Adapted from the Urantia Book original paper, here.
1. By sixteen years old, Jesus was coming into his own. He was strong and handsome with an engaging and sympathetic smile, even if he was becoming more sober and serious. He was learning to be both a friend, and a divine teacher.
2. Only the boys could be educated at the synagogue. Jesus thought this separation between the rights of men and women was backward and offensive. Jesus insisted that Miriam, Martha, and Ruth be homeschooled.
3. When Jesus was seventeen years old, the Zealots came to Nazareth recruiting people to rebel against the Romans. Jesus refused. He had to care for his family. When offered money to care for them, he said money can’t love. The town was divided in its support for Jesus.
4. James graduated school and took over some of Jesus’ work in the carpenter shop. Jesus continued to organize his mind and better communicate with his Thought Adjuster. He was growing to perfection like we do, earning it though the decisions that he made.
5. When 18 years old, Jesus took James to Passover. He prepared James for the bloody scenes, but he was less shocked than Jesus had been. Jesus remained quiet at the temple: he had pity for his fellow Jews and their backward ways, but it was not yet time to be about his Father’s business.
6. Jesus loved people: all types of personalities at all of the levels of maturity only gained through age and experience. He’d read the scriptures for the town on Saturday morning, and weather permitting he’d take the family for walks in the country in the afternoon.
7. John visited Jesus in September of this year. They talked over their futures, and they decided John should return to his family’s farm until their Father called them to their missions. They didn’t see each other again until John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River.
8. In December, baby Amos died. Jesus had to support Mary as both son, and the head of the household. The family was broke. Jesus was patient and optimistic. The family trusted and learned from his leadership, which held them together during these hard times.
9. When Jesus was nineteen years old, Rebecca, daughter of Ezra was in love with him. Mary and Miriam said no to marriage, so she went to Jesus. He said no. Rebecca never gave her love to another man, and she was with Mary and the other women as Jesus hung on the cross.
10. Jesus was twenty years old. He went to Passover to clear his mind of Rebecca. At Lazarus’ house they didn’t have the sacrificial lamb for supper. Jesus said they didn’t need it because they had seen the light of God: They would not approach the Father through the darkness of death.
11. This was the first Passover supper ever held without the sacrificial lamb. Jesus named the hard bread the bread of life, and the wine the water of life. Jesus is ready to walk forth revealing God to mortals, and leading mortals to God.
12. Those are the highlights of Son of Man: Urantia, Chapter 6, “The Adolescent Years.” This week is Chapter 7, “Jesus’ Early Manhood.” Have a fantastic week out there.