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Oversættelser: © 2015 Urantia Foundation
JESUS’ EARLY MANHOOD
JESU TIDLIGE MANDDOMSTID
1955 128:0.1 AS JESUS of Nazareth entered upon the early years of his adult life, he had lived, and continued to live, a normal and average human life on earth. Jesus came into this world just as other children come; he had nothing to do with selecting his parents. He did choose this particular world as the planet whereon to carry out his seventh and final bestowal, his incarnation in the likeness of mortal flesh, but otherwise he entered the world in a natural manner, growing up as a child of the realm and wrestling with the vicissitudes of his environment just as do other mortals on this and on similar worlds.
2015 128:0.1 DA JESUS af Nazaret kom ind i de tidlige år af sit voksne liv, havde han levet og fortsatte med at leve som en normal, gennemsnitlig person, der bor på jorden[1]. Jesus kom ind i denne verden, ligesom alle andre børn; han havde intet at gøre med valg af sine forældre. Han valgte imidlertid denne verden, som den planet, hvor han ville påtage sig sin syvende og sidste overdragelse, hans inkarnation i lighed med dødelig kød, men ellers kom han til verden på en naturlig måde, voksede op som barn af denne verden og kæmpede med omskiftelserne i hans omgivelser lige som andre dødelige i denne og lignende verdener.
2015 128:0.2 Vær altid opmærksom på det dobbelte formål med Mikaels overdragelse på Urantia:
1955 128:0.4 2. The revelation of the Universal Father to the mortal dwellers on the worlds of time and space and the more effective leading of these same mortals to a better understanding of the Universal Father.
2015 128:0.4 2. At åbenbare den Universelle Fader til de dødelige indbyggere i verdener af tid og rum og til effektivt at føre disse samme dødelige til en bedre forståelse af den Universelle Fader.
1955 128:0.5 All other creature benefits and universe advantages were incidental and secondary to these major purposes of the mortal bestowal.
2015 128:0.5 Alle andre fordele for de skabte væsener og for universet var underordnet og sekundært til hovedformålet med overdragelsen i dødelig form.
1. THE TWENTY-FIRST YEAR (A.D. 15)
1. DET ENOGTYVENDE ÅR (15 E.KR.)
1955 128:1.1 With the attainment of adult years Jesus began in earnest and with full self-consciousness the task of completing the experience of mastering the knowledge of the life of his lowest form of intelligent creatures, thereby finally and fully earning the right of unqualified rulership of his self-created universe. He entered upon this stupendous task fully realizing his dual nature. But he had already effectively combined these two natures into one—Jesus of Nazareth.
2015 128:1.1 Med det faktum, at Jesus havde nået voksenalderen, begyndte han alvorligt og med fuld bevidsthed opgaven med at færdiggøre erfaringen af at beherske viden, om hvordan hans laveste intelligente skabninger lever, og dermed endelig og fuldt optjene retten til ubegrænset herredømme i universet, som han selv havde skabt. Han gik ind i denne fantastiske opgave med fuld viden om hans dobbelte natur. Han havde allerede effektivt kombineret disse to naturer i én - Jesus af Nazaret.
1955 128:1.2 Joshua ben Joseph knew full well that he was a man, a mortal man, born of woman. This is shown in the selection of his first title, the Son of Man. He was truly a partaker of flesh and blood, and even now, as he presides in sovereign authority over the destinies of a universe, he still bears among his numerous well-earned titles that of Son of Man. It is literally true that the creative Word—the Creator Son—of the Universal Father was “made flesh and dwelt as a man of the realm on Urantia.” He labored, grew weary, rested, and slept. He hungered and satisfied such cravings with food; he thirsted and quenched his thirst with water. He experienced the full gamut of human feelings and emotions; he was “in all things tested, even as you are,” and he suffered and died.
2015 128:1.2 Joshua ben Joseph vidste udmærket godt, at han var en mand, et dødeligt menneske født af en kvinde. Dette fremgår klart af den første titel, som han selv valgte, Menneskesønnen[3]. Han var bestemt af kød og blod, og selv nu, da han med den suveræn myndighed leder universets skæbne bærer han stadig blandt hans talrige velfortjente titler benævnelsen Menneskesønnen[4]. Det er bogstaveligt talt sandt, at den Universelle Faders skabende Ord - Skabersønnen - "blev kød og levede på Urantia som et menneske af den verden"[5]. Han arbejdede, blev træt, hvilede og sov. Han hungrede og tilfredsstillede sulten med mad; han tørstede og slukkede sin tørst med vand. Han oplevede hele viften af menneskelige følelser og sindsbevægelser; han var "prøvet i alle ting på samme måde, som du er", og han led og døde[6].
1955 128:1.3 He obtained knowledge, gained experience, and combined these into wisdom, just as do other mortals of the realm. Until after his baptism he availed himself of no supernatural power. He employed no agency not a part of his human endowment as a son of Joseph and Mary.
2015 128:1.3 Han skaffede sig viden, opnået erfaring, og kombinerede disse i visdom, præcis ligesom andre dødelige i verden. Indtil efter sin dåb udnyttede han ingen overnaturlig kraft. Han brugte ikke nogen kraft eller eventuelle midler, som ikke var en del af hans menneskelige evne som søn af Josef og Maria.
1955 128:1.4 As to the attributes of his prehuman existence, he emptied himself. Prior to the beginning of his public work his knowledge of men and events was wholly self-limited. He was a true man among men.
2015 128:1.4 Med hensyn til de egenskaber, han havde før sit liv som et menneske, tømte han sig selv for dem. Inden han begyndte sin offentlige tjeneste, var hans viden om mennesker og begivenheder helt begrænset til, hvad han selv havde lært. Han var en sand mand blandt mennesker.
1955 128:1.5 It is forever and gloriously true: “We have a high ruler who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. We have a Sovereign who was in all points tested and tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” And since he himself has suffered, being tested and tried, he is abundantly able to understand and minister to those who are confused and distressed.
2015 128:1.5 Det er for evigt og virkelig sandt: "Vi har sådan en høj hersker, som kan sympatisere med vores svagheder. Vi har en Hersker som blev prøvet og fristet i alle ting, som vi er, dog uden synd[7]. "Fordi han selv har lidt, da han blev prøvet, og fristet, har han en rigelig mængde af forståelse og omsorg for dem, der er forvirrede og bedrøvet.
1955 128:1.6 The Nazareth carpenter now fully understood the work before him, but he chose to live his human life in the channel of its natural flowing. And in some of these matters he is indeed an example to his mortal creatures, even as it is recorded: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being of the nature of God, thought it not strange to be equal with God. But he made himself to be of little import and, taking upon himself the form of a creature, was born in the likeness of mankind. And being thus fashioned as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.”
2015 128:1.6 Tømreren i Nazaret forstod nu fuldt ud det arbejde, der ventede ham, men han valgte at leve sit liv, som det flød i sin naturlige kanal. Og i nogle af disse sager, er han faktisk et eksempel for sine dødelige væsener, således som det også er skrevet: "Lad det samme sindelag være i jer som var i Jesus Kristus, som, fordi han er af Guds væsen, ikke finder det mærkeligt at være lig med Gud. Men han gjorde sig selv ubetydelig, iklædte sig et væsens figur og blev født i menneskelig form. Da han derfor tog form som en menneske, ydmygede han sig og blev lydig indtil døden, ja, indtil døden på et kors[8]."
1955 128:1.7 He lived his mortal life just as all others of the human family may live theirs, “who in the days of the flesh so frequently offered up prayers and supplications, even with strong feelings and tears, to Him who is able to save from all evil, and his prayers were effective because he believed.” Wherefore it behooved him in every respect to be made like his brethren that he might become a merciful and understanding sovereign ruler over them.
2015 128:1.7 Han levede sit jordiske liv ligesom alle andre medlemmer af den menneskelige familie kan leve deres liv, "han, som i løbet af sit liv på jorden så hyppigt fremsatte bønner og påkaldelse, selv med stærke følelser og tårer, til Ham, der kan redde os fra alt ondt og hans bønner var effektive fordi han troede[9]." Derfor blev det sømmende for ham i enhver henseende at blive skabt ligesom sine brødre, for at han kunne blive en barmhjertig og forståelsesfuld suveræn hersker over dem.
1955 128:1.8 Of his human nature he was never in doubt; it was self-evident and always present in his consciousness. But of his divine nature there was always room for doubt and conjecture, at least this was true right up to the event of his baptism. The self-realization of divinity was a slow and, from the human standpoint, a natural evolutionary revelation. This revelation and self-realization of divinity began in Jerusalem when he was not quite thirteen years old with the first supernatural occurrence of his human existence; and this experience of effecting the self-realization of his divine nature was completed at the time of his second supernatural experience while in the flesh, the episode attendant upon his baptism by John in the Jordan, which event marked the beginning of his public career of ministry and teaching.
2015 128:1.8 Hans menneskelige natur, tvivlede han aldrig på; den var indlysende og altid til stede i hans bevidsthed. Med hensyn til hans guddommelige natur var der altid plads til tvivl og formodninger, i hvert fald var dette sandt i hvert fald frem indtil hans dåb. Hans bevidsthed om hans guddommelighed kom langsomt og var - fra det menneskelige synspunkt - en naturlig evolutionær åbenbaring. Denne åbenbaring af hans guddommelighed og hans egen forståelse af den begyndte i Jerusalem, da han endnu ikke var fyldt tretten år med den første overnaturlige begivenhed i sit liv som et menneske. Denne oplevelse gjorde at han blev opmærksom på sin guddommelige natur, blev afsluttet på tidspunktet for hans anden overnaturlige oplevelse under sit liv i kødet, nemlig den begivenhed, der knytter sig til at Johannes døber ham i Jordanfloden, og som markerede begyndelsen af hans offentlige karriere præget af tjeneste og undervisning.
1955 128:1.9 Between these two celestial visitations, one in his thirteenth year and the other at his baptism, there occurred nothing supernatural or superhuman in the life of this incarnated Creator Son. Notwithstanding this, the babe of Bethlehem, the lad, youth, and man of Nazareth, was in reality the incarnated Creator of a universe; but he never once used aught of this power, nor did he utilize the guidance of celestial personalities, aside from that of his guardian seraphim, in the living of his human life up to the day of his baptism by John. And we who thus testify know whereof we speak.
2015 128:1.9 Mellem disse to himmelske besøg, et i sin trettende år, og den anden ved hans dåb, skete intet overnaturligt eller overmenneskeligt i denne inkarnerede Skabersøns liv. Uanset dette var denne baby i Betlehem, denne dreng, unge knægt og mand fra Nazaret, i virkeligheden den inkarnerede Skaber af et univers; men han anvendte aldrig det mindste af denne magt, eller vejledning fra andre himmelske personligheder end sin skytsengel, i det liv han levede som et menneske, indtil den dag, hvor Johannes døbte ham. Vi, der vidner om dette, ved hvad vi taler om.
1955 128:1.10 And yet, throughout all these years of his life in the flesh he was truly divine. He was actually a Creator Son of the Paradise Father. When once he had espoused his public career, subsequent to the technical completion of his purely mortal experience of sovereignty acquirement, he did not hesitate publicly to admit that he was the Son of God. He did not hesitate to declare, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” He made no protest in later years when he was called Lord of Glory, Ruler of a Universe, the Lord God of all creation, the Holy One of Israel, the Lord of all, our Lord and our God, God with us, having a name above every name and on all worlds, the Omnipotence of a universe, the Universe Mind of this creation, the One in whom are hid all treasures of wisdom and knowledge, the fullness of Him who fills all things, the eternal Word of the eternal God, the One who was before all things and in whom all things consist, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the Upholder of a universe, the Judge of all the earth, the Giver of life eternal, the True Shepherd, the Deliverer of the worlds, and the Captain of our salvation.
2015 128:1.10 Dog var han i alle disse år af sit liv i kødet virkelig guddommelig. Han var faktisk en af Paradisfaders Skabersønner. Da han havde viet sine kræfter til sin offentlige karriere, efterfulgt den tekniske afslutning af hans rent menneskelige erfaring af at erhverve suverænitet, tøvede han ikke med offentligt at indrømme, at han var Guds Søn. Han tøvede ikke med at forkynde: "Jeg er Alfa og Omega, begyndelsen og enden, den første og den sidste" Han protesterede ikke i de senere år, når han blev kaldt Herlighedens Herre, Hersker af universet, Gud Herren af al skabelse, den Hellige Ene af Israel, Herren til alle, vor Herre og vor Gud, Gud hos os, der har et navn over alle navne, og i alle verdener, Almægtigheden i universet, denne skabelsens Universsind, Den hos hvem alle visdommens og kundskabens skatte er skjult, Ham, hvis fylde fylder alt i alt, den evige Guds evige ord, ham der var før alle ting og i hvem alle ting består, Skaberen af himlen og jorden, Opretholderen af universet, Dommeren over hele jorden, Giveren af evigt liv, den Sande Hyrde, verdnernes Befrier og Kaptajn af vores frelse[10].[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]
1955 128:1.11 He never objected to any of these titles as they were applied to him subsequent to the emergence from his purely human life into the later years of his self-consciousness of the ministry of divinity in humanity, and for humanity, and to humanity on this world and for all other worlds. Jesus objected to but one title as applied to him: When he was once called Immanuel, he merely replied, “Not I, that is my elder brother.”
2015 128:1.11 Han har aldrig gjort indsigelse mod nogen af disse titler, når de blev anvendt om ham, efter han var blevet befriet fra sit rent menneskelige liv til de senere år af hans selvbevidsthed om den guddommelige tjeneste i menneskelig form for menneskeheden og til gavn for menneskeheden i denne verden og for alle andre verdener. Jesus har kun gjort indsigelse til en enkelt titel om ham: Det var engang han blev kaldt Immanuel, svarede han blot: ". Det er ikke mig, det er min ældste bror."
1955 128:1.12 Always, even after his emergence into the larger life on earth, Jesus was submissively subject to the will of the Father in heaven.
2015 128:1.12 Altid, selv efter hans fremkomst i den større sammenhæng i livet på jorden, var Jesus underdanigt underlagt Faderens vilje i himlen.
1955 128:1.13 After his baptism he thought nothing of permitting his sincere believers and grateful followers to worship him. Even while he wrestled with poverty and toiled with his hands to provide the necessities of life for his family, his awareness that he was a Son of God was growing; he knew that he was the maker of the heavens and this very earth whereon he was now living out his human existence. And the hosts of celestial beings throughout the great and onlooking universe likewise knew that this man of Nazareth was their beloved Sovereign and Creator-father. A profound suspense pervaded the universe of Nebadon throughout these years; all celestial eyes were continuously focused on Urantia—on Palestine.
2015 128:1.13 Efter sin dåb, tillod han dem, der oprigtigt troede på ham og taknemmeligt fulgte ham til at tilbede ham. Selv mens han kæmpede med fattigdom og arbejdede med sine hænder for at skaffe de livsfornødenheder for sin familie voksede hans bevidsthed om, at han var Guds Søn. Han vidste, at han havde skabt himlen og selve jorden, hvor han levede sit liv i menneskelig form. Og hærskarerne af himmelske væsener i hele det store univers, der fulgte med i begivenheder, vidste også, at denne mand fra Nazaret var deres elskede Hersker og Skaberfader. En dyb spænding gennemsyrede Nebadon i alle disse år; alle himmelske øjne var konstant rettet mod Urantia - mod Palæstina.
1955 128:1.14 This year Jesus went up to Jerusalem with Joseph to celebrate the Passover. Having taken James to the temple for consecration, he deemed it his duty to take Joseph. Jesus never exhibited any degree of partiality in dealing with his family. He went with Joseph to Jerusalem by the usual Jordan valley route, but he returned to Nazareth by the east Jordan way, which led through Amathus. Going down the Jordan, Jesus narrated Jewish history to Joseph and on the return trip told him about the experiences of the reputed tribes of Ruben, Gad, and Gilead that traditionally had dwelt in these regions east of the river.
2015 128:1.14 Dette år gik Jesus op til Jerusalem med Josef for at fejre påsken. Da han havde taget James til templet for hans indsættelse, så han det som sin pligt også at tage Josef der. Jesus viste aldrig nogen partiskhed i hans forhold til familien. Han gik med Josef til Jerusalem, den sædvanlige rute gennem Jordandalen, men vendte tilbage til Nazaret langs vejen øst for Jordan, der førte gennem Amathus. Mens de gik ned langs Jordanfloden, fortalte Jesus om jødisk historie til Josef og på vej tilbage, fortalte han om Rubens, Gad, og Gilead velrenommerede stammer ifølge traditionen havde boet i disse områder øst for floden.
1955 128:1.15 Joseph asked Jesus many leading questions concerning his life mission, but to most of these inquiries Jesus would only reply, “My hour has not yet come.” However, in these intimate discussions many words were dropped which Joseph remembered during the stirring events of subsequent years. Jesus, with Joseph, spent this Passover with his three friends at Bethany, as was his custom when in Jerusalem attending these festival commemorations.
2015 128:1.15 Josef stillede mange ledende spørgsmål til Jesus om hans livsmission, men til de fleste af disse forespørgelser, svarede Jesus kun: "Min time er endnu ikke kommet[29]." Under disse intime diskussioner, faldt der imidlertid mange ord som Josef huskede i de efterfølgende års foruroligende begivenheder. Jesus fejrede påsken med Josef med sine tre venner på Bethany, som var hans skik, når han var i Jerusalem for at deltage i disse mindehøjtideligheder.
2. THE TWENTY-SECOND YEAR (A.D. 16)
2. DET TOOGTYVENDE ÅR (16 E.KR.)
1955 128:2.1 This was one of several years during which Jesus’ brothers and sisters were facing the trials and tribulations peculiar to the problems and readjustments of adolescence. Jesus now had brothers and sisters ranging in ages from seven to eighteen, and he was kept busy helping them to adjust themselves to the new awakenings of their intellectual and emotional lives. He had thus to grapple with the problems of adolescence as they became manifest in the lives of his younger brothers and sisters.
2015 128:2.1 Dette år var et af de mange hvor Jesu brødre og søstre stor over for de prøvelser der er forbundet med ungdomsårenes problemer og justeringer. Jesus havde nu søskende i alderen fra syv til atten år og han var optaget af at forsøge at hjælpe dem med at tilpasse sig den nye vækkelse af deres intellektuelle og følelsesmæssige liv. Han måtte derfor kæmper med ungdomsårenes problemer, efterhånden som de dukkede op i sine yngre brødres og søstres liv.
1955 128:2.2 This year Simon graduated from school and began work with Jesus’ old boyhood playmate and ever-ready defender, Jacob the stone mason. As a result of several family conferences it was decided that it was unwise for all the boys to take up carpentry. It was thought that by diversifying their trades they would be prepared to take contracts for putting up entire buildings. Again, they had not all kept busy since three of them had been working as full-time carpenters.
2015 128:2.2 Dette år afsluttede Simon skolen og begyndte at arbejde med Jesus gamle legekammerat og stadigt forberedte forsvarer fra drengeårene, stenhuggerne Jacob. Som et resultat af flere drøftelser i familien blev det besluttet, at det var uklogt at alle drengene skulle blive snedkere. Man tænkte, at hvis de diversificerede deres erhverv, kunne de gennemføre opførelsen af hele bygninger. Desuden havde der ikke været tilstrækkeligt med arbejde, da tre af dem havde arbejdet som tømrer på fuld tid.
1955 128:2.3 Jesus continued this year at house finishing and cabinetwork but spent most of his time at the caravan repair shop. James was beginning to alternate with him in attendance at the shop. The latter part of this year, when carpenter work was slack about Nazareth, Jesus left James in charge of the repair shop and Joseph at the home bench while he went over to Sepphoris to work with a smith. He worked six months with metals and acquired considerable skill at the anvil.
2015 128:2.3 Jesus fortsatte dette år med det indvendige arbejde i forskellige huse og finere snedkeri men tilbragte det meste af tiden i værkstedet for karavanerne. James var begyndte at afløse ham i værkstedet. Under den sidste del af dette år, da der var en mangel på tømrerarbejde i Nazaret, lod Jesus James i spidsen for værkstedet og Josef hjemme på bænken, mens han gik over til Sepphoris for at arbejde med en smed. Han arbejdede seks måneder med metaller og erhvervede betydelige evner på ambolten.
1955 128:2.4 Before taking up his new employment at Sepphoris, Jesus held one of his periodic family conferences and solemnly installed James, then just past eighteen years old, as acting head of the family. He promised his brother hearty support and full co-operation and exacted formal promises of obedience to James from each member of the family. From this day James assumed full financial responsibility for the family, Jesus making his weekly payments to his brother. Never again did Jesus take the reins out of James’s hands. While working at Sepphoris he could have walked home every night if necessary, but he purposely remained away, assigning weather and other reasons, but his true motive was to train James and Joseph in the bearing of the family responsibility. He had begun the slow process of weaning his family. Each Sabbath Jesus returned to Nazareth, and sometimes during the week when occasion required, to observe the working of the new plan, to give advice and offer helpful suggestions.
2015 128:2.4 Før Jesus begyndte sit nye job i Sepphoris holdt han en af sine regelmæssige familiemøder og højtideligt installerede James, der lige var fyldt atten år, som ansvarligt overhoved for familien. Han lovede sin bror sin dybfølte støtte og alt hans hjælp, og modtog af hvert familiemedlem formelt løfte om at adlyde James. Fra denne dag tog James det fulde økonomiske ansvar for familien, og Jesus gav ugentlige betalinger til sin bror. Aldrig senere, tog Jesus tøjlerne fra James hånd. Mens han arbejdede på Sepphoris kunne han være gået hjem hver nat, hvis det havde været nødvendigt, men han holdt sig bevidst borte og erklærede vejret eller noget andet som årsag, men hans sande motiv var at træne James og Joseph i at bære ansvaret for familien. Han var begyndt en langsom proces med fravænning af sin familie. Hver sabbat vendte Jesus tilbage til Nazaret, og nogle gange i løbet af ugen, når situationen krævede, at se, hvordan den nye ordning fungerede, at give råd og komme med nyttige forslag.
1955 128:2.5 Living much of the time in Sepphoris for six months afforded Jesus a new opportunity to become better acquainted with the gentile viewpoint of life. He worked with gentiles, lived with gentiles, and in every possible manner did he make a close and painstaking study of their habits of living and of the gentile mind.
2015 128:2.5 Da Jesus i seks måneder levede en stor del af tiden i Sepphoris havde han en ny mulighed for bedre at stifte bekendt med det ikke-jødiske syn på livet. Han arbejdede med hedningerne, boede med hedninger, og på alle mulige måder, studerede han indgående og omhyggeligt deres vaner og ikke-jødiske sind.
1955 128:2.6 The moral standards of this home city of Herod Antipas were so far below those of even the caravan city of Nazareth that after six months’ sojourn at Sepphoris Jesus was not averse to finding an excuse for returning to Nazareth. The group he worked for were to become engaged on public work in both Sepphoris and the new city of Tiberias, and Jesus was disinclined to have anything to do with any sort of employment under the supervision of Herod Antipas. And there were still other reasons which made it wise, in the opinion of Jesus, for him to go back to Nazareth. When he returned to the repair shop, he did not again assume the personal direction of family affairs. He worked in association with James at the shop and as far as possible permitted him to continue oversight of the home. James’s management of family expenditures and his administration of the home budget were undisturbed.
2015 128:2.6 De moralske normer for Herodes Antipas hjemby var så langt under selve karavanebyen Nazarets normer at Jesus efter en seks måneders ophold i Sepphoris ikke havde noget imod at finde en grund til at vende tilbage til Nazaret. Den gruppe, han arbejdede for var ved at blive engageret i det offentlige arbejde i både Sepphoris og den nye by Tiberias, og Jesus ønskede ikke noget at gøre med nogen form for arbejde, der var under Herodes Antipas overvågning. Der var stadig andre grunde, der gjorde, at Jesus mente det var klogt at vende tilbage til Nazaret. Da han vendte tilbage til værkstedet, overtog han ikke på ny den personlige vejledning af de familiemæssige anliggender. Han arbejdede sammen med James i værkstedet og lod ham så vidt muligt fortsætte tilsynet med hjemmet. James forvaltning af familiens udgifter og hans administration af hjemmets budget fortsatte uforstyrret.
1955 128:2.7 It was by just such wise and thoughtful planning that Jesus prepared the way for his eventual withdrawal from active participation in the affairs of his family. When James had had two years’ experience as acting head of the family—and two full years before he (James) was to be married—Joseph was placed in charge of the household funds and intrusted with the general management of the home.
2015 128:2.7 Det var netop gennem sådan en klog og vel gennemtænkt planlægning at Jesus banede vejen for til sidst at trække sig tilbage fra at deltage aktivt i familiens anliggender. Da James havde haft to års erfaring som den hovedansvarlige for familien - og to hele år, før han (James) blev gift - blev Joseph betroet og gjort ansvarlig for husholdningsbudgettet og den generelle pleje af hjemmet.
3. THE TWENTY-THIRD YEAR (A.D. 17)
3. DET TREOGTYVENDE ÅR (17 E.KR.)
1955 128:3.1 This year the financial pressure was slightly relaxed as four were at work. Miriam earned considerable by the sale of milk and butter; Martha had become an expert weaver. The purchase price of the repair shop was over one third paid. The situation was such that Jesus stopped work for three weeks to take Simon to Jerusalem for the Passover, and this was the longest period away from daily toil he had enjoyed since the death of his father.
2015 128:3.1 Dette år var det økonomiske tryk lidt afslappet, da fire arbejdede. Miriam tjente en god del ved at sælge mælk og smør. Marta var blevet uddannet i vævning. Købsprisen for værkstedet var over en tredjedel betalt. Situationen tillod, at Jesus stoppede arbejdet i tre uger for at tage Simon til Jerusalem for påsken, og det var den længste periode, han var fri fra den daglige trummerum siden hans fars død.
1955 128:3.2 They journeyed to Jerusalem by way of the Decapolis and through Pella, Gerasa, Philadelphia, Heshbon, and Jericho. They returned to Nazareth by the coast route, touching Lydda, Joppa, Caesarea, thence around Mount Carmel to Ptolemais and Nazareth. This trip fairly well acquainted Jesus with the whole of Palestine north of the Jerusalem district.
2015 128:3.2 De rejste til Jerusalem gennem Dekapolis og gennem Pella, Gerasa, Filadelfia, Hesjbon, og Jeriko. De vendte tilbage til Nazaret langs kystvejen, der gik forbi Lydda, Joppe og Cæsarea og derfra gik de omkring Mount Carmel til Ptolemais og Nazaret. Denne tur gav Jesus et ganske godt bekendtskab til hele Palæstina nord for Jerusem området.
1955 128:3.3 At Philadelphia Jesus and Simon became acquainted with a merchant from Damascus who developed such a great liking for the Nazareth couple that he insisted they stop with him at his Jerusalem headquarters. While Simon gave attendance at the temple, Jesus spent much of his time talking with this well-educated and much-traveled man of world affairs. This merchant owned over four thousand caravan camels; he had interests all over the Roman world and was now on his way to Rome. He proposed that Jesus come to Damascus to enter his Oriental import business, but Jesus explained that he did not feel justified in going so far away from his family just then. But on the way back home he thought much about these distant cities and the even more remote countries of the Far West and the Far East, countries he had so frequently heard spoken of by the caravan passengers and conductors.
2015 128:3.3 I Filadelfia lærte Jesus og Simon en købmand fra Damaskus at kende, der udviste en stor sympati for de to fra Nazaret, at han insisterede, at de skulle standse hos ham i hans hjem i Jerusalem. Mens Simon deltog i templets ritualer, tilbragte Jesus meget af sin tid i samtale med denne uddannede og berejste verdensmand. Denne købmand ejede over fire tusind karavanekameler. Han havde interesser i hele den romerske verden og var nu på vej til Rom. Han foreslog, at Jesus skulle komme til Damaskus for at begynde at arbejde med hans orientalske import virksomhed, men Jesus forklarede, at han ikke følte, at det var rigtigt lige nu at gå så langt væk fra sin familie. På vejen hjem tænkte han dog meget på disse fjerne byer og de endnu mere fjerne lande langt mod vest og langt mod øst, lande, som han så ofte havde hørt karavanepassagerne og førerne tale om.
1955 128:3.4 Simon greatly enjoyed his visit to Jerusalem. He was duly received into the commonwealth of Israel at the Passover consecration of the new sons of the commandment. While Simon attended the Passover ceremonies, Jesus mingled with the throngs of visitors and engaged in many interesting personal conferences with numerous gentile proselytes.
2015 128:3.4 Simon nød høj i grad sit besøg i Jerusalem. Han blev behørigt modtaget som medborger i det israelitiske samfund ved indvielsen af den nye pagts sønner, som det skete ved påske[30]. Mens Simon deltog i påskeceremonierne, blandede Jesus sig med flokkene af besøgende, og havde mange interessante personlige diskussioner med mange ikke-jødiske proselytter.
1955 128:3.5 Perhaps the most notable of all these contacts was the one with a young Hellenist named Stephen. This young man was on his first visit to Jerusalem and chanced to meet Jesus on Thursday afternoon of Passover week. While they both strolled about viewing the Asmonean palace, Jesus began the casual conversation that resulted in their becoming interested in each other, and which led to a four-hour discussion of the way of life and the true God and his worship. Stephen was tremendously impressed with what Jesus said; he never forgot his words.
2015 128:3.5 Måske den mest bemærkelsesværdige af alle disse kontakter var den, han havde med en ung hellenist ved navn Stefan. Denne unge mand var på sit første besøg i Jerusalem og mødte Jesus torsdag eftermiddag i påskeugen. Mens de to gik rundt og kiggede på Hasmonéerpaladset begyndte Jesus en dagligdags samtale, der resulterede i, at de bliver interesseret i hinanden, og som førte til en fire timers diskussion om livets vej, den sande Gud og tilbedelsen af ham. Hvad Jesus sagde gjorde et dybt indtryk på Stefan, der aldrig glemte hans ord.
1955 128:3.6 And this was the same Stephen who subsequently became a believer in the teachings of Jesus, and whose boldness in preaching this early gospel resulted in his being stoned to death by irate Jews. Some of Stephen’s extraordinary boldness in proclaiming his view of the new gospel was the direct result of this earlier interview with Jesus. But Stephen never even faintly surmised that the Galilean he had talked with some fifteen years previously was the very same person whom he later proclaimed the world’s Savior, and for whom he was so soon to die, thus becoming the first martyr of the newly evolving Christian faith. When Stephen yielded up his life as the price of his attack upon the Jewish temple and its traditional practices, there stood by one named Saul, a citizen of Tarsus. And when Saul saw how this Greek could die for his faith, there were aroused in his heart those emotions which eventually led him to espouse the cause for which Stephen died; later on he became the aggressive and indomitable Paul, the philosopher, if not the sole founder, of the Christian religion.
2015 128:3.6 Det var den samme Stefan, der senere blev troende i Jesu lære, og hvis dristighed i at prædike denne tidlige evangelium resulterede i han blev stenet til døde af de rasende jøder[31]. En del af Stefans ekstraordinære dristighed, når han prædikede sin usædvanlige opfattelse om den nye evangelium var det direkte resultat af hans tidligere samtale med Jesus. Men Stefan havde aldrig selv den mindste tanke om at den Galilæer, han omkring femten år tidligere havde talt med var den samme person, som han senere proklamerede som verdens Frelser, og for hvilken han snart ville dø, og dermed bliver den første martyr i den nyligt udviklende kristendom. Da Stefan opgav sit liv som prisen for at havde angrebet det jødiske tempel og dets traditionelle metoder, stod der ved siden en ved navn Saul, en borger i Tarsus[32]. Da Saul så, hvordan denne græker kunne dø for sin tro blev der født i hans hjerte de følelser, som til sidst førte ham til årsagen for hvilken Stefan døde. Senere blev han den energiske og utrættelige Paul, filosoffen, hvis ikke dens eneste grundlægger af den kristne religion.
1955 128:3.7 On the Sunday after Passover week Simon and Jesus started on their way back to Nazareth. Simon never forgot what Jesus taught him on this trip. He had always loved Jesus, but now he felt that he had begun to know his father-brother. They had many heart-to-heart talks as they journeyed through the country and prepared their meals by the wayside. They arrived home Thursday noon, and Simon kept the family up late that night relating his experiences.
2015 128:3.7 På søndagen efter påskeuge begyndte Simon og Jesus deres vej tilbage til Nazaret. Simon glemte aldrig, hvad Jesus lærte ham på denne tur. Han havde altid elsket Jesus, men nu følte han, at han var begyndt at komme til at kende sin farbror. De havde mange fortrolige samtaler, som de rejste gennem landet og forberedte deres måltider ved vejen. De kom hjem torsdag ved middagstid, og Simon holdt familien vågen til sent om aftenen for at fortælle om sine oplevelser.
1955 128:3.8 Mary was much upset by Simon’s report that Jesus spent most of the time when in Jerusalem “visiting with the strangers, especially those from the far countries.” Jesus’ family never could comprehend his great interest in people, his urge to visit with them, to learn about their way of living, and to find out what they were thinking about.
2015 128:3.8 Maria var meget forstyrret, når Simon fortalte om, at Jesus havde tilbragt det meste af sin tid i Jerusalem "til at omgås med fremmede, især dem, der kom fra fjerne lande." Jesu familie kunne aldrig fatte hans store interesse for mennesker, at hans ønskede at tilbringe tid sammen med dem, lære om deres livsstil og finde ud af, hvad de troede.
1955 128:3.9 More and more the Nazareth family became engrossed with their immediate and human problems; not often was mention made of the future mission of Jesus, and very seldom did he himself speak of his future career. His mother rarely thought about his being a child of promise. She was slowly giving up the idea that Jesus was to fulfill any divine mission on earth, yet at times her faith was revived when she paused to recall the Gabriel visitation before the child was born.
2015 128:3.9 Mere og mere blev Nazaret familien optaget af deres umiddelbare og menneskelige problemer; Jesu fremtidige mission blev ikke nævnt ofte, og sjældent talte han selv om sin fremtidige karriere. Hans mor tænkte sjældent på at han var et barn af løfte. Hun var langsomt ved at opgiver tanken om, at Jesus havde en guddommelig mission at opfylde på jorden. Men nogle gange fik hendes tro liv igen, når hun stoppede op for at mindes Gabriels besøg inden barnet blev født.
4. THE DAMASCUS EPISODE
4. DAMASKUSEPISODEN
1955 128:4.1 The last four months of this year Jesus spent in Damascus as the guest of the merchant whom he first met at Philadelphia when on his way to Jerusalem. A representative of this merchant had sought out Jesus when passing through Nazareth and escorted him to Damascus. This part-Jewish merchant proposed to devote an extraordinary sum of money to the establishment of a school of religious philosophy at Damascus. He planned to create a center of learning which would out-rival Alexandria. And he proposed that Jesus should immediately begin a long tour of the world’s educational centers preparatory to becoming the head of this new project. This was one of the greatest temptations that Jesus ever faced in the course of his purely human career.
2015 128:4.1 De sidste fire måneder af dette år tilbragte Jesus i Damaskus som gæst hos den købmand, som han først havde mødt i Filadelfia, da han var på vej til Jerusalem. En repræsentant for denne købmand havde på sin rejse gennem Nazaret opsøgte Jesus og eskorteret ham til Damaskus. Denne delvise jødiske købmand foreslog at afsætte en usædvanlig stor sum penge til at etablere en skole for religiøs filosofi i Damaskus. Han planlagde at skabe et læringscenter, der ville overgå Alexandria. Han foreslog, at Jesus straks skulle begynde på en lang rundrejse til verdens uddannelsescentre som forberedelse til at påtage sig ledelsen af dette nye projekt. Dette var en af de største fristelser, Jesus nogensinde stod over for i løbet af sin rent menneskelige karriere.
1955 128:4.2 Presently this merchant brought before Jesus a group of twelve merchants and bankers who agreed to support this newly projected school. Jesus manifested deep interest in the proposed school, helped them plan for its organization, but always expressed the fear that his other and unstated but prior obligations would prevent his accepting the direction of such a pretentious enterprise. His would-be benefactor was persistent, and he profitably employed Jesus at his home doing some translating while he, his wife, and their sons and daughters sought to prevail upon Jesus to accept the proffered honor. But he would not consent. He well knew that his mission on earth was not to be supported by institutions of learning; he knew that he must not obligate himself in the least to be directed by the “councils of men,” no matter how well-intentioned.
2015 128:4.2 Herefter præsenterede købmanden Jesus for en gruppe på tolv købmænd og bankfolk, der indvilligede i at støtte denne nye planlagte skole. Jesus viste en dyb interesse i den foreslåede skole og hjalp dem med at planlægge dens organisation, men han udtrykte altid sin frygt for, at hans andre og uspecificeret men tidligere indgåede forpligtelser ville forhindre ham i at modtage forvaltningen af sådan et prætentiøst projekt. Hans eventuelle velgører var vedholdende, og han hyrede Jesus til et vellønnet oversættelsesarbejde hos sig selv, mens han, hans kone og sønner og døtre forsøgte at påvirke Jesus til at acceptere den tilbudte ære. Det lykkedes ikke at få Jesus til at samtykke. Han vidste godt, at det ikke var hensigten, at hans mission på jorden skulle støttes af uddannelsesinstitutioner. Han vidste, at han ikke kunne forpligte sig på mindste måde til at blive ledet af "folks rådgivning", uanset hvor velmente deres intentioner var.
1955 128:4.3 He who was rejected by the Jerusalem religious leaders, even after he had demonstrated his leadership, was recognized and hailed as a master teacher by the businessmen and bankers of Damascus, and all this when he was an obscure and unknown carpenter of Nazareth.
2015 128:4.3 Han som blev afvist af de religiøse ledere i Jerusalem, selv efter at have demonstreret sin ledelse blev anerkendt og hyldet som en mester lærer af forretningsfolk og bankfolk i Damaskus, og alt dette, mens han endnu var en ubemærket og ukendt tømrer fra Nazaret.
1955 128:4.4 He never spoke about this offer to his family, and the end of this year found him back in Nazareth going about his daily duties just as if he had never been tempted by the flattering propositions of his Damascus friends. Neither did these men of Damascus ever associate the later citizen of Capernaum who turned all Jewry upside down with the former carpenter of Nazareth who had dared to refuse the honor which their combined wealth might have procured.
2015 128:4.4 Han nævnte aldrig dette tilbud til sin familie, og i slutningen af året, var han atter tilbage i Nazaret og passede sine daglige pligter, som om han aldrig havde været fristet af flatterende forslag fra sine venner i Damaskus. Disse mænd i Damaskus forbandt aldrig nogensinde senere borgeren i Kapernaum der vendt op og ned på hele det jødiske samfund, med den tidligere tømrer fra Nazaret, der havde vovet at give afkald på den ære, som deres kombinerede rigdom kunne have givet ham.
1955 128:4.5 Jesus most cleverly and intentionally contrived to detach various episodes of his life so that they never became, in the eyes of the world, associated together as the doings of a single individual. Many times in subsequent years he listened to the recital of this very story of the strange Galilean who declined the opportunity of founding a school in Damascus to compete with Alexandria.
2015 128:4.5 Jesus lykkedes meget behændigt og bevidst at adskille forskellige begivenheder i sit liv, så de aldrig i verdens øjne var forbundet med hinanden som noget, den samme person havde gjort. Mange gange i de senere år hørte han historien om den mærkelige galilæer der afslog muligheden for at grundlægge en skole i Damaskus, der kunne konkurrere med Alexandria.
1955 128:4.6 One purpose which Jesus had in mind, when he sought to segregate certain features of his earthly experience, was to prevent the building up of such a versatile and spectacular career as would cause subsequent generations to venerate the teacher in place of obeying the truth which he had lived and taught. Jesus did not want to build up such a human record of achievement as would attract attention from his teaching. Very early he recognized that his followers would be tempted to formulate a religion about him which might become a competitor of the gospel of the kingdom that he intended to proclaim to the world. Accordingly, he consistently sought to suppress everything during his eventful career which he thought might be made to serve this natural human tendency to exalt the teacher in place of proclaiming his teachings.
2015 128:4.6 Et af formålene, som Jesus havde i tankerne, da han søgte at adskille visse funktioner i hans jordiske erfaring, var at forhindre opbygningen af sådan et alsidigt og spektakulært livsforløb, som ville få senere generationer til at ære læreren i stedet for at følge den sandhed, at han havde levet og lært. Jesus ønskede ikke at opbygge sådan en menneske historie, der ville aflede opmærksomheden fra hans undervisning. Meget tidligt erkendte han, at hans tilhængere ville være fristet til at formulere en religion om ham, som kunne blive en konkurrent til evangeliet om himmelriget, som han agtede at forkynde for verden. Derfor forsøgte han under sit begivenhedsrige liv konsekvent at undertrykke alt, som han mistænkte kunne tjene denne naturlige menneskelige tendens til at ophøje læreren i stedet for at forkynde hans lære.
1955 128:4.7 This same motive also explains why he permitted himself to be known by different titles during various epochs of his diversified life on earth. Again, he did not want to bring any undue influence to bear upon his family or others which would lead them to believe in him against their honest convictions. He always refused to take undue or unfair advantage of the human mind. He did not want men to believe in him unless their hearts were responsive to the spiritual realities revealed in his teachings.
2015 128:4.7 Det samme motiv forklarer også, hvorfor han lod sig blive kendt under forskellige titler eller navne på forskellige stadier i sit mangfoldige liv på jorden. Desuden ønskede han ikke at udøve nogen utilbørlig indflydelse på sin familie eller andre, der kunne føre dem til at tro på ham mod deres ærlige overbevisning. Han nægtede altid at modtage urimelig eller utilbørlig fordel af det menneskelige sind. Han mente ikke, at folk ville tro på ham, medmindre deres hjerter var lydhøre over for de åndelige realiteter, som han åbenbarede i sin forkyndelse.
1955 128:4.8 By the end of this year the Nazareth home was running fairly smoothly. The children were growing up, and Mary was becoming accustomed to Jesus’ being away from home. He continued to turn over his earnings to James for the support of the family, retaining only a small portion for his immediate personal expenses.
2015 128:4.8 Ved udgangen af dette år forløb alt ganske godt i hjemmet i Nazaret. Børnene voksede op, og Maria begyndte at vænne sig til, Jesus var væk fra hjemmet. Han fortsatte med at sende sin indtjening til James til vedligeholdelse af familien, han beholdt kun en lille del til hans direkte personlige udgifter.
1955 128:4.9 As the years passed, it became more difficult to realize that this man was a Son of God on earth. He seemed to become quite like an individual of the realm, just another man among men. And it was ordained by the Father in heaven that the bestowal should unfold in this very way.
2015 128:4.9 Gennem årene blev det vanskeligere at indse, at denne mand var Guds søn på jorden. Han syntes at være helt som en af denne verdens mennesker, bare et menneske blandt mennesker. Det var besluttet af Faderen i Himlen, at overdragelsen skulle udfolde sig på netop denne måde.
5. THE TWENTY-FOURTH YEAR (A.D. 18)
5. DET FIREOGTYVENDE ÅR (18 E.KR.)
1955 128:5.1 This was Jesus’ first year of comparative freedom from family responsibility. James was very successful in managing the home with Jesus’ help in counsel and finances.
2015 128:5.1 Dette år var det første, da Jesus var forholdsvis fri for familiemæssige forpligtelser. James var meget vellykket i at tage sig af hjemmet, og Jesus hjalp med råd og økonomiske ydelser.
1955 128:5.2 The week following the Passover of this year a young man from Alexandria came down to Nazareth to arrange for a meeting, later in the year, between Jesus and a group of Alexandrian Jews at some point on the Palestinian coast. This conference was set for the middle of June, and Jesus went over to Caesarea to meet with five prominent Jews of Alexandria, who besought him to establish himself in their city as a religious teacher, offering as an inducement to begin with, the position of assistant to the chazan in their chief synagogue.
2015 128:5.2 Ugen efter påsken i år, kom en ung mand fra Alexandria ned til Nazaret for at arrangere et møde senere på året, mellem Jesus og en gruppe af alexandrinske jøder et sted langs den palæstinensiske kyst. De enedes om at holde mødet i midten af juni, og Jesus gik til Cæsarea for at mødes med fem fremtrædende jøder i Alexandria, der opfordrede ham til at etablere sig som en religiøs lærer i deres by, og som en tillokkende, tilbød de at begynde med en stilling som assistent for chazan i deres vigtigste synagoge.
1955 128:5.3 The spokesmen for this committee explained to Jesus that Alexandria was destined to become the headquarters of Jewish culture for the entire world; that the Hellenistic trend of Jewish affairs had virtually outdistanced the Babylonian school of thought. They reminded Jesus of the ominous rumblings of rebellion in Jerusalem and throughout Palestine and assured him that any uprising of the Palestinian Jews would be equivalent to national suicide, that the iron hand of Rome would crush the rebellion in three months, and that Jerusalem would be destroyed and the temple demolished, that not one stone would be left upon another.
2015 128:5.3 Delegerede fra dette udvalg forklarede Jesus, at Alexandria var ved at blive den jødiske kulturs hovedkvarter for hele verden, at den hellenistiske retning i jødedommen, i virkeligheden, havde efterladt den babylonske tankegang langt bagud. De mindede Jesus om den ildevarslende rumlen af oprør fra Jerusalem og i hele Palæstina og forsikrede ham om, at enhver opstand af de palæstinensiske jøder ville være det samme som national selvmord, at Roms jernnæve ville knuse oprøret inden tre måneder, at Jerusalem ville blive ødelagt, og tempel blive jævnet, så ikke én sten på sten ville blive tilbage.
1955 128:5.4 Jesus listened to all they had to say, thanked them for their confidence, and, in declining to go to Alexandria, in substance said, “My hour has not yet come.” They were nonplused by his apparent indifference to the honor they had sought to confer upon him. Before taking leave of Jesus, they presented him with a purse in token of the esteem of his Alexandrian friends and in compensation for the time and expense of coming over to Caesarea to confer with them. But he likewise refused the money, saying: “The house of Joseph has never received alms, and we cannot eat another’s bread as long as I have strong arms and my brothers can labor.”
2015 128:5.4 Jesus lyttede til alt, hvad de havde at sige og takkede dem for deres tillid, og da han afviste at gå til Alexandria, sagde han, sammenfattet: "Min time er endnu ikke kommet[33]." De blev forundret ved hans tilsyneladende ligegyldighed over for den ære, de havde forsøgt at bibringe ham. Før de tog afsked med Jesus, ønskede de at give ham en pose penge for at vise deres agtelse han nød hos sine alexandrinske venner og i kompensation for den tid og omkostningerne ved at komme over til Cæsarea for at mødes med dem. Men han afslog også den monetære gave med ordene: "Josefs hus har aldrig modtaget almisser, og vi kan ikke spise en andens brød, så længe jeg har stærke arme og mine brødre kan arbejde."
1955 128:5.5 His friends from Egypt set sail for home, and in subsequent years, when they heard rumors of the Capernaum boatbuilder who was creating such a commotion in Palestine, few of them surmised that he was the babe of Bethlehem grown up and the same strange-acting Galilean who had so unceremoniously declined the invitation to become a great teacher in Alexandria.
2015 128:5.5 Hans egyptiske venner sejlede hjem, og i de efterfølgende år, da de hørte rygter om bådebyggeren fra Kapernaum, som forårsagede en sådan uro i Palæstina, var der nogle af dem der formodede, at han var babyen fra Betlehem, der var vokset op og den samme mærkelige fungerende Galilæer der så ubesværet afslog invitationen til at blive en stor lærer i Alexandria.
1955 128:5.6 Jesus returned to Nazareth. The remainder of this year was the most uneventful six months of his whole career. He enjoyed this temporary respite from the usual program of problems to solve and difficulties to surmount. He communed much with his Father in heaven and made tremendous progress in the mastery of his human mind.
2015 128:5.6 Jesus vendte tilbage til Nazaret. Resten af dette år var de mest begivenhedsløse seks måneder i hele hans liv. Han nød denne midlertidige pause fra den sædvanlige dagsorden med at løse problemer og overvinde vanskeligheder. Han samtalede meget med sin Fader i himlen og gjort enorme fremskridt i at mestre sit menneskelige sind.
1955 128:5.7 But human affairs on the worlds of time and space do not run smoothly for long. In December James had a private talk with Jesus, explaining that he was much in love with Esta, a young woman of Nazareth, and that they would sometime like to be married if it could be arranged. He called attention to the fact that Joseph would soon be eighteen years old, and that it would be a good experience for him to have a chance to serve as the acting head of the family. Jesus gave consent for James’s marriage two years later, provided he had, during the intervening time, properly trained Joseph to assume direction of the home.
2015 128:5.7 Menneskelige anliggender forløber dog ikke længe friktionsfri i tidens og rummets verdener. I december havde James en privat samtale med Jesus, og forklarede, at han var meget forelsket i Esta, en ung kvinde fra Nazaret, og fremdeles ønskede at blive gift, hvis det kunne arrangeres. James understregede, at Joseph snart ville være atten, og at det ville være en god erfaring for ham at få en chance for at tjene som den vigtigste ansvarlig for familien. Jesus gav sit samtykke til at James kunne gifte sig to år senere, forudsat at han i den mellemliggende tid ordentligt uddannede Joseph til at overtage ledelsen af hjemmet.
1955 128:5.8 And now things began to happen—marriage was in the air. James’s success in gaining Jesus’ assent to his marriage emboldened Miriam to approach her brother-father with her plans. Jacob, the younger stone mason, onetime self-appointed champion of Jesus, now business associate of James and Joseph, had long sought to gain Miriam’s hand in marriage. After Miriam had laid her plans before Jesus, he directed that Jacob should come to him making formal request for her and promised his blessing for the marriage just as soon as she felt that Martha was competent to assume her duties as eldest daughter.
2015 128:5.8 Nu begyndte det at røre på sig - ægteskab lå i luften. James succes med at vinde Jesu samtykke til hans ægteskab gav Miriam modet til at nærme sig sin bror-far med sine planer. Jakob den yngre stenhugger, der engang havde været den selvudnævnte forkæmper for Jesus, og nu var forretningspartner af James og Joseph, havde længe søgt at vinde Miriam for ægteskab. Da Miriam havde fremlagt sine planer for Jesus, besluttede han, at Jacob skulle komme til ham for formelt at anmode om hende til at være hans kone, og han lovede sin velsignelse til ægteskabet, så snart hun følte, at Marta havde kompetence til at påtage sig hvervet som ældste datter.
1955 128:5.9 When at home, he continued to teach the evening school three times a week, read the Scriptures often in the synagogue on the Sabbath, visited with his mother, taught the children, and in general conducted himself as a worthy and respected citizen of Nazareth in the commonwealth of Israel.
2015 128:5.9 Når Jesus var hjemme, fortsatte han med at holde aftenskole tre gange om ugen, læste ofte højt af skrifterne i synagogen på sabbatten, tilbragte tid sammen med sin mor, underviste børnene og opførte sig på alle måder som en værdig og respekteret borger i Nazaret i det israelitiske samfund.
6. THE TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR (A.D. 19)
6. DET FEMOGTYVENDE ÅR (19 E.KR.)
1955 128:6.1 This year began with the Nazareth family all in good health and witnessed the finishing of the regular schooling of all the children with the exception of certain work which Martha must do for Ruth.
2015 128:6.1 Da dette år begyndte, var hele familien i Nazaret ved godt helbred, og i løbet af året afsluttede alle børnene den almindelige skole, med undtagelse af visse opgaver, som Marta skulle gøre sammen med Ruth.
1955 128:6.2 Jesus was one of the most robust and refined specimens of manhood to appear on earth since the days of Adam. His physical development was superb. His mind was active, keen, and penetrating—compared with the average mentality of his contemporaries, it had developed gigantic proportions—and his spirit was indeed humanly divine.
2015 128:6.2 Jesus var en af de mest kraftfulde og raffinerede manddoms repræsentanter som siden Adams dage fremtrådte på jorden. Hans fysiske udvikling var fremragende. Hans sind var aktiv, ivrig, og gennemtrængende - i forhold til den gennemsnitlige mentalitet hos hans samtidige havde den udviklet sig til gigantiske proportioner - og hans ånd var faktisk menneskeligt guddommelig.
1955 128:6.3 The family finances were in the best condition since the disappearance of Joseph’s estate. The final payments had been made on the caravan repair shop; they owed no man and for the first time in years had some funds ahead. This being true, and since he had taken his other brothers to Jerusalem for their first Passover ceremonies, Jesus decided to accompany Jude (who had just graduated from the synagogue school) on his first visit to the temple.
2015 128:6.3 Familiens økonomi var i bedre form end nogensinde efter Josephs ejendom var afhændet. De sidste rater på værkstedsboden for karavanerne var blevet foretaget. De skyldte ingen noget, og for første gang i mange år havde de lidt penge til overs. Så det var det, og fordi Jesus havde taget de andre brødre til Jerusalem for deres første påskeceremonier, besluttede han at gå med Juda (der netop var gået ud af synagoge skole) på sit første besøg i templet.
1955 128:6.4 They went up to Jerusalem and returned by the same route, the Jordan valley, as Jesus feared trouble if he took his young brother through Samaria. Already at Nazareth Jude had got into slight trouble several times because of his hasty disposition, coupled with his strong patriotic sentiments.
2015 128:6.4 De rejste op til Jerusalem og tilbage på samme måde gennem Jordandalen, da Jesus var bange for vanskeligheder, hvis han tog sin unge bror gennem Samaria. Allerede i Nazaret havde Juda gentagne gange kommet i mindre vanskeligheder på grund af sit hidsige temperament kombineret med hans stærke patriotiske følelser.
1955 128:6.5 They arrived at Jerusalem in due time and were on their way for a first visit to the temple, the very sight of which had stirred and thrilled Jude to the very depths of his soul, when they chanced to meet Lazarus of Bethany. While Jesus talked with Lazarus and sought to arrange for their joint celebration of the Passover, Jude started up real trouble for them all. Close at hand stood a Roman guard who made some improper remarks regarding a Jewish girl who was passing. Jude flushed with fiery indignation and was not slow in expressing his resentment of such an impropriety directly to and within hearing of the soldier. Now the Roman legionnaires were very sensitive to anything bordering on Jewish disrespect; so the guard promptly placed Jude under arrest. This was too much for the young patriot, and before Jesus could caution him by a warning glance, he had delivered himself of a voluble denunciation of pent-up anti-Roman feelings, all of which only made a bad matter worse. Jude, with Jesus by his side, was taken at once to the military prison.
2015 128:6.5 De ankom i tide til Jerusalem og var på vej til et første besøg i templet, der ved selve synet havde antændt og fascineret Juda lige dybt ind i hans sjæl, da de tilfældigt mødte Lazarus fra Bethany. Mens Jesus talte med Lazarus og søgte at arrangere en fælles påskefest for dem alle, lykkedes det Juda at sætte dem alle i virkelige vanskeligheder. Tæt ved stod en romersk soldat vagt, der gjorde nogle upassende bemærkninger om en jøde pige, der gik forbi. Juda blussede op af glødende harme og var ikke sen til direkte til soldaten, og inden for hørevidde af ham at udtrykke sin harme over en sådan uanstændighed. Nu var det, at de romerske legionærer var meget følsomme over for alt som grænsende op til jødisk respektløshed; derfor anholdte vagten straks Juda. Det var for meget for den unge patriot, og inden Jesus kunne formane ham med en advarende blik, havde han hævnet sig ved en udførlig udgydelse af indestængte antiromerske følelser, som kun gjort tingene værre. Juda med Jesus ved sin side blev straks taget til militærfængslet.
1955 128:6.6 Jesus endeavored to obtain either an immediate hearing for Jude or else his release in time for the Passover celebration that evening, but he failed in these attempts. Since the next day was a “holy convocation” in Jerusalem, even the Romans would not presume to hear charges against a Jew. Accordingly, Jude remained in confinement until the morning of the second day after his arrest, and Jesus stayed at the prison with him. They were not present in the temple at the ceremony of receiving the sons of the law into the full citizenship of Israel. Jude did not pass through this formal ceremony for several years, until he was next in Jerusalem at a Passover and in connection with his propaganda work in behalf of the Zealots, the patriotic organization to which he belonged and in which he was very active.
2015 128:6.6 Jesus forsøgte at få enten en umiddelbar høring for Judas eller hans løsladelse før påskefesten den aften, men det lykkes ikke for ham. Den følgende dag var en "Højtidsstævne" i Jerusalem og ikke engang romerne vovede at beskæftige sig med anklager mod en jøde[34]. Således forblev Juda fængslet indtil morgenen den anden dag efter anholdelsen, og Jesus blev hos ham i fængslet. De var ikke til stede ved tempelceremonien, da lovens sønner blev optaget til fuldgyldige borgere i Israel. Juda gennemgik ikke denne officielle ceremoni indtil flere år senere, da han næste gang var i Jerusalem under en påske i forbindelse med hans propaganda arbejde for zeloterne, en patriotisk organisation, som han tilhørte, og hvor han var meget aktiv.
1955 128:6.7 The morning following their second day in prison Jesus appeared before the military magistrate in behalf of Jude. By making apologies for his brother’s youth and by a further explanatory but judicious statement with reference to the provocative nature of the episode which had led up to the arrest of his brother, Jesus so handled the case that the magistrate expressed the opinion that the young Jew might have had some possible excuse for his violent outburst. After warning Jude not to allow himself again to be guilty of such rashness, he said to Jesus in dismissing them: “You had better keep your eye on the lad; he’s liable to make a lot of trouble for all of you.” And the Roman judge spoke the truth. Jude did make considerable trouble for Jesus, and always was the trouble of this same nature—clashes with the civil authorities because of his thoughtless and unwise patriotic outbursts.
2015 128:6.7 Om morgenen efter deres anden dag i fængslet viste Jesus sig for den militære dommer på vegne af Judas. Ved at appellere til sin brors unge alder som en undskyldning, og gennem yderligere forklaring men velovervejet fremstilling med hensyn til den provokerende karakter af den episode, der havde ført til at hans bror blev anholdt, håndteres Jesus således sagen at dommeren gav udtryk for, at den unge jøde muligvis kunne have haft en grund til hans voldsomme udbrud. Da han havde advaret Juda om ikke være skyldig i en sådan overmod igen, sagde han til Jesus, da han lod dem gå: "Det er bedst, at du holder øje med drengen. Han er en, der nemt kan forårsage mange dårlige ting for jer alle." Det var sandt, hvad den romerske dommer sagde. Juda forårsagede betydelige problemer for Jesus, og altid var disse triste ting af samme art - konflikter med civile myndigheder som følge af hans tankeløse og ukloge patriotiske udbrud.
1955 128:6.8 Jesus and Jude walked over to Bethany for the night, explaining why they had failed to keep their appointment for the Passover supper, and set out for Nazareth the following day. Jesus did not tell the family about his young brother’s arrest at Jerusalem, but he had a long talk with Jude about this episode some three weeks after their return. After this talk with Jesus Jude himself told the family. He never forgot the patience and forbearance his brother-father manifested throughout the whole of this trying experience.
2015 128:6.8 Jesus og Judas gik over til Bethany for natten, forklarer, hvorfor de ikke havde været i stand til at komme til det aftalte påskemåltid. Den næste dag begav de sig mod Nazaret. Jesus fortalte ikke familien om sin unge brors anholdelse i Jerusalem, men han havde en lang samtale med Juda om denne episode tre uger efter hjemkomsten. Efter denne snak med Jesus fortalte Judas selv om hændelsen for familien. Han glemte aldrig den tålmodighed og overbærenhed hans bror-far viste under hele denne prøvende oplevelse.
1955 128:6.9 This was the last Passover Jesus attended with any member of his own family. Increasingly the Son of Man was to become separated from close association with his own flesh and blood.
2015 128:6.9 Dette var den sidste påske, som Jesus fejrede med et medlem af sin egen familie. I stigende grad ville Menneskesønnen komme til at frigøre sig fra tæt samarbejde med dem, der var ligesom hans eget kød og blod.
1955 128:6.10 This year his seasons of deep meditation were often broken into by Ruth and her playmates. And always was Jesus ready to postpone the contemplation of his future work for the world and the universe that he might share in the childish joy and youthful gladness of these youngsters, who never tired of listening to Jesus relate the experiences of his various trips to Jerusalem. They also greatly enjoyed his stories about animals and nature.
2015 128:6.10 Dette år afbrød Ruth og hendes legekammerater ofte hans lange perioder med dyb omtanke. Altid, var Jesus klar til at udskyde betragtningen af hans fremtidige arbejde for verden og universet for at kunne deltage i den barnlige glæde og ungdommelig glæde over disse børn, der aldrig blev trætte af at lytte, når Jesus talte om sine oplevelser under hans forskellige ture til Jerusalem. De var også meget glad for hans historier om dyr og natur.
1955 128:6.11 The children were always welcome at the repair shop. Jesus provided sand, blocks, and stones by the side of the shop, and bevies of youngsters flocked there to amuse themselves. When they tired of their play, the more intrepid ones would peek into the shop, and if its keeper were not busy, they would make bold to go in and say, “Uncle Joshua, come out and tell us a big story.” Then they would lead him out by tugging at his hands until he was seated on the favorite rock by the corner of the shop, with the children on the ground in a semicircle before him. And how the little folks did enjoy their Uncle Joshua. They were learning to laugh, and to laugh heartily. It was customary for one or two of the smallest of the children to climb upon his knees and sit there, looking up in wonderment at his expressive features as he told his stories. The children loved Jesus, and Jesus loved the children.
2015 128:6.11 Børnene var altid velkomne på værkstedet. Jesus havde arrangeret sand, træklodser og sten ved siden af skuret, og skarer af børn samledes der for at have det sjovt sammen. Når de var trætte af deres spil, ville de mere modige kigge ind i butikken, og hvis dens ejer ikke var for optaget, tog de mod og gik ind og sagde: "Onkel Joshua, kom ud og fortæl en rigtig god historie for os." Så, førte de ham ud ved at trække i hans hænder, indtil han sad på sin favorit klippe ved hjørnet af butikken, med børnene på jorden i en halvcirkel foran ham. Hvor meget kunne de små lide deres onkel Joshua! De lærte at grine, at grine oprigtigt og hjerteligt. Det var almindeligt, at en eller to af de mindste børn klatrede op på hans skød og sad der og kiggede med undren på hans udtryksfulde ansigt, når han fortalte sine historier. Børnene elskede Jesus, og Jesus elskede børn.
1955 128:6.12 It was difficult for his friends to comprehend the range of his intellectual activities, how he could so suddenly and so completely swing from the profound discussion of politics, philosophy, or religion to the lighthearted and joyous playfulness of these tots of from five to ten years of age. As his own brothers and sisters grew up, as he gained more leisure, and before the grandchildren arrived, he paid a great deal of attention to these little ones. But he did not live on earth long enough to enjoy the grandchildren very much.
2015 128:6.12 Det var svært for hans venner at forstå bredden i hans intellektuelle aktiviteter, hvordan han så pludseligt og så helt kunne svinge omkring fra en dybtgående diskussion om politik, filosofi eller religion til den ubekymrede og muntre legesyge af disse rollinger mellem fem og ti år. Efterhånden som hans egne brødre og søstre voksede op, når han fik mere fritid og inden børnebørnene kom, helligede han en masse opmærksomhed på disse små. Han levede ikke på jorden længe nok til få meget glæde af børnebørnene.
7. THE TWENTY-SIXTH YEAR (A.D. 20)
7. DET SEKSOGTYVENDE ÅR (20 E.KR.)
1955 128:7.1 As this year began, Jesus of Nazareth became strongly conscious that he possessed a wide range of potential power. But he was likewise fully persuaded that this power was not to be employed by his personality as the Son of Man, at least not until his hour should come.
2015 128:7.1 Da dette år begyndte, var Jesus stærkt bevidst om, at han havde en vidtrækkende potentiel magt. Men han var også helt overbevist om, at denne magt ikke skulle bruges af hans personlighed som Menneskesønnen, i hvert fald ikke indtil hans time var kommet.
1955 128:7.2 At this time he thought much but said little about the relation of himself to his Father in heaven. And the conclusion of all this thinking was expressed once in his prayer on the hilltop, when he said: “Regardless of who I am and what power I may or may not wield, I always have been, and always will be, subject to the will of my Paradise Father.” And yet, as this man walked about Nazareth to and from his work, it was literally true—as concerned a vast universe—that “in him were hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
2015 128:7.2 På dette tidspunkt tænkte han meget på sit forhold til sin Fader i himlen, men talte lidt om det. Resultatet af alt denne tankegang, udtrykte han en gang i sin bøn på en bakketop, da han sagde: "Uanset hvem jeg er og hvad magt jeg kan udøve eller ikke udøve, har jeg altid været og vil altid være underordnet min Paradisfaders vilje[35]." Dog, når denne mand gik til og fra sit arbejde i Nazaret, er det var bogstaveligt sandt - med tanke på et stort univers - "i ham var alle skatte af visdom og viden gemt[36].
1955 128:7.3 All this year the family affairs ran smoothly except for Jude. For years James had trouble with his youngest brother, who was not inclined to settle down to work nor was he to be depended upon for his share of the home expenses. While he would live at home, he was not conscientious about earning his share of the family upkeep.
2015 128:7.3 Hele denne år gik familiens anliggender glat bortset fra Judas del. I årevis havde James problemer med sin yngste bror, som ikke ønsker at engagere sig i regelmæssig arbejde og kunne ikke have tillid til at han ville være ansvarlig for sin del af hjemmets udgifter. Selvom han ønskede at bo hjemme, var han ikke samvittighedsfuld om at tjene sin del af familiens levebrød.
1955 128:7.4 Jesus was a man of peace, and ever and anon was he embarrassed by Jude’s belligerent exploits and numerous patriotic outbursts. James and Joseph were in favor of casting him out, but Jesus would not consent. When their patience would be severely tried, Jesus would only counsel: “Be patient. Be wise in your counsel and eloquent in your lives, that your young brother may first know the better way and then be constrained to follow you in it.” The wise and loving counsel of Jesus prevented a break in the family; they remained together. But Jude never was brought to his sober senses until after his marriage.
2015 128:7.4 Jesus var en fredens mand, og altid og indimellem var han plaget af Judas stridslystne bedrifter og mange patriotiske udbrud. James og Josef følte, at han skulle smides ud af deres hjem, men Jesus ville ikke gå med til det. Når deres tålmodighed blev alvorligt prøvet, ville Jesus kun sige, som sit råd: "Vær tålmodig. Være kloge i jeres råd og eksemplarisk i jeres liv, så jeres unge bror først må lære at kende den bedre vej og derefter føle sig tvunget til at følge jer på den." Jesu kloge og kærlige råd forhindrede en brud i familien; de forblev sammen. Juda kunne ikke overtales til fornuft før efter hans ægteskab.
1955 128:7.5 Mary seldom spoke of Jesus’ future mission. Whenever this subject was referred to, Jesus only replied, “My hour has not yet come.” Jesus had about completed the difficult task of weaning his family from dependence on the immediate presence of his personality. He was rapidly preparing for the day when he could consistently leave this Nazareth home to begin the more active prelude to his real ministry for men.
2015 128:7.5 Maria talte sjældent om Jesu kommende mission. Når dette emne end blev nævnt svarede Jesus kun: ”Min tid er ikke kommet[37].” Jesus havde så godt som afsluttet den vanskelige opgave at fravænne sin familie fra afhængigheden af den dag hvor han kunne forlade hjemmet i Nazaret for at begynde den mere aktive introduktion til sin virkelige tjeneste for menneskerne.
1955 128:7.6 Never lose sight of the fact that the prime mission of Jesus in his seventh bestowal was the acquirement of creature experience, the achievement of the sovereignty of Nebadon. And in the gathering of this very experience he made the supreme revelation of the Paradise Father to Urantia and to his entire local universe. Incidental to these purposes he also undertook to untangle the complicated affairs of this planet as they were related to the Lucifer rebellion.
2015 128:7.6 Mist aldrig af syne, den kendsgerning at Jesus primære mission i livet under hans syvende overdragelse var at erhverve oplevelse af livet som et væsen, for at opnå suverænitet over Nebadon. Da han samlede selve denne oplevelse medførte dette samtidig den øverste åbenbaring af Paradisfaderen til Urantia og til hele hans lokalunivers. Ud over disse formål forpligtede han sig også til at udrede de komplicerede anliggender på denne planet så vidt som de var relateret til Lucifers oprør.
1955 128:7.7 This year Jesus enjoyed more than usual leisure, and he devoted much time to training James in the management of the repair shop and Joseph in the direction of home affairs. Mary sensed that he was making ready to leave them. Leave them to go where? To do what? She had about given up the thought that Jesus was the Messiah. She could not understand him; she simply could not fathom her first-born son.
2015 128:7.7 Dette år havde Jesus mere fritid end normalt, og han brugt meget tid til at træne James i håndteringen af værkstedet og Joseph i ledelse af hjemmets anliggender. Maria følte, at han var klar til at forlade dem. Forlade dem til at gå, hvor? At gøre hvad? Hun havde næsten opgivet tanken om, at Jesus var Messias. Hun kunne ikke forstå ham. Hun kunne simpelthen ikke komme til livs med sin førstefødte søn.
1955 128:7.8 Jesus spent a great deal of time this year with the individual members of his family. He would take them for long and frequent strolls up the hill and through the countryside. Before harvest he took Jude to the farmer uncle south of Nazareth, but Jude did not remain long after the harvest. He ran away, and Simon later found him with the fishermen at the lake. When Simon brought him back home, Jesus talked things over with the runaway lad and, since he wanted to be a fisherman, went over to Magdala with him and put him in the care of a relative, a fisherman; and Jude worked fairly well and regularly from that time on until his marriage, and he continued as a fisherman after his marriage.
2015 128:7.8 Jesus brugte en del tid i år med de enkelte medlemmer af hans familie. Han ville ofte tage dem på lange vandreture op til bakkekammen og gennem landskabet. Før høsttiden tog han Juda med sig til sin morbroders gård syd for Nazaret, men Juda blev ikke længe efter høsten. Han løb væk, og Simon fandt ham senere med fiskerne ved søen. Da Simon bragte ham hjem igen, havde Jesus en samtale med den flygtende dreng, og Juda ville nu være fisker, tog han ham til Magdalene og betroet ham til en slægtning, en fisker. Juda fungerede ganske godt og regelmæssigt fra den tid, indtil han blev gift, og han fortsatte som fisker efter sit ægteskab.
1955 128:7.9 At last the day had come when all Jesus’ brothers had chosen, and were established in, their lifework. The stage was being set for Jesus’ departure from home.
2015 128:7.9 Til sidst kom dagen, da alle Jesu brødre havde valgt deres karriere vej i livet og etableret sig i dette arbejde. Alt var nu gjort klar til Jesus for at forlade hjemmet.
1955 128:7.10 In November a double wedding occurred. James and Esta, and Miriam and Jacob were married. It was truly a joyous occasion. Even Mary was once more happy except every now and then when she realized that Jesus was preparing to go away. She suffered under the burden of a great uncertainty: If Jesus would only sit down and talk it all over freely with her as he had done when he was a boy, but he was consistently uncommunicative; he was profoundly silent about the future.
2015 128:7.10 I november fejrede de dobbelt bryllup. Både James og Esta samt Miriam og Jacob blev gift. Det var virkelig en dybtfølt festlig fest. Selv Maria var igen glad, undtagen nu og da, når hun indså, at Jesus var klar til at forlade dem. Hun led under byrden af en stor usikkerhed: Hvis Jesus kun ville sidde ned og tale om alt åbent med hende, som han havde gjort, da han var dreng, men han var konsekvent ikke meget meddelsom. Han var fuldstændig tavs om fremtiden.
1955 128:7.11 James and his bride, Esta, moved into a neat little home on the west side of town, the gift of her father. While James continued his support of his mother’s home, his quota was cut in half because of his marriage, and Joseph was formally installed by Jesus as head of the family. Jude was now very faithfully sending his share of funds home each month. The weddings of James and Miriam had a very beneficial influence on Jude, and when he left for the fishing grounds, the day after the double wedding, he assured Joseph that he could depend on him “to do my full duty, and more if it is needed.” And he kept his promise.
2015 128:7.11 James og hans brud Esta flyttede ind en smuk lille hjem i byens vestlige del, en gave fra hendes far. Selvom James fortsatte med at støtte sin mors hjem, halveret han sin andel på grund af hans ægteskab, og Josef blev officielt installeret af Jesus som leder af familien. Juda sendte nu meget trofast hver måned sin andel tilbage til familiens kasse. Både James og Miriams bryllup havde en meget gavnlig indflydelse på Juda, og da han dagen efter dobbelt brylluppet gik ud til fiskepladserne, forsikrede han Josef, at han kunne stole på ham "gør sin fulde pligt, og mere, hvis nødvendigt." Og han holdt sit løfte.
1955 128:7.12 Miriam lived next door to Mary in the home of Jacob, Jacob the elder having been laid to rest with his fathers. Martha took Miriam’s place in the home, and the new organization was working smoothly before the year ended.
2015 128:7.12 Miriam boede ved siden af Maria i Jakob hjem, da Jakob den ældre var blevet lagt til hvile hos sine fædre. Marta tog Miriams plads i hjemmet, og den nye ordning fungerede smidigt før året var ovre.
1955 128:7.13 The day after this double wedding Jesus held an important conference with James. He told James, confidentially, that he was preparing to leave home. He presented full title to the repair shop to James, formally and solemnly abdicated as head of Joseph’s house, and most touchingly established his brother James as “head and protector of my father’s house.” He drew up, and they both signed, a secret compact in which it was stipulated that, in return for the gift of the repair shop, James would henceforth assume full financial responsibility for the family, thus releasing Jesus from all further obligations in these matters. After the contract was signed, after the budget was so arranged that the actual expenses of the family would be met without any contribution from Jesus, Jesus said to James: “But, my son, I will continue to send you something each month until my hour shall have come, but what I send shall be used by you as the occasion demands. Apply my funds to the family necessities or pleasures as you see fit. Use them in case of sickness or apply them to meet the unexpected emergencies which may befall any individual member of the family.”
2015 128:7.13 Dagen efter dette dobbelte bryllup havde Jesus en vigtig samtale med James. Han fortalte i tillid til James, at han var klar til at forlade hjemmet. Han overførte fuldt ejerskab af værkstedet til James, fratrådte officielt og højtideligt som leder af Josefs hus og indsatte sin bror James som "hoved og beskytter af sin fars hus." Han udarbejdede en hemmelig aftale som de begge underskrev. Den stipulerede, at James som erstatning for at han i gave havde modtaget værksted herefter ville overtage det fulde økonomiske ansvar for familien og dermed befri Jesus fra alle yderligere forpligtelser i så henseende. Efter at kontrakten var blevet underskrevet og budgettet blev indrettet således, at familiens faktiske udgifter ville blive dækket uden bidrag fra Jesus, sagde han til James: "Men, min søn, jeg vil fortsætte med at sende dig noget hver måned, indtil min tid kommer, men det jeg sender skal du bruge som situationen kræver. Brug mine bidrag til familiens nødvendigheder eller fornøjelser, som du finder bedst. Brug dem ved sygdom eller andre uventede nødsituationer, som kan overgå enhver enkelt medlem af familien."
1955 128:7.14 And thus did Jesus make ready to enter upon the second and home-detached phase of his adult life before the public entrance upon his Father’s business.
2015 128:7.14 Således gjorde Jesus sig klar til at gå ind i den anden, og fra hjemmet fritliggende fase af sit voksne liv, før han påbegyndte sin offentlige styring af sin Faders anliggender.