The Twenty-Sixth Year (A.D. 20)
Autor: Carlos Fernando Rocha | Publicado: 2012-04-15T20:04:00-03:00



As this year began, Jesus of Nazareth became strongly conscious that he 
possessed a wide range of potential power. But he was likewise fully 
persuaded that this power was not to be employed by his personality as 
the Son of Man, at least not until his hour should come.

&nbsp;At this time he thought much but said little about the relation of 
himself to his Father in heaven. And the conclusion of all this thinking
 was expressed once in his prayer on the hilltop, when he said: “Regardless
 of who I am and what power I may or may not wield, I always have been, 
and always will be, subject to the will of my Paradise Father.” 
And yet, as this man walked about Nazareth to and from his work, it was 
literally true — as concerned a vast universe — that “in him were hidden
 all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

All this year the family affairs ran smoothly except for Jude. For years
 James had trouble with his youngest brother, who was not inclined to 
settle down to work nor was he to be depended upon for his share of the 
home expenses. While he would live at home, he was not conscientious 
about earning his share of the family upkeep.

Jesus was a man of peace, and ever and anon was he embarrassed by Jude’s
 belligerent exploits and numerous patriotic outbursts. James and Joseph
 were in favor of casting him out, but Jesus would not consent. When 
their patience would be severely tried, Jesus would only counsel: “Be
 patient. Be wise in your counsel and eloquent in your lives, that your 
young brother may first know the better way and then be constrained to 
follow you in it.” The wise and loving counsel of Jesus prevented
 a break in the family; they remained together. But Jude never was 
brought to his sober senses until after his marriage.

Mary seldom spoke of Jesus’ future mission. Whenever this subject was referred to, Jesus only replied, “My hour has not yet come.”
 Jesus had about completed the difficult task of weaning his family from
 dependence on the immediate presence of his personality. He was rapidly
 preparing for the day when he could consistently leave this Nazareth 
home to begin the more active prelude to his real ministry for men.

This year Jesus enjoyed more than usual leisure, and he devoted much 
time to training James in the management of the repair shop and Joseph 
in the direction of home affairs. Mary sensed that he was making ready 
to leave them. Leave them to go where? To do what? She had about given 
up the thought that Jesus was the Messiah. She could not understand him;
 she simply could not fathom her first-born son.

Jesus spent a great deal of time this year with the individual members 
of his family. He would take them for long and frequent strolls up the 
hill and through the countryside. Before harvest he took Jude to the 
farmer uncle south of Nazareth, but Jude did not remain long after the 
harvest. He ran away, and Simon later found him with the fishermen at 
the lake. When Simon brought him back home, Jesus talked things over 
with the runaway lad and, since he wanted to be a fisherman, went over 
to Magdala with him and put him in the care of a relative, a fisherman; 
and Jude worked fairly well and regularly from that time on until his 
marriage, and he continued as a fisherman after his marriage.

 At last the day had come when all Jesus’ brothers had chosen, and were 
established in, their lifework. The stage was being set for Jesus’ 
departure from home.

 In November a double wedding occurred. James and Esta, and Miriam and 
Jacob were married. It was truly a joyous occasion. Even Mary was once 
more happy except every now and then when she realized that Jesus was 
preparing to go away. She suffered under the burden of a great 
uncertainty: If Jesus would only sit down and talk it all over freely 
with her as he had done when he was a boy, but he was consistently 
uncommunicative; he was profoundly silent about the future.

James and his bride, Esta, moved into a neat little home on the west 
side of town, the gift of her father. While James continued his support 
of his mother’s home, his quota was cut in half because of his marriage,
 and Joseph was formally installed by Jesus as head of the family. Jude 
was now very faithfully sending his share of funds home each month. The 
weddings of James and Miriam had a very beneficial influence on Jude, 
and when he left for the fishing grounds, the day after the double 
wedding, he assured Joseph that he could depend on him “to do my full 
duty, and more if it is needed.” And he kept his promise.

Miriam lived next door to Mary in the home of Jacob, Jacob the elder 
having been laid to rest with his fathers. Martha took Miriam’s place in
 the home, and the new organization was working smoothly before the year
 ended.

 The day after this double wedding Jesus held an important conference 
with James. He told James, confidentially, that he was preparing to 
leave home. He presented full title to the repair shop to James, 
formally and solemnly abdicated as head of Joseph’s house, and most 
touchingly established his brother James as “head and protector of my 
father’s house.” He drew up, and they both signed, a secret compact in 
which it was stipulated that, in return for the gift of the repair shop,
 James would henceforth assume full financial responsibility for the 
family, thus releasing Jesus from all further obligations in these 
matters. After the contract was signed, after the budget was so arranged
 that the actual expenses of the family would be met without any 
contribution from Jesus, Jesus said to James: “But,
 my son, I will continue to send you something each month until my hour 
shall have come, but what I send shall be used by you as the occasion 
demands. Apply my funds to the family necessities or pleasures as you 
see fit. Use them in case of sickness or apply them to meet the 
unexpected emergencies which may befall any individual member of the 
family.”

And thus did Jesus make ready to enter upon the second and home-detached
 phase of his adult life before the public entrance upon his Father’s 
business.

TO BE CONTINUED...&nbsp;