Jesus was a Jew living in the 1st century. It is written by other Jews who lived with him, talked with him, and even suffered because of him, that he had obeyed all of God's laws and commandments, and therefore was the perfect sacrifice.
But by all of God's laws and commandments, are we referring only to The Ten Commandments? No, we are not. Jesus himself quoted two commandments other than the Big Ten when he was asked what the greatest commandment was (Mark 12:28-31). Torah study for Jews of that day, and in many places even today, started at the age of 3, with the book of Leviticus being the first book studied (Leviticus doesn't have The Ten Commandments listed).
One of the 613 commandments that Jesus and those who knew him would have learned was the commandment to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28 and 9:1). This would have been seen as a commandment rather than a recommendation by all Jews of that time. It was their duty to marry and have children.
In Luke 2:51, we read the last thing we know about Jesus for an 18-year span. He had just been found in the temple at Jerusalem, and returned to Nazareth with Joseph and Mary. Note that the verse states 'He was obedient to them'. That has an importance we have overlooked for centuries.
A Jewish father had 3 responsibilities to his son:
1. See to it that he studies Torah.
2. See to it that he learns a trade (St. Paul was a tentmaker by trade).
3. Find him a wife.
Joseph had the responsibility of being Jesus' father while he was here among us. Joseph and Jesus would both have known of this responsibility, and would both have accepted it as binding to them. In order to be a perfect Jew he had to accept all the responsibilities inherent with being a Jewish male. And in Luke 2:51 we read that he did so.
Who was his wife? how many children did he have? We don't know for certain, but the way classical greek was written gives us a clue. There was a formality to listing people in the classical greek. If the man was unmarried and the author was listing the women that were with him, his mother was always listed first, before anyone else. However, if he was married, his wife was always listed first, before all others, including his mother. In Matthew 27:55,56; Mark 15:40; and Luke 24:10, Mary Magdalene is listed first.
In John 20:16 Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene. Her response was to call him "Rabboni". The verse goes on to state that this meant 'teacher'. Jews have 'jumped all over this'. The word 'rabboni' had three meanings. When a slave called a man 'rabboni', it meant 'master'. When another male called a man 'rabboni', it meant 'teacher'. But when a woman called a man 'rabboni', it always meant 'husband'.
We know that the Roman Catholic Church attacked Mary Magdalene in the 6th century with a feroocity usually only seen in wolves attacking their prey. She was identified as the woman caught in adultery, even though that woman was never named. She was listed as the sinner that washed Jesus' feet, even though there was no plausible connection. She was even singled out for attack in Scriptural revision. Mark 16:9, which is not an original part of Mark's gospel (it ends at 16:8) atttacks her. Luke 8:1-3 states that there were women (plural) who had been healed of demons and diseases, and who accompanied Jesus. But the only person identified as needing healing was Mary Magdalene (singular). I personally suspect that the passage in its original form said nothing about any demons or diseases. That was added on later, just as the ending of Mark that we now have was added on years, or even centuries, after the original gospel was written.
That would explain the missing 18 years. Jesus' position as the eldest son would have given him the responsibility of caring for his parents' needs as they got older. If Joseph died during this time, Jesus would have had the responsibility of providing for his mother's needs. He would not have shirked that rsponsibility either, so trips to India, China, or even Egypt would not have been in his plans.
So what do we have here? Jesus was born in Bethlehem, fled from there to Egypt, and returned to Galilee, where he grew up in Nazareth. He learned Torah, and he learned a trade that would provide for his family. He went to the temple when he was twelve, where he accepted his responsibilties as a Jewish man. He went back to Nazareth. Joseph found him a wife, whom he married. He had children, whom he reared. When his children were old enough to support themselves, his ministry started.
And who took care of his mother when Jesus started his ministry? Jesus' son did.
But by all of God's laws and commandments, are we referring only to The Ten Commandments? No, we are not. Jesus himself quoted two commandments other than the Big Ten when he was asked what the greatest commandment was (Mark 12:28-31). Torah study for Jews of that day, and in many places even today, started at the age of 3, with the book of Leviticus being the first book studied (Leviticus doesn't have The Ten Commandments listed).
One of the 613 commandments that Jesus and those who knew him would have learned was the commandment to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28 and 9:1). This would have been seen as a commandment rather than a recommendation by all Jews of that time. It was their duty to marry and have children.
In Luke 2:51, we read the last thing we know about Jesus for an 18-year span. He had just been found in the temple at Jerusalem, and returned to Nazareth with Joseph and Mary. Note that the verse states 'He was obedient to them'. That has an importance we have overlooked for centuries.
A Jewish father had 3 responsibilities to his son:
1. See to it that he studies Torah.
2. See to it that he learns a trade (St. Paul was a tentmaker by trade).
3. Find him a wife.
Joseph had the responsibility of being Jesus' father while he was here among us. Joseph and Jesus would both have known of this responsibility, and would both have accepted it as binding to them. In order to be a perfect Jew he had to accept all the responsibilities inherent with being a Jewish male. And in Luke 2:51 we read that he did so.
Who was his wife? how many children did he have? We don't know for certain, but the way classical greek was written gives us a clue. There was a formality to listing people in the classical greek. If the man was unmarried and the author was listing the women that were with him, his mother was always listed first, before anyone else. However, if he was married, his wife was always listed first, before all others, including his mother. In Matthew 27:55,56; Mark 15:40; and Luke 24:10, Mary Magdalene is listed first.
In John 20:16 Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene. Her response was to call him "Rabboni". The verse goes on to state that this meant 'teacher'. Jews have 'jumped all over this'. The word 'rabboni' had three meanings. When a slave called a man 'rabboni', it meant 'master'. When another male called a man 'rabboni', it meant 'teacher'. But when a woman called a man 'rabboni', it always meant 'husband'.
We know that the Roman Catholic Church attacked Mary Magdalene in the 6th century with a feroocity usually only seen in wolves attacking their prey. She was identified as the woman caught in adultery, even though that woman was never named. She was listed as the sinner that washed Jesus' feet, even though there was no plausible connection. She was even singled out for attack in Scriptural revision. Mark 16:9, which is not an original part of Mark's gospel (it ends at 16:8) atttacks her. Luke 8:1-3 states that there were women (plural) who had been healed of demons and diseases, and who accompanied Jesus. But the only person identified as needing healing was Mary Magdalene (singular). I personally suspect that the passage in its original form said nothing about any demons or diseases. That was added on later, just as the ending of Mark that we now have was added on years, or even centuries, after the original gospel was written.
That would explain the missing 18 years. Jesus' position as the eldest son would have given him the responsibility of caring for his parents' needs as they got older. If Joseph died during this time, Jesus would have had the responsibility of providing for his mother's needs. He would not have shirked that rsponsibility either, so trips to India, China, or even Egypt would not have been in his plans.
So what do we have here? Jesus was born in Bethlehem, fled from there to Egypt, and returned to Galilee, where he grew up in Nazareth. He learned Torah, and he learned a trade that would provide for his family. He went to the temple when he was twelve, where he accepted his responsibilties as a Jewish man. He went back to Nazareth. Joseph found him a wife, whom he married. He had children, whom he reared. When his children were old enough to support themselves, his ministry started.
And who took care of his mother when Jesus started his ministry? Jesus' son did.
