Knjiga Urantije
DIO IV. Isusov život i učenja
POGLAVLJE 122 : ISUSOVO ROĐENJE I DJETINJSTVO
Paper 122
Birth and Infancy of Jesus
Birth and Infancy of Jesus
122:0.1 (1344.1)
IT WILL hardly be possible fully to explain the many reasons which led to the selection of Palestine as the land for Michael’s bestowal, and especially as to just why the family of Joseph and Mary should have been chosen as the immediate setting for the appearance of this Son of God on Urantia.
Nakon proučavanja posebnog izvješća o stanju izoliranih svjetova koje su Melkisedeci pripremili nakon savjetovanja s Gabrijelom, Mihael je konačno odabrao Urantiju kao planet na kojem će izvršiti svoje završno podarenje. Po donošenju te odluke, Gabrijel je osobno posjetio Urantiju i, na temelju proučavanja ljudskih skupina te njihovih duhovnih, intelektualnih, rasnih i geografskih obilježja, zaključio da Hebreji posjeduju relativne prednosti koje opravdavaju njihov izbor kao podarene rase. Nakon što je Mihael odobrio tu odluku, Gabrijel je imenovao i poslao na Urantiju Povjerenstvo Dvanaestorice za Obitelj — odabrano iz viših redova svemirskih ličnosti — kojem je povjerena zadaća proučavanja židovskog obiteljskog života. Kada je povjerenstvo završilo svoj rad, Gabrijel je bio prisutan na Urantiji i primio izvješće u kojem su predložena tri bračna para koja su, prema mišljenju povjerenstva, bila jednako prikladna kao podarene obitelji za Mihaelovo planirano utjelovljenje.
122:0.2 (1344.2)
After a study of the special report on the status of segregated worlds prepared by the Melchizedeks, in counsel with Gabriel, Michael finally chose Urantia as the planet whereon to enact his final bestowal. Subsequent to this decision Gabriel made a personal visit to Urantia, and, as a result of his study of human groups and his survey of the spiritual, intellectual, racial, and geographic features of the world and its peoples, he decided that the Hebrews possessed those relative advantages which warranted their selection as the bestowal race. Upon Michael’s approval of this decision, Gabriel appointed and dispatched to Urantia the Family Commission of Twelve—selected from among the higher orders of universe personalities—which was intrusted with the task of making an investigation of Jewish family life. When this commission ended its labors, Gabriel was present on Urantia and received the report nominating three prospective unions as being, in the opinion of the commission, equally favorable as bestowal families for Michael’s projected incarnation.
Josip, Isusov ljudski otac (Jošua ben Josip), bio je Hebrej među Hebrejima, premda je nosio mnoge nežidovske rasne elemente koje su tijekom vremena bile pridodane njegovu obiteljskom stablu preko ženskih loza njegovih predaka. Porijeklo Isusova oca seže do Abrahamovih dana, a preko ovog časnog patrijarha do još starijih nasljednih loza koje vode do Sumerana i Nodita te, preko južnih plemena drevnog plavog čovjeka, do Andona i Fonte. David i Salomon nisu bili u izravnoj lozi Josipovih predaka, niti se njegovo porijeklo neposredno vraćalo do Adama. Josipovi neposredni preci bili su obrtnici — graditelji, tesari, zidari i kovači. I sam Josip bio je tesar, a kasnije građevinski poduzetnik. Njegova je obitelj pripadala dugoj i uglednoj lozi plemstva običnog naroda, koju su s vremena na vrijeme obilježavali iznimni pojedinci koji su se istaknuli u razvoju religije na Urantiji.
122:1.1 (1344.4)
Joseph, the human father of Jesus (Joshua ben Joseph), was a Hebrew of the Hebrews, albeit he carried many non-Jewish racial strains which had been added to his ancestral tree from time to time by the female lines of his progenitors. The ancestry of the father of Jesus went back to the days of Abraham and through this venerable patriarch to the earlier lines of inheritance leading to the Sumerians and Nodites and, through the southern tribes of the ancient blue man, to Andon and Fonta. David and Solomon were not in the direct line of Joseph’s ancestry, neither did Joseph’s lineage go directly back to Adam. Joseph’s immediate ancestors were mechanics—builders, carpenters, masons, and smiths. Joseph himself was a carpenter and later a contractor. His family belonged to a long and illustrious line of the nobility of the common people, accentuated ever and anon by the appearance of unusual individuals who had distinguished themselves in connection with the evolution of religion on Urantia.
Marija, Isusova zemaljska majka, potjecala je iz duge loze osebujnih predaka koja je uključivala mnoge od najznamenitijih žena u rasnoj povijesti Urantije. Iako je Marija bila prosječna žena svog vremena i naraštaja, s prilično uobičajenim temperamentom, među njezinim su se precima nalazile tako poznate žene kao što su Anona, Tamara, Ruta, Bat-Šeba, Ansie, Cloa, Eva, Enta i Ratta. Nijedna židovska žena toga doba nije imala slavnije porijeklo zajedničkih predaka niti ono koje je sezalo do povoljnijih početaka. Marijino porijeklo, poput Josipova, obilježavala je prevlast snažnih, ali prosječnih pojedinaca, koju su s vremena na vrijeme prekidale brojne iznimne ličnosti u hodu civilizacije i postupnom razvoju religije. Promatrano s rasnog gledišta, teško je Mariju ispravno smatrati Židovkom. Po kulturi i vjerovanju bila je Židovka, ali prema nasljednim obilježjima bila je više spoj sirijske, hetitske, feničke, grčke i egipatske loze; njezino je rasno nasljeđe bilo raznolikije od Josipova.
122:1.2 (1345.1)
Mary, the earth mother of Jesus, was a descendant of a long line of unique ancestors embracing many of the most remarkable women in the racial history of Urantia. Although Mary was an average woman of her day and generation, possessing a fairly normal temperament, she reckoned among her ancestors such well-known women as Annon, Tamar, Ruth, Bathsheba, Ansie, Cloa, Eve, Enta, and Ratta. No Jewish woman of that day had a more illustrious lineage of common progenitors or one extending back to more auspicious beginnings. Mary’s ancestry, like Joseph’s, was characterized by the predominance of strong but average individuals, relieved now and then by numerous outstanding personalities in the march of civilization and the progressive evolution of religion. Racially considered, it is hardly proper to regard Mary as a Jewess. In culture and belief she was a Jew, but in hereditary endowment she was more a composite of Syrian, Hittite, Phoenician, Greek, and Egyptian stocks, her racial inheritance being more general than that of Joseph.
Od svih parova koji su živjeli u Palestini u vrijeme Mihaelova planiranog podarenja, Josip i Marija posjedovali su najprikladniju kombinaciju širokih rasnih povezanosti i natprosječnih obdarenja ličnosti. Mihaelov je plan bio pojaviti se na Urantiji kao prosječan čovjek kako bi ga obični ljudi mogli razumjeti i prihvatiti; Gabrijel je stoga odabrao upravo osobe poput Josipa i Marije da postanu roditelji podarenog djeteta.
122:1.3 (1345.2)
Of all couples living in Palestine at about the time of Michael’s projected bestowal, Joseph and Mary possessed the most ideal combination of widespread racial connections and superior average of personality endowments. It was the plan of Michael to appear on earth as an average man, that the common people might understand him and receive him; wherefore Gabriel selected just such persons as Joseph and Mary to become the bestowal parents.
Isusovo životno djelo na Urantiji zapravo je započelo s Ivanom Krstiteljem. Zaharija, Ivanov otac, pripadao je židovskom svećenstvu, dok je njegova majka Elizabeta pripadala imućnijem ogranku iste velike obiteljske skupine kojoj je pripadala i Marija, Isusova majka. Zaharija i Elizabeta nisu imali djece iako su bili u braku mnogo godina.
122:2.1 (1345.3)
Jesus’ lifework on Urantia was really begun by John the Baptist. Zacharias, John’s father, belonged to the Jewish priesthood, while his mother, Elizabeth, was a member of the more prosperous branch of the same large family group to which Mary the mother of Jesus also belonged. Zacharias and Elizabeth, though they had been married many years, were childless.
„Dok tvoj muž Zaharija stoji pred oltarom u Jeruzalemu i okupljeni narod moli za dolazak izbavitelja, ja, Gabrijel, došao sam navijestiti da ćeš uskoro roditi sina koji će biti preteča ovog božanskog učitelja, a nadjenut ćeš mu ime Ivan. Odrastat će posvećen Gospodinu, Bogu tvojemu, a kada odraste, obradovat će tvoje srce jer će mnoge duše privesti Bogu te navijestiti dolazak iscjelitelja duša tvoga naroda i osloboditelja duha cijelog čovječanstva. Tvoja rođakinja Marija bit će majka ovog obećanog djeteta, a i njoj ću se ukazati.“
122:2.3 (1345.5)
“While your husband, Zacharias, stands before the altar in Jerusalem, and while the assembled people pray for the coming of a deliverer, I, Gabriel, have come to announce that you will shortly bear a son who shall be the forerunner of this divine teacher, and you shall call your son John. He will grow up dedicated to the Lord your God, and when he has come to full years, he will gladden your heart because he will turn many souls to God, and he will also proclaim the coming of the soul-healer of your people and the spirit-liberator of all mankind. Your kinswoman Mary shall be the mother of this child of promise, and I will also appear to her.”
122:2.4 (1345.6)
This vision greatly frightened Elizabeth. After Gabriel’s departure she turned this experience over in her mind, long pondering the sayings of the majestic visitor, but did not speak of the revelation to anyone save her husband until her subsequent visit with Mary in early February of the following year.
Međutim, punih pet mjeseci Elizabeta je svoju tajnu skrivala čak i od svoga muža. Kada mu je naposljetku ispričala o Gabrijelovu posjetu, Zaharija je bio vrlo skeptičan i tjednima je sumnjao u cijelo iskustvo. Tek je nevoljko povjerovao u Gabrijelovo ukazanje svojoj ženi, i to tek kada više nije mogao sumnjati da nosi dijete. Zahariju je veoma zbunjivala pomisao na Elizabetino majčinstvo, ali nije sumnjao u iskrenost svoje žene, unatoč vlastitoj poodmakloj dobi. Tek otprilike šest tjedana prije Ivanova rođenja, pod dojmom snažnog sna, Zaharija se potpuno uvjerio da će Elizabeta roditi sina sudbine, onoga koji će pripraviti put dolasku Mesije.
122:2.5 (1345.7)
For five months, however, Elizabeth withheld her secret even from her husband. Upon her disclosure of the story of Gabriel’s visit, Zacharias was very skeptical and for weeks doubted the entire experience, only consenting halfheartedly to believe in Gabriel’s visit to his wife when he could no longer question that she was expectant with child. Zacharias was very much perplexed regarding the prospective motherhood of Elizabeth, but he did not doubt the integrity of his wife, notwithstanding his own advanced age. It was not until about six weeks before John’s birth that Zacharias, as the result of an impressive dream, became fully convinced that Elizabeth was to become the mother of a son of destiny, one who was to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah.
Gabrijel se ukazao Mariji sredinom studenoga 8. godine pr. Kr., dok je radila u svom domu u Nazaretu. Kasnije, kada je Marija bez ikakve sumnje znala da će postati majka, nagovorila je Josipa da joj dopusti otputovati u Grad Judin, četiri milje zapadno od Jeruzalema, u brdovitom kraju, kako bi posjetila Elizabetu. Gabrijel je svakoj od ovih budućih majki rekao za svoje ukazanje onoj drugoj. Sasvim je prirodno da su se željele sastati, usporediti svoja iskustva i razgovarati o vjerojatnoj budućnosti svojih sinova. Marija je ostala sa svojom daljnjom rođakinjom tri tjedna. Elizabeta je na svaki način nastojala ojačati Marijinu vjeru u Gabrijelovo ukazanje, tako da se Marija vratila kući potpunije posvećena pozivu rađanja i podizanja sina sudbine koji se uskoro trebao pojaviti na svijetu kao bespomoćno djetešce, prosječna i posve normalna zemaljska beba.
122:2.6 (1346.1)
Gabriel appeared to Mary about the middle of November, 8 {scaps{scaps{b.c.}scaps}scaps}, while she was at work in her Nazareth home. Later on, after Mary knew without doubt that she was to become a mother, she persuaded Joseph to let her journey to the City of Judah, four miles west of Jerusalem, in the hills, to visit Elizabeth. Gabriel had informed each of these mothers-to-be of his appearance to the other. Naturally they were anxious to get together, compare experiences, and talk over the probable futures of their sons. Mary remained with her distant cousin for three weeks. Elizabeth did much to strengthen Mary’s faith in the vision of Gabriel, so that she returned home more fully dedicated to the call to mother the child of destiny whom she was so soon to present to the world as a helpless babe, an average and normal infant of the realm.
Ivan se rodio u Gradu Judinom 25. ožujka 7. godine pr. Kr. Zaharija i Elizabeta silno su se radovali ispunjenju Gabrijelova obećanja da će dobiti sina. Kada su osmoga dana donijeli dijete na obrezanje, službeno su mu nadjenuli ime Ivan, kako im je ranije bilo naloženo. Jedan Zaharijin nećak već je bio krenuo prema Nazaretu noseći Elizabetinu poruku Mariji da joj je rođen sin i da će se zvati Ivan.
122:2.7 (1346.2)
John was born in the City of Judah, March 25, 7 {scaps{scaps{b.c.}scaps}scaps} Zacharias and Elizabeth rejoiced greatly in the realization that a son had come to them as Gabriel had promised, and when on the eighth day they presented the child for circumcision, they formally christened him John, as they had been directed aforetime. Already had a nephew of Zacharias departed for Nazareth, carrying the message of Elizabeth to Mary proclaiming that a son had been born to her and that his name was to be John.
Od najranijeg djetinjstva Ivanovi su roditelji razborito usađivali u njega spoznaju da će jednog dana postati duhovni vođa i vjerski učitelj. Tlo Ivanova srca uvijek je bilo prijemčivo za sijanje takvog sjemena. Još kao dječak često je boravio u hramu za vrijeme očevih službi i bio duboko impresioniran značenjem svega što je ondje promatrao.
122:2.8 (1346.3)
From his earliest infancy John was judiciously impressed by his parents with the idea that he was to grow up to become a spiritual leader and religious teacher. And the soil of John’s heart was ever responsive to the sowing of such suggestive seeds. Even as a child he was found frequently at the temple during the seasons of his father’s service, and he was tremendously impressed with the significance of all that he saw.
Jedne večeri, oko zalaska sunca, prije nego što se Josip vratio kući, Gabrijel se ukazao Mariji kraj niskog kamenog stola i, nakon što se pribrala, rekao: „Dolazim po nalogu onoga koji je moj Gospodar i kojega ćeš voljeti i odgajati. Tebi, Marijo, donosim radosnu vijest da je začeće u tebi određeno voljom neba i da ćeš u svoje vrijeme postati majka sina. Nadjenut ćeš mu ime Jošua i on će uspostaviti kraljevstvo nebesko na zemlji među ljudima. O ovoj stvari ne govori nikome osim Josipu i svojoj rođakinji Elizabeti, kojoj sam se također ukazao i koja će uskoro roditi sina kojemu će dati ime Ivan. On će pripraviti put poruci izbavljenja koju će tvoj sin naviještati ljudima s velikom snagom i dubokim uvjerenjem. Ne sumnjaj u moje riječi, Marijo, jer ovaj je dom izabran za prebivalište djeteta sudbine. Moj blagoslov počiva na tebi; neka te Svevišnji ojača svojom snagom i neka nad tobom bdije Gospodar sve zemlje."
122:3.1 (1346.4)
One evening about sundown, before Joseph had returned home, Gabriel appeared to Mary by the side of a low stone table and, after she had recovered her composure, said: “I come at the bidding of one who is my Master and whom you shall love and nurture. To you, Mary, I bring glad tidings when I announce that the conception within you is ordained by heaven, and that in due time you will become the mother of a son; you shall call him Joshua, and he shall inaugurate the kingdom of heaven on earth and among men. Speak not of this matter save to Joseph and to Elizabeth, your kinswoman, to whom I have also appeared, and who shall presently also bear a son, whose name shall be John, and who will prepare the way for the message of deliverance which your son shall proclaim to men with great power and deep conviction. And doubt not my word, Mary, for this home has been chosen as the mortal habitat of the child of destiny. My benediction rests upon you, the power of the Most Highs will strengthen you, and the Lord of all the earth shall overshadow you.”
Marija je u svom srcu potajno razmišljala o ovom ukazanju više tjedana, sve dok se nije potpuno uvjerila da nosi dijete, prije nego što se usudila povjeriti ove neobične događaje svome mužu. Kad je Josip sve to čuo, iako je imao veliko povjerenje u Mariju, bio je vrlo uznemiren i mnogim noćima nije mogao spavati. Isprva je sumnjao u Gabrijelovo ukazanje. No kada se gotovo posve uvjerio da je Marija doista čula glas i vidjela obličje božanskog glasnika, razdirale su ga dvojbe dok je razmišljao kako su takve stvari moguće. Kako potomak ljudskih bića može biti dijete božanske sudbine? Josip nije bio u stanju pomiriti te proturječne misli sve dok, nakon nekoliko tjedana razmišljanja, on i Marija nisu došli do zaključka da su izabrani postati roditelji Mesije, premda židovsko poimanje očekivanog izbavitelja teško da je uključivalo njegovu božansku narav. Kad su napokon došli do tog sudbonosnog zaključka, Marija je požurila posjetiti Elizabetu.
122:3.2 (1346.5)
Mary pondered this visitation secretly in her heart for many weeks until of a certainty she knew she was with child, before she dared to disclose these unusual events to her husband. When Joseph heard all about this, although he had great confidence in Mary, he was much troubled and could not sleep for many nights. At first Joseph had doubts about the Gabriel visitation. Then when he became well-nigh persuaded that Mary had really heard the voice and beheld the form of the divine messenger, he was torn in mind as he pondered how such things could be. How could the offspring of human beings be a child of divine destiny? Never could Joseph reconcile these conflicting ideas until, after several weeks of thought, both he and Mary reached the conclusion that they had been chosen to become the parents of the Messiah, though it had hardly been the Jewish concept that the expected deliverer was to be of divine nature. Upon arriving at this momentous conclusion, Mary hastened to depart for a visit with Elizabeth.
Po povratku kući Marija je posjetila svoje roditelje, Joakima i Hanu. Njezina dva brata i dvije sestre, kao i njezini roditelji, uvijek su bili vrlo skeptični prema Isusovu božanskom poslanju, premda tada, naravno, nisu znali ništa o Gabrijelovu ukazanju. Marija je ipak povjerila svojoj sestri Salomi kako vjeruje da je njezin sin predodređen postati velik učitelj.
122:3.3 (1347.1)
Upon her return, Mary went to visit her parents, Joachim and Hannah. Her two brothers and two sisters, as well as her parents, were always very skeptical about the divine mission of Jesus, though, of course, at this time they knew nothing of the Gabriel visitation. But Mary did confide to her sister Salome that she thought her son was destined to become a great teacher.
Josip se nije mogao pomiriti s mišlju da će Marija postati majka nesvakidašnjeg djeteta sve dok nije doživio vrlo upečatljiv san. U tom mu se snu ukazao blistavi nebeski glasnik koji mu je, između ostalog, rekao: „Josipe, ukazujem ti se po nalogu Onoga koji sada vlada na visini, i poslan sam poučiti te o sinu kojega će Marija roditi i koji će postati veliko svjetlo svijetu. U njemu će biti život, a njegov će život postati svjetlo čovječanstvu. Najprije će doći svome narodu, ali ga oni teško da će prihvatiti; no svima koji ga prihvate otkrit će da su djeca Božja.” Nakon tog iskustva Josip više nikada nije ozbiljno posumnjao u Marijinu priču o Gabrijelovu ukazanju i obećanju da će nerođeno dijete postati božanski glasnik svijetu.
122:4.1 (1347.3)
Joseph did not become reconciled to the idea that Mary was to become the mother of an extraordinary child until after he had experienced a very impressive dream. In this dream a brilliant celestial messenger appeared to him and, among other things, said: “Joseph, I appear by command of Him who now reigns on high, and I am directed to instruct you concerning the son whom Mary shall bear, and who shall become a great light in the world. In him will be life, and his life shall become the light of mankind. He shall first come to his own people, but they will hardly receive him; but to as many as shall receive him to them will he reveal that they are the children of God.” After this experience Joseph never again wholly doubted Mary’s story of Gabriel’s visit and of the promise that the unborn child was to become a divine messenger to the world.
Ni u jednom od ovih ukazanja nije bilo riječi o kući Davidovoj. Nije bilo ni spomena da će Isus postati „izbavitelj Židova”, pa čak ni da je dugo očekivani Mesija. Isus nije bio Mesija kakvog su Židovi očekivali, ali je bio izbavitelj svijeta. Njegovo je poslanje bilo namijenjeno svim rasama i narodima, a ne samo jednoj skupini.
122:4.2 (1347.4)
In all these visitations nothing was said about the house of David. Nothing was ever intimated about Jesus’ becoming a “deliverer of the Jews,” not even that he was to be the long-expected Messiah. Jesus was not such a Messiah as the Jews had anticipated, but he was the world’s deliverer. His mission was to all races and peoples, not to any one group.
Josip nije potjecao iz loze kralja Davida. Marija je imala više davidovskog nasljeđa nego Josip. Istina, Josip je otišao u Davidov grad, Betlehem, kako bi se upisao za rimski popis stanovništva, ali to je bilo zato što je šest naraštaja ranije njegov predak po očevoj lozi, ostavši siroče, bio posvojen od jednog Zadoka, izravnog Davidova potomka. Zbog toga se i Josipa smatralo pripadnikom „kuće Davidove”.
122:4.3 (1347.5)
Joseph was not of the line of King David. Mary had more of the Davidic ancestry than Joseph. True, Joseph did go to the City of David, Bethlehem, to be registered for the Roman census, but that was because, six generations previously, Joseph’s paternal ancestor of that generation, being an orphan, was adopted by one Zadoc, who was a direct descendant of David; hence was Joseph also accounted as of the “house of David.”
Većina takozvanih mesijanskih proročanstava Staroga zavjeta povezana je s Isusom tek dugo nakon njegova života na zemlji. Hebrejski su proroci stoljećima naviještali dolazak izbavitelja, a naraštaji su ta obećanja tumačili kao najavu novog židovskog vladara koji će sjesti na Davidovo prijestolje i, navodno čudesnim metodama Mojsija, uspostaviti Židove u Palestini kao moćan narod oslobođen svake strane vlasti. Mnogi figurativni odlomci razasuti po hebrejskim spisima također su naknadno pogrešno primijenjeni na Isusovo životno poslanje. Mnoge su starozavjetne izreke bile toliko iskrivljene da su se činile prikladnima za povezivanje s pojedinim epizodama Učiteljeva zemaljskog života. Sam Isus je jednom prilikom zanijekao bilo kakvu povezanost s kraljevskom kućom Davidovom. Čak su i riječi: 'Djevojka će roditi sina' preinačene u: 'Djevica će roditi sina.' Isto vrijedi za mnoga rodoslovlja Josipa i Marije sastavljena nakon Mihaelova života na zemlji. Mnoga od njih sadrže dobar dio Učiteljeva porijekla, ali u cjelini nisu vjerodostojna i ne mogu se prihvatiti kao činjenica. Isusovi rani sljedbenici prečesto su padali u iskušenje da drevna proročka kazivanja prikažu kao da su našla svoje ispunjenje u životu njihova Gospodina i Učitelja.
122:4.4 (1347.6)
Most of the so-called Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament were made to apply to Jesus long after his life had been lived on earth. For centuries the Hebrew prophets had proclaimed the coming of a deliverer, and these promises had been construed by successive generations as referring to a new Jewish ruler who would sit upon the throne of David and, by the reputed miraculous methods of Moses, proceed to establish the Jews in Palestine as a powerful nation, free from all foreign domination. Again, many figurative passages found throughout the Hebrew scriptures were subsequently misapplied to the life mission of Jesus. Many Old Testament sayings were so distorted as to appear to fit some episode of the Master’s earth life. Jesus himself onetime publicly denied any connection with the royal house of David. Even the passage, “a maiden shall bear a son,” was made to read, “a virgin shall bear a son.” This was also true of the many genealogies of both Joseph and Mary which were constructed subsequent to Michael’s career on earth. Many of these lineages contain much of the Master’s ancestry, but on the whole they are not genuine and may not be depended upon as factual. The early followers of Jesus all too often succumbed to the temptation to make all the olden prophetic utterances appear to find fulfillment in the life of their Lord and Master.
Josip je bio čovjek blage naravi i iznimne savjesti koji je u svakom pogledu bio vjeran vjerskim običajima i praksama svoga naroda. Govorio je malo, a mislio puno. Jako ga je žalostio nezavidni položaj židovskog naroda. Kao mladić, među svojih osmero braće i sestara, bio je prilično vedre naravi, ali je tijekom prvih godina bračnog života, u vrijeme Isusova djetinjstva, bio podložan razdobljima blage duhovne potištenosti. Ove su se sklonosti znatno ublažile neposredno prije njegove prerane smrti, nakon što se materijalni položaj njegove obitelji poboljšao njegovim napredovanjem od tesara do uspješnog graditeljskog poduzetnika.
122:5.1 (1348.1)
Joseph was a mild-mannered man, extremely conscientious, and in every way faithful to the religious conventions and practices of his people. He talked little but thought much. The sorry plight of the Jewish people caused Joseph much sadness. As a youth, among his eight brothers and sisters, he had been more cheerful, but in the earlier years of married life (during Jesus’ childhood) he was subject to periods of mild spiritual discouragement. These temperamental manifestations were greatly improved just before his untimely death and after the economic condition of his family had been enhanced by his advancement from the rank of carpenter to the role of a prosperous contractor.
Marija je po temperamentu bila sasvim suprotna svome mužu. Obično je bila vedra, vrlo rijetko potištena i uvijek sunčane naravi. Svoje je osjećaje izražavala slobodno i otvoreno te je sve do Josipove iznenadne smrti rijetko pokazivala tugu. Tek što se počela oporavljati od tog šoka, bila je suočena s brigama i pitanjima koje je izazivao nesvakidašnji životni put njezina najstarijeg sina, a koji se tako brzo odvijao pred njezinim začuđenim očima. Ipak, kroz sve to neobično iskustvo Marija je pokazivala smirenost, hrabrost i razboritost u odnosu prema svom neobičnom i teško shvatljivom prvorođencu te njegovoj braći i sestrama.
122:5.2 (1348.2)
Mary’s temperament was quite opposite to that of her husband. She was usually cheerful, was very rarely downcast, and possessed an ever-sunny disposition. Mary indulged in free and frequent expression of her emotional feelings and was never observed to be sorrowful until after the sudden death of Joseph. And she had hardly recovered from this shock when she had thrust upon her the anxieties and questionings aroused by the extraordinary career of her eldest son, which was so rapidly unfolding before her astonished gaze. But throughout all this unusual experience Mary was composed, courageous, and fairly wise in her relationship with her strange and little-understood first-born son and his surviving brothers and sisters.
Isus je najveći dio svoje nesvakidašnje nježnosti i izvanrednog razumijevanja ljudske naravi naslijedio od svoga oca; od majke je naslijedio dar velikog učitelja i iznimnu sposobnost za pravednu netrpeljivost prema nepravdi. U svojim emocionalnim reakcijama na životne okolnosti Isus je u zrelim godinama ponekad nalikovao svome ocu, bio sklon meditaciji i obožavanju, katkad obilježen prividnom tugom; no češće je pokazivao majčino optimistično i odlučno raspoloženje. Sve u svemu, Marijin je temperament imao sklonost prevladavati u životu božanskog Sina dok je odrastao i ulazio u presudna razdoblja svog odraslog života. U nekim je pojedinostima Isus bio spoj osobina oboje roditelja; u drugima je pokazivao osobine jednog roditelja nasuprot osobinama drugoga.
122:5.3 (1348.3)
Jesus derived much of his unusual gentleness and marvelous sympathetic understanding of human nature from his father; he inherited his gift as a great teacher and his tremendous capacity for righteous indignation from his mother. In emotional reactions to his adult-life environment, Jesus was at one time like his father, meditative and worshipful, sometimes characterized by apparent sadness; but more often he drove forward in the manner of his mother’s optimistic and determined disposition. All in all, Mary’s temperament tended to dominate the career of the divine Son as he grew up and swung into the momentous strides of his adult life. In some particulars Jesus was a blending of his parents’ traits; in other respects he exhibited the traits of one in contrast with those of the other.
Obitelji Josipa i Marije bile su dobro obrazovane za svoje vrijeme. Josip i Marija bili su obrazovani daleko iznad prosjeka svog vremena i životnog položaja. On je bio mislilac; ona je bila vješta u planiranju, prilagodbi i praktičnom djelovanju. Josip je imao crne oči i smeđu kosu; Marija je imala smeđe oči i bila gotovo plavokosa.
122:5.5 (1349.1)
The families of both Joseph and Mary were well educated for their time. Joseph and Mary were educated far above the average for their day and station in life. He was a thinker; she was a planner, expert in adaptation and practical in immediate execution. Joseph was a black-eyed brunet; Mary, a brown-eyed well-nigh blond type.
Da je poživio, Josip bi nesumnjivo postao čvrsti vjernik u božansko poslanje svog najstarijeg sina. Marija se dvoumila između vjere i sumnje, pod snažnim utjecajem stavova svoje druge djece te rodbine i prijatelja, ali je u svom konačnom stavu uvijek nalazila oslonac u sjećanju na Gabrijelovo ukazanje neposredno nakon djetetova začeća.
122:5.6 (1349.2)
Had Joseph lived, he undoubtedly would have become a firm believer in the divine mission of his eldest son. Mary alternated between believing and doubting, being greatly influenced by the position taken by her other children and by her friends and relatives, but always was she steadied in her final attitude by the memory of Gabriel’s appearance to her immediately after the child was conceived.
Josip i Marija uzeli su se prema židovskom običaju u Marijinu domu u okolici Nazareta, kada je Josipu bila dvadeset i jedna godina. Time je okončano udvaranje koje je trajalo gotovo pune dvije godine. Nedugo nakon toga preselili su se u svoju novu kuću u Nazaretu, koju je Josip sagradio uz pomoć svoje dvojice braće. Kuća se nalazila u blizini podnožja obližnje uzvišice, s koje se pružao predivan pogled na okolne predjele. U toj kući, posebno pripremljenoj za dolazak djeteta, ovi mladi budući roditelji očekivali su rođenje obećanog djeteta, ne sluteći da će se taj događaj od presudne važnosti za jedan svemir odigrati za vrijeme njihove odsutnosti, na putovanju u Betlehem u zemlji Judeji.
122:5.9 (1349.5)
Joseph and Mary were married, in accordance with Jewish custom, at Mary’s home in the environs of Nazareth when Joseph was twenty-one years old. This marriage concluded a normal courtship of almost two years’ duration. Shortly thereafter they moved into their new home in Nazareth, which had been built by Joseph with the assistance of two of his brothers. The house was located near the foot of the near-by elevated land which so charmingly overlooked the surrounding countryside. In this home, especially prepared, these young and expectant parents had thought to welcome the child of promise, little realizing that this momentous event of a universe was to transpire while they would be absent from home in Bethlehem of Judea.
Veći dio Josipove obitelji prihvatio je Isusova učenja, dok je među Marijinim rođacima vrlo malo njih povjerovalo u njega prije nego što je napustio ovaj svijet. Josip je bio skloniji duhovnom poimanju očekivanog Mesije, dok su Marija i njezina obitelj, osobito njezin otac, zastupali shvaćanje Mesije kao zemaljskog izbavitelja i političkog vladara. Marijini preci bili su istaknuto povezani s makabejskim pokretom u tada još razmjerno nedavnoj prošlosti.
122:5.10 (1349.6)
The larger part of Joseph’s family became believers in the teachings of Jesus, but very few of Mary’s people ever believed in him until after he departed from this world. Joseph leaned more toward the spiritual concept of the expected Messiah, but Mary and her family, especially her father, held to the idea of the Messiah as a temporal deliverer and political ruler. Mary’s ancestors had been prominently identified with the Maccabean activities of the then but recent times.
Isusov je dom bio smješten u blizini visokog brda u sjevernom dijelu Nazareta, podalje od vrela koje se nalazilo u istočnom dijelu grada. Isusova je obitelj živjela na rubu naselja, što mu je pružalo česte prilike za šetnje prirodom i uspone na vrh obližnjeg uzvišenja, najvišeg u južnoj Galileji, izuzev Taborskog gorja na istoku i brda Naina, koje je bilo približno iste visine. Njihov se dom nalazio nešto južnije i istočnije od južnog ogranka tog brda, otprilike na pola puta između njegova podnožja i ceste koja je vodila iz Nazareta prema Kani. Osim uspona na brdo, Isus je osobito volio slijediti usku stazu koja je vijugala oko njegova podnožja prema sjeveroistoku, sve do mjesta gdje se spajala s putem za Seforis.
122:6.1 (1349.8)
The home of Jesus was not far from the high hill in the northerly part of Nazareth, some distance from the village spring, which was in the eastern section of the town. Jesus’ family dwelt in the outskirts of the city, and this made it all the easier for him subsequently to enjoy frequent strolls in the country and to make trips up to the top of this near-by highland, the highest of all the hills of southern Galilee save the Mount Tabor range to the east and the hill of Nain, which was about the same height. Their home was located a little to the south and east of the southern promontory of this hill and about midway between the base of this elevation and the road leading out of Nazareth toward Cana. Aside from climbing the hill, Jesus’ favorite stroll was to follow a narrow trail winding about the base of the hill in a northeasterly direction to a point where it joined the road to Sepphoris.
Dom Josipa i Marije bio je jednostavna kamena kuća s jednom prostorijom i ravnim krovom, uz koju se nadovezivala staja. Namještaj se sastojao od niskog kamenog stola, glinenog i kamenog posuđa, razboja za tkanje, stalka za svjetiljku, nekoliko manjih stolica i prostirača za spavanje na kamenom podu. U dvorištu, pokraj staje, nalazila se nadstrešnica koja je natkrivala peć i mlin za mljevenje žita. Za rad na takvom mlinu bile su potrebne dvije osobe: jedna je mljela, a druga dodavala žito. Kao dječak, Isus je često dodavao žito u mlin dok je njegova majka okretala mlinski kamen.
122:6.2 (1350.1)
The home of Joseph and Mary was a one-room stone structure with a flat roof and an adjoining building for housing the animals. The furniture consisted of a low stone table, earthenware and stone dishes and pots, a loom, a lampstand, several small stools, and mats for sleeping on the stone floor. In the back yard, near the animal annex, was the shelter which covered the oven and the mill for grinding grain. It required two persons to operate this type of mill, one to grind and another to feed the grain. As a small boy Jesus often fed grain to this mill while his mother turned the grinder.
U kasnijim godinama, kako je obitelj rasla, svi bi se okupljali oko proširenog kamenog stola i zajedno objedovali, poslužujući se hranom iz zajedničke zdjele ili lonca. Zimi je tijekom večernjeg objeda stol osvjetljavala mala plosnata glinena svjetiljka napunjena maslinovim uljem. Nakon Martinog rođenja Josip je dogradio kuću velikom prostorijom koja je danju služila kao tesarska radionica, a noću kao spavaonica.
122:6.3 (1350.2)
In later years, as the family grew in size, they would all squat about the enlarged stone table to enjoy their meals, helping themselves from a common dish, or pot, of food. During the winter, at the evening meal the table would be lighted by a small, flat clay lamp, which was filled with olive oil. After the birth of Martha, Joseph built an addition to this house, a large room, which was used as a carpenter shop during the day and as a sleeping room at night.
U mjesecu ožujku 8. godine pr. Kr., kada su se Josip i Marija upravo uzeli, car August izdao je naredbu da se prebroje stanovnici Rimskog Carstva i provede popis pučanstva radi učinkovitijeg oporezivanja. Židovi su oduvijek imali duboke predrasude prema svakom pokušaju 'prebrojavanja naroda', pa je to, zajedno s ozbiljnim unutarnjim poteškoćama Heroda, kralja Judeje, dovelo do jednogodišnje odgode popisa u židovskom kraljevstvu. U cijelom Rimskom Carstvu ovaj je popis proveden 8. godine pr. Kr., osim u Herodovu palestinskom kraljevstvu, gdje je obavljen godinu dana kasnije, 7. godine pr. Kr.
122:7.1 (1350.3)
In the month of March, 8 {scaps{scaps{b.c.}scaps}scaps} (the month Joseph and Mary were married), Caesar Augustus decreed that all inhabitants of the Roman Empire should be numbered, that a census should be made which could be used for effecting better taxation. The Jews had always been greatly prejudiced against any attempt to “number the people,” and this, in connection with the serious domestic difficulties of Herod, King of Judea, had conspired to cause the postponement of the taking of this census in the Jewish kingdom for one year. Throughout all the Roman Empire this census was registered in the year 8 {scaps{scaps{b.c.}scaps}scaps}, except in the Palestinian kingdom of Herod, where it was taken in 7 {scaps{scaps{b.c.}scaps}scaps}, one year later.
Marija nije bila obvezna ići u Betlehem radi popisa, jer je Josip bio ovlašten prijaviti cijelu obitelj, ali je Marija, kao odvažna i odlučna osoba, ustrajala da pođe s njim. Bojala se da bi se dijete moglo roditi dok Josip bude odsutan. Budući da se Betlehem nalazio nedaleko od Judina Grada, unaprijed se radovala mogućnosti da posjeti svoju rođakinju Elizabetu.
122:7.2 (1350.4)
It was not necessary that Mary should go to Bethlehem for enrollment—Joseph was authorized to register for his family—but Mary, being an adventurous and aggressive person, insisted on accompanying him. She feared being left alone lest the child be born while Joseph was away, and again, Bethlehem being not far from the City of Judah, Mary foresaw a possible pleasurable visit with her kinswoman Elizabeth.
Josip je gotovo zabranio Mariji da mu se pridruži na putu, ali bez uspjeha. Dok je pripremala hranu za put od tri ili četiri dana, Marija je spakirala dvostruke zalihe i pripremila se za putovanje. Prije nego što su doista krenuli, Josip se pomirio s njezinom odlukom da pođe s njim te su radosno napustili Nazaret u zoru.
122:7.3 (1350.5)
Joseph virtually forbade Mary to accompany him, but it was of no avail; when the food was packed for the trip of three or four days, she prepared double rations and made ready for the journey. But before they actually set forth, Joseph was reconciled to Mary’s going along, and they cheerfully departed from Nazareth at the break of day.
Josip i Marija bili su siromašni i, budući da su imali samo jednu teretnu životinju, Marija je, u poodmakloj trudnoći, jahala na njoj zajedno s potrepštinama, dok je Josip išao pješice vodeći životinju. Izgradnja i opremanje doma predstavljali su velik teret za Josipa, koji je usto morao pomagati u uzdržavanju svojih roditelja, jer je njegov otac nedavno onemoćao. Tako je ovaj židovski par napustio svoj skromni dom rano ujutro 18. kolovoza 7. godine pr. Kr. i krenuo na put u Betlehem.
122:7.4 (1350.6)
Joseph and Mary were poor, and since they had only one beast of burden, Mary, being large with child, rode on the animal with the provisions while Joseph walked, leading the beast. The building and furnishing of a home had been a great drain on Joseph since he had also to contribute to the support of his parents, as his father had been recently disabled. And so this Jewish couple went forth from their humble home early on the morning of August 18, 7 {scaps{scaps{b.c.}scaps}scaps}, on their journey to Bethlehem.
122:7.5 (1351.1)
Their first day of travel carried them around the foothills of Mount Gilboa, where they camped for the night by the river Jordan and engaged in many speculations as to what sort of a son would be born to them, Joseph adhering to the concept of a spiritual teacher and Mary holding to the idea of a Jewish Messiah, a deliverer of the Hebrew nation.
Rano ujutro 19. kolovoza Josip i Marija ponovno su krenuli na put. O podne su zastali u podnožju brda Sartabe, odakle se pružao pogled na dolinu Jordana, te su nakon objeda nastavili prema Jerihonu, gdje su stigli predvečer i prenoćili u gostionici uz prometnu cestu na rubu grada. Nakon večere dugo su razgovarali o tegobnosti rimske vlasti, Herodu, popisu stanovništva te utjecaju Jeruzalema i Aleksandrije kao središta židovskog učenja i kulture, nakon čega su se putnici iz Nazareta povukli na počinak. U rano jutro 20. kolovoza nastavili su put, stigli u Jeruzalem prije podneva, posjetili hram i zatim krenuli prema svom odredištu, Betlehemu, gdje su stigli sredinom poslijepodneva.
122:7.6 (1351.2)
Bright and early the morning of August 19, Joseph and Mary were again on their way. They partook of their noontide meal at the foot of Mount Sartaba, overlooking the Jordan valley, and journeyed on, making Jericho for the night, where they stopped at an inn on the highway in the outskirts of the city. Following the evening meal and after much discussion concerning the oppressiveness of Roman rule, Herod, the census enrollment, and the comparative influence of Jerusalem and Alexandria as centers of Jewish learning and culture, the Nazareth travelers retired for the night’s rest. Early in the morning of August 20 they resumed their journey, reaching Jerusalem before noon, visiting the temple, and going on to their destination, arriving at Bethlehem in midafternoon.
Gostionica je bila pretrpana, pa je Josip pokušao pronaći prenoćište kod svojih dalekih rođaka, ali svaka je soba u Betlehemu bila krcata posjetiteljima. Po povratku u dvorište gostionice saznao je da je karavanska štala, isklesana u stijeni neposredno ispod gostionice, ispražnjena od životinja i očišćena za smještaj putnika. Ostavivši magarca u dvorištu, Josip je uprtio vreće s odjećom i drugim potrepštinama te se zajedno s Marijom spustio kamenim stubama do njihova smještaja. Našli su se u prostoriji koja je služila kao spremište za žito ispred staja i jasala. Obješene su bile zavjese od šatorskog platna i smatrali su se sretnima što su pronašli tako udoban smještaj.
122:7.7 (1351.3)
The inn was overcrowded, and Joseph accordingly sought lodgings with distant relatives, but every room in Bethlehem was filled to overflowing. On returning to the courtyard of the inn, he was informed that the caravan stables, hewn out of the side of the rock and situated just below the inn, had been cleared of animals and cleaned up for the reception of lodgers. Leaving the donkey in the courtyard, Joseph shouldered their bags of clothing and provisions and with Mary descended the stone steps to their lodgings below. They found themselves located in what had been a grain storage room to the front of the stalls and mangers. Tent curtains had been hung, and they counted themselves fortunate to have such comfortable quarters.
Marija se cijele noći prevrtala, tako da ni ona ni Josip nisu mnogo spavali. U zoru su se već javili porođajni bolovi, a točno u podne 21. kolovoza 7. godine pr. Kr., uz pomoć i brižnu njegu žena koje su također putovale, Marija je rodila dječaka. Tako je Isus iz Nazareta došao na svijet. Marija ga je povila u odjeću koju je ponijela za takvu mogućnost i položila u obližnje jasle.
122:8.1 (1351.5)
All that night Mary was restless so that neither of them slept much. By the break of day the pangs of childbirth were well in evidence, and at noon, August 21, 7 {scaps{scaps{b.c.}scaps}scaps}, with the help and kind ministrations of women fellow travelers, Mary was delivered of a male child. Jesus of Nazareth was born into the world, was wrapped in the clothes which Mary had brought along for such a possible contingency, and laid in a near-by manger.
Dan nakon Isusova rođenja Josip se prijavio na popis. Na putu je susreo čovjeka s kojim su razgovarali dvije večeri ranije u Jerihonu. Taj ga je čovjek odveo svome imućnom prijatelju koji je imao sobu u gostionici i ponudio da zamijeni smještaj s nazaretskim parom. Tako su se toga poslijepodneva preselili u gostionicu, gdje su ostali gotovo tri tjedna, sve dok nisu pronašli smještaj u domu jednog Josipova dalekog rođaka.
122:8.3 (1351.7)
The next day after the birth of Jesus, Joseph made his enrollment. Meeting a man they had talked with two nights previously at Jericho, Joseph was taken by him to a well-to-do friend who had a room at the inn, and who said he would gladly exchange quarters with the Nazareth couple. That afternoon they moved up to the inn, where they lived for almost three weeks until they found lodgings in the home of a distant relative of Joseph.
Drugoga dana nakon Isusova rođenja Marija je poslala poruku Elizabeti o djetetovu rođenju, nakon čega je stigla poruka kojom se Josipa poziva u Jeruzalem da sa Zaharijom razgovara o njihovim planovima za budućnost. Sljedećeg tjedna Josip je otišao u Jeruzalem kako bi se posavjetovao sa Zaharijom. Zaharija i Elizabeta bili su čvrsto uvjereni da će Isus postati židovski izbavitelj, Mesija, te da će njihov sin Ivan biti njegov glavni pomoćnik, njegova desna ruka sudbine. Budući da je i Marija dijelila ta uvjerenja, nije bilo teško nagovoriti Josipa da ostane u Betlehemu, Gradu Davidovu, gdje je Isus mogao odrastati kao Davidov nasljednik na prijestolju cijelog Izraela. Tako su ostali u Betlehemu više od godinu dana, dok je Josip u međuvremenu radio kao tesar.
122:8.4 (1351.8)
The second day after the birth of Jesus, Mary sent word to Elizabeth that her child had come and received word in return inviting Joseph up to Jerusalem to talk over all their affairs with Zacharias. The following week Joseph went to Jerusalem to confer with Zacharias. Both Zacharias and Elizabeth had become possessed with the sincere conviction that Jesus was indeed to become the Jewish deliverer, the Messiah, and that their son John was to be his chief of aides, his right-hand man of destiny. And since Mary held these same ideas, it was not difficult to prevail upon Joseph to remain in Bethlehem, the City of David, so that Jesus might grow up to become the successor of David on the throne of all Israel. Accordingly, they remained in Bethlehem more than a year, Joseph meantime working some at his carpenter’s trade.
U podne na dan Isusova rođenja serafini Urantije, okupljeni pod vodstvom svojih poglavara, pjevali su himne slave nad betlehemskim jaslama, ali ljudske ih uši nisu čule. Ni pastiri ni bilo koje drugo ljudsko biće nije došlo iskazati počast betlehemskom novorođenčetu sve do dolaska određenih svećenika iz Ura, koje je Zaharija poslao iz Jeruzalema.
122:8.5 (1352.1)
At the noontide birth of Jesus the seraphim of Urantia, assembled under their directors, did sing anthems of glory over the Bethlehem manger, but these utterances of praise were not heard by human ears. No shepherds nor any other mortal creatures came to pay homage to the babe of Bethlehem until the day of the arrival of certain priests from Ur, who were sent down from Jerusalem by Zacharias.
Ti su svećenici iz Mezopotamije od nekog neobičnog vjerskog učitelja iz svoje zemlje čuli da mu je u snu bilo objavljeno kako će se na zemlji uskoro pojaviti 'svjetlo života' u liku djeteta među Židovima. Stoga su ova trojica učitelja krenula u potragu za tim 'svjetlom života'. Nakon mnogo tjedana uzaludnog traganja po Jeruzalemu, upravo kad su se spremali vratiti u Ur, susreli su Zahariju, koji im je rekao da vjeruje kako je Isus onaj koga traže te ih uputio u Betlehem. Ondje su pronašli dijete i ostavili svoje darove Mariji, njegovoj zemaljskoj majci. Dijete je u vrijeme njihova posjeta bilo staro gotovo tri tjedna.
122:8.6 (1352.2)
These priests from Mesopotamia had been told sometime before by a strange religious teacher of their country that he had had a dream in which he was informed that “the light of life” was about to appear on earth as a babe and among the Jews. And thither went these three teachers looking for this “light of life.” After many weeks of futile search in Jerusalem, they were about to return to Ur when Zacharias met them and disclosed his belief that Jesus was the object of their quest and sent them on to Bethlehem, where they found the babe and left their gifts with Mary, his earth mother. The babe was almost three weeks old at the time of their visit.
Ti mudraci nisu došli u Betlehem slijedeći zvijezdu. Lijepo predanje o betlehemskoj zvijezdi nastalo je na sljedeći način: Isus je rođen u podne 21. kolovoza 7. godine pr. Kr. Dana 29. svibnja iste godine došlo je do nesvakidašnjeg susreta Jupitera i Saturna u zviježđu Riba. Zanimljiva je astronomska činjenica da su se slični susreti dogodili i 29. rujna te 5. prosinca iste godine. Na temelju tih nesvakidašnjih, ali posve prirodnih događaja, dobronamjerni revnitelji sljedećeg naraštaja satkali su privlačnu legendu o betlehemskoj zvijezdi i mudracima koji su je slijedili do jasala, gdje su pronašli dijete i iskazali mu štovanje. Istočni i bliskoistočni umovi uživaju u bajkovitim pričama i neprestano ispredaju lijepe mitove o životima svojih vjerskih vođa i političkih junaka. Prije pojave tiska, kada se ljudsko znanje najvećim dijelom prenosilo usmenom predajom s naraštaja na naraštaj, bilo je vrlo lako da mitovi postanu predaje, a predaje naposljetku budu prihvaćene kao činjenice.
122:8.7 (1352.3)
These wise men saw no star to guide them to Bethlehem. The beautiful legend of the star of Bethlehem originated in this way: Jesus was born August 21 at noon, 7 {scaps{scaps{b.c.}scaps}scaps} On May 29, 7 {scaps{scaps{b.c.}scaps}scaps}, there occurred an extraordinary conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in the constellation of Pisces. And it is a remarkable astronomic fact that similar conjunctions occurred on September 29 and December 5 of the same year. Upon the basis of these extraordinary but wholly natural events the well-meaning zealots of the succeeding generation constructed the appealing legend of the star of Bethlehem and the adoring Magi led thereby to the manger, where they beheld and worshiped the newborn babe. Oriental and near-Oriental minds delight in fairy stories, and they are continually spinning such beautiful myths about the lives of their religious leaders and political heroes. In the absence of printing, when most human knowledge was passed by word of mouth from one generation to another, it was very easy for myths to become traditions and for traditions eventually to become accepted as facts.
Mojsije je učio Židove da svaki prvorođeni sin pripada Gospodinu te da, umjesto da bude žrtvovan kao što je bio običaj među poganskim narodima, može ostati na životu ako ga njegovi roditelji otkupe plaćanjem pet šekela ovlaštenom svećeniku. Postojala je i Mojsijeva uredba prema kojoj se majka, nakon proteka određenog vremena, trebala pojaviti u hramu radi obreda očišćenja, ili je netko mogao prinijeti propisanu žrtvu u njezino ime. Bio je običaj da se oba obreda obave istodobno. Stoga su Josip i Marija osobno otišli u hram kako bi prikazali Isusa svećenicima, izvršili njegovo otkupljenje i prinijeli propisanu žrtvu za Marijino obredno očišćenje od navodne nečistoće povezane s porodom.
122:9.1 (1352.4)
Moses had taught the Jews that every first-born son belonged to the Lord, and that, in lieu of his sacrifice as was the custom among the heathen nations, such a son might live provided his parents would redeem him by the payment of five shekels to any authorized priest. There was also a Mosaic ordinance which directed that a mother, after the passing of a certain period of time, should present herself (or have someone make the proper sacrifice for her) at the temple for purification. It was customary to perform both of these ceremonies at the same time. Accordingly, Joseph and Mary went up to the temple at Jerusalem in person to present Jesus to the priests and effect his redemption and also to make the proper sacrifice to insure Mary’s ceremonial purification from the alleged uncleanness of childbirth.
Po hramskim su se dvorištima gotovo neprestano mogle susresti dvije osebujne osobe, pjevač Šimun i pjesnikinja Ana. Šimun je bio Judejac, a Ana Galilejka. Često su bili zajedno, a oboje su bili bliski prijatelji Zaharije, koji im je povjerio tajnu o Ivanu i Isusu. Šimun i Ana čeznuli su za dolaskom Mesije, a njihovo povjerenje u Zahariju navelo ih je da povjeruju kako je Isus očekivani izbavitelj židovskog naroda.
122:9.2 (1353.1)
There lingered constantly about the courts of the temple two remarkable characters, Simeon a singer and Anna a poetess. Simeon was a Judean, but Anna was a Galilean. This couple were frequently in each other’s company, and both were intimates of the priest Zacharias, who had confided the secret of John and Jesus to them. Both Simeon and Anna longed for the coming of the Messiah, and their confidence in Zacharias led them to believe that Jesus was the expected deliverer of the Jewish people.
122:9.28 (1353.27)
On the way back to Bethlehem, Joseph and Mary were silent—confused and overawed. Mary was much disturbed by the farewell salutation of Anna, the aged poetess, and Joseph was not in harmony with this premature effort to make Jesus out to be the expected Messiah of the Jewish people.
Ali Herodovi uhode nisu mirovali. Kad su ga obavijestili o posjetu svećenika iz Ura Betlehemu, Herod je pozvao te Kaldejce pred sebe. Pomno ih je ispitivao o novom 'kralju Židova', ali nije bio zadovoljan njihovim odgovorima. Objasnili su mu samo da je dijete rodila žena koja je sa svojim mužem došla u Betlehem radi popisa stanovništva. Nezadovoljan takvim odgovorom, Herod im je dao kesu novca i naložio da pronađu dijete kako bi i on mogao doći i pokloniti mu se, budući da su tvrdili kako će njegovo kraljevstvo biti duhovne, a ne svjetovne naravi. No kad se mudraci nisu vratili, Herod je postao sumnjičav. Dok je razmišljao o svemu tome, vratili su se njegovi uhode i podnijeli mu iscrpno izvješće o nedavnim događajima u hramu, donijevši mu i prijepis dijela Šimunove pjesme otpjevane prilikom Isusova otkupljenja. Međutim, nisu uspjeli pratiti Josipa i Mariju, pa se Herod silno razljutio kada mu nisu mogli reći kamo su odnijeli dijete. Tada je poslao ljude u potragu za Josipom i Marijom. Znajući da je Herod krenuo u potjeru za nazaretskom obitelji, Zaharija i Elizabeta držali su se podalje od Betlehema. Djetešce je bilo skriveno kod Josipovih rođaka.
122:10.1 (1353.28)
But the watchers for Herod were not inactive. When they reported to him the visit of the priests of Ur to Bethlehem, Herod summoned these Chaldeans to appear before him. He inquired diligently of these wise men about the new “king of the Jews,” but they gave him little satisfaction, explaining that the babe had been born of a woman who had come down to Bethlehem with her husband for the census enrollment. Herod, not being satisfied with this answer, sent them forth with a purse and directed that they should find the child so that he too might come and worship him, since they had declared that his kingdom was to be spiritual, not temporal. But when the wise men did not return, Herod grew suspicious. As he turned these things over in his mind, his informers returned and made full report of the recent occurrences in the temple, bringing him a copy of parts of the Simeon song which had been sung at the redemption ceremonies of Jesus. But they had failed to follow Joseph and Mary, and Herod was very angry with them when they could not tell him whither the pair had taken the babe. He then dispatched searchers to locate Joseph and Mary. Knowing Herod pursued the Nazareth family, Zacharias and Elizabeth remained away from Bethlehem. The boy baby was secreted with Joseph’s relatives.
122:10.2 (1354.1)
Joseph was afraid to seek work, and their small savings were rapidly disappearing. Even at the time of the purification ceremonies at the temple, Joseph deemed himself sufficiently poor to warrant his offering for Mary two young pigeons as Moses had directed for the purification of mothers among the poor.
Kada, nakon više od godinu dana uzaludnog traganja, Herodove uhode nisu uspjele pronaći Isusa, a Herod i dalje sumnjao da se dijete skriva u Betlehemu, izdao je nalog da se sustavno pretraži svaka kuća u gradu i pobiju svi dječaci mlađi od dvije godine. Na taj se način nadao uništiti dijete koje je trebalo postati 'kralj Židova'. Tako je u jednom danu ubijeno šesnaest dječaka u Betlehemu judejskome. No spletke i ubojstva, čak i u njegovoj užoj obitelji, bili su uobičajena pojava na Herodovu dvoru.
122:10.3 (1354.2)
When, after more than a year of searching, Herod’s spies had not located Jesus, and because of the suspicion that the babe was still concealed in Bethlehem, he prepared an order directing that a systematic search be made of every house in Bethlehem, and that all boy babies under two years of age should be killed. In this manner Herod hoped to make sure that this child who was to become “king of the Jews” would be destroyed. And thus perished in one day sixteen boy babies in Bethlehem of Judea. But intrigue and murder, even in his own immediate family, were common occurrences at the court of Herod.
Ovaj se pokolj djece dogodio sredinom listopada 6. godine pr. Kr., kada je Isus imao nešto više od godinu dana. No i među Herodovim dvorjanima bilo je onih koji su vjerovali u dolazak Mesije. Jedan od njih doznao je za naredbu da se pobiju betlehemski dječaci te o tome obavijestio Zahariju, koji je odmah poslao glasnika Josipu. Tako su Josip i Marija, noć prije pokolja, napustili Betlehem s djetešcetom i krenuli prema Aleksandriji u Egiptu. Kako ne bi privlačili pozornost, putovali su sami s Isusom. U Aleksandriju su stigli zahvaljujući novčanoj pomoći Zaharije, a ondje je Josip radio svoj zanat dok su Marija i Isus boravili kod imućnih rođaka iz Josipove obitelji. U Aleksandriji su ostali pune dvije godine i nisu se vratili u Betlehem sve do Herodove smrti.
122:10.4 (1354.3)
The massacre of these infants took place about the middle of October, 6 {scaps{scaps{b.c.}scaps}scaps}, when Jesus was a little over one year of age. But there were believers in the coming Messiah even among Herod’s court attachés, and one of these, learning of the order to slaughter the Bethlehem boy babies, communicated with Zacharias, who in turn dispatched a messenger to Joseph; and the night before the massacre Joseph and Mary departed from Bethlehem with the babe for Alexandria in Egypt. In order to avoid attracting attention, they journeyed alone to Egypt with Jesus. They went to Alexandria on funds provided by Zacharias, and there Joseph worked at his trade while Mary and Jesus lodged with well-to-do relatives of Joseph’s family. They sojourned in Alexandria two full years, not returning to Bethlehem until after the death of Herod.