Jesus Manages a Caravan to the Caspian Sea 

Jesus earned enough money to cover his expenses until the start of his public ministry after his Mediterranean journey. Except for Zebedee of Capernaum and the people he met on this extraordinary journey, no one knew he made this journey. His family always thought he studied in Alexandria. Jesus never confirmed these beliefs or denied such misunderstandings.

Jesus visited family and friends, worked at the repair shop with his brother Joseph, and focused on Mary and Ruth during his few weeks in Nazareth. Jesus also had his first long conversation with Ruth, who was nearly fifteen.

Simon and Jude had long wanted to marry, but they didn't want to do it without Jesus' consent, so they postponed it until their eldest brother returned. Though they considered James the family head in most matters, they wanted Jesus' blessing to marry. The 24 CE double wedding of Simon and Jude took place in early March. All the older children were married; only Ruth, the youngest, lived with Mary.

Jesus spent time with his family normally, but when they were together, he said so little that they joked about it. Mary was particularly alarmed by her first-born son's odd behavior.

The conductor of a large caravan passing through Nazareth became violently ill just before Jesus was leaving, and Jesus, a linguist, volunteered to take his place. Since this trip would require him to be gone for a year and all his brothers were married and his mother was living with Ruth, Jesus called a family conference and proposed that his mother and Ruth move to Capernaum to live in the home he had given James. Mary and Ruth moved to Capernaum a few days after Jesus left with the caravan and lived there for Mary's entire life in Jesus' home. Joseph and his family moved into the Nazareth house.

This was Jesus’ thirtieth year and it was one of his most unusual ones. He made great progress in achieving working harmony between his human mind and his indwelling spirit, which had been actively reorganizing his thinking and rehearsing his mind for the great events of the near future. The personality of Jesus was preparing for his great change in attitude toward the world. He began life as God appearing as man, and now he was making ready to complete his earth career as man appearing as God.

Jesus left Nazareth for the Caspian Sea caravan on April 1, 24 CE. Jesus led a caravan from Jerusalem to the southeastern Caspian Sea via Damascus, Lake Urmia, Assyria, Media, and Parthia. A year passed before he returned from this journey.

This caravan trip was another exploration and ministry adventure for Jesus. It was interesting with his caravan family – passengers, guards, and camel drivers. Jesus, to them, the extraordinary conductor of a common caravan, changed the lives of scores of men, women, and children along the caravan route. Most of those who met and talked with him were better for the rest of their lives.

Jesus' Caspian Sea voyage brought him closest to the Orient and helped him understand the people in this region. He enjoyed ministering to these diverse individuals, and all were open to the living truth he brought. His words of hope and eternal life and his gracious life of loving service and spiritual ministry influenced both Europeans from the Far West and Asiatics from the Far East.

The caravan trip was flawless. This was a fascinating year in Jesus' life because he was in charge of the caravan party's safety and the material entrusted to him. He performed his many duties faithfully, efficiently, and wisely.

Upon his return to Capernaum, Jesus officially considered it his new home, choosing to live with the Zebedees rather than his own family. This shift represented a crucial step in his gradual detachment from his immediate family, as he prepared for the next phase of his life's purpose and mission. His time spent away from Nazareth and with the diverse peoples of the caravan marked a significant period of personal growth and spiritual preparation for his forthcoming public ministry.