the position of foreman of a large group of workmen employed on one of the public buildings then in process of construction. This new experience gave him the idea of becoming a contractor and builder after their return to Nazareth.
123:0.2 (1355.2) I alle disse første år af Jesu hjælpeløse barndom holdt Maria en lang og konstant vagt for, at der ikke skulle ske hendes barn noget, som kunne bringe hans velfærd i fare eller på nogen måde forstyrre hans fremtidige mission på jorden; ingen mor var nogensinde mere hengiven over for sit barn. I det hjem, hvor Jesus tilfældigvis befandt sig, var der to andre børn på hans alder, og blandt de nærmeste naboer var der seks andre, hvis alder var tilstrækkelig tæt på hans egen til at gøre dem til acceptable legekammerater. Først var Maria indstillet på at holde Jesus tæt ved sin side. Hun frygtede, at der ville ske ham noget, hvis han fik lov til at lege i haven med de andre børn, men Josef kunne med hjælp fra sine slægtninge overbevise hende om, at en sådan fremgangsmåde ville fratage Jesus den nyttige erfaring, det er at lære at tilpasse sig børn på sin egen alder. Og Maria indså, at et sådant program med unødig beskyttelse og usædvanlig omsorg kunne have tendens til at gøre ham selvbevidst og noget selvcentreret, og gav til sidst sit samtykke til planen om at lade det forjættede barn vokse op som ethvert andet barn; og selvom hun var lydig mod denne beslutning, gjorde hun det til sin opgave altid at holde vagt, mens de små mennesker legede i huset eller i haven. Kun en kærlig mor kan forstå den byrde, som Mary bar i sit hjerte for sin søns sikkerhed i disse år af hans spædbarnstid og tidlige barndom.		123:0.2 (1355.2) All through these early years of Jesus’ helpless infancy, Mary maintained one long and constant vigil lest anything befall her child which might jeopardize his welfare or in any way interfere with his future mission on earth; no mother was ever more devoted to her child. In the home where Jesus chanced to be there were two other children about his age, and among the near neighbors there were six others whose ages were sufficiently near his own to make them acceptable play-fellows. At first Mary was disposed to keep Jesus close by her side. She feared something might happen to him if he were allowed to play in the garden with the other children, but Joseph, with the assistance of his kinsfolk, was able to convince her that such a course would deprive Jesus of the helpful experience of learning how to adjust himself to children of his own age. And Mary, realizing that such a program of undue sheltering and unusual protection might tend to make him self-conscious and somewhat self-centered, finally gave assent to the plan of permitting the child of promise to grow up just like any other child; and though she was obedient to this decision, she made it her business always to be on watch while the little folks were at play about the house or in the garden. Only an affectionate mother can know the burden that Mary carried in her heart for the safety of her son during these years of his infancy and early childhood.
123:0.3 (1355.3) I løbet af de to år, de opholdt sig i Alexandria, havde Jesus et godt helbred og fortsatte med at vokse normalt. Bortset fra nogle få venner og slægtninge fik ingen at vide, at Jesus var et “løftets barn.” En af Josefs slægtninge afslørede dette for nogle få venner i Memphis, efterkommere af den fjerne Ikhnaton, og de samledes sammen med en lille gruppe troende fra Alexandria i Josefs slægtninges palads, kort tid før de vendte tilbage til Palæstina, for at ønske Nazaret-familien alt godt og vise barnet deres respekt. Ved denne lejlighed forærede de forsamlede venner Jesus en komplet kopi af den græske oversættelse af de hebraiske skrifter. Men denne kopi af de jødiske hellige skrifter fik Josef først i hænderne, da både han og Maria endelig havde afvist deres memphis- og alexandrinske venners invitation til at blive i Egypten. Disse troende insisterede på, at skæbnens barn ville være i stand til at udøve en langt større indflydelse på verden som beboer i Alexandria end på noget andet sted i Palæstina. Disse overtalelser forsinkede deres afrejse til Palæstina i nogen tid, efter at de havde modtaget nyheden om Herodes’ død.		123:0.3 (1355.3) Throughout the two years of their sojourn at Alexandria, Jesus enjoyed good health and continued to grow normally. Aside from a few friends and relatives no one was told about Jesus’ being a “child of promise.” One of Joseph’s relatives revealed this to a few friends in Memphis, descendants of the distant Ikhnaton, and they, with a small group of Alexandrian believers, assembled at the palatial home of Joseph’s relative-benefactor a short time before the return to Palestine to wish the Nazareth family well and to pay their respects to the child. On this occasion the assembled friends presented Jesus with a complete copy of the Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures. But this copy of the Jewish sacred writings was not placed in Joseph’s hands until both he and Mary had finally declined the invitation of their Memphis and Alexandrian friends to remain in Egypt. These believers insisted that the child of destiny would be able to exert a far greater world influence as a resident of Alexandria than of any designated place in Palestine. These persuasions delayed their departure for Palestine for some time after they received the news of Herod’s death.
123:0.4 (1356.1) Josef og Maria tog endelig afsked med Alexandria på en båd, der tilhørte deres ven Ezraeon, med kurs mod Joppe, hvortil de ankom sidst i august år 4 f.v.t. De tog direkte til Betlehem, hvor de tilbragte hele september måned med at rådføre sig med deres venner og slægtninge om, hvorvidt de skulle blive der eller vende tilbage til Nazaret.		123:0.4 (1356.1) Joseph and Mary finally took leave of Alexandria on a boat belonging to their friend Ezraeon, bound for Joppa, arriving at that port late in August of the year 4 b.c. They went directly to Bethlehem, where they spent the entire month of September in counsel with their friends and relatives concerning whether they should remain there or return to Nazareth.
123:0.5 (1356.2) Maria havde aldrig helt opgivet tanken om, at Jesus skulle vokse op i Betlehem, Davids by. Josef troede ikke rigtig på, at deres søn skulle blive en kongelig befrier af Israel. Desuden vidste han, at han ikke selv var en ægte efterkommer af David; at han blev regnet blandt Davids afkom skyldtes, at en af hans forfædre var blevet optaget i den davidiske slægtslinje. Maria mente selvfølgelig, at Davids by var det mest passende sted at opdrage den nye kandidat til Davids trone, men Josef foretrak at tage chancen med Herodes Antipas frem for med hans bror Archelaus. Han frygtede meget for barnets sikkerhed i Betlehem eller i nogen anden by i Judæa, og han formodede, at Archelaus ville være mere tilbøjelig til at forfølge sin fars, Herodes, truende politik, end Antipas ville i Galilæa. Og ud over alle disse grunde foretrak Josef åbenlyst Galilæa som et bedre sted at opfostre og uddanne barnet, men det tog tre uger at overvinde Marias indvendinger.		123:0.5 (1356.2) Mary had never fully given up the idea that Jesus ought to grow up in Bethlehem, the City of David. Joseph did not really believe that their son was to become a kingly deliverer of Israel. Besides, he knew that he himself was not really a descendant of David; that his being reckoned among the offspring of David was due to the adoption of one of his ancestors into the Davidic line of descent. Mary, of course, thought the City of David the most appropriate place in which the new candidate for David’s throne could be reared, but Joseph preferred to take chances with Herod Antipas rather than with his brother Archelaus. He entertained great fears for the child’s safety in Bethlehem or in any other city in Judea, and surmised that Archelaus would be more likely to pursue the menacing policies of his father, Herod, than would Antipas in Galilee. And besides all these reasons, Joseph was outspoken in his preference for Galilee as a better place in which to rear and educate the child, but it required three weeks to overcome Mary’s objections.
123:0.6 (1356.3) Den første oktober havde Josef overbevist Maria og alle deres venner om, at det var bedst for dem at vende tilbage til Nazaret. I begyndelsen af oktober år 4 f.Kr. tog de derfor af sted fra Betlehem til Nazaret via Lydda og Skythopolis. De startede tidligt en søndag morgen, Maria og barnet red på deres nyerhvervede trækdyr, mens Josef og fem ledsagende slægtninge fortsatte til fods; Josefs slægtninge nægtede at lade dem tage turen til Nazaret alene. De frygtede at tage til Galilæa via Jerusalem og Jordandalen, og de vestlige ruter var ikke helt sikkert for to enlige rejsende med et lille barn.		123:0.6 (1356.3) By the first of October Joseph had convinced Mary and all their friends that it was best for them to return to Nazareth. Accordingly, early in October, 4 b.c., they departed from Bethlehem for Nazareth, going by way of Lydda and Scythopolis. They started out early one Sunday morning, Mary and the child riding on their newly acquired beast of burden, while Joseph and five accompanying kinsmen proceeded on foot; Joseph’s relatives refused to permit them to make the trip to Nazareth alone. They feared to go to Galilee by Jerusalem and the Jordan valley, and the western routes were not altogether safe for two lone travelers with a child of tender years.
1. Tilbage i Nazaret ^top		1. Back in Nazareth ^top
123:1.1 (1356.4) På rejsens fjerde dag nåede gruppen sit bestemmelsessted i sikkerhed. De ankom uanmeldt til hjemmet i Nazaret, som i mere end tre år havde været beboet af en af Josefs gifte brødre, som virkelig var overrasket over at se dem; de var gået så stille med dørene, at hverken Josefs eller Marias familie vidste, at de overhovedet havde forladt Alexandria. Den næste dag flyttede Josefs bror med sin familie, og Maria kunne for første gang siden Jesu fødsel slå sig ned med sin lille familie og nyde livet i deres eget hjem. På mindre end en uge fik Josef arbejde som tømrer, og de var ovenud lykkelige.		123:1.1 (1356.4) On the fourth day of the journey the party reached its destination in safety. They arrived unannounced at the Nazareth home, which had been occupied for more than three years by one of Joseph’s married brothers, who was indeed surprised to see them; so quietly had they gone about their business that neither the family of Joseph nor that of Mary knew they had even left Alexandria. The next day Joseph’s brother moved his family, and Mary, for the first time since Jesus’ birth, settled down with her little family to enjoy life in their own home. In less than a week Joseph secured work as a carpenter, and they were supremely happy.
123:1.2 (1356.5) Jesus var omkring tre år og to måneder gammel, da de vendte tilbage til Nazareth. Han havde klaret alle disse rejser meget godt og havde et fremragende helbred og var fuld af barnlig glæde og begejstring over at have sine egne lokaler at løbe rundt i og nyde. Men han savnede i høj grad samværet med sine legekammerater fra Alexandria.		123:1.2 (1356.5) Jesus was about three years and two months old at the time of their return to Nazareth. He had stood all these travels very well and was in excellent health and full of childish glee and excitement at having premises of his own to run about in and to enjoy. But he greatly missed the association of his Alexandrian playmates.
123:1.3 (1356.6) På vejen til Nazaret havde Josef overbevist Maria om, at det ville være uklogt at sprede rygtet blandt deres galilæiske venner og slægtninge om, at Jesus var et løftets barn. De blev enige om at afholde sig fra at nævne disse ting for nogen. Og de var begge meget trofaste med at holde dette løfte.		123:1.3 (1356.6) On the way to Nazareth Joseph had persuaded Mary that it would be unwise to spread the word among their Galilean friends and relatives that Jesus was a child of promise. They agreed to refrain from all mention of these matters to anyone. And they were both very faithful in keeping this promise.
123:1.4 (1357.1) Hele Jesu fjerde år var en periode med normal fysisk udvikling og usædvanlig mental aktivitet. I mellemtiden havde han knyttet sig meget tæt til en nabodreng på sin egen alder ved navn Jakob. Jesus og Jakob var altid glade i deres leg, og de voksede op til at blive gode venner og loyale kammerater.		123:1.4 (1357.1) Jesus’ entire fourth year was a period of normal physical development and of unusual mental activity. Meantime he had formed a very close attachment for a neighbor boy about his own age named Jacob. Jesus and Jacob were always happy in their play, and they grew up to be great friends and loyal companions.
123:1.5 (1357.2) Den næste vigtige begivenhed i denne Nazaret-families liv var fødslen af det andet barn, Jakob, i de tidlige morgentimer den 2. april år 3 f.v.t. Jesus var begejstret ved tanken om at få en lillebror, og han stod rundt omkring i timevis bare for at observere babyens tidlige aktiviteter.		123:1.5 (1357.2) The next important event in the life of this Nazareth family was the birth of the second child, James, in the early morning hours of April 2, 3 b.c. Jesus was thrilled by the thought of having a baby brother, and he would stand around by the hour just to observe the baby’s early activities.
123:1.6 (1357.3) Det var ved midsommer samme år, at Josef byggede et lille værksted tæt på landsbyens kilde og i nærheden af karavanepladsen. Herefter lavede han meget lidt tømrerarbejde om dagen. Han havde to af sine brødre som medarbejdere og flere andre mekanikere, som han sendte ud for at arbejde, mens han blev i værkstedet og lavede åg og plove og andet træarbejde. Han arbejdede også med læder, reb og lærred. Og da Jesus voksede op, brugte han, når han ikke var i skole, sin tid nogenlunde ligeligt mellem at hjælpe sin mor med de hjemlige pligter og se sin far arbejde i værkstedet, mens han lyttede til samtalen og sladderen fra karavaneførerne og passagererne fra de fire verdenshjørner.		123:1.6 (1357.3) It was midsummer of this same year that Joseph built a small workshop close to the village spring and near the caravan tarrying lot. After this he did very little carpenter work by the day. He had as associates two of his brothers and several other mechanics, whom he sent out to work while he remained at the shop making yokes and plows and doing other woodwork. He also did some work in leather and with rope and canvas. And Jesus, as he grew up, when not at school, spent his time about equally between helping his mother with home duties and watching his father work at the shop, meanwhile listening to the conversation and gossip of the caravan conductors and passengers from the four corners of the earth.
123:1.7 (1357.4) I juli dette år, en måned før Jesus fyldte fire år, spredte et udbrud af ondartede tarmproblemer sig over hele Nazaret på grund af kontakten med de rejsende i karavanen. Maria blev så bekymret over faren for, at Jesus skulle blive udsat for denne sygdomsepidemi, at hun pakkede begge sine børn sammen og flygtede til sin brors landsted, flere kilometer syd for Nazaret på Megiddo-vejen nær Sarid. De vendte ikke tilbage til Nazaret i mere end to måneder; Jesus nød i høj grad dette, hans første oplevelse på en gård.		123:1.7 (1357.4) In July of this year, one month before Jesus was four years old, an outbreak of malignant intestinal trouble spread over all Nazareth from contact with the caravan travelers. Mary became so alarmed by the danger of Jesus being exposed to this epidemic of disease that she bundled up both her children and fled to the country home of her brother, several miles south of Nazareth on the Megiddo road near Sarid. They did not return to Nazareth for more than two months; Jesus greatly enjoyed this, his first experience on a farm.
2. Det femte år (2 f.kr.) ^top		2. The Fifth Year (2 B.C.) ^top
123:2.1 (1357.5) Lidt mere end et år efter hjemkomsten til Nazaret nåede drengen Jesus alderen for sin første personlige og helhjertede moralske beslutning; og der kom en Tankeretter til at bo hos ham, en guddommelig gave fra Paradisets Fader, som tidligere havde tjent sammen med Makiventa Melkisedek, og som således fik erfaringen med at fungere i forbindelse med inkarnationen af et overmenneskeligt væsen, der levede i dødeligt køds skikkelse. Denne begivenhed fandt sted den 11. februar år 2 f.v.t. Jesus var ikke mere bevidst om den guddommelige Ledsagers ankomst end de millioner og atter millioner af andre børn, der før og siden den dag ligeledes har modtaget disse Tankerettere til at bo i deres sind og arbejde for den ultimative åndeliggørelse af disse sind og den evige overlevelse af deres udødelige sjæle, der er under udvikling.		123:2.1 (1357.5) In something more than a year after the return to Nazareth the boy Jesus arrived at the age of his first personal and wholehearted moral decision; and there came to abide with him a Thought Adjuster, a divine gift of the Paradise Father, which had aforetime served with Machiventa Melchizedek, thus gaining the experience of functioning in connection with the incarnation of a supermortal being living in the likeness of mortal flesh. This event occurred on February 11, 2 b.c. Jesus was no more aware of the coming of the divine Monitor than are the millions upon millions of other children who, before and since that day, have likewise received these Thought Adjusters to indwell their minds and work for the ultimate spiritualization of these minds and the eternal survival of their evolving immortal souls.
123:2.2 (1357.6) På denne dag i februar ophørte universets herskeres direkte og personlige tilsyn med integriteten af Mikaels barnlige inkarnation. Fra det tidspunkt og gennem hele den menneskelige udfoldelse af inkarnationen var Jesu formynderskab bestemt til at hvile i denne indre Retters og de tilknyttede serafiske vogteres varetægt, fra tid til anden suppleret af mellemvæseners tjeneste, der var udpeget til at udføre visse bestemte opgaver i overensstemmelse med instrukserne fra deres planetariske overordnede.		123:2.2 (1357.6) On this day in February the direct and personal supervision of the Universe Rulers, as it was related to the integrity of the childlike incarnation of Michael, terminated. From that time on throughout the human unfolding of the incarnation, the guardianship of Jesus was destined to rest in the keeping of this indwelling Adjuster and the associated seraphic guardians, supplemented from time to time by the ministry of midway creatures assigned for the performance of certain definite duties in accordance with the instruction of their planetary superiors.
123:2.3 (1357.7) Jesus blev fem år gammel i august i år, og vi vil derfor omtale dette som hans femte (kalender) leveår. I dette år, 2 f.Kr., lidt mere end en måned før sin femårs fødselsdag, blev Jesus meget glad for sin søster Mirjam, som blev født natten til den 11. juli. Om aftenen den følgende dag havde Jesus en lang samtale med sin far om den måde, hvorpå forskellige grupper af levende væsener fødes ind i verden som separate individer. Den mest værdifulde del af Jesu tidlige uddannelse blev sikret af hans forældre som svar på hans eftertænksomme og søgende forespørgsler. Josef undlod aldrig at gøre sin pligt ved at gøre sig umage og bruge tid på at besvare drengens mange spørgsmål. Fra Jesus var fem år gammel, til han var ti, var han ét stort spørgsmålstegn. Selvom Josef og Maria ikke altid kunne svare på hans spørgsmål, undlod de aldrig at diskutere hans forespørgsler og på alle andre mulige måder at hjælpe ham i hans bestræbelser på at nå frem til en tilfredsstillende løsning på det problem, som hans vågne sind havde foreslået.		123:2.3 (1357.7) Jesus was five years old in August of this year, and we will, therefore, refer to this as his fifth (calendar) year of life. In this year, 2 b.c., a little more than one month before his fifth birthday anniversary, Jesus was made very happy by the coming of his sister Miriam, who was born on the night of July 11. During the evening of the following day Jesus had a long talk with his father concerning the manner in which various groups of living things are born into the world as separate individuals. The most valuable part of Jesus’ early education was secured from his parents in answer to his thoughtful and searching inquiries. Joseph never failed to do his full duty in taking pains and spending time answering the boy’s numerous questions. From the time Jesus was five years old until he was ten, he was one continuous question mark. While Joseph and Mary could not always answer his questions, they never failed fully to discuss his inquiries and in every other possible way to assist him in his efforts to reach a satisfactory solution of the problem which his alert mind had suggested.
123:2.4 (1358.1) Siden de vendte tilbage til Nazaret, havde de haft travlt, og Josef havde været usædvanligt optaget af at bygge sin nye butik og få sin forretning i gang igen. Han var så optaget, at han ikke havde haft tid til at bygge en vugge til Jakob, men det blev der rettet op på, længe før Miriam kom, så hun havde en meget behagelig krybbe at putte sig i, mens familien beundrede hende. Og Jesusbarnet gik helhjertet ind i alle disse naturlige og normale oplevelser i hjemmet. Han nød i høj grad sin lillebror og lillesøster og var til stor hjælp for Maria i omsorgen for dem.		123:2.4 (1358.1) Since returning to Nazareth, theirs had been a busy household, and Joseph had been unusually occupied building his new shop and getting his business started again. So fully was he occupied that he had found no time to build a cradle for James, but this was corrected long before Miriam came, so that she had a very comfortable crib in which to nestle while the family admired her. And the child Jesus heartily entered into all these natural and normal home experiences. He greatly enjoyed his little brother and his baby sister and was of great help to Mary in their care.
123:2.5 (1358.2) Der var få hjem i datidens ikke-jødiske verden, der kunne give et barn en bedre intellektuel, moralsk og religiøs oplæring end de jødiske hjem i Galilæa. Disse jøder havde et systematisk program for opdragelse og uddannelse af deres børn. De inddelte et barns liv i syv faser:		123:2.5 (1358.2) There were few homes in the gentile world of those days that could give a child a better intellectual, moral, and religious training than the Jewish homes of Galilee. These Jews had a systematic program for rearing and educating their children. They divided a child’s life into seven stages:
123:2.6 (1358.3) 1. Det nyfødte barn, de første otte dage.		123:2.6 (1358.3) 1. The newborn child, the first to the eighth day.
123:2.7 (1358.4) 2. Det ammende barn.		123:2.7 (1358.4) 2. The suckling child.
123:2.8 (1358.5) 3. Det fravænnede barn.		123:2.8 (1358.5) 3. The weaned child.
123:2.9 (1358.6) 4. Perioden, hvor barnet var afhængigt af moderen, som varede indtil udgangen af det femte år.		123:2.9 (1358.6) 4. The period of dependence on the mother, lasting up to the end of the fifth year.
123:2.10 (1358.7) 5. Barnets spirende selvstændighed og, når det gjaldt sønnerne, overtog faderen ansvaret for deres opdragelse.		123:2.10 (1358.7) 5. The beginning independence of the child and, with sons, the father assuming responsibility for their education.
123:2.11 (1358.8) 6. Ungdomstidens drenge og piger.		123:2.11 (1358.8) 6. The adolescent youths and maidens.
123:2.12 (1358.9) 7. De unge mænd og unge kvinder.		123:2.12 (1358.9) 7. The young men and the young women.
123:2.13 (1358.10) Det var skik blandt de galilæiske jøder, at moderen bar ansvaret for et barns opdragelse, indtil det fyldte fem år, og derefter, hvis barnet var en dreng, at holde faderen ansvarlig for drengens opdragelse fra det tidspunkt. I år trådte Jesus derfor ind i det femte stadie af et galilæisk jødisk barns karriere, og den 21. august 2 f.Kr. overlod Maria ham derfor formelt til Josef til videre oplæring.		123:2.13 (1358.10) It was the custom of the Galilean Jews for the mother to bear the responsibility for a child’s training until the fifth birthday, and then, if the child were a boy, to hold the father responsible for the lad’s education from that time on. This year, therefore, Jesus entered upon the fifth stage of a Galilean Jewish child’s career, and accordingly on August 21, 2 b.c., Mary formally turned him over to Joseph for further instruction.
123:2.14 (1358.11) Selv om Josef nu påtog sig det direkte ansvar for Jesu intellektuelle og religiøse uddannelse, interesserede hans mor sig stadig for hans opdragelse i hjemmet. Hun lærte ham at kende og passe de vinstokke og blomster, der voksede omkring havemurene, som helt omgav hjemmets grund. Hun sørgede også for, at der på husets tag (sommersoveværelset) var lave kasser med sand, hvor Jesus tegnede kort og øvede sig meget i at skrive aramæisk, græsk og senere hebraisk, for med tiden lærte han at læse, skrive og tale alle tre sprog flydende.		123:2.14 (1358.11) Though Joseph was now assuming the direct responsibility for Jesus’ intellectual and religious education, his mother still interested herself in his home training. She taught him to know and care for the vines and flowers growing about the garden walls which completely surrounded the home plot. She also provided on the roof of the house (the summer bedroom) shallow boxes of sand in which Jesus worked out maps and did much of his early practice at writing Aramaic, Greek, and later on, Hebrew, for in time he learned to read, write, and speak, fluently, all three languages.
123:2.15 (1358.12) Jesus så ud til at være et næsten perfekt barn fysisk og fortsatte med at gøre normale fremskridt mentalt og følelsesmæssigt. Han oplevede en mild fordøjelsesforstyrrelse, hans første mindre sygdom, i den sidste del af dette, hans femte (kalender) år.		123:2.15 (1358.12) Jesus appeared to be a well-nigh perfect child physically and continued to make normal progress mentally and emotionally. He experienced a mild digestive upset, his first minor illness, in the latter part of this, his fifth (calendar) year.
123:2.16 (1359.1) Selvom Josef og Maria ofte talte om deres ældste barns fremtid, ville du, hvis du havde været der, kun have observeret opvæksten af et normalt, sundt, ubekymret, men yderst nysgerrigt barn på den tid og det sted.		123:2.16 (1359.1) Though Joseph and Mary often talked about the future of their eldest child, had you been there, you would only have observed the growing up of a normal, healthy, carefree, but exceedingly inquisitive child of that time and place.
3. Hændelser under det sjette år (1 f.kr.) ^top		3. Events of the Sixth Year (1 B.C.) ^top
123:3.1 (1359.2) Med sin mors hjælp havde Jesus allerede mestret den galilæiske dialekt af det aramæiske sprog, og nu begyndte hans far at lære ham græsk. Maria talte kun lidt græsk, men Josef talte flydende både aramæisk og græsk. Lærebogen til studiet af det græske sprog var den kopi af de hebraiske skrifter—en komplet version af loven og profeterne, inklusive salmerne—som de havde fået, da de forlod Egypten. Der var kun to komplette eksemplarer af skrifterne på græsk i hele Nazaret, og tømrerfamiliens besiddelse af et af dem gjorde Josefs hjem til et meget eftertragtet sted og gjorde det muligt for Jesus, da han voksede op, at møde en næsten endeløs procession af seriøse studerende og oprigtige sandhedssøgere. Inden året var omme, havde Jesus overtaget dette uvurderlige manuskript, efter at han på sin seksårs fødselsdag havde fået at vide, at den hellige bog var blevet foræret ham af venner og slægtninge i Alexandria. Og på meget kort tid kunne han læse den uden problemer.		123:3.1 (1359.2) Already, with his mother’s help, Jesus had mastered the Galilean dialect of the Aramaic tongue; and now his father began teaching him Greek. Mary spoke little Greek, but Joseph was a fluent speaker of both Aramaic and Greek. The textbook for the study of the Greek language was the copy of the Hebrew scriptures—a complete version of the law and the prophets, including the Psalms—which had been presented to them on leaving Egypt. There were only two complete copies of the Scriptures in Greek in all Nazareth, and the possession of one of them by the carpenter’s family made Joseph’s home a much-sought place and enabled Jesus, as he grew up, to meet an almost endless procession of earnest students and sincere truth seekers. Before this year ended, Jesus had assumed custody of this priceless manuscript, having been told on his sixth birthday that the sacred book had been presented to him by Alexandrian friends and relatives. And in a very short time he could read it readily.
123:3.2 (1359.3) Det første store chok i Jesus’ unge liv indtraf, da han ikke var helt seks år gammel. Drengen havde troet, at hans far—i hvert fald hans far og mor sammen—vidste alt. Forestil dig derfor det nysgerrige barns overraskelse, da han spurgte sin far om årsagen til et mildt jordskælv, der lige havde fundet sted, og hørte Josef sige: “Min søn, jeg ved det virkelig ikke.” Således begyndte den lange og foruroligende desillusionering, hvor Jesus fandt ud af, at hans jordiske forældre ikke var alvidende og almægtige.		123:3.2 (1359.3) The first great shock of Jesus’ young life occurred when he was not quite six years old. It had seemed to the lad that his father—at least his father and mother together—knew everything. Imagine, therefore, the surprise of this inquiring child, when he asked his father the cause of a mild earthquake which had just occurred, to hear Joseph say, “My son, I really do not know.” Thus began that long and disconcerting disillusionment in the course of which Jesus found out that his earthly parents were not all-wise and all-knowing.
123:3.3 (1359.4) Josefs første tanke var at fortælle Jesus, at jordskælvet var forårsaget af Gud, men et øjebliks eftertanke formanede ham om, at et sådant svar straks ville provokere til yderligere og endnu mere pinlige forespørgsler. Selv i en tidlig alder var det meget vanskeligt at besvare Jesu spørgsmål om fysiske eller sociale fænomener ved tankeløst at fortælle ham, at enten Gud eller djævelen var ansvarlig. I harmoni med det jødiske folks fremherskende tro var Jesus længe villig til at acceptere læren om gode og onde ånder som en mulig forklaring på mentale og åndelige fænomener, men han blev meget tidligt i tvivl om, hvorvidt sådanne usynlige påvirkninger var ansvarlige for de fysiske hændelser i den naturlige verden.		123:3.3 (1359.4) Joseph’s first thought was to tell Jesus that the earthquake had been caused by God, but a moment’s reflection admonished him that such an answer would immediately be provocative of further and still more embarrassing inquiries. Even at an early age it was very difficult to answer Jesus’ questions about physical or social phenomena by thoughtlessly telling him that either God or the devil was responsible. In harmony with the prevailing belief of the Jewish people, Jesus was long willing to accept the doctrine of good spirits and evil spirits as the possible explanation of mental and spiritual phenomena, but he very early became doubtful that such unseen influences were responsible for the physical happenings of the natural world.
123:3.4 (1359.5) Før Jesus var fyldt seks år, i forsommeren år 1 f.Kr., kom Zacharias og Elizabeth og deres søn Johannes på besøg hos familien i Nazaret. Jesus og Johannes havde en lykkelig tid under dette deres første besøg de kunne huske. Selvom de besøgende kun kunne blive et par dage, talte forældrene om mange ting, herunder fremtidsplanerne for deres sønner. Mens de var optaget af dette, legede drengene med klodser i sandet på toppen af huset og morede sig på mange andre måder på ægte drengemanér.		123:3.4 (1359.5) Before Jesus was six years of age, in the early summer of 1 b.c., Zacharias and Elizabeth and their son John came to visit the Nazareth family. Jesus and John had a happy time during this, their first visit within their memories. Although the visitors could remain only a few days, the parents talked over many things, including the future plans for their sons. While they were thus engaged, the lads played with blocks in the sand on top of the house and in many other ways enjoyed themselves in true boyish fashion.
123:3.5 (1359.6) Efter at have mødt Johannes, som kom fra området nær Jerusalem, begyndte Jesus at udvise en usædvanlig interesse for Israels historie og at spørge meget detaljeret ind til betydningen af sabbatsritualerne, synagogens prædikener og de tilbagevendende mindehøjtider. Hans far forklarede ham betydningen af alle disse årstider. Den første var midvinterens festlige illumination, som varede i otte dage, hvor man startede med ét lys den første nat og tilføjede ét hver efterfølgende nat; dette var til minde om templets indvielse efter Judas Makkabæers genoprettelse af den mosaiske gudstjeneste. Dernæst fejrede man Purim i det tidlige forår, festen for Ester og Israels udfrielse gennem hende. Derefter fulgte den højtidelige påske, som de voksne fejrede i Jerusalem, når det var muligt, mens børnene derhjemme huskede på, at der ikke måtte spises syrnet brød i hele ugen. Senere kom førstegrødefesten, høstfesten, og til sidst, den mest højtidelige af dem alle, nytårsfesten, forsoningsdagen. Selv om nogle af disse fester og handlinger var svære at forstå for Jesu unge sind, tænkte han alvorligt over dem og gik så helt ind i glæden ved løvhyttefesten, hele det jødiske folks årlige feriesæson, den tid, hvor de slog lejr i løvhytter og gav sig hen til glæde og fornøjelse.		123:3.5 (1359.6) Having met John, who came from near Jerusalem, Jesus began to evince an unusual interest in the history of Israel and to inquire in great detail as to the meaning of the Sabbath rites, the synagogue sermons, and the recurring feasts of commemoration. His father explained to him the meaning of all these seasons. The first was the midwinter festive illumination, lasting eight days, starting out with one candle the first night and adding one each successive night; this commemorated the dedication of the temple after the restoration of the Mosaic services by Judas Maccabee. Next came the early springtime celebration of Purim, the feast of Esther and Israel’s deliverance through her. Then followed the solemn Passover, which the adults celebrated in Jerusalem whenever possible, while at home the children would remember that no leavened bread was to be eaten for the whole week. Later came the feast of the first-fruits, the harvest ingathering; and last, the most solemn of all, the feast of the new year, the day of atonement. While some of these celebrations and observances were difficult for Jesus’ young mind to understand, he pondered them seriously and then entered fully into the joy of the feast of tabernacles, the annual vacation season of the whole Jewish people, the time when they camped out in leafy booths and gave themselves up to mirth and pleasure.
123:3.6 (1360.1) I løbet af dette år havde Josef og Maria problemer med Jesus omkring hans bønner. Han insisterede på at tale til sin himmelske far, ligesom han talte til Josef, sin jordiske far. Denne afvigelse fra de mere højtidelige og ærbødige måder at kommunikere med Guddommen på var en smule foruroligende for hans forældre, især for hans mor, men der var intet, der kunne overtale ham til at ændre sig. Han bad sine bønner, præcis som han havde lært, og derefter insisterede han på at have “bare en lille snak med min far i himlen.”		123:3.6 (1360.1) During this year Joseph and Mary had trouble with Jesus about his prayers. He insisted on talking to his heavenly Father much as he would talk to Joseph, his earthly father. This departure from the more solemn and reverent modes of communication with Deity was a bit disconcerting to his parents, especially to his mother, but there was no persuading him to change; he would say his prayers just as he had been taught, after which he insisted on having “just a little talk with my Father in heaven.”
123:3.7 (1360.2) juni dette år overlod Josef butikken i Nazaret til sine brødre og begyndte formelt sit arbejde som bygmester. Inden året var omme, var familiens indkomst mere end tredoblet. Først efter Josefs død mærkede familien i Nazaret igen, at de var ramt af fattigdom. Familien blev større og større, og de brugte mange penge på ekstra uddannelse og rejser, men altid holdt Josefs stigende indkomst trit med de voksende udgifter.		123:3.7 (1360.2) In June of this year Joseph turned the shop in Nazareth over to his brothers and formally entered upon his work as a builder. Before the year was over, the family income had more than trebled. Never again, until after Joseph’s death, did the Nazareth family feel the pinch of poverty. The family grew larger and larger, and they spent much money on extra education and travel, but always Joseph’s increasing income kept pace with the growing expenses.
123:3.8 (1360.3) De næste par år udførte Josef et stort arbejde i Kana, Betlehem (i Galilæa), Magdala, Nain, Sepphoris, Kapernaum og Endor samt en del byggearbejde i og nær ved Nazaret. Da Jakob blev gammel nok til at hjælpe sin mor med husarbejdet og pasningen af de yngre børn, tog Jesus ofte på ture væk hjemmefra med sin far til disse omkringliggende byer og landsbyer. Jesus var en ivrig iagttager og fik megen praktisk viden fra disse ture væk fra hjemmet; han opsamlede flittigt viden om mennesket og den måde, det levede på her på jorden.		123:3.8 (1360.3) The next few years Joseph did considerable work at Cana, Bethlehem (of Galilee), Magdala, Nain, Sepphoris, Capernaum, and Endor, as well as much building in and near Nazareth. As James grew up to be old enough to help his mother with the housework and care of the younger children, Jesus made frequent trips away from home with his father to these surrounding towns and villages. Jesus was a keen observer and gained much practical knowledge from these trips away from home; he was assiduously storing up knowledge regarding man and the way he lived on earth.
123:3.9 (1360.4) I løbet af året gjorde Jesus store fremskridt med at tilpasse sine stærke følelser og energiske impulser til kravene om familiesamarbejde og disciplin i hjemmet. Maria var en kærlig mor, men en ret streng disciplinær person. På mange måder udøvede Josef dog den største kontrol over Jesus, da det var hans praksis at sætte sig ned med drengen og fuldt ud forklare de virkelige og underliggende grunde til nødvendigheden af en disciplinær begrænsning af personlige lyster af hensyn til hele familiens velfærd og ro. Når situationen var blevet forklaret for Jesus, var han altid intelligent og villig til at samarbejde med forældrenes ønsker og familiens regler.		123:3.9 (1360.4) This year Jesus made great progress in adjusting his strong feelings and vigorous impulses to the demands of family co-operation and home discipline. Mary was a loving mother but a fairly strict disciplinarian. In many ways, however, Joseph exerted the greater control over Jesus as it was his practice to sit down with the boy and fully explain the real and underlying reasons for the necessity of disciplinary curtailment of personal desires in deference to the welfare and tranquillity of the entire family. When the situation had been explained to Jesus, he was always intelligently and willingly co-operative with parental wishes and family regulations.
123:3.10 (1360.5) Meget af hans fritid—når hans mor ikke havde brug for hans hjælp i huset—blev brugt på at studere blomster og planter om dagen og stjernerne om natten. Han udviste en besværlig forkærlighed for at ligge på ryggen og stirre undrende op i stjernehimlen længe efter sin sædvanlige sengetid i denne velordnede Nazaret-husstand.		123:3.10 (1360.5) Much of his spare time—when his mother did not require his help about the house—was spent studying the flowers and plants by day and the stars by night. He evinced a troublesome penchant for lying on his back and gazing wonderingly up into the starry heavens long after his usual bedtime in this well-ordered Nazareth household.
4. Det syvende år (1 e.kr.) ^top		4. The Seventh Year (A.D. 1) ^top
123:4.1 (1361.1) Det var virkelig et begivenhedsrigt år i Jesu liv. Tidligt i januar opstod der en stor snestorm i Galilæa. Sneen faldt to meter dybt, det kraftigste snefald, Jesus oplevede i sin levetid, og et af de kraftigste i Nazaret i hundrede år.		123:4.1 (1361.1) This was, indeed, an eventful year in Jesus’ life. Early in January a great snowstorm occurred in Galilee. Snow fell two feet deep, the heaviest snowfall Jesus saw during his lifetime and one of the deepest at Nazareth in a hundred years.
123:4.2 (1361.2) Jødiske børns legeliv på Jesu tid var temmelig begrænset; alt for ofte legede børnene med de mere alvorlige ting, de så deres ældre gøre. De legede meget ved bryllupper og begravelser, ceremonier, som de så ofte så, og som var så spektakulære. De dansede og sang, men havde kun få organiserede lege, som børn i senere tider nyder så meget.		123:4.2 (1361.2) The play life of Jewish children in the times of Jesus was rather circumscribed; all too often the children played at the more serious things they observed their elders doing. They played much at weddings and funerals, ceremonies which they so frequently saw and which were so spectacular. They danced and sang but had few organized games, such as children of later days so much enjoy.
123:4.3 (1361.3) Sammen med en nabodreng og senere sin bror Jakob legede Jesus gerne i det fjerneste hjørne af familiens snedkerværksted, hvor de havde det sjovt med spånerne og træklodserne. Det var altid svært for Jesus at forstå det skadelige i visse former for leg, som var forbudt på sabbatten, men han undlod aldrig at rette sig efter sine forældres ønsker. Han havde en evne til humor og leg, som ikke fik megen mulighed for at komme til udtryk i hans samtid og generation, men indtil han var 14 år, var han munter og let om hjertet det meste af tiden.		123:4.3 (1361.3) Jesus, in company with a neighbor boy and later his brother James, delighted to play in the far corner of the family carpenter shop, where they had great fun with the shavings and the blocks of wood. It was always difficult for Jesus to comprehend the harm of certain sorts of play which were forbidden on the Sabbath, but he never failed to conform to his parents’ wishes. He had a capacity for humor and play which was afforded little opportunity for expression in the environment of his day and generation, but up to the age of fourteen he was cheerful and lighthearted most of the time.
123:4.4 (1361.4) Maria havde et dueslag på toppen af dyrestalden ved siden af hjemmet, og de brugte overskuddet fra salget af duer som en særlig velgørenhedsfond, som Jesus administrerede, efter at han havde trukket tienden fra og overdraget den til synagogeforstanderen.		123:4.4 (1361.4) Mary maintained a dovecote on top of the animal house adjoining the home, and they used the profits from the sale of doves as a special charity fund, which Jesus administered after he deducted the tithe and turned it over to the officer of the synagogue.
123:4.5 (1361.5) Den eneste rigtige ulykke, Jesus havde haft indtil da, var et fald ned ad stentrappen i baghaven, som førte op til soveværelset med lærredstag. Det skete under en uventet sandstorm fra øst i juli. De varme vinde, som førte fint sand med sig, blæste normalt i regntiden, især i marts og april. Det var usædvanligt at opleve sådan en storm i juli. Da stormen kom, var Jesus på hustaget for at lege, som han havde for vane, for i store dele af den tørre årstid var dette hans sædvanlige legerum. Han blev blændet af sandet, da han gik ned ad trappen, og faldt. Efter denne ulykke byggede Josef et gelænder på begge sider af trappen.		123:4.5 (1361.5) The only real accident Jesus had up to this time was a fall down the back-yard stone stairs which led up to the canvas-roofed bedroom. It happened during an unexpected July sandstorm from the east. The hot winds, carrying blasts of fine sand, usually blew during the rainy season, especially in March and April. It was extraordinary to have such a storm in July. When the storm came up, Jesus was on the housetop playing, as was his habit, for during much of the dry season this was his accustomed playroom. He was blinded by the sand when descending the stairs and fell. After this accident Joseph built a balustrade up both sides of the stairway.
123:4.6 (1361.6) Der var ingen måde, hvorpå denne ulykke kunne have været forhindret. Den kunne ikke henføres til de midlertidige mellemvæsenvagters omsorgssvigt, idet en første og en andens gradens mellemvæsener havde fået til opgave at holde øje med drengen; det skyldtes heller ikke de serafiske vogtere. Det kunne simpelthen ikke have været undgået. Men dette lille uheld, der indtraf mens Josef var fraværende i Endor, skabte så stor ængstelse i Marias sind, at hun uklogt nok forsøgte at holde Jesus meget tæt ved sin side i nogle måneder.		123:4.6 (1361.6) There was no way in which this accident could have been prevented. It was not chargeable to neglect by the midway temporal guardians, one primary and one secondary midwayer having been assigned to the watchcare of the lad; neither was it chargeable to the guardian seraphim. It simply could not have been avoided. But this slight accident, occurring while Joseph was absent in Endor, caused such great anxiety to develop in Mary’s mind that she unwisely tried to keep Jesus very close to her side for some months.
123:4.7 (1361.7) Materielle ulykker, almindelige hændelser af fysisk natur, bliver ikke blandet vilkårligt ind i af himmelske personligheder. Under almindelige omstændigheder er det kun mellemvæsnerne der kan gribe ind i de materielle forhold for at beskytte skæbnens mænd og kvinder, og selv i særlige situationer kan disse væsener kun handle i lydighed mod deres overordnedes specifikke mandater.		123:4.7 (1361.7) Material accidents, commonplace occurrences of a physical nature, are not arbitrarily interfered with by celestial personalities. Under ordinary circumstances only midway creatures can intervene in material conditions to safeguard the persons of men and women of destiny, and even in special situations these beings can so act only in obedience to the specific mandates of their superiors.
123:4.8 (1361.8) Og det var blot et af en række mindre uheld, som efterfølgende ramte denne nysgerrige og eventyrlystne unge mand. Hvis du forestiller dig en gennemsnitlig barndom og ungdom for en aggressiv dreng, vil du få en ret god idé om Jesu ungdomskarriere, og du vil være i stand til at forestille dig, hvor meget han bekymrede sine forældre, især sin mor.		123:4.8 (1361.8) And this was but one of a number of such minor accidents which subsequently befell this inquisitive and adventurous youth. If you envisage the average childhood and youth of an aggressive boy, you will have a fairly good idea of the youthful career of Jesus, and you will be able to imagine just about how much anxiety he caused his parents, particularly his mother.
123:4.9 (1362.1) Det fjerde medlem af Nazaret-familien, Josef, blev født onsdag morgen den 16. marts år 1 e.Kr.		123:4.9 (1362.1) The fourth member of the Nazareth family, Joseph, was born Wednesday morning, March 16, a.d. 1.
5. Skoleårene i Nazaret ^top		5. School Days in Nazareth ^top
123:5.1 (1362.2) Jesus var nu syv år gammel, den alder, hvor jødiske børn skulle begynde deres formelle uddannelse i synagogeskolerne. I august dette år begyndte han derfor sit begivenhedsrige skoleliv i Nazaret. Drengen læste og skrev allerede flydende og talte to sprog, aramæisk og græsk. Nu skulle han lære at læse, skrive og tale det hebraiske sprog. Og han var virkelig ivrig efter det nye skoleliv, der lå foran ham.		123:5.1 (1362.2) Jesus was now seven years old, the age when Jewish children were supposed to begin their formal education in the synagogue schools. Accordingly, in August of this year he entered upon his eventful school life at Nazareth. Already this lad was a fluent reader, writer, and speaker of two languages, Aramaic and Greek. He was now to acquaint himself with the task of learning to read, write, and speak the Hebrew language. And he was truly eager for the new school life which was ahead of him.
123:5.2 (1362.3) I tre år—indtil han var ti—gik han i grundskolen i Nazaret-synagogen. I disse tre år studerede han grundprincipperne i Lovens Bog, som den var nedskrevet på hebraisk. I de følgende tre år studerede han i den avancerede skole og indprentede sig den hellige lovs dybere lære ved at gentage den højt. Han dimitterede fra denne synagogeskole i løbet af sit trettende år og blev overdraget til sine forældre af synagogens herskere som en uddannet “søn af buddet”—fra nu af en ansvarlig borger i Israels rige, hvilket alt sammen medførte hans deltagelse i påskerne i Jerusalem; derfor deltog han i sin første påske det år i selskab med sin far og mor.		123:5.2 (1362.3) For three years—until he was ten—he attended the elementary school of the Nazareth synagogue. For these three years he studied the rudiments of the Book of the Law as it was recorded in the Hebrew tongue. For the following three years he studied in the advanced school and committed to memory, by the method of repeating aloud, the deeper teachings of the sacred law. He graduated from this school of the synagogue during his thirteenth year and was turned over to his parents by the synagogue rulers as an educated “son of the commandment”—henceforth a responsible citizen of the commonwealth of Israel, all of which entailed his attendance at the Passovers in Jerusalem; accordingly, he attended his first Passover that year in company with his father and mother.
123:5.3 (1362.4) I Nazaret sad eleverne på gulvet i en halvcirkel, mens deres lærer, chazan, en embedsmand i synagogen, sad over for dem. De begyndte med Tredje Mosebog, gik videre til studiet af de andre lovbøger, efterfulgt af studiet af profeterne og salmerne. Nazaret-synagogen besad en komplet kopi af Skrifterne på hebraisk. Man studerede ikke andet end skrifterne før det tolvte år. I sommermånederne var skoletiden stærkt forkortet.		123:5.3 (1362.4) At Nazareth the pupils sat on the floor in a semicircle, while their teacher, the chazan, an officer of the synagogue, sat facing them. Beginning with the Book of Leviticus, they passed on to the study of the other books of the law, followed by the study of the Prophets and the Psalms. The Nazareth synagogue possessed a complete copy of the Scriptures in Hebrew. Nothing but the Scriptures was studied prior to the twelfth year. In the summer months the hours for school were greatly shortened.
123:5.4 (1362.5) Jesus blev tidligt en mester i hebraisk, og som ung mand blev han ofte bedt om at læse de hebraiske skrifter for de troende, der var samlet i synagogen til de regelmæssige sabbatsgudstjenester, når der ikke tilfældigvis var nogen prominente besøgende i Nazaret.		123:5.4 (1362.5) Jesus early became a master of Hebrew, and as a young man, when no visitor of prominence happened to be sojourning in Nazareth, he would often be asked to read the Hebrew scriptures to the faithful assembled in the synagogue at the regular Sabbath services.
123:5.5 (1362.6) Disse synagogeskoler havde selvfølgelig ingen lærebøger. I undervisningen udtalte chazanen en sætning, mens eleverne i kor gentog den efter ham. Når man havde adgang til de skrevne lovbøger, lærte eleven sin lektie ved at læse højt og ved konstant gentagelse.		123:5.5 (1362.6) These synagogue schools, of course, had no textbooks. In teaching, the chazan would utter a statement while the pupils would in unison repeat it after him. When having access to the written books of the law, the student learned his lesson by reading aloud and by constant repetition.
123:5.6 (1362.7) Ud over sin mere formelle skolegang begyndte Jesus at komme i kontakt med mennesker fra alle fire verdenshjørner, da mænd fra mange lande gik ind og ud af hans fars værksted. Da han blev ældre, blandede han sig frit med karavanerne, når de gjorde ophold nær kilden for at hvile og få næring. Da han talte flydende græsk, havde han ikke de store problemer med at tale med de fleste af karavanens rejsende og ledere.		123:5.6 (1362.7) Next, in addition to his more formal schooling, Jesus began to make contact with human nature from the four quarters of the earth as men from many lands passed in and out of his father’s repair shop. When he grew older, he mingled freely with the caravans as they tarried near the spring for rest and nourishment. Being a fluent speaker of Greek, he had little trouble in conversing with the majority of the caravan travelers and conductors.
123:5.7 (1362.8) Nazaret var en karavanestation og et vejkryds, og befolkningen var overvejende ikke-jødisk; samtidig var byen kendt som et center for liberal fortolkning af jødisk traditionel lov. I Galilæa blandede jøderne sig mere frit med ikke-jøderne, end de gjorde i Judæa. Og af alle byerne i Galilæa var jøderne i Nazaret de mest liberale i deres fortolkning af de sociale restriktioner, der var baseret på frygten for forurening som følge af kontakt med ikke-jøder. Og disse forhold gav anledning til det almindelige ordsprog i Jerusalem: “Kan der komme noget godt ud af Nazaret?”		123:5.7 (1362.8) Nazareth was a caravan way station and crossroads of travel and largely gentile in population; at the same time it was widely known as a center of liberal interpretation of Jewish traditional law. In Galilee the Jews mingled more freely with the gentiles than was their practice in Judea. And of all the cities of Galilee, the Jews of Nazareth were most liberal in their interpretation of the social restrictions based on the fears of contamination as a result of contact with the gentiles. And these conditions gave rise to the common saying in Jerusalem, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”
123:5.8 (1363.1) Jesus fik sin moralske opdragelse og åndelige kultur primært i sit eget hjem. Han fik en stor del af sin intellektuelle og teologiske uddannelse fra chazanen. Men sin egentlige uddannelse—den udrustning af sind og hjerte, der gør ham i stand til at klare livets vanskelige problemer—fik han ved at omgås sine medmennesker. Det var dette tætte samvær med sine medmennesker, unge og gamle, jøder og ikke-jøder, der gav ham mulighed for at lære menneskeheden at kende. Jesus var højt uddannet i den forstand, at han forstod mennesker til bunds og elskede dem hengivent.		123:5.8 (1363.1) Jesus received his moral training and spiritual culture chiefly in his own home. He secured much of his intellectual and theological education from the chazan. But his real education—that equipment of mind and heart for the actual test of grappling with the difficult problems of life—he obtained by mingling with his fellow men. It was this close association with his fellow men, young and old, Jew and gentile, that afforded him the opportunity to know the human race. Jesus was highly educated in that he thoroughly understood men and devotedly loved them.
123:5.9 (1363.2) I alle sine år i synagogen var han en dygtig elev, og det var en stor fordel, at han kunne tale tre sprog. Da Jesus afsluttede kurset i hans skole, bemærkede chazanen fra Nazaret til Josef, at han frygtede, at han “havde lært mere af Jesus’ søgende spørgsmål” end han havde “været i stand til at lære knægten.”		123:5.9 (1363.2) Throughout his years at the synagogue he was a brilliant student, possessing a great advantage since he was conversant with three languages. The Nazareth chazan, on the occasion of Jesus’ finishing the course in his school, remarked to Joseph that he feared he “had learned more from Jesus’ searching questions” than he had “been able to teach the lad.”
123:5.10 (1363.3) I løbet af sit studieforløb lærte Jesus meget og fik stor inspiration fra de regelmæssige sabbatsprædikener i synagogen. Det var kutyme at bede fornemme besøgende, der gjorde holdt i Nazaret i løbet af sabbatten, om at tale i synagogen. Da Jesus voksede op, hørte han mange store tænkere fra hele den jødiske verden udlægge deres synspunkter, og mange var næppe ortodokse jøder, da synagogen i Nazaret var et avanceret og liberalt centrum for hebraisk tankegang og kultur.		123:5.10 (1363.3) Throughout his course of study Jesus learned much and derived great inspiration from the regular Sabbath sermons in the synagogue. It was customary to ask distinguished visitors, stopping over the Sabbath in Nazareth, to address the synagogue. As Jesus grew up, he heard many great thinkers of the entire Jewish world expound their views, and many also who were hardly orthodox Jews since the synagogue of Nazareth was an advanced and liberal center of Hebrew thought and culture.
123:5.11 (1363.4) Når eleverne begyndte i skole som syvårige (på dette tidspunkt havde jøderne netop indført en lov om obligatorisk skolegang), var det almindeligt, at de valgte deres “fødselsdagstekst,” en slags gylden regel, der skulle vejlede dem gennem deres studier, og som de ofte uddybede ved deres eksamen, når de var tretten år gamle. Den tekst, som Jesus valgte, var fra profeten Esajas: “Herren Guds ånd er over mig, for Herren har salvet mig; han har sendt mig for at bringe gode nyheder til de ydmyge, for at forbinde dem, der har et knust hjerte, for at forkynde frihed for fangerne og sætte de åndelige fanger fri.”		123:5.11 (1363.4) When entering school at seven years (at this time the Jews had just inaugurated a compulsory education law), it was customary for the pupils to choose their “birthday text,” a sort of golden rule to guide them throughout their studies, one upon which they often expatiated at their graduation when thirteen years old. The text which Jesus chose was from the Prophet Isaiah: “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the meek, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and to set the spiritual prisoners free.”
123:5.12 (1363.5) Nazaret var et af de 24 præstecentre i den hebraiske nation. Men det galilæiske præsteskab var mere liberalt i fortolkningen af de traditionelle love end de skriftkloge og rabbinerne i Judæa. Og i Nazaret var de også mere liberale med hensyn til overholdelse af sabbatten. Det var derfor skik, at Josef gik tur med Jesus på sabbatseftermiddage, og en af deres yndlingsudflugter var at bestige den høje bakke nær deres hjem, hvorfra de kunne få en panoramaudsigt over hele Galilæa. Mod nordvest kunne de på klare dage se Karmels lange bjergryg, der løb ned til havet, og mange gange hørte Jesus sin far fortælle historien om Elias, en af de første i den lange række af hebraiske profeter, der irettesatte Ahab og afslørede Baals præster. Mod nord rejste Hermonbjerget sin snedækkede top i majestætisk pragt og monopoliserede horisonten, hvor næsten 300 meter af de øverste skråninger glinsede hvide af evig sne. Langt mod øst kunne de skimte Jordandalen og langt derfra Moabs klippebakker. Også mod syd og øst kunne de, når solen skinnede på deres marmorvægge, se de græsk-romerske byer i Dekapolis med deres amfiteatre og prætentiøse templer. Og når de dvælede ved solnedgangen, kunne de mod vest skimte sejlskibene på det fjerne Middelhav.		123:5.12 (1363.5) Nazareth was one of the twenty-four priest centers of the Hebrew nation. But the Galilean priesthood was more liberal in the interpretation of the traditional laws than were the Judean scribes and rabbis. And at Nazareth they were also more liberal regarding the observance of the Sabbath. It was therefore the custom for Joseph to take Jesus out for walks on Sabbath afternoons, one of their favorite jaunts being to climb the high hill near their home, from which they could obtain a panoramic view of all Galilee. To the northwest, on clear days, they could see the long ridge of Mount Carmel running down to the sea; and many times Jesus heard his father relate the story of Elijah, one of the first of that long line of Hebrew prophets, who reproved Ahab and exposed the priests of Baal. To the north Mount Hermon raised its snowy peak in majestic splendor and monopolized the skyline, almost 3,000 feet of the upper slopes glistening white with perpetual snow. Far to the east they could discern the Jordan valley and, far beyond, the rocky hills of Moab. Also to the south and the east, when the sun shone upon their marble walls, they could see the Greco-Roman cities of the Decapolis, with their amphitheaters and pretentious temples. And when they lingered toward the going down of the sun, to the west they could make out the sailing vessels on the distant Mediterranean.
123:5.13 (1364.1) Fra fire retninger kunne Jesus se karavanetogene, når de bevægede sig ind og ud af Nazaret, og mod syd kunne han overskue Esdraelons brede og frugtbare sletteland, der strakte sig mod Gilboa-bjerget og Samaria.		123:5.13 (1364.1) From four directions Jesus could observe the caravan trains as they wended their way in and out of Nazareth, and to the south he could overlook the broad and fertile plain country of Esdraelon, stretching off toward Mount Gilboa and Samaria.
123:5.14 (1364.2) Når de ikke klatrede op i højderne for at se det fjerne landskab, spadserede de gennem landskabet og studerede naturen i dens forskellige stemninger i overensstemmelse med årstiderne. Jesus’ tidligste træning, bortset fra den ved hjemmets ildsted, havde at gøre med en ærbødig og sympatisk kontakt med naturen.		123:5.14 (1364.2) When they did not climb the heights to view the distant landscape, they strolled through the countryside and studied nature in her various moods in accordance with the seasons. Jesus’ earliest training, aside from that of the home hearth, had to do with a reverent and sympathetic contact with nature.
123:5.15 (1364.3) Inden han var fyldt otte år, var han kendt af alle mødrene og de unge kvinder i Nazaret, som havde mødt ham og talt med ham ved kilden, som ikke lå langt fra hans hjem, og som var et af de sociale kontakt- og sladdercentre for hele byen. Dette år lærte Jesus at malke familiens ko og passe de andre dyr. I løbet af dette og det følgende år lærte han også at lave ost og at væve. Da han var ti år gammel, var han ekspert i at væve. Det var på dette tidspunkt, at Jesus og nabodrengen Jacob blev gode venner med pottemageren, der arbejdede nær den rindende kilde, og mens de så Nathans behændige fingre forme leret på pottemagerens drejeskive, besluttede de begge mange gange, at de ville være pottemagere, når de blev voksne. Nathan var meget glad for drengene og gav dem ofte ler at lege med og forsøgte at stimulere deres kreative fantasi ved at foreslå dem at konkurrere om at modellere forskellige genstande og dyr.		123:5.15 (1364.3) Before he was eight years of age, he was known to all the mothers and young women of Nazareth, who had met him and talked with him at the spring, which was not far from his home, and which was one of the social centers of contact and gossip for the entire town. This year Jesus learned to milk the family cow and care for the other animals. During this and the following year he also learned to make cheese and to weave. When he was ten years of age, he was an expert loom operator. It was about this time that Jesus and the neighbor boy Jacob became great friends of the potter who worked near the flowing spring; and as they watched Nathan’s deft fingers mold the clay on the potter’s wheel, many times both of them determined to be potters when they grew up. Nathan was very fond of the lads and often gave them clay to play with, seeking to stimulate their creative imaginations by suggesting competitive efforts in modeling various objects and animals.
6. Hans åttende år (2 e.kr.) ^top		6. His Eighth Year (A.D. 2) ^top
123:6.1 (1364.4) Det var et interessant år i skolen. Selvom Jesus ikke var en usædvanlig elev, var han en flittig elev og tilhørte den mere progressive tredjedel af klassen, der gjorde sit arbejde så godt, at han blev fritaget for fremmøde en uge ud af hver måned. Denne uge tilbragte han som regel enten hos sin fiskeronkel ved bredden af Galilæas Sø nær Magdala eller på en anden onkels gård (hans mors bror) otte kilometer syd for Nazaret.		123:6.1 (1364.4) This was an interesting year at school. Although Jesus was not an unusual student, he was a diligent pupil and belonged to the more progressive third of the class, doing his work so well that he was excused from attendance one week out of each month. This week he usually spent either with his fisherman uncle on the shores of the Sea of Galilee near Magdala or on the farm of another uncle (his mother’s brother) five miles south of Nazareth.
123:6.2 (1364.5) Selvom hans mor var blevet unødigt bekymret for hans helbred og sikkerhed, blev hun gradvist forsonet med disse ture væk fra hjemmet. Jesus’ onkler og tanter var alle meget glade for ham, og der opstod en livlig konkurrence mellem dem om at sikre sig hans selskab på disse månedlige besøg i løbet af dette og de umiddelbart efterfølgende år. Hans første uges ophold på sin onkels gård (siden spædbarnsalderen) var i januar i år; den første uges fiskeoplevelse på Galilæas Sø fandt sted i maj måned.		123:6.2 (1364.5) Although his mother had become unduly anxious about his health and safety, she gradually became reconciled to these trips away from home. Jesus’ uncles and aunts were all very fond of him, and there ensued a lively competition among them to secure his company for these monthly visits throughout this and immediately subsequent years. His first week’s sojourn on his uncle’s farm (since infancy) was in January of this year; the first week’s fishing experience on the Sea of Galilee occurred in the month of May.
123:6.3 (1364.6) Omkring dette tidspunkt mødte Jesus en matematiklærer fra Damaskus, og da han lærte nogle nye talteknikker, brugte han meget tid på matematik i flere år. Han udviklede en skarp fornemmelse for tal, afstande og proportioner.		123:6.3 (1364.6) About this time Jesus met a teacher of mathematics from Damascus, and learning some new techniques of numbers, he spent much time on mathematics for several years. He developed a keen sense of numbers, distances, and proportions.
123:6.4 (1364.7) Jesus begyndte at holde meget af sin bror James, og i slutningen af året var han begyndt at lære ham alfabetet.		123:6.4 (1364.7) Jesus began to enjoy his brother James very much and by the end of this year had begun to teach him the alphabet.
123:6.5 (1364.8) Dette år arrangerede Jesus, at han byttede mejeriprodukter for harpetimer. Han havde en usædvanlig forkærlighed for alt musikalsk. Senere gjorde han meget for at fremme interessen for vokalmusik blandt sine unge kammerater. Da han var 11 år gammel, var han en dygtig harpist og nød i høj grad at underholde både familie og venner med sine ekstraordinære fortolkninger og dygtige improvisationer.		123:6.5 (1364.8) This year Jesus made arrangements to exchange dairy products for lessons on the harp. He had an unusual liking for everything musical. Later on he did much to promote an interest in vocal music among his youthful associates. By the time he was eleven years of age, he was a skillful harpist and greatly enjoyed entertaining both family and friends with his extraordinary interpretations and able improvisations.
123:6.6 (1365.1) Mens Jesus fortsatte med at gøre misundelsesværdige fremskridt i skolen, kørte alt ikke på skinner for hverken forældre eller lærere. Han blev ved med at stille mange pinlige spørgsmål om både videnskab og religion, især om geografi og astronomi. Han var især insisterende på at finde ud af, hvorfor der var en tørtid og en regntid i Palæstina. Gentagne gange søgte han forklaringen på den store forskel mellem temperaturerne i Nazaret og Jordandalen. Han holdt simpelthen aldrig op med at stille så intelligente, men forvirrende spørgsmål.		123:6.6 (1365.1) While Jesus continued to make enviable progress at school, all did not run smoothly for either parents or teachers. He persisted in asking many embarrassing questions concerning both science and religion, particularly regarding geography and astronomy. He was especially insistent on finding out why there was a dry season and a rainy season in Palestine. Repeatedly he sought the explanation for the great difference between the temperatures of Nazareth and the Jordan valley. He simply never ceased to ask such intelligent but perplexing questions.
123:6.7 (1365.2) Hans tredje bror, Simon, blev født fredag aften den 14. april i år, år 2 e.Kr.		123:6.7 (1365.2) His third brother, Simon, was born on Friday evening, April 14, of this year, a.d. 2.
123:6.8 (1365.3) I februar kom Nahor, en af lærerne på rabbinernes akademi i Jerusalem, til Nazaret for at observere Jesus, efter at have været på en lignende mission i Zacharias’ hjem nær Jerusalem. Han kom til Nazaret på foranledning af Johannes’ far. Først var han noget chokeret over Jesu åbenhjertighed og ukonventionelle måde at forholde sig til religiøse ting på, men han tilskrev det Galilæas fjerne beliggenhed fra centrene for hebraisk lærdom og kultur og rådede Josef og Maria til at lade ham tage Jesus med tilbage til Jerusalem, hvor han kunne få fordelene ved uddannelse og træning i centrum af jødisk kultur. Maria var halvt overbevist om, at hendes ældste søn skulle blive Messias, den jødiske befrier; Josef tøvede; han var lige så overbevist om, at Jesus skulle vokse op og blive en mand med en skæbne, men hvad den skæbne ville vise sig at være, var han dybt usikker på. Men han var aldrig rigtig i tvivl om, at hans søn skulle udføre en stor mission på jorden. Jo mere han tænkte over Nahors råd, jo mere satte han spørgsmålstegn ved visdommen i det foreslåede ophold i Jerusalem.		123:6.8 (1365.3) In February, Nahor, one of the teachers in a Jerusalem academy of the rabbis, came to Nazareth to observe Jesus, having been on a similar mission to Zacharias’s home near Jerusalem. He came to Nazareth at the instigation of John’s father. While at first he was somewhat shocked by Jesus’ frankness and unconventional manner of relating himself to things religious, he attributed it to the remoteness of Galilee from the centers of Hebrew learning and culture and advised Joseph and Mary to allow him to take Jesus back with him to Jerusalem, where he could have the advantages of education and training at the center of Jewish culture. Mary was half persuaded to consent; she was convinced her eldest son was to become the Messiah, the Jewish deliverer; Joseph hesitated; he was equally persuaded that Jesus was to grow up to become a man of destiny, but what that destiny would prove to be he was profoundly uncertain. But he never really doubted that his son was to fulfill some great mission on earth. The more he thought about Nahor’s advice, the more he questioned the wisdom of the proposed sojourn in Jerusalem.
123:6.9 (1365.4) På grund af denne uenighed mellem Josef og Maria bad Nahor om tilladelse til at forelægge hele sagen for Jesus. Jesus lyttede opmærksomt, talte med Josef, Maria og en nabo, stenhuggeren Jakob, hvis søn var hans yndlingslegekammerat, og fortalte så to dage senere, at eftersom der var så stor uenighed blandt hans forældre og rådgivere, og eftersom han ikke følte sig kompetent til at påtage sig ansvaret for en sådan beslutning, og ikke følte stærkt for det ene eller det andet i lyset af hele situationen, havde han til sidst besluttet at “tale med min far, som er i himlen”; og selvom han ikke var helt sikker på svaret, følte han snarere, at han burde blive hjemme “hos min far og mor” og tilføjede: “De, der elsker mig så højt, burde kunne gøre mere for mig og vejlede mig mere sikkert end fremmede, der kun kan se min krop og observere mit sind, men næppe virkelig kan kende mig.” De undrede sig alle, og Nahor gik sin vej, tilbage til Jerusalem. Og der gik mange år, før emnet om Jesus’ rejse væk hjemmefra igen kom op til overvejelse.		123:6.9 (1365.4) Because of this difference of opinion between Joseph and Mary, Nahor requested permission to lay the whole matter before Jesus. Jesus listened attentively, talked with Joseph, Mary, and a neighbor, Jacob the stone mason, whose son was his favorite playmate, and then, two days later, reported that since there was such a difference of opinion among his parents and advisers, and since he did not feel competent to assume the responsibility for such a decision, not feeling strongly one way or the other, in view of the whole situation, he had finally decided to “talk with my Father who is in heaven”; and while he was not perfectly sure about the answer, he rather felt he should remain at home “with my father and mother,” adding, “they who love me so much should be able to do more for me and guide me more safely than strangers who can only view my body and observe my mind but can hardly truly know me.” They all marveled, and Nahor went his way, back to Jerusalem. And it was many years before the subject of Jesus’ going away from home again came up for consideration.