Urantia-bogen på engelsk er Public Domain på verdensplan siden 2006.
Oversættelser: © 2015 Urantia Foundation
THE ADOLESCENT YEARS
UNGDOMSÅRENE
1955 127:0.1 AS JESUS entered upon his adolescent years, he found himself the head and sole support of a large family. Within a few years after his father’s death all their property was gone. As time passed, he became increasingly conscious of his pre-existence; at the same time he began more fully to realize that he was present on earth and in the flesh for the express purpose of revealing his Paradise Father to the children of men.
2015 127:0.1 DA JESUS kom ind i ungdomsårene, fandt han sig primært som overhovedet for og den eneste forsørger af en stor familie. Inden for et par år efter hans fars død var hele deres rigdom forsvundet. Med tidens gang blev han mere og mere bevidst om sin før-eksistens. Samtidig begyndte han mere klart at indse, at han var på jorden og i kødet med det udtrykkelige formål at åbenbare sin Paradisfader for menneskenes børn.
1955 127:0.2 No adolescent youth who has lived or ever will live on this world or any other world has had or ever will have more weighty problems to resolve or more intricate difficulties to untangle. No youth of Urantia will ever be called upon to pass through more testing conflicts or more trying situations than Jesus himself endured during those strenuous years from fifteen to twenty.
2015 127:0.2 Ingen menneske i denne verden eller nogen anden verden har gennemlevet sin ungdom, eller vil nogensinde komme til at gøre det, har haft eller vil nogensinde kommer til at have mere tungtvejende problemer at løse, eller mere forvirrende problemer at undersøge. Ingen unge på Urantia vil nogensinde blive bedt om at gennemgå sværere konflikter eller vanskeligere situationer end Jesus selv udholdte i disse anstrengende leveår fra femten til tyve.
1955 127:0.3 Having thus tasted the actual experience of living these adolescent years on a world beset by evil and distraught by sin, the Son of Man became possessed of full knowledge about the life experience of the youth of all the realms of Nebadon, and thus forever he became the understanding refuge for the distressed and perplexed adolescents of all ages and on all worlds throughout the local universe.
2015 127:0.3 Efter således at have oplevet, hvad det faktisk var at leve disse ungdoms år i en verden plaget af ondskab og forvirret af synd, fik Menneskesønnen fuldt kendskab til, hvordan livet opleves af de unge i alle Nebadons verdener, og dermed blev han for altid forståelsens tilflugtssted for nødstedte og forvirrede unge i alle aldre og i alle verdener i hele lokaluniverset.
1955 127:0.4 Slowly, but certainly and by actual experience, this divine Son is earning the right to become sovereign of his universe, the unquestioned and supreme ruler of all created intelligences on all local universe worlds, the understanding refuge of the beings of all ages and of all degrees of personal endowment and experience.
2015 127:0.4 Langsomt, men sikkert, og ved faktiske erfaringer optjener denne guddommelige Søn retten til at være hersker over sit univers, den ubestridte og højeste hersker over alle oprettede intelligenser i alle lokaluniversets verdener, forståelsens tilflugtssted af væsener i alle aldre og af alle grader af personlig liv og erfaring.
1. THE SIXTEENTH YEAR (A.D. 10)
1. DET SEKSTENDE ÅR (10 E.KR.)
1955 127:1.1 The incarnated Son passed through infancy and experienced an uneventful childhood. Then he emerged from that testing and trying transition stage between childhood and young manhood—he became the adolescent Jesus.
2015 127:1.1 Den inkarnerede Søn gennemlevede barndommen og oplevede en barndom uden særlige begivenheder. Så dukkede han frem fra den prøvende og vanskelig overgangsfase mellem barndommen og den gryende manddom - han blev den unge Jesus.
1955 127:1.2 This year he attained his full physical growth. He was a virile and comely youth. He became increasingly sober and serious, but he was kind and sympathetic. His eye was kind but searching; his smile was always engaging and reassuring. His voice was musical but authoritative; his greeting cordial but unaffected. Always, even in the most commonplace of contacts, there seemed to be in evidence the touch of a twofold nature, the human and the divine. Ever he displayed this combination of the sympathizing friend and the authoritative teacher. And these personality traits began early to become manifest, even in these adolescent years.
2015 127:1.2 Dette år blev han fysisk fuldvoksen. Han var en stærk og attraktiv ung mand. Han blev mere og mere besindig og alvorlig, men han var venlig og sympatisk. Hans øjne var venlige, men søgende; hans smil var altid engagerende og beroligende. Hans stemme var melodisk, men autoritativ, hans hilsen hjertelig men upåvirket. Selv ved de mest hverdagsagtige kontakter syntes noget af hans dobbelte natur, det menneskelige og det guddommelige altid at skinne frem. Altid kom denne kombination af en forståelsesfuld ven og en autoritativ lærer ud af ham. Disse personlighedstræk begyndte tidligt at dukke op, selv i disse tidlige år.
1955 127:1.3 This physically strong and robust youth also acquired the full growth of his human intellect, not the full experience of human thinking but the fullness of capacity for such intellectual development. He possessed a healthy and well-proportioned body, a keen and analytical mind, a kind and sympathetic disposition, a somewhat fluctuating but aggressive temperament, all of which were becoming organized into a strong, striking, and attractive personality.
2015 127:1.3 I denne fysisk stærke og robuste ungdom blev hans menneskelige intellekt også fuldt udviklet; han havde ikke den fulde oplevelse af menneskelig tænkning, men hele kapaciteten af en sådan udvikling. Han havde en sund og velproportioneret krop, et skarpt og analytisk sind, en venlig og sympatisk disposition, en noget forskelligartet, men energisk temperament, som alle blev koordineret til en stærk, imponerende og attraktiv personlighed.
1955 127:1.4 As time went on, it became more difficult for his mother and his brothers and sisters to understand him; they stumbled over his sayings and misinterpreted his doings. They were all unfitted to comprehend their eldest brother’s life because their mother had given them to understand that he was destined to become the deliverer of the Jewish people. After they had received from Mary such intimations as family secrets, imagine their confusion when Jesus would make frank denials of all such ideas and intentions.
2015 127:1.4 Som tiden gik, blev det stadig vanskeligere for hans mor og hans brødre og søstre at forstå ham. De tog anstød af hvad han sagde, og misfortolkede, hvad han gjorde. De var alle ude af stand til at forstå deres ældste brors liv, fordi deres mor havde givet dem forståelse af, at han var bestemt til at blive befrier af det jødiske folk. Efter at have modtaget sådanne meddelelser fra Maria om familiens hemmeligheder, forestil jer deres forvirring, når Jesus ligefrem nægtet alle sådanne idéer og intentioner.
1955 127:1.5 This year Simon started to school, and they were compelled to sell another house. James now took charge of the teaching of his three sisters, two of whom were old enough to begin serious study. As soon as Ruth grew up, she was taken in hand by Miriam and Martha. Ordinarily the girls of Jewish families received little education, but Jesus maintained (and his mother agreed) that girls should go to school the same as boys, and since the synagogue school would not receive them, there was nothing to do but conduct a home school especially for them.
2015 127:1.5 I dette år startede Simon i skole, og de blev tvunget til at sælge et andet hus. James tog sig nu af undervisningen af sine tre søstre, hvoraf to var gamle nok til at begynde at studere for alvor. Så snart Ruth var noget ældre tog Miriam og Marta sig af hende. Normalt fik pigerne i de jødiske familier kun lidt uddannelse, men Jesus holdt fast på (og hans mor samtykkede) at pigerne skulle gå i skole ligesom drengene, og da synagogeskolen ikke ville modtage dem, var der ikke andet at gøre, end at holde skolen i hjemmet specielt til dem.
1955 127:1.6 Throughout this year Jesus was closely confined to the workbench. Fortunately he had plenty of work; his was of such a superior grade that he was never idle no matter how slack work might be in that region. At times he had so much to do that James would help him.
2015 127:1.6 Igennem hele dette år var Jesus meget travlt optaget ved arbejdsbordet. Heldigvis havde han en masse arbejde; hans arbejde var af en sådan fineste kvalitet, at han aldrig var ledig uanset hvor lidt arbejde, der kunne være i nabolaget. Nogle gange havde han så meget arbejde, at James måtte hjælpe ham.
1955 127:1.7 By the end of this year he had just about made up his mind that he would, after rearing his family and seeing them married, enter publicly upon his work as a teacher of truth and as a revealer of the heavenly Father to the world. He knew he was not to become the expected Jewish Messiah, and he concluded that it was next to useless to discuss these matters with his mother; he decided to allow her to entertain whatever ideas she might choose since all he had said in the past had made little or no impression upon her and he recalled that his father had never been able to say anything that would change her mind. From this year on he talked less and less with his mother, or anyone else, about these problems. His was such a peculiar mission that no one living on earth could give him advice concerning its prosecution.
2015 127:1.7 Ved udgangen af dette år, havde han næsten besluttet, at efter at han havde forsørget sin familie og hjulpet dem til at blive gift, ville han begynde sin offentlige tjeneste som sandhedslærer og åbenbarer af den himmelske Fader til verden. Han vidste, at det ikke var hensigten, at han skulle blive jødernes forventede Messias, og han konkluderede, at det var næsten nytteløst at diskutere disse spørgsmål med sin mor. Han besluttede at lade hende beholde sine idéer, hvad de end var, fordi alt, hvad han tidligere havde sagt, havde gjort lidt eller ingen indtryk på hende, og han huskede, at hans far heller ikke kunne sige noget, der fik hende til at skifte mening. Fra dette år og fremefter, talte han mindre om disse problemer med sin mor eller med nogen anden. Hans mission var så mærkelig, at ingen levende på jorden kunne give ham råd om, hvordan det kunne gøres.
1955 127:1.8 He was a real though youthful father to the family; he spent every possible hour with the youngsters, and they truly loved him. His mother grieved to see him work so hard; she sorrowed that he was day by day toiling at the carpenter’s bench earning a living for the family instead of being, as they had so fondly planned, at Jerusalem studying with the rabbis. While there was much about her son that Mary could not understand, she did love him, and she most thoroughly appreciated the willing manner in which he shouldered the responsibility of the home.
2015 127:1.8 Han var en rigtig men ung far for familien. Han tilbragte det meste af tiden sammen med sine yngre søskende, og de elskede ham faktisk. Hans mor sørgede over at se ham arbejde så hårdt. Hun sørgede over at se ham dag efter dag slide ved arbejdsbordet for at tjene til livets ophold i stedet for at være i Jerusalem, og studerer under rabbinernes ledelse, som de så kærligt havde planlagt. Selvom der var meget Maria ikke kunne forstå hos sin søn, elskede hun ham, helt sikkert, og hun værdsatte i allerhøjeste grad den villige måde, hvorpå han havde påtaget sig ansvaret for hjemmet.
2. THE SEVENTEENTH YEAR (A.D. 11)
2. DET SYTTENDE ÅR (11 E.KR.)
1955 127:2.1 At about this time there was considerable agitation, especially at Jerusalem and in Judea, in favor of rebellion against the payment of taxes to Rome. There was coming into existence a strong nationalist party, presently to be called the Zealots. The Zealots, unlike the Pharisees, were not willing to await the coming of the Messiah. They proposed to bring things to a head through political revolt.
2015 127:2.1 På omkring dette tidspunkt var der, især i Jerusalem og Judæa, en udbredt agitation for oprør mod betaling af skat til Rom. Et stærkt nationalistisk parti var ved at opstå, og tilhængere blev snart kaldt for Zeloterne. Zeloterne var i modsætning til farisæerne, ikke villige til at vente på Messias. Deres hensigt var at få en afgørelse i stand gennem politisk oprør.
1955 127:2.2 A group of organizers from Jerusalem arrived in Galilee and were making good headway until they reached Nazareth. When they came to see Jesus, he listened carefully to them and asked many questions but refused to join the party. He declined fully to disclose his reasons for not enlisting, and his refusal had the effect of keeping out many of his youthful fellows in Nazareth.
2015 127:2.2 En gruppe af arrangører fra Jerusalem kom i Galilæa, og de havde god fremgang, før de kom til Nazaret. Da de kom for at træffe Jesus, lyttede han opmærksomt til dem og stillede mange spørgsmål, men nægtede at tilslutte sig partiet. Han afviste fuldstændig at oplyse om grundene til ikke at tilslutte sig bevægelsen, og hans afvisning betød, at mange af hans ungdommelige kammerater i Nazaret også undlod at tilslutte sig.
1955 127:2.3 Mary did her best to induce him to enlist, but she could not budge him. She went so far as to intimate that his refusal to espouse the nationalist cause at her behest was insubordination, a violation of his pledge made upon their return from Jerusalem that he would be subject to his parents; but in answer to this insinuation he only laid a kindly hand on her shoulder and, looking into her face, said: “My mother, how could you?” And Mary withdrew her statement.
2015 127:2.3 Maria gjorde sit bedste for at få ham til at tilslutte sig, men hun kunne ikke rokke ham. Hun gik så langt som til at foreslå, at hans afvisning af hendes kommando til at påtage sig denne nationalistiske sag var ulydighed og brød med det løfte han havde givet efter deres tilbagekomst fra Jerusalem om at være underlagt sine forældre, men som svar på denne antydning, lagde han kun en venlig hånd på hendes skulder og sagde, da han kiggede ind i hendes øjne: "Mor, hvordan kunne du?" og Maria tog sine ord tilbage.
1955 127:2.4 One of Jesus’ uncles (Mary’s brother Simon) had already joined this group, subsequently becoming an officer in the Galilean division. And for several years there was something of an estrangement between Jesus and his uncle.
2015 127:2.4 En af Jesu onkler (Marias bror Simon) havde allerede tilsluttet sig denne gruppe, og senere blev han en funktionær i afdelingen i Galilæa. I flere år rådede der noget af en fremmedgørelse mellem Jesus og hans morbror.
1955 127:2.5 But trouble began to brew in Nazareth. Jesus’ attitude in these matters had resulted in creating a division among the Jewish youths of the city. About half had joined the nationalist organization, and the other half began the formation of an opposing group of more moderate patriots, expecting Jesus to assume the leadership. They were amazed when he refused the honor offered him, pleading as an excuse his heavy family responsibilities, which they all allowed. But the situation was still further complicated when, presently, a wealthy Jew, Isaac, a moneylender to the gentiles, came forward agreeing to support Jesus’ family if he would lay down his tools and assume leadership of these Nazareth patriots.
2015 127:2.5 Det begyndte dog at trække op til problemer i Nazaret. Jesu holdning til disse spørgsmål havde ført til, at der havde været en splittelse blandt de jødiske unge i byen. Omkring halvdelen havde tilsluttet sig den nationalistiske organisation, og den anden halvdel begyndte at danne en modgruppe af mere moderate patrioter, der havde forventet at Jesus ville påtage sig lederskab. De blev overrasket, da Jesus afviste den ære, der blev tilbudt ham. Han udtalte som årsagen sin tunge familiemæssige forpligtelser, hvilket de accepterede. Men situationen blev mere kompliceret, da en velhavende jøde, Isaac, en penge udlåner til ikke-jøder, dukkede og tilbød at underholde Jesu familie, hvis han ville lægge sit værktøj og overtage ledelsen af disse Nazaret patrioter.
1955 127:2.6 Jesus, then scarcely seventeen years of age, was confronted with one of the most delicate and difficult situations of his early life. Patriotic issues, especially when complicated by tax-gathering foreign oppressors, are always difficult for spiritual leaders to relate themselves to, and it was doubly so in this case since the Jewish religion was involved in all this agitation against Rome.
2015 127:2.6 Jesus, der knap var sytten år, stod nu over for en af de mest delikate og vanskelige situationer i den tidligere del af hans liv. Det er altid svært for åndelige ledere at tage stilling til patriotiske spørgsmål, i særdeleshed når de kompliceres af udenlandske undertrykkere, der kræver skat, og i dette tilfælde var det dobbelt hårdt, fordi den jødiske religion var så involveret i alt denne agitation mod Rom.
1955 127:2.7 Jesus’ position was made more difficult because his mother and uncle, and even his younger brother James, all urged him to join the nationalist cause. All the better Jews of Nazareth had enlisted, and those young men who had not joined the movement would all enlist the moment Jesus changed his mind. He had but one wise counselor in all Nazareth, his old teacher, the chazan, who counseled him about his reply to the citizens’ committee of Nazareth when they came to ask for his answer to the public appeal which had been made. In all Jesus’ young life this was the very first time he had consciously resorted to public strategy. Theretofore, always had he depended upon a frank statement of truth to clarify the situation, but now he could not declare the full truth. He could not intimate that he was more than a man; he could not disclose his idea of the mission which awaited his attainment of a riper manhood. Despite these limitations his religious fealty and national loyalty were directly challenged. His family was in a turmoil, his youthful friends in division, and the entire Jewish contingent of the town in a hubbub. And to think that he was to blame for it all! And how innocent he had been of all intention to make trouble of any kind, much less a disturbance of this sort.
2015 127:2.7 Jesu holdning blev gjort mere vanskeligt, fordi hans mor og onkel, og selv hans yngre bror James, alle opfordrede ham til at tilslutte sig til den nationalistiske bevægelse. Alle de fornemste jøder i Nazaret var gået med, og de unge mænd, der ikke havde tilsluttet sig bevægelsen ville alle gøre det i samme øjeblik Jesus ændrede sin mening. Han havde en klog rådgiver i hele Nazaret, nemlig hans gamle lærer, chazan, der gav ham råd om, hvad han skulle svare borgerkomitéen af Nazaret, da de kom for at bede om hans svar til den offentlige appel, der var blevet foretaget. Gennem hele sit unge liv, var det første gang Jesus bevidst tyet til en social strategi. Hidtil havde han altid påberåbt sig en ærlig repræsentation af sandheden for at klare situationen, men nu kunne han ikke erklære den fulde sandhed. Han kunne ikke tilkendegive hele sandheden. Han kunne ikke antyde at han var mere end et menneske; han kunne ikke afsløre sin opfattelse om den mission, der ventede ham, når han havde nået en moden mands alder. På trods af disse begrænsninger var hans religiøse tro og nationale loyalitet nu direkte udfordret. I hans familie, var der forvirring, hans unge venner var splittede og hele byens jødiske gruppe var i oprør. Og at tro, at han fik skylden for alt dette! Og hvor uskyldig han end var, til med vilje at forårsage nogen problemer, endnu mindre forstyrrelse af denne art.
1955 127:2.8 Something had to be done. He must state his position, and this he did bravely and diplomatically to the satisfaction of many, but not all. He adhered to the terms of his original plea, maintaining that his first duty was to his family, that a widowed mother and eight brothers and sisters needed something more than mere money could buy—the physical necessities of life—that they were entitled to a father’s watchcare and guidance, and that he could not in clear conscience release himself from the obligation which a cruel accident had thrust upon him. He paid compliment to his mother and eldest brother for being willing to release him but reiterated that loyalty to a dead father forbade his leaving the family no matter how much money was forthcoming for their material support, making his never-to-be-forgotten statement that “money cannot love.” In the course of this address Jesus made several veiled references to his “life mission” but explained that, regardless of whether or not it might be inconsistent with the military idea, it, along with everything else in his life, had been given up in order that he might be able to discharge faithfully his obligation to his family. Everyone in Nazareth well knew he was a good father to his family, and this was a matter so near the heart of every noble Jew that Jesus’ plea found an appreciative response in the hearts of many of his hearers; and some of those who were not thus minded were disarmed by a speech made by James, which, while not on the program, was delivered at this time. That very day the chazan had rehearsed James in his speech, but that was their secret.
2015 127:2.8 Noget må gøres. Han måtte udtrykke sin holdning, og dette gjorde han modigt og diplomatisk for mange mennesker, men ikke alle var tilfredse. Han holdt fast på de grunde, han oprindeligt havde fremsat, og hævdede, at hans første pligt var hans familie, til en mor, der var blevet enke og otte søskende havde brug for noget mere end hvad du kunne få for penge alene - livets fysiske nødvendigheder - at de var berettiget til en fars beskyttelse, omsorg og vejledning, og at han ikke med god samvittighed kunne frigøre sig fra de forpligtelser, som en grusom ulykke havde pålagt ham. Han takkede høfligt, sin mor og sin storebror, fordi de var villige til at løslade ham, men gentog, at loyalitet over for den afdøde far forhindrede ham i at forlade familien, uanset hvor mange penge der ville være til rådighed for deres materielle opretholdelse, og han fremførte den uforglemmelige opfattelse, at "penge ikke kan elske." I løbet af hans erklæring gjorde Jesus flere tilslørede henvisninger til hans "liv mission", men forklarede, at uanset om det var foreneligt med den militære modstands idé eller ej, havde han sammen med alt andet i sit liv som var blevet opgivet, for at han trofast kunne opfylde sin pligt mod hans familie. Alle i Nazaret vidste godt, at han var en god far til sin familie, og det var noget, der var så tæt på hjertet af enhver ædel jøde at Jesu anbringende fandt en anerkendende respons i hjerterne hos mange af hans lyttere. Nogle af dem, der ikke var således indstillet blev afvæbnet af en tale, som James nu holdt, selv om det ikke hørte til programmet. Chazan havde samme dag indøvet talen med James, men det var deres hemmelighed.
1955 127:2.9 James stated that he was sure Jesus would help to liberate his people if he (James) were only old enough to assume responsibility for the family, and that, if they would only consent to allow Jesus to remain “with us, to be our father and teacher, then you will have not just one leader from Joseph’s family, but presently you will have five loyal nationalists, for are there not five of us boys to grow up and come forth from our brother-father’s guidance to serve our nation?” And thus did the lad bring to a fairly happy ending a very tense and threatening situation.
2015 127:2.9 James sagde, at han var sikker på at Jesus ville bidrage til at befri sit folk, hvis blot han (James) var gamle nok til at påtage sig ansvaret for familien, og hvis de blot ville samtykke til, at Jesus for at forblive "med os, til at være vores far og lærer, så skal I ikke kun have en leder fra Josefs familie, men snart har I fem loyale nationalister, for er der ikke fem af os drenge som vokser op og kommer frem fra vor broder-fars vejledning til at tjene vores nation? " således bragte drengen en nogenlunde lykkelig slutning på en anspændt og truende situation.
1955 127:2.10 The crisis for the time being was over, but never was this incident forgotten in Nazareth. The agitation persisted; not again was Jesus in universal favor; the division of sentiment was never fully overcome. And this, augmented by other and subsequent occurrences, was one of the chief reasons why he moved to Capernaum in later years. Henceforth Nazareth maintained a division of sentiment regarding the Son of Man.
2015 127:2.10 Krisen var overstået indtil videre, men aldrig blev denne begivenhed glemt i Nazaret. Bevægelsen fortsatte; men Jesus var ikke længere alles godkendelse; de delte synspunkter blev aldrig helt overvundet. Dette sammen med den anden og efterfølgende forekomst, var en af hovedårsagerne til, at han de seneste år flyttede til Kapernaum. Fremover opretholdt Nazaret en opdelt stemning om Menneskesønnen.
1955 127:2.11 James graduated at school this year and began full-time work at home in the carpenter shop. He had become a clever worker with tools and now took over the making of yokes and plows while Jesus began to do more house finishing and expert cabinet work.
2015 127:2.11 James gik ud af skolen dette år og begyndte at arbejde på fuld tid hjemme i tømrer værkstedet. Han var blevet uddannet i at arbejde med værktøj og overtog nu produktionen af åg og plove, mens Jesus begyndte at gøre mere interiør arbejde og tømrerarbejde.
1955 127:2.12 This year Jesus made great progress in the organization of his mind. Gradually he had brought his divine and human natures together, and he accomplished all this organization of intellect by the force of his own decisions and with only the aid of his indwelling Monitor, just such a Monitor as all normal mortals on all postbestowal-Son worlds have within their minds. So far, nothing supernatural had happened in this young man’s career except the visit of a messenger, dispatched by his elder brother Immanuel, who once appeared to him during the night at Jerusalem.
2015 127:2.12 I dette år gjorde Jesus store fremskridt i tilrettelæggelsen af sit sind. Efterhånden havde han bragt sin guddommelige og menneskelige natur sammen, og han opnået hele denne organisering af intellektet i kraft af sine egne beslutninger, og kun med hjælp af Ledsageren i sit indre, netop sådanne en Ledsager som alle normale dødelige i alle verdener har i deres sind efter overdragelsen af en Søn. Hidtil var intet overnaturligt sket i den unge mands liv, undtagen budbringerens besøg, som hans ældre bror Immanuel havde sendt ud, og som engang viste sig for ham i løbet af natten i Jerusalem.
3. THE EIGHTEENTH YEAR (A.D. 12)
3. DET ATTENDE ÅR (12 E.KR.)
1955 127:3.1 In the course of this year all the family property, except the home and garden, was disposed of. The last piece of Capernaum property (except an equity in one other), already mortgaged, was sold. The proceeds were used for taxes, to buy some new tools for James, and to make a payment on the old family supply and repair shop near the caravan lot, which Jesus now proposed to buy back since James was old enough to work at the house shop and help Mary about the home. With the financial pressure thus eased for the time being, Jesus decided to take James to the Passover. They went up to Jerusalem a day early, to be alone, going by way of Samaria. They walked, and Jesus told James about the historic places en route as his father had taught him on a similar journey five years before.
2015 127:3.1 I løbet af dette år solgte familien alt hvad den ejede undtagen huset og haven. Den sidste ejendom i Kapernaum (undtagen en andel i en anden) blev solgt, og den var allerede belånt. Indtægterne blev brugt til at betale skat, for at købe nogle nye værktøjer til James og for at foretage en afbetaling på familiens tidligere proviant og værkstedsbod nær karavanepladsen og som Jesus nu planlagde at købe tilbage, da James var gammel nok til at arbejde i hjemmeværkstedet og hjælpe Maria med huset. Da det finansielle pres således blev lettet for en tid, besluttede Jesus at tage James til påsken. De gik op til Jerusalem en dag tidligere, for at være alene, og rejste gennem Samaria. De gik til fods, og Jesus fortalte James om de historiske steder langs vejen, således som hans far havde lært ham under en lignende rejse fem år tidligere.
1955 127:3.2 In passing through Samaria, they saw many strange sights. On this journey they talked over many of their problems, personal, family, and national. James was a very religious type of lad, and while he did not fully agree with his mother regarding the little he knew of the plans concerning Jesus’ lifework, he did look forward to the time when he would be able to assume responsibility for the family so that Jesus could begin his mission. He was very appreciative of Jesus’ taking him up to the Passover, and they talked over the future more fully than ever before.
2015 127:3.2 Under rejsen gennem Samaria, så de mange mærkelige seværdigheder. På denne rejse talte de om mange af deres problemer, personlige, familiemæssige og nationens. James var en meget religiøs dreng, og selv om han ikke var helt enig med sin mor angående den smule han vidste om planerne for Jesu livsværk, så han ivrigt frem til det tidspunkt, hvor han ville være i stand til at påtage sig ansvaret for familien, så Jesus kunne begynde sin mission. Han værdsatte meget, at Jesus tog ham op til påskefesten, og de talte om fremtiden mere detaljeret end nogensinde før.
1955 127:3.3 Jesus did much thinking as they journeyed through Samaria, particularly at Bethel and when drinking from Jacob’s well. He and his brother discussed the traditions of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He did much to prepare James for what he was about to witness at Jerusalem, thus seeking to lessen the shock such as he himself had experienced on his first visit to the temple. But James was not so sensitive to some of these sights. He commented on the perfunctory and heartless manner in which some of the priests performed their duties but on the whole greatly enjoyed his sojourn at Jerusalem.
2015 127:3.3 Jesus tænkte meget, mens de rejste gennem Samaria, især i Betel og da de drak fra Jakobs brønd. Han og hans bror diskuterede traditionerne om Abraham, Isak og Jakob. Han gjorde meget for at forberede James på, hvad han ville få at se i Jerusalem, for på denne måde at reducere det chok, som han selv i det mindste havde oplevet under sit første besøg i templet. James var imidlertid ikke så følsom over for alt, hvad de så. Han kommenterede den mekaniske og hjerteløs måde, hvorpå nogle af præsterne udførte deres opgaver, men som helhed nød han meget sit ophold i Jerusalem.
1955 127:3.4 Jesus took James to Bethany for the Passover supper. Simon had been laid to rest with his fathers, and Jesus presided over this household as the head of the Passover family, having brought the paschal lamb from the temple.
2015 127:3.4 Jesus tog James til Bethany for påskemåltidet. Simon var blevet stedt til hvile hos sine fædre, og Jesus styrede værtskabet af huset som leder af påskefamilie, da han havde bragt påskelammet med fra templet.
1955 127:3.5 After the Passover supper Mary sat down to talk with James while Martha, Lazarus, and Jesus talked together far into the night. The next day they attended the temple services, and James was received into the commonwealth of Israel. That morning, as they paused on the brow of Olivet to view the temple, while James exclaimed in wonder, Jesus gazed on Jerusalem in silence. James could not comprehend his brother’s demeanor. That night they again returned to Bethany and would have departed for home the next day, but James was insistent on their going back to visit the temple, explaining that he wanted to hear the teachers. And while this was true, secretly in his heart he wanted to hear Jesus participate in the discussions, as he had heard his mother tell about. Accordingly, they went to the temple and heard the discussions, but Jesus asked no questions. It all seemed so puerile and insignificant to this awakening mind of man and God—he could only pity them. James was disappointed that Jesus said nothing. To his inquiries Jesus only made reply, “My hour has not yet come.”
2015 127:3.5 Efter påskemåltidet satte Maria sig ned for at snakke med James, mens Marta, Lazarus, og Jesus talte sammen til langt ud på natten. Den næste dag deltog de i templets gudstjenester, og James blev optaget som medlem i det israelitiske samfund. Den morgen, da de stoppede på bakkekarmen af Oliebjerget for at se templet udtrykte James sin forundring, men Jesus så på Jerusalem i stilhed. James kunne ikke forstå sin brors adfærd. Samme aften vendte de tilbage til Bethany og ville være gået hjem den følgende dag, men James insisterede på, at de skulle gå tilbage for at besøge templet, og forklarede, at han ønskede at lytte til lærerne. Selv om dette var sandt, havde han i sit hjerte en hemmelig lyst til at høre Jesus deltage i drøftelserne, hvilket hans mor havde fortalt ham om. Derfor gik de til templet og hørte diskussionerne, men Jesus stillede ingen spørgsmål. Det hele virkede så barnligt og irrelevant for hans opvågnende menneske og gudssind - han havde kun medlidenhed med dem. James var skuffet over, at Jesus ikke sagde noget. Så da han spurgte om det, svarede Jesus kun: ”Min tid er endnu ikke kommet."
1955 127:3.6 The next day they journeyed home by Jericho and the Jordan valley, and Jesus recounted many things by the way, including his former trip over this road when he was thirteen years old.
2015 127:3.6 Den næste dag gik de hjem via Jeriko og Jordandalen, og Jesus fortalte under turen om mangt og meget, herunder hans egen tidligere rejse ad denne vej, da han var tretten.
1955 127:3.7 Upon returning to Nazareth, Jesus began work in the old family repair shop and was greatly cheered by being able to meet so many people each day from all parts of the country and surrounding districts. Jesus truly loved people—just common folks. Each month he made his payments on the shop and, with James’s help, continued to provide for the family.
2015 127:3.7 Efter at de var vendt tilbage til Nazaret, begyndte Jesus at arbejde i familiens gamle værkstedsbod, og han var meget glad for, hver dag at kunne møde så mange mennesker fra alle dele af landet og de omkringliggende provinser. Jesus elskede virkelig mennesker - almindelige mennesker. Hver måned, betalte han sine afdrag på butikken, og med James hjælp, fortsatte han med at støtte familien.
1955 127:3.8 Several times a year, when visitors were not present thus to function, Jesus continued to read the Sabbath scriptures at the synagogue and many times offered comments on the lesson, but usually he so selected the passages that comment was unnecessary. He was skillful, so arranging the order of the reading of the various passages that the one would illuminate the other. He never failed, weather permitting, to take his brothers and sisters out on Sabbath afternoons for their nature strolls.
2015 127:3.8 Flere gange om året, når de besøgende ikke var til stede for at læse sabbatteksterne i synagogen, fortsatte Jesus med det, og mange gange, kommenterede han også det læste, men normalt valgte han teksterne, så det var unødvendigt at kommentere. Han var uddannet i at arrangere de forskellige sektioner, så det læste et sted fremhævede et andet. Hvis vejret tillod det, forsømte han aldrig på sabbateftermiddagene at tage sine brødre og søstre på naturvandringer.
1955 127:3.9 About this time the chazan inaugurated a young men’s club for philosophic discussion which met at the homes of different members and often at his own home, and Jesus became a prominent member of this group. By this means he was enabled to regain some of the local prestige which he had lost at the time of the recent nationalistic controversies.
2015 127:3.9 Omkring dette tidspunkt startede chazan en filosofisk diskussion klub for unge mænd, der mødtes i hjemmene hos de forskellige medlemmer, og ofte i sit eget hjem. Jesus blev et fremtrædende medlem af denne gruppe, og på denne måde, var han i stand til at genvinde en del af den lokale prestige, som han havde mistet noget tidligere i forbindelse med de nationalistiske modsætninger.
1955 127:3.10 His social life, while restricted, was not wholly neglected. He had many warm friends and stanch admirers among both the young men and the young women of Nazareth.
2015 127:3.10 Selv om hans sociale liv var begrænset, var det ikke helt forsømt. Han havde mange gode venner og trofaste beundrere både blandt de unge mænd og de unge kvinder i Nazaret.
1955 127:3.11 In September, Elizabeth and John came to visit the Nazareth family. John, having lost his father, intended to return to the Judean hills to engage in agriculture and sheep raising unless Jesus advised him to remain in Nazareth to take up carpentry or some other line of work. They did not know that the Nazareth family was practically penniless. The more Mary and Elizabeth talked about their sons, the more they became convinced that it would be good for the two young men to work together and see more of each other.
2015 127:3.11 I september kom Elizabeth og Johannes for at besøge Nazaret familien. Johannes, der havde mistet sin far, havde til hensigt at vende tilbage til bakkerne i Judæa for at engagere sig i landbrug og fåreavl, medmindre Jesus rådede ham til at blive i Nazaret for at begynde med tømrerarbejde eller en anden form for professionelt arbejde. De vidste ikke, at Nazaret familien var næsten tomhændede. Jo mere Maria og Elizabeth talte om deres sønner, jo mere overbeviste blev de, at det ville være godt for de to unge mænd at arbejde sammen og se mere til hinanden.
1955 127:3.12 Jesus and John had many talks together; and they talked over some very intimate and personal matters. When they had finished this visit, they decided not again to see each other until they should meet in their public service after “the heavenly Father should call” them to their work. John was tremendously impressed by what he saw at Nazareth that he should return home and labor for the support of his mother. He became convinced that he was to be a part of Jesus’ life mission, but he saw that Jesus was to occupy many years with the rearing of his family; so he was much more content to return to his home and settle down to the care of their little farm and to minister to the needs of his mother. And never again did John and Jesus see each other until that day by the Jordan when the Son of Man presented himself for baptism.
2015 127:3.12 Jesus og Johannes diskuterede meget med hinanden. De talte om nogle meget intime og personlige anliggender. Da besøget var forbi, besluttede de ikke at mødes igen, indtil de skulle mødes i deres offentlige tjeneste efter at "den himmelske Fader havde kaldt" dem til deres arbejde. Johannes var så imponeret af, hvad han så i Nazaret, at han besluttede at vende hjem og arbejde for sin mors forsørgelse. Han blev overbevist om, at han var en del af Jesu livsmission, men han så at Jesus i mange år ville være optaget med forsørge sin familie, så han var meget tilfreds med at vende hjem og slå sig ned for at tage sig af deres lille gård og se til sin mors behov. Og Johannes og Jesus så aldrig hinanden igen, indtil den dag ved Jordanfloden, hvor Menneskesønnen indfandt sig for at blive døbt.
1955 127:3.13 On Saturday afternoon, December 3, of this year, death for the second time struck at this Nazareth family. Little Amos, their baby brother, died after a week’s illness with a high fever. After passing through this time of sorrow with her first-born son as her only support, Mary at last and in the fullest sense recognized Jesus as the real head of the family; and he was truly a worthy head.
2015 127:3.13 Lørdag eftermiddag 3. december dette år slog døden til for anden gang i Nazaret. Den lille Amos, deres lillebror, døde efter en uges sygdom med høj feber. Efter at Maria havde gennemlevet denne sørgetid med sin førstefødte søn som den eneste støtte, anerkendte hun til sidst, og i den bredeste forstand Jesus som familiens reelle overhoved, og han var bestemt et fremragende overhoved.
1955 127:3.14 For four years their standard of living had steadily declined; year by year they felt the pinch of increasing poverty. By the close of this year they faced one of the most difficult experiences of all their uphill struggles. James had not yet begun to earn much, and the expenses of a funeral on top of everything else staggered them. But Jesus would only say to his anxious and grieving mother: “Mother-Mary, sorrow will not help us; we are all doing our best, and mother’s smile, perchance, might even inspire us to do better. Day by day we are strengthened for these tasks by our hope of better days ahead.” His sturdy and practical optimism was truly contagious; all the children lived in an atmosphere of anticipation of better times and better things. And this hopeful courage contributed mightily to the development of strong and noble characters, in spite of the depressiveness of their poverty.
2015 127:3.14 I fire år havde deres levestandard været støt faldende. År efter år, følte de presset som den stigende fattigdom forårsagede. Ved udgangen af dette år, stod de over for en af deres vanskeligste erfaringer under deres hårde kamp. James var endnu ikke begyndt at tjene så meget, og udgifterne til en begravelse oven i alt det andet fik dem til at vakle. Jesus ville kun sige til sin bekymrede og sørgende mor: "Mor Maria, sorgen vil ikke hjælpe os; vi gør alle vores bedste, og mors smil kunne måske endda inspirere os til at overgå os selv. Dag for dag modtager vi styrke til disse opgaver ved vores håb om bedre dage forude." Hans standhaftige og praktisk optimisme smittede virkelig af. Alle børnene levede i en atmosfære af forventning om bedre tider og bedre vilkår. Dette håbefulde mod bidrog meget til, at der hos med dem blev udviklet en stærk og ædel karakter, på trods af at deres fattigdom var deprimerende.
1955 127:3.15 Jesus possessed the ability effectively to mobilize all his powers of mind, soul, and body on the task immediately in hand. He could concentrate his deep-thinking mind on the one problem which he wished to solve, and this, in connection with his untiring patience, enabled him serenely to endure the trials of a difficult mortal existence—to live as if he were “seeing Him who is invisible.”
2015 127:3.15 Jesus havde evnen til effektivt at mobilisere alle sine kræfter i sindet, sjælen og den fysiske styrke til den opgave som umiddelbart var forestående. Han kunne koncentrere sit dybt tænkende sind på netop det problem, som han ønskede at løse, og dette, kombineret med hans utrættelige tålmodighed gjorde det muligt for ham til stille at udholde de prøvelser, der hører til en vanskelig jordisk tilværelse - at leve, som om han "så Ham som er usynlig[1]."
4. THE NINETEENTH YEAR (A.D. 13)
4. DET NITTENDE ÅR (13 E.KR.)
1955 127:4.1 By this time Jesus and Mary were getting along much better. She regarded him less as a son; he had become to her more a father to her children. Each day’s life swarmed with practical and immediate difficulties. Less frequently they spoke of his lifework, for, as time passed, all their thought was mutually devoted to the support and upbringing of their family of four boys and three girls.
2015 127:4.1 På dette tidspunkt kom Jesus og Maria meget bedre overens. Hun så ham mindre som en søn; han var blevet mere en far til hendes børn. Livet myldrede hver dag med praktiske og umiddelbare problemer. I stigende grad talte han mere sjældent om hans livsmission, som tiden gik, var alle tanker hos dem begge optaget af at forsørge og at opdrage deres familie af fire drenge og tre piger.
1955 127:4.2 By the beginning of this year Jesus had fully won his mother to the acceptance of his methods of child training—the positive injunction to do good in the place of the older Jewish method of forbidding to do evil. In his home and throughout his public-teaching career Jesus invariably employed the positive form of exhortation. Always and everywhere did he say, “You shall do this—you ought to do that.” Never did he employ the negative mode of teaching derived from the ancient taboos. He refrained from placing emphasis on evil by forbidding it, while he exalted the good by commanding its performance. Prayer time in this household was the occasion for discussing anything and everything relating to the welfare of the family.
2015 127:4.2 I begyndelsen af dette år havde Jesus allerede fået sin mor til helt at acceptere sine metoder for børneopdragelse - den positive opfordring til at gøre godt i stedet for den ældre jødiske metode om forbud mod at gøre ondt. I sit hjem og under hele sin tid som lærer for offentligheden, anvendte Jesus altid den positive form for formaning. Altid og til alle i byen, sagde han: "Gør dette - du burde gøre det." Aldrig, anvendte han den negative måde at lære på som nedstammede fra de gamle tabuer. Han undgik at understrege forbuddet mod det onde, mens han ophøjede det gode ved at anbefale dets udøvelse. Bønnetiden i denne husstand var muligheden for at drøfte alt relateret til familiens velfærd.
1955 127:4.3 Jesus began wise discipline upon his brothers and sisters at such an early age that little or no punishment was ever required to secure their prompt and wholehearted obedience. The only exception was Jude, upon whom on sundry occasions Jesus found it necessary to impose penalties for his infractions of the rules of the home. On three occasions when it was deemed wise to punish Jude for self-confessed and deliberate violations of the family rules of conduct, his punishment was fixed by the unanimous decree of the older children and was assented to by Jude himself before it was inflicted.
2015 127:4.3 Jesus begyndte på en klogt måde, at disciplinere sine brødre og søstre ved en tidlig alder, så lidt eller ingen straf nogensinde blev et behov for at få dem til straks og helhjertet at adlyde. Den eneste undtagelse var Juda, som Jesus lejlighedsvis fandt det nødvendigt at pålægge en straf, fordi han havde brudt reglerne i hjemmet. Ved tre lejligheder, hvor det blev anset for klogt at straffe Juda for hans selv anerkendte og bevidste overtrædelser af familiens adfærdsnormer, fik etablerede sin straf ved en enstemmig beslutning truffet af de større børn, og Juda godkendte selv straffen før den blev påført.
1955 127:4.4 While Jesus was most methodical and systematic in everything he did, there was also in all his administrative rulings a refreshing elasticity of interpretation and an individuality of adaptation that greatly impressed all the children with the spirit of justice which actuated their father-brother. He never arbitrarily disciplined his brothers and sisters, and such uniform fairness and personal consideration greatly endeared Jesus to all his family.
2015 127:4.4 Selvom Jesus var mest metodisk og systematisk i alt, hvad han gjorde, var der også i alle hans administrative afgørelser en forfriskende elasticitet i fortolkningen og en individualitets tilpasning, der i høj grad imponerede alle børnene med den ånd i retfærdighed, som motiverede deres far og bror. Han disciplinerede aldrig vilkårligt sine brødre og søstre, og en sådan ensartet retfærdighed og personlig overvejelse, gjorde Jesus meget elsket af hele familien.
1955 127:4.5 James and Simon grew up trying to follow Jesus’ plan of placating their bellicose and sometimes irate playmates by persuasion and nonresistance, and they were fairly successful; but Joseph and Jude, while assenting to such teachings at home, made haste to defend themselves when assailed by their comrades; in particular was Jude guilty of violating the spirit of these teachings. But nonresistance was not a rule of the family. No penalty was attached to the violation of personal teachings.
2015 127:4.5 James og Simon forsøgte da de voksede op at følge Jesu måde at afværge deres krigeriske og til tider vrede legekammerater ved at overtale dem og ved ikke at gøre modstand, og de var ret vellykket; men både Josef og Juda samtykkede til denne lære hjemme, så var de hurtige til at forsvare sig selv, når deres kammerater fløj på dem. I særdeleshed var Juda skyldig i at overtræde ånden i disse lærdomme. Men at afstå fra at gøre modstand var ikke en regel i familien. Ingen straf var efterfulgt af overtrædelse mod den undervisning, der var personlig.
1955 127:4.6 In general, all of the children, particularly the girls, would consult Jesus about their childhood troubles and confide in him just as they would have in an affectionate father.
2015 127:4.6 Generelt ville alle børnene, især pigerne, konsultere Jesus om deres barndoms problemer og betro sig til ham, ligesom de ville have gjort til en kærlig far.
1955 127:4.7 James was growing up to be a well-balanced and even-tempered youth, but he was not so spiritually inclined as Jesus. He was a much better student than Joseph, who, while a faithful worker, was even less spiritually minded. Joseph was a plodder and not up to the intellectual level of the other children. Simon was a well-meaning boy but too much of a dreamer. He was slow in getting settled down in life and was the cause of considerable anxiety to Jesus and Mary. But he was always a good and well-intentioned lad. Jude was a firebrand. He had the highest of ideals, but he was unstable in temperament. He had all and more of his mother’s determination and aggressiveness, but he lacked much of her sense of proportion and discretion.
2015 127:4.7 James voksede op til en velafbalanceret ung mand med et ligevægtig temperament, men han var ikke så åndeligt tilbøjelig som Jesus. Han var meget bedre i skolen end Josef, som, selvom han var en ihærdig arbejder, havde endnu mindre sans for det åndelige. Josef var en, der sled på, og han kom ikke op til de andre børns intellektuelle niveau. Simon var en velmenende dreng, men alt for meget en drømmer. Det tog lang tid for ham at finde sin plads i livet, og han forårsagede Jesus og Maria en masse bekymringer. Han var altid en god dreng med gode intentioner. Juda tilskyndede til uro. Han havde de højeste idealer, men han var ustabil i temperament. Han havde alt og mere end hans mors beslutsomhed og aggressivitet, men han manglede meget af hendes sans for proportioner og hensyn.
1955 127:4.8 Miriam was a well-balanced and level-headed daughter with a keen appreciation of things noble and spiritual. Martha was slow in thought and action but a very dependable and efficient child. Baby Ruth was the sunshine of the home; though thoughtless of speech, she was most sincere of heart. She just about worshiped her big brother and father. But they did not spoil her. She was a beautiful child but not quite so comely as Miriam, who was the belle of the family, if not of the city.
2015 127:4.8 Miriam var en afbalanceret og fornuftig datter, der lidenskabeligt værdsatte alt ædelt og åndeligt. Marta var langsom i tanke og handling, men et meget pålidelig og talentfulde barn. Lille Ruth var hjemmets solstråle, tankeløs i sin tale, men yderst ærlig i sit hjerte. Hun tilbad næsten sin storebror og far. Men de ødelagde hende ikke. Hun var et smukt barn, men ikke så køn som Miriam, som var familien - hvis ikke hele byens - skønhed.
1955 127:4.9 As time passed, Jesus did much to liberalize and modify the family teachings and practices related to Sabbath observance and many other phases of religion, and to all these changes Mary gave hearty assent. By this time Jesus had become the unquestioned head of the house.
2015 127:4.9 Med tiden, gjorde Jesus meget for at liberalisere og ændre familiens tro og praksis i relation til Sabbatten og mange andre faser af religionen, og til alle disse ændringer gav Maria hjerteligt sit samtykke. På dette tidspunkt var Jesus blevet den ubestridte leder af huset.
1955 127:4.10 This year Jude started to school, and it was necessary for Jesus to sell his harp in order to defray these expenses. Thus disappeared the last of his recreational pleasures. He much loved to play the harp when tired in mind and weary in body, but he comforted himself with the thought that at least the harp was safe from seizure by the tax collector.
2015 127:4.10 Dette år startede Juda i skolen, og det var nødvendigt for Jesus at sælge sin harpe for at betale for disse udgifter. Således var den sidste af hans rekreative fornøjelser borte. Han holdt meget af at spille harpe, når han var svag i sindet og træt i kroppen, men han trøstede sig med tanken om, at harpen i det mindste ikke blev konfiskeret af skatteopkræveren.
5. REBECCA, THE DAUGHTER OF EZRA
5. REBEKKA, ESRAS DATTER
1955 127:5.1 Although Jesus was poor, his social standing in Nazareth was in no way impaired. He was one of the foremost young men of the city and very highly regarded by most of the young women. Since Jesus was such a splendid specimen of robust and intellectual manhood, and considering his reputation as a spiritual leader, it was not strange that Rebecca, the eldest daughter of Ezra, a wealthy merchant and trader of Nazareth, should discover that she was slowly falling in love with this son of Joseph. She first confided her affection to Miriam, Jesus’ sister, and Miriam in turn talked all this over with her mother. Mary was intensely aroused. Was she about to lose her son, now become the indispensable head of the family? Would troubles never cease? What next could happen? And then she paused to contemplate what effect marriage would have upon Jesus’ future career; not often, but at least sometimes, did she recall the fact that Jesus was a “child of promise.” After she and Miriam had talked this matter over, they decided to make an effort to stop it before Jesus learned about it, by going direct to Rebecca, laying the whole story before her, and honestly telling her about their belief that Jesus was a son of destiny; that he was to become a great religious leader, perhaps the Messiah.
2015 127:5.1 Selvom Jesus var fattig, var hans sociale status i Nazaret på ingen måde forringet. Han var en af byens unge mænd og højt respekteret af de fleste unge kvinder. Da Jesus var sådan en storslået eksemplar af kraftfuld og intellektuelle manddom, og i betragtning af hans ry som en åndelig leder, var det ikke underligt, at Rebekka, den ældste datter af Ezra, en velhavende grossist og forretningsmand i Nazaret, skulle opdage, at hun langsomt var ved at forelske sig i denne søn af Josef. Hun betroede sin kærlighed først til Miriam, Jesu søster, og Miriam talte til gengæld alt dette over med sin mor. Maria var yderst oprørt. Var hun ved at miste sin søn, der var blevet en uerstattelig leder for familien? Ville vanskeligheder aldrig ende? Hvad ville det næste være, der kunne ske? Så standsede hun op for at overveje hvilken effekt ægteskab ville have på Jesu fremtidige karriere. Ikke ofte, men i det mindste nogle gange, tænkte hun på, at Jesus var en "barn af løfte." Efter at hun og Miriam havde drøftet denne sag, besluttede de at forsøge at sætte en stopper for det hele, før Jesus hørte om det, ved at gå direkte til Rebekka, præsentere hele historien til hende og ærligt fortæller hende om deres tro på, at Jesus var en skæbnens søn, at han ville blive en stor religiøs leder, måske Messias.
1955 127:5.2 Rebecca listened intently; she was thrilled with the recital and more than ever determined to cast her lot with this man of her choice and to share his career of leadership. She argued (to herself) that such a man would all the more need a faithful and efficient wife. She interpreted Mary’s efforts to dissuade her as a natural reaction to the dread of losing the head and sole support of her family; but knowing that her father approved of her attraction for the carpenter’s son, she rightly reckoned that he would gladly supply the family with sufficient income fully to compensate for the loss of Jesus’ earnings. When her father agreed to such a plan, Rebecca had further conferences with Mary and Miriam, and when she failed to win their support, she made bold to go directly to Jesus. This she did with the co-operation of her father, who invited Jesus to their home for the celebration of Rebecca’s seventeenth birthday.
2015 127:5.2 Rebekka lyttede opmærksomt; Hun var fascineret af historien og var mere end nogensinde fast besluttet på at forene sin skæbne med den mand, hun havde valgt, og til at dele hans lederskabs karriere. Hun argumenterede (for sig selv), at en sådan mand desto mere havde brug for en trofast og effektiv hustru. Hun fortolkede Marias bestræbelser på at afholde hende som en naturlig reaktion på frygten for at miste sin families overhoved og eneste forsørger, men så vidste hun, at hendes far havde godkendt hendes attraktion for tømrerens søn, hun regnede med rette, at han med glæde ville forsørge familien med tilstrækkelig indkomst til fuldt ud at kompensere for tabet af, hvad Jesus havde tjent. Da hendes far samtykkede til denne plan holdt Rebekka nye samtaler med Maria og Miriam, og da det ikke lykkes hende at vinde deres støtte forslog hun at gå direkte til Jesus. Det gjorde hun i samarbejde med sin far, der inviterede Jesus til deres hjem for at fejre Rebekkas fødselsdag, da hun fyldte sytten.
1955 127:5.3 Jesus listened attentively and sympathetically to the recital of these things, first by the father, then by Rebecca herself. He made kindly reply to the effect that no amount of money could take the place of his obligation personally to rear his father’s family, to “fulfill the most sacred of all human trusts—loyalty to one’s own flesh and blood.” Rebecca’s father was deeply touched by Jesus’ words of family devotion and retired from the conference. His only remark to Mary, his wife, was: “We can’t have him for a son; he is too noble for us.”
2015 127:5.3 Jesus lyttede opmærksomt og sympatisk til de forslag som først faderen og derefter Rebekka selv gjorde. Jesus gav et venligt svar som gik ud på, at ingen mængde af penge kunne erstatte hans forpligtelser til personligt at opdrage sin fars familie, til at "opfylde den mest hellige af alle menneskelige ansvar - loyalitet over for ens eget kød og blod." Rebekkas far var dybt rørt af Jesu ord om hengivenhed for familien, og trak sig ud af samtalen. Til sin kone Maria, sagde han kun: "Vi kan ikke få ham til søn; han er for ædel for os."
1955 127:5.4 Then began that eventful talk with Rebecca. Thus far in his life, Jesus had made little distinction in his association with boys and girls, with young men and young women. His mind had been altogether too much occupied with the pressing problems of practical earthly affairs and the intriguing contemplation of his eventual career “about his Father’s business” ever to have given serious consideration to the consummation of personal love in human marriage. But now he was face to face with another of those problems which every average human being must confront and decide. Indeed was he “tested in all points like as you are.”
2015 127:5.4 Så begyndte den mindeværdige samtale med Rebekka. Indtil videre i sit liv, havde Jesus gjort lidt forskel i hans samarbejde med drenge og piger, unge mænd og unge kvinder. Han havde været alt for optaget af de presserende problemer som de praktiske jordiske anliggender indebar og af den spændende fordybelse af hans senere karriere "til sin Faders anliggender" til nogensinde seriøst at have overvejer den personlige kærligheds færdiggørelse af et menneskeligt ægteskab[2]. Men nu stod han ansigt til ansigt foran endnu et af disse problemer, som ethvert gennemsnitlige menneske møder og må tage stilling til. Han var bestemt "prøvet i alle ting på samme måde, som du er[3]."
1955 127:5.5 After listening attentively, he sincerely thanked Rebecca for her expressed admiration, adding, “it shall cheer and comfort me all the days of my life.” He explained that he was not free to enter into relations with any woman other than those of simple brotherly regard and pure friendship. He made it clear that his first and paramount duty was the rearing of his father’s family, that he could not consider marriage until that was accomplished; and then he added: “If I am a son of destiny, I must not assume obligations of lifelong duration until such a time as my destiny shall be made manifest.”
2015 127:5.5 Da han havde lyttet opmærksomt, takkede han Rebekka oprigtigt for den beundring, hun havde givet udtryk for, og tilføjede: "Det vil opmuntre og trøste mig i alle mine levedage." Han forklarede, at han ikke var fri til at etablere relationer med nogen kvinde, undtagen dem, der vedrører en fælles broderlige forhold og ren venskab. Han gjorde det klart, at hans først og fremmest pligt var at varetage hans fars familie, at han ikke kunne overveje ægteskab indtil denne opgave blev afsluttet; og så tilføjede han: "Hvis jeg er en søn af skæbne, må jeg ikke påtage mig livslange forpligtelser, indtil tiden er kommet, hvor min skæbne skal åbenbares."
1955 127:5.6 Rebecca was heartbroken. She refused to be comforted and importuned her father to leave Nazareth until he finally consented to move to Sepphoris. In after years, to the many men who sought her hand in marriage, Rebecca had but one answer. She lived for only one purpose—to await the hour when this, to her, the greatest man who ever lived would begin his career as a teacher of living truth. And she followed him devotedly through his eventful years of public labor, being present (unobserved by Jesus) that day when he rode triumphantly into Jerusalem; and she stood “among the other women” by the side of Mary on that fateful and tragic afternoon when the Son of Man hung upon the cross, to her, as well as to countless worlds on high, “the one altogether lovely and the greatest among ten thousand.”
2015 127:5.6 Rebekkas hjerte var knust. Hun nægtede at blive trøstet og plagede sin far med bønner, at de skulle forlade Nazaret, indtil han endelig indvilliget i at flytte til Sepphoris. I årene efter Rebekka havde hun kun ét svar til de mange mænd, der søgte at vinde hende til ægteskab. Hun levede kun for ét formål - at afvente det tidspunkt, hvor han i hendes øjne den største af alle mænd, der nogensinde har levet ville begynde sin karriere som den levende sandhedslærer. Hun fulgte ham hengivent under hans begivenhedsrige år med offentlig arbejde og var til stede (ubemærket af Jesus) den dag, hvor han red i triumf ind i Jerusalem; og hun stod "blandt de andre kvinder" ved Marias side den skæbnesvangre og tragiske eftermiddag, når Sønnen hang på korset, for hende og for de utallige verdener højtoppe "den eneste alt igennem elskelige og den største blandt titusinder."[4][5][6]
6. HIS TWENTIETH YEAR (A.D. 14)
6. HANS TYVENDE ÅR (14 E.KR.)
1955 127:6.1 The story of Rebecca’s love for Jesus was whispered about Nazareth and later on at Capernaum, so that, while in the years to follow many women loved Jesus even as men loved him, not again did he have to reject the personal proffer of another good woman’s devotion. From this time on human affection for Jesus partook more of the nature of worshipful and adoring regard. Both men and women loved him devotedly and for what he was, not with any tinge of self-satisfaction or desire for affectionate possession. But for many years, whenever the story of Jesus’ human personality was recited, the devotion of Rebecca was recounted.
2015 127:6.1 Historien om Rebekkas kærlighed til Jesus blev hvisket om i Nazaret og senere i Kapernaum, så mens der i de følgende år var mange kvinder som elskede Jesus selv som mænd elskede ham, så behøvede han ikke længere at afvise enhver oprigtig kvindes personlige tilbud om hengivenhed. Fra dette tidspunkt og frem var menneskelig hengivenhed for Jesus mere karakter af en ærbødig og ærværdige påskønnelse. Både mænd og kvinder elskede ham inderligt, og for hvad han var, uden nogen antydning af tilfredshed for deres egen jeg eller ønsket om kærligt ejerskab. Men i mange år, herefter, når Jesu menneskelige personlighed blev nævnt, blev der altid talt, om Rebekkas hengivenhed.
1955 127:6.2 Miriam, knowing fully about the affair of Rebecca and knowing how her brother had forsaken even the love of a beautiful maiden (not realizing the factor of his future career of destiny), came to idealize Jesus and to love him with a touching and profound affection as for a father as well as for a brother.
2015 127:6.2 Miriam som var vel vidende om hvad der skete med Rebekka og vidste, hvordan hendes bror havde afstået selv en smuk jomfrus kærlighed (uden at indså, at hans fremtidige skæbne havde betydning i denne sammenhæng), begyndte at idealisere Jesus og at elske ham med en rørende og dyb kærlighed som en far samt en bror.
1955 127:6.3 Although they could hardly afford it, Jesus had a strange longing to go up to Jerusalem for the Passover. His mother, knowing of his recent experience with Rebecca, wisely urged him to make the journey. He was not markedly conscious of it, but what he most wanted was an opportunity to talk with Lazarus and to visit with Martha and Mary. Next to his own family he loved these three most of all.
2015 127:6.3 Selv om de næppe havde råd til rejsen op til Jerusalem for påsken, havde Jesus en mærkelig længsel efter at gå der. Hans mor, der vidste, hvad han for nylig havde været igennem med Rebekka, opfordrede ham klogt til at gå derop. Han var ikke markant bevidst om det, men det, han mest havde brug for var en mulighed for at tale med Lazarus og træffe Marta og Maria. Næst efter sin egen familie elskede han disse tre mest af alt.
1955 127:6.4 In making this trip to Jerusalem, he went by way of Megiddo, Antipatris, and Lydda, in part covering the same route traversed when he was brought back to Nazareth on the return from Egypt. He spent four days going up to the Passover and thought much about the past events which had transpired in and around Megiddo, the international battlefield of Palestine.
2015 127:6.4 På vej til Jerusalem gik han gennem Megiddo, Antipatris og Lydda, dels ad den samme vej, som var blevet brugt, da han blev bragt tilbage til Nazaret fra Egypten. Han tilbragte fire dage med at vandre op til påsken og tænkte meget på de seneste begivenheder, der havde fundet sted i og omkring Megiddo, den internationale slagmark af Palæstina.
1955 127:6.5 Jesus passed on through Jerusalem, only pausing to look upon the temple and the gathering throngs of visitors. He had a strange and increasing aversion to this Herod-built temple with its politically appointed priesthood. He wanted most of all to see Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. Lazarus was the same age as Jesus and now head of the house; by the time of this visit Lazarus’s mother had also been laid to rest. Martha was a little over one year older than Jesus, while Mary was two years younger. And Jesus was the idolized ideal of all three of them.
2015 127:6.5 Jesus fortsatte rejse gennem Jerusalem og stoppede kun for at se ud over templet og skarerne af besøgende, der var samlet der. Han havde en mærkelig og stigende aversion mod dette af Herodes bygget tempel med dens politisk udnævnte præstedømme. Han ville først og fremmest møde Lazarus, Marta og Maria. Lazarus var den samme alder som Jesus og nu herre i huset. På tidspunktet for dette besøg var Lazarus mor også blevet lagt væk i graven. Marta var lidt over et år ældre end Jesus, mens Maria var to år yngre. Jesus var det ideal, de alle tre tilbad.
1955 127:6.6 On this visit occurred one of those periodic outbreaks of rebellion against tradition—the expression of resentment for those ceremonial practices which Jesus deemed misrepresentative of his Father in heaven. Not knowing Jesus was coming, Lazarus had arranged to celebrate the Passover with friends in an adjoining village down the Jericho road. Jesus now proposed that they celebrate the feast where they were, at Lazarus’s house. “But,” said Lazarus, “we have no paschal lamb.” And then Jesus entered upon a prolonged and convincing dissertation to the effect that the Father in heaven was not truly concerned with such childlike and meaningless rituals. After solemn and fervent prayer they rose, and Jesus said: “Let the childlike and darkened minds of my people serve their God as Moses directed; it is better that they do, but let us who have seen the light of life no longer approach our Father by the darkness of death. Let us be free in the knowledge of the truth of our Father’s eternal love.”
2015 127:6.6 Mens dette besøg fandt sted udbrød et af de periodiske oprør mod traditionen - et udtryk for vrede over de ceremononielle skikke, som Jesus følte gav et falsk billede af sin Fader i himlen. Da de ikke vidste at Jesus ville komme, havde Lazarus arrangeret det således, at påsken skulle fejres med venner i en nærliggende landsby langs vejen til Jeriko. Jesus foreslog nu, at de skulle fejre festen, hvor de befandt sig, i Lazarus hus. "Men," sagde Lazarus, "vi har ingen påskelam." Så begyndte Jesus en lang og overbevisende foredrag om at Faderen i Himlen bestemt ikke var interesseret i sådanne barnlige og meningsløse ritualer. Efter en højtidelig og inderlig bøn rejste de sig, og Jesus sagde: "Lad dem blandt mit folk som har et barnligt og formørket sind tjene deres Gud som Moses besluttede; det er bedst for dem at gøre det, men lad os, der har set livets lys ikke længere nærme os vor Fader gennem dødens mørke. Lad os være fri i viden om sandheden i vor Faders evige kærlighed."
1955 127:6.7 That evening about twilight these four sat down and partook of the first Passover feast ever to be celebrated by devout Jews without the paschal lamb. The unleavened bread and the wine had been made ready for this Passover, and these emblems, which Jesus termed “the bread of life” and “the water of life,” he served to his companions, and they ate in solemn conformity with the teachings just imparted. It was his custom to engage in this sacramental ritual whenever he paid subsequent visits to Bethany. When he returned home, he told all this to his mother. She was shocked at first but came gradually to see his viewpoint; nevertheless, she was greatly relieved when Jesus assured her that he did not intend to introduce this new idea of the Passover in their family. At home with the children he continued, year by year, to eat the Passover “according to the law of Moses.”
2015 127:6.7 Den aften i skumringen satte disse fire sig ned for at fejre den første påske som fromme jøder nogensinde havde fejret uden påskelammet. Det usyrede brød og vinen var gjort klar til denne påske, og disse symboler, som Jesus kaldte "livets brød" og "livets vand" gav han til sine kammerater, og de spiste i højtidelig overensstemmelse med læren de lige havde deltaget i. Han havde for vane altid at udføre dette sakramenteritual under sine senere besøg i Bethany. Da han kom hjem, fortalte han alt dette til sin mor. Hun var chokeret i starten, men begyndte efterhånden at forstå hans synspunkt. Selv om hun var meget lettet, da Jesus forsikrede hende, at han ikke havde til hensigt at indføre denne nye måde at fejre påsken i deres familie. Hjemme med børnene fortsatte han, år efter år med at spise påskemåltidet "i henhold til Moseloven[7]."
1955 127:6.8 It was during this year that Mary had a long talk with Jesus about marriage. She frankly asked him if he would get married if he were free from his family responsibilities. Jesus explained to her that, since immediate duty forbade his marriage, he had given the subject little thought. He expressed himself as doubting that he would ever enter the marriage state; he said that all such things must await “my hour,” the time when “my Father’s work must begin.” Having settled already in his mind that he was not to become the father of children in the flesh, he gave very little thought to the subject of human marriage.
2015 127:6.8 Det var i løbet af dette år, at Maria havde en lang snak med Jesus om ægteskab. Hun spurgte ham ligeud, om han ville giftes, hvis han var fri for hans familiemæssige forpligtelser. Jesus forklarede hende, at da de umiddelbare opgaver ikke tillod ham at gifte sig, han havde ikke mærkbart tænkt over det. Han udtrykte sin tvivl, at han nogensinde ville indgå ægteskab; Han sagde, at alle sådanne ting må afvente "min time," det tidspunkt, hvor "hans Faders arbejde skulle begynde." Da han allerede havde besluttet ikke at blive far til kødelige børn, helliget han ikke spørgsmålet om menneskelige ægteskab nogen væsentlig tanke.
1955 127:6.9 This year he began anew the task of further weaving his mortal and divine natures into a simple and effective human individuality. And he continued to grow in moral status and spiritual understanding.
2015 127:6.9 I år gik han igen i gang med at væve sin dødelige og sin guddommelige natur til en enkel og effektiv menneskelig individualitet. Han fortsatte med at vokse i form af moralsk status og åndelig forståelse.
1955 127:6.10 Although all their Nazareth property (except their home) was gone, this year they received a little financial help from the sale of an equity in a piece of property in Capernaum. This was the last of Joseph’s entire estate. This real estate deal in Capernaum was with a boatbuilder named Zebedee.
2015 127:6.10 Selv om alle deres Nazaret ejendom (undtagen deres hjem) var solgt havde de i år lidt økonomisk hjælp, fra salg af deres andel af en ejendom i Kapernaum. Det var den sidste rest af Josefs ejendom. Denne ejendomshandel i Kapernaum var med en bådebygger som hed Zebedæus.
1955 127:6.11 Joseph graduated at the synagogue school this year and prepared to begin work at the small bench in the home carpenter shop. Although the estate of their father was exhausted, there were prospects that they would successfully fight off poverty since three of them were now regularly at work.
2015 127:6.11 Joseph gik ud af synagogeskole dette år og gjorde sig parat til at begynde arbejdet på den lille tømrerbænk i hjemmets tømrerværksted. Selv boet efter deres far var tom, var der udsigt til, at de ville være i stand til at holde fattigdommen væk, da tre af dem nu arbejdede regelmæssigt.
1955 127:6.12 Jesus is rapidly becoming a man, not just a young man but an adult. He has learned well to bear responsibility. He knows how to carry on in the face of disappointment. He bears up bravely when his plans are thwarted and his purposes temporarily defeated. He has learned how to be fair and just even in the face of injustice. He is learning how to adjust his ideals of spiritual living to the practical demands of earthly existence. He is learning how to plan for the achievement of a higher and distant goal of idealism while he toils earnestly for the attainment of a nearer and immediate goal of necessity. He is steadily acquiring the art of adjusting his aspirations to the commonplace demands of the human occasion. He has very nearly mastered the technique of utilizing the energy of the spiritual drive to turn the mechanism of material achievement. He is slowly learning how to live the heavenly life while he continues on with the earthly existence. More and more he depends upon the ultimate guidance of his heavenly Father while he assumes the fatherly role of guiding and directing the children of his earth family. He is becoming experienced in the skillful wresting of victory from the very jaws of defeat; he is learning how to transform the difficulties of time into the triumphs of eternity.
2015 127:6.12 Jesus udviklede sig nu hurtigt til en mand, ikke bare en ung mand, men en voksen mand. Han havde lært sig godt at bære ansvar. Han ved, hvordan man kommer videre på trods af skuffelser. Han holder modigt, når hans planer kuldkastes og hans formål midlertidigt forpurres. Han har lært sig at være ærlig og retfærdig, selv når han mødtes med uretfærdighed. Han lærer at tilpasse sine idealer om åndeligt liv til den jordiske tilværelses praktiske krav. Han lærer at planlægge for opnåelsen af idealismens højere og fjerne mål, mens han ihærdigt arbejder for opfyldelsen af nødvendighedens nærmere og umiddelbare mål. Støt erhverver han færdigheder i at tilpasse sine forhåbninger til de verdslige krav som menneskes situation stiller. Han har næsten helt lært sig at beherske teknikken, med at udnytte energien i den åndelige drivkraft til at vende den materielle resultat opnåelsens mekanisme. Han er langsomt ved at lære at leve det himmelske liv, mens han fortsætter med sin jordiske eksistens. Mere og mere stoler han på sin himmelske Faders ultimative vejledning, mens han påtager sig den faderlige rolle i at lede og instruere børnene i hans jordiske familie. Han er ved at blive erfaren i at fravriste sejren fra trussel om nederlag. Han lærer at omdanne tidens vanskeligheder til sejre i evigheden.
1955 127:6.13 And so, as the years pass, this young man of Nazareth continues to experience life as it is lived in mortal flesh on the worlds of time and space. He lives a full, representative, and replete life on Urantia. He left this world ripe in the experience which his creatures pass through during the short and strenuous years of their first life, the life in the flesh. And all this human experience is an eternal possession of the Universe Sovereign. He is our understanding brother, sympathetic friend, experienced sovereign, and merciful father.
2015 127:6.13 Så som årene går fortsætter denne unge mand fra Nazaret med at opleve livet, som det leves i dødeligt kød i verdnerne i tid og rum. Han lever et fuldt repræsentativt, og rigt liv på Urantia. Han forlod denne verden med modne erfaring af, hvad hans skabninger oplever under de korte og anstrengende år af deres første liv, livet i kødet. Alt denne menneskelige erfaring er noget, som Universets hersker evigt ejer. Han er vores forstående broder, sympatiske ven, erfarne hersker og barmhjertige fader.
1955 127:6.14 As a child he accumulated a vast body of knowledge; as a youth he sorted, classified, and correlated this information; and now as a man of the realm he begins to organize these mental possessions preparatory to utilization in his subsequent teaching, ministry, and service in behalf of his fellow mortals on this world and on all other spheres of habitation throughout the entire universe of Nebadon.
2015 127:6.14 Som barn erhvervede han en omfattende mængde viden, som en ung mand sorterede, klassificerede, og korrelerede han disse oplysninger, og nu som en mand i denne verden, begynder han at organisere disse mentale aktiver, der skal bruges i hans efterfølgende undervisning, tjeneste og formidling til gavn for hans dødelige kolleger i denne verden og i alle andre beboede sfære over hele Nebadon.
1955 127:6.15 Born into the world a babe of the realm, he has lived his childhood life and passed through the successive stages of youth and young manhood; he now stands on the threshold of full manhood, rich in the experience of human living, replete in the understanding of human nature, and full of sympathy for the frailties of human nature. He is becoming expert in the divine art of revealing his Paradise Father to all ages and stages of mortal creatures.
2015 127:6.15 Født ind i verden som et spædbarn af denne verden, har han levet sin barndoms liv og oplevet ungdommen og tidlige manddom på hinanden følgende trin. Han står nu på tærsklen til den modne manddomsalder, rig på erfaring af menneskelivet, fuld af forståelse for den menneskelige natur og fuld af sympati for svaghederne i den menneskelige natur. Han er ved at blive dygtige i den guddommelige evne til at manifestere sin Paradisfader til dødelige væsener i alle aldre og på alle udviklingsstadier.
1955 127:6.16 And now as a full-grown man—an adult of the realm—he prepares to continue his supreme mission of revealing God to men and leading men to God.
2015 127:6.16 Nu som fuldvoksen mand, som et voksent menneske i verden, gør han sig parat til at fortsætte sin højeste mission for at åbenbare Gud for menneskerne og at føre menneskerne til Gud.