Knjiga Urantije
DIO IV. Isusov život i učenja
POGLAVLJE 125 : ISUS U JERUZALEMU
NITI JEDAN događaj iz cijelog Isusovog sadržajnog života nije bio uzbudljiviji i u ljudskom smislu dirljiviji od ovog, po njegovom sjećanju, prvog posjeta Jeruzalemu. Naročito ga je dojmilo njegovo sudjelovanje u raspravama u hramu i ovaj mu je događaj dugo ostao u sjećanju kao veliko iskustvo njegova kasnijeg djetinjstva i rane mladosti. Bila je to prva prilika da uživa u nekoliko dana samostalnog življenja, u radosti nesmetanih odlazaka i dolazaka bez nadzora i ograničenja. Ovo kratko razdoblje samostalnog življenja tijekom tjedna nakon Pashe pružilo mu je prvu potpunu slobodu od odgovornosti. I prošlo je mnogo godina prije nego što je ponovno doživio takvo razdoblje slobode od svakog osjećaja odgovornosti, makar i nakratko.
125:0.1 (1377.1)
NO INCIDENT in all Jesus’ eventful earth career was more engaging, more humanly thrilling, than this, his first remembered visit to Jerusalem. He was especially stimulated by the experience of attending the temple discussions by himself, and it long stood out in his memory as the great event of his later childhood and early youth. This was his first opportunity to enjoy a few days of independent living, the exhilaration of going and coming without restraint and restrictions. This brief period of undirected living, during the week following the Passover, was the first complete freedom from responsibility he had ever enjoyed. And it was many years subsequent to this before he again had a like period of freedom from all sense of responsibility, even for a short time.
Žene su rijetko odlazile na proslavu Pashe u Jeruzalem; nisu bile dužne prisustvovati. Isus je, međutim, gotovo odbio poći osim ako mu se pridruži njegova majka. A kad je njegova majka odlučila poći, za njom su pošle i mnoge druge nazaretske žene, tako da je ova skupina hodočasnika imala najveći broj žena u odnosu na muškarce koji je ikada putovao na Pashu iz Nazareta. Putujući prema Jeruzalemu pjevali su stotrideseti psalam.
125:0.2 (1377.2)
Women seldom went to the Passover feast at Jerusalem; they were not required to be present. Jesus, however, virtually refused to go unless his mother would accompany them. And when his mother decided to go, many other Nazareth women were led to make the journey, so that the Passover company contained the largest number of women, in proportion to men, ever to go up to the Passover from Nazareth. Ever and anon, on the way to Jerusalem, they chanted the one hundred and thirtieth Psalm.
Od trenutka kad su napustili Nazaret, pa sve dok nisu stigli na vrh Maslinske gore, Isus je bio prožet neprestanim osjećajem napetog iščekivanja. Tijekom cijelog svog radosnog djetinjstva, s poštovanjem je slušao o Jeruzalemu i njegovom hramu; sada je to sve imao priliku vidjeti u stvarnosti. Gledan s Maslinske gore i pod njegovim budnim okom, hram je bio sve što je Isus očekivao i mnogo više od toga; ali po ulasku u njegove svete portale, doživio je početak velikog razočaranja.
125:0.3 (1377.3)
From the time they left Nazareth until they reached the summit of the Mount of Olives, Jesus experienced one long stress of expectant anticipation. All through a joyful childhood he had reverently heard of Jerusalem and its temple; now he was soon to behold them in reality. From the Mount of Olives and from the outside, on closer inspection, the temple had been all and more than Jesus had expected; but when he once entered its sacred portals, the great disillusionment began.
U pratnji svojih roditelja, Isus je prošao kroz hramske prostore da se pridruži skupini novih sinova zakona koji su trebali biti posvećeni kao građani Izraela. Bio je pomalo razočaran općim držanjem hramskog mnoštva, ali je doživio svoj prvi veliki šok kad se njegova majka oprostila od njih i otišla prema galeriji za žene. Isus nikada nije ni pomislio da ga njegova majka neće pratiti na ceremonije posvećenja i bio je duboko ogorčen što je bila izložena tako nepravednoj diskriminaciji. Iako je snažno negodovao zbog toga, osim nekoliko prigovora upućenih ocu nije rekao ništa. Ali je mnogo razmišljao, i to vrlo duboko, kao što će pokazati njegova pitanja književnicima i učiteljima tjedan dana kasnije.
125:0.4 (1377.4)
In company with his parents Jesus passed through the temple precincts on his way to join that group of new sons of the law who were about to be consecrated as citizens of Israel. He was a little disappointed by the general demeanor of the temple throngs, but the first great shock of the day came when his mother took leave of them on her way to the women’s gallery. It had never occurred to Jesus that his mother was not to accompany him to the consecration ceremonies, and he was thoroughly indignant that she was made to suffer from such unjust discrimination. While he strongly resented this, aside from a few remarks of protest to his father, he said nothing. But he thought, and thought deeply, as his questions to the scribes and teachers a week later disclosed.
Prošao je kroz rituale posvećenja, ali je bio duboko razočaran njihovom površnom i rutinskom prirodom. Oni nisu imali osobni interes koji je karakterizirao ceremonije nazaretske sinagoge. Isus se vratio da se pozdravi s majkom, dok se spremao pratiti oca u svojoj prvoj posjeti različitim dijelovima hrama - dvorovima, galerijama i hodnicima. U hramu se moglo smjestiti preko dvije stotine tisuća štovatelja, i dok je Isusov um bio snažno impresioniran veličinom ovih građevina - u usporedbi sa svim što je do tada imao prilike vidjeti - on je više bio zaintrigiran razmišljanjem o duhovnom značaju ceremonija i pratećeg štovanja.
125:0.5 (1377.5)
He passed through the consecration rituals but was disappointed by their perfunctory and routine natures. He missed that personal interest which characterized the ceremonies of the synagogue at Nazareth. He then returned to greet his mother and prepared to accompany his father on his first trip about the temple and its various courts, galleries, and corridors. The temple precincts could accommodate over two hundred thousand worshipers at one time, and while the vastness of these buildings—in comparison with any he had ever seen—greatly impressed his mind, he was more intrigued by the contemplation of the spiritual significance of the temple ceremonies and their associated worship.
Iako su mnogi hramski rituali ostavili dirljiv dojam na njegov osjećaj za ljepotu i simboličnost, Isus je uvijek ostajao razočaran objašnjenjima svojih roditelja na njegova mnogobrojna i prodorna pitanja o stvarnom značenju tih ceremonija. Jednostavno nije mogao prihvatiti tumačenja bogoslužja i religiozne odanosti koja su podrazumijevala vjerovanje u Božju srdžbu ili gnjev Svemogućega. Tijekom daljnje rasprave o tim pitanjima, nakon završetka posjeta hramu, kad je njegov otac počeo blago inzistirati da prihvati ortodoksna židovska vjerovanja, Isus se iznenada okrenuo prema svojim roditeljima i, gledajući molećivo u očeve oči, rekao: „Moj oče, to ne može biti istina — Otac na nebu ne može tako promatrati svoju zabludjelu djecu na zemlji. Nebeski Otac ne može voljeti svoju djecu manje nego što ti voliš mene. A ja dobro znam da, bez obzira kakvu bih ludost mogao učiniti, ti nikada nećeš na meni iskaliti svoj gnjev niti dati oduška svojoj srdžbi. Ako ti, moj zemaljski oče, posjeduješ takve ljudske odraze Božanstva, koliko više mora nebeski Otac biti ispunjen dobrotom i prepun milosrđa. Odbijam vjerovati da me moj Otac na nebu voli manje nego moj otac na zemlji.”
125:0.6 (1378.1)
Though many of the temple rituals very touchingly impressed his sense of the beautiful and the symbolic, he was always disappointed by the explanation of the real meanings of these ceremonies which his parents would offer in answer to his many searching inquiries. Jesus simply would not accept explanations of worship and religious devotion which involved belief in the wrath of God or the anger of the Almighty. In further discussion of these questions, after the conclusion of the temple visit, when his father became mildly insistent that he acknowledge acceptance of the orthodox Jewish beliefs, Jesus turned suddenly upon his parents and, looking appealingly into the eyes of his father, said: “My father, it cannot be true—the Father in heaven cannot so regard his erring children on earth. The heavenly Father cannot love his children less than you love me. And I well know, no matter what unwise thing I might do, you would never pour out wrath upon me nor vent anger against me. If you, my earthly father, possess such human reflections of the Divine, how much more must the heavenly Father be filled with goodness and overflowing with mercy. I refuse to believe that my Father in heaven loves me less than my father on earth.”
Kamo god je Isus pošao tijekom razgledanja hrama, bio je šokiran i zgrožen duhom nepoštovanja koji se posvuda očitovao. Smatrao je da je ponašanje okupljenog mnoštva nespojivo s njihovom prisutnošću u „kući njegova Oca“. No najveći šok svoje mladosti doživio je kad je s ocem ušao u nežidovski dio hrama, gdje su se neprestani žamor, glasni razgovori i psovke miješali s blejanjem ovaca i bukom koja je odavala prisutnost mjenjača novca, prodavača žrtvenih životinja i raznih drugih trgovaca.
125:1.1 (1378.3)
Everywhere Jesus went throughout the temple courts, he was shocked and sickened by the spirit of irreverence which he observed. He deemed the conduct of the temple throngs to be inconsistent with their presence in “his Father’s house.” But he received the shock of his young life when his father escorted him into the court of the gentiles with its noisy jargon, loud talking and cursing, mingled indiscriminately with the bleating of sheep and the babble of noises which betrayed the presence of the money-changers and the vendors of sacrificial animals and sundry other commercial commodities.
Ali njegov osjećaj pristojnosti bio je najviše povrijeđen prizorom lakomislenih kurtizana koje su se šepurile ovim dijelom hrama, upravo onakvih našminkanih žena kakve je nedavno vidio tijekom posjeta Sefori. Ovo skrnavljenje hrama probudilo je sve njegovo mladenačko ogorčenje i nije oklijevao slobodno izraziti svoje mišljenje Josipu.
125:1.2 (1378.4)
But most of all was his sense of propriety outraged by the sight of the frivolous courtesans parading about within this precinct of the temple, just such painted women as he had so recently seen when on a visit to Sepphoris. This profanation of the temple fully aroused all his youthful indignation, and he did not hesitate to express himself freely to Joseph.
Zatim su prešli u svećeničko dvorište smješteno ispod grebena ispred hrama, gdje je stajao žrtvenik, promatrajući klanje ogromnog broja životinja i ispiranje krvi s ruku svećenika koji su obavljali obredna klanja pokraj brončane fontane. Pločnik poprskan krvlju, okrvavljene ruke svećenika i glasovi životinja na umoru — sve je to bilo više nego što je ovaj mladi ljubitelj prirode mogao podnijeti. Od tog je užasnog prizora nazaretskom mladiću pozlilo; stisnuo je očevu ruku moleći da ga izvede odande. Dok su se vraćali kroz nežidovski dio hrama, čak su i grubi smijeh i prostačke šale koje su ondje čuli predstavljali olakšanje nakon prizora kojima su upravo svjedočili.
125:1.4 (1378.6)
They now passed down to the priests’ court beneath the rock ledge in front of the temple, where the altar stood, to observe the killing of the droves of animals and the washing away of the blood from the hands of the officiating slaughter priests at the bronze fountain. The bloodstained pavement, the gory hands of the priests, and the sounds of the dying animals were more than this nature-loving lad could stand. The terrible sight sickened this boy of Nazareth; he clutched his father’s arm and begged to be taken away. They walked back through the court of the gentiles, and even the coarse laughter and profane jesting which he there heard were a relief from the sights he had just beheld.
Josip je vidio da je njegovom sinu pozlilo od prizora hramskih obreda i mudro ga odveo da mu pokaže „Krasna vrata”, umjetničku kapiju izrađenu od korintske bronce. Ali Isusu je za prvi posjet hramu već bilo dosta dojmova. Otišli su po Mariju u gornje dvorište i cijeli sat šetali na otvorenom, dalje od gužve, razgledajući Asmonejsku palaču, Herodov veličanstveni dom i kulu rimskih stražara. Tijekom ove šetnje Josip je objasnio Isusu da je jedino žiteljima Jeruzalema bilo dopušteno prisustvovati svakodnevnim žrtvama u hramu, dok su žitelji Galileje dolazili u Jeruzalem samo tri puta godišnje radi sudjelovanja u hramskom bogoslužju: na Pashu, na Šavuot (sedam tjedana nakon Pashe) i na Blagdan sjenica u listopadu. Ove je blagdane ustanovio Mojsije. Zatim su razgovarali o dvama kasnije ustanovljenim blagdanima, Posvećenju i Purimu. Nakon toga vratili su se u svoje konačište i pripremili za proslavu Pashe.
125:1.5 (1379.1)
Joseph saw how his son had sickened at the sight of the temple rites and wisely led him around to view the “Gate Beautiful,” the artistic gate made of Corinthian bronze. But Jesus had had enough for his first visit at the temple. They returned to the upper court for Mary and walked about in the open air and away from the crowds for an hour, viewing the Asmonean palace, the stately home of Herod, and the tower of the Roman guards. During this stroll Joseph explained to Jesus that only the inhabitants of Jerusalem were permitted to witness the daily sacrifices in the temple, and that the dwellers in Galilee came up only three times a year to participate in the temple worship: at the Passover, at the feast of Pentecost (seven weeks after Passover), and at the feast of tabernacles in October. These feasts were established by Moses. They then discussed the two later established feasts of the dedication and of Purim. Afterward they went to their lodgings and made ready for the celebration of the Passover.
Pet nazaretskih obitelji bile su gosti Šimunove obitelji u Betaniji tijekom proslave Pashe, a Šimun je za cijelu družinu kupio pashalno janje. Upravo je pokolj tolikih pashalnih janjaca tako snažno pogodio Isusa tijekom posjeta hramu. Prvotni je plan bio da Pashu blaguju s Marijinim rođacima, ali je Isus nagovorio svoje roditelje da prihvate poziv u Betaniju.
125:2.1 (1379.2)
Five Nazareth families were guests of, or associates with, the family of Simon of Bethany in the celebration of the Passover, Simon having purchased the paschal lamb for the company. It was the slaughter of these lambs in such enormous numbers that had so affected Jesus on his temple visit. It had been the plan to eat the Passover with Mary’s relatives, but Jesus persuaded his parents to accept the invitation to go to Bethany.
Te noći su se okupili da sudjeluju u pashalnim obredima, jedući pečeno meso s beskvasnim kruhom i gorkim zeljem. Od Isusa, koji je bio novi sin zapovijedi, zatražili su da ispriča podrijetlo Pashe, što je on vrlo dobro učinio, ali je pritom pomalo uznemirio svoje roditelje brojnim primjedbama koje su blago odražavale dojmove što su ih na njegov mladenački, ali pronicavi um ostavili događaji koje je nedavno vidio i čuo. Bio je to početak sedmodnevnih obreda blagdana Pashe.
125:2.2 (1379.3)
That night they assembled for the Passover rites, eating the roasted flesh with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Jesus, being a new son of the covenant, was asked to recount the origin of the Passover, and this he well did, but he somewhat disconcerted his parents by the inclusion of numerous remarks mildly reflecting the impressions made on his youthful but thoughtful mind by the things which he had so recently seen and heard. This was the beginning of the seven-day ceremonies of the feast of the Passover.
Već u toj ranoj dobi, premda o tome nije govorio svojim roditeljima, Isus je počeo razmišljati o slavljenju Pashe bez klanja janjaca. Bio je uvjeren da Otac na nebu nije odobravao ovaj prizor žrtvenog klanja i, kako su godine prolazile, postajao je sve odlučniji da jednoga dana uspostavi proslavu Pashe bez prolijevanja krvi.
125:2.3 (1379.4)
Even at this early date, though he said nothing about such matters to his parents, Jesus had begun to turn over in his mind the propriety of celebrating the Passover without the slaughtered lamb. He felt assured in his own mind that the Father in heaven was not pleased with this spectacle of sacrificial offerings, and as the years passed, he became increasingly determined someday to establish the celebration of a bloodless Passover.
Te noći Isus je vrlo malo spavao. Mučili su ga grozni snovi o klanju i patnji. Um mu je bio uznemiren, a srce rastrgano nedosljednostima i apsurdima teologije cijelog židovskog obrednog sustava. Njegovi roditelji također nisu mogli spavati. I oni su bili jako uznemireni događajima prethodnog dana. U svojim su srcima bili duboko uznemireni zbog mladićeva, prema njihovu mišljenju, čudnog i odlučnog stava. Marija je bila nervozno uznemirena tijekom prvog dijela noći, ali je Josip ostao miran, premda jednako zbunjen. Ustručavali su se iskreno razgovarati s mladićem o tim problemima, iako bi Isus rado razgovarao sa svojim roditeljima da su ga se usudili potaknuti na razgovor.
125:2.4 (1379.5)
Jesus slept very little that night. His rest was greatly disturbed by revolting dreams of slaughter and suffering. His mind was distraught and his heart torn by the inconsistencies and absurdities of the theology of the whole Jewish ceremonial system. His parents likewise slept little. They were greatly disconcerted by the events of the day just ended. They were completely upset in their own hearts by the lad’s, to them, strange and determined attitude. Mary became nervously agitated during the fore part of the night, but Joseph remained calm, though he was equally puzzled. Both of them feared to talk frankly with the lad about these problems, though Jesus would gladly have talked with his parents if they had dared to encourage him.
Službe održane u hramu narednog dana bile su Isusu prihvatljivije i uvelike su ublažile njegova neugodna sjećanja na prethodni dan. Sljedećeg jutra mladi Lazar poveo je Isusa u sustavno istraživanje Jeruzalema i njegove okolice. Prije nego što je dan završio, Isus je otkrio različita mjesta oko hrama na kojima su se održavali skupovi poučavanja te pitanja i rasprave; i osim nekoliko posjeta Svetinji nad svetinjama, gdje se sa strahopoštovanjem pitao što se zapravo krije iza vela razdvajanja, najveći je dio vremena provodio na tim učiteljskim skupovima.
125:2.5 (1379.6)
The next day’s services at the temple were more acceptable to Jesus and did much to relieve the unpleasant memories of the previous day. The following morning young Lazarus took Jesus in hand, and they began a systematic exploration of Jerusalem and its environs. Before the day was over, Jesus discovered the various places about the temple where teaching and question conferences were in progress; and aside from a few visits to the holy of holies to gaze in wonder as to what really was behind the veil of separation, he spent most of his time about the temple at these teaching conferences.
Tijekom pashalnog tjedna Isus je zadržao svoje mjesto među novim sinovima zapovijedi, a to je značilo da je morao sjediti izvan ograde koja je odvajala sve one koji još nisu bili punopravni građani Izraela. Budući da je na taj način bio podsjećen na svoju mladost, suzdržavao se od postavljanja mnogih pitanja koja su navirala njegovim umom; barem se suzdržavao sve do završetka pashalnog slavlja, kad su ukinuta ograničenja nametnuta novoposvećenim mladićima.
125:2.6 (1380.1)
Throughout the Passover week, Jesus kept his place among the new sons of the commandment, and this meant that he must seat himself outside the rail which segregated all persons who were not full citizens of Israel. Being thus made conscious of his youth, he refrained from asking the many questions which surged back and forth in his mind; at least he refrained until the Passover celebration had ended and these restrictions on the newly consecrated youths were lifted.
125:2.7 (1380.2)
On Wednesday of the Passover week, Jesus was permitted to go home with Lazarus to spend the night at Bethany. This evening, Lazarus, Martha, and Mary heard Jesus discuss things temporal and eternal, human and divine, and from that night on they all three loved him as if he had been their own brother.
Pred kraj tjedna Isus je sve rjeđe viđao Lazara, jer mu nije bilo dopušteno prisustvovati čak ni vanjskom krugu hramskih rasprava, premda je mogao slušati neka javna predavanja koja su se održavala u vanjskim dvorištima. Lazar je bio iste dobi kao Isus, no mladići u Jeruzalemu rijetko su bili primani među posvećene sinove zakona prije navršene trinaeste godine.
125:2.8 (1380.3)
By the end of the week, Jesus saw less of Lazarus since he was not eligible for admission to even the outer circle of the temple discussions, though he attended some of the public talks delivered in the outer courts. Lazarus was the same age as Jesus, but in Jerusalem youths were seldom admitted to the consecration of sons of the law until they were a full thirteen years of age.
Iznova i iznova, tijekom pashalnog tjedna, Isusovi roditelji zaticali su ga kako sjedi nasamo, s glavom u rukama, duboko zadubljen u misli. Nikada ga prije nisu vidjeli takvog i, ne shvaćajući koliko je bio zbunjen u umu i potresen u duhu iskustvima kroz koja je prolazio, bili su krajnje zbunjeni i nisu znali što učiniti. Radovali su se završetku pashalnog tjedna i jedva čekali da svog neobično promijenjenog sina sigurno vrate u Nazaret.
125:2.9 (1380.4)
Again and again, during the Passover week, his parents would find Jesus sitting off by himself with his youthful head in his hands, profoundly thinking. They had never seen him behave like this, and not knowing how much he was confused in mind and troubled in spirit by the experience through which he was passing, they were sorely perplexed; they did not know what to do. They welcomed the passing of the days of the Passover week and longed to have their strangely acting son safely back in Nazareth.
Prije nego što su napustili Jeruzalem, Josip i Marija su zajedno s Isusovim nazaretskim učiteljem dogovorili pojedinosti njegova povratka u Jeruzalem kad navrši petnaest godina, kako bi započeo dugotrajno školovanje na jednoj od najpoznatijih rabinskih akademija. Isus je pratio svoje roditelje i učitelja tijekom posjeta školi, ali su svi bili uznemireni kad su vidjeli koliko je ravnodušan prema svemu što su govorili i činili. Mariju su duboko pogodile njegove reakcije na posjet Jeruzalemu, dok je Josip bio veoma zbunjen mladićevim čudnim primjedbama i neobičnim ponašanjem.
125:2.11 (1380.6)
Before Joseph and Mary left Jerusalem, in company with Jesus’ Nazareth teacher they made definite arrangements for Jesus to return when he reached the age of fifteen to begin his long course of study in one of the best-known academies of the rabbis. Jesus accompanied his parents and teacher on their visits to the school, but they were all distressed to observe how indifferent he seemed to all they said and did. Mary was deeply pained at his reactions to the Jerusalem visit, and Joseph was profoundly perplexed at the lad’s strange remarks and unusual conduct.
Naposljetku, pashalni tjedan bio je veliki događaj u Isusovu životu. Uživao je u prilici da upozna veliki broj svojih vršnjaka, kandidata za posvećenje, i uspješno je iskoristio te susrete kako bi upoznao način na koji su ljudi živjeli u Mezopotamiji, Turkestanu i Partiji, kao i u dalekim zapadnim provincijama Rima. Već je bio prilično upoznat s načinom odrastanja mladih ljudi u Egiptu i drugim oblastima u blizini Palestine. U Jeruzalemu se ovom prilikom okupilo nekoliko tisuća mladića, a nazaretski je mladić iskoristio priliku da osobno upozna i podrobnije porazgovara s više od sto pedeset osoba. Posebno su ga zanimali oni koji su dolazili s Dalekog istoka i iz udaljenih zapadnih zemalja. Kao rezultat tih susreta počeo je gajiti želju da putuje svijetom kako bi upoznao način na koji različite skupine njegovih bližnjih zarađuju za život.
125:2.12 (1380.7)
After all, Passover week had been a great event in Jesus’ life. He had enjoyed the opportunity of meeting scores of boys about his own age, fellow candidates for the consecration, and he utilized such contacts as a means of learning how people lived in Mesopotamia, Turkestan, and Parthia, as well as in the Far-Western provinces of Rome. He was already fairly conversant with the way in which the youth of Egypt and other regions near Palestine grew up. There were thousands of young people in Jerusalem at this time, and the Nazareth lad personally met, and more or less extensively interviewed, more than one hundred and fifty. He was particularly interested in those who hailed from the Far-Eastern and the remote Western countries. As a result of these contacts the lad began to entertain a desire to travel about the world for the purpose of learning how the various groups of his fellow men toiled for their livelihood.
Bilo je dogovoreno da se nazaretska skupina okupi u određenom dijelu hrama sredinom prijepodneva prvoga dana u tjednu po isteku blagdana Pashe. Tako su i učinili te krenuli natrag prema Nazaretu. Isus je otišao u hram slušati rasprave, dok su njegovi roditelji čekali svoje suputnike. Ubrzo se družina okupila i spremila za polazak, muškarci i žene u odvojenim skupinama, kao što je bio običaj pri putovanju na jeruzalemske blagdane. Isus je putovao u Jeruzalem u pratnji svoje majke i drugih žena. No, kako je sada bio posvećeni mladić, trebao je putovati natrag u Nazaret u društvu oca i drugih muškaraca. Ali kad je nazaretska skupina krenula prema Betaniji, Isus se nalazio u hramu, potpuno zaokupljen raspravom o anđelima, i posve je izgubio osjećaj za vrijeme i polazak svojih roditelja. Nije ni shvatio da je ostao u Jeruzalemu sve do podnevnog prekida hramskih rasprava.
125:3.1 (1381.1)
It had been arranged that the Nazareth party should gather in the region of the temple at midforenoon on the first day of the week after the Passover festival had ended. This they did and started out on the return journey to Nazareth. Jesus had gone into the temple to listen to the discussions while his parents awaited the assembly of their fellow travelers. Presently the company prepared to depart, the men going in one group and the women in another as was their custom in journeying to and from the Jerusalem festivals. Jesus had gone up to Jerusalem in company with his mother and the women. Being now a young man of the consecration, he was supposed to journey back to Nazareth in company with his father and the men. But as the Nazareth party moved on toward Bethany, Jesus was completely absorbed in the discussion of angels, in the temple, being wholly unmindful of the passing of the time for the departure of his parents. And he did not realize that he had been left behind until the noontime adjournment of the temple conferences.
Nazaretski putnici nisu primijetili da Isusa nema među njima jer je Marija pretpostavila da putuje s muškarcima, dok je Josip mislio da je sa ženama, vodeći magarca na kojem je Marija jahala. Tek kad su stigli u Jerihon, gdje su se spremali prenoćiti, postali su svjesni njegove odsutnosti. Nakon što su se raspitali među putnicima iz posljednje skupine koja je stigla u Jerihon i saznali da nitko od njih nije vidio njihova sina, počeli su razmišljati o tome što mu se moglo dogoditi, prisjećajući se njegovih brojnih neobičnih reakcija na događaje pashalnog tjedna, dok su jedno drugo blago korili što nisu provjerili da je bio s njima prije nego što su napustili Jeruzalem.
125:3.2 (1381.2)
The Nazareth travelers did not miss Jesus because Mary surmised he journeyed with the men, while Joseph thought he traveled with the women since he had gone up to Jerusalem with the women, leading Mary’s donkey. They did not discover his absence until they reached Jericho and prepared to tarry for the night. After making inquiry of the last of the party to reach Jericho and learning that none of them had seen their son, they spent a sleepless night, turning over in their minds what might have happened to him, recounting many of his unusual reactions to the events of Passover week, and mildly chiding each other for not seeing to it that he was in the group before they left Jerusalem.
U međuvremenu, Isus je ostao u hramu tijekom poslijepodneva, slušajući rasprave i uživajući u mirnijoj i dostojanstvenijoj atmosferi, budući da se velika većina pashalnih hodočasnika već razišla. Na kraju poslijepodnevnih rasprava, u kojima nije osobno sudjelovao, Isus se uputio u Betaniju i stigao do Šimunove obitelji upravo kad su se spremali započeti večernji objed. Troje mladih bilo je presretno kad je ugledalo Isusa, koji je te noći ostao u Šimunovoj kući. Te večeri nije mnogo razgovarao i najveći dio vremena proveo je sam u vrtu, meditirajući.
125:4.1 (1381.3)
In the meantime, Jesus had remained in the temple throughout the afternoon, listening to the discussions and enjoying the more quiet and decorous atmosphere, the great crowds of Passover week having about disappeared. At the conclusion of the afternoon discussions, in none of which Jesus participated, he betook himself to Bethany, arriving just as Simon’s family made ready to partake of their evening meal. The three youngsters were overjoyed to greet Jesus, and he remained in Simon’s house for the night. He visited very little during the evening, spending much of the time alone in the garden meditating.
Sutradan rano ujutro Isus je ustao i pošao u hram. Na obronku Maslinske gore zastao je i zaplakao nad prizorom koji se pružao njegovim očima — nad duhovno osiromašenim narodom, sputanim tradicijom, koji je živio pod prismotrom rimskih legija. Rano prijepodne stigao je u hram, odlučan da se uključi u rasprave. U međuvremenu su Josip i Marija također rano ustali s namjerom da se vrate u Jeruzalem. Najprije su požurili u dom svojih rođaka, gdje su odsjeli za vrijeme pashalnog tjedna, ali su ondje saznali da nitko nije vidio Isusa. Nakon što su cijeli dan tragali za njim, vratili su se da prenoće kod rođaka.
125:4.2 (1381.4)
Early next day Jesus was up and on his way to the temple. On the brow of Olivet he paused and wept over the sight his eyes beheld—a spiritually impoverished people, tradition bound and living under the surveillance of the Roman legions. Early forenoon found him in the temple with his mind made up to take part in the discussions. Meanwhile, Joseph and Mary also had arisen with the early dawn with the intention of retracing their steps to Jerusalem. First, they hastened to the house of their relatives, where they had lodged as a family during the Passover week, but inquiry elicited the fact that no one had seen Jesus. After searching all day and finding no trace of him, they returned to their relatives for the night.
Tijekom druge rasprave Isus se odvažio postavljati pitanja i na izvanredan je način sudjelovao u raspravama, ali uvijek na način primjeren svojoj dobi. Njegova su izravna pitanja ponekad dovodila učene učitelje židovskog zakona u nepriliku, ali je pokazivao takav duh iskrenosti i poštenja, zajedno s tako očitom željom za znanjem, da mu je većina hramskih učitelja nastojala ukazati svaku pažnju. No kad se usudio dovesti u pitanje pravednost pogubljenja pijanog nežidova koji je tumarajući izvan dvorišta pogana nesvjesno ušao u zabranjeni i navodno sveti dio hrama, jedan od netrpeljivijih učitelja izgubio je strpljenje zbog mladićevih prikrivenih kritika te ga srdito upitao koliko ima godina. Isus je odgovorio: „Trinaest godina, osim još nešto više od četiri mjeseca.” „Onda”, uzvratio je sada već razljućeni učitelj, „zašto si ovdje kad još nisi sin zakona?” A kad je Isus objasnio da je za vrijeme Pashe primio posvećenje i da je završio školovanje u nazaretskim školama, učitelji su podrugljivo uzvratili uglas: „Mogli smo i znati; iz Nazareta je.” Ali starješina je inzistirao da Isus nije kriv ako su ga nazaretski upravitelji sinagoge proglasili završenim učenikom s dvanaest umjesto s trinaest godina; i premda je nekoliko njegovih kritičara ustalo i napustilo skup, odlučeno je da mladić može neometano nastaviti sudjelovati u hramskim raspravama kao učenik.
125:4.3 (1382.1)
At the second conference Jesus had made bold to ask questions, and in a very amazing way he participated in the temple discussions but always in a manner consistent with his youth. Sometimes his pointed questions were somewhat embarrassing to the learned teachers of the Jewish law, but he evinced such a spirit of candid fairness, coupled with an evident hunger for knowledge, that the majority of the temple teachers were disposed to treat him with every consideration. But when he presumed to question the justice of putting to death a drunken gentile who had wandered outside the court of the gentiles and unwittingly entered the forbidden and reputedly sacred precincts of the temple, one of the more intolerant teachers grew impatient with the lad’s implied criticisms and, glowering down upon him, asked how old he was. Jesus replied, “thirteen years lacking a trifle more than four months.” “Then,” rejoined the now irate teacher, “why are you here, since you are not of age as a son of the law?” And when Jesus explained that he had received consecration during the Passover, and that he was a finished student of the Nazareth schools, the teachers with one accord derisively replied, “We might have known; he is from Nazareth.” But the leader insisted that Jesus was not to be blamed if the rulers of the synagogue at Nazareth had graduated him, technically, when he was twelve instead of thirteen; and notwithstanding that several of his detractors got up and left, it was ruled that the lad might continue undisturbed as a pupil of the temple discussions.
Trećeg dana koji je Isus proveo među književnicima i učiteljima u hramu okupio se veći broj znatiželjnika koji su čuli za ovog mladića iz Galileje i došli vidjeti kako jedan dječak dovodi mudrace Zakona u nepriliku. Šimun je također došao iz Betanije da vidi čime se mladić bavio. Tijekom cijelog tog dana Josip i Marija nastavili su svoju tjeskobnu potragu za Isusom i nekoliko puta ulazili u sam hram, ali im nije palo na pamet da ga potraže među skupinama koje su vodile rasprave, premda su jednom bili toliko blizu da su gotovo mogli čuti njegov zanosni glas.
125:5.1 (1382.3)
Jesus’ third day with the scribes and teachers in the temple witnessed the gathering of many spectators who, having heard of this youth from Galilee, came to enjoy the experience of seeing a lad confuse the wise men of the law. Simon also came down from Bethany to see what the boy was up to. Throughout this day Joseph and Mary continued their anxious search for Jesus, even going several times into the temple but never thinking to scrutinize the several discussion groups, although they once came almost within hearing distance of his fascinating voice.
Tijekom cijelog dana oni koji su ga slušali divili su se tim pitanjima, a nitko nije bio više zadivljen od Šimuna. Više od četiri sata ovaj je nazaretski mladić zasipao židovske učitelje pitanjima koja su poticala na razmišljanje i preispitivanje vlastitog srca. Rijetko je komentirao primjedbe svojih starijih. Svoje je učenje prenosio pitanjima koja je postavljao. Vještim i suptilnim oblikovanjem pitanja istodobno je dovodio u pitanje njihova učenja i nagovještavao vlastita. U načinu na koji je postavljao pitanja postojala je privlačna kombinacija pronicljivosti i humora koja ga je činila dragim čak i onima kojima je njegova mladost pomalo smetala. U postavljanju tih prodornih pitanja uvijek je bio iznimno pravičan i obziran. Tog sadržajnog poslijepodneva u hramu pokazao je istu onu nesklonost da nepravedno iskoristi protivnika koja je obilježila cijelu njegovu kasniju javnu službu. Kao mladić, a kasnije i kao odrastao čovjek, činilo se da je bio potpuno lišen svake sebične želje da pobijedi u raspravi samo radi logičkog trijumfa nad svojim bližnjima; iznad svega zanimalo ga je jedno: navijestiti vječnu istinu i tako omogućiti potpunije otkrivenje vječnog Boga.
125:5.8 (1383.1)
And all the day through, those who listened marveled at these questions, and none was more astonished than Simon. For more than four hours this Nazareth youth plied these Jewish teachers with thought-provoking and heart-searching questions. He made few comments on the remarks of his elders. He conveyed his teaching by the questions he would ask. By the deft and subtle phrasing of a question he would at one and the same time challenge their teaching and suggest his own. In the manner of his asking a question there was an appealing combination of sagacity and humor which endeared him even to those who more or less resented his youthfulness. He was always eminently fair and considerate in the asking of these penetrating questions. On this eventful afternoon in the temple he exhibited that same reluctance to take unfair advantage of an opponent which characterized his entire subsequent public ministry. As a youth, and later on as a man, he seemed to be utterly free from all egoistic desire to win an argument merely to experience logical triumph over his fellows, being interested supremely in just one thing: to proclaim everlasting truth and thus effect a fuller revelation of the eternal God.
Poslije večere u Betaniji, ponovo se odbio pridružiti radosnom društvu, nego se umjesto toga povukao u vrt gdje je ostao dugo u noć, uzalud nastojeći pronaći jasan pristup problemu svog životnog poslanja i odlučiti kako da svojim duhovno zaslijepljenim zemljacima na najbolji način otkrije ljepšu predodžbu o nebeskom Ocu te ih tako oslobodi njihova strašnog robovanja zakonu, ritualima, obredima i ustajaloj tradiciji. No tražitelju istine još nije zasjalo jasno svjetlo.
125:5.10 (1383.3)
After the evening meal at Bethany he again declined to join the merry circle but instead went to the garden, where he lingered long into the night, vainly endeavoring to think out some definite plan of approach to the problem of his lifework and to decide how best he might labor to reveal to his spiritually blinded countrymen a more beautiful concept of the heavenly Father and so set them free from their terrible bondage to law, ritual, ceremonial, and musty tradition. But the clear light did not come to the truth-seeking lad.
Opet se uputio prema hramu, ali ovaj put nije zastao da meditira na obronku Maslinske gore. Tijekom jutarnjih rasprava mnogo se govorilo o Zakonu i Prorocima, a učitelji su bili zapanjeni Isusovim poznavanjem Pisma, na hebrejskom kao i na grčkom. No još više od njegova poznavanja istine iznenađivala ih je njegova mladost.
125:6.2 (1383.5)
Again he journeyed to the temple, but he did not pause to meditate at the brow of Olivet. In the course of the morning’s discussions much time was devoted to the law and the prophets, and the teachers were astonished that Jesus was so familiar with the Scriptures, in Hebrew as well as Greek. But they were amazed not so much by his knowledge of truth as by his youth.
Noć prije Isusovi roditelji su čuli za ovog neobičnog mladića koji je tako vješto parirao tumačima Zakona, ali im ni jednog časa nije palo na pamet da je taj mladić njihov sin. Već su gotovo odlučili poći u Zaharijinu kuću jer su mislili da je Isus možda otišao onamo posjetiti Elizabetu i Ivana. Misleći da bi Zaharija mogao biti u hramu, svratili su tamo na putu prema Gradu Judinu. Dok su prolazili hramskim dvorištima, zamislite njihovo iznenađenje i čuđenje kad su prepoznali glas svog izgubljenog djeteta i ugledali ga kako sjedi među učiteljima hrama.
125:6.4 (1383.7)
The evening before, Jesus’ parents had heard about this strange youth who so deftly sparred with the expounders of the law, but it had not occurred to them that this lad was their son. They had about decided to journey out to the home of Zacharias as they thought Jesus might have gone thither to see Elizabeth and John. Thinking Zacharias might perhaps be at the temple, they stopped there on their way to the City of Judah. As they strolled through the courts of the temple, imagine their surprise and amazement when they recognized the voice of the missing lad and beheld him seated among the temple teachers.
Josip je ostao bez riječi, ali je Marija napokon dala oduška svom dugo potiskivanom strahu i tjeskobi te je, požurivši prema mladiću koji je ustao da pozdravi svoje zapanjene roditelje, rekla: „Dijete moje, zašto si nam to učinio? Već više od tri dana tvoj otac i ja žalosno te tražimo. Što te spopalo da nas tako ostaviš?” Bio je to napet trenutak. Sve su oči bile uprte u Isusa da čuju što će reći. Njegov ga je otac prijekorno pogledao, ali nije rekao ni riječi.
125:6.5 (1384.1)
Joseph was speechless, but Mary gave vent to her long-pent-up fear and anxiety when, rushing up to the lad, now standing to greet his astonished parents, she said: “My child, why have you treated us like this? It is now more than three days that your father and I have searched for you sorrowing. Whatever possessed you to desert us?” It was a tense moment. All eyes were turned on Jesus to hear what he would say. His father looked reprovingly at him but said nothing.
Treba imati na umu da se Isusa već smatralo mladićem. Završio je redovno školovanje, bio priznat kao sin zakona i primio posvećenje kao građanin Izraela. Pa ipak, njegova ga je majka, pred svim okupljenima, više nego blago ukorila, i to usred najozbiljnijeg i najuzvišenijeg nastojanja njegova mladog života, čime je neslavno prekinula jednu od najvećih prilika koje su mu ikada bile pružene da djeluje kao učitelj istine, propovjednik pravednosti i objavitelj ljubavlju ispunjenog karaktera Oca na nebu.
125:6.6 (1384.2)
It should be remembered that Jesus was supposed to be a young man. He had finished the regular schooling of a child, had been recognized as a son of the law, and had received consecration as a citizen of Israel. And yet his mother more than mildly upbraided him before all the people assembled, right in the midst of the most serious and sublime effort of his young life, thus bringing to an inglorious termination one of the greatest opportunities ever to be granted him to function as a teacher of truth, a preacher of righteousness, a revealer of the loving character of his Father in heaven.
Ali mladić je bio dorastao trenutku. Ako doista uzmete u obzir sve čimbenike koji su oblikovali ovu situaciju, lakše ćete dokučiti mudrost mladićeva odgovora na nenamjerni prijekor njegove majke. Nakon kratkog razmišljanja, Isus se obratio majci riječima: "Zašto ste me tako dugo tražili? Zar niste očekivali da ćete me naći u kući moga Oca, kad je došlo vrijeme da se počnem baviti poslom Oca svoga?"
125:6.7 (1384.3)
But the lad was equal to the occasion. When you take into fair consideration all the factors which combined to make up this situation, you will be better prepared to fathom the wisdom of the boy’s reply to his mother’s unintended rebuke. After a moment’s thought, Jesus answered his mother, saying: “Why is it that you have so long sought me? Would you not expect to find me in my Father’s house since the time has come when I should be about my Father’s business?”
Svi su bili začuđeni mladićevim načinom govora. U tišini su se svi povukli i ostavili ga da stoji nasamo sa svojim roditeljima. Nakon kraće stanke, mladić je razriješio nelagodu svih troje kad je tiho rekao: „Pođimo, roditelji moji, svi smo činili jedino ono što smo smatrali najboljim. Naš nebeski Otac odredio je da bude ovako; pođimo kući.”
125:6.8 (1384.4)
Everyone was astonished at the lad’s manner of speaking. Silently they all withdrew and left him standing alone with his parents. Presently the young man relieved the embarrassment of all three when he quietly said: “Come, my parents, none has done aught but that which he thought best. Our Father in heaven has ordained these things; let us depart for home.”
U tišini su krenuli na put i stigli u Jerihon gdje su prenoćili. Zaustavili su se samo jednom — na obronku Maslinske gore — kad je mladić podigao štap i, drhteći od glave do pete pod navalom snažnih osjećaja, rekao: „O Jeruzaleme, Jeruzaleme, i narode njegov, kakvi ste robovi — podložni rimskom jarmu i žrtve vlastitih predaja — ali vratit ću se da očistim onaj hram i oslobodim svoj narod od ovog ropstva!”
125:6.9 (1384.5)
In silence they started out, arriving at Jericho for the night. Only once did they pause, and that on the brow of Olivet, when the lad raised his staff aloft and, quivering from head to foot under the surging of intense emotion, said: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, and the people thereof, what slaves you are—subservient to the Roman yoke and victims of your own traditions—but I will return to cleanse yonder temple and deliver my people from this bondage!”
125:6.10 (1384.6)
On the three days’ journey to Nazareth Jesus said little; neither did his parents say much in his presence. They were truly at a loss to understand the conduct of their first-born son, but they did treasure in their hearts his sayings, even though they could not fully comprehend their meanings.
Kada su došli kući, Isus se kratko obratio svojim roditeljima, uvjeravajući ih u svoju privrženost i dajući im do znanja da se ne trebaju bojati kako će im svojim ponašanjem ponovno zadati takvu zabrinutost. Ovu je znamenitu izjavu zaključio riječima: „Iako moram vršiti volju Oca svojega na nebu, bit ću poslušan i svome ocu na zemlji. Čekat ću svoj čas.”
125:6.11 (1384.7)
Upon reaching home, Jesus made a brief statement to his parents, assuring them of his affection and implying that they need not fear he would again give any occasion for their suffering anxiety because of his conduct. He concluded this momentous statement by saying: “While I must do the will of my Father in heaven, I will also be obedient to my father on earth. I will await my hour.”
Iako je Isus u svom umu mnogo puta odbio pristati na dobronamjerna, ali pogrešno usmjerena nastojanja svojih roditelja da određuju tijek njegova razmišljanja ili plan njegova djelovanja na zemlji, ipak je, na svaki način koji je bio dosljedan njegovoj odanosti izvršenju volje njegova Rajskog Oca, dragovoljno se povinovao željama svoga zemaljskog oca i običajima svoje obitelji u tijelu. Čak i kad se nije mogao složiti, činio je sve da se prilagodi. Bio je pravi majstor u usklađivanju svoje predanosti dužnosti s obvezama obiteljske odanosti i društvene službe.
125:6.12 (1384.8)
Though Jesus, in his mind, would many times refuse to consent to the well-intentioned but misguided efforts of his parents to dictate the course of his thinking or to establish the plan of his work on earth, still, in every manner consistent with his dedication to the doing of his Paradise Father’s will, he did most gracefully conform to the desires of his earthly father and to the usages of his family in the flesh. Even when he could not consent, he would do everything possible to conform. He was an artist in the matter of adjusting his dedication to duty to his obligations of family loyalty and social service.
Josip je ostao zbunjen, ali je Marija, razmišljajući o tim događajima, nalazila utjehu te je naposljetku počela promatrati njegove riječi na Maslinskoj gori kao proročansku najavu mesijanskog poslanja svoga sina kao izbavitelja Izraela. S obnovljenom energijom posvetila se nastojanju da njegove misli usmjeri u domoljubne i nacionalističke tokove te je u tu svrhu pridobila pomoć svoga brata, Isusova omiljenog ujaka. Na svaki drugi mogući način Isusova se majka posvetila zadatku pripremanja svog prvorođenog sina da preuzme vodstvo onih koji će obnoviti Davidovo prijestolje i zauvijek zbaciti nežidovski jaram političkog ropstva.
125:6.13 (1385.1)
Joseph was puzzled, but Mary, as she reflected on these experiences, gained comfort, eventually viewing his utterance on Olivet as prophetic of the Messianic mission of her son as Israel’s deliverer. She set to work with renewed energy to mold his thoughts into patriotic and nationalistic channels and enlisted the efforts of her brother, Jesus’ favorite uncle; and in every other way did the mother of Jesus address herself to the task of preparing her first-born son to assume the leadership of those who would restore the throne of David and forever cast off the gentile yoke of political bondage.