第124篇 耶穌的晚期童年

Paper 124 The Later Childhood of Jesus
第124篇 耶穌的晚期童年
124:0.1 (1366.1) ALTHOUGH Jesus might have enjoyed a better opportunity for schooling at Alexandria than in Galilee, he could not have had such a splendid environment for working out his own life problems with a minimum of educational guidance, at the same time enjoying the great advantage of constantly contacting with such a large number of all classes of men and women hailing from every part of the civilized world. Had he remained at Alexandria, his education would have been directed by Jews and along exclusively Jewish lines. At Nazareth he secured an education and received a training which more acceptably prepared him to understand the gentiles, and which gave him a better and more balanced idea of the relative merits of the Eastern, or Babylonian, and the Western, or Hellenic, views of Hebrew theology.

124:0.1 (1366.1) 儘管耶穌或許在亞歷山卓會比在加利利享有更好的學校教育機會,但他不可能擁有如此出色的環境,即透過最低限度的教育指導來解決他自己的生活問題,同時又享有不斷和如此一大群來自文明世界各地所有階層男女接觸的極大優勢。如果他留在亞歷山卓,他的教育將由猶太人指導,並完全沿著猶太教的路線。在拿撒勒,他獲得的教育和接受的培訓更合適使他理解外邦人,而對於東方巴比倫式和西方希臘式的希伯來神學觀點之相對優勢,這教育訓練也給了他一種更好且更為平衡的觀念。

1. Jesus’ Ninth Year (A.D. 3)
1. 耶穌的第九年(西元3年)
124:1.1 (1366.2) Though it could hardly be said that Jesus was ever seriously ill, he did have some of the minor ailments of childhood this year, along with his brothers and baby sister.

124:1.1 (1366.2) 雖然不能說耶穌曾生過重病,但他的確在這一年與他的弟弟們和幼小妹妹一起得過一些童年時期的輕微小毛病。

124:1.2 (1366.3) School went on and he was still a favored pupil, having one week each month at liberty, and he continued to divide his time about equally between trips to neighboring cities with his father, sojourns on his uncle’s farm south of Nazareth, and fishing excursions out from Magdala.

124:1.2 (1366.3) 學校生活繼續,他仍是一個受到青睞的學生,每個月有一個星期的空閒,他也繼續將他的時間大約平均地分配到與他父親一起前往鄰近城市的旅行、在拿撒勒南邊他舅舅的農場逗留以及從抹大拉出發的釣魚之旅中。

124:1.3 (1366.4) The most serious trouble as yet to come up at school occurred in late winter when Jesus dared to challenge the chazan regarding the teaching that all images, pictures, and drawings were idolatrous in nature. Jesus delighted in drawing landscapes as well as in modeling a great variety of objects in potter’s clay. Everything of that sort was strictly forbidden by Jewish law, but up to this time he had managed to disarm his parents’ objection to such an extent that they had permitted him to continue in these activities.

124:1.3 (1366.4) 冬季末,發生了學校迄今最嚴重的麻煩,當耶穌竟敢挑戰領誦者關於所有影像、圖片和繪畫在本質上都是崇拜偶像的教導。耶穌喜歡畫風景,也喜歡用陶土塑各種各樣的物體。所有那類的東西都受到猶太人律法的嚴格禁止,但到目前為止他已設法解除了他父母的反對,以致於他們允許他繼續這些活動。

124:1.4 (1366.5) But trouble was again stirred up at school when one of the more backward pupils discovered Jesus drawing a charcoal picture of the teacher on the floor of the schoolroom. There it was, plain as day, and many of the elders had viewed it before the committee went to call on Joseph to demand that something be done to suppress the lawlessness of his eldest son. And though this was not the first time complaints had come to Joseph and Mary about the doings of their versatile and aggressive child, this was the most serious of all the accusations which had thus far been lodged against him. Jesus listened to the indictment of his artistic efforts for some time, being seated on a large stone just outside the back door. He resented their blaming his father for his alleged misdeeds; so in he marched, fearlessly confronting his accusers. The elders were thrown into confusion. Some were inclined to view the episode humorously, while one or two seemed to think the boy was sacrilegious if not blasphemous. Joseph was nonplused, Mary indignant, but Jesus insisted on being heard. He had his say, courageously defended his viewpoint, and with consummate self-control announced that he would abide by the decision of his father in this as in all other matters controversial. And the committee of elders departed in silence.

124:1.4 (1366.5) 不過在學校,麻煩再次被挑起,當一名較為落後的學生發現耶穌在學校教室的地板上畫了教師的木炭畫像。它非常明顯的在那裡,在許多長老看過後,委員會去拜訪了約瑟夫,強烈要求採取一些措施來抑制他長子的違法行為。儘管這不是第一次向約瑟夫和瑪利亞抱怨他們多才多藝和積極進取孩子的行為,但這是迄今為止對他提出的所有控告中最為嚴重的。耶穌就坐在後門外的一塊大石頭上,聽了一段時間關於對他藝術努力的控訴。他對於他們因他的所謂罪行而指責他父親感到不滿;於是他走進去,無畏地面對他的指控者們。長老們陷入了混亂。有些人傾向於幽默地看待這件事,而一兩個似乎認為這個孩子若非言語上褻瀆神靈,也在行動上褻瀆了神靈(sacrilegious)。約瑟夫感到為難,瑪利亞則憤憤不平,但耶穌則堅持作出陳詞。他說出了他的話,勇敢地捍衛了自己的觀點,並以無比的自制宣佈他將在這件事上遵守他父親的決定,就如同在所有其它具爭議的事務上一樣。然後長老委員會便默默地離開了。

124:1.5 (1367.1) Mary endeavored to influence Joseph to permit Jesus to model in clay at home, provided he promised not to carry on any of these questionable activities at school, but Joseph felt impelled to rule that the rabbinical interpretation of the second commandment should prevail. And so Jesus no more drew or modeled the likeness of anything from that day as long as he lived in his father’s house. But he was unconvinced of the wrong of what he had done, and to give up such a favorite pastime constituted one of the great trials of his young life.

124:1.5 (1367.1) 瑪利亞盡力影響約瑟夫讓耶穌在家用粘土做模型,只要他承諾不在學校做這些備受質疑的活動,但約瑟夫不得不裁定拉比對第二誡命的闡釋應占上風。因此,從那天起,只要耶穌住在他父親家裡,他就不再畫和塑造任何東西的形象。但他不認為他做錯了什麼,放棄這樣一個最喜愛的消遣構成了他年經生活中的重大考驗之一。

124:1.6 (1367.2) In the latter part of June, Jesus, in company with his father, first climbed to the summit of Mount Tabor. It was a clear day and the view was superb. It seemed to this nine-year-old lad that he had really gazed upon the entire world excepting India, Africa, and Rome.

124:1.6 (1367.2) 在六月下旬,耶穌與他父親一起,第一次攀登塔沃爾山的山頂。這天天氣晴朗,景色非常壯觀。 對這個九歲孩子來說,他似乎真的凝視著除了印度、非洲和羅馬以外的整個世界。

124:1.7 (1367.3) Jesus’ second sister, Martha, was born Thursday night, September 13. Three weeks after the coming of Martha, Joseph, who was home for awhile, started the building of an addition to their house, a combined workshop and bedroom. A small workbench was built for Jesus, and for the first time he possessed tools of his own. At odd times for many years he worked at this bench and became highly expert in the making of yokes.

124:1.7 (1367.3) 耶穌的第二個妹妹馬大在9月13日星期四晚上誕生。 在馬大到來的三個星期後,待在家一段時間的約瑟夫開始他們房子增建部分的建造,一個結合工作坊和臥室的建築。為耶穌建了一個小小的工作臺,他第一次擁有了他自己的工具。多年來,閒暇時他便在這工作臺工作,並變得極為擅長製作軛。

124:1.8 (1367.4) This winter and the next were the coldest in Nazareth for many decades. Jesus had seen snow on the mountains, and several times it had fallen in Nazareth, remaining on the ground only a short time; but not until this winter had he seen ice. The fact that water could be had as a solid, a liquid, and a vapor—he had long pondered over the escaping steam from the boiling pots—caused the lad to think a great deal about the physical world and its constitution; and yet the personality embodied in this growing youth was all this while the actual creator and organizer of all these things throughout a far-flung universe.

124:1.8 (1367.4) 這一年和下一年的冬天是拿撒勒幾十年來最冷的。耶穌在山上看過雪,拿撒勒也有幾次的降雪,可是雪停留在地上的時間很短;但直到這年冬天他才看到冰。水可以作為固體、液體和氣體——他已長時間地思量著從沸騰的鍋裡逸出的蒸汽 ——存在的事實,使這小男孩對於物理世界及其構成思考了許多;然而,體現在這一成長中少年身上的人格,與此同時也是整個廣袤宇宙中所有這一切的實際創造者和組織者。

124:1.9 (1367.5) The climate of Nazareth was not severe. January was the coldest month, the temperature averaging around 50° F. During July and August, the hottest months, the temperature would vary from 75° to 90° F. From the mountains to the Jordan and the Dead Sea valley the climate of Palestine ranged from the frigid to the torrid. And so, in a way, the Jews were prepared to live in about any and all of the world’s varying climates.

124:1.9 (1367.5) 拿撒勒的氣候並不嚴酷。 一月是最冷的月份,氣溫平均10°C左右。在7月和8月最熱的月份期間,氣溫會在24°C到32°C之間變動。從山脈到約旦和死海谷地,巴勒斯坦的氣候從嚴寒到酷熱都有。因此,在某種程度上,猶太人準備好在這個世界的所有各種不同氣候中生活。

124:1.10 (1367.6) Even during the warmest summer months a cool sea breeze usually blew from the west from 10:00 A.M. until about 10:00 P.M. But every now and then terrific hot winds from the eastern desert would blow across all Palestine. These hot blasts usually came in February and March, near the end of the rainy season. In those days the rain fell in refreshing showers from November to April, but it did not rain steadily. There were only two seasons in Palestine, summer and winter, the dry and rainy seasons. In January the flowers began to bloom, and by the end of April the whole land was one vast flower garden.

124:1.10 (1367.6) 即使在最暖和的夏季月份期間,從早上10點直到晚上10點左右,一股涼爽的海風通常會從西面吹來。但不時來自東面沙漠的猛烈熱風吹過整個巴勒斯坦。這些熱風通常會在接近雨季尾聲的2月3月到來。從11月到4月的那些日子裡,雨水以清爽的陣雨方式降下,但並沒有持續不斷地下雨。在巴勒斯坦只有兩個季節,夏季和冬季,即旱季和雨季。1月鮮花開始盛開,到4月底,整片土地是一個巨大的花園。

124:1.11 (1367.7) In May of this year, on his uncle’s farm, Jesus for the first time helped with the harvest of the grain. Before he was thirteen, he had managed to find out something about practically everything that men and women worked at around Nazareth except metal working, and he spent several months in a smith’s shop when older, after the death of his father.

124:1.11 (1367.7) 在這年5月,耶穌在他舅舅的農場第一次幫助收割穀物。在他13歲之前,他已設法弄清了在拿撒勒周圍男女從事的幾近每樣工作,除了金屬加工以外,在他父親去世後,他年紀更大時,他在一家鐵匠舖裡待了幾個月。

124:1.12 (1368.1) When work and caravan travel were slack, Jesus made many trips with his father on pleasure or business to near-by Cana, Endor, and Nain. Even as a lad he frequently visited Sepphoris, only a little over three miles from Nazareth to the northwest, and from 4 B.C. to about A.D. 25 the capital of Galilee and one of the residences of Herod Antipas.

124:1.12 (1368.1) 當工作和商隊旅行不繁忙時,耶穌和他父親多次一同前往附近的迦拿、隱多珥和拿因進行休閒或商務旅行。即便作為一個小孩子,他經常造訪塞弗瑞斯,從拿撒勒往西北僅五公里,它從西元前4年到西元25年左右是加利利的首府,也是希律・安提帕斯的一處居所。

124:1.13 (1368.2) Jesus continued to grow physically, intellectually, socially, and spiritually. His trips away from home did much to give him a better and more generous understanding of his own family, and by this time even his parents were beginning to learn from him as well as to teach him. Jesus was an original thinker and a skillful teacher, even in his youth. He was in constant collision with the so-called “oral law,” but he always sought to adapt himself to the practices of his family. He got along fairly well with the children of his age, but he often grew discouraged with their slow-acting minds. Before he was ten years old, he had become the leader of a group of seven lads who formed themselves into a society for promoting the acquirements of manhood—physical, intellectual, and religious. Among these boys Jesus succeeded in introducing many new games and various improved methods of physical recreation.

124:1.13 (1368.2) 耶穌繼續在身體上、智力上、社交上和靈性上成長。他的離家旅行大大地給予他一種對他自身家庭更好及更為寬容的理解,而且到這個時候,甚至他父母在教他的同時也向他學習。耶穌是個具獨創性的思考者和熟練的導師,即使是在他年輕的時候也是如此。他與所謂的「口頭律法」處於不斷的衝突中,但他總是試圖令自己適應於他家庭的常規。他與同年齡的孩子相處得很好,但他經常對他們行動遲緩(slow-acting)的頭腦感到沮喪。在他十歲之前,他已經成為一個由七個小孩子組成群體的領導者,他們自己組成了一個促進獲得男子氣概——身體上、智力上和宗教上——的社團。在這些男孩中間,耶穌成功介紹了許多新的遊戲和各種改良的體育娛樂方法。

2. The Tenth Year (A.D. 4)
2. 第十年(西元4年)
124:2.1 (1368.3) It was the fifth of July, the first Sabbath of the month, when Jesus, while strolling through the countryside with his father, first gave expression to feelings and ideas which indicated that he was becoming self-conscious of the unusual nature of his life mission. Joseph listened attentively to the momentous words of his son but made few comments; he volunteered no information. The next day Jesus had a similar but longer talk with his mother. Mary likewise listened to the pronouncements of the lad, but neither did she volunteer any information. It was almost two years before Jesus again spoke to his parents concerning this increasing revelation within his own consciousness regarding the nature of his personality and the character of his mission on earth.

124:2.1 (1368.3) 那是在7月5日,該月的第一個安息日,當耶穌與他父親在鄉間散步時,首次表達了那些象徵他逐漸自我意識到他人生使命之不尋常本質的感受和想法。約瑟夫聚精會神地聆聽他兒子的重要話語,但很少作出評論;他沒有主動提供任何資訊。第二天,耶穌與他母親做了一次類似但卻更長的談話。瑪利亞同樣傾聽了小男孩的聲明,但她也沒有主動提出任何資訊。將近兩年後,耶穌才再次向他父母提及有關他自身意識中關於他人格之本性和他世間使命之特性的日益增長啟示。

124:2.2 (1368.4) He entered the advanced school of the synagogue in August. At school he was constantly creating trouble by the questions he persisted in asking. Increasingly he kept all Nazareth in more or less of a hubbub. His parents were loath to forbid his asking these disquieting questions, and his chief teacher was greatly intrigued by the lad’s curiosity, insight, and hunger for knowledge.

124:2.2 (1368.4) 他在八月進入了猶太會堂的高等學校。在學校他因堅持問的問題而不斷造成困擾。逐漸地,他讓整個拿撒勒陷入或多或少的騷動之中。他的父母不願禁止他問這些令人不安的問題,而他的首席導師對這個小男孩的好奇、洞見以及對知識的渴求深感興趣。

124:2.3 (1368.5) Jesus’ playmates saw nothing supernatural in his conduct; in most ways he was altogether like themselves. His interest in study was somewhat above the average but not wholly unusual. He did ask more questions at school than others in his class.

124:2.3 (1368.5) 耶穌的玩伴們在他行為中並未看到任何超自然的東西;在大多數方面,他和他們完全一樣。他在學習上的興趣有點超出平均,但也並非完全非同尋常。在學校,他的確比他班上其他同學問更多的問題。

124:2.4 (1368.6) Perhaps his most unusual and outstanding trait was his unwillingness to fight for his rights. Since he was such a well-developed lad for his age, it seemed strange to his playfellows that he was disinclined to defend himself even from injustice or when subjected to personal abuse. As it happened, he did not suffer much on account of this trait because of the friendship of Jacob, a neighbor boy, who was one year older. He was the son of the stone mason, a business associate of Joseph. Jacob was a great admirer of Jesus and made it his business to see that no one was permitted to impose upon Jesus because of his aversion to physical combat. Several times older and uncouth youths attacked Jesus, relying upon his reputed docility, but they always suffered swift and certain retribution at the hands of his self-appointed champion and ever-ready defender, Jacob the stone mason’s son.

124:2.4 (1368.6) 或許他最不尋常和最為突出的特點是他不願為他的權利而戰。由於他在同齡中是這樣一個發育良好的少年,但即便他在不公或受到人身攻擊時也不願自我防衛,這對他的玩伴們來說似乎很奇怪。當這發生時,他並未因這一特點而受太多苦,因為比他大一歲的鄰居男孩雅各的友誼。他是約瑟夫商業夥伴石匠的兒子。雅各非常欽佩耶穌,他不讓任何人因為耶穌厭惡肉體打鬥而欺負他,並將此視為其職責。有好幾次年長且粗野的年輕人仗著耶穌以溫順出名而攻擊他,但他們總是在耶穌的自封捍衛者及隨時準備好的保護者——石匠兒子雅各——的手中遭遇到了即時且必然的懲罰。

124:2.5 (1369.1) Jesus was the generally accepted leader of the Nazareth lads who stood for the higher ideals of their day and generation. He was really loved by his youthful associates, not only because he was fair, but also because he possessed a rare and understanding sympathy that betokened love and bordered on discreet compassion.

124:2.5 (1369.1) 耶穌是一群代表他們時代和世代更高理想的拿撒勒少年所普遍認可的領導者。他受到他年輕同伴們的真正喜愛,不僅因為他是公平的,也因為他擁有一種表現出愛意和近乎考慮周延的憐憫之罕見且善解人意的同情心。

124:2.6 (1369.2) This year he began to show a marked preference for the company of older persons. He delighted in talking over things cultural, educational, social, economic, political, and religious with older minds, and his depth of reasoning and keenness of observation so charmed his adult associates that they were always more than willing to visit with him. Until he became responsible for the support of the home, his parents were constantly seeking to influence him to associate with those of his own age, or more nearly his age, rather than with older and better-informed individuals for whom he evinced such a preference.

124:2.6 (1369.2) 這一年他開始明顯偏愛與年長者為伍。他喜歡與年長智者談論文化、教育、社會、經濟、政治和宗教方面的事情,他推理的深度和觀察的敏銳度令他的成年同伴極為著迷,以致他們總是非常願意與他閒談。直到他承擔家庭贍養責任之前,他的父母不斷試圖影響他與那些同齡的或更接近他年紀的人往來,而不是與那些他表現出如此偏好的年長且見識更豐富的個體往來。

124:2.7 (1369.3) Late this year he had a fishing experience of two months with his uncle on the Sea of Galilee, and he was very successful. Before attaining manhood, he had become an expert fisherman.

124:2.7 (1369.3) 這一年晚些時候,他與他的舅舅在加利利海上度過了為期兩個月的捕魚經歷,他的成果豐碩。在成年之前,他已成為一名熟練的漁夫。

124:2.8 (1369.4) His physical development continued; he was an advanced and privileged pupil at school; he got along fairly well at home with his younger brothers and sisters, having the advantage of being three and one-half years older than the oldest of the other children. He was well thought of in Nazareth except by the parents of some of the duller children, who often spoke of Jesus as being too pert, as lacking in proper humility and youthful reserve. He manifested a growing tendency to direct the play activities of his youthful associates into more serious and thoughtful channels. He was a born teacher and simply could not refrain from so functioning, even when supposedly engaged in play.

124:2.8 (1369.4) 他的身體繼續發育;他在學校是一個程度高且受優待的學生;他在家裡與他的弟弟妹妹們相處得很好,因為他擁有比其他孩子中最長者還大三歲半的優勢。他在拿撒勒備受讚譽,除了一些較為遲鈍孩子的父母經常提及耶穌過為冒失,缺少適當的謙卑和年經的矜持。他表現出越來越傾向將他年經同伴的遊戲活動導向更為嚴肅和深思的途徑。他是一個天生的導師,甚至在遊戲時也無法避免地扮演此角色。

124:2.9 (1369.5) Joseph early began to instruct Jesus in the diverse means of gaining a livelihood, explaining the advantages of agriculture over industry and trade. Galilee was a more beautiful and prosperous district than Judea, and it cost only about one fourth as much to live there as in Jerusalem and Judea. It was a province of agricultural villages and thriving industrial cities, containing more than two hundred towns of over five thousand population and thirty of over fifteen thousand.

124:2.9 (1369.5) 約瑟夫很早便開始指導耶穌各種謀生之道,解釋農業相對於工業和貿易的優勢。加利利是一個比猶太更美麗和更繁榮的地區,居住在那裡的花費僅為居住在耶路撒冷和猶太的四分之一左右。它是一個由農業村莊和興盛工業城市所組成的省份,包含兩百多個人口超過五千的城鎮,三十個人口超過一萬五千的城鎮。

124:2.10 (1369.6) When on his first trip with his father to observe the fishing industry on the lake of Galilee, Jesus had just about made up his mind to become a fisherman; but close association with his father’s vocation later on influenced him to become a carpenter, while still later a combination of influences led him to the final choice of becoming a religious teacher of a new order.

124:2.10 (1369.6) 當耶穌第一次與他父親前往加利利湖觀察漁業時,他幾乎打定主意成為一名漁夫;但後來與他父親職業的密切關聯影響了他成為一名木匠,而更晚些時候,各種影響的結合使他最終選擇成為一個嶄新類別的宗教導師。

3. The Eleventh Year (A.D. 5)
3. 第十一年(西元5年)
124:3.1 (1369.7) Throughout this year the lad continued to make trips away from home with his father, but he also frequently visited his uncle’s farm and occasionally went over to Magdala to engage in fishing with the uncle who made his headquarters near that city.

124:3.1 (1369.7) 在這一整年裡,這小男孩繼續跟隨他父親離家出遊,但他也經常拜訪他舅舅的農場,偶爾還前去抹大拉,與那位將他的總部設在該城市附近的舅舅一起捕魚。

124:3.2 (1369.8) Joseph and Mary were often tempted to show some special favoritism for Jesus or otherwise to betray their knowledge that he was a child of promise, a son of destiny. But both of his parents were extraordinarily wise and sagacious in all these matters. The few times they did exhibit any preference for him, even in the slightest degree, the lad was quick to refuse all such special consideration.

124:3.2 (1369.8) 約瑟夫和瑪利亞經常想要表現出對耶穌的某種特殊偏愛,或者以其它方式透露他們知道他是一個應許之子、天命之子的消息。但他的父母倆在所有這些事情上都極為聰明和睿智。極少次他們確實展示出對他的一點偏愛,即使是以極輕微的程度,這個小男孩迅速拒絕所有這樣的特殊關心。

124:3.3 (1370.1) Jesus spent considerable time at the caravan supply shop, and by conversing with the travelers from all parts of the world, he acquired a store of information about international affairs that was amazing, considering his age. This was the last year in which he enjoyed much free play and youthful joyousness. From this time on difficulties and responsibilities rapidly multiplied in the life of this youth.

124:3.3 (1370.1) 耶穌花了相當多時間在商隊補給的店舖中,藉由與來自世界各地的旅客交流,他獲得了大量關於國際事務的資訊,考慮到他的年齡,那是令人驚訝的。這是他享受許多自由玩耍和年輕歡樂的最後一年。從這時起,這個年輕人生活中的困難和責任迅速增加。

124:3.4 (1370.2) On Wednesday evening, June 24, A.D. 5, Jude was born. Complications attended the birth of this, the seventh child. Mary was so very ill for several weeks that Joseph remained at home. Jesus was very much occupied with errands for his father and with many duties occasioned by his mother’s serious illness. Never again did this youth find it possible to return to the childlike attitude of his earlier years. From the time of his mother’s illness—just before he was eleven years old—he was compelled to assume the responsibilities of the first-born son and to do all this one or two full years before these burdens should normally have fallen on his shoulders.

124:3.4 (1370.2) 在西元5年6月24日,星期三晚,猶大誕生了。第七個孩子的出生帶來了一些併發症。瑪利亞病重多達好幾個星期,於是約瑟夫留在家裡。耶穌忙於為他的父親跑腿,也忙於因母親重病所帶來的許多職責。這個年輕人發現再也不可能回到他早年的孩子般態度。從他母親生病的那一刻起——就在他十一歲之前——他被迫承擔起長子的責任,並在這些重擔通常應該落在他肩膀上的前整整一兩年來做這一切。

124:3.5 (1370.3) The chazan spent one evening each week with Jesus, helping him to master the Hebrew scriptures. He was greatly interested in the progress of his promising pupil; therefore was he willing to assist him in many ways. This Jewish pedagogue exerted a great influence upon this growing mind, but he was never able to comprehend why Jesus was so indifferent to all his suggestions regarding the prospects of going to Jerusalem to continue his education under the learned rabbis.

124:3.5 (1370.3) 領誦者每周花一個晚上與耶穌在一起,幫助他精通希伯來經文。他對於他這大有可為學生的進展非常感興趣;因此他願意以許多方式協助他。這個猶太教的教師在這個成長的心智上產生了巨大的影響,但他從未能理解為何耶穌對他提出有關前往耶路撒冷在博學拉比門下繼續受教育之可能性的所有建議如此漠不關心。

124:3.6 (1370.4) About the middle of May the lad accompanied his father on a business trip to Scythopolis, the chief Greek city of the Decapolis, the ancient Hebrew city of Beth-shean. On the way Joseph recounted much of the olden history of King Saul, the Philistines, and the subsequent events of Israel’s turbulent history. Jesus was tremendously impressed with the clean appearance and well-ordered arrangement of this so-called heathen city. He marveled at the open-air theater and admired the beautiful marble temple dedicated to the worship of the “heathen” gods. Joseph was much perturbed by the lad’s enthusiasm and sought to counteract these favorable impressions by extolling the beauty and grandeur of the Jewish temple at Jerusalem. Jesus had often gazed curiously upon this magnificent Greek city from the hill of Nazareth and had many times inquired about its extensive public works and ornate buildings, but his father had always sought to avoid answering these questions. Now they were face to face with the beauties of this gentile city, and Joseph could not gracefully ignore Jesus’ inquiries.

124:3.6 (1370.4) 大約在五月中旬,這個孩子陪他父親出差前往西拖波利,德卡波利斯的主要希臘城市,亦即古希伯來城貝特謝安。在路上,約瑟夫講述了掃羅王、非利士人的大部分古老歷史,以及以色列動蕩歷史的後續事件。耶穌對這個所謂異教徒城市的乾淨外觀和井然有序排列留下深刻印象。他對於露天劇場感到驚訝,並讚賞用來崇拜「異教」諸神的美麗大理石聖堂。約瑟夫因這個孩子的熱情感到非常不安,試圖藉由歌頌耶路撒冷猶太聖殿的美麗和莊嚴來抵消這些良好的印象。耶穌經常從拿撒勒的山上好奇地凝視這座壯麗的希臘城市,並多次詢問它廣闊的公共工程和華麗的建築,但他的父親總是設法避免回答這些問題。現在他們面對這座外邦人城市的美景,約瑟夫無法從容地忽略耶穌的詢問。

124:3.7 (1370.5) It so happened that just at this time the annual competitive games and public demonstrations of physical prowess between the Greek cities of the Decapolis were in progress at the Scythopolis amphitheater, and Jesus was insistent that his father take him to see the games, and he was so insistent that Joseph hesitated to deny him. The boy was thrilled with the games and entered most heartily into the spirit of the demonstrations of physical development and athletic skill. Joseph was inexpressibly shocked to observe his son’s enthusiasm as he beheld these exhibitions of “heathen” vaingloriousness. After the games were finished, Joseph received the surprise of his life when he heard Jesus express his approval of them and suggest that it would be good for the young men of Nazareth if they could be thus benefited by wholesome outdoor physical activities. Joseph talked earnestly and long with Jesus concerning the evil nature of such practices, but he well knew that the lad was unconvinced.

124:3.7 (1370.5) 碰巧就在這個時候,德卡波利斯的希臘城市間的體育競賽和體能公開展示正在西拖波利圓形劇場進行,耶穌堅持他父親帶他去看比賽,他是如此堅持以致約瑟夫不願拒絕他。這男孩對比賽感到激動,並衷心地投入到體格發展和運動技能所展示的精神之中。在觀察到他兒子看見這些「異教徒」虛榮心的展示時所表現出的熱情,約瑟夫感到難以言喻的震驚。在比賽結束之後,當約瑟夫聽到耶穌表達他對他們的認可,並建議如果拿撒勒的年輕人能藉由健康的戶外體育活動而因此受益,對於他們將會是件好事時,約瑟夫感到有生以來最大的訝異。約瑟夫就這類做法的邪惡本質與耶穌進行了認真且長時間地談畫,但他清楚地知道這小男孩並不信服。

124:3.8 (1371.1) The only time Jesus ever saw his father angry with him was that night in their room at the inn when, in the course of their discussions, the boy so far forgot the trends of Jewish thought as to suggest that they go back home and work for the building of an amphitheater at Nazareth. When Joseph heard his first-born son express such un-Jewish sentiments, he forgot his usual calm demeanor and, seizing Jesus by the shoulder, angrily exclaimed, “My son, never again let me hear you give utterance to such an evil thought as long as you live.” Jesus was startled by his father’s display of emotion; he had never before been made to feel the personal sting of his father’s indignation and was astonished and shocked beyond expression. He only replied, “Very well, my father, it shall be so.” And never again did the boy even in the slightest manner allude to the games and other athletic activities of the Greeks as long as his father lived.

124:3.8 (1371.1) 耶穌唯一一次見到他的父親對他發怒是那晚在旅店他們的房間裡,在他們交談過程中,這男孩竟然忘掉了猶太人思維傾向,而建議他們回家在拿撒勒建造一個圓形劇場。當約瑟夫聽到他的長子表達了這樣一種非猶太人的觀點時,他忘記了他平常冷靜的舉止,抓住耶穌的肩膀,憤怒的喊道,「我的兒子,只要你活著,不要再讓我聽到你說出這樣邪惡的想法。 」耶穌被他父親情緒的表現所驚嚇;他以前從未感到由他父親憤怒所引起的親身刺痛,所感到的訝異和震驚無法用言語表達。他只回答道,「好吧,我的父親,就這樣吧。 」從此之後,只要他父親還活著,這男孩再也沒有以絲毫方式提及希臘人的比賽及其它體育活動。

124:3.9 (1371.2) Later on, Jesus saw the Greek amphitheater at Jerusalem and learned how hateful such things were from the Jewish point of view. Nevertheless, throughout his life he endeavored to introduce the idea of wholesome recreation into his personal plans and, as far as Jewish practice would permit, into the later program of regular activities for his twelve apostles.

124:3.9 (1371.2) 後來,耶穌在耶路撒冷看到了希臘的圓形劇場,並得知從猶太人角度來看這類事情是多麼令人憎恨。然而,在他一生當中,他努力將有益健康的娛樂觀念介紹到他的個人計劃中,而且只要在猶太常規允許的範圍內,將其引入到他十二使徒後來的定期活動計劃中。

124:3.10 (1371.3) At the end of this eleventh year Jesus was a vigorous, well-developed, moderately humorous, and fairly lighthearted youth, but from this year on he was more and more given to peculiar seasons of profound meditation and serious contemplation. He was much given to thinking about how he was to carry out his obligations to his family and at the same time be obedient to the call of his mission to the world; already he had conceived that his ministry was not to be limited to the betterment of the Jewish people.

124:3.10 (1371.3) 在這第十一年結束時,耶穌是一個精力充沛、發展良好、適度幽默和無憂無慮的少年,但從這一年起,他越來越熱衷於深度冥想和嚴肅沉思的特殊時刻。他經常思考如何履行對他家人的義務,同時服從於他對世界使命的召喚;他已經構想他的侍奉不僅限於猶太民族的改善。

4. The Twelfth Year (A.D. 6)
4. 第十二年(西元6年)
124:4.1 (1371.4) This was an eventful year in Jesus’ life. He continued to make progress at school and was indefatigable in his study of nature, while increasingly he prosecuted his study of the methods whereby men make a living. He began doing regular work in the home carpenter shop and was permitted to manage his own earnings, a very unusual arrangement to obtain in a Jewish family. This year he also learned the wisdom of keeping such matters a secret in the family. He was becoming conscious of the way in which he had caused trouble in the village, and henceforth he became increasingly discreet in concealing everything which might cause him to be regarded as different from his fellows.

124:4.1 (1371.4) 這是在耶穌生命中充滿重大事件的一年。他在學校繼續取得進步,並孜孜不倦地研究自然,同時他越來越努力地研究人們謀生的方法。他開始在家中木匠店裡做固定的工作,並獲允許管理自己的收入,這在猶太人家庭中是一種罕見得以實現的安排。這一年他也學會了在家中將這類事情保密的智慧。他開始意識到自己在村落裡引起麻煩的方式,從此以後他在隱瞞每件或許會使他被視為與其同伴不同的事情上變得漸趨謹慎。

124:4.2 (1371.5) Throughout this year he experienced many seasons of uncertainty, if not actual doubt, regarding the nature of his mission. His naturally developing human mind did not yet fully grasp the reality of his dual nature. The fact that he had a single personality rendered it difficult for his consciousness to recognize the double origin of those factors which composed the nature associated with that selfsame personality.

124:4.2 (1371.5) 在這一整年當中,關於他的使命,他體驗到了許多不確定(如果不是實際上懷疑)時刻。他自然發展的人類心智尚未能充分掌握他雙重本性之實相。他擁有一個單一人格的事實,使他的意識很難識別出那些構成該同一人格相關本質之因素的雙重起源。

124:4.3 (1371.6) From this time on he became more successful in getting along with his brothers and sisters. He was increasingly tactful, always compassionate and considerate of their welfare and happiness, and enjoyed good relations with them up to the beginning of his public ministry. To be more explicit: He got along with James, Miriam, and the two younger (as yet unborn) children, Amos and Ruth, most excellently. He always got along with Martha fairly well. What trouble he had at home largely arose out of friction with Joseph and Jude, particularly the latter.

124:4.3 (1371.6) 從這時起,他在與他弟弟妹妹們相處方面變得更為成功。他變得漸趨得體,對他們的福祉和幸福始終富有同情心和考慮周詳,一直到他開始公開侍奉前,都和他們享有良好的關係。更為明確的說:他與詹姆斯、米利暗和兩個幼小的(尚未出生的)孩子——阿摩司和路得——相處最為融洽。他始終與馬大相處得很好。他在家中遇到的麻煩主要來自與與約瑟夫和猶大的摩擦,尤其是後者。

124:4.4 (1372.1) It was a trying experience for Joseph and Mary to undertake the rearing of this unprecedented combination of divinity and humanity, and they deserve great credit for so faithfully and successfully discharging their parental responsibilities. Increasingly Jesus’ parents realized that there was something superhuman resident within this eldest son, but they never even faintly dreamed that this son of promise was indeed and in truth the actual creator of this local universe of things and beings. Joseph and Mary lived and died without ever learning that their son Jesus really was the Universe Creator incarnate in mortal flesh.

124:4.4 (1372.1) 對於約瑟夫和瑪利亞來說,承擔起養育這一史無前例的神性與人性結合體是一個艱辛的經歷,他們如此忠實且成功地履行了他們父母的責任,值得高度讚賞。耶穌的父母逐漸地意識到有某種超人類的東西常駐在這長子之內,但他們甚至從未隱約夢想過這一應許之子確實且實際上是這一包含萬物眾生之地方宇宙的創造者。約瑟夫和瑪利亞經歷生死都不曾知道他們的兒子耶穌真的是化身為凡人肉身的宇宙造物者(Universe Creator)。

124:4.5 (1372.2) This year Jesus paid more attention than ever to music, and he continued to teach the home school for his brothers and sisters. It was at about this time that the lad became keenly conscious of the difference between the viewpoints of Joseph and Mary regarding the nature of his mission. He pondered much over his parents’ differing opinions, often hearing their discussions when they thought he was sound asleep. More and more he inclined to the view of his father, so that his mother was destined to be hurt by the realization that her son was gradually rejecting her guidance in matters having to do with his life career. And, as the years passed, this breach of understanding widened. Less and less did Mary comprehend the significance of Jesus’ mission, and increasingly was this good mother hurt by the failure of her favorite son to fulfill her fond expectations.

124:4.5 (1372.2) 這一年耶穌比以往都更專注於音樂,他繼續對他弟弟妹妹們講授在家教育。大約在這時,這個小男孩敏銳意識到了約瑟夫和瑪利亞對於他使命本質的觀點間的差異。他對他父母的不同觀點細思許久,經常在他們以為他已熟睡時聆聽他們的討論。他越來越傾向於他父親的觀點,因此他母親註定要因意識到她的兒子在涉及他畢生生涯事情上逐漸拒絕她的指導而受傷。隨著歲月的流逝,這種理解的裂痕擴大。瑪利亞越來越不理解耶穌使命的重要性,這位好母親也因她最喜愛的兒子未能實現她喜好的期望而越來越受傷。

124:4.6 (1372.3) Joseph entertained a growing belief in the spiritual nature of Jesus’ mission. And but for other and more important reasons it does seem unfortunate that he could not have lived to see the fulfillment of his concept of Jesus’ bestowal on earth.

124:4.6 (1372.3) 約瑟夫對耶穌使命的屬靈本質懷有一種漸增的信念。假若沒有其它更為重要的理由,他未能活著看見他所持有的關於耶穌在世上贈與之概念的實現,這的確似乎是不幸的。

124:4.7 (1372.4) During his last year at school, when he was twelve years old, Jesus remonstrated with his father about the Jewish custom of touching the bit of parchment nailed upon the doorpost each time on going into, or coming out of, the house and then kissing the finger that touched the parchment. As a part of this ritual it was customary to say, “The Lord shall preserve our going out and our coming in, from this time forth and even forevermore.” Joseph and Mary had repeatedly instructed Jesus as to the reasons for not making images or drawing pictures, explaining that such creations might be used for idolatrous purposes. Though Jesus failed fully to grasp their proscriptions against images and pictures, he possessed a high concept of consistency and therefore pointed out to his father the essentially idolatrous nature of this habitual obeisance to the doorpost parchment. And Joseph removed the parchment after Jesus had thus remonstrated with him.

124:4.7 (1372.4) 在耶穌求學的最後一年,那時他十二歲,他向他父親抗議猶太人習俗,即每次進出家門時觸碰釘在門柱上一小塊羊皮紙,然後親吻觸碰羊皮紙的手指。作為這個儀式的一部分,習慣上要說,「上主保佑我們出入,從今時直到永遠。」 約瑟夫和瑪利亞曾一再教導耶穌不製作雕像和不繪畫人像的原因,解釋說這類創作可能被用於偶像崇拜目的。儘管耶穌未能完全理解他們反對雕像和人像的禁令,但他擁有高度的一致性概念,因此向他父親指出,這種習慣性地向門柱羊皮紙敬禮在實質上具有偶像崇拜的本質。在耶穌這樣向約瑟夫抗議後,他移除了羊皮紙。

124:4.8 (1372.5) As time passed, Jesus did much to modify their practice of religious forms, such as the family prayers and other customs. And it was possible to do many such things at Nazareth, for its synagogue was under the influence of a liberal school of rabbis, exemplified by the renowned Nazareth teacher, Jose.

124:4.8 (1372.5) 隨著時間流逝,耶穌對他們宗教形式的實踐做了許多修改,例如家庭祈禱和其他習俗。在拿撒勒做許多這樣的事是可能的,因為它的猶太會堂受到拉比自由學派的影響,以著名的拿撒勒導師何塞(Jose)為代表。

124:4.9 (1372.6) Throughout this and the two following years Jesus suffered great mental distress as the result of his constant effort to adjust his personal views of religious practices and social amenities to the established beliefs of his parents. He was distraught by the conflict between the urge to be loyal to his own convictions and the conscientious admonition of dutiful submission to his parents; his supreme conflict was between two great commands which were uppermost in his youthful mind. The one was: “Be loyal to the dictates of your highest convictions of truth and righteousness.” The other was: “Honor your father and mother, for they have given you life and the nurture thereof.” However, he never shirked the responsibility of making the necessary daily adjustments between these realms of loyalty to one’s personal convictions and duty toward one’s family, and he achieved the satisfaction of effecting an increasingly harmonious blending of personal convictions and family obligations into a masterful concept of group solidarity based upon loyalty, fairness, tolerance, and love.

124:4.9 (1372.6) 在這一整年和接下來兩年中,耶穌遭受了極大精神痛苦,因為他不斷努力調整他個人對宗教實踐和社交禮儀的看法以適應他父母既定的信仰。他因忠於他自己信念的驅策和孝順服從他父母的良心告誡之間的衝突而感到心煩意亂;他最大的衝突是他年輕心智中最主要的兩大命令之間。一個是:「要忠於你對於真理和正義之最高信念的指令。」另一個是:「要孝敬你的父母,因為他們給了你生命並養育它。」然而,他從未逃避在忠於個人信念和對家庭責任這些領域間做出必要日常調整的責任,並且他獲得了令人滿意的成就,實現了將個人信念和家庭義務逐漸融合成一種基於忠誠、公平、寬容和愛的集體團結的精湛概念。

5. His Thirteenth Year (A.D. 7)
5. 他第十三年(西元7年)
124:5.1 (1373.1) In this year the lad of Nazareth passed from boyhood to the beginning of young manhood; his voice began to change, and other features of mind and body gave evidence of the oncoming status of manhood.

124:5.1 (1373.1) 在這年當中,這個拿撒勒的小男孩從少年時期進入到青年時期的開始;他的聲音開始變化,心智和身體的其它特徵也表明了即將到來的成年狀態。

124:5.2 (1373.2) On Sunday night, January 9, A.D. 7, his baby brother, Amos, was born. Jude was not yet two years of age, and the baby sister, Ruth, was yet to come; so it may be seen that Jesus had a sizable family of small children left to his watchcare when his father met his accidental death the following year.

124:5.2 (1373.2) 在西元7年1月9日星期天晚上,他的新生弟弟阿摩司誕生了。猶大還不到兩歲,嬰兒妹妹路得還沒出生;因此,可以看出,當耶穌的父親在下一年遭遇其意外死亡時,耶穌有一個由小孩組成的相當大的家庭需要他看顧。

124:5.3 (1373.3) It was about the middle of February that Jesus became humanly assured that he was destined to perform a mission on earth for the enlightenment of man and the revelation of God. Momentous decisions, coupled with far-reaching plans, were formulating in the mind of this youth, who was, to outward appearances, an average Jewish lad of Nazareth. The intelligent life of all Nebadon looked on with fascination and amazement as all this began to unfold in the thinking and acting of the now adolescent carpenter’s son.

124:5.3 (1373.3) 大約在二月中旬,耶穌從人類角度確信,他註定在世上為人類的啟蒙和神的啟示執行一項使命。重大的決定再加上影響深遠的計劃,逐漸在這個年輕人的心智中形成,而這年輕人從外表上看來只是一個普通的拿撒勒猶太小夥子。隨著這一切開始在這位現在為青少年的木匠之子的思考和行動中展開,所有內巴頓的智能生命都以著迷和驚奇的眼光注視著。

124:5.4 (1373.4) On the first day of the week, March 20, A.D. 7, Jesus graduated from the course of training in the local school connected with the Nazareth synagogue. This was a great day in the life of any ambitious Jewish family, the day when the first-born son was pronounced a “son of the commandment” and the ransomed first-born of the Lord God of Israel, a “child of the Most High” and servant of the Lord of all the earth.

124:5.4 (1373.4) 在西元7年3月20日,一周的第一天,耶穌從與拿撒勒猶太會堂有關的當地學校的培訓課程畢業了。 在任何一個雄心勃勃的猶太家庭生活中,這都是一個偉大的日子,這天這長子被宣佈為「誡命之子」以及以色列上主神的贖回長子,一個「極高者之子」和全地之上主的僕人。

124:5.5 (1373.5) Friday of the week before, Joseph had come over from Sepphoris, where he was in charge of the work on a new public building, to be present on this glad occasion. Jesus’ teacher confidently believed that his alert and diligent pupil was destined to some outstanding career, some distinguished mission. The elders, notwithstanding all their trouble with Jesus’ nonconformist tendencies, were very proud of the lad and had already begun laying plans which would enable him to go to Jerusalem to continue his education in the renowned Hebrew academies.

124:5.5 (1373.5) 前一周的星期五,約瑟夫已從塞弗瑞斯過來,以便出席這個歡喜的場合,那時他在塞弗瑞斯負責一個新公共建築的工作。耶穌的老師確信他機敏而勤奮的學生註定會有某種傑出的生涯,某種非凡的使命。長老們儘管對耶穌不遵循常規的傾向感到苦惱,但卻都為這小男孩感到驕傲,並已開始制定計劃,讓他能前往耶路撒冷,在著名的希伯來學院繼續他的教育。

124:5.6 (1373.6) As Jesus heard these plans discussed from time to time, he became increasingly sure that he would never go to Jerusalem to study with the rabbis. But he little dreamed of the tragedy, so soon to occur, which would insure the abandonment of all such plans by causing him to assume the responsibility for the support and direction of a large family, presently to consist of five brothers and three sisters as well as his mother and himself. Jesus had a larger and longer experience rearing this family than was accorded to Joseph, his father; and he did measure up to the standard which he subsequently set for himself: to become a wise, patient, understanding, and effective teacher and eldest brother to this family—his family—so suddenly sorrow-stricken and so unexpectedly bereaved.

124:5.6 (1373.6) 隨著耶穌不時聽到這些討論的計劃,他越來越確定他決不會前往耶路撒冷與拉比們一起學習。但他做夢也沒想到將使他放棄所有這些計劃的悲劇這麼快就發生,因為他需承擔對一個大家庭的供養和管理責任,這個大家庭不久就包括有五個弟弟,三個妹妹,以及他的母親和他自己。與他父親約瑟夫所經歷的相比,耶穌養育這個家庭的經歷規模更大且時間更長;他確實達到了他隨後為他自己設定的標準:成為這個家庭——他的家庭——的智慧、耐心、體諒和有效的教師和長兄,這個如此突然悲痛欲絕和如此意外喪失親人的家庭。

6. The Journey to Jerusalem
6. 耶路撒冷之旅
124:6.1 (1374.1) Jesus, having now reached the threshold of young manhood and having been formally graduated from the synagogue schools, was qualified to proceed to Jerusalem with his parents to participate with them in the celebration of his first Passover. The Passover feast of this year fell on Saturday, April 9, A.D. 7. A considerable company (103) made ready to depart from Nazareth early Monday morning, April 4, for Jerusalem. They journeyed south toward Samaria, but on reaching Jezreel, they turned east, going around Mount Gilboa into the Jordan valley in order to avoid passing through Samaria. Joseph and his family would have enjoyed going down through Samaria by way of Jacob’s well and Bethel, but since the Jews disliked to deal with the Samaritans, they decided to go with their neighbors by way of the Jordan valley.

124:6.1 (1374.1) 耶穌現在已踏入青年期門檻並已正式從猶太會堂學校畢業,它有資格與他父母一起前往耶路撒冷,和他們一起參與慶祝他的第一個逾越節。這一年的逾越節慶祝落在西元7年4月9日星期六。4月4日星期一大早,一個相當大的隊伍(103人)準備好從拿撒勒出發前往耶路撒冷。他們朝著撒瑪利亞南行,但在抵達耶斯列時,他們轉向東面,繞過基利波山進入約旦河谷,以避免通過撒瑪利亞。約瑟夫和他家人本可享受經由雅各井和伯特利往下通過撒瑪利亞,但由於猶太人不喜歡與撒瑪利亞人打交道,他們決定與他們的鄰居經由約旦河谷前往。

124:6.2 (1374.2) The much-dreaded Archelaus had been deposed, and they had little to fear in taking Jesus to Jerusalem. Twelve years had passed since the first Herod had sought to destroy the babe of Bethlehem, and no one would now think of associating that affair with this obscure lad of Nazareth.

124:6.2 (1374.2) 十分令人畏懼的阿基勞斯已被廢黜,他們已不怎麼害怕帶耶穌去耶路撒冷。自從最早的希律王試圖毀掉這個伯利恆的嬰兒以來,十二年過去了,現在沒人會想到把這個不起眼的的拿撒勒小男孩與那件事聯想再一起。

124:6.3 (1374.3) Before reaching the Jezreel junction, and as they journeyed on, very soon, on the left, they passed the ancient village of Shunem, and Jesus heard again about the most beautiful maiden of all Israel who once lived there and also about the wonderful works Elisha performed there. In passing by Jezreel, Jesus’ parents recounted the doings of Ahab and Jezebel and the exploits of Jehu. In passing around Mount Gilboa, they talked much about Saul, who took his life on the slopes of this mountain, King David, and the associations of this historic spot.

124:6.3 (1374.3) 在抵達耶斯列交叉口之前,隨著他們前行,不久,在左側,他們路過了古老的書念村,耶穌再次聽到了關於曾住在那裡的全以色列最美少女,以及關於以利沙在那所做的出色工作。在途經耶斯列時,耶穌父母詳述了亞哈和耶洗別所做之事,以及耶戶的功績。在繞過基利波山時,他們談論了許多關於在這座山的山坡上結束自己生命的掃羅王的事,還有大衛王以及與這一歷史地點相關聯的事。

124:6.4 (1374.4) As they rounded the base of Gilboa, the pilgrims could see the Greek city of Scythopolis on the right. They gazed upon the marble structures from a distance but went not near the gentile city lest they so defile themselves that they could not participate in the forthcoming solemn and sacred ceremonies of the Passover at Jerusalem. Mary could not understand why neither Joseph nor Jesus would speak of Scythopolis. She did not know about their controversy of the previous year as they had never revealed this episode to her.

124:6.4 (1374.4) 隨著他們繞過基利波山山腳,朝聖者們可以看到右邊的希臘城市西拖波利。他們從遠處凝視著大理石建築,但卻沒有靠近這座外邦人城市,惟恐玷污了自己而無法參加即將在耶路撒冷舉行的莊嚴而神聖的逾越節儀式。瑪利亞不明白爲什麼約瑟夫和耶穌都不願談論西拖波利。她並不知道他們前一年的爭議,因為他們從未向她透露這一事件。

124:6.5 (1374.5) The road now led immediately down into the tropical Jordan valley, and soon Jesus was to have exposed to his wondering gaze the crooked and ever-winding Jordan with its glistening and rippling waters as it flowed down toward the Dead Sea. They laid aside their outer garments as they journeyed south in this tropical valley, enjoying the luxurious fields of grain and the beautiful oleanders laden with their pink blossoms, while massive snow-capped Mount Hermon stood far to the north, in majesty looking down on the historic valley. A little over three hours’ travel from opposite Scythopolis they came upon a bubbling spring, and here they camped for the night, out under the starlit heavens.

124:6.5 (1374.5) 此時,道路立即往下通向酷熱的約旦河谷,不久,即將映入耶穌驚奇注視之下的是彎曲且不斷蜿蜒的約旦河,伴隨其波光粼粼的河水往下流向死海。隨著他們在這個酷熱山谷向南行進,他們脫下他們的外衣,享受著富饒的穀地和開滿粉紅色花朵的美麗夾竹桃,而巨大白雪皚皚的黑門山則矗立在遙遠的北方,雄偉地俯瞰這個有歷史意義的河谷。從西拖波利相反方向走三個多小時後,他們來到了一個湧泉,在繁星點點的天空下,他們在此露營過夜。

124:6.6 (1374.6) On their second day’s journey they passed by where the Jabbok, from the east, flows into the Jordan, and looking east up this river valley, they recounted the days of Gideon, when the Midianites poured into this region to overrun the land. Toward the end of the second day’s journey they camped near the base of the highest mountain overlooking the Jordan valley, Mount Sartaba, whose summit was occupied by the Alexandrian fortress where Herod had imprisoned one of his wives and buried his two strangled sons.

124:6.6 (1374.6) 在他們第二天的旅程中,他們經過了雅博河從東邊流入約旦河之地,向東眺望這一河谷,他們詳述了基甸(Gideon)時代,那時米甸人湧入這個地區來蹂躪這片土地。在第二天旅程接近尾聲時,他們在俯瞰約旦河谷的最高山脈——薩塔巴山——的山腳附近露營,該山山頂被亞歷山大堡壘所佔據,希律王曾在這裡囚禁了他的一位妻子,並埋葬了他兩個被絞死的兒子。

124:6.7 (1375.1) The third day they passed by two villages which had been recently built by Herod and noted their superior architecture and their beautiful palm gardens. By nightfall they reached Jericho, where they remained until the morrow. That evening Joseph, Mary, and Jesus walked a mile and a half to the site of the ancient Jericho, where Joshua, for whom Jesus was named, had performed his renowned exploits, according to Jewish tradition.

124:6.7 (1375.1) 第三天,他們經過希律王最近建造的兩個村莊,並注意到它們優秀的建築和它們美麗的棕櫚園。傍晚時分,他們抵達了耶利哥,他們待在那裡直到隔日。那晚,約瑟夫、瑪利亞和耶穌步行了約兩公里半到古耶利哥遺址,依照猶太人傳說,約書亞(耶穌是以他的名字命名的)在此完成了他著名的英勇事蹟。

124:6.8 (1375.2) By the fourth and last day’s journey the road was a continuous procession of pilgrims. They now began to climb the hills leading up to Jerusalem. As they neared the top, they could look across the Jordan to the mountains beyond and south over the sluggish waters of the Dead Sea. About halfway up to Jerusalem, Jesus gained his first view of the Mount of Olives (the region to be so much a part of his subsequent life), and Joseph pointed out to him that the Holy City lay just beyond this ridge, and the lad’s heart beat fast with joyous anticipation of soon beholding the city and house of his heavenly Father.

124:6.8 (1375.2) 到第四天,也是最後一天的旅程,路上是綿延不絕的朝聖隊伍。他們此時開始爬上通向耶路撒冷的山丘。隨著他們靠近山頂,他們可以看到約旦河對面的山脈,以及向南看到死海的緩慢水流。大約在通往耶路撒冷的半途上,耶穌第一次看到了橄欖山(該地區將成為他隨後生活的重要部分),約瑟夫向他指出,聖城(Holy City)就在這座山脊的另一邊,這個小男孩的心跳得很快,喜悅地期待著即將看到他天父的城市和住所。

124:6.9 (1375.3) On the eastern slopes of Olivet they paused for rest in the borders of a little village called Bethany. The hospitable villagers poured forth to minister to the pilgrims, and it happened that Joseph and his family had stopped near the house of one Simon, who had three children about the same age as Jesus—Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. They invited the Nazareth family in for refreshment, and a lifelong friendship sprang up between the two families. Many times afterward, in his eventful life, Jesus stopped in this home.

124:6.9 (1375.3) 在橄欖山的東面山坡上,他們在一個名叫伯大尼的小村莊邊界停下來休息。好客的村民紛紛前來為朝聖者服務,約瑟夫和他家人碰巧在一位西門的家附近停了下來,西門有三個和耶穌年紀相仿的孩子——瑪利亞、馬大和拉撒路。他們邀請這拿撒勒家庭進屋享用茶點,於是這兩個家庭間建立了終生的友誼。此後,在耶穌多采多姿的一生中,他曾多次在這個家停留。

124:6.10 (1375.4) They pressed on, soon standing on the brink of Olivet, and Jesus saw for the first time (in his memory) the Holy City, the pretentious palaces, and the inspiring temple of his Father. At no time in his life did Jesus ever experience such a purely human thrill as that which at this time so completely enthralled him as he stood there on this April afternoon on the Mount of Olives, drinking in his first view of Jerusalem. And in after years, on this same spot he stood and wept over the city which was about to reject another prophet, the last and the greatest of her heavenly teachers.

124:6.10 (1375.4) 他們繼續前進,不久便站在橄欖山的邊緣,耶穌第一次(在他記憶中)見到了聖城,那炫耀的宮殿和他的「父」激勵人心的聖殿。耶穌在他一生中從未經歷過如此般純人性的激動,在這四月的下午站在橄欖山的這一刻,他完全著迷,陶醉在其第一次看到耶路撒冷的景色中。多年後,他站在這同一地點,為這個將要拒絕另一位先知——她的天界導師中最後也是最偉大的一位——的城市哭泣。

124:6.11 (1375.5) But they hurried on to Jerusalem. It was now Thursday afternoon. On reaching the city, they journeyed past the temple, and never had Jesus beheld such throngs of human beings. He meditated deeply on how these Jews had assembled here from the uttermost parts of the known world.

124:6.11 (1375.5) 但他們急著趕往耶路撒冷。現在是星期四下午。在抵達城市時,他們路過了聖殿,耶穌從未見過如此大批的人群。他深深地沉思著這些猶太人如何從已知世界的最遙遠處聚集到這裡。

124:6.12 (1375.6) Soon they reached the place prearranged for their accommodation during the Passover week, the large home of a well-to-do relative of Mary’s, one who knew something of the early history of both John and Jesus, through Zacharias. The following day, the day of preparation, they made ready for the appropriate celebration of the Passover Sabbath.

124:6.12 (1375.6) 不久他們抵達了在逾越節周期間為他們預先安排好的住處——瑪利亞的一位富有親戚的大房子,這位親戚透過撒迦利亞了解約翰和耶穌早期歷史的一些事。第二天,也就是準備日,他們為逾越節安息日的適當慶祝做好準備。

124:6.13 (1375.7) While all Jerusalem was astir in preparation for the Passover, Joseph found time to take his son around to visit the academy where it had been arranged for him to resume his education two years later, as soon as he reached the required age of fifteen. Joseph was truly puzzled when he observed how little interest Jesus evinced in all these carefully laid plans.

124:6.13 (1375.7) 當整個耶路撒冷都在為逾越節的準備動起來時,約瑟夫抽空帶他兒子四處走走,參觀已經為他安排好的學院,兩年後一但他達到十五歲的所需年齡時就可在此繼續其教育。當約瑟夫觀察到耶穌對精心制定的計劃表現出如此不感興趣時,他真的感到困惑。

124:6.14 (1375.8) Jesus was profoundly impressed by the temple and all the associated services and other activities. For the first time since he was four years old, he was too much preoccupied with his own meditations to ask many questions. He did, however, ask his father several embarrassing questions (as he had on previous occasions) as to why the heavenly Father required the slaughter of so many innocent and helpless animals. And his father well knew from the expression on the lad’s face that his answers and attempts at explanation were unsatisfactory to his deep-thinking and keen-reasoning son.

124:6.14 (1375.8) 耶穌對聖殿和所有相關禮拜及其它活動印象深刻。自從他四歲以來,他第一次太過全神貫注於他自己的沈思,以致沒有問太多問題。然而,關於為何天父要求屠殺那麼多無辜和無助的動物,他確實問了他父親幾個令人尷尬的問題(就如同他在之前場合所做的那樣)。而他的父親從這小男孩的臉部表情清楚地知道,他那深思熟慮和推理敏銳的兒子並不滿意他的答案和嘗試解釋。

124:6.15 (1376.1) On the day before the Passover Sabbath, flood tides of spiritual illumination swept through the mortal mind of Jesus and filled his human heart to overflowing with affectionate pity for the spiritually blind and morally ignorant multitudes assembled for the celebration of the ancient Passover commemoration. This was one of the most extraordinary days that the Son of God spent in the flesh; and during the night, for the first time in his earth career, there appeared to him an assigned messenger from Salvington, commissioned by Immanuel, who said: “The hour has come. It is time that you began to be about your Father’s business.”

124:6.15 (1376.1) 在逾越節安息日前一天,靈性光照的洪流席捲了耶穌的凡人心智,充滿了他的人類內心,使其對聚集起來為慶祝古老逾越節紀念的屬靈盲目和道德無知的人群,洋溢出深情的憐憫。這是神之子在肉身中度過最為非凡的日子之一;夜間,在他塵世生涯中,第一次有一位由以馬內利所委任、來自薩爾文頓的受指派使者出現在他面前,說道:「時候到了,是你開始從事你『父』的事的時候了。 」

124:6.16 (1376.2) And so, even ere the heavy responsibilities of the Nazareth family descended upon his youthful shoulders, there now arrived the celestial messenger to remind this lad, not quite thirteen years of age, that the hour had come to begin the resumption of the responsibilities of a universe. This was the first act of a long succession of events which finally culminated in the completion of the Son’s bestowal on Urantia and the replacing of “the government of a universe on his human-divine shoulders.”

124:6.16 (1376.2) 就這樣,甚至在拿撒勒家庭的沉重責任落在他年輕的肩膀上之前,天界使者現在也來提醒這個不到十三歲的小男孩開始恢復宇宙職責的時刻已到來。 這是漫長一連串事件中的第一步,而這一連串事件最終以聖子在玉苒廈上贈與之完成,以及「在其兼具人性與神性肩膀上宇宙政府」之重新歸還而達到巔峰。

124:6.17 (1376.3) As time passed, the mystery of the incarnation became, to all of us, more and more unfathomable. We could hardly comprehend that this lad of Nazareth was the creator of all Nebadon. Neither do we nowadays understand how the spirit of this same Creator Son and the spirit of his Paradise Father are associated with the souls of mankind. With the passing of time, we could see that his human mind was increasingly discerning that, while he lived his life in the flesh, in spirit on his shoulders rested the responsibility of a universe.

124:6.17 (1376.3) 隨著時間流逝,化身的奧秘對所有我們來說都變得越來越深不可測。我們很難理解這個拿撒勒的小男孩是整個內巴頓的創造者。我們現今也不明白,這同一位造物聖子的靈和他天堂父親的靈是如何與人類的靈魂相關聯。伴隨時間流逝,我們可以看到,當他在肉身中過著他的生活時,他的人類心智越來越能辨識出,在靈性上,他的肩膀肩負著宇宙的職責。

124:6.18 (1376.4) Thus ends the career of the Nazareth lad, and begins the narrative of that adolescent youth—the increasingly self-conscious divine human—who now begins the contemplation of his world career as he strives to integrate his expanding life purpose with the desires of his parents and his obligations to his family and the society of his day and age.

124:6.18 (1376.4) 就這樣結束了這拿撒勒小男孩的生涯,那位現在開始沈思其世界生涯的青少年——日益自覺的神性人類——的敘事開始了,他努力將他那不斷擴展的人生目標,與他父母的渴望和他對家庭及其時代社會的義務整合在一起。

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