Knjiga Urantije
DIO IV. Isusov život i učenja
POGLAVLJE 126 : DVIJE PRESUDNE GODINE
Paper 126
The Two Crucial Years
The Two Crucial Years
OD SVIH iskustava Isusova zemaljskog života, najpresudnije su bile njegova četrnaesta i petnaesta godina. Te dvije godine, nakon što je postao svjestan svoje božanske prirode i sudbine, a prije nego što je uspostavio značajniju komunikaciju sa svojim unutarnjim Ispravljačem, bile su najteže razdoblje njegova sadržajnog života na Urantiji. Upravo se ovo dvogodišnje razdoblje može nazvati velikim testom, stvarnim iskušenjem. Nijedna mlada osoba, prolazeći kroz prve zbunjenosti i prilagodbe adolescencije, nije doživjela težu kušnju od one kroz koju je Isus prošao tijekom prijelaza iz djetinjstva u ranu mladost.
126:0.1 (1386.1)
OF ALL Jesus’ earth-life experiences, the fourteenth and fifteenth years were the most crucial. These two years, after he began to be self-conscious of divinity and destiny, and before he achieved a large measure of communication with his indwelling Adjuster, were the most trying of his eventful life on Urantia. It is this period of two years which should be called the great test, the real temptation. No human youth, in passing through the early confusions and adjustment problems of adolescence, ever experienced a more crucial testing than that which Jesus passed through during his transition from childhood to young manhood.
Ovo važno razdoblje Isusova mladenačkog razvoja započelo je završetkom posjeta Jeruzalemu i njegovim povratkom u Nazaret. Marija je isprva bila presretna pri pomisli da joj se sin vratio, da se Isus ponovno našao kod kuće kao poslušan sin — premda nikada nije bio drukčiji — i da će ubuduće pokazivati više zanimanja za planove koje je ona stvarala za njegovu budućnost. No nije dugo uživala u toj toplini majčinske samoobmane i nesvjesnog obiteljskog ponosa; uskoro ju je čekalo još veće razočaranje. Dječak je sve više vremena provodio u društvu svoga oca; sve joj je rjeđe povjeravao svoje probleme, dok su oba roditelja sve manje uspijevala razumjeti njegove česte prijelaze između poslova ovoga svijeta i razmišljanja o svom odnosu prema poslovima svoga Oca. Iskreno govoreći, nisu ga razumjeli, ali su ga iskreno voljeli.
126:0.2 (1386.2)
This important period in Jesus’ youthful development began with the conclusion of the Jerusalem visit and with his return to Nazareth. At first Mary was happy in the thought that she had her boy back once more, that Jesus had returned home to be a dutiful son—not that he was ever anything else—and that he would henceforth be more responsive to her plans for his future life. But she was not for long to bask in this sunshine of maternal delusion and unrecognized family pride; very soon she was to be more completely disillusioned. More and more the boy was in the company of his father; less and less did he come to her with his problems, while increasingly both his parents failed to comprehend his frequent alternation between the affairs of this world and the contemplation of his relation to his Father’s business. Frankly, they did not understand him, but they did truly love him.
Kako je odrastao, Isusova samilost i ljubav prema židovskom narodu postajale su sve dublje, ali se s godinama u njegovu umu razvijalo i sve snažnije opravdano negodovanje zbog prisutnosti politički postavljenih svećenika u hramu njegova Oca. Isus je duboko poštovao iskrene farizeje i časne književnike, ali je licemjerne farizeje i nepoštene teologe prezirao; s prijezirom je gledao na sve vjerske vođe kojima je nedostajalo iskrenosti. Promatrajući vodstvo Izraela, ponekad je dolazio u iskušenje razmotriti mogućnost da postane očekivani židovski Mesija, ali nikada nije podlegao toj kušnji.
126:0.3 (1386.3)
As he grew older, Jesus’ pity and love for the Jewish people deepened, but with the passing years, there developed in his mind a growing righteous resentment of the presence in the Father’s temple of the politically appointed priests. Jesus had great respect for the sincere Pharisees and the honest scribes, but he held the hypocritical Pharisees and the dishonest theologians in great contempt; he looked with disdain upon all those religious leaders who were not sincere. When he scrutinized the leadership of Israel, he was sometimes tempted to look with favor on the possibility of his becoming the Messiah of Jewish expectation, but he never yielded to such a temptation.
Cijeli je Nazaret s oduševljenjem prepričavao Isusove razgovore s učenjacima u velikom hramu u Jeruzalemu, a osobito njegovi negdašnji učitelji iz sinagoške škole. Neko su ga vrijeme svi hvalili. Cijelo je selo govorilo o mudrosti njegova djetinjstva i uzornom ponašanju te predviđalo da mu je suđeno postati velik vođa u Izraelu; napokon će iz Nazareta u Galileji doći uistinu velik učitelj. Svi su s nestrpljenjem očekivali njegov petnaesti rođendan, kada će mu biti dopušteno redovito čitati Sveta pisma u sinagogi na dan šabata.
126:0.4 (1386.4)
The story of his exploits among the wise men of the temple in Jerusalem was gratifying to all Nazareth, especially to his former teachers in the synagogue school. For a time his praise was on everybody’s lips. All the village recounted his childhood wisdom and praiseworthy conduct and predicted that he was destined to become a great leader in Israel; at last a really great teacher was to come out of Nazareth in Galilee. And they all looked forward to the time when he would be fifteen years of age so that he might be permitted regularly to read the Scriptures in the synagogue on the Sabbath day.
Bila je to godina u kojoj je navršio četrnaest godina. Već je vješto izrađivao jarmove i jednako dobro radio sa šatorskim platnom i kožom. Također je ubrzano stjecao umijeće tesara i izrađivača namještaja. Toga je ljeta često odlazio na vrh brda sjeverozapadno od Nazareta kako bi se posvetio molitvi i meditaciji. Postupno je postajao sve svjesniji istinske prirode svog podarenja na Zemlji.
126:1.1 (1387.1)
This is the calendar year of his fourteenth birthday. He had become a good yoke maker and worked well with both canvas and leather. He was also rapidly developing into an expert carpenter and cabinetmaker. This summer he made frequent trips to the top of the hill to the northwest of Nazareth for prayer and meditation. He was gradually becoming more self-conscious of the nature of his bestowal on earth.
Ovo je brdo prije nešto više od stotinu godina bilo "uzvišica Baala", a sada se na njemu nalazio grob čuvenog izraelskog sveca Šimuna. S vrha ovog Šimunovog brda Isus je promatrao Nazaret i okolni kraj. Pogled mu je često počivao na Megidu, gdje bi se prisjećao priče o egipatskoj vojsci koja je izvojevala svoju prvu veliku pobjedu u Aziji, a zatim i druge egipatske vojske koja je kasnije porazila judejskog kralja Jošiju. Nedaleko je mogao vidjeti Taanak, gdje su Debora i Barak porazili Siseru. U daljini se pružao Dotan, uz koji se vezalo predanje da su Josipova braća prodala Josipa u egipatsko ropstvo. Potom bi pogled usmjerio prema Ebalu i Gerizimu te se prisjećao predaja o Abrahamu, Jakovu i Abimeleku. Tako je prizivao u sjećanje i iznova promišljao povijesne događaje i predanja naroda svoga oca Josipa.
126:1.2 (1387.2)
This hill, a little more than one hundred years previously, had been the “high place of Baal,” and now it was the site of the tomb of Simeon, a reputed holy man of Israel. From the summit of this hill of Simeon, Jesus looked out over Nazareth and the surrounding country. He would gaze upon Megiddo and recall the story of the Egyptian army winning its first great victory in Asia; and how, later on, another such army defeated the Judean king Josiah. Not far away he could look upon Taanach, where Deborah and Barak defeated Sisera. In the distance he could view the hills of Dothan, where he had been taught Joseph’s brethren sold him into Egyptian slavery. He then would shift his gaze over to Ebal and Gerizim and recount to himself the traditions of Abraham, Jacob, and Abimelech. And thus he recalled and turned over in his mind the historic and traditional events of his father Joseph’s people.
U tom su razdoblju i Josip i Marija sve češće sumnjali u sudbinu svoga prvorođenog sina. Bio je doista izvanredno i milo dijete, ali ga je bilo tako teško razumjeti, tako teško dokučiti; a povrh svega, nikada se nije dogodilo ništa izvanredno ni čudesno. Njegova je ponosna majka mnogo puta stajala bez daha, očekujući da će vidjeti svoga sina kako učini neko nadljudsko ili čudesno djelo, ali bi joj se nade uvijek raspršile u gorkom razočaranju. Sve je to bilo obeshrabrujuće, čak i poražavajuće. Pobožni ljudi onoga vremena doista su vjerovali da proroci i ljudi kojima je namijenjena velika uloga uvijek potvrđuju svoj poziv i uspostavljaju svoj božanski autoritet čineći čuda i izvodeći znamenja. No Isus nije činio ništa od toga, pa je zbunjenost njegovih roditelja bivala sve veća što su više razmišljali o njegovoj budućnosti.
126:1.5 (1387.5)
By the beginning of this year both Joseph and Mary entertained frequent doubts about the destiny of their first-born son. He was indeed a brilliant and lovable child, but he was so difficult to understand, so hard to fathom, and again, nothing extraordinary or miraculous ever happened. Scores of times had his proud mother stood in breathless anticipation, expecting to see her son engage in some superhuman or miraculous performance, but always were her hopes dashed down in cruel disappointment. And all this was discouraging, even disheartening. The devout people of those days truly believed that prophets and men of promise always demonstrated their calling and established their divine authority by performing miracles and working wonders. But Jesus did none of these things; wherefore was the confusion of his parents steadily increased as they contemplated his future.
126:1.6 (1387.6)
The improved economic condition of the Nazareth family was reflected in many ways about the home and especially in the increased number of smooth white boards which were used as writing slates, the writing being done with charcoal. Jesus was also permitted to resume his music lessons; he was very fond of playing the harp.
Sve je dobro išlo do tog kobnog utorka, 25. rujna, kada je glasnik iz Seforisa donio tragičnu vijest u njihov nazaretski dom da je Josip teško ozlijeđen kada se na njega srušila dizalica tijekom rada na guvernerovoj rezidenciji. Glasnik iz Seforisa najprije je svratio u radionicu na putu prema Josipovoj kući i obavijestio Isusa o nesreći, nakon čega su zajedno pošli kući da tužnu vijest priopće Mariji. Isus je želio odmah poći svome ocu, ali Marija je mislila samo na to da što prije bude uz svoga muža. Odredila je da je u Seforis prati Jakov, kojemu je tada bilo deset godina, dok je Isus ostao kod kuće s mlađom djecom do njezina povratka, jer nije znala koliko je Josip teško ozlijeđen. No Josip je podlegao ozljedama prije nego što je Marija stigla. Prenijeli su ga u Nazaret, a sljedećeg je dana pokopan uz svoje pretke.
126:2.1 (1388.1)
All did go well until that fateful day of Tuesday, September 25, when a runner from Sepphoris brought to this Nazareth home the tragic news that Joseph had been severely injured by the falling of a derrick while at work on the governor’s residence. The messenger from Sepphoris had stopped at the shop on the way to Joseph’s home, informing Jesus of his father’s accident, and they went together to the house to break the sad news to Mary. Jesus desired to go immediately to his father, but Mary would hear to nothing but that she must hasten to her husband’s side. She directed that James, then ten years of age, should accompany her to Sepphoris while Jesus remained home with the younger children until she should return, as she did not know how seriously Joseph had been injured. But Joseph died of his injuries before Mary arrived. They brought him to Nazareth, and on the following day he was laid to rest with his fathers.
Upravo kad su izgledi bili dobri i kad je budućnost počela izgledati svjetlije, naizgled okrutna sudbina teško je pogodila ovaj nazaretski dom. Život ove obitelji bio je iz temelja poremećen, a svi planovi za Isusovo buduće obrazovanje bili su osujećeni. Ovaj mladi tesar, koji je upravo navršio četrnaest godina, tada je postao svjestan da pred njim ne stoji samo dužnost prema njegovom Ocu na nebu da objavi božansku prirodu na zemlji i u ljudskom obličju, nego da njegova mlada ljudska narav mora preuzeti i odgovornost za svoju majku udovicu, sedmero braće i sestara te još jedno dijete koje se tek trebalo roditi. Ovaj nazaretski mladić sada je postao jedina potpora i utjeha ovoj obitelji koja je tako iznenada ostala bez hranitelja.
126:2.2 (1388.2)
Just at the time when prospects were good and the future looked bright, an apparently cruel hand struck down the head of this Nazareth household, the affairs of this home were disrupted, and every plan for Jesus and his future education was demolished. This carpenter lad, now just past fourteen years of age, awakened to the realization that he had not only to fulfill the commission of his heavenly Father to reveal the divine nature on earth and in the flesh, but that his young human nature must also shoulder the responsibility of caring for his widowed mother and seven brothers and sisters—and another yet to be born. This lad of Nazareth now became the sole support and comfort of this so suddenly bereaved family. Thus were permitted those occurrences of the natural order of events on Urantia which would force this young man of destiny so early to assume these heavy but highly educational and disciplinary responsibilities attendant upon becoming the head of a human family, of becoming father to his own brothers and sisters, of supporting and protecting his mother, of functioning as guardian of his father’s home, the only home he was to know while on this world.
Isus je vedro prihvatio odgovornosti koje su tako iznenadno pale na njega i s njima se vjerno nosio do samoga kraja. Barem je jedan veliki problem i očekivana poteškoća njegova života bio tragično riješen — od njega se više nije očekivalo da ide u Jeruzalem učiti kod rabina. Zauvijek ostaje istina da Isus nije 'sjedio ni do čijih nogu'. Uvijek je bio voljan učiti čak i od najskromnije djece, ali autoritet za poučavanje istine nikada nije crpio iz ljudskih izvora.
126:2.3 (1388.3)
Jesus cheerfully accepted the responsibilities so suddenly thrust upon him, and he carried them faithfully to the end. At least one great problem and anticipated difficulty in his life had been tragically solved—he would not now be expected to go to Jerusalem to study under the rabbis. It remained always true that Jesus “sat at no man’s feet.” He was ever willing to learn from even the humblest of little children, but he never derived authority to teach truth from human sources.
Kako su godine prolazile, ovaj je mladi tesar iz Nazareta sve više mjerio svaku društvenu instituciju i svaku vjersku praksu jednim jedinim testom: "Jesu li bili od koristi ljudskoj duši? Jesu li približavali Boga čovjeku? a čovjeka Bogu?" Iako ovaj mladić nije u potpunosti zanemarivao rekreacijske i društvene aspekte života, sve više i više je posvećivao svoje vrijeme i energiju samo dvjema aktivnostima: brizi za obitelj i pripremi za izvršenje volje svog nebeskog Oca na zemlji.
126:2.5 (1388.5)
As the years passed, this young carpenter of Nazareth increasingly measured every institution of society and every usage of religion by the unvarying test: What does it do for the human soul? does it bring God to man? does it bring man to God? While this youth did not wholly neglect the recreational and social aspects of life, more and more he devoted his time and energies to just two purposes: the care of his family and the preparation to do his Father’s heavenly will on earth.
Financijski poslovi obitelji nastavili su teći prilično glatko, budući da su u vrijeme Josipove smrti raspolagali znatnom svotom novca. Isus je rano pokazao dobru poslovnu prosudbu i financijsku oštroumnost. Bio je široke ruke, ali štedljiv; nerasipan, ali velikodušan. Pokazao se mudrim i učinkovitim upraviteljem imanja svoga oca.
126:2.7 (1389.2)
The economic affairs of the family continued to run fairly smoothly as there was quite a sum of money on hand at the time of Joseph’s death. Jesus early demonstrated the possession of keen business judgment and financial sagacity. He was liberal but frugal; he was saving but generous. He proved to be a wise and efficient administrator of his father’s estate.
No, unatoč svemu što su Isus i nazaretski susjedi činili kako bi unijeli radost u njihov dom, Marija i djeca bili su obuzeti tugom. Josipa više nije bilo. Josip je bio izuzetan suprug i otac i svima je nedostajao. Sve je izgledalo još tragičnije zbog toga što je umro prije nego što su imali priliku razgovarati s njim ili čuti njegov oproštajni blagoslov.
126:2.8 (1389.3)
But in spite of all that Jesus and the Nazareth neighbors could do to bring cheer into the home, Mary, and even the children, were overcast with sadness. Joseph was gone. Joseph was an unusual husband and father, and they all missed him. And it seemed all the more tragic to think that he died ere they could speak to him or hear his farewell blessing.
Sredinom petnaeste godine — prema suvremenom kalendaru dvadesetog stoljeća, a ne prema židovskom računanju godina — Isus je potpuno preuzeo vođenje obiteljskih poslova. Prije isteka te godine potrošili su gotovo svu ušteđevinu i bili primorani prodati jednu kuću u Nazaretu koja je bila u zajedničkom vlasništvu Josipa i njegova susjeda Jakova.
126:3.1 (1389.4)
By the middle of this fifteenth year—and we are reckoning time in accordance with the twentieth-century calendar, not by the Jewish year—Jesus had taken a firm grasp upon the management of his family. Before this year had passed, their savings had about disappeared, and they were face to face with the necessity of disposing of one of the Nazareth houses which Joseph and his neighbor Jacob owned in partnership.
U srijedu navečer, 17. travnja 9. godine po Kr., rodila se Ruta, miljenica obitelji, a Isus je koliko je god mogao nastojao nadomjestiti svoga oca tješeći i njegujući svoju majku tijekom ovog teškog i osobito tužnog iskušenja. Gotovo dvadeset godina — sve do početka svoje javne službe — nijedan otac nije volio ni brižnije odgajao svoju kćer s većom odanošću od one koju je Isus pokazivao prema maloj Ruti. I bio je jednako dobar otac svim ostalim članovima svoje obitelji.
126:3.2 (1389.5)
On Wednesday evening, April 17, {scaps{scaps{a.d.}scaps}scaps} 9, Ruth, the baby of the family, was born, and to the best of his ability Jesus endeavored to take the place of his father in comforting and ministering to his mother during this trying and peculiarly sad ordeal. For almost a score of years (until he began his public ministry) no father could have loved and nurtured his daughter any more affectionately and faithfully than Jesus cared for little Ruth. And he was an equally good father to all the other members of his family.
Isus je ove godine prvi put formulirao molitvu kojoj je kasnije učio svoje apostole i koja je postala poznata kao 'Očenaš'. Na određeni je način proizašla iz razvoja njihova obiteljskog oltara; imali su više oblika hvale i nekoliko formalnih molitvi. Nakon očeve smrti Isus je nastojao naučiti stariju djecu da se u molitvi izražavaju vlastitim riječima — onako kako je i sam volio činiti — ali oni nisu mogli shvatiti njegovu zamisao te su se uvijek vraćali napamet naučenim oblicima molitve. U nastojanju da potakne stariju braću i sestre na osobne molitve, Isus ih je pokušavao usmjeravati sugestivnim frazama, a s vremenom se, posve nenamjerno, razvilo to da su svi počeli koristiti oblik molitve koji se najvećim dijelom sastojao od tih izraza što ih je Isus naučio.
126:3.3 (1389.6)
During this year Jesus first formulated the prayer which he subsequently taught to his apostles, and which to many has become known as “The Lord’s Prayer.” In a way it was an evolution of the family altar; they had many forms of praise and several formal prayers. After his father’s death Jesus tried to teach the older children to express themselves individually in prayer—much as he so enjoyed doing—but they could not grasp his thought and would invariably fall back upon their memorized prayer forms. It was in this effort to stimulate his older brothers and sisters to say individual prayers that Jesus would endeavor to lead them along by suggestive phrases, and presently, without intention on his part, it developed that they were all using a form of prayer which was largely built up from these suggestive lines which Jesus had taught them.
Isus je na kraju odustao od nastojanja da potakne svakog člana obitelji da sastavi svoje vlastite spontane molitve. Jedne večeri u listopadu sjeo je uz malu svjetiljku na niskom kamenom stolu i komadom ugljena na glatkoj cedrovoj pločici veličine oko pola metra zapisao molitvu koja je od tada služila kao obiteljska molitva.
126:3.4 (1389.7)
At last Jesus gave up the idea of having each member of the family formulate spontaneous prayers, and one evening in October he sat down by the little squat lamp on the low stone table, and, on a piece of smooth cedar board about eighteen inches square, with a piece of charcoal he wrote out the prayer which became from that time on the standard family petition.
Te je godine Isusa veoma mučila unutarnja dvojba. Obiteljske su odgovornosti gotovo u potpunosti uklonile svaku pomisao na neposredno izvršenje naloga primljenog prilikom njegova posjeta Jeruzalemu, kada mu je rečeno da se 'bavi poslovima svoga Oca'. Isus je ispravno zaključio da skrb za obitelj njegova zemaljskog oca mora imati prednost pred svim drugim dužnostima te da uzdržavanje svoje obitelji mora postati njegova prva obveza.
126:3.5 (1389.8)
This year Jesus was much troubled with confused thinking. Family responsibility had quite effectively removed all thought of immediately carrying out any plan for responding to the Jerusalem visitation directing him to “be about his Father’s business.” Jesus rightly reasoned that the watchcare of his earthly father’s family must take precedence of all duties; that the support of his family must become his first obligation.
Isus je tijekom ove godine pronašao odlomak iz takozvane Knjige Enoha koji ga je kasnije naveo da usvoji izraz 'Sin Čovječji' kao oznaku svoje misije darivanja na Urantiji. Temeljito je razmotrio ideju židovskog Mesije i bio čvrsto uvjeren da nije taj Mesija. Čeznuo je pomoći narodu svoga oca, ali nikada nije očekivao da će povesti židovske vojske u zbacivanju strane vlasti u Palestini. Znao je da nikada neće sjesti na Davidovo prijestolje u Jeruzalemu. Isto tako nije vjerovao da je njegova misija bila da bude duhovni izbavitelj ili moralni učitelj isključivo židovskog naroda. Ni u kojem smislu njegova životna misija nije mogla predstavljati ispunjenje snažnih čežnji i navodnih mesijanskih proročanstava hebrejskih spisa — barem ne onako kako su Židovi razumijevali ta proročanstva. Jednako je tako bio siguran da se nikada neće pojaviti kao Sin Čovječji kakvog je opisao prorok Danijel.
126:3.6 (1390.1)
In the course of this year Jesus found a passage in the so-called Book of Enoch which influenced him in the later adoption of the term “Son of Man” as a designation for his bestowal mission on Urantia. He had thoroughly considered the idea of the Jewish Messiah and was firmly convinced that he was not to be that Messiah. He longed to help his father’s people, but he never expected to lead Jewish armies in overthrowing the foreign domination of Palestine. He knew he would never sit on the throne of David at Jerusalem. Neither did he believe that his mission was that of a spiritual deliverer or moral teacher solely to the Jewish people. In no sense, therefore, could his life mission be the fulfillment of the intense longings and supposed Messianic prophecies of the Hebrew scriptures; at least, not as the Jews understood these predictions of the prophets. Likewise he was certain he was never to appear as the Son of Man depicted by the Prophet Daniel.
Dok je u mislima pretresao sva ta pitanja, pronašao je u knjižnici nazaretske sinagoge, među apokaliptičkim knjigama koje je proučavao, rukopis pod nazivom "Knjiga Enoha". Premda je bio siguran da ovu knjigu nije napisao drevni Enoh, njezin ga je sadržaj silno zaintrigirao te ju je više puta pročitao. Posebno ga je dojmio jedan odlomak u kojem se pojavljuje izraz "Sin Čovječji". Pisac ove takozvane Knjige Enoha dalje govori o tom Sinu Čovječjem, opisujući njegov rad na zemlji i objašnjavajući da je taj Sin Čovječji, prije nego što je sišao na zemlju donijeti spasenje čovječanstvu, hodao dvorovima nebeske slave sa svojim Ocem, Ocem svih, te se odrekao sve te raskoši i slave kako bi sišao na zemlju i navijestio spasenje potrebitim smrtnicima. Dok je Isus čitao te odlomke, jasno shvaćajući da je velik dio istočnog misticizma koji se s vremenom isprepleo s tim učenjima bio pogrešan, u svom je srcu osjetio odjek, a u svom umu prepoznao da od svih mesijanskih proročanstava hebrejskih spisa i svih teorija o židovskom izbavitelju nijedna nije bila toliko blizu istini kao ova priča skrivena u ovoj tek djelomično priznatoj Knjizi Enoha. Tada je i tamo odlučio prihvatiti naziv "Sin Čovječji" kao ime pod kojim će istupiti pred javnost. I upravo je to učinio kada je kasnije započeo svoju javnu službu. Isus je imao nepogrešivu sposobnost prepoznavanja istine i nikada nije oklijevao prihvatiti je, bez obzira na njezino porijeklo.
126:3.8 (1390.3)
While turning all these problems over in his mind, he found in the synagogue library at Nazareth, among the apocalyptic books which he had been studying, this manuscript called “The Book of Enoch”; and though he was certain that it had not been written by Enoch of old, it proved very intriguing to him, and he read and reread it many times. There was one passage which particularly impressed him, a passage in which this term “Son of Man” appeared. The writer of this so-called Book of Enoch went on to tell about this Son of Man, describing the work he would do on earth and explaining that this Son of Man, before coming down on this earth to bring salvation to mankind, had walked through the courts of heavenly glory with his Father, the Father of all; and that he had turned his back upon all this grandeur and glory to come down on earth to proclaim salvation to needy mortals. As Jesus would read these passages (well understanding that much of the Eastern mysticism which had become admixed with these teachings was erroneous), he responded in his heart and recognized in his mind that of all the Messianic predictions of the Hebrew scriptures and of all the theories about the Jewish deliverer, none was so near the truth as this story tucked away in this only partially accredited Book of Enoch; and he then and there decided to adopt as his inaugural title “the Son of Man.” And this he did when he subsequently began his public work. Jesus had an unerring ability for the recognition of truth, and truth he never hesitated to embrace, no matter from what source it appeared to emanate.
Bio je to početak velike zbrke koja se sada javila u Isusovoj ranoj mladosti. Nakon što je razriješio neka pitanja o naravi svoje zemaljske misije, baviti se „poslovima svoga Oca” — cijelom čovječanstvu predočiti ljubavlju ispunjenu narav svoga Oca — počeo je iznova razmišljati o mnogim izjavama iz Spisa koje su govorile o dolasku narodnog izbavitelja, židovskog učitelja ili kralja. Na što su se odnosila ta proročanstva? Nije li i on bio Židov? Ili nije? Je li ili nije bio iz kuće Davidove? Njegova je majka tvrdila da jest; njegov je otac govorio da nije. Zaključio je da nije. Jesu li proroci pogrešno shvatili narav i poslanje Mesije?
126:3.10 (1390.5)
The great confusion of Jesus’ younger days now arose. Having settled something about the nature of his mission on earth, “to be about his Father’s business”—to show forth his Father’s loving nature to all mankind—he began to ponder anew the many statements in the Scriptures referring to the coming of a national deliverer, a Jewish teacher or king. To what event did these prophecies refer? Was not he a Jew? or was he? Was he or was he not of the house of David? His mother averred he was; his father had ruled that he was not. He decided he was not. But had the prophets confused the nature and mission of the Messiah?
Naposljetku, je li moguće da je njegova majka bila u pravu? U većini pitanja, kad bi se u prošlosti pojavile razlike u mišljenju, ona je bila u pravu. Ako je on bio novi učitelj, a ne Mesija, kako bi onda prepoznao židovskog Mesiju ako bi se takav pojavio u Jeruzalemu tijekom njegove zemaljske misije? I kakav bi trebao biti njegov odnos prema tom židovskom Mesiji? A kakav bi, nakon što započne svoje životno poslanje, trebao biti njegov odnos prema obitelji, prema židovskom narodu i religiji, prema Rimskom Carstvu, prema nežidovima i njihovim religijama? Sva ta važna pitanja mladi je Galilejac neprestano prevrtao po glavi i o njima ozbiljno razmišljao dok je nastavljao raditi za tesarskim stolom, marljivo zarađujući za sebe, svoju majku i još osmero gladnih usta.
126:3.11 (1391.1)
After all, could it be possible that his mother was right? In most matters, when differences of opinion had arisen in the past, she had been right. If he were a new teacher and not the Messiah, then how should he recognize the Jewish Messiah if such a one should appear in Jerusalem during the time of his earth mission; and, further, what should be his relation to this Jewish Messiah? And what should be his relation, after embarking on his life mission, to his family? to the Jewish commonwealth and religion? to the Roman Empire? to the gentiles and their religions? Each of these momentous problems this young Galilean turned over in his mind and seriously pondered while he continued to work at the carpenter’s bench, laboriously making a living for himself, his mother, and eight other hungry mouths.
Njegova duboka razdoblja razmišljanja, česti odlasci na brežuljak radi molitve i mnoge neobične ideje koje je Isus s vremena na vrijeme iznosio ozbiljno su zabrinjavali njegovu majku. Katkad je mislila da dječak nije pri zdravoj pameti, no potom bi umirila svoje strahove prisjećajući se da je on ipak bio dijete obećanja i da se na neki način razlikovao od drugih mladića.
126:3.13 (1391.3)
His profound periods of meditation, his frequent journeys to the hilltop for prayer, and the many strange ideas which Jesus advanced from time to time, thoroughly alarmed his mother. Sometimes she thought the lad was beside himself, and then she would steady her fears, remembering that he was, after all, a child of promise and in some manner different from other youths.
No Isus je već učio ne govoriti o svim svojim mislima, ne iznositi svijetu sve svoje ideje, pa čak ni vlastitoj majci. Od te je godine sve manje otkrivao što se događalo u njegovu umu; to jest, sve je manje govorio o stvarima koje prosječna osoba nije mogla shvatiti i zbog kojih bi ga ljudi smatrali čudnim ili drukčijim od drugih. Po svemu sudeći doimao se posve običnim i konvencionalnim, premda je čeznuo za nekim tko bi mogao razumjeti njegove probleme. Žudio je za pouzdanim prijateljem kojem bi se mogao povjeriti, ali njegovi su problemi bili previše složeni da bi ih njegovi ljudski prijatelji mogli razumjeti. Jedinstvenost te neobične situacije prisiljavala ga je da svoje breme nosi sam.
126:3.14 (1391.4)
But Jesus was learning not to speak of all his thoughts, not to present all his ideas to the world, not even to his own mother. From this year on, Jesus’ disclosures about what was going on in his mind steadily diminished; that is, he talked less about those things which an average person could not grasp, and which would lead to his being regarded as peculiar or different from ordinary folks. To all appearances he became commonplace and conventional, though he did long for someone who could understand his problems. He craved a trustworthy and confidential friend, but his problems were too complex for his human associates to comprehend. The uniqueness of the unusual situation compelled him to bear his burdens alone.
Nakon što je navršio petnaest godina, Isus je subotom službeno mogao stati za govornicu u sinagogi. Već su mnogo puta prije od njega tražili da čita Pisma kada nije bilo govornika, no sada je došao dan kada je prema zakonu mogao voditi bogoslužje. Zato je hazan prve subote nakon njegova petnaestog rođendana odredio Isusa da predvodi jutarnju službu u sinagogi. I kada su se svi vjernici okupili u Nazaretu, mladić je, nakon što je odabrao odlomke iz Spisa, ustao i počeo čitati:
126:4.1 (1391.5)
With the coming of his fifteenth birthday, Jesus could officially occupy the synagogue pulpit on the Sabbath day. Many times before, in the absence of speakers, Jesus had been asked to read the Scriptures, but now the day had come when, according to law, he could conduct the service. Therefore on the first Sabbath after his fifteenth birthday the chazan arranged for Jesus to conduct the morning service of the synagogue. And when all the faithful in Nazareth had assembled, the young man, having made his selection of Scriptures, stood up and began to read:
„Duh Gospodnji na meni je, jer me Gospod pomaza; posla me da donesem radosnu vijest krotkima, da iscijelim one slomljena srca; da navijestim slobodu zarobljenicima i oslobođenje duhovnim sužnjevima; da navijestim godinu Gospodnje milosti i dan suda Boga našega; da utješim sve ožalošćene; da im dam ljepotu mjesto pepela, ulje radosti mjesto žalosti i pjesmu hvale mjesto duha tuge; da ih nazovu hrastovima pravednosti, nasadom Gospodnjim, da bi se on proslavio.“
126:4.2 (1391.6)
“The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the meek, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and to set the spiritual prisoners free; to proclaim the year of God’s favor and the day of our God’s reckoning; to comfort all mourners, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy in the place of mourning, a song of praise instead of the spirit of sorrow, that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, wherewith he may be glorified.
„S čime ću pristupiti Gospodu i pokloniti se pred Gospodarom sve zemlje? Hoću li mu pristupiti s paljenicama, s jednogodišnjim telcima? Hoće li Gospodu biti mile tisuće ovnova, deseci tisuća ovaca ili rijeke ulja? Hoću li dati svoga prvorođenca za svoj prijestup, plod svoga tijela za grijeh svoje duše? Ne! Jer Gospod nam je pokazao, o ljudi, što je dobro. A što Gospod traži od vas osim da postupate pravedno, ljubite milosrđe i ponizno hodite sa svojim Bogom?
126:4.5 (1392.3)
“Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, to bow myself before the Lord of all the earth? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousands of sheep, or with rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? No! for the Lord has showed us, O men, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to deal justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?
„S kim ćete dakle prispodobiti Boga koji stoluje nad krugom zemaljskim? Podignite oči i pogledajte tko je stvorio sve ove svjetove, tko izvodi njihovo mnoštvo po broju i svakoga zaziva imenom. Po veličini svoje moći i snazi svoje sile nijedan ne izostaje. On daje snagu umornome i krijepi nemoćnoga. Ne boj se, jer ja sam s tobom; ne obaziri se plaho, jer ja sam Bog tvoj. Ja te krijepim i pomažem ti, podupirem te desnicom pravde svoje. Jer ja sam Gospod, Bog tvoj, koji drži desnicu tvoju i govori ti: Ne boj se, ja ti pomažem.
126:4.6 (1392.4)
“To whom, then, will you liken God who sits upon the circle of the earth? Lift up your eyes and behold who has created all these worlds, who brings forth their host by number and calls them all by their names. He does all these things by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power, not one fails. He gives power to the weak, and to those who are weary he increases strength. Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness, for I am the Lord your God. And I will hold your right hand, saying to you, fear not, for I will help you.
I kad je završio, sjeo je, dok su se ljudi vratili svojim kućama razmišljajući o riječima koje im je tako dostojanstveno pročitao. Njegovi ga sumještani nikada nisu vidjeli tako veličanstveno svečanog; nikada nisu čuli njegov glas tako ozbiljan i tako iskren; nikada ga nisu vidjeli tako muževnog i odlučnog, tako autoritativnog.
126:4.8 (1392.6)
And when he had thus read, he sat down, and the people went to their homes, pondering over the words which he had so graciously read to them. Never had his townspeople seen him so magnificently solemn; never had they heard his voice so earnest and so sincere; never had they observed him so manly and decisive, so authoritative.
126:4.9 (1392.7)
This Sabbath afternoon Jesus climbed the Nazareth hill with James and, when they returned home, wrote out the Ten Commandments in Greek on two smooth boards in charcoal. Subsequently Martha colored and decorated these boards, and for long they hung on the wall over James’s small workbench.
Isus i njegova obitelj postupno su se vratili jednostavnijem načinu života iz ranijih godina. Njihova odjeća, pa čak i hrana, postajale su sve skromnije. Imali su dosta mlijeka, maslaca i sira. U sezoni su uživali u plodovima svoga vrta, ali svaki je novi mjesec zahtijevao sve veću štedljivost. Doručkovali su vrlo jednostavno; najbolju su hranu čuvali za večernji obrok. No među tadašnjim Židovima nedostatak bogatstva nije značio niži društveni položaj.
126:5.1 (1392.8)
Gradually Jesus and his family returned to the simple life of their earlier years. Their clothes and even their food became simpler. They had plenty of milk, butter, and cheese. In season they enjoyed the produce of their garden, but each passing month necessitated the practice of greater frugality. Their breakfasts were very plain; they saved their best food for the evening meal. However, among these Jews lack of wealth did not imply social inferiority.
Činilo se da su svi Isusovi planovi za budućnost bili osujećeni. Kako su stvari tada stajale, budućnost nije izgledala nimalo svijetlo. No on nije posustao niti se obeshrabrio. Nastavio je živjeti iz dana u dan, dobro obavljajući dužnosti sadašnjeg trenutka i vjerno izvršavajući neposredne odgovornosti svoga životnog položaja. Isusov život vječna je utjeha svim razočaranim idealistima.
126:5.4 (1393.1)
Apparently all Jesus’ plans for a career were thwarted. The future did not look bright as matters now developed. But he did not falter; he was not discouraged. He lived on, day by day, doing well the present duty and faithfully discharging the immediate responsibilities of his station in life. Jesus’ life is the everlasting comfort of all disappointed idealists.
Zarada običnog nadničarskog tesara postupno se smanjivala. Pred kraj te godine Isus je, radeći od ranog jutra do kasne večeri, mogao zaraditi tek oko dvadeset i pet centi na dan. Iduće su godine jedva uspijevali podmirivati građanske poreze, a da se i ne spominju sinagoški nameti i hramski porez od pola šekela. Tijekom te godine ubirač poreza pokušao je izvući dodatni novac od Isusa, čak mu zaprijetivši da će mu oduzeti harfu.
126:5.5 (1393.2)
The pay of a common day-laboring carpenter was slowly diminishing. By the end of this year Jesus could earn, by working early and late, only the equivalent of about twenty-five cents a day. By the next year they found it difficult to pay the civil taxes, not to mention the synagogue assessments and the temple tax of one-half shekel. During this year the tax collector tried to squeeze extra revenue out of Jesus, even threatening to take his harp.
Veliki šok njegove petnaeste godine uslijedio je kada je Isus otišao u Seforis kako bi čuo Herodovu odluku o žalbi podnesenoj u sporu oko iznosa novca koji je Josipu navodno pripadao u trenutku njegove iznenadne smrti. Isus i Marija nadali su se primitku znatne svote, dok im je rizničar u Seforisu nudio tek bijedan iznos. Josipova braća uložila su žalbu samom Herodu, i sada je Isus stajao u palači slušajući kako Herod proglašava da njegovu ocu u trenutku smrti nije dugovan nikakav novac. Zbog te nepravedne presude Isus više nikada nije vjerovao Herodu Antipi. Nije stoga čudno što ga je jednom prilikom nazvao „tom lisicom”.
126:5.7 (1393.4)
The great shock of his fifteenth year came when Jesus went over to Sepphoris to receive the decision of Herod regarding the appeal taken to him in the dispute about the amount of money due Joseph at the time of his accidental death. Jesus and Mary had hoped for the receipt of a considerable sum of money when the treasurer at Sepphoris had offered them a paltry amount. Joseph’s brothers had taken an appeal to Herod himself, and now Jesus stood in the palace and heard Herod decree that his father had nothing due him at the time of his death. And for such an unjust decision Jesus never again trusted Herod Antipas. It is not surprising that he once alluded to Herod as “that fox.”
Isusova vezanost za tesarsku klupu tijekom ove i narednih godina lišila ga je prilike da se druži s karavanskim putnicima. Njegov je ujak preuzeo opskrbnu radionicu, a Isus je radio isključivo u kućnoj radionici, gdje je bio pri ruci da pomaže Mariji u brizi za obitelj. U to je vrijeme počeo slati Jakova do karavanske stanice da prikupi vijesti o događajima u svijetu, nastojeći tako ostati u doticaju s najnovijim vijestima.
126:5.8 (1393.5)
The close work at the carpenter’s bench during this and subsequent years deprived Jesus of the opportunity of mingling with the caravan passengers. The family supply shop had already been taken over by his uncle, and Jesus worked altogether in the home shop, where he was near to help Mary with the family. About this time he began sending James up to the camel lot to gather information about world events, and thus he sought to keep in touch with the news of the day.
126:5.9 (1393.6)
As he grew up to manhood, he passed through all those conflicts and confusions which the average young persons of previous and subsequent ages have undergone. And the rigorous experience of supporting his family was a sure safeguard against his having overmuch time for idle meditation or the indulgence of mystic tendencies.
Te je godine Isus unajmio poveći komad zemlje sjeverno od njihove kuće i podijelio ga na obiteljske vrtove. Svako od starije djece dobilo je svoj vrt te su se gorljivo natjecali u svojim vrtlarskim nastojanjima. Njihov je najstariji brat tijekom sezone uzgoja povrća svakoga dana provodio neko vrijeme s njima u vrtu. Radeći sa svojom mlađom braćom i sestrama, Isus je često poželio da svi zajedno žive na seoskom imanju, gdje bi mogli uživati slobodu nesputanog života. No nisu odrastali na selu, a Isus je, premda idealist, bio i izrazito praktičan mladić. Razborito i odlučno suočavao se sa životom onakvim kakav jest te činio sve što je bilo u njegovoj moći da sebe i svoju obitelj prilagodi stvarnosti njihova položaja i da uskladi njihove životne okolnosti s najvećim mogućim ostvarenjem njihovih osobnih i zajedničkih težnji.
126:5.10 (1393.7)
This was the year that Jesus rented a considerable piece of land just to the north of their home, which was divided up as a family garden plot. Each of the older children had an individual garden, and they entered into keen competition in their agricultural efforts. Their eldest brother spent some time with them in the garden each day during the season of vegetable cultivation. As Jesus worked with his younger brothers and sisters in the garden, he many times entertained the wish that they were all located on a farm out in the country where they could enjoy the liberty and freedom of an unhampered life. But they did not find themselves growing up in the country; and Jesus, being a thoroughly practical youth as well as an idealist, intelligently and vigorously attacked his problem just as he found it, and did everything within his power to adjust himself and his family to the realities of their situation and to adapt their condition to the highest possible satisfaction of their individual and collective longings.
Jedno je vrijeme Isus gajio nadu da će uspjeti prikupiti dovoljno novca za kupnju malog seoskog imanja, pod uvjetom da uspiju naplatiti znatnu svotu koju su dugovali njegovu ocu za radove na Herodovoj palači. Ozbiljno je razmišljao o tom planu da preseli obitelj na selo. No kada je Herod odbio isplatiti ijedan dio novca koji je pripadao Josipu, morali su odustati od sna o vlastitom domu na selu. Ipak su uspijevali u velikoj mjeri uživati u iskustvu seoskog života jer su, uz golubove, imali tri krave, četiri ovce, jato kokoši, magarca i psa. Čak su i najmlađa djeca imala svoje redovite dužnosti u dobro uređenom kućanstvu koji je ove nazaretske obitelji.
126:5.11 (1393.8)
At one time Jesus faintly hoped that he might be able to gather up sufficient means, provided they could collect the considerable sum of money due his father for work on Herod’s palace, to warrant undertaking the purchase of a small farm. He had really given serious thought to this plan of moving his family out into the country. But when Herod refused to pay them any of the funds due Joseph, they gave up the ambition of owning a home in the country. As it was, they contrived to enjoy much of the experience of farm life as they now had three cows, four sheep, a flock of chickens, a donkey, and a dog, in addition to the doves. Even the little tots had their regular duties to perform in the well-regulated scheme of management which characterized the home life of this Nazareth family.
Po završetku svoje petnaeste godine Isus je prošao kroz ono opasno i teško razdoblje ljudskog života, prijelazno vrijeme između bezbrižnijih godina djetinjstva i svijesti o približavanju zrele dobi sa svim njezinim povećanim odgovornostima i mogućnostima za stjecanje dubljeg iskustva u izgradnji plemenitog karaktera. Razdoblje tjelesnog i umnog rasta bilo je završeno, a sada je započinjala prava životna staza ovog mladića iz Nazareta.
126:5.12 (1394.1)
With the close of this fifteenth year Jesus completed the traversal of that dangerous and difficult period in human existence, that time of transition between the more complacent years of childhood and the consciousness of approaching manhood with its increased responsibilities and opportunities for the acquirement of advanced experience in the development of a noble character. The growth period for mind and body had ended, and now began the real career of this young man of Nazareth.