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124:6.1 [[Jesus]], having now reached the [[threshold]] of young manhood and having been formally [[graduated]] from the [[synagogue]] [[schools]], was qualified to [[proceed]] to [[Jerusalem]] with his [[parents]] to [[participate]] with them in the [[celebration]] of his first [[Passover]]. The Passover feast of this year fell on Saturday, April 9, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_AD A.D. 7]. A considerable company (103) made ready to depart from [[Nazareth]] early Monday morning, April 4, for [[Jerusalem]]. They journeyed south toward [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaria Samaria], but on reaching [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jezreel_(city) Jezreel], they turned east, going around [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Gilboa Mount Gilboa] into the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_valley_(Middle_East) Jordan valley] in order to avoid passing through [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaria Samaria]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph Joseph] and his [[family]] would have enjoyed going down through [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaria Samaria] by way of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob's_well Jacob's well] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethel Bethel], but since the [[Jews]] disliked to deal with the Samaritans, they decided to go with their [[neighbors]] by way of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_valley_(Middle_East) Jordan valley].

124:6.1 [[Jesus]], having now reached the [[threshold]] of young manhood and having been formally [[graduated]] from the [[synagogue]] [[schools]], was qualified to [[proceed]] to [[Jerusalem]] with his [[parents]] to [[participate]] with them in the [[celebration]] of his first [[Passover]]. The Passover feast of this year fell on Saturday, April 9, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_AD A.D. 7]. A considerable company (103) made ready to depart from [[Nazareth]] early Monday morning, April 4, for [[Jerusalem]]. They journeyed south toward [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaria Samaria], but on reaching [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jezreel_(city) Jezreel], they turned east, going around [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Gilboa Mount Gilboa] into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_valley_(Middle_East) Jordan valley] in order to avoid passing through [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaria Samaria]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph Joseph] and his [[family]] would have enjoyed going down through [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaria Samaria] by way of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob's_well Jacob's well] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethel Bethel], but since the [[Jews]] disliked to deal with the Samaritans, they decided to go with their [[neighbors]] by way of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_valley_(Middle_East) Jordan valley].

124:6.2 The much-dreaded [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_Archelaus Archelaus] had been deposed, and they had little to [[fear]] in taking [[Jesus]] to [[Jerusalem]]. Twelve years had passed since the first [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great Herod] had sought to destroy the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_122#122:8._THE_BIRTH_OF_JESUS babe of Bethlehem], and no one would now [[think]] of associating that affair with this obscure lad of [[Nazareth]].

124:6.2 The much-dreaded [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_Archelaus Archelaus] had been deposed, and they had little to [[fear]] in taking [[Jesus]] to [[Jerusalem]]. Twelve years had passed since the first [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great Herod] had sought to destroy the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_122#122:8._THE_BIRTH_OF_JESUS babe of Bethlehem], and no one would now [[think]] of associating that affair with this obscure lad of [[Nazareth]].

124:6.3 Before reaching the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jezreel Jezreel] junction, and as they [[journeyed]] on, very soon, on the left, they passed the ancient village of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shunem Shunem], and [[Jesus]] heard again about the most [[beautiful]] [[maiden]] of all [[Israel]] who once lived there and also about the [[wonderful]] works [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisha Elisha] performed there. In passing by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jezreel Jezreel], [[Jesus]]' [[parents]] recounted the doings of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahab Ahab] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jezebel Jezebel] and the exploits of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehu Jehu]. In passing around [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Gilboa Mount Gilboa], they talked much about [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul], who took his life on the slopes of this [[mountain]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David King David], and the associations of this historic spot.

124:6.3 Before reaching the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jezreel Jezreel] junction, and as they [[journeyed]] on, very soon, on the left, they passed the ancient village of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shunem Shunem], and [[Jesus]] heard again about the most [[beautiful]] [[maiden]] of all [[Israel]] who once lived there and also about the [[wonderful]] works [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisha Elisha] performed there. In passing by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jezreel Jezreel], [[Jesus]]' [[parents]] recounted the doings of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahab Ahab] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jezebel Jezebel] and the exploits of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehu Jehu]. In passing around [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Gilboa Mount Gilboa], they talked much about [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul], who took his life on the slopes of this [[mountain]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David King David], and the associations of this historic spot.

124:6.4 As they rounded the base of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Gilboa Gilboa], the [[pilgrims]] could see the [[Greek]] [[city]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scythopolis Scythopolis] on the right. They gazed upon the marble [[structures]] from a distance but went not near the [[gentile]] city lest they so defile themselves that they could not [[participate]] in the forthcoming [[solemn]] and [[sacred]] [[ceremonies]] of the [[Passover]] at [[Jerusalem]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_(mother_of_Jesus) Mary] could not [[understand]] why neither [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph Joseph] nor [[Jesus]] would speak of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scythopolis Scythopolis]. She did not know about their [[controversy]] of the previous year as they had never [[revealed]] this episode to her.

124:6.4 As they rounded the base of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Gilboa Gilboa], the [[pilgrims]] could see the [[Greek]] [[city]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scythopolis Scythopolis] on the right. They gazed upon the marble [[structures]] from a distance but went not near the [[gentile]] city lest they so defile themselves that they could not [[participate]] in the forthcoming [[solemn]] and [[sacred]] [[ceremonies]] of the [[Passover]] at [[Jerusalem]]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_(mother_of_Jesus) Mary] could not [[understand]] why neither [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph Joseph] nor [[Jesus]] would speak of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scythopolis Scythopolis]. She did not know about their [[controversy]] of the previous year as they had never [[revealed]] this episode to her.

124:6.5 The road now led [[immediately]] down into the tropical [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_valley_(Middle_East) Jordan valley], and soon [[Jesus]] was to have [[exposed]] to his [[wondering]] gaze the crooked and ever-winding [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_river Jordan] with its glistening and rippling [[water]]s as it flowed down toward the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Sea Dead Sea]. They laid aside their outer garments as they [[journeyed]] south in this tropical valley, enjoying the luxurious fields of grain and the [[beautiful]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oleander oleanders] laden with their pink blossoms, while massive snow-capped [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Hermon Mount Hermon] stood far to the north, in [[majesty]] looking down on the historic valley. A little over three hours' travel from opposite [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scythopolis Scythopolis] they came upon a bubbling spring, and here they camped for the night, out under the [[star]]lit heavens.

124:6.5 The road now led [[immediately]] down into the tropical [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_valley_(Middle_East) Jordan valley], and soon [[Jesus]] was to have [[exposed]] to his [[wondering]] gaze the crooked and ever-winding [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_river Jordan] with its glistening and rippling [[water]]s as it flowed down toward the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Sea Dead Sea]. They laid aside their outer garments as they [[journeyed]] south in this tropical valley, enjoying the luxurious fields of grain and the [[beautiful]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oleander oleanders] laden with their pink blossoms, while massive snow-capped [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Hermon Mount Hermon] stood far to the north, in [[majesty]] looking down on the historic valley. A little over three hours' travel from opposite [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scythopolis Scythopolis] they came upon a bubbling spring, and here they camped for the night, out under the [[star]]lit heavens.

124:6.6 On their second day's [[journey]] they passed by where the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zarqua_river Jabbok], from the east, flows into the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_river Jordan], and looking east up this river valley, they recounted the days of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gideon_(biblical_figure) Gideon], when the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midian Midianites] poured into this region to overrun the [[land]]. Toward the end of the second day's [[journey]] they camped near the base of the highest mountain overlooking the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_valley_(Middle_East) Jordan valley], Mount Sartaba, whose [[summit]] was occupied by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandrium Alexandrian fortress] where [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great Herod] had imprisoned one of his wives and buried his two strangled sons.

124:6.6 On their second day's [[journey]] they passed by where the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zarqua_river Jabbok], from the east, flows into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_river Jordan], and looking east up this river valley, they recounted the days of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gideon_(biblical_figure) Gideon], when the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midian Midianites] poured into this region to overrun the [[land]]. Toward the end of the second day's [[journey]] they camped near the base of the highest mountain overlooking the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_valley_(Middle_East) Jordan valley], Mount Sartaba, whose [[summit]] was occupied by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandrium Alexandrian fortress] where [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great Herod] had imprisoned one of his wives and buried his two strangled sons.

124:6.7 The third day they passed by two villages which had been recently built by Herod and noted their superior [[architecture]] and their [[beautiful]] palm [[gardens]]. By nightfall they reached [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jericho Jericho], where they remained until the morrow. That evening [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph Joseph], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_(mother_of_Jesus) Mary], and [[Jesus]] walked a mile and a half to the site of the ancient [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jericho Jericho], where [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua Joshua], for whom [[Jesus]] was named, had [[performed]] his renowned exploits, according to [[Jewish]] [[tradition]].

124:6.7 The third day they passed by two villages which had been recently built by Herod and noted their superior [[architecture]] and their [[beautiful]] palm [[gardens]]. By nightfall they reached [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jericho Jericho], where they remained until the morrow. That evening [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph Joseph], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_(mother_of_Jesus) Mary], and [[Jesus]] walked a mile and a half to the site of the ancient [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jericho Jericho], where [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua Joshua], for whom [[Jesus]] was named, had [[performed]] his renowned exploits, according to [[Jewish]] [[tradition]].

124:6.8 By the fourth and last day's [[journey]] the road was a continuous [[procession]] of [[pilgrims]]. They now began to climb the hills leading up to [[Jerusalem]]. As they neared the top, they could look across the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_river Jordan] to the mountains beyond and south over the sluggish waters of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Sea Dead Sea]. About halfway up to [[Jerusalem]], Jesus gained his first view of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_of_Olives Mount of Olives] (the region to be so much a part of his subsequent life), and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph Joseph] pointed out to him that the Holy City lay just beyond this ridge, and the lad's [[heart]] beat fast with joyous [[anticipation]] of soon beholding the city and house of his [[heavenly Father]].

124:6.8 By the fourth and last day's [[journey]] the road was a continuous [[procession]] of [[pilgrims]]. They now began to climb the hills leading up to [[Jerusalem]]. As they neared the top, they could look across the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_river Jordan] to the mountains beyond and south over the sluggish waters of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Sea Dead Sea]. About halfway up to [[Jerusalem]], Jesus gained his first view of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_of_Olives Mount of Olives] (the region to be so much a part of his subsequent life), and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph Joseph] pointed out to him that the Holy City lay just beyond this ridge, and the lad's [[heart]] beat fast with joyous [[anticipation]] of soon beholding the city and house of his [[heavenly Father]].

124:6.9 On the eastern slopes of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_of_Olives Olivet] they paused for rest in the borders of a little village called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethany Bethany]. The hospitable villagers poured forth to minister to the [[pilgrims]], and it happened that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph Joseph] and his [[family]] had stopped near the house of one Simon, who had three children about the same age as [[Jesus]]—[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary,_sister_of_Lazarus Mary], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha Martha], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazarus Lazarus]. They invited the [[Nazareth]] [[family]] in for refreshment, and a lifelong [[friendship]] sprang up between the two [[families]]. Many times afterward, in his [[eventful]] life, [[Jesus]] stopped in this [[home]].

124:6.9 On the eastern slopes of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_of_Olives Olivet] they paused for rest in the borders of a little village called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethany Bethany]. The hospitable villagers poured forth to minister to the [[pilgrims]], and it happened that [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph Joseph] and his [[family]] had stopped near the house of one Simon, who had three children about the same age as [[Jesus]]—[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary,_sister_of_Lazarus Mary], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha Martha], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazarus Lazarus]. They invited the [[Nazareth]] [[family]] in for refreshment, and a lifelong [[friendship]] sprang up between the two [[families]]. Many times afterward, in his [[eventful]] life, [[Jesus]] stopped in this [[home]].

124:6.10 They pressed on, soon standing on the brink of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_of_Olives Olivet], and [[Jesus]] saw for the first time (in his [[memory]]) the [[Jerusalem|Holy City]], the pretentious palaces, and the [[inspiring]] [[temple]] of [[Universal Father|his Father]]. At no time in his life did [[Jesus]] ever [[experience]] such a purely [[human]] thrill as that which at this time so completely enthralled him as he stood there on this April afternoon on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_of_Olives Mount of Olives], drinking in his first view of [[Jerusalem]]. And in after years, on this same spot he stood and wept over the [[city]] which was about to reject another [[prophet]], the last and the greatest of her heavenly [[teachers]].

124:6.10 They pressed on, soon standing on the brink of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_of_Olives Olivet], and [[Jesus]] saw for the first time (in his [[memory]]) the [[Jerusalem|Holy City]], the pretentious palaces, and the [[inspiring]] [[temple]] of [[Universal Father|his Father]]. At no time in his life did [[Jesus]] ever [[experience]] such a purely [[human]] thrill as that which at this time so completely enthralled him as he stood there on this April afternoon on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_of_Olives Mount of Olives], drinking in his first view of [[Jerusalem]]. And in after years, on this same spot he stood and wept over the [[city]] which was about to reject another [[prophet]], the last and the greatest of her heavenly [[teachers]].

124:6.11 But they hurried on to [[Jerusalem]]. It was now Thursday afternoon. On reaching the [[city]], they journeyed past the [[temple]], and never had [[Jesus]] beheld such throngs of [[human being]]s. He meditated deeply on how these [[Jews]] had assembled here from the uttermost parts of the known [[world]].

124:6.11 But they hurried on to [[Jerusalem]]. It was now Thursday afternoon. On reaching the [[city]], they journeyed past the [[temple]], and never had [[Jesus]] beheld such throngs of [[human being]]s. He meditated deeply on how these [[Jews]] had assembled here from the uttermost parts of the known [[world]].

124:6.12 Soon they reached the place prearranged for their accommodation during the [[Passover]] week, the large [[home]] of a [[well-to-do]] [[relative]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_(mother_of_Jesus) Mary]'s, one who knew something of the early history of both [[John the Baptist|John]] and [[Jesus]], through [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zechariah_(priest) Zacharias]. The following day, the day of [[preparation]], they made ready for the appropriate [[celebration]] of the [[Passover]] [[Sabbath]].

124:6.12 Soon they reached the place prearranged for their accommodation during the [[Passover]] week, the large [[home]] of a [[well-to-do]] [[relative]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_(mother_of_Jesus) Mary]'s, one who knew something of the early history of both [[John the Baptist|John]] and [[Jesus]], through [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zechariah_(priest) Zacharias]. The following day, the day of [[preparation]], they made ready for the appropriate [[celebration]] of the [[Passover]] [[Sabbath]].

124:6.13 While all [[Jerusalem]] was astir in [[preparation]] for the [[Passover]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph Joseph] found time to take his son around to visit the [[University|academy]] where it had been arranged for him to resume his [[education]] two years later, as soon as he reached the required age of fifteen. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph Joseph] was truly puzzled when he [[observed]] how little interest [[Jesus]] evinced in all these carefully laid [[plans]].

124:6.13 While all [[Jerusalem]] was astir in [[preparation]] for the [[Passover]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph Joseph] found time to take his son around to visit the [[University|academy]] where it had been arranged for him to resume his [[education]] two years later, as soon as he reached the required age of fifteen. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph Joseph] was truly puzzled when he [[observed]] how little interest [[Jesus]] evinced in all these carefully laid [[plans]].

124:6.14 [[Jesus]] was [[profound]]ly impressed by [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_temple the temple] and all the associated services and other activities. For the first time since he was four years old, he was too much preoccupied with his own meditations to ask many questions. He did, however, ask his [[father]] several [[embarrassing]] questions (as he had on previous occasions) as to why the heavenly Father required the slaughter of so many [[innocent]] and helpless [[animals]]. And his [[father]] well knew from the [[expression]] on the lad's face that his answers and attempts at [[explanation]] were unsatisfactory to his deep-[[thinking]] and keen-reasoning son.

124:6.14 [[Jesus]] was [[profound]]ly impressed by [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_temple the temple] and all the associated services and other activities. For the first time since he was four years old, he was too much preoccupied with his own meditations to ask many questions. He did, however, ask his [[father]] several [[embarrassing]] questions (as he had on previous occasions) as to why the heavenly Father required the slaughter of so many [[innocent]] and helpless [[animals]]. And his [[father]] well knew from the [[expression]] on the lad's face that his answers and attempts at [[explanation]] were unsatisfactory to his deep-[[thinking]] and keen-reasoning son.

124:6.15 On the day before the [[Passover]] [[Sabbath]], flood tides of [[spiritual]] [[illumination]] swept through the [[mortal]] [[mind]] of [[Jesus]] and filled his [[human]] [[heart]] to overflowing with [[affection]]ate [[pity]] for the spiritually blind and morally [[ignorant]] multitudes assembled for the [[celebration]] of the ancient [[Passover]] commemoration. This was one of the most extraordinary days that the Son of God spent in the [[flesh]]; and during the night, for the first time in his [[earth]] [[career]], there appeared to him an assigned [[messenger]] from [[Salvington]], commissioned by [[Immanuel]], who said: " The hour has come. It is time that you began to be about your Father's business. "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_Luke#Chapter_2]

124:6.15 On the day before the [[Passover]] [[Sabbath]], flood tides of [[spiritual]] [[illumination]] swept through the [[mortal]] [[mind]] of [[Jesus]] and filled his [[human]] [[heart]] to overflowing with [[affection]]ate [[pity]] for the spiritually blind and morally [[ignorant]] multitudes assembled for the [[celebration]] of the ancient [[Passover]] commemoration. This was one of the most extraordinary days that the Son of God spent in the [[flesh]]; and during the night, for the first time in his [[earth]] [[career]], there appeared to him an assigned [[messenger]] from [[Salvington]], commissioned by [[Immanuel]], who said: " The hour has come. It is time that you began to be about your Father's business. "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_Luke#Chapter_2]