Kapitel 126		Paper 126
De To Afgørende År		The Two Crucial Years
126:0.1 (1386.1) AF ALLE Jesus’ oplevelser på jorden var det fjortende og femtende år de mest afgørende. Disse to år, efter at han begyndte at blive selvbevidst om sin guddommelighed og skæbne, og før han opnåede en stor grad af kommunikation med sin indre Retter, var de mest prøvende i hans begivenhedsrige liv på Urantia. Det er denne periode på to år, der bør kaldes den store prøve, den virkelige fristelse. Ingen menneskelig ungdom har nogensinde oplevet en mere afgørende prøvelse end den, Jesus gennemgik under sin overgang fra barndom til ung manddom, da han gennemgik de tidlige forvirringer og tilpasningsproblemer i ungdomsårene.		126:0.1 (1386.1) OF ALL Jesus’ earth-life experiences, the fourteenth and fifteenth years were the most crucial. These two years, after he began to be self-conscious of divinity and destiny, and before he achieved a large measure of communication with his indwelling Adjuster, were the most trying of his eventful life on Urantia. It is this period of two years which should be called the great test, the real temptation. No human youth, in passing through the early confusions and adjustment problems of adolescence, ever experienced a more crucial testing than that which Jesus passed through during his transition from childhood to young manhood.
126:0.2 (1386.2) Denne vigtige periode i Jesus’ ungdomsudvikling begyndte med afslutningen på besøget i Jerusalem og med hans tilbagevenden til Nazaret. Først var Maria lykkelig ved tanken om, at hun havde fået sin dreng tilbage igen, at Jesus var vendt hjem for at være en pligtopfyldende søn—ikke at han nogensinde havde været andet—og at han fremover ville være mere lydhør over for hendes planer for hans fremtidige liv. Men det varede ikke længe, før hun kunne sole sig i dette solskin af moderlige illusioner og uerkendt familiestolthed; meget snart skulle hun blive endnu mere desillusioneret. Drengen var mere og mere i selskab med sin far; han kom mindre og mindre til hende med sine problemer, mens begge hans forældre i stigende grad ikke forstod hans hyppige vekslen mellem denne verdens anliggender og overvejelserne om hans forhold til sin fars virksomhed. Helt ærligt, de forstod ham ikke, men de elskede ham virkelig.		126:0.2 (1386.2) This important period in Jesus’ youthful development began with the conclusion of the Jerusalem visit and with his return to Nazareth. At first Mary was happy in the thought that she had her boy back once more, that Jesus had returned home to be a dutiful son—not that he was ever anything else—and that he would henceforth be more responsive to her plans for his future life. But she was not for long to bask in this sunshine of maternal delusion and unrecognized family pride; very soon she was to be more completely disillusioned. More and more the boy was in the company of his father; less and less did he come to her with his problems, while increasingly both his parents failed to comprehend his frequent alternation between the affairs of this world and the contemplation of his relation to his Father’s business. Frankly, they did not understand him, but they did truly love him.
126:0.3 (1386.3) Efterhånden som han blev ældre, blev Jesu medlidenhed og kærlighed til det jødiske folk dybere, men med årene udviklede der sig i hans sind en voksende retfærdig harme over de politisk udpegede præsters tilstedeværelse i Faderens tempel. Jesus havde stor respekt for de oprigtige farisæere og de ærlige skriftkloge, men han nærede stor foragt for de hykleriske farisæere og de uærlige teologer; han så med foragt på alle de religiøse ledere, som ikke var oprigtige. Når han granskede Israels lederskab, blev han nogle gange fristet til at se med velvilje på muligheden for, at han kunne blive den Messias, som jøderne forventede, men han gav aldrig efter for en sådan fristelse.		126:0.3 (1386.3) As he grew older, Jesus’ pity and love for the Jewish people deepened, but with the passing years, there developed in his mind a growing righteous resentment of the presence in the Father’s temple of the politically appointed priests. Jesus had great respect for the sincere Pharisees and the honest scribes, but he held the hypocritical Pharisees and the dishonest theologians in great contempt; he looked with disdain upon all those religious leaders who were not sincere. When he scrutinized the leadership of Israel, he was sometimes tempted to look with favor on the possibility of his becoming the Messiah of Jewish expectation, but he never yielded to such a temptation.
126:0.4 (1386.4) Historien om hans bedrifter blandt de vise mænd i templet i Jerusalem var glædelig for hele Nazaret, især for hans tidligere lærere i synagogeskolen. I en periode var hans ros på alles læber. Hele landsbyen fortalte om hans barndoms visdom og prisværdige opførsel og forudsagde, at han var bestemt til at blive en stor leder i Israel; endelig ville der komme en virkelig stor lærer fra Nazaret i Galilæa. Og de så alle frem til den tid, hvor han ville være femten år gammel, så han regelmæssigt kunne få lov til at læse skrifterne i synagogen på sabbatsdagen.		126:0.4 (1386.4) The story of his exploits among the wise men of the temple in Jerusalem was gratifying to all Nazareth, especially to his former teachers in the synagogue school. For a time his praise was on everybody’s lips. All the village recounted his childhood wisdom and praiseworthy conduct and predicted that he was destined to become a great leader in Israel; at last a really great teacher was to come out of Nazareth in Galilee. And they all looked forward to the time when he would be fifteen years of age so that he might be permitted regularly to read the Scriptures in the synagogue on the Sabbath day.
1. Hans fjortende år (8 e.kr.) ^top		1. His Fourteenth Year (A.D. 8) ^top
126:1.1 (1387.1) Dette er kalenderåret for hans fjortende fødselsdag. Han var blevet en god åg håndværke og arbejdede godt med både lærred og læder. Han udviklede sig også hurtigt til en dygtig tømrer og møbelsnedker. Denne sommer tog han ofte op på toppen af bakken nordvest for Nazaret for at bede og meditere. Han blev gradvist mere selvbevidst om karakteren af sin overdragelse på jorden.		126:1.1 (1387.1) This is the calendar year of his fourteenth birthday. He had become a good yoke maker and worked well with both canvas and leather. He was also rapidly developing into an expert carpenter and cabinetmaker. This summer he made frequent trips to the top of the hill to the northwest of Nazareth for prayer and meditation. He was gradually becoming more self-conscious of the nature of his bestowal on earth.
126:1.2 (1387.2) Lidt mere end hundrede år tidligere havde denne bakke været “Baals høj,” og nu var det stedet, hvor Simeon, en kendt hellig mand i Israel, lå begravet. Fra toppen af Simeons bakke så Jesus ud over Nazaret og det omkringliggende land. Han kunne se på Megiddo og mindes historien om den egyptiske hær, der vandt sin første store sejr i Asien, og hvordan en anden hær senere besejrede Judæas konge Josiah. Ikke langt derfra kunne han se Taanach, hvor Deborah og Barak besejrede Sisera. I det fjerne kunne han se bakkerne i Dothan, hvor han havde lært, at Josefs brødre solgte ham til egyptisk slaveri. Så flyttede han blikket over til Ebal og Gerizim og fortalte sig selv om Abrahams, Jakobs og Abimeleks traditioner. Og således genkaldte han sig og vendte i sit sind de historiske og traditionelle begivenheder i sin far Josefs folk.		126:1.2 (1387.2) This hill, a little more than one hundred years previously, had been the “high place of Baal,” and now it was the site of the tomb of Simeon, a reputed holy man of Israel. From the summit of this hill of Simeon, Jesus looked out over Nazareth and the surrounding country. He would gaze upon Megiddo and recall the story of the Egyptian army winning its first great victory in Asia; and how, later on, another such army defeated the Judean king Josiah. Not far away he could look upon Taanach, where Deborah and Barak defeated Sisera. In the distance he could view the hills of Dothan, where he had been taught Joseph’s brethren sold him into Egyptian slavery. He then would shift his gaze over to Ebal and Gerizim and recount to himself the traditions of Abraham, Jacob, and Abimelech. And thus he recalled and turned over in his mind the historic and traditional events of his father Joseph’s people.
126:1.3 (1387.3) Han fortsatte med sine avancerede læsekurser under synagogens lærere, og han fortsatte også med hjemmeundervisningen af sine brødre og søstre, efterhånden som de voksede op i passende aldre.		126:1.3 (1387.3) He continued to carry on his advanced courses of reading under the synagogue teachers, and he also continued with the home education of his brothers and sisters as they grew up to suitable ages.
126:1.4 (1387.4) I begyndelsen af året arrangerede Josef, at indtægterne fra hans ejendom i Nazaret og Kapernaum blev sat til side for at betale for Jesu lange studieophold i Jerusalem, da det var planlagt, at han skulle rejse til Jerusalem i august det følgende år, når han ville være 15 år gammel.		126:1.4 (1387.4) Early this year Joseph arranged to set aside the income from his Nazareth and Capernaum property to pay for Jesus’ long course of study at Jerusalem, it having been planned that he should go to Jerusalem in August of the following year when he would be fifteen years of age.
126:1.5 (1387.5) I begyndelsen af dette år var både Josef og Maria ofte i tvivl om deres førstefødte søns skæbne. Han var virkelig et strålende og elskeligt barn, men han var så svær at forstå, så svær at fatte, og igen skete der aldrig noget ekstraordinært eller mirakuløst. Masser af gange havde hans stolte mor stået i åndeløs forventning om at se sin søn udføre en eller anden overmenneskelig eller mirakuløs præstation, men altid blev hendes håb knust i grusom skuffelse. Og alt dette var nedslående, ja, ligefrem skræmmende. De fromme mennesker på den tid troede virkelig, at profeter og løfterige mænd altid demonstrerede deres kald og etablerede deres guddommelige autoritet ved at udføre mirakler og undere. Men Jesus gjorde ingen af disse ting, og derfor blev hans forældres forvirring stadig større, da de overvejede hans fremtid.		126:1.5 (1387.5) By the beginning of this year both Joseph and Mary entertained frequent doubts about the destiny of their first-born son. He was indeed a brilliant and lovable child, but he was so difficult to understand, so hard to fathom, and again, nothing extraordinary or miraculous ever happened. Scores of times had his proud mother stood in breathless anticipation, expecting to see her son engage in some superhuman or miraculous performance, but always were her hopes dashed down in cruel disappointment. And all this was discouraging, even disheartening. The devout people of those days truly believed that prophets and men of promise always demonstrated their calling and established their divine authority by performing miracles and working wonders. But Jesus did none of these things; wherefore was the confusion of his parents steadily increased as they contemplated his future.
126:1.6 (1387.6) Nazaret-familiens forbedrede økonomiske situation afspejlede sig på mange måder i hjemmet og især i det øgede antal glatte hvide tavler, der blev brugt som skriveplader, hvor man skrev med trækul. Jesus fik også lov til at genoptage sin musikundervisning; han var meget glad for at spille på harpe.		126:1.6 (1387.6) The improved economic condition of the Nazareth family was reflected in many ways about the home and especially in the increased number of smooth white boards which were used as writing slates, the writing being done with charcoal. Jesus was also permitted to resume his music lessons; he was very fond of playing the harp.
126:1.7 (1387.7) I løbet af dette år kan man virkelig sige, at Jesus “voksede i gunst hos mennesker og hos Gud.” Familiens fremtidsudsigter virkede gode; fremtiden var lys.		126:1.7 (1387.7) Throughout this year it can truly be said that Jesus “grew in favor with man and with God.” The prospects of the family seemed good; the future was bright.
2. Josefs død ^top		2. The Death of Joseph ^top
126:2.1 (1388.1) Alt gik godt indtil den skæbnesvangre dag tirsdag den 25. september, hvor en løber fra Sepphoris bragte den tragiske nyhed til hjemmet i Nazaret, at Josef var blevet alvorligt kvæstet, da et tårn faldt ned under arbejdet på guvernørens residens. Budbringeren fra Sepphoris havde stoppet ved butikken på vej til Josefs hjem og informeret Jesus om sin fars ulykke, og de gik sammen ind i huset for at overbringe den triste nyhed til Maria. Jesus ønskede straks at tage hen til sin far, men Maria ville ikke høre andet, end at hun måtte skynde sig hen til sin mand. Hun gav ordre til, at Jakob, som dengang var ti år gammel, skulle følge med hende til Sepphoris, mens Jesus blev hjemme med de yngre børn, indtil hun vendte tilbage, da hun ikke vidste, hvor alvorligt Josef var blevet såret. Men Josef døde af sine kvæstelser, før Maria ankom. De bragte ham til Nazaret, og den følgende dag blev han stedt til hvile hos sine fædre.		126:2.1 (1388.1) All did go well until that fateful day of Tuesday, September 25, when a runner from Sepphoris brought to this Nazareth home the tragic news that Joseph had been severely injured by the falling of a derrick while at work on the governor’s residence. The messenger from Sepphoris had stopped at the shop on the way to Joseph’s home, informing Jesus of his father’s accident, and they went together to the house to break the sad news to Mary. Jesus desired to go immediately to his father, but Mary would hear to nothing but that she must hasten to her husband’s side. She directed that James, then ten years of age, should accompany her to Sepphoris while Jesus remained home with the younger children until she should return, as she did not know how seriously Joseph had been injured. But Joseph died of his injuries before Mary arrived. They brought him to Nazareth, and on the following day he was laid to rest with his fathers.
126:2.2 (1388.2) Lige på det tidspunkt, hvor udsigterne var gode, og fremtiden så lys ud, slog en tilsyneladende grusom hånd lederen af denne husstand i Nazaret ned, hjemmets anliggender blev forstyrret, og alle planer for Jesus og hans fremtidige uddannelse blev revet i stykker. Denne tømrerdreng, som nu var lige over fjorten år gammel, vågnede op til den erkendelse, at han ikke blot skulle opfylde sin himmelske Faders opgave med at åbenbare den guddommelige natur på jorden og i kødet, men at hans unge menneskelige natur også skulle påtage sig ansvaret for at tage sig af sin enkemor og syv brødre og søstre—og endnu en, som endnu ikke var født. Denne dreng fra Nazaret blev nu den eneste støtte og trøst for denne så pludseligt efterladte familie. Således tillod de hændelser der fandt sted, som hører til naturen orden på Urantia, og som kom til at tvinge denne unge mand af skæbne, til så tidligt at påtage sig disse tunge, men højst udviklende og disciplinære ansvarsopgaver, der fulgte af at han blev lederen af en menneskelig familie, blev far til sine egne brødre og søstre, for at støtte og beskytte sin mor, til at fungere som vogter af sin fars hjem, det eneste hjem, han kom til at have i sit liv i denne verden.		126:2.2 (1388.2) Just at the time when prospects were good and the future looked bright, an apparently cruel hand struck down the head of this Nazareth household, the affairs of this home were disrupted, and every plan for Jesus and his future education was demolished. This carpenter lad, now just past fourteen years of age, awakened to the realization that he had not only to fulfill the commission of his heavenly Father to reveal the divine nature on earth and in the flesh, but that his young human nature must also shoulder the responsibility of caring for his widowed mother and seven brothers and sisters—and another yet to be born. This lad of Nazareth now became the sole support and comfort of this so suddenly bereaved family. Thus were permitted those occurrences of the natural order of events on Urantia which would force this young man of destiny so early to assume these heavy but highly educational and disciplinary responsibilities attendant upon becoming the head of a human family, of becoming father to his own brothers and sisters, of supporting and protecting his mother, of functioning as guardian of his father’s home, the only home he was to know while on this world.
126:2.3 (1388.3) Jesus accepterede med glæde det ansvar, han så pludseligt blev pålagt, og han bar det trofast til det sidste. I det mindste var et stort problem og en forventet vanskelighed i hans liv blevet løst på tragisk vis—han skulle nu ikke tage til Jerusalem for at studere under rabbinerne. Det forblev altid sandt, at Jesus “satte sig ved ingen mands fødder.” Han var altid villig til at lære af selv de mest ydmyge små børn, men han fik aldrig autoritet til at lære sandheden fra menneskelige kilder.		126:2.3 (1388.3) Jesus cheerfully accepted the responsibilities so suddenly thrust upon him, and he carried them faithfully to the end. At least one great problem and anticipated difficulty in his life had been tragically solved—he would not now be expected to go to Jerusalem to study under the rabbis. It remained always true that Jesus “sat at no man’s feet.” He was ever willing to learn from even the humblest of little children, but he never derived authority to teach truth from human sources.
126:2.4 (1388.4) Alligevel vidste han intet om Gabriels besøg hos hans mor før hans fødsel; han hørte først om det fra Johannes på hans dåbsdag, i begyndelsen af hans offentlige tjeneste.		126:2.4 (1388.4) Still he knew nothing of the Gabriel visit to his mother before his birth; he only learned of this from John on the day of his baptism, at the beginning of his public ministry.
126:2.5 (1388.5) Som årene gik, målte denne unge tømrer fra Nazaret i stigende grad enhver institution i samfundet og enhver brug af religion ud fra den uforanderlige test: Hvad gør den for den menneskelige sjæl? Bringer den Gud til mennesket? Bringer den mennesket til Gud? Selvom denne unge mand ikke helt forsømte de rekreative og sociale aspekter af livet, brugte han mere og mere tid og energi på kun to formål: at tage sig af sin familie og forberede sig på at gøre sin Faders himmelske vilje på jorden.		126:2.5 (1388.5) As the years passed, this young carpenter of Nazareth increasingly measured every institution of society and every usage of religion by the unvarying test: What does it do for the human soul? does it bring God to man? does it bring man to God? While this youth did not wholly neglect the recreational and social aspects of life, more and more he devoted his time and energies to just two purposes: the care of his family and the preparation to do his Father’s heavenly will on earth.
126:2.6 (1389.1) Dette år blev det skik, at naboerne kom forbi i løbet af vinteraftenerne for at høre Jesus spille på harpen, lytte til hans historier (for drengen var en mesterlig historiefortæller) og høre ham læse op fra de græske skrifter.		126:2.6 (1389.1) This year it became the custom for the neighbors to drop in during the winter evenings to hear Jesus play upon the harp, to listen to his stories (for the lad was a master storyteller), and to hear him read from the Greek scriptures.
126:2.7 (1389.2) Familiens økonomiske anliggender fortsatte med at køre ret gnidningsløst, da der var en hel del penge ved hånden på tidspunktet for Josefs død. Jesus viste tidligt, at han var i besiddelse af en god forretningssans og økonomisk klogskab. Han var liberal, men sparsommelig; han sparede, men var generøs. Han viste sig at være en klog og effektiv administrator af sin fars bo.		126:2.7 (1389.2) The economic affairs of the family continued to run fairly smoothly as there was quite a sum of money on hand at the time of Joseph’s death. Jesus early demonstrated the possession of keen business judgment and financial sagacity. He was liberal but frugal; he was saving but generous. He proved to be a wise and efficient administrator of his father’s estate.
126:2.8 (1389.3) Men på trods af alt, hvad Jesus og naboerne i Nazaret kunne gøre for at skabe glæde i hjemmet, var Maria og selv børnene tynget af sorg. Josef var væk. Josef var en usædvanlig ægtemand og far, og de savnede ham alle sammen. Og det virkede endnu mere tragisk at tænke på, at han døde, før de kunne tale med ham eller høre hans afskedsvelsignelse.		126:2.8 (1389.3) But in spite of all that Jesus and the Nazareth neighbors could do to bring cheer into the home, Mary, and even the children, were overcast with sadness. Joseph was gone. Joseph was an unusual husband and father, and they all missed him. And it seemed all the more tragic to think that he died ere they could speak to him or hear his farewell blessing.
3. Det femtende år (9 e.kr.) ^top		3. The Fifteenth Year (A.D. 9) ^top
126:3.1 (1389.4) I midten af dette femtende år—og vi regner tiden i overensstemmelse med det tyvende århundredes kalender, ikke med det jødiske år—havde Jesus taget et fast greb om ledelsen af sin familie. Inden dette år var gået, var deres opsparing næsten forsvundet, og de stod over for at skulle afhænde et af de huse i Nazaret, som Josef og hans nabo Jakob ejede i fællesskab.		126:3.1 (1389.4) By the middle of this fifteenth year—and we are reckoning time in accordance with the twentieth-century calendar, not by the Jewish year—Jesus had taken a firm grasp upon the management of his family. Before this year had passed, their savings had about disappeared, and they were face to face with the necessity of disposing of one of the Nazareth houses which Joseph and his neighbor Jacob owned in partnership.
126:3.2 (1389.5) Onsdag aften den 17. april år 9 e.Kr. blev Ruth, familiens yngste, født, og Jesus forsøgte efter bedste evne at træde i sin fars sted og trøste og pleje sin mor under denne vanskelige og meget triste prøvelse. I næsten en snes år (indtil han begyndte sin offentlige tjeneste) kunne ingen far have elsket og næret sin datter mere kærligt og trofast, end Jesus tog sig af lille Ruth. Og han var en lige så god far for alle de andre medlemmer af sin familie.		126:3.2 (1389.5) On Wednesday evening, April 17, a.d. 9, Ruth, the baby of the family, was born, and to the best of his ability Jesus endeavored to take the place of his father in comforting and ministering to his mother during this trying and peculiarly sad ordeal. For almost a score of years (until he began his public ministry) no father could have loved and nurtured his daughter any more affectionately and faithfully than Jesus cared for little Ruth. And he was an equally good father to all the other members of his family.
126:3.3 (1389.6) I løbet af dette år formulerede Jesus for første gang den bøn, som han senere lærte sine apostle, og som for mange er blevet kendt som “Fadervor.” På en måde var det en udvikling af familiealteret; de havde mange former for lovprisning og flere formelle bønner. Efter sin fars død forsøgte Jesus at lære de ældre børn at udtrykke sig individuelt i bøn—hvilket han nød at gøre—men de kunne ikke forstå hans tanke og ville uvægerligt falde tilbage på deres udenadlærte bønneformularer. Det var i dette forsøg på at stimulere sine ældre brødre og søstre til at bede individuelle bønner, at Jesus forsøgte at lede dem på vej med suggestive sætninger, og efterhånden udviklede det sig, uden at det var hans hensigt, at de alle brugte en form for bøn, som i vid udstrækning var bygget op af disse suggestive linjer, som Jesus havde lært dem.		126:3.3 (1389.6) During this year Jesus first formulated the prayer which he subsequently taught to his apostles, and which to many has become known as “The Lord’s Prayer.” In a way it was an evolution of the family altar; they had many forms of praise and several formal prayers. After his father’s death Jesus tried to teach the older children to express themselves individually in prayer—much as he so enjoyed doing—but they could not grasp his thought and would invariably fall back upon their memorized prayer forms. It was in this effort to stimulate his older brothers and sisters to say individual prayers that Jesus would endeavor to lead them along by suggestive phrases, and presently, without intention on his part, it developed that they were all using a form of prayer which was largely built up from these suggestive lines which Jesus had taught them.
126:3.4 (1389.7) Til sidst opgav Jesus tanken om, at hvert familiemedlem skulle formulere spontane bønner, og en aften i oktober satte han sig ved den lille lampe på det lave stenbord, og på et stykke glat cedertræsplade på cirka 18 tommer i kvadrat skrev han med et stykke trækul den bøn, som fra da af blev familiens standardbøn.		126:3.4 (1389.7) At last Jesus gave up the idea of having each member of the family formulate spontaneous prayers, and one evening in October he sat down by the little squat lamp on the low stone table, and, on a piece of smooth cedar board about eighteen inches square, with a piece of charcoal he wrote out the prayer which became from that time on the standard family petition.
126:3.5 (1389.8) I år var Jesus meget plaget af forvirrede tanker. Familieansvar havde ganske effektivt fjernet enhver tanke om straks at udføre en plan for at reagere på Jerusalems besøg, der pålagde ham at “være optaget af sin fars sager.” Jesus ræsonnerede med rette, at omsorgen for hans jordiske fars familie måtte gå forud for alle andre pligter; at forsørgelsen af hans familie måtte blive hans første forpligtelse.		126:3.5 (1389.8) This year Jesus was much troubled with confused thinking. Family responsibility had quite effectively removed all thought of immediately carrying out any plan for responding to the Jerusalem visitation directing him to “be about his Father’s business.” Jesus rightly reasoned that the watchcare of his earthly father’s family must take precedence of all duties; that the support of his family must become his first obligation.
126:3.6 (1390.1) I løbet af dette år fandt Jesus en passage i den såkaldte Enoks Bog, som påvirkede ham i den senere vedtagelse af udtrykket “Menneskesøn” som betegnelse for hans overdragelsesmission på Urantia. Han havde grundigt overvejet ideen om den jødiske Messias og var fast overbevist om, at han ikke skulle være denne Messias. Han længtes efter at hjælpe sin fars folk, men han forventede aldrig at skulle lede jødiske hære i omstyrtningen af det fremmede herredømme over Palæstina. Han vidste, at han aldrig ville komme til at sidde på Davids trone i Jerusalem. Han troede heller ikke, at hans mission var at være en åndelig befrier eller morallærer udelukkende for det jødiske folk. Derfor kunne hans livsmission på ingen måde være opfyldelsen af de intense længsler og formodede messianske profetier i de hebraiske skrifter; i hvert fald ikke som jøderne forstod disse profeters forudsigelser. Ligeledes var han sikker på, at han aldrig ville fremstå som den Menneskesøn, profeten Daniel havde beskrevet.		126:3.6 (1390.1) In the course of this year Jesus found a passage in the so-called Book of Enoch which influenced him in the later adoption of the term “Son of Man” as a designation for his bestowal mission on Urantia. He had thoroughly considered the idea of the Jewish Messiah and was firmly convinced that he was not to be that Messiah. He longed to help his father’s people, but he never expected to lead Jewish armies in overthrowing the foreign domination of Palestine. He knew he would never sit on the throne of David at Jerusalem. Neither did he believe that his mission was that of a spiritual deliverer or moral teacher solely to the Jewish people. In no sense, therefore, could his life mission be the fulfillment of the intense longings and supposed Messianic prophecies of the Hebrew scriptures; at least, not as the Jews understood these predictions of the prophets. Likewise he was certain he was never to appear as the Son of Man depicted by the Prophet Daniel.
126:3.7 (1390.2) Men når tiden kom, hvor han skulle gå ud som verdenslærer, hvad skulle han så kalde sig? Hvilke krav skulle han stille til sin mission? Ved hvilket navn ville han blive kaldt af de mennesker, der ville blive troende på hans lære?		126:3.7 (1390.2) But when the time came for him to go forth as a world teacher, what would he call himself? What claim should he make concerning his mission? By what name would he be called by the people who would become believers in his teachings?
126:3.8 (1390.3) Mens han tænkte over alle disse problemer, fandt han i synagogens bibliotek i Nazaret, blandt de apokalyptiske bøger, som han havde studeret, dette manuskript kaldet “Enoks Bog”; og selvom han var sikker på, at den ikke var skrevet af den gamle Enok, var den meget spændende for ham, og han læste og genlæste den mange gange. Der var en passage, som gjorde særligt indtryk på ham, en passage, hvor udtrykket “Menneskesønnen” dukkede op. Forfatteren til denne såkaldte Enoks Bog fortsatte med at fortælle om denne Menneskesøn, beskrev det arbejde, han ville udføre på jorden, og forklarede, at denne Menneskesøn, før han kom ned på denne jord for at bringe frelse til menneskeheden, havde vandret gennem den himmelske herligheds forgårde med sin Far, alles Far; og at han havde vendt ryggen til al denne storhed og herlighed for at komme ned på jorden og forkynde frelse til trængende dødelige. Da Jesus læste disse passager (vel vidende, at meget af den østlige mystik, som var blevet blandet med denne lære, var fejlagtig), reagerede han i sit hjerte og erkendte i sit sind, at af alle de messianske forudsigelser i de hebraiske skrifter og af alle teorierne om den jødiske befrier, var ingen så tæt på sandheden som denne historie gemt i denne kun delvist akkrediterede Enoks Bog; og han besluttede der og da at antage som sin første titel “Menneskesønnen.” Og det gjorde han, da han efterfølgende begyndte sit offentlige arbejde. Jesus havde en ufejlbarlig evne til at genkende sandheden, og sandheden tøvede han aldrig med at omfavne, uanset hvilken kilde den så ud til at stamme fra.		126:3.8 (1390.3) While turning all these problems over in his mind, he found in the synagogue library at Nazareth, among the apocalyptic books which he had been studying, this manuscript called “The Book of Enoch”; and though he was certain that it had not been written by Enoch of old, it proved very intriguing to him, and he read and reread it many times. There was one passage which particularly impressed him, a passage in which this term “Son of Man” appeared. The writer of this so-called Book of Enoch went on to tell about this Son of Man, describing the work he would do on earth and explaining that this Son of Man, before coming down on this earth to bring salvation to mankind, had walked through the courts of heavenly glory with his Father, the Father of all; and that he had turned his back upon all this grandeur and glory to come down on earth to proclaim salvation to needy mortals. As Jesus would read these passages (well understanding that much of the Eastern mysticism which had become admixed with these teachings was erroneous), he responded in his heart and recognized in his mind that of all the Messianic predictions of the Hebrew scriptures and of all the theories about the Jewish deliverer, none was so near the truth as this story tucked away in this only partially accredited Book of Enoch; and he then and there decided to adopt as his inaugural title “the Son of Man.” And this he did when he subsequently began his public work. Jesus had an unerring ability for the recognition of truth, and truth he never hesitated to embrace, no matter from what source it appeared to emanate.
126:3.9 (1390.4) På dette tidspunkt havde han fået afklaret mange ting om sit kommende arbejde for verden, men han sagde intet om disse ting til sin mor, som stadig holdt fast i tanken om, at han var den jødiske Messias.		126:3.9 (1390.4) By this time he had quite thoroughly settled many things about his forthcoming work for the world, but he said nothing of these matters to his mother, who still held stoutly to the idea of his being the Jewish Messiah.
126:3.10 (1390.5) Den store forvirring fra Jesu unge dage opstod nu. Efter at have afklaret noget om arten af hans mission på jorden, “at være i sin Faders tjeneste”—at vise sin Faders kærlige natur til hele menneskeheden—begyndte han på ny at overveje de mange udsagn i Skrifterne, der henviser til en national befrier, en jødisk lærer eller konge. Hvilken begivenhed henviste disse profetier til? Var han ikke jøde? Eller var han? Var han eller var han ikke af Davids hus? Hans mor hævdede, at han var; hans far havde bestemt, at han ikke var. Han besluttede, at han ikke var det. Men havde profeterne forvirret Messias’ natur og mission?		126:3.10 (1390.5) The great confusion of Jesus’ younger days now arose. Having settled something about the nature of his mission on earth, “to be about his Father’s business”—to show forth his Father’s loving nature to all mankind—he began to ponder anew the many statements in the Scriptures referring to the coming of a national deliverer, a Jewish teacher or king. To what event did these prophecies refer? Was not he a Jew? or was he? Was he or was he not of the house of David? His mother averred he was; his father had ruled that he was not. He decided he was not. But had the prophets confused the nature and mission of the Messiah?
126:3.11 (1391.1) Når alt kom til alt, kunne det så tænkes, at hans mor havde ret? I de fleste sager, hvor der tidligere havde været meningsforskelle, havde hun haft ret. Hvis han var en ny lærer og ikke Messias, hvordan skulle han så genkende den jødiske Messias, hvis en sådan skulle vise sig i Jerusalem i løbet af hans jordiske mission; og hvad skulle hans forhold til denne jødiske Messias være? Og hvad skulle hans forhold være, efter at han havde påbegyndt sin livsmission, til sin familie? til det jødiske samfund og religion? til Romerriget? til ikke-jøderne og deres religioner? Hvert af disse betydningsfulde problemer vendte og drejede den unge galilæer i sit sind og tænkte alvorligt over det, mens han fortsatte med at arbejde ved tømrerbænken og møjsommeligt tjente til livets ophold for sig selv, sin mor og otte andre sultne munde.		126:3.11 (1391.1) After all, could it be possible that his mother was right? In most matters, when differences of opinion had arisen in the past, she had been right. If he were a new teacher and not the Messiah, then how should he recognize the Jewish Messiah if such a one should appear in Jerusalem during the time of his earth mission; and, further, what should be his relation to this Jewish Messiah? And what should be his relation, after embarking on his life mission, to his family? to the Jewish commonwealth and religion? to the Roman Empire? to the gentiles and their religions? Each of these momentous problems this young Galilean turned over in his mind and seriously pondered while he continued to work at the carpenter’s bench, laboriously making a living for himself, his mother, and eight other hungry mouths.
126:3.12 (1391.2) Inden årets udgang kunne Mary se, at familiens penge var ved at slippe op. Hun overlod salget af duer til Jakob. Snart købte de endnu en ko, og med hjælp fra Miriam begyndte de at sælge mælk til deres naboer i Nazaret.		126:3.12 (1391.2) Before the end of this year Mary saw the family funds diminishing. She turned the sale of doves over to James. Presently they bought a second cow, and with the aid of Miriam they began the sale of milk to their Nazareth neighbors.
126:3.13 (1391.3) Hans dybe meditationsperioder, hans hyppige rejser til bakketoppen for at bede og de mange mærkelige ideer, som Jesus fremførte fra tid til anden, bekymrede hans mor meget. Nogle gange troede hun, at drengen var ude af sig selv, men så beroligede hun sin frygt og huskede, at han trods alt var et lovende barn og på en måde anderledes end andre unge.		126:3.13 (1391.3) His profound periods of meditation, his frequent journeys to the hilltop for prayer, and the many strange ideas which Jesus advanced from time to time, thoroughly alarmed his mother. Sometimes she thought the lad was beside himself, and then she would steady her fears, remembering that he was, after all, a child of promise and in some manner different from other youths.
126:3.14 (1391.4) Men Jesus var ved at lære ikke at tale om alle sine tanker, ikke at præsentere alle sine ideer for verden, ikke engang for sin egen mor. Fra dette år blev Jesus’ afsløringer af, hvad der foregik i hans sind, stadigt mindre; det vil sige, han talte mindre om de ting, som en gennemsnitlig person ikke kunne forstå, og som ville føre til, at han blev betragtet som særegen eller anderledes end almindelige mennesker. Tilsyneladende blev han banal og konventionel, selvom han længtes efter nogen, der kunne forstå hans problemer. Han længtes efter en troværdig og fortrolig ven, men hans problemer var for komplekse til, at hans menneskelige medarbejdere kunne forstå dem. Det unikke ved den usædvanlige situation tvang ham til at bære sine byrder alene.		126:3.14 (1391.4) But Jesus was learning not to speak of all his thoughts, not to present all his ideas to the world, not even to his own mother. From this year on, Jesus’ disclosures about what was going on in his mind steadily diminished; that is, he talked less about those things which an average person could not grasp, and which would lead to his being regarded as peculiar or different from ordinary folks. To all appearances he became commonplace and conventional, though he did long for someone who could understand his problems. He craved a trustworthy and confidential friend, but his problems were too complex for his human associates to comprehend. The uniqueness of the unusual situation compelled him to bear his burdens alone.
4. Den første prædiken i synagogen ^top		4. First Sermon in the Synagogue ^top
126:4.1 (1391.5) Da Jesus fyldte 15 år, kunne han officielt indtage synagogens prædikestol på sabbatsdagen. Mange gange før var Jesus blevet bedt om at læse op af skrifterne, når der ikke var nogen talere, men nu var dagen kommet, hvor han ifølge loven kunne lede gudstjenesten. På den første sabbat efter hans femtenårs fødselsdag arrangerede chazanen derfor, at Jesus skulle lede synagogens morgengudstjeneste. Og da alle de troende i Nazaret var samlet, rejste den unge mand sig op og begyndte at læse, da han havde valgt sine skrifter:		126:4.1 (1391.5) With the coming of his fifteenth birthday, Jesus could officially occupy the synagogue pulpit on the Sabbath day. Many times before, in the absence of speakers, Jesus had been asked to read the Scriptures, but now the day had come when, according to law, he could conduct the service. Therefore on the first Sabbath after his fifteenth birthday the chazan arranged for Jesus to conduct the morning service of the synagogue. And when all the faithful in Nazareth had assembled, the young man, having made his selection of Scriptures, stood up and began to read:
126:4.2 (1391.6) “Gud Herrens ånd er over mig, for Herren har salvet mig; han har sendt mig for at bringe godt nyt til de ydmyge, for at forbinde dem, der har et knust hjerte, for at udråbe frihed for fangerne og sætte de åndelige fanger fri; for at forkynde Guds godheds år og dagen for vor Guds taknemlighed; at trøste alle sørgende, at give dem skønhed for aske, glædens olie i stedet for sorg, en lovsang i stedet for sorgens ånd, så de kan kaldes retfærdighedens træer, Herrens plantning, hvormed han kan blive herliggjort.		126:4.2 (1391.6) “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; to proclaim the year of God’s favor and the day of our God’s reckoning; to comfort all mourners, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy in the place of mourning, a song of praise instead of the spirit of sorrow, that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, wherewith he may be glorified.
126:4.3 (1392.1) “Søg det gode og ikke det onde, så I kan leve, og så skal Herren, hærskarernes Gud, være med jer. Had det onde, og elsk det gode; hold retten i hævd ved porten. Måske vil Gud Herren være nådig mod Josefs efterkommere.		126:4.3 (1392.1) “Seek good and not evil that you may live, and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you. Hate the evil and love the good; establish judgment in the gate. Perhaps the Lord God will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
126:4.4 (1392.2) “Vask jer, gør jer rene; fjern jeres onde gerninger for mine øjne; hold op med at gøre ondt, og lær at gøre godt; søg retfærdighed, hjælp de undertrykte. Forsvar den faderløse og tal for enken.		126:4.4 (1392.2) “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil and learn to do good; seek justice, relieve the oppressed. Defend the fatherless and plead for the widow.
126:4.5 (1392.3) “Hvormed skal jeg træde frem for Herren og bøje mig for hele jordens Herre? Skal jeg træde frem for ham med brændofre, med et år gamle kalve? Er Herren tilfreds med væddere i tusindvis, får i titusindvis eller floder af olie? Skal jeg ofre min førstefødte for min overtrædelse, mit livs frugt for min sjæls synd? Nej! for Herren har vist os, o menneske, hvad der er godt. Og hvad kræver Herren af dig andet end at handle retfærdigt, elske barmhjertighed og vandre ydmygt med din Gud?		126:4.5 (1392.3) “Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, to bow myself before the Lord of all the earth? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousands of sheep, or with rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? No! for the Lord has showed us, O men, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to deal justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?
126:4.6 (1392.4) “Hvem vil I så sammenligne Gud med, som sidder på jordens cirkel? Løft jeres øjne og se, hvem der har skabt alle disse verdener, hvem der frembringer deres hærskare efter antal og kalder dem alle ved deres navne. Alt dette gør han i kraft af sin almagt, og fordi han er stærk i sin styrke, er der ikke én, der fejler. Han giver styrke til de svage, og til dem, der er trætte, øger han styrken. Frygt ikke, for jeg er med dig, vær ikke bange, for jeg er din Gud. Jeg vil styrke dig og hjælpe dig; ja, jeg vil støtte dig med min retfærdigheds højre hånd, for jeg er Herren din Gud. Og jeg vil holde din højre hånd og sige til dig: Frygt ikke, for jeg vil hjælpe dig.		126:4.6 (1392.4) “To whom, then, will you liken God who sits upon the circle of the earth? Lift up your eyes and behold who has created all these worlds, who brings forth their host by number and calls them all by their names. He does all these things by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power, not one fails. He gives power to the weak, and to those who are weary he increases strength. Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness, for I am the Lord your God. And I will hold your right hand, saying to you, fear not, for I will help you.
126:4.7 (1392.5) “Og du er mit vidne, siger Herren, og min tjener, som jeg har udvalgt, for at alle skal kende og tro mig og forstå, at jeg er den evige. Jeg, selv jeg, er Herren, og ved siden af mig er der ingen frelser.”		126:4.7 (1392.5) “And you are my witness, says the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen that all may know and believe me and understand that I am the Eternal. I, even I, am the Lord, and beside me there is no savior.”
126:4.8 (1392.6) Og da han havde læst, satte han sig ned, og folket gik hjem og tænkte over de ord, som han så nådigt havde læst for dem. Aldrig havde hans byboere set ham så storslået højtidelig; aldrig havde de hørt hans stemme så alvorlig og så oprigtig; aldrig havde de observeret ham så mandig og beslutsom, så autoritativ.		126:4.8 (1392.6) And when he had thus read, he sat down, and the people went to their homes, pondering over the words which he had so graciously read to them. Never had his townspeople seen him so magnificently solemn; never had they heard his voice so earnest and so sincere; never had they observed him so manly and decisive, so authoritative.
126:4.9 (1392.7) Denne sabbatseftermiddag besteg Jesus Nazaret-bakken sammen med James, og da de kom hjem, skrev de De Ti Bud på græsk på to glatte brædder med trækul. Efterfølgende farvede og dekorerede Marta disse tavler, og længe hang de på væggen over James’ lille arbejdsbænk.		126:4.9 (1392.7) This Sabbath afternoon Jesus climbed the Nazareth hill with James and, when they returned home, wrote out the Ten Commandments in Greek on two smooth boards in charcoal. Subsequently Martha colored and decorated these boards, and for long they hung on the wall over James’s small workbench.
5. Økonomiske bekymringer ^top		5. The Financial Struggle ^top
126:5.1 (1392.8) Gradvist vendte Jesus og hans familie tilbage til det enkle liv fra deres tidligere år. Deres tøj og selv deres mad blev enklere. De havde masser af mælk, smør og ost. I sæsonen nød de afgrøderne fra deres have, men for hver måned, der gik, blev de nødt til at være mere sparsommelige. Deres morgenmad var meget simpel; de gemte deres bedste mad til aftensmåltidet. Men blandt disse jøder var mangel på rigdom ikke ensbetydende med social underlegenhed.		126:5.1 (1392.8) Gradually Jesus and his family returned to the simple life of their earlier years. Their clothes and even their food became simpler. They had plenty of milk, butter, and cheese. In season they enjoyed the produce of their garden, but each passing month necessitated the practice of greater frugality. Their breakfasts were very plain; they saved their best food for the evening meal. However, among these Jews lack of wealth did not imply social inferiority.
126:5.2 (1392.9) Denne unge mand havde allerede næsten forstået, hvordan mennesker levede på hans tid. Og hvor godt han forstod livet i hjemmet, på marken og i værkstedet, fremgår af hans senere lære, som så fuldstændigt afslører hans intime kontakt med alle faser af den menneskelige erfaring.		126:5.2 (1392.9) Already had this youth well-nigh encompassed the comprehension of how men lived in his day. And how well he understood life in the home, field, and workshop is shown by his subsequent teachings, which so repletely reveal his intimate contact with all phases of human experience.
126:5.3 (1392.10) Chazanen fra Nazaret klamrede sig fortsat til troen på, at Jesus skulle blive en stor lærer, sandsynligvis efterfølgeren til den berømte Gamaliel i Jerusalem.		126:5.3 (1392.10) The Nazareth chazan continued to cling to the belief that Jesus was to become a great teacher, probably the successor of the renowned Gamaliel at Jerusalem.
126:5.4 (1393.1) Tilsyneladende blev alle Jesus’ planer om en karriere forpurret. Fremtiden så ikke lys ud, som tingene nu udviklede sig. Men han vaklede ikke; han blev ikke modløs. Han levede videre, dag for dag, udførte sin nuværende pligt og opfyldte trofast de umiddelbare forpligtelser, der fulgte med hans position i livet. Jesu liv er den evige trøst for alle skuffede idealister.		126:5.4 (1393.1) Apparently all Jesus’ plans for a career were thwarted. The future did not look bright as matters now developed. But he did not falter; he was not discouraged. He lived on, day by day, doing well the present duty and faithfully discharging the immediate responsibilities of his station in life. Jesus’ life is the everlasting comfort of all disappointed idealists.
126:5.5 (1393.2) Lønnen for en almindelig daglejer blev langsomt mindre og mindre. Ved udgangen af dette år kunne Jesus ved at arbejde tidligt og sent kun tjene, hvad der svarede til omkring 2 kroner om dagen. Det næste år havde de svært ved at betale de civile skatter, for ikke at tale om synagogeafgifterne og tempelskatten på en halv shekel. I løbet af dette år forsøgte skatteopkræveren at presse ekstra indtægter ud af Jesus og truede endda med at tage hans harpe.		126:5.5 (1393.2) The pay of a common day-laboring carpenter was slowly diminishing. By the end of this year Jesus could earn, by working early and late, only the equivalent of about twenty-five cents a day. By the next year they found it difficult to pay the civil taxes, not to mention the synagogue assessments and the temple tax of one-half shekel. During this year the tax collector tried to squeeze extra revenue out of Jesus, even threatening to take his harp.
126:5.6 (1393.3) Jesus frygtede, at kopien af de græske skrifter ville blive opdaget og konfiskeret af skatteopkræverne, og på sin 15-års fødselsdag forærede han den til biblioteket i synagogen i Nazaret som sit modenhedsoffer til Herren.		126:5.6 (1393.3) Fearing that the copy of the Greek scriptures might be discovered and confiscated by the tax collectors, Jesus, on his fifteenth birthday, presented it to the Nazareth synagogue library as his maturity offering to the Lord.
126:5.7 (1393.4) Det store chok i hans femtende år kom, da Jesus tog over til Sepphoris for at modtage Herodes’ afgørelse vedrørende den appel, der var blevet indgivet til ham i striden om det pengebeløb, som Josef havde til gode på tidspunktet for sin utilsigtede død. Jesus og Maria havde håbet på at modtage en betydelig sum penge, da kasseren i Sepphoris havde tilbudt dem et sølle beløb. Josefs brødre havde appelleret til selveste Herodes, og nu stod Jesus i paladset og hørte Herodes dekretere, at hans far intet havde til gode ved sin død. Og på grund af en så uretfærdig beslutning stolede Jesus aldrig mere på Herodes Antipas. Det er ikke overraskende, at han engang hentydede til Herodes som “den ræv.”		126:5.7 (1393.4) The great shock of his fifteenth year came when Jesus went over to Sepphoris to receive the decision of Herod regarding the appeal taken to him in the dispute about the amount of money due Joseph at the time of his accidental death. Jesus and Mary had hoped for the receipt of a considerable sum of money when the treasurer at Sepphoris had offered them a paltry amount. Joseph’s brothers had taken an appeal to Herod himself, and now Jesus stood in the palace and heard Herod decree that his father had nothing due him at the time of his death. And for such an unjust decision Jesus never again trusted Herod Antipas. It is not surprising that he once alluded to Herod as “that fox.”
126:5.8 (1393.5) Det tætte arbejde ved snedkerbænken i dette og de følgende år fratog Jesus muligheden for at blande sig med karavanens passagerer. Familiens butik var allerede blevet overtaget af hans onkel, og Jesus arbejdede udelukkende i hjemmebutikken, hvor han var tæt på at hjælpe Maria med familien. Omkring denne tid begyndte han at sende Jakob op til kamelpladsen for at indsamle oplysninger om verdensbegivenheder, og på den måde forsøgte han at holde sig ajour med dagens nyheder.		126:5.8 (1393.5) The close work at the carpenter’s bench during this and subsequent years deprived Jesus of the opportunity of mingling with the caravan passengers. The family supply shop had already been taken over by his uncle, and Jesus worked altogether in the home shop, where he was near to help Mary with the family. About this time he began sending James up to the camel lot to gather information about world events, and thus he sought to keep in touch with the news of the day.
126:5.9 (1393.6) Da han voksede op til manddom, gennemgik han alle de konflikter og forvirringer, som gennemsnittet af unge mennesker i tidligere og efterfølgende tidsaldre har gennemgået. Og den strenge erfaring med at forsørge sin familie var et sikkert værn mod, at han fik for meget tid til tomgangsmeditation eller udfoldelse af mystiske tilbøjeligheder.		126:5.9 (1393.6) As he grew up to manhood, he passed through all those conflicts and confusions which the average young persons of previous and subsequent ages have undergone. And the rigorous experience of supporting his family was a sure safeguard against his having overmuch time for idle meditation or the indulgence of mystic tendencies.
126:5.10 (1393.7) Det var det år, hvor Jesus lejede et stort stykke jord lige nord for deres hjem, som blev delt op som familiens havelod. Hvert af de ældre børn havde sin egen have, og de konkurrerede ivrigt om at dyrke den. Deres ældste bror tilbragte noget tid sammen med dem i haven hver dag i grøntsagssæsonen. Når Jesus arbejdede med sine yngre brødre og søstre i haven, ønskede han mange gange, at de alle befandt sig på en gård ude på landet, hvor de kunne nyde friheden i et uhindret liv. Men de voksede ikke op på landet, og Jesus, som var en helt igennem praktisk ung mand såvel som en idealist, angreb intelligent og energisk sit problem, som han fandt det, og gjorde alt, hvad der stod i hans magt, for at tilpasse sig selv og sin familie til realiteterne i deres situation og for at tilpasse deres tilstand til den højest mulige tilfredsstillelse af deres individuelle og kollektive længsler.		126:5.10 (1393.7) This was the year that Jesus rented a considerable piece of land just to the north of their home, which was divided up as a family garden plot. Each of the older children had an individual garden, and they entered into keen competition in their agricultural efforts. Their eldest brother spent some time with them in the garden each day during the season of vegetable cultivation. As Jesus worked with his younger brothers and sisters in the garden, he many times entertained the wish that they were all located on a farm out in the country where they could enjoy the liberty and freedom of an unhampered life. But they did not find themselves growing up in the country; and Jesus, being a thoroughly practical youth as well as an idealist, intelligently and vigorously attacked his problem just as he found it, and did everything within his power to adjust himself and his family to the realities of their situation and to adapt their condition to the highest possible satisfaction of their individual and collective longings.
126:5.11 (1393.8) På et tidspunkt håbede Jesus svagt, at han måske kunne samle tilstrækkelige midler sammen til at købe en lille gård, forudsat at de kunne indsamle den betydelige sum penge, som hans far skulle have for arbejdet på Herodes’ palads. Han havde virkelig tænkt alvorligt over denne plan om at flytte sin familie ud på landet. Men da Herodes nægtede at betale dem noget af det, som Josef havde krav på, opgav de ambitionen om at eje et hjem på landet. Det lykkedes dem dog at nyde meget af livet på en gård, da de nu havde tre køer, fire får, en flok høns, et æsel og en hund foruden duerne. Selv de små rollinger havde deres faste pligter at udføre i det velregulerede system, som kendetegnede denne Nazaret-families hjemmeliv.		126:5.11 (1393.8) At one time Jesus faintly hoped that he might be able to gather up sufficient means, provided they could collect the considerable sum of money due his father for work on Herod’s palace, to warrant undertaking the purchase of a small farm. He had really given serious thought to this plan of moving his family out into the country. But when Herod refused to pay them any of the funds due Joseph, they gave up the ambition of owning a home in the country. As it was, they contrived to enjoy much of the experience of farm life as they now had three cows, four sheep, a flock of chickens, a donkey, and a dog, in addition to the doves. Even the little tots had their regular duties to perform in the well-regulated scheme of management which characterized the home life of this Nazareth family.
126:5.12 (1394.1) Med afslutningen af dette 15. år afsluttede Jesus den farlige og vanskelige periode i menneskets eksistens, overgangstiden mellem barndommens mere selvtilfredse år og bevidstheden om at nærme sig manddommen med dens øgede ansvar og muligheder for at erhverve sig avanceret erfaring i udviklingen af en ædel karakter. Vækstperioden for sind og krop var slut, og nu begyndte den virkelige karriere for denne unge mand fra Nazaret.		126:5.12 (1394.1) With the close of this fifteenth year Jesus completed the traversal of that dangerous and difficult period in human existence, that time of transition between the more complacent years of childhood and the consciousness of approaching manhood with its increased responsibilities and opportunities for the acquirement of advanced experience in the development of a noble character. The growth period for mind and body had ended, and now began the real career of this young man of Nazareth.