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[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:The_eye_of_all_ur60.jpg|right|frame]] 127:5.1 Although [[Jesus]] was [[poor]], his [[social standing]] in [[Nazareth]] was in no way impaired. He was one of the foremost [[young men]] of the [[city]] and very highly regarded by most of the young [[women]]. Since [[Jesus]] was such a splendid [[specimen]] of [[robust]] and [[intellectual]] manhood, and considering his [[reputation]] as a [[spiritual]] [[leader]], it was not strange that Rebecca, the eldest daughter of Ezra, a [[wealthy]] merchant and [[trader]] of [[Nazareth]], should [[discover]] that she was slowly falling in [[love]] with this son of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph Joseph]. She first confided her [[affection]] to Miriam, [[Jesus]]' sister, and Miriam in turn talked all this over with her [[mother]]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_(mother_of_Jesus) Mary] was [[intensely]] aroused. Was she about to lose her son, now become the indispensable head of the [[family]]? Would troubles never cease? What next could happen? And then she paused to [[contemplate]] what [[effect]] [[marriage]] would have upon [[Jesus]]' [[future]] [[career]]; not often, but at least sometimes, did she recall the [[fact]] that Jesus was a " child of promise. " After she and Miriam had talked this matter over, they decided to make an [[effort]] to stop it before [[Jesus]] learned about it, by going direct to Rebecca, laying the whole [[story]] before her, and [[honestly]] telling her about their [[belief]] that [[Jesus]] was a son of [[destiny]]; that he was to become a great religious leader, perhaps [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_messianism the Messiah]. 127:5.2 Rebecca [[listened]] intently; she was thrilled with the [[recital]] and more than ever [[determined]] to cast her lot with this man of her [[choice]] and to [[share]] his [[career]] of [[leadership]]. She [[argued]] (to herself) that such a man would all the more need a [[faithful]] and [[efficient]] [[wife]]. She [[interpreted]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_(mother_of_Jesus) Mary]'s efforts to dissuade her as a [[natural]] [[reaction]] to the dread of losing the head and sole [[support]] of her [[family]]; but knowing that her [[father]] approved of her [[attraction]] for the [[carpenter]]'s son, she rightly reckoned that he would gladly supply the [[family]] with sufficient income fully to [[compensate]] for the loss of [[Jesus]]' earnings. When her [[father]] agreed to such a [[plan]], Rebecca had further [[conferences]] with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_(mother_of_Jesus) Mary] and Miriam, and when she failed to win their [[support]], she made bold to go directly to [[Jesus]]. This she did with the [[co-operation]] of her [[father]], who invited [[Jesus]] to their home for the [[celebration]] of Rebecca's seventeenth birthday. 127:5.3 [[Jesus]] listened [[attentively]] and [[sympathetically]] to the [[recital]] of these things, first by the [[father]], then by Rebecca herself. He made kindly reply to the [[effect]] that no amount of [[money]] could take the place of his [[obligation]] personally to rear his [[father]]'s [[family]], to " fulfill the most [[sacred]] of all [[human]] trusts—[[loyalty]] to one's own flesh and blood. " Rebecca's [[father]] was deeply [[touch]]ed by [[Jesus]]' [[words]] of [[family]] [[devotion]] and retired from the [[conference]]. His only remark to Mary, his [[wife]], was: " We can't have him for a son; he is too [[noble]] for us. " 127:5.4 Then began that eventful talk with Rebecca. Thus far in his life, [[Jesus]] had made little distinction in his [[association]] with [[Male|boys]] and [[Female|girls]], with young men and young women. His [[mind]] had been altogether too much occupied with the pressing [[problems]] of [[practical]] earthly affairs and the [[intriguing]] [[contemplation]] of his eventual [[career]] " about his Father's business "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_Luke#Chapter_2] ever to have given serious [[consideration]] to the consummation of [[personal]] [[love]] in human [[marriage]]. But now he was face to face with another of those [[problems]] which every [[average]] [[human being]] must [[confront]] and [[decide]]. Indeed was he " tested in all points like as you are. "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Letter_to_the_Hebrews#The_Letter_to_the_Hebrews.2C_IV] 127:5.5 After [[listening]] [[attentively]], he [[sincerely]] thanked Rebecca for her [[expressed]] [[admiration]], adding, " it shall cheer and [[comfort]] me all the days of my life. " He explained that he was not [[free]] to enter into [[relations]] with any [[woman]] other than those of simple brotherly regard and [[friendship]]. He made it clear that his first and [[paramount]] [[duty]] was the rearing of his [[father]]'s [[family]], that he could not consider [[marriage]] until that was accomplished; and then he added: " If I am a son of [[destiny]], I must not assume [[obligations]] of lifelong duration until such a time as my destiny shall be made [[manifest]]. " 127:5.6 Rebecca was heartbroken. She refused to be [[comforted]] and [[importuned]] her [[father]] to leave [[Nazareth]] until he finally consented to move to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepphoris Sepphoris]. In after years, to the many men who sought her hand in [[marriage]], Rebecca had but one answer. She lived for only one [[purpose]]—to await the hour when this, to her, the greatest man who ever lived would begin his [[career]] as a [[teacher]] of living [[truth]]. And she followed him [[devotedly]] through his eventful years of [[public]] [[labor]], being present (unobserved by [[Jesus]]) that day when he rode triumphantly into [[Jerusalem]]; and she stood " among the other women " by the side of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_(mother_of_Jesus) Mary] on that fateful and [[tragic]] afternoon when the Son of Man [[Crucifixion|hung upon the cross]], to her, as well as to countless worlds on high, " the one altogether lovely and the greatest among ten thousand. " <center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_127 Go to Paper 127]</center> <center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center> [[Category:Paper 127 - The Adolescent Years]] [[Category: Romance]]

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