Urantia Book 9. The life of Jesus of Nazareth, Joshua ben Joseph, Christ Michael, Sovereign God of the universe of Nebadon. In fact, “Jesus’ life is the everlasting comfort of all disappointed idealists.” Jesus’ wages as a carpenter were the equivalent of 25 cents/day. They found it difficult to pay the taxes: civil taxes, synagogue assessments and the Temple tax of 1/2 shekel. The tax collector tried to squeeze more money out of Jesus, and Jesus feared that the Greek Bible would be confiscated. He decided to keep it safe by donating it to the synagogue library. And the family had a shock when Herod Antipas decided they would get nothing due to Joseph’s death. This was a blow. Jesus could no longer get the news by going to the caravan parking lot; he was in the house helping Mary. So he sent James to get the news. Jesus was too busy for “idle meditation” and “indulgence of mystic tendencies.” This year Jesus bought a large piece of land near their house, and each of them had their own garden. They had a competition to see who could grow the best garden. They now possessed three cows, four sheep, a flock of chickens, a donkey and a dog, in addition to the doves. For Jesus, “with the 15th year, the growth period for mind and body had ended, and now began the real career of this young man of Nazareth” (126.5.12). From 15 to 20 Jesus earned the right by his experiences to become sovereign of his universe. He became increasingly conscious of his pre-existence, and that he was on earth to reveal the Paradise Father to the children of men. When he turned 16 (AD 10), he attained his full physical growth. “Always, even in the most commonplace of contacts, there seemed to be in evidence the touch of a two-fold nature, the human and the divine” (127.1.2). He was always the sympathetic friend and the authoritative teacher. “This physically strong and robust young man also acquired the full growth of his human intellect, not the full experience of human thinking, but the fullness of capacity for such intellectual development. He possessed a healthy and well-proportioned body, a keen and analytical mind, a kind and sympathetic disposition, a somewhat fluctuating but aggressive temperament, all of which were becoming organized into a strong, striking and attractive personality” (127.1.3). Jesus confused his family, especially his mother. Mary would tell the children that Jesus was the Messiah, the deliverer of the Jewish people. When the children went to Jesus with this tale, he would deny everything. Also, his conversations were way above the heads of the family. He must have tried to teach them advanced theology–maybe he was practicing on his family. Judging by his parables, he must have given up on advanced theology. Simon started school this year, and they were forced to sell another house. What poor person owns houses, I ask? James took over the home-teaching, mainly his younger sisters. Mary and Jesus believed that girls should be educated, and the synagogue wouldn’t admit them. All this year Jesus was busy at the workbench. His work was so good that he never lacked customers. His plans began to gel: after the girls were married, he would begin his career as a teacher of truth and revealer to the world of his heavenly Father. He knew he wasn’t the Messiah, but chose not to have this conversation with Mary. In fact, his mission was so “peculiar” that there was no person who could listen and give him appropriate feedback.****************** When Jesus was 17 (AD 11), the Zealot Party was formed with the intention of revolting against the Roman occupation. They came to Nazareth looking for recruits. When they tried to recruit Jesus, he asked many questions, but in the end turned them down. Many of Jesus’ friends turned them down, too, as a result. But complications arose. The men who didn’t join the Zealots formed their own nationalist party and wanted Jesus to be their leader. Jesus gently turned them down. But then a wealthy Jew named Isaac offered to support Jesus’ family if he would join. Jesus was cornered! Everyone in his family urged him to join the cause. All the men who didn’t enlist would enlist if Jesus did. Jesus couldn’t tell them the reason he couldn’t enlist. He couldn’t tell them he was more than a man. Meanwhile, the whole town was in a hubbub. And all this turmoil was because of him! When he declined, he used his family as the reason, or maybe the excuse, that “he could not in clear conscience release himself from the obligation which a cruel accident had thrust upon him” (127.2.8). The UB says he made the never-to-be-forgotten statement that “money cannot love.” James, having been coached by the rabbi, gave a little speech which ended the tension, although Jesus was never again so popular in Nazareth. But Jesus this year had progressed in uniting the divine and human natures in his mind. He did it by making his own decisions and communing with his Thought Adjuster.** When Jesus was 18 (AD 12), he took James to Passover in Jerusalem. As they walked Jesus pointed out famous places in the Hebrew scriptures. James was very religious and looked forward to the time when Jesus would be free to start his ministry. They discussed many weighty issues. Jesus especially prepared James for the conditions at the Temple. They had the Passover meal at Bethany. Jesus, Martha and Lazarus talked late into the night. The next day James was accepted into the commonwealth of Israel. After they returned home, the rabbi formed a young men’s club for discussion of philosophy. Jesus was a prominent member, and by this means, gained back some of his popularity lost over the nationalist controversy. In September Elizabeth and John came to visit. John and Jesus had long, intimate conversations. They decided not to see each other until their public missions had begun. On Saturday, December 3, Amos, their baby brother died after a week of illness with a high fever. Mary, finally, in passing through this time of sorrow, recognized Jesus as the real head of the family. But their poverty depressed Mary, and Jesus would say, “Mother Mary, sorrow will not help us; we are all doing our best, and mother’s smile, perchance, might even inspire us to do better…His sturdy and practical optimism was truly contagious; all the children lived in an atmosphere of anticipation of better times and better things. And this hopeful courage contributed mightily to the development of strong and noble characters, despite the depressiveness of their poverty” (127.3.13).