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Jesus' Twelfth Year
In Jesus' twelfth year, he grappled with his divinity and purpose, challenged by Jewish customs. He sought harmony with his family, delved into nature, music, and work, and taught his siblings at home.
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Summary
In Jesus’ twelfth year (6 CE), he expanded his knowledge, worked on many challenges in his mind, and grew wiser. He wrestled with his own divinity and purpose on earth. He was bothered by certain Jewish customs and teachings. He was conflicted whether to follow his own convictions or be obedient to his parents. He learned that some family matters should stay in the family. He discerned how he might have offended others in the past, and worked extra hard to get along, especially with his own siblings. He kept guard on anything that might make him different from his peers.
Jesus continued to do well in school. He was able to satisfy his love of nature and music, and he discovered more about how men make a living. He started working as a carpenter in the shop and home schooled his brothers and sisters.
Human and Divine?
Jesus, being one person and one personality, had difficulty grasping his dual nature, man and God. Some still struggle with that concept today, because God becoming man is truly a miracle, one which none of us will ever fully understand. Jesus was uncertain about himself and his mission.
Jesus and Mary deserve credit for being such good parents and raising a child with a one-time occurrence of being God incarnated as a human. Joseph and Mary began to discern that there was something superhuman in their eldest son. But who would speculate that this was the actual creator of our universe? Imagine Joseph and Mary being greeted by their son, the Son of God, after they meet him on their ascension journey!
Why Am I Here?
Jesus, while pretending to be asleep, would eavesdrop on his parents’ discussions related to who he would become. His parents had differing opinions: Joseph leaned towards a more spiritual vision and Mary foresaw him as one who would obtain the longed-for freedom of the Jews, establishing them as the rightful owners of Israel.It would hurt Mary to see her son avoid her advice and plans, and this gap only widened over time. Mary never could comprehend the significance of Jesus’ lifework, and although Jesus failed to fulfill her expectations, he remained her favorite son.
True to Self or Obedience to His Parents?
A Jewish ritual, still seen today, is placing a parchment above a doorway to touch as a reminder to ask God to watch over our comings and goings. Jesus objected to this practice based on the rationale they provided for not allowing him to draw pictures, since it was considered idolatrous. “It’s the same thing!” he argued. This habitual homage to an animal skin is also essentially idolatrous. Joseph removed the parchment.
Over time, Jesus modified several religious forms, such as family prayers and olden customs. Jesus became perplexed between seeing the stagnation of religious forms and his more spiritual approach to the heart of the matter. Fortunately, the Nazareth synagogue was run by a liberal school of Rabbis who were open to Jesus’ new ideas.Jesus struggled between being loyal to his convictions and those teachings of his parents and religious leaders. Was he to be true to his highest convictions of truth and righteousness, or obedient to his parents? He masterfully made daily adjustments between these two loyalties by a harmonious blending, ever directed by an overriding desire for fairness, tolerance, and love.Personal Triumphs
Jesus loved nature and studied it. He did well in school, both his formal education and his personal study of mankind. He worked as a carpenter in his father’s home, and his father let him manage the money he earned, which was highly unusual for a Jewish family. He figured out which words he said that may have offended people in his village, and watched what he said. Jesus worked harder on his music, and he continued to tutor his brothers and sisters. He watched out for their welfare and happiness, and became increasingly tactful in getting along with each of them
