Jesus' Eighteenth Year 

As Jesus’s family continued to slide into poverty due to the death of Joseph, Jesus was faced with many financial challenges. Nearly all of the family property, except the home and garden, was sold and the funds were used to pay taxes, to buy tools for James, and to make a payment on the old repair shop near the caravan lot.

With the financial pressure thus eased, Jesus took his spiritual-minded brother James to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. They went by way of Samaria, as Jesus had done with his father Joseph five years before. On this journey, they talked about many of their personal, familial, and national problems, as well as the future, when James would be old enough to take responsibility for the family as Jesus was nearly ready to begin his life mission.

As they traveled, Jesus thought deeply, especially at Bethel and at Jacob’s well. They discussed the traditions of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Although Jesus warned James about the unsavory events of the Passover celebration, James greatly enjoyed his visit.

They celebrated Passover in Bethany at the home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha. Their father, Simon, had recently died, and Jesus presided as head of the celebration. After the Passover supper, Mary sat down to talk with James while Martha, Lazarus, and Jesus talked together far into the night.

The next day, Jesus and James attended the temple services, where James was received into the commonwealth of Israel. That morning at the brow of Olivet, Jesus gazed on Jerusalem in silence. The next day, they returned to Jerusalem and James hoped to hear Jesus again debating with the temple teachers. But Jesus did not ask questions as he perceived the discussions as trivial. Whenever James asked leading questions, Jesus only responded, “My hour has not yet come.” They journeyed home by Jericho and the Jordan Valley.

Upon returning to Nazareth, Jesus began work in the family repair shop and was greatly cheered by being able to meet so many people each day from all parts of the country and surrounding districts. Jesus truly loved people – just common folks. Each month he made his payments on the shop and, with James’s help, continued to provide for the family.

Jesus often read the Sabbath scriptures at the synagogue, skillfully arranging the order of the reading of the various passages so that one would illuminate the other. On Sabbath afternoons, the family faithfully strolled in nature.

Jesus became a prominent member of the chazan’s philosophical discussion club and was able to regain some of the local prestige he had lost because of his views on nationalistic controversies.

In September, Elizabeth and John came to visit, but they did not know that the Nazareth family was practically penniless. John was planning to farm and raise sheep, unless Jesus had other plans for him. John and Jesus had many intimate and personal talks, and decided not to meet again until they should meet in public service when “the Heavenly Father should call them,” so John decided to return home to work to support his mother. He saw that Jesus had many years yet to care for his family. John and Jesus did not see each other until that day by the Jordan when the Son of Man presented himself for baptism.

On Saturday afternoon, December 3, for the second time, Mary’s family suffered the tragic death of a family member. Little Amos died after a week’s illness with fever when he was just under five years old. Mary at last realized Jesus’ worthiness to be head of the family.

Year by year, the financial life of the family got more and more burdensome, and the funeral expenses for Amos caused even more difficulty. Jesus consoled his mother, saying, “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. Day by day we are strengthened for these tasks by our hope of better days ahead.” His optimism encouraged his siblings to hope for a better future, and their characters developed to be strong and noble.

Jesus possessed the ability to effectively mobilize all his powers of mind, soul, and body on the task immediately at hand. He could concentrate his deep-thinking mind on the one problem which he wished to solve, and this, in connection with his untiring patience, enabled him to endure the trials of a difficult mortal existence.