Bead Five His Father's House
With Joseph occupied throughout the day in his workshop next to the house or out and about, delivering orders to his customers, and with her parents living close by, Mary was content and happy in her new home. Jesus was growing up before their very eyes, from the beautiful baby he had been, nestling in their arms, then playing at their feet, into the happy young lad he was now.
Along with the other boys of the town, he attended the local scripture school and, when not at school, he would help around the house and in the workshop, loving to spend time watching and learning from his father, fascinated as he worked with the wood, fashioning all sorts of objects. At other times he would be off with his friends, playing games and roaming around the countryside.
Each weekend was devoted to the Sabbath, the special meal and prayers on Friday evening, followed by a day of rest on Saturday. As his twelfth birthday drew near, Jesus was completing the preparations for his Bar Mitzvah and the excitement was rising in their home. He had learned and could recite from memory the necessary scriptures so when the day finally arrived, the celebration itself was a wonderful occasion for them all as Joseph proudly announced that his son would now take responsibility for his own faith.
It was soon after this event that Jesus was to make his first visit to the temple in Jerusalem. His parents went every year to celebrate the Passover Festival with a large party from the town while the younger children of the community were cared for by older family members and the elderly residents. All the first-time visitors were to wear their best clothes and could hardly wait for the day to arrive.
The group set off, waved on their way by those who were remaining at home. It was a journey of two to three days, with overnight stops for food and drink, singing and praying. When they finally reached and passed through the gates of the city, Jesus and his friends were awestruck by their first impressions of Jerusalem and especially of the temple. The sights, the sounds, the crowds of people from all parts of the country and beyond were things they'd never experienced or dreamt of before.
Everyone enjoyed the festival immensely and when it drew to a close, gathered together to set off home. However, Jesus, without thinking to tell Mary and Joseph, decided to go to the temple one last time. As he sat listening to the elders of their religion while they read and discussed the scriptures, his naturally inquiring mind and intelligence led him to ask questions and to reply to the questions they asked him. They were all amazed by his answers and his understanding.
As the day drew to an end, the learned men asked the young boy where he was staying, at which point, Jesus realised that his family and friends would have left already and would be well on their way home. He assured them that his parents would come back to find him when they discovered that he wasn't with the group. One of the teachers offered to take him home to meet his family and spend the night safely with them.
Meanwhile, the pilgrims from Nazareth had made their stop for the night and Mary and Joseph went to look for Jesus. They had assumed he was with the young people or with family and friends but as they went from group to group, others joined them in the search and it soon became apparent that he was nowhere to be found. After a disturbed night’s sleep, his anxious parents said farewell to their friends as they set off to return to Jerusalem to look for him.
Eventually, to their utmost relief, they found him in the temple, sitting amongst the group of teachers as he had been the day before, listening, asking and replying to questions and joining in the discussions. His parents were astonished to find him in conversation with the elders of their faith and Mary said to him, "Jesus, son; why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been desperately worried since we found out that you were missing and as we searched for you!"
Jesus answered them in all innocence, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I had to be in my Father's house?" but Mary and Joseph were unable to understand the meaning of his reply. The teacher who had invited Jesus to his home the night before, spoke most kindly to them, explaining what had happened. He then invited the whole family to come home with him that night, offering hospitality which they accepted gratefully before leaving the following morning.
Travelling as they were now, on their own now, they were able to take the opportunity to visit Elizabeth, Zechariah and John on the way home, much to everyone’s delight. The return to Nazareth saw them settle back contentedly into the everyday routines of their lives.
Jesus had always been an obedient and devoted son to his parents and as he grew into manhood, his wisdom and maturity were evident to everyone who knew him. Mary, as she had done from the very beginning of his life, continued to treasure all these memories in her heart.
The Birth and Early Life of Jesus - An Addenda
The events of the birth and early life of Jesus are recorded in only two of the four Gospels. That Mary was engaged to Joseph, that she was found to be expecting a baby before they came to live together and that Jesus, her son, was born in Bethlehem are the only common threads in these two accounts. In telling this story, I have tried to create a time frame into which all these events can fit together.
From St Matthew's gospel, we have the following stories.
Mary is engaged to Joseph and is found to be expecting a baby.
Joseph is told by an angel in a dream not to be afraid to marry Mary because her child is from God. Joseph is told to name him Jesus, which means Saviour.
Joseph marries Mary and takes her to his house.
Jesus is born in Bethlehem.
Wise men from the East had seen a new star rising which was to herald the birth of the king of the Jews and decided to seek him out to pay him homage.
The men go to Jerusalem and ask Herod where to find the new King. He sends them to Bethlehem.
Herod fears the news about a new king. He asks the travellers to let him know where the baby is so that he can pay homage too.
The wise men see the star again and follow it. They find the baby with his mother and present gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby. They are warned in a dream to return home by a different route.
Joseph is warned by an angel in a dream to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape before Herod sends soldiers to kill the male children in and around Bethlehem below two years old because of the time the wise men had seen the star rising.
Joseph is told by an angel in a dream that it is safe to return to Israel because Herod is dead. He then decides that they should move on to settle in Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to escape more danger from Herod’s son, Archelaus.
From St Luke's gospel, we have these stories.
Zechariah is told by the angel Gabriel that his wife, Elizabeth, is to have a son. His lack of faith causes him to be struck dumb.
When Elizabeth is six months pregnant, the angel Gabriel is sent by God to tell a young woman named Mary, who is engaged to Joseph, that she is to have a baby who will be God’s Son and whom she is to name Jesus.
Mary asks how this can happen and is told it will be by the power of God’s Spirit. Mary accepts God’s will. She is told that her cousin, Elizabeth, is also expecting a son.
Mary visits Elizabeth who recognises that Mary is expecting a baby who will be the Son of God. Mary stays with her for three months.
Elizabeth's son is born and is named John by Elizabeth and by Zechariah whose speech then returns.
Mary and Joseph go to Bethlehem to register for the census ordered by the emperor. Jesus is born in a stable because there was no room in the inn.
Shepherds are told about this by an angel. Angels fill the sky singing praises to God. The shepherds go to Bethlehem and find Jesus lying in a manger.
Jesus is circumcised and named at eight days old.
Jesus is presented in the temple at forty days old. An offering of two turtledoves is made. Elderly people named Simeon and Anna recognise Jesus as the promised Messiah.
Jesus is lost and is found in the temple when he is twelve years old speaking with the teachers of their religion. As he grows up, he increases in wisdom and favour with God and with the people who know him.
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