Changes

==128:2. THE TWENTY-SECOND YEAR (A.D. 16)==

==128:2. THE TWENTY-SECOND YEAR (A.D. 16)==

128:2.1 This was one of several years during which Jesus' brothers and sisters were facing the trials and tribulations peculiar to the problems and readjustments of adolescence. Jesus now had brothers and sisters ranging in ages from seven to eighteen, and he was kept busy helping them to adjust themselves to the new awakenings of their intellectual and emotional lives. He had thus to grapple with the problems of adolescence as they became manifest in the lives of his younger brothers and sisters.

128:2.1 This was one of several years during which [[Jesus]]' brothers and sisters were facing the [[trials]] and tribulations peculiar to the [[problems]] and readjustments of [[adolescence]]. Jesus now had brothers and sisters ranging in ages from seven to eighteen, and he was kept busy helping them to [[adjust]] themselves to the new [[awakenings]] of their [[intellectual]] and [[emotional]] lives. He had thus to grapple with the [[problems]] of [[adolescence]] as they became [[manifest]] in the lives of his younger brothers and sisters.

128:2.2 This year Simon graduated from school and began work with Jesus' old boyhood playmate and ever-ready defender, Jacob the stone mason. As a result of several family conferences it was decided that it was unwise for all the boys to take up carpentry. It was thought that by diversifying their trades they would be prepared to take contracts for putting up entire buildings. Again, they had not all kept busy since three of them had been working as full-time carpenters.

128:2.2 This year Simon [[graduated]] from school and began [[work]] with [[Jesus]]' old boyhood playmate and ever-ready defender, Jacob the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masonry stone mason]. As a result of several [[family]] [[conferences]] it was decided that it was unwise for all the boys to take up [[carpentry]]. It was thought that by [[diversifying]] their trades they would be [[prepared]] to take contracts for putting up entire buildings. Again, they had not all kept busy since three of them had been working as full-time [[carpenter]]s.

128:2.3 Jesus continued this year at house finishing and cabinetwork but spent most of his time at the caravan repair shop. James was beginning to alternate with him in attendance at the shop. The latter part of this year, when carpenter work was slack about Nazareth, Jesus left James in charge of the repair shop and Joseph at the home bench while he went over to Sepphoris to work with a smith. He worked six months with metals and acquired considerable skill at the anvil.

128:2.3 [[Jesus]] continued this year at house finishing and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinetry cabinetwork] but spent most of his time at the [[caravan]] repair shop. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_the_Just James] was beginning to alternate with him in attendance at the shop. The latter part of this year, when [[carpenter]] work was slack about [[Nazareth]], Jesus left James in charge of the repair shop and Joseph at the home bench while he went over to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepphoris Sepphoris] to work with a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blacksmith smith]. He worked six months with metals and acquired considerable skill at the anvil.

128:2.4 Before taking up his new employment at Sepphoris, Jesus held one of his periodic family conferences and solemnly installed James, then just past eighteen years old, as acting head of the family. He promised his brother hearty support and full co-operation and exacted formal promises of obedience to James from each member of the family. From this day James assumed full financial responsibility for the family, Jesus making his weekly payments to his brother. Never again did Jesus take the reins out of James's hands. While working at Sepphoris he could have walked home every night if necessary, but he purposely remained away, assigning weather and other reasons, but his true motive was to train James and Joseph in the bearing of the family responsibility. He had begun the slow process of weaning his family. Each Sabbath Jesus returned to Nazareth, and sometimes during the week when occasion required, to observe the working of the new plan, to give advice and offer helpful suggestions.

128:2.4 Before taking up his new employment at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepphoris Sepphoris], [[Jesus]] held one of his periodic [[family]] [[conferences]] and [[solemn]]ly installed [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_the_Just James], then just past eighteen years old, as acting head of the family. He [[promised]] his [[brother]] hearty [[support]] and full [[co-operation]] and exacted [[formal]] [[promises]] of [[obedience]] to James from each member of the family. From this day James [[assumed]] full [[financial]] [[responsibility]] for the family, [[Jesus]] making his weekly payments to his [[brother]]. Never again did [[Jesus]] take the reins out of James's hands. While working at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepphoris Sepphoris] he could have walked [[home]] every night if [[necessary]], but he [[purposely]] remained away, assigning [[weather]] and other reasons, but his true [[motive]] was to train James and Joseph in the bearing of the [[family]] [[responsibility]]. He had begun the slow [[process]] of [[weaning]] his [[family]]. Each [[Sabbath]] [[Jesus]] returned to [[Nazareth]], and sometimes during the week when occasion required, to [[observe]] the working of the new [[plan]], to give [[advice]] and offer helpful suggestions.

128:2.5 Living much of the time in Sepphoris for six months afforded Jesus a new opportunity to become better acquainted with the gentile viewpoint of life. He worked with gentiles, lived with gentiles, and in every possible manner did he make a close and painstaking study of their habits of living and of the gentile mind.

128:2.5 Living much of the time in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepphoris Sepphoris] for six months afforded [[Jesus]] a new [[opportunity]] to become better acquainted with the [[gentile]] [[viewpoint]] of life. He worked with [[gentiles]], lived with gentiles, and in every possible [[manner]] did he make a close and painstaking [[study]] of their [[habits]] of living and of the gentile [[mind]].

128:2.6 The moral standards of this home city of Herod Antipas were so far below those of even the caravan city of Nazareth that after six months' sojourn at Sepphoris Jesus was not averse to finding an excuse for returning to Nazareth. The group he worked for were to become engaged on public work in both Sepphoris and the new city of Tiberias, and Jesus was disinclined to have anything to do with any sort of employment under the supervision of Herod Antipas. And there were still other reasons which made it wise, in the opinion of Jesus, for him to go back to Nazareth. When he returned to the repair shop, he did not again assume the personal direction of family affairs. He worked in association with James at the shop and as far as possible permitted him to continue oversight of the home. James's management of family expenditures and his administration of the home budget were undisturbed.

128:2.6 The [[moral]] [[standards]] of this [[home]] [[city]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_Antipas Herod Antipas] were so far below those of even the [[caravan]] city of [[Nazareth]] that after six months' [[sojourn]] at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepphoris Sepphoris] [[Jesus]] was not averse to finding an excuse for returning to [[Nazareth]]. The [[group]] he worked for were to become [[engaged]] on public work in both Sepphoris and the new city of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberias Tiberias], and [[Jesus]] was disinclined to have anything to do with any sort of employment under the supervision of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_Antipas Herod Antipas]. And there were still other reasons which made it [[wise]], in the [[opinion]] of [[Jesus]], for him to go back to [[Nazareth]]. When he returned to the repair shop, he did not again [[assume]] the [[personal]] direction of [[family]] affairs. He worked in [[association]] with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_the_Just James] at the shop and as far as possible [[permitted]] him to continue oversight of the [[home]]. James's [[management]] of [[family]] expenditures and his [[administration]] of the [[home]] [[budget]] were undisturbed.

128:2.7 It was by just such wise and thoughtful planning that Jesus prepared the way for his eventual withdrawal from active participation in the affairs of his family. When James had had two years' experience as acting head of the family—and two full years before he (James) was to be married—Joseph was placed in charge of the household funds and intrusted with the general management of the home.

128:2.7 It was by just such [[wise]] and [[thoughtful]] planning that [[Jesus]] [[prepared]] the way for his [[eventual]] withdrawal from [[active]] [[participation]] in the affairs of his [[family]]. When [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_the_Just James] had had two years' [[experience]] as acting head of the [[family]]—and two full years before he (James) was to be [[married]]—Joseph was placed in charge of the household funds and intrusted with the general [[management]] of the [[home]].

==128:3. THE TWENTY-THIRD YEAR (A.D. 17)==

==128:3. THE TWENTY-THIRD YEAR (A.D. 17)==