Kapitel 125   Paper 125
Jesus I Jerusalem   Jesus at Jerusalem
125:0.1 (1377.1) INGEN BEGIVENHED i hele Jesu begivenhedsrige jordiske karriere var mere engagerende, mere menneskeligt spændende end dette, hans første besøg i Jerusalem, som han kan huske. Han blev især stimuleret af oplevelsen af at deltage i tempeldiskussionerne på egen hånd, og det stod længe i hans erindring som den store begivenhed i hans senere barndom og tidlige ungdom. Det var hans første mulighed for at nyde et par dages uafhængigt liv, glæden ved at gå og komme uden begrænsninger og restriktioner. Denne korte periode med et liv uden styring, i ugen efter påsken, var den første fuldstændige frihed fra ansvar, han nogensinde havde nydt. Og der gik mange år efter dette, før han igen havde en lignende periode med frihed fra al ansvarsfølelse, selv i en kort periode.   125:0.1 (1377.1) NO INCIDENT in all Jesus’ eventful earth career was more engaging, more humanly thrilling, than this, his first remembered visit to Jerusalem. He was especially stimulated by the experience of attending the temple discussions by himself, and it long stood out in his memory as the great event of his later childhood and early youth. This was his first opportunity to enjoy a few days of independent living, the exhilaration of going and coming without restraint and restrictions. This brief period of undirected living, during the week following the Passover, was the first complete freedom from responsibility he had ever enjoyed. And it was many years subsequent to this before he again had a like period of freedom from all sense of responsibility, even for a short time.
125:0.2 (1377.2) Kvinder deltog sjældent i påskefesten i Jerusalem; det var ikke påkrævet, at de var til stede. Men Jesus nægtede nærmest at tage af sted, medmindre hans mor ville ledsage dem. Og da hans mor besluttede sig for at tage af sted, blev mange andre kvinder fra Nazaret lokket med på rejsen, så påskeselskabet kom til at bestå af det største antal kvinder i forhold til mænd, der nogensinde var taget af sted fra Nazaret til påsken. På vejen til Jerusalem sang de hele tiden den et hundrede og trettende salme.   125:0.2 (1377.2) Women seldom went to the Passover feast at Jerusalem; they were not required to be present. Jesus, however, virtually refused to go unless his mother would accompany them. And when his mother decided to go, many other Nazareth women were led to make the journey, so that the Passover company contained the largest number of women, in proportion to men, ever to go up to the Passover from Nazareth. Ever and anon, on the way to Jerusalem, they chanted the one hundred and thirtieth Psalm.
125:0.3 (1377.3) Fra de forlod Nazaret, til de nåede toppen af Oliebjerget, oplevede Jesus én lang spænding af forventningsfuld forventning. Gennem hele sin glade barndom havde han ærbødigt hørt om Jerusalem og dets tempel; nu skulle han snart se dem i virkeligheden. Fra Oliebjerget og udefra, ved nærmere eftersyn, havde templet været alt og mere, end Jesus havde forventet; men da han først trådte ind ad dets hellige portaler, begyndte den store desillusionering.   125:0.3 (1377.3) From the time they left Nazareth until they reached the summit of the Mount of Olives, Jesus experienced one long stress of expectant anticipation. All through a joyful childhood he had reverently heard of Jerusalem and its temple; now he was soon to behold them in reality. From the Mount of Olives and from the outside, on closer inspection, the temple had been all and more than Jesus had expected; but when he once entered its sacred portals, the great disillusionment began.
125:0.4 (1377.4) I selskab med sine forældre gik Jesus gennem tempelområdet på vej til at slutte sig til den gruppe af lovens nye sønner, der skulle indvies som borgere i Israel. Han var lidt skuffet over den generelle opførsel i tempelmylderet, men dagens første store chok kom, da hans mor tog afsked med dem på vej til kvindegalleriet. Det var aldrig faldet Jesus ind, at hans mor ikke skulle ledsage ham til indvielsesceremonierne, og han var dybt forarget over, at hun skulle lide under en så uretfærdig forskelsbehandling. Selv om han var meget vred over det, sagde han ikke noget til sin far, bortset fra nogle få protestbemærkninger. Men han tænkte, og han tænkte dybt, som hans spørgsmål til de skriftkloge og lærerne en uge senere afslørede.   125:0.4 (1377.4) In company with his parents Jesus passed through the temple precincts on his way to join that group of new sons of the law who were about to be consecrated as citizens of Israel. He was a little disappointed by the general demeanor of the temple throngs, but the first great shock of the day came when his mother took leave of them on her way to the women’s gallery. It had never occurred to Jesus that his mother was not to accompany him to the consecration ceremonies, and he was thoroughly indignant that she was made to suffer from such unjust discrimination. While he strongly resented this, aside from a few remarks of protest to his father, he said nothing. But he thought, and thought deeply, as his questions to the scribes and teachers a week later disclosed.
125:0.5 (1377.5) Han gennemgik indvielsesritualerne, men blev skuffet over deres overfladiske og rutineprægede karakter. Han savnede den personlige interesse, som kendetegnede ceremonierne i synagogen i Nazaret. Så vendte han tilbage for at hilse på sin mor og forberede sig på at ledsage sin far på hans første tur rundt i templet og dets forskellige forgårde, gallerier og korridorer. Templets område kunne rumme over to hundrede tusinde tilbedere på én gang, og selv om disse bygningers enorme størrelse—sammenlignet med noget andet, han nogensinde havde set—gjorde stort indtryk på ham, var han mere fascineret af at betragte den åndelige betydning af tempelceremonierne og deres tilknyttede tilbedelse.   125:0.5 (1377.5) He passed through the consecration rituals but was disappointed by their perfunctory and routine natures. He missed that personal interest which characterized the ceremonies of the synagogue at Nazareth. He then returned to greet his mother and prepared to accompany his father on his first trip about the temple and its various courts, galleries, and corridors. The temple precincts could accommodate over two hundred thousand worshipers at one time, and while the vastness of these buildings—in comparison with any he had ever seen—greatly impressed his mind, he was more intrigued by the contemplation of the spiritual significance of the temple ceremonies and their associated worship.
125:0.6 (1378.1) Selv om mange af tempelritualerne gjorde et meget rørende indtryk på hans sans for det smukke og symbolske, blev han altid skuffet over de forklaringer på den virkelige betydning af disse ceremonier, som hans forældre kom med som svar på hans mange søgende forespørgsler. Jesus ville simpelthen ikke acceptere forklaringer på tilbedelse og religiøs hengivenhed, som involverede troen på Guds vrede eller den Almægtiges vrede. I en yderligere diskussion af disse spørgsmål, efter afslutningen af tempelbesøget, da hans far mildt insisterede på, at han skulle anerkende accepten af den ortodokse jødiske tro, vendte Jesus sig pludselig mod sine forældre og så appellerende ind i sin fars øjne og sagde: : “Min far, det kan ikke være sandt—faderen i himlen kan ikke se sådan på sine vildfarne børn på jorden. Den himmelske Fader kan ikke elske sine børn mindre, end du elsker mig. Og jeg ved godt, at uanset hvad jeg måtte gøre af ufornuftige ting, ville du aldrig udøse vrede over mig eller lade din vrede gå ud over mig. Hvis du, min jordiske far, har sådanne menneskelige refleksioner af det guddommelige, hvor meget mere må den himmelske far så ikke være fyldt med godhed og flyde over af barmhjertighed. Jeg nægter at tro, at min far i himlen elsker mig mindre end min far på jorden.”   125:0.6 (1378.1) Though many of the temple rituals very touchingly impressed his sense of the beautiful and the symbolic, he was always disappointed by the explanation of the real meanings of these ceremonies which his parents would offer in answer to his many searching inquiries. Jesus simply would not accept explanations of worship and religious devotion which involved belief in the wrath of God or the anger of the Almighty. In further discussion of these questions, after the conclusion of the temple visit, when his father became mildly insistent that he acknowledge acceptance of the orthodox Jewish beliefs, Jesus turned suddenly upon his parents and, looking appealingly into the eyes of his father, said: “My father, it cannot be true—the Father in heaven cannot so regard his erring children on earth. The heavenly Father cannot love his children less than you love me. And I well know, no matter what unwise thing I might do, you would never pour out wrath upon me nor vent anger against me. If you, my earthly father, possess such human reflections of the Divine, how much more must the heavenly Father be filled with goodness and overflowing with mercy. I refuse to believe that my Father in heaven loves me less than my father on earth.”
125:0.7 (1378.2) Da Josef og Maria hørte disse ord fra deres førstefødte søn, forholdt de sig i ro. Og aldrig mere forsøgte de at få ham til at ændre mening om Guds kærlighed og den himmelske Faders barmhjertighed.   125:0.7 (1378.2) When Joseph and Mary heard these words of their first-born son, they held their peace. And never again did they seek to change his mind about the love of God and the mercifulness of the Father in heaven.
1. Jesus besigtiger templet ^top   1. Jesus Views the Temple ^top
125:1.1 (1378.3) Overalt, hvor Jesus gik gennem tempelgårdene, blev han chokeret og utilpas over den ånd af respektløshed, som han observerede. Han mente, at tempelmængdens opførsel var uforenelig med deres tilstedeværelse i “hans Faders hus.” Men han fik sit livs chok, da hans far eskorterede ham ind i hedningernes forgård med dens larmende jargon, højlydte snak og forbandelser, der blandede sig vilkårligt med fårenes piben og den larm, der afslørede tilstedeværelsen af pengevekslere og sælgere af offerdyr og diverse andre handelsvarer.   125:1.1 (1378.3) Everywhere Jesus went throughout the temple courts, he was shocked and sickened by the spirit of irreverence which he observed. He deemed the conduct of the temple throngs to be inconsistent with their presence in “his Father’s house.” But he received the shock of his young life when his father escorted him into the court of the gentiles with its noisy jargon, loud talking and cursing, mingled indiscriminately with the bleating of sheep and the babble of noises which betrayed the presence of the money-changers and the vendors of sacrificial animals and sundry other commercial commodities.
125:1.2 (1378.4) Men mest af alt blev hans sans for anstændighed krænket ved synet af de uanstændige kurtisaner, der paraderede rundt inden for templets område, præcis sådanne malede kvinder, som han for nylig havde set, da han var på besøg i Sepphoris. Denne vanhelligelse af templet vækkede al hans ungdommelige indignation, og han tøvede ikke med at udtrykke sig frit over for Josef.   125:1.2 (1378.4) But most of all was his sense of propriety outraged by the sight of the frivolous courtesans parading about within this precinct of the temple, just such painted women as he had so recently seen when on a visit to Sepphoris. This profanation of the temple fully aroused all his youthful indignation, and he did not hesitate to express himself freely to Joseph.
125:1.3 (1378.5) Jesus beundrede stemningen og tjenesten i templet, men han var chokeret over den åndelige hæslighed, som han så i ansigterne på så mange af de ureflekterede tilbedere.   125:1.3 (1378.5) Jesus admired the sentiment and service of the temple, but he was shocked by the spiritual ugliness which he beheld on the faces of so many of the unthinking worshipers.
125:1.4 (1378.6) De gik nu ned til præsternes forgård under klippeafsatsen foran templet, hvor alteret stod, for at overvære aflivningen af de mange dyr og afvaskningen af blodet fra slagterpræsternes hænder ved bronzefontænen. Det blodplettede fortov, præsternes blodige hænder og lyden af de døende dyr var mere, end denne naturelskende dreng kunne holde ud. Det forfærdelige syn gjorde drengen fra Nazaret syg; han greb sin fars arm og tiggede om at blive ført væk. De gik tilbage gennem hedningernes forgård, og selv den grove latter og de blasfemiske vittigheder, han hørte der, var en lettelse fra det syn, han lige havde set.   125:1.4 (1378.6) They now passed down to the priests’ court beneath the rock ledge in front of the temple, where the altar stood, to observe the killing of the droves of animals and the washing away of the blood from the hands of the officiating slaughter priests at the bronze fountain. The bloodstained pavement, the gory hands of the priests, and the sounds of the dying animals were more than this nature-loving lad could stand. The terrible sight sickened this boy of Nazareth; he clutched his father’s arm and begged to be taken away. They walked back through the court of the gentiles, and even the coarse laughter and profane jesting which he there heard were a relief from the sights he had just beheld.
125:1.5 (1379.1) Josef så, hvordan hans søn havde følt afsky ved synet af templets ritualer og tog ham klogt bort for at se “Skønhedens port,” den kunstnerisk udformet port af korintisk bronze. Men Jesus havde fået nok af sit første besøg i templet. De vendte tilbage til den øverste forgård for at møde Maria og gik omkring sammen i en time i den friske luft, væk fra folkemængderne. De inspicerede Hasmonéerpaladset, Herodes herregård, og de romerske vagters tårn. I løbet af denne tur forklarede Josef til Jesus, at det kun var Jerusalems indbyggere der havde tilladelse til at være vidne til de daglige ofringer i templet, og at dem, der boede i Galilæa kom kun tre gange om året for at deltage i tempeltjeneste, nemlig påsken, pinsen (syv uger efter påske) og løvhyttefesten i oktober. Disse fester var oprettet af Moses. Så diskuterede de derefter de to senere etablerede fester, indvielsen af templet og Purim. Bagefter gik de til deres logi og gjorde sig klar til at fejre påske.   125:1.5 (1379.1) Joseph saw how his son had sickened at the sight of the temple rites and wisely led him around to view the “Gate Beautiful,” the artistic gate made of Corinthian bronze. But Jesus had had enough for his first visit at the temple. They returned to the upper court for Mary and walked about in the open air and away from the crowds for an hour, viewing the Asmonean palace, the stately home of Herod, and the tower of the Roman guards. During this stroll Joseph explained to Jesus that only the inhabitants of Jerusalem were permitted to witness the daily sacrifices in the temple, and that the dwellers in Galilee came up only three times a year to participate in the temple worship: at the Passover, at the feast of Pentecost (seven weeks after Passover), and at the feast of tabernacles in October. These feasts were established by Moses. They then discussed the two later established feasts of the dedication and of Purim. Afterward they went to their lodgings and made ready for the celebration of the Passover.
2. Jesus og påsken ^top   2. Jesus and the Passover ^top
125:2.1 (1379.2) Fem familier fra Nazaret var gæster hos eller samarbejdspartnere med Simon fra Bethanias familie i forbindelse med fejringen af påsken, og Simon havde købt påskelammet til selskabet. Det var slagtningen af disse lam i så stort et antal, der havde påvirket Jesus så meget under hans tempelbesøg. Det havde været planen at spise påsken sammen med Marias slægtninge, men Jesus overtalte sine forældre til at tage imod invitationen til at tage til Betania   125:2.1 (1379.2) Five Nazareth families were guests of, or associates with, the family of Simon of Bethany in the celebration of the Passover, Simon having purchased the paschal lamb for the company. It was the slaughter of these lambs in such enormous numbers that had so affected Jesus on his temple visit. It had been the plan to eat the Passover with Mary’s relatives, but Jesus persuaded his parents to accept the invitation to go to Bethany.
125:2.2 (1379.3) Den aften samledes de til påskens ritualer og spiste det stegte kød med usyret brød og bitre urter. Jesus, som var en ny søn af pagten, blev bedt om at fortælle om påskens oprindelse, og det gjorde han godt, men han forvirrede sine forældre noget ved at inkludere adskillige bemærkninger, som mildt afspejlede de indtryk, som de ting, han for nylig havde set og hørt, havde gjort på hans ungdommelige, men eftertænksomme sind. Dette var begyndelsen på de syv dages ceremonier i forbindelse med påskefesten.   125:2.2 (1379.3) That night they assembled for the Passover rites, eating the roasted flesh with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Jesus, being a new son of the covenant, was asked to recount the origin of the Passover, and this he well did, but he somewhat disconcerted his parents by the inclusion of numerous remarks mildly reflecting the impressions made on his youthful but thoughtful mind by the things which he had so recently seen and heard. This was the beginning of the seven-day ceremonies of the feast of the Passover.
125:2.3 (1379.4) Selv på dette tidlige tidspunkt, selvom han ikke sagde noget om det til sine forældre, var Jesus begyndt at tænke over, om det var passende at fejre påsken uden det slagtede lam. Han følte sig sikker på, at Faderen i himlen ikke var tilfreds med dette spektakel af offergaver, og som årene gik, blev han mere og mere fast besluttet på en dag at indføre en blodløs påskefejring.   125:2.3 (1379.4) Even at this early date, though he said nothing about such matters to his parents, Jesus had begun to turn over in his mind the propriety of celebrating the Passover without the slaughtered lamb. He felt assured in his own mind that the Father in heaven was not pleased with this spectacle of sacrificial offerings, and as the years passed, he became increasingly determined someday to establish the celebration of a bloodless Passover.
125:2.4 (1379.5) Jesus sov meget lidt den nat. Hans søvn blev i høj grad forstyrret af modbydelige drømme om slagtning og lidelse. Hans sind var fortvivlet og hans hjerte sønderrevet af inkonsekvenserne og absurditeterne i teologien bag hele det jødiske ceremonielle system. Hans forældre sov heller ikke meget. De var meget forvirrede over begivenhederne den dag, der netop var gået. De var helt oprørte i deres egne hjerter over drengens, for dem, mærkelige og beslutsomme holdning. Maria blev nervøst ophidset i løbet af natten, men Josef forblev rolig, selvom han var lige så forvirret. De var begge bange for at tale åbent med drengen om disse problemer, selvom Jesus gerne ville have talt med sine forældre, hvis de havde vovet at opmuntre ham.   125:2.4 (1379.5) Jesus slept very little that night. His rest was greatly disturbed by revolting dreams of slaughter and suffering. His mind was distraught and his heart torn by the inconsistencies and absurdities of the theology of the whole Jewish ceremonial system. His parents likewise slept little. They were greatly disconcerted by the events of the day just ended. They were completely upset in their own hearts by the lad’s, to them, strange and determined attitude. Mary became nervously agitated during the fore part of the night, but Joseph remained calm, though he was equally puzzled. Both of them feared to talk frankly with the lad about these problems, though Jesus would gladly have talked with his parents if they had dared to encourage him.
125:2.5 (1379.6) Den næste dags gudstjeneste i templet var mere acceptabel for Jesus og gjorde meget for at lindre de ubehagelige minder fra den foregående dag. Den følgende morgen tog den unge Lazarus Jesus i hånden, og de begyndte en systematisk udforskning af Jerusalem og dens omegn. Inden dagen var omme, havde Jesus opdaget de forskellige steder i templet, hvor der foregik undervisning og spørgsmålskonferencer, og bortset fra et par besøg i det allerhelligste, hvor han undrede sig over, hvad der egentlig var bag sløret, brugte han det meste af sin tid i templet på disse undervisningskonferencer.   125:2.5 (1379.6) The next day’s services at the temple were more acceptable to Jesus and did much to relieve the unpleasant memories of the previous day. The following morning young Lazarus took Jesus in hand, and they began a systematic exploration of Jerusalem and its environs. Before the day was over, Jesus discovered the various places about the temple where teaching and question conferences were in progress; and aside from a few visits to the holy of holies to gaze in wonder as to what really was behind the veil of separation, he spent most of his time about the temple at these teaching conferences.
125:2.6 (1380.1) I hele påskeugen holdt Jesus sin plads blandt de nye sønner af buddet, og det betød, at han måtte sætte sig uden for det rækværk, som adskilte alle personer, der ikke var fuldgyldige borgere i Israel. Da han således blev gjort bevidst om sin ungdom, afholdt han sig fra at stille de mange spørgsmål, som bølgede frem og tilbage i hans sind; i det mindste afholdt han sig fra det, indtil påskefesten var slut, og disse restriktioner for de nyindviede unge blev ophævet.   125:2.6 (1380.1) Throughout the Passover week, Jesus kept his place among the new sons of the commandment, and this meant that he must seat himself outside the rail which segregated all persons who were not full citizens of Israel. Being thus made conscious of his youth, he refrained from asking the many questions which surged back and forth in his mind; at least he refrained until the Passover celebration had ended and these restrictions on the newly consecrated youths were lifted.
125:2.7 (1380.2) Onsdag i påskeugen fik Jesus lov til at tage hjem med Lazarus for at overnatte i Betania. Denne aften hørte Lazarus, Martha og Maria Jesus diskutere timelige og evige ting, menneskelige og guddommelige, og fra den aften elskede de ham alle tre, som om han havde været deres egen bror.   125:2.7 (1380.2) On Wednesday of the Passover week, Jesus was permitted to go home with Lazarus to spend the night at Bethany. This evening, Lazarus, Martha, and Mary heard Jesus discuss things temporal and eternal, human and divine, and from that night on they all three loved him as if he had been their own brother.
125:2.8 (1380.3) I slutningen af ugen så Jesus mindre til Lazarus, da han ikke engang var berettiget til at deltage i den ydre cirkel af tempeldiskussionerne, selvom han deltog i nogle af de offentlige taler, der blev holdt i de ydre forgårde. Lazarus var på samme alder som Jesus, men i Jerusalem fik unge sjældent adgang til indvielsen af lovens sønner, før de var fyldt tretten år.   125:2.8 (1380.3) By the end of the week, Jesus saw less of Lazarus since he was not eligible for admission to even the outer circle of the temple discussions, though he attended some of the public talks delivered in the outer courts. Lazarus was the same age as Jesus, but in Jerusalem youths were seldom admitted to the consecration of sons of the law until they were a full thirteen years of age.
125:2.9 (1380.4) Igen og igen i påskeugen fandt hans forældre Jesus siddende for sig selv med sit ungdommelige hoved i hænderne, dybt eftertænksom. De havde aldrig set ham opføre sig sådan, og da de ikke vidste, hvor meget han var forvirret i sindet og plaget i ånden af den oplevelse, han gennemgik, blev de meget forvirrede; de vidste ikke, hvad de skulle gøre. De glædede sig over, at dagene i påskeugen var gået, og længtes efter at få deres underligt opførte søn sikkert tilbage til Nazaret.   125:2.9 (1380.4) Again and again, during the Passover week, his parents would find Jesus sitting off by himself with his youthful head in his hands, profoundly thinking. They had never seen him behave like this, and not knowing how much he was confused in mind and troubled in spirit by the experience through which he was passing, they were sorely perplexed; they did not know what to do. They welcomed the passing of the days of the Passover week and longed to have their strangely acting son safely back in Nazareth.
125:2.10 (1380.5) Dag for dag tænkte Jesus sine problemer igennem. Da ugen var omme, havde han foretaget mange justeringer, men da tiden var inde til at vende tilbage til Nazaret, vrimlede hans ungdommelige sind stadig med rådvildhed og var omgivet af en lang række ubesvarede spørgsmål og uløste problemer.   125:2.10 (1380.5) Day by day Jesus was thinking through his problems. By the end of the week he had made many adjustments; but when the time came to return to Nazareth, his youthful mind was still swarming with perplexities and beset by a host of unanswered questions and unsolved problems.
125:2.11 (1380.6) Inden Josef og Maria forlod Jerusalem, havde de sammen med Jesus’ lærer i Nazaret aftalt, at Jesus skulle vende tilbage, når han fyldte 15 år, for at begynde sit lange studieforløb på et af rabbinernes mest kendte akademier. Jesus ledsagede sine forældre og lærer på deres besøg i skolen, men de var alle bekymrede over at se, hvor ligeglad han virkede med alt, hvad de sagde og gjorde. Maria var dybt berørt over hans reaktioner på besøget i Jerusalem, og Josef var dybt forvirret over drengens mærkelige bemærkninger og usædvanlige opførsel.   125:2.11 (1380.6) Before Joseph and Mary left Jerusalem, in company with Jesus’ Nazareth teacher they made definite arrangements for Jesus to return when he reached the age of fifteen to begin his long course of study in one of the best-known academies of the rabbis. Jesus accompanied his parents and teacher on their visits to the school, but they were all distressed to observe how indifferent he seemed to all they said and did. Mary was deeply pained at his reactions to the Jerusalem visit, and Joseph was profoundly perplexed at the lad’s strange remarks and unusual conduct.
125:2.12 (1380.7) Påskeugen havde trods alt været en stor begivenhed i Jesu liv. Han havde nydt muligheden for at møde en masse drenge på sin egen alder, medkandidater til indvielsen, og han udnyttede sådanne kontakter som et middel til at lære, hvordan folk levede i Mesopotamien, Turkestan og Parthien, såvel som i Roms fjernvestlige provinser. Han var allerede ret fortrolig med den måde, hvorpå ungdommen i Egypten og andre regioner nær Palæstina voksede op. Der var tusindvis af unge mennesker i Jerusalem på dette tidspunkt, og drengen fra Nazaret mødte personligt, og interviewede mere eller mindre udførligt, mere end hundrede og halvtreds. Han var især interesseret i dem, der kom fra Fjernøsten og de fjerntliggende vestlige lande. Som et resultat af disse kontakter begyndte drengen at nære et ønske om at rejse rundt i verden for at lære, hvordan de forskellige grupper af hans medmennesker knoklede for deres levebrød.   125:2.12 (1380.7) After all, Passover week had been a great event in Jesus’ life. He had enjoyed the opportunity of meeting scores of boys about his own age, fellow candidates for the consecration, and he utilized such contacts as a means of learning how people lived in Mesopotamia, Turkestan, and Parthia, as well as in the Far-Western provinces of Rome. He was already fairly conversant with the way in which the youth of Egypt and other regions near Palestine grew up. There were thousands of young people in Jerusalem at this time, and the Nazareth lad personally met, and more or less extensively interviewed, more than one hundred and fifty. He was particularly interested in those who hailed from the Far-Eastern and the remote Western countries. As a result of these contacts the lad began to entertain a desire to travel about the world for the purpose of learning how the various groups of his fellow men toiled for their livelihood.
3. Josefs og marias afrejse ^top   3. Departure of Joseph and Mary ^top
125:3.1 (1381.1) Det var blevet aftalt, at gruppen fra Nazaret skulle samles i området omkring templet midt på eftermiddagen den første dag i ugen efter, at påskefesten var slut. Det gjorde de og begav sig på vej tilbage til Nazaret. Jesus var gået ind i templet for at lytte til diskussionerne, mens hans forældre ventede på, at deres medrejsende skulle samles. Nu gjorde selskabet sig klar til at tage af sted, mændene i én gruppe og kvinderne i en anden, som det var skik, når de rejste til og fra Jerusalems festivaler. Jesus var taget op til Jerusalem i selskab med sin mor og kvinderne. Da han nu var en indviet ung mand, var det meningen, at han skulle rejse tilbage til Nazaret i selskab med sin far og mændene. Men da gruppen fra Nazaret drog videre mod Betania, var Jesus helt opslugt af diskussionen om engle i templet, og han var slet ikke opmærksom på, at tiden for hans forældres afrejse var ved at være inde. Og han opdagede ikke, at han var blevet efterladt, før templets konferencer blev afbrudt ved middagstid.   125:3.1 (1381.1) It had been arranged that the Nazareth party should gather in the region of the temple at midforenoon on the first day of the week after the Passover festival had ended. This they did and started out on the return journey to Nazareth. Jesus had gone into the temple to listen to the discussions while his parents awaited the assembly of their fellow travelers. Presently the company prepared to depart, the men going in one group and the women in another as was their custom in journeying to and from the Jerusalem festivals. Jesus had gone up to Jerusalem in company with his mother and the women. Being now a young man of the consecration, he was supposed to journey back to Nazareth in company with his father and the men. But as the Nazareth party moved on toward Bethany, Jesus was completely absorbed in the discussion of angels, in the temple, being wholly unmindful of the passing of the time for the departure of his parents. And he did not realize that he had been left behind until the noontime adjournment of the temple conferences.
125:3.2 (1381.2) De rejsende fra Nazaret savnede ikke Jesus, fordi Maria formodede, at han rejste med mændene, mens Josef troede, at han rejste med kvinderne, da han var gået op til Jerusalem med kvinderne og førte Marias æsel. De opdagede ikke hans fravær, før de nåede Jeriko og forberedte sig på at blive for natten. Efter at have forhørt sig hos de sidste i gruppen, der nåede Jeriko, og fået at vide, at ingen af dem havde set deres søn, tilbragte de en søvnløs nat og grublede over, hvad der kunne være sket med ham, mens, de mindes mange af hans usædvanlige reaktioner på påskeugens begivenheder og mildt dadlede hinanden for ikke at have set efter at han indgik i gruppen, før de forlod Jerusalem.   125:3.2 (1381.2) The Nazareth travelers did not miss Jesus because Mary surmised he journeyed with the men, while Joseph thought he traveled with the women since he had gone up to Jerusalem with the women, leading Mary’s donkey. They did not discover his absence until they reached Jericho and prepared to tarry for the night. After making inquiry of the last of the party to reach Jericho and learning that none of them had seen their son, they spent a sleepless night, turning over in their minds what might have happened to him, recounting many of his unusual reactions to the events of Passover week, and mildly chiding each other for not seeing to it that he was in the group before they left Jerusalem.
4. Første og anden dag i templet ^top   4. First and Second Days in the Temple ^top
125:4.1 (1381.3) I mellemtiden var Jesus blevet i templet hele eftermiddagen, hvor han lyttede til diskussionerne og nød den mere rolige og anstændige atmosfære, da de store menneskemængder fra påskeugen næsten var forsvundet. Ved afslutningen af eftermiddagens diskussioner, som Jesus ikke deltog i, tog han til Betania og ankom, netop som Simons familie gjorde sig klar til at indtage deres aftensmåltid. De tre unge var overlykkelige over at hilse på Jesus, og han blev i Simons hus hele natten. Han foretog sig meget lidt i løbet af aftenen men brugte en masse tid på at meditere for sig selv i haven.   125:4.1 (1381.3) In the meantime, Jesus had remained in the temple throughout the afternoon, listening to the discussions and enjoying the more quiet and decorous atmosphere, the great crowds of Passover week having about disappeared. At the conclusion of the afternoon discussions, in none of which Jesus participated, he betook himself to Bethany, arriving just as Simon’s family made ready to partake of their evening meal. The three youngsters were overjoyed to greet Jesus, and he remained in Simon’s house for the night. He visited very little during the evening, spending much of the time alone in the garden meditating.
125:4.2 (1381.4) Tidligt næste dag stod Jesus op og var på vej til templet. På Oliebjergets højderyg holdt han pause og græd over det syn, hans øjne mødte—et åndeligt forarmet folk, bundet af traditioner og under overvågning af de romerske legioner. Tidligt om formiddagen befandt han sig i templet med sin beslutning om at deltage i diskussionerne. I mellemtiden var Josef og Maria også stået op i det tidlige morgengry med den hensigt at gå tilbage til Jerusalem. Først skyndte de sig hen til deres slægtninges hus, hvor de havde boet som en familie i påskeugen, men de fik at vide, at ingen havde set Jesus. Efter at have ledt hele dagen uden at finde spor af ham, vendte de tilbage til deres slægtninge for at overnatte.   125:4.2 (1381.4) Early next day Jesus was up and on his way to the temple. On the brow of Olivet he paused and wept over the sight his eyes beheld—a spiritually impoverished people, tradition bound and living under the surveillance of the Roman legions. Early forenoon found him in the temple with his mind made up to take part in the discussions. Meanwhile, Joseph and Mary also had arisen with the early dawn with the intention of retracing their steps to Jerusalem. First, they hastened to the house of their relatives, where they had lodged as a family during the Passover week, but inquiry elicited the fact that no one had seen Jesus. After searching all day and finding no trace of him, they returned to their relatives for the night.
125:4.3 (1382.1) Ved den anden konference havde Jesus vovet at stille spørgsmål, og på en meget forbløffende måde deltog han i tempeldiskussionerne, men altid på en måde, der var i overensstemmelse med hans ungdom. Nogle gange var hans spidse spørgsmål lidt pinlige for de lærde lærere i den jødiske lov, men han udviste en sådan ånd af oprigtig retfærdighed, kombineret med en tydelig sult efter viden, at de fleste af tempellærerne var tilbøjelige til at behandle ham med al hensynsfuldhed. Men da han formastede sig til at sætte spørgsmålstegn ved det retfærdige i at dræbe en beruset hedning, som havde forvildet sig uden for hedningernes forgård og uforvarende var kommet ind på templets forbudte og angiveligt hellige område, blev en af de mere intolerante lærere utålmodig over drengens underforståede kritik, og spurgte, mens han stirrede vredt ned på ham, hvor gammel han var. Jesus svarede, “tretten år, der mangler en smule mere end fire måneder.” “Så,” svarede den nu vrede lærer, “hvorfor er du her, siden du ikke er myndig som en lovens søn?” Og da Jesus forklarede, at han var blevet indviet under påsken, og at han var en færdig elev fra skolerne i Nazaret, svarede lærerne hånligt: “Det burde vi have vidst; han er fra Nazaret.” Men lederen insisterede på, at Jesus ikke skulle bebrejdes, hvis synagogens herskere i Nazaret teknisk set havde gradueret ham, da han var tolv i stedet for tretten; og på trods af, at flere af hans modstandere rejste sig og gik, blev det besluttet, at drengen uforstyrret kunne fortsætte som elev i tempeldiskussionerne.   125:4.3 (1382.1) At the second conference Jesus had made bold to ask questions, and in a very amazing way he participated in the temple discussions but always in a manner consistent with his youth. Sometimes his pointed questions were somewhat embarrassing to the learned teachers of the Jewish law, but he evinced such a spirit of candid fairness, coupled with an evident hunger for knowledge, that the majority of the temple teachers were disposed to treat him with every consideration. But when he presumed to question the justice of putting to death a drunken gentile who had wandered outside the court of the gentiles and unwittingly entered the forbidden and reputedly sacred precincts of the temple, one of the more intolerant teachers grew impatient with the lad’s implied criticisms and, glowering down upon him, asked how old he was. Jesus replied, “thirteen years lacking a trifle more than four months.” “Then,” rejoined the now irate teacher, “why are you here, since you are not of age as a son of the law?” And when Jesus explained that he had received consecration during the Passover, and that he was a finished student of the Nazareth schools, the teachers with one accord derisively replied, “We might have known; he is from Nazareth.” But the leader insisted that Jesus was not to be blamed if the rulers of the synagogue at Nazareth had graduated him, technically, when he was twelve instead of thirteen; and notwithstanding that several of his detractors got up and left, it was ruled that the lad might continue undisturbed as a pupil of the temple discussions.
125:4.4 (1382.2) Da denne, hans anden dag i templet, var slut, tog han igen til Betania for at overnatte. Og igen gik han ud i haven for at meditere og bede. Det var tydeligt, at hans sind var optaget af at tænke over vigtige problemer.   125:4.4 (1382.2) When this, his second day in the temple, was finished, again he went to Bethany for the night. And again he went out in the garden to meditate and pray. It was apparent that his mind was concerned with the contemplation of weighty problems.
5. Tredje dagen i templet ^top   5. The Third Day in the Temple ^top
125:5.1 (1382.3) På Jesu tredje dag med de skriftkloge og lærerne i templet samledes mange tilskuere, som havde hørt om denne unge mand fra Galilæa, og som kom for at nyde oplevelsen af at se en dreng forvirre lovens vise mænd. Simon kom også ned fra Betania for at se, hvad drengen havde gang i. I løbet af dagen fortsatte Josef og Maria deres ængstelige søgen efter Jesus, og de gik endda flere gange ind i templet, men tænkte aldrig på at undersøge de forskellige diskussionsgrupper, selvom de en enkelt gang kom næsten inden for høreafstand af hans fascinerende stemme.   125:5.1 (1382.3) Jesus’ third day with the scribes and teachers in the temple witnessed the gathering of many spectators who, having heard of this youth from Galilee, came to enjoy the experience of seeing a lad confuse the wise men of the law. Simon also came down from Bethany to see what the boy was up to. Throughout this day Joseph and Mary continued their anxious search for Jesus, even going several times into the temple but never thinking to scrutinize the several discussion groups, although they once came almost within hearing distance of his fascinating voice.
125:5.2 (1382.4) Inden dagen var omme, var hele opmærksomheden fra den vigtigste diskussionsgruppe i templet blevet fokuseret på de spørgsmål, Jesus stillede. Blandt hans mange spørgsmål var:   125:5.2 (1382.4) Before the day had ended, the entire attention of the chief discussion group of the temple had become focused upon the questions being asked by Jesus. Among his many questions were:
125:5.3 (1382.5) 1. Hvad findes der egentlig i det allerhelligste, bag sløret?   125:5.3 (1382.5) 1. What really exists in the holy of holies, behind the veil?
125:5.4 (1382.6) 2. Hvorfor skal mødre i Israel adskilles fra de mandlige tilbedere?   125:5.4 (1382.6) 2. Why should mothers in Israel be segregated from the male temple worshipers?
125:5.5 (1382.7) 3. Hvis Gud er en far, der elsker sine børn, hvorfor al denne slagtning af dyr for at vinde Guds gunst—er Moses forkyndelse blevet misforstået?   125:5.5 (1382.7) 3. If God is a father who loves his children, why all this slaughter of animals to gain divine favor—has the teaching of Moses been misunderstood?
125:5.6 (1382.8) 4. Eftersom templet er dedikeret til tilbedelse af Faderen i himlen, er det så konsistent at tillade tilstedeværelsen af dem, der beskæftiger sig med verdslig bytte- og handelsvirksomhed?   125:5.6 (1382.8) 4. Since the temple is dedicated to the worship of the Father in heaven, is it consistent to permit the presence of those who engage in secular barter and trade?
125:5.7 (1382.9) 5. Skal den forventede Messias blive en verdslig prins, der skal sidde på Davids trone, eller skal han fungere som livets lys i etableringen af et åndeligt rige?   125:5.7 (1382.9) 5. Is the expected Messiah to become a temporal prince to sit on the throne of David, or is he to function as the light of life in the establishment of a spiritual kingdom?
125:5.8 (1383.1) Og hele dagen igennem undrede de, der lyttede, sig over disse spørgsmål, og ingen var mere forbavset end Simon. I mere end fire timer plagede denne unge mand fra Nazaret de jødiske lærere med tankevækkende og hjertegribende spørgsmål. Han kom kun med få kommentarer til de ældres bemærkninger. Han formidlede sin undervisning gennem de spørgsmål, han stillede. Ved en behændig og subtil formulering af et spørgsmål ville han på én gang udfordre deres lære og foreslå sin egen. I den måde, han stillede spørgsmål på, var der en tiltalende kombination af klogskab og humor, som gjorde ham elsket selv af dem, der var mere eller mindre vrede over hans ungdommelighed. Han var altid yderst retfærdig og hensynsfuld, når han stillede disse gennemtrængende spørgsmål. På denne begivenhedsrige eftermiddag i templet udviste han den samme modvilje mod at drage uretfærdig fordel af en modstander, som kendetegnede hele hans efterfølgende offentlige virke. Som ung og senere som mand syntes han at være fuldstændig fri for ethvert egoistisk ønske om at vinde et argument blot for at opleve logisk triumf over sine medmennesker, idet han kun var interesseret i én ting: at forkynde den evige sandhed og dermed opnå en mere fuldstændig åbenbaring af den evige Gud.   125:5.8 (1383.1) And all the day through, those who listened marveled at these questions, and none was more astonished than Simon. For more than four hours this Nazareth youth plied these Jewish teachers with thought-provoking and heart-searching questions. He made few comments on the remarks of his elders. He conveyed his teaching by the questions he would ask. By the deft and subtle phrasing of a question he would at one and the same time challenge their teaching and suggest his own. In the manner of his asking a question there was an appealing combination of sagacity and humor which endeared him even to those who more or less resented his youthfulness. He was always eminently fair and considerate in the asking of these penetrating questions. On this eventful afternoon in the temple he exhibited that same reluctance to take unfair advantage of an opponent which characterized his entire subsequent public ministry. As a youth, and later on as a man, he seemed to be utterly free from all egoistic desire to win an argument merely to experience logical triumph over his fellows, being interested supremely in just one thing: to proclaim everlasting truth and thus effect a fuller revelation of the eternal God.
125:5.9 (1383.2) Da dagen var omme, gik Simon og Jesus tilbage til Betania. På det meste af strækningen var både manden og drengen tavse. Igen holdt Jesus pause på Oliebjergets højderyg, men da han betragtede byen og dens tempel, græd han ikke; han bøjede blot hovedet i stille hengivenhed.   125:5.9 (1383.2) When the day was over, Simon and Jesus wended their way back to Bethany. For most of the distance both the man and the boy were silent. Again Jesus paused on the brow of Olivet, but as he viewed the city and its temple, he did not weep; he only bowed his head in silent devotion.
125:5.10 (1383.3) Efter aftensmåltidet i Betania afviste han igen at slutte sig til den muntre kreds, men gik i stedet ud i haven, hvor han blev hængende til langt ud på natten og forgæves forsøgte at udtænke en konkret plan for, hvordan han skulle gribe problemet med sit livsværk an og finde ud af, hvordan han bedst kunne arbejde på at åbenbare en smukkere opfattelse af den himmelske Fader for sine åndeligt forblindede landsmænd og på den måde befri dem fra deres frygtelige trældom under love, ritualer, ceremonier og mugne traditioner. Men det klare lys kom ikke til den sandhedssøgende dreng.   125:5.10 (1383.3) After the evening meal at Bethany he again declined to join the merry circle but instead went to the garden, where he lingered long into the night, vainly endeavoring to think out some definite plan of approach to the problem of his lifework and to decide how best he might labor to reveal to his spiritually blinded countrymen a more beautiful concept of the heavenly Father and so set them free from their terrible bondage to law, ritual, ceremonial, and musty tradition. But the clear light did not come to the truth-seeking lad.
6. Fjerde dagen i templet ^top   6. The Fourth Day in the Temple ^top
125:6.1 (1383.4) Jesus var underligt ligeglad med sine jordiske forældre; selv ved morgenmaden, da Lazarus’ mor bemærkede, at hans forældre måtte være på vej hjem på det tidspunkt, lod Jesus ikke til at forstå, at de ville være noget bekymrede over, at han var blevet hængende.   125:6.1 (1383.4) Jesus was strangely unmindful of his earthly parents; even at breakfast, when Lazarus’s mother remarked that his parents must be about home by that time, Jesus did not seem to comprehend that they would be somewhat worried about his having lingered behind.
125:6.2 (1383.5) Igen gik han til templet, men han holdt ikke pause for at meditere på Oliebjergets højderyg. I løbet af formiddagens diskussioner blev der brugt meget tid på loven og profeterne, og lærerne var forbløffede over, at Jesus var så fortrolig med skrifterne, både på hebraisk og græsk. Men de var ikke så forbløffede over hans viden om sandheden som over hans ungdom.   125:6.2 (1383.5) Again he journeyed to the temple, but he did not pause to meditate at the brow of Olivet. In the course of the morning’s discussions much time was devoted to the law and the prophets, and the teachers were astonished that Jesus was so familiar with the Scriptures, in Hebrew as well as Greek. But they were amazed not so much by his knowledge of truth as by his youth.
125:6.3 (1383.6) VPå eftermiddagskonferencen var de knap nok begyndt at besvare hans spørgsmål om formålet med bøn, før lederen bad drengen komme frem og satte sig ved siden af ham og bad ham fremlægge sine egne synspunkter om bøn og tilbedelse.   125:6.3 (1383.6) At the afternoon conference they had hardly begun to answer his question relating to the purpose of prayer when the leader invited the lad to come forward and, sitting beside him, bade him state his own views regarding prayer and worship.
125:6.4 (1383.7) NAftenen før havde Jesu forældre hørt om denne mærkelige unge mand, der så behændigt sloges med lovens forkyndere, men det var ikke faldet dem ind, at denne dreng var deres søn. De havde næsten besluttet at rejse ud til Zakarias’ hjem, da de troede, at Jesus måske var taget derhen for at se Elizabeth og Johannes. De tænkte, at Zakarias måske var i templet, og stoppede der på deres vej til Judas by. Mens de slentrede gennem templets forgårde, kan man forestille sig deres overraskelse og forbløffelse, da de genkendte den forsvundne drengs stemme og så ham sidde blandt templets lærere.   125:6.4 (1383.7) The evening before, Jesus’ parents had heard about this strange youth who so deftly sparred with the expounders of the law, but it had not occurred to them that this lad was their son. They had about decided to journey out to the home of Zacharias as they thought Jesus might have gone thither to see Elizabeth and John. Thinking Zacharias might perhaps be at the temple, they stopped there on their way to the City of Judah. As they strolled through the courts of the temple, imagine their surprise and amazement when they recognized the voice of the missing lad and beheld him seated among the temple teachers.
125:6.5 (1384.1) Josef var målløs, men Maria gav udtryk for sin længe opsparede frygt og angst, da hun skyndte sig hen til drengen, som nu stod og hilste på sine forbløffede forældre, og sagde: “Mit barn, hvorfor har du behandlet os sådan? Det er nu mere end tre dage siden, din far og jeg ledte efter dig i sorg. Hvad fik dig til at forlade os?” Det var et anspændt øjeblik. Alle øjne var rettet mod Jesus for at høre, hvad han ville sige. Hans far kiggede bebrejdende på ham, men sagde ikke noget.   125:6.5 (1384.1) Joseph was speechless, but Mary gave vent to her long-pent-up fear and anxiety when, rushing up to the lad, now standing to greet his astonished parents, she said: “My child, why have you treated us like this? It is now more than three days that your father and I have searched for you sorrowing. Whatever possessed you to desert us?” It was a tense moment. All eyes were turned on Jesus to hear what he would say. His father looked reprovingly at him but said nothing.
125:6.6 (1384.2) Man skal huske på, at Jesus skulle forestille at være en ung mand. Han havde afsluttet den almindelige skolegang for et barn, var blevet anerkendt som lovens søn og var blevet indviet som borger i Israel. Og alligevel skældte hans mor ham mere end mildt ud foran alle de forsamlede mennesker, lige midt i hans unge livs mest seriøse og sublime indsats, og bragte dermed en af de største muligheder, han nogensinde havde fået for at fungere som sandhedens lærer, retfærdighedens forkynder, en åbenbarer af sin himmelske Faders kærlige karakter, til en uværdig afslutning.   125:6.6 (1384.2) It should be remembered that Jesus was supposed to be a young man. He had finished the regular schooling of a child, had been recognized as a son of the law, and had received consecration as a citizen of Israel. And yet his mother more than mildly upbraided him before all the people assembled, right in the midst of the most serious and sublime effort of his young life, thus bringing to an inglorious termination one of the greatest opportunities ever to be granted him to function as a teacher of truth, a preacher of righteousness, a revealer of the loving character of his Father in heaven.
125:6.7 (1384.3) Men knægten var sin opgave voksen. Når man tager alle de faktorer i betragtning, som tilsammen udgjorde denne situation, vil man være bedre forberedt på at forstå visdommen i drengens svar på sin mors utilsigtede irettesættelse. Efter et øjebliks eftertanke svarede Jesus sin mor og sagde: “Hvorfor er det, at du har ledt efter mig så længe? Ville du ikke forvente at finde mig i min Faders hus, siden tiden er kommet, hvor jeg skulle være i gang med min Faders anliggender?”   125:6.7 (1384.3) But the lad was equal to the occasion. When you take into fair consideration all the factors which combined to make up this situation, you will be better prepared to fathom the wisdom of the boy’s reply to his mother’s unintended rebuke. After a moment’s thought, Jesus answered his mother, saying: “Why is it that you have so long sought me? Would you not expect to find me in my Father’s house since the time has come when I should be about my Father’s business?”
125:6.8 (1384.4) Alle var forbløffede over drengens måde at tale på. Tavse trak de sig alle tilbage og lod ham stå alene med sine forældre. Snart lettede den unge mand forlegenheden hos alle tre, da han stille sagde: “Kom, mine forældre, ingen har gjort andet end det, han mente var bedst. Vores far i himlen har bestemt disse ting; lad os tage hjem.”   125:6.8 (1384.4) Everyone was astonished at the lad’s manner of speaking. Silently they all withdrew and left him standing alone with his parents. Presently the young man relieved the embarrassment of all three when he quietly said: “Come, my parents, none has done aught but that which he thought best. Our Father in heaven has ordained these things; let us depart for home.”
125:6.9 (1384.5) I stilhed begav de sig af sted og ankom til Jeriko for natten. Kun én gang holdt de pause, og det var på Oliebjergets højderyg, da drengen løftede sin stav i vejret og, rystende fra top til tå af intense følelser, sagde: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem og dets folk, hvilke slaver I er—underdanige under det romerske åg og ofre for jeres egne traditioner—men jeg vil vende tilbage for at rense templet og befri mit folk fra denne trældom!”   125:6.9 (1384.5) In silence they started out, arriving at Jericho for the night. Only once did they pause, and that on the brow of Olivet, when the lad raised his staff aloft and, quivering from head to foot under the surging of intense emotion, said: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, and the people thereof, what slaves you are—subservient to the Roman yoke and victims of your own traditions—but I will return to cleanse yonder temple and deliver my people from this bondage!”
125:6.10 (1384.6) På den tre dage lange rejse til Nazaret sagde Jesus ikke meget, og hans forældre sagde heller ikke meget i hans nærvær. De havde virkelig svært ved at forstå deres førstefødte søns opførsel, men i deres hjerter gemte de på hans ord, selv om de ikke helt kunne forstå deres betydning.   125:6.10 (1384.6) On the three days’ journey to Nazareth Jesus said little; neither did his parents say much in his presence. They were truly at a loss to understand the conduct of their first-born son, but they did treasure in their hearts his sayings, even though they could not fully comprehend their meanings.
125:6.11 (1384.7) Da Jesus nåede hjem, kom han med en kort udtalelse til sine forældre, hvor han forsikrede dem om sin hengivenhed og antydede, at de ikke behøvede at frygte, at han igen ville give dem anledning til at lide af angst på grund af sin opførsel. Han afsluttede denne betydningsfulde udtalelse med at sige: “Mens jeg skal gøre min fars vilje i himlen, vil jeg også være lydig mod min far på jorden. Jeg vil afvente min time.”   125:6.11 (1384.7) Upon reaching home, Jesus made a brief statement to his parents, assuring them of his affection and implying that they need not fear he would again give any occasion for their suffering anxiety because of his conduct. He concluded this momentous statement by saying: “While I must do the will of my Father in heaven, I will also be obedient to my father on earth. I will await my hour.”
125:6.12 (1384.8) Selvom Jesus i sit sind mange gange nægtede at samtykke til sine forældres velmenende, men misforståede forsøg på at diktere hans tankegang eller etablere planen for hans arbejde på jorden, så gjorde han alligevel på alle måder, der var i overensstemmelse med hans dedikation til at gøre sin Paradisfars vilje, det mest nådige at tilpass sig sin jordiske fars ønsker og sin kødelige families skikke. Selv når han ikke kunne give sit samtykke, gjorde han alt for at tilpasse sig. Han var en kunstner, når det gjaldt om at tilpasse sin pligtopfyldenhed til sine forpligtelser i forhold til familieloyalitet og social tjeneste.   125:6.12 (1384.8) Though Jesus, in his mind, would many times refuse to consent to the well-intentioned but misguided efforts of his parents to dictate the course of his thinking or to establish the plan of his work on earth, still, in every manner consistent with his dedication to the doing of his Paradise Father’s will, he did most gracefully conform to the desires of his earthly father and to the usages of his family in the flesh. Even when he could not consent, he would do everything possible to conform. He was an artist in the matter of adjusting his dedication to duty to his obligations of family loyalty and social service.
125:6.13 (1385.1) Josef var forundret, men Maria blev trøstet, da hun reflekterede over disse oplevelser, og til sidst så hun hans udtalelse på Oliebjerget som en profeti om hendes søns messianske mission som Israels befrier. Hun gik i gang med fornyet energi for at forme hans tanker i patriotiske og nationalistiske baner og fik hjælp af sin bror, Jesu yndlingsonkel; og på alle andre måder tog Jesu mor sig af opgaven med at forberede sin førstefødte søn til at påtage sig lederskabet af dem, der ville genoprette Davids trone og for altid kaste det ikke-jødiske åg af politisk trældom af sig.   125:6.13 (1385.1) Joseph was puzzled, but Mary, as she reflected on these experiences, gained comfort, eventually viewing his utterance on Olivet as prophetic of the Messianic mission of her son as Israel’s deliverer. She set to work with renewed energy to mold his thoughts into patriotic and nationalistic channels and enlisted the efforts of her brother, Jesus’ favorite uncle; and in every other way did the mother of Jesus address herself to the task of preparing her first-born son to assume the leadership of those who would restore the throne of David and forever cast off the gentile yoke of political bondage.