The Mind of Jesus

 Having finished what he wanted to say, concluding with what he knew would be his final prayer with his disciples before his own death, Jesus looked around at the eleven men still around the Passover table with him. He felt an overpowering fatigue and would have liked nothing better than to find somewhere to lay his head and just sleep. The events of the last week had taken him to new highs, but there were also lows.  But he knew he had to press on. However, at this moment he was more concerned for his friends - he had just told them he no longer called them servants, which a Rabbi was entitled to do, but friends.

He had tried to tell them, give them some idea of what lay ahead. But they just did not seem to be getting it. He had not wanted to spell it out so graphically that he would scare them all off. Then what would have to show for his three years with them, his three years of toiling at his mission?

Now, he knew the end  - or was it the beginning - of something new, something even greater than what had been happening these last three years - was only hours away. He had already dispatched Judas, setting him free to do what Jesus knew was inches heart. Jesus’ heart ached for Judas. He had been a loyal supporter these last years. Why, at this time, had he chosen to betray Jesus? Some things Jesus could not explain now, but he trusted his Father was still in control and things were unfolding according to his grand plan, a plan set in place before the beginning of time.

Jesus felt John at his left, with his brother James next to him. Simon Peter sat at his right. Oh Peter, he thought, you too are going to disappoint me, but perhaps not as much as yourself. I need to warn you, all of you, but especially you, Peter.

Addressing all of those with him, Jesus said with a heavy heart, remembering his three years with these faithful followers “You will all become deserters of me tonight; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I ma raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”

Peter, ever the quick to speak, blurted out, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.”

Turning to him, Jesus replied, “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you-“ he gazed directly into Simon Peter’s eyes, “-when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Peter wanted to ask, ‘Turn back from what?’ But sensing some of Jesus’ present anguish, said instead, trying to sound as reassuring as possible, “Lord, even though I must die with you, I will never deny you. I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” The other disciples began to make similar protestations when Jesus broke in, still directing his words at Peter. 

“I tell you Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.” Peter was stunned. He? Deny Jesus? Had he not just said that was something he would never do? He wanted to protest, to ask what that was supposed to mean, but Jesus had turned away and, lifting his arms, was leading them all in the final hymn of Passover:

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Let all Israel say: "His love endures forever.

Let the house of Aaron say: "His love endures forever.

Let those who fear the LORD say: "His love endures forever."

In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free.

The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.

All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

They swarmed around me like bees, but they died out as quickly as burning thorns; in 

the name of the LORD I cut them off.

I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me.

The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: "The LORD's right hand 

has done mighty things!

The LORD's right hand is lifted high; the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"

I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death.

Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.

This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter.

I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.

The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;

the LORD has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes.

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we 

bless you. ^[1]

The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join

in the festal procession up ^[2] to the horns of the altar.

You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

Jesus paused for moment, letting the words they were so familiar with sink in. As he looked again upon his followers he wondered, Did they know the full meaning of what they has just sung. Of course not, he knew. However, they would learn it yet. First, they had to experience it, and that was beginning now.

He looked again at his followers, knowing he would never see them in the same way again. John, John, the young man he felt closest to. Jesus knew he would not be far away. This was reassuring because Jesus needed him. His mother, long widowed, needed a caregiver and John was the most suitable inches group. Jesus took another look at James. If you only knew, but it’s a good thing you don’t - you will be the first in our circle to be put to death by our adversaries - after myself.

Jesus shook his head, as if to get away from those thoughts and clear his mind for what lay ahead. He asked:

“When I sent you out without a purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”

“Not a thing,” the men answered.

“But now,” Jesus continued, “the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted among the lawlesss’; and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.” He could say that because he knew, with all the warnings he had given his men, that some had gone and purchased swords, Peter being one of them. So far, they had been keeping them concealed.  However, now they admitted, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” The second one was Thomas’s. Jesus was not surprised. Thomas had grasped enough of what Jesus had been saying about his pending death to say, when they had set out to come to Bethany to see their friend Lazarus, that he was ready to go and die with him.

“It is enough,” Jesus finished as he rose and began to walk in silence towards the door. It was dark when they stepped out, and the chill of an early spring evening was settling in. The eleven knew where they were going. Jesus had seemed to want to stay near the city at night these days, not even going to their friends over the hill at Bethany. They just been bedding down in an olive grove at the base of the hill known as Gethsemane. They had become used to carrying extra cloaks to help ward off the cold at night as they huddled together in the garden. 

Jesus looked up to his left as they set out into the Kidron Valley. The walls of the city were silhouetted against the darkening sky above them. As they followed the curve of the valley eastward and then north, the upper portion of the temple also came into view over the tops of the city wall. 

The house of Israel, the priests, they could sing “The Lord is good, his love endures forever” in their homes and in the temple. Jesus knew that, under current circumstances in their land though, these were more words of hope that Israel clung to than conviction. The way they had suffered under the Greeks and now the Romans, it was not easy to really believe their God was good and still loved them. 

So what entered their minds when they sang the second stanza Jesus wondered. How much of this was hope? How much of it was memory, the stories of the first Passover and the deliverance from slavery and oppression in Egypt led by Moses, the entry to the promised land under Joshua, the return centuries later from the exile to Babylonia. That was the last time they had felt somewhat free, although even then, they had been under the Persians. And their neighbours hd not been welcoming either, those whom he Babylonians had left behind, indeed, even transported here from other parts of their empire. Of course, no one else could know how much Jesus himself now clung to these assurances for himself as he trudged wearily along the valley with is followers in silence behind him.

The end of the fourth stanza was what really hit home to him. He would live - again. Yes, death waited, but there was also a resurrection. As the psalmist had written, “He will not give me over to death.” I will not stay dead Jesus told himself.

“…The gates of righteousness…” To his fellow countrymen, these were the gates of Jerusalem, through which they came time and again on their pilgrimages, to worship in the temple, where they believed their God was with them. But Jesus was thinking of another set of gates. Going through with what lay before him would give him the right to enter the gates of heaven itself.

“…the stone the builders rejected…” Oh my people, Jesus thought again. You are rejecting me, but I am the answer you are looking for and I will, ultimately, be the head of the kingdom you long for. I am your Messiah. You treated me as if I was, a mere week ago. You even sang and shouted these words, with boughs in hand as it is written, ”Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” We were indeed a procession entering Jerusalem, as the prophet Zechariah predicted. But all the religious leaders could think of was what a commotion you were making. They did not share your beliefs, your passion. They were only concerned that, especially at Passover when there were more Roman soldiers in Jerusalem than usual because of previous revolts during this season, that the soldiers would think this was the beginning of another revolt  and there would be another bloodbath. Indeed, there was reason to fear. The Romans were cruel when it came to suppressing opposition. And there was going to a lot of that for his followers in the years to come too, Jesus knew. How would he ever prepare his followers for that?

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love endures forever.” Jesus lifted his head and began humming the tune. He needed to do something to stay focused. One by one his followers joined in as they neared the garden. 

The Story of Mary: Catholic Version III The Ministry Years - Chapter 23 – The Women in Jesus’ Life

NOTE: THESE CHAPTERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN A MUCH IMPROVED, EXPANDED BOOK, "A SWORD SHALL PIERCE YOUR SOUL" from FriesenPress

Months passed and Mary saw little of her son. Neighbours, friends and sometimes visiting relatives would share snippets of information. It seems one of Jesus’ followers, the young fisherman John Mary remembered from the wedding at Cana, had family in Jerusalem and that’s where Jesus and his friends would stay when he went there. At least he has somewhere to go when he’s in Jerusalem, thought Mary. 

Then Mary heard some news that made her take notice. Apparently, Jesus now also had some women who followed along with him. This was something new. Traveling teachers usually only had male students. Indeed, many were now referring to Jesus as ‘rabbi,’ ‘Teacher.’ Mary tried to learn who these women followers were and what had brought that about. 

It turned out that there were actually quite a few of these female devotees. Some, Mary discovered, were women who had been healed of evil spirits and disabilities. One name in particular figured prominently in this group: another Mary. However, this Mary had quite a different background. She was from Magdala on the west shore of the Sea of Galilee, south of Capernaum. Evidently Jesus had cast out seven demons from her. No wonder she has become a follower of my son, Mary thought – to be freed from all that. Perhaps just as surprising was that another woman named Joanna, the wife of Cuza, King Herod’s household manager, was in this group. Some of these women, such as Joanna and another named Susanna were women of means. It seems they provided for Jesus and his followers out of their own resources. Again, Mary was pleased to learn that, in some way, her son was being looked after and having his material needs met.

A couple of years passed by. Mary continued to hear of Jesus’ teaching and his miracle working. Jesus had on a couple of occasions actually miraculously fed the crowds that gathered around him. I guess I need not worry about his getting enough to eat, thought Mary wryly. She had also heard that on a couple of occasions Jesu was supposed to have raised people from the dead. That was something to ponder. Who but God had such power? Some of these had just died when Jesus intervened but then she heard an even more amazing story. She had heard of Jesus friends in Bethany, where pilgrims often stayed when they went to the feasts in Jerusalem. The man of the household had died. Jesus had not arrived until 4 days later, and he had called the man, Lazarus was his name, from the tomb. He had come out walking! Mary could not help but wonder where this was all headed. What was Jesus ultimate goal?

But Mary also continued to hear tales of Jesus’ confrontations with the religious leaders. She was beginning to pick up that some were so disturbed by Jesus’ claims that they wanted to kill him. When she heard that, Mary was determined to find Jesus and see for herself that he was alright. She needed to get some answers too. How far was Jesus taking this?

Mary knew Jesus and his followers had gone to Passover so she decided to go to Jerusalem and find them. She went to her parents’ home place and was warmly received. It was some time since they had seen her. Her Uncle Benjamin and Aunt Hannah also came over. They told her that when Jesus was in Jerusalem he spent time at the temple preaching and sometimes doing miracles. Here, he often also got caught up in debates with the religious leaders, the lawyers of the Torah, the scribes and even the Pharisees. Just like when he was twelve, Mary thought. Apparently, he had been quite hard on the Pharisees in one of his speeches. Mary wondered if he was being fair. People generally looked up to the Pharisees as models of law-abiding behaviour, the Law of Moses, that is. Mary determined to go to the temple to find Jesus.

It was not hard to find Jesus. Mary just had to go where the crowds were thickest. She wanted more than ever to run forward and talk to her son but she held back. She saw his young followers with him, hanging on every word. She gathered that the women with them were the ones he had heard about who helped provide his support for the group. 

Jesus was busy teaching and Mary felt she could not disturb him. However, she did edge closer until she was next to some of the women. They were clustered more around the fringe of the crowd that was thronging Jesus. She greeted some of them and began to make their acquaintance. They seemed like sincere and caring persons. 

Eventually Mary mustered up enough courage to tell the women who she really was. She added how long it was since she had seen him and immediately wished she had not said that. “Oh,” they said, “We have to tell Jesus you’re here so you can talk with him.” 

“That would be wonderful,” Mary replied, “but, really, I will be happy just to join you for a while. Let Jesus do what he needs to do.”

“You are a wonderful mother,” the other Mary told her. “No wonder Jesus is such a loving person.”

“We really think He is our long-awaited Messiah.” At that Mary’s ears perked up. Did that not sound like what the angel and the prophets had told her years ago. Now others were coming to that conclusion. This was truly astonishing.

“Yes, one of the women chimed in, “Last first day of the week we really saw what it would be like if he were our king, as the Messiah will be.”

“What do you mean,” asked Mary.

“Oh, have you not heard?” they asked. “Jesus got hold of a donkey colt. Some of us put blankets on it and Jesus mounted it to go back into Jerusalem. Seeing Jesus like that really drove the crowds wild. They began to tear palm and other branches from the roadside and wave them before him as he rode. They even threw their cloaks down in front of him. Just like people do for a king! All the while, they were shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the King of Israel.’ Some of the religious leaders were not impressed. They tried to tell Jesu to use his influence to tell the crowds to stop but it was to no avail. We know that some of them really want to catch him and put him on trial for blasphemy and treason. “

“Blasphemy?” Mary said incredulously. She had never herd Jesus say a bad word in his life. 

“Yes, Jesus talks about God as if Yahweh is his father and sometimes also makes it sound as if he is equal with God. No person can really make that claim but then, we have never seen or heard of anyone like Jesus either.”

Mary’s heart skipped a beat when she heard about the intention of the authorities. If only Jesus had listened to her a long time ago. But he always seemed to know what he was doing, what he believed he need to do, and she had learned a long time ago that there was no stopping him.

Mary was glad she had made the acquaintance of these women. She could feel their support for Jesus, even for her. The women asked if she and her family had a place to stay. She thanked them for their concern, their hospitality, and reassured them she was looked after. She told them where she was staying; at relatives. Then she bade her new friends good evening, Happy Passover, and went to join her family at parents’ home. 

Then came the day to celebrate the Passover feast. Mary was told that Jesus had instructed his young men on preparing a place for them and everything had fallen into place just as he had predicted. Yes, Mary thought, ‘He always seems to know what’s going to happen.’ 

The Story of Mary: Catholic Version:II Another Special Birth - Chapter 16 First Passover in Jerusalem

Life seemed to pass uneventfully for a number of years after the adventures of the first years of Jesus’ life. Joseph continued his work as a builder. Jesus was well received by his older siblings, James, Joseph, Jude, Simon and sisters Hannah and Elizabeth (Mark 6:3). 

When Jesus came of age his father enrolled him in the local synagogue school. There, Jesus began to hear even more of the scriptures than if he just went to synagogue with his father. He also learned to read and write Aramaic at an elementary level. 

Jesus was a promising student who most definitely impressed his teachers. This made his parents proud of him. It also meant that when he approached his twelfth birthday, his teachers and other friends who knew the family well began to tell Joseph and Mary that they should enrol Jesus in school beyond age 12. Only the better students were known to be given such opportunities. Friends and neighbours might not have understood, but to Joseph and Mary, all of this did not come as a complete surprise. If Jesus was a special child of God, destined for a future role as the angels had told them years earlier, it should not be surprising that he learned these things so well.

Coming of age at his twelfth birthday also meant Jesus was eligible to celebrate Passover with his parents in Jerusalem. Given Jesus’ history as they knew it, Joseph and Mary were both agreed this was something they should certainly arrange. This it was that Jesus travelled to Jerusalem with his parents in the spring of his 12^thyear. They joined an ever-growing crowd of other pilgrims bound for the same destination as they would their way southeast through Galilee and then alongside Samaria until they came to Jericho. Jesus listened to the stories he heard from his peers and his elders about the Samaritans they bypassed, but he did not join in the negative remarks that were made. Leaving Jericho he heard stories about the dangers of that leg of the journey up to Jerusalem. By this time though, the pilgrims were a steady throng of celebrants, singing together and to one another the psalms customarily sung at this time on this road when en route to the temple. Jesus had learned the songs in school and synagogue too and loved to join in as best he could. 

Jesus could feel the excitement build as the wayfarers neared Jerusalem. Passing through Bethany they crested the peak of Olivet and there lay the city and the temple, gleaming in the sun.  Jesus wondered whether the emotions that ran through him as he surveyed the scene before them were shared by his fellow travellers.  He was not filled with any sense of being superior to his peers and their parents but he felt a certain calm, growing conviction that no one else, certainly not anyone his age, understood the significance of all of this as well as he did. As they continued down and across the valley Jesus thought over the rituals and the offerings and sacrifices they were soon to take part in. 

Of course, it would all begin with a passover meal. He looked forward to this, which would take place at his grandparents Joachim and Anna’s home. That was their first destination. By this time he and his siblings had joined a number of his peers on the way and they enjoyed lifting their voices and singing the psalms as loudly as they could. As they approached the gate into the city before them the group began to disband as Jesus and his siblings and friends began to look for their parents. Eventually they spotted them and waited for them to catch up with him. 

“We were wondering whether you were going to get lost,” their father half-teased. 

“Oh, I think our son knows where he belongs,” Mary opined. 

Jesus face was beaming as he joined his parents as they made their way to his grandparents. Joyous greetings and blessings were exchanged on arrival. Jesus’ grandfather took pride in explaining to him what the procedure was going to be for celebrating the passover. Having made sure Jesus knew what it was about, he was invited to join in the preparations. Joachim had already purchased a lamb for the feast; it was tied to an iron ring in the gate to their courtyard. Jesus looked at it with a deep sense of wonder, this animal who was going to be sacrificed to take the place of the firstborn son, according to the ancient Exodus story.

When it came time to slaughter the lamb, Jesus was amazed at how willingly the lamb went with his father and grandfather, having no idea what was in store for it. It made no sound of protest and suddenly its blood was spilled on the ground and its life was taken from it. In no time it was skinned, cut up and roasting on the spit prepared over the home fire. As the family gathered for the meal, Joachim led them all through the repetition of the stories and then the prayers that his people had developed over the years as the celebration of the passover meal. Jesus drank it all in, enjoying his growing understanding, seeing how it all fit together in fulfilment of longheld understandings of the occasion. He was learning so much. 

The Story of Mary III - Chapter 28 – Mary Meets the Other Women in Jesus’ Life

NOTE: THESE CHAPTERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN A MUCH IMPROVED, EXPANDED BOOK, "A SWORD SHALL PIERCE YOUR SOUL" from FriesenPress

Months passed and Mary saw little of her son. Neighbours, friends and sometimes visiting relatives would share snippets of information. It seems one of Jesus’ followers, the young fisherman John Mary remembered from the wedding at Cana, had family in Jerusalem and that’s where Jesus and his friends would stay when he went there. At least he has somewhere to go when he’s in Jerusalem, thought Mary. 

Then Mary heard some news that made her take notice. Apparently, Jesus now also had some women who followed along with him. This was something new. Traveling teachers usually only had male students. Indeed, many were now referring to Jesus as ‘rabbi,’ ‘Teacher.’ Mary tried to learn who these women followers were and what had brought that about. 

It turned out that there were actually quite a few of these female devotees. Some, Mary discovered, were women who had been healed of evil spirits and disabilities. One name in particular figured prominently in this group: another Mary. However, this Mary had quite a different background. She was from Magdala on the west shore of the Sea of Galilee, south of Capernaum. Evidently Jesus had cast out seven demons from her. There were also rumours she had been a prostitute. No wonder she has become a follower of my son, Mary thought – to be freed from all that. Perhaps just as surprising was that another woman named Joanna, the wife of Cuza, King Herod’s household manager, was in this group. Some of these women, such as Joanna and another named Susanna were women of means. It seems they provided for Jesus and his followers out of their own resources. Again, Mary was pleased to learn that, in some way, her son was being looked after and having his material needs met.

A couple of years passed by. Mary continued to hear of Jesus’ teaching and his miracle working. Jesus had on a couple of occasions actually miraculously fed the crowds that gathered around him. I guess I need not worry about his getting enough to eat, thought Mary wryly. She had also heard that on a couple of occasions Jesu was supposed to have raised people from the dead. That was something to ponder. Who but God had such power? Some of these had just died when Jesus intervened but then she heard an even more amazing story. She had heard of Jesus friends in bethany, where pilgrims often stayed when they went to the feasts in Jerusalem. The man of the household had died. Jesus had not arrived until 4 days later, and he had called the man, Lazarus was his name, from the tomb. He had come out walking! Mary could not help but wonder where this was all headed. What was Jesus ultimate goal?

But Mary also continued to hear tales of Jesus’ confrontations with the areligious leaders. She was beginning to pick up that some were so disturbed by Jesus’ claims that they wanted to kill him. When she heard that Mary was determined to find Jesus and see for herself that he was alright. She needed to get some answers too. How far was Jesus taking this?

Mary knew Jesus and his followers had gone to Passover so she decided to go to Jerusalem and find them. She went to her Uncle Benjamin‘s place and was warmly received. It was some time since they had seen her. Unele Benjamin told her that when Jesus was in Jerusalem he spent time at the temple preaching and sometimes doing miracles. Here, he often also got caught up in debates with the religious leaders, the lawyers of the Torah, the scribes and even the Pharisees. Just like when he was twelve, Mary thought. Apparently, he had been quite hard on the Pharisees in one of his speeches. Mary wondered if he was being fair. People generally looked up to the Pharisees as models of law-abiding behaviour, the Law of Moses, that is. Mary determined to go to the temple to find Jesus.

It was not hard to find Jesus. Mary just had to go where the crowds were thickest. She wanted more than ever to run forward and talk to her son but she held back. She saw his young followers with him, hanging on every word. She gathered that the women with them were the ones he had heard about who helped provide his support for the group. 

Jesus was busy teaching and Mary felt she could not disturb him. However, she did edge closer until she was next to some of the women. They were clustered more around the fringe of the crowd that was thronging Jesus. She greeted some of them and began to make their acquaintance. They seemed like sincere and caring persons. 

Eventually Mary mustered up enough courage to tell the women who se really was. She added how long it was since she had seen him and immediately wished she had not said that. “Oh,” they said, “We have to tell Jesus you’re her so you can talk with him.” 

“That would be wonderful,” Mary replied, “but, really, I will be happy just to join you for a while. Let Jesus do what he needs to do.”

“You are a wonderful mother, the other Mary told her. No wonder Jesu is such a loving person.”

“We really think He is our long-awaited Messiah.” At that Mary’s ears perked up. Did that not sound like what the angel and the prophets had told her years ago. Now others were coming to that conclusion. This was truly astonishing.

“Yes, one of the women chimed in, ‘Last first day of the week we really saw what it would be like if he were our king, as the Messiah will be.”

“What do you mean,” asked Mary.

“Oh, have you not heard?” they asked. “Jesus got hold of a donkey colt. Some of us put blankets on it and Jesus mounted it to go back into Jerusalem. Seeing Jesus like that really drove the crowds wild. They began to tear palm and other branches from the roadside and wave them before him as he rode. They even threw their cloaks down in front of him. Just like people do for a king! All the while, they were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the King of Israel. Some of the religious leaders were not impressed. They tried to tell Jesu to use his influence to tell the crowds to stop but it was to no avail. We know that some of them really want to catch him and put him on trial for blasphemy and treason. “

“Blasphemy?” Mary said incredulously. She had never herd Jesus say a bad word in his life. 

“Yes, Jesu talks about God as if Yahweh is his father and sometimes also makes it sound as if he is equal with god. No person can really make that claim but then, we have never seen or heard of anyone like Jesu either.”

Mary’s heart skipped a beat when she heard about the intention of the authorities. If only Jesus had listened to her a long time ago. But he always seemed to know what he was doing, what he believed he need to do, and she had learned a long time ago that there was no stopping him.

Mary was glad she had made the acquaintance of these women. She could feel their support for Jesus, even for her. The women asked if she and her family had a place to stay. She thanked them for their concern, their hospitality, and reassured them she was looked after. She told them where she was staying; at relatives. Then she bade her new friends good evening, Happy Passover, and went to join her family at her Uncle Bejanmin and Aunt Hannah’s home. 

Then came the day to celebrate the Passover feast. Mary was told that Jesus had instructed his young men on preparing a place for them and everything had fallen into place just as he had predicted. Yes, Mary thought, ‘he always seems to know what’s going to happen.’ 

Chapter 22 – Staying in the Temple

NOTE: THESE CHAPTERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN A MUCH IMPROVED, EXPANDED BOOK, "A SWORD SHALL PIERCE YOUR SOUL" from FriesenPress

When the Passover Festival came to a close, the family from Nazareth prepared to return. They all said their farewells to their Jerusalem family, Joachim and Anna and their relatives form Ein Kerem, Zechariah, Elizabeth and John, and set out. The streets were full of people and it was hard to keep together. Joseph and Mary had all they could do to keep their little ones together without being too concerned about the whereabouts of Jesus. They knew he knew his way back. They had already seen him joining some friends so knew he was in good company.

When they passed beyond Jerusalem and joined the throngs of pilgrims heading east, they still assumed Jesus was somewhere in the crowd. However, when they got to their first night stop and Jesus was nowhere in sight, they did begin to feel some concern. They searched the area where they were staying and asked many fellow travellers if they had seen Jesus. Of course, they had to provide a description but it was still all to no avail; there were dozens of young boys like Jesus on the road. They decided they had no option but to return to Jerusalem next morning to find him.

They went straight to Joachim and Anna’s but he had not returned there. Now they were even more concerned, and so were Jesus’ grandparents. This was not like Jesus, to do things without telling them. Mary’s parents joined Joseph and Mary in the search as much as they could, while keeping an eye on his younger siblings too. It wasn’t until the third day of searching they found him. Some citizens had told them they had seen a boy in the temple for the last couple of days surrounded by rabbis who all seemed to be taking a keen interest in the boy.

Joseph and Mary left their little ones with their grandparents and went to the temple. Sure enough, there was Jesus, surrounded by rabbis, scribes, and even some Pharisees and members of the Sanhedrin. Joseph and Mary were not sure what they should do in the face of this august gathering. They indicated to some of the men in the outer circles that this was their son and they needed to take him home to Galilee from the passover feast. Some said, “Well, then you must simply inform these men and claim you son.” The group was so intent on their discussion they hardly noticed Joseph then trying as respectfully as possible to push his way in until he was right behind Jesus. Mary was right behind him. some in the circle started to look at who this was intruding but before anyone could say anything to them Mary had reached Jesus and, touching him on the shoulder and said, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety (Luke 2:48).”

Jesus looked up at her, almost too innocently, and placed his hand over hers, “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my father’s house (Luke 2:49)?”

“I’m not sure what you mean by that,” Joseph interjected, “But can you come home with us now?” 

The learned men around them murmured approvingly and some of them said to Jesus, “Yes, now you must obey your parents and return home with them.” Turning to his parents they said, ‘This boy is unbelievably knowledgeable and mature. Take care of him. See to it that he gets the best schooling you can afford. I am sure we will hear more of him.”

The three from Nazareth bowed and thanked the men for their interest and their praise as they backed away from them, with Mary grasping Jesus’ hand tightly in hers. Then, Joseph, Mary and Jesus turned and made their way to her parents to collect the other children and explain what had happened. Joachim reprimanded Jesus gently for the worry he had caused them all and Jesus apologized. He seemed genuinely sorry for the anxiety he had caused but at the same time did not suggest he had really been doing anything wrong in what it was he was doing. Mary noted this change with some concern.

Just the same, they said farewells once again and started over on their return trip to Nazareth. This time jesus’ parents made sure they kept Jesus near and he obliged. He seemed quite happy to be travelling back with his parents and brothers and sisters. Eventually, they all reached home together. 

Mary kept pondering over the strange things that had happened in her life, not the least being this last action of Jesus himself. She still did not know what to make of it all. Nor did she know where it was really leading. However, things settled down again. 

Jesus was enrolled in the advanced synagogue school for promising boys. He loved this and delighted in coming home and sharing with his parents what he was learning form the scriptures. They, in turn, were amazed at what he gained from them, how he seemed to speak of what he read with such authority. He also often seemed to see things in the law, the prophets especially, and wisdom literature that no one else did. He started at the same time to learn to help his father in his trade and Joseph noted that he was a quick learner and did very good work. He soon became a real asset to his father’s business. This made him proud of this unusual son. All told, Jesus continued to grow and seemed to become unusually wise for a boy his age. However, no unusual or unacceptable behaviour followed for quite some time.

Chapter 21 – First Passover in Jerusalem

Life seemed to pass uneventfully for a number of years after the adventures of the first couple of years of Joseph and Mary’s relationship and Jesus’ birth. Joseph continued his work as a builder.  Jesus actually gained some siblings, notably younger brothers James, Joseph, Jude, Simon and sisters Hannah and Elizabeth (Mark 6:3). 

When Jesus came of age his father enrolled him in the local synagogue school. There, Jesus began to hear even more of the scriptures than if he just went to synagogue with his father. He also learned to read and write Aramaic at an elementary level. 

Jesus was a promising student who most definitely impressed his teachers. This made his parents proud of him. It also meant that when he approached his twelfth birthday, his teachers and other friends who knew the family well began to tell Joseph and Mary that they should enrol Jesus in school beyond age 12. Only the better students were known to be given such opportunities. Friends and neighbours might not have understood, but to Joseph and Mary, all of this did not come as a complete surprise. If Jesus was a special child of God, destined for a future role as the angels had told them years earlier, it should not be surprising that he learned these things so well.

Coming of age at his twelfth birthday also meant Jesus was eligible to celebrate Passover with his parents in Jerusalem. Given Jesus’ history as they knew it, Joseph and Mary were both agreed this was something they should certainly arrange. This it was that Jesus travelled to Jerusalem with his parents in the spring of his 12^thyear. They joined an ever-growing crowd of other pilgrims bound for the same destination as they would their way southeast through Galilee and then alongside Samaria until they came to Jericho. Jesus listened to the stories he heard from his peers and his elders about the Samaritans they bypassed, but he did not join in the negative remarks that were made. Leaving Jericho he heard stories about the dangers of that leg of the journey up to Jerusalem. By this time though, the pilgrims were a steady throng of celebrants, singing together and to one another the psalms customarily sung at this time on this road when en route to the temple. Jesus had learned the songs in school and synagogue too and loved to join in as best he could. 

Jesus could feel the excitement build as the wayfarers neared Jerusalem. Passing through Bethany they crested the peak of Olivet and there lay the city and the temple, gleaming in the sun.  Jesus wondered whether the emotions that ran through him as he surveyed the scene before them were shared by his fellow travellers.  He was not filled with any sense of being superior to his peers and their parents but he felt a certain calm, growing conviction that no one else, certainly not anyone his age, understood the significance of all of this as well as he did. As they continued down and across the valley Jesus thought over the rituals and the offerings and sacrifices they were soon to take part in. 

Of course, it would all begin with a passover meal. He looked forward to this, which would take place at his grandparents Joachim and Anna’s home. That was their first destination. By this time he had joined a number of his peers on the way and they enjoyed lifting their voices and singing the psalms as loudly as they could. As they approached the gate into the city before them the group began to disband as Jesus and his friends began to look for their parents. Eventually he spotted them and waited for them to catch up with him. 

“We were wondering whether you were going to get lost,” his father half-teased. 

“Oh, I think our son knows where he belongs,” Mary opined. 

Jesus face was beaming as he joined his parents as they made their way to his grandparents. Joyous greetings and blessings were exchanged on arrival. Jesus’ grandfather took pride in explaining to him what the procedure was going to be for celebrating the passover. Having made sure Jesus knew what it was about, he was invited to join in the preparations. Joachim had already purchased a lamb for the feat; it was tied to an iron ring in the gate to their courtyard. Jesus looked at it with a deep sense of wonder, this animal who was going to be sacrificed to take the place of the firstborn son, according to the ancient Exodus story.

When it came time to slaughter the lamb, Jesus was amazed at how willingly the lamb went with his father and grandfather, having no idea what was in store for it. It made no sound of protest and suddenly its blood was spilled on the ground and its life was taken from it. In no time it was skinned, cut up and roasting on the spit prepared over the home fire. As the family gathered for the meal, Joachim led them all through the repetition of the stories and then the prayers that his people had developed over the years as the celebration of the passover meal. Jesus drank it all in, enjoying his growing understanding, seeing how it all fit together in fulfilment of longheld understandings of the occasion. He was learning so much. 

The Passover and Communion

It was in the previous quarterly issue of our church devotional, Rejoice, that a daily meditation struck me more strongly than some do. I believe it was based on Exodus 12:43-49.

What really struck me about this particular set of instructions for keeping the Passover, as there are several, starting with the original one in Exodus 12:1-20, was its particular focus on those other than The Children of Israel. In the first sentence of this particular message received by Moses and his brother Aaron from The Lord, it is stated, "no foreigner shall eat of it." This included slaves and servants (Verse 45). However, our God in his abiding mercy and grace, did make provision for those referred to here as aliens who might want to celebrate the Passover. In verse 48 it states that if all of their males were circumcised, these families could celebrate the Passover and henceforth be regarded as natives of Israel, or  "the land", as it states here. However, the same verse ends by saying, "no uncircumcised person shall eat of it." The instructions wrap up with the statement in verse 49: "there shall be one law for the natives and for the aliens who reside among you."

There is one other point here that I believe we ought to remember even today as non-Jews, and that is what is stated in verse 47: “the whole congregation of Israel shall celebrate it." We know, from what is taught in the New Testament, that we as believers, Christians, The Church, are the present day version of the "congregation of Israel."

Now, this is a reflection, a blog, not a theological treatise, so I am not going to go into heavy-duty explanations and proof-text all of my points. However, I think they are opinions that are shared by many or they would not continue to be passed on 2000 years after the beginning of the church.

Now, the parallel to The Passover which I want to draw, as indicated in our title, is with our celebration as The Church of Communion.

If we are compared to the children of Israel, I think Passover is compared to Communion. Both are celebrations of deliverance from evil, from death. Historically, it was Israel's celebration of deliverance from Egypt and from having their firstborn sons slaughtered by the Angel of Death that struck the Egyptians that first Passover night. For us in The Church, it is a celebration of Christ's deliverance of us from evil and death through his own sacrificial death and then victorious resurrection.

Therefore, it is on this basis that I believe we draw parallels between regulations regarding the Passover and how we celebrate Communion. In the first place, as mentioned in the paragraphs above, what is stated here should give us pause as to our feeling of needing to celebrate communion. I don't think it is an option. If we are believers, we ought to take part in communion on a regular basis.

However, the other point that I wanted to dwell on more here was with respect to what I began to discuss at the outset of this writing. This is the reference to aliens celebrating Passover. In our context, I think this would compare to non-Christians. They were told they needed to be circumcised if they wanted to celebrate Passover. Is this support for our stipulating that individuals need to be baptized before celebrating communion? Indeed, this is a practice that has been followed by the church for most of its history as far as I know. I think it is only after the middle of the last century that some churches began to open baptism to anybody who was a believer, whether baptized or not. The older more orthodox churches, including the Catholic and Anglican, certainly do not do this.

Jesus has commanded us to be baptized, just as he told us to celebrate The Lord's Supper. It is a sign of our repentance and forgiveness, the washing away of our sins. Circumcision was a sign of making a commitment to become one of the Children of Israel. Perhaps we need to think more seriously of commitment to The Church. I think there are some who would say that expectations in this respect have been considerably diluted in the last number of decades in the church's effort to appeal to many and boost its numbers, particularly in North America. However, for a church to be pure and effective, as with any organization, I think there need to be certain expectations and that includes one of commitment. If a person cannot be bothered to be baptized, or does not take that command seriously, are they ready to be part of the church? Will they be committed enough to be the kind of disciple Jesus wants them to be?