PAPER 125: Section 5.
The Third Day In The Temple
P1382:3, 125:5.1 Jesus' third day with the scribes and teachers in the temple witnessed the gathering of many spectators who, having heard of this youth from Galilee, came to enjoy the experience of seeing a lad confuse the wise men of the law. Simon also came down from Bethany to see what the boy was up to. Throughout this day Joseph and Mary continued their anxious search for Jesus, even going several times into the temple but never thinking to scrutinize the several discussion groups, although they once came almost within hearing distance of his fascinating voice.
P1382:4, 125:5.2 Before the day had ended, the entire attention of the chief discussion group of the temple had become focused upon the questions being asked by Jesus. Among his many questions were:
P1382:5, 125:5.3
1. What really exists in the holy of holies, behind the veil?
P1382:6, 125:5.4
2. Why should mothers in Israel be segregated from the male temple worshipers?
P1382:7, 125:5.5
3. If God is a father who loves his children, why all this slaughter of animals
to gain divine favor -- has the teaching of Moses been misunderstood?
P1382:8, 125:5.6
4. Since the temple is dedicated to the worship of the Father in heaven, is
it consistent to permit the presence of those who engage in secular barter
and trade?
P1382:9, 125:5.7
5. Is the expected Messiah to become a temporal prince to sit on the throne
of David, or is he to function as the light of life in the establishment of
a spiritual kingdom?
P1383:1, 125:5.8
And all the day through, those who listened marveled at these questions, and
none was more astonished than Simon. For more than four hours this Nazareth
youth plied these Jewish teachers with thought-provoking and
heart-searching
questions. He made few comments on the remarks of his elders. He conveyed
his teaching by the questions he would ask. By the deft and subtle
phrasing
of a question he would at one and the same time challenge their teaching and
suggest his own. In the manner of his asking a question there was an appealing
combination of sagacity and humor which endeared him even to those who more
or less resented his
youthfulness. He was always eminently fair and considerate
in the asking of these penetrating questions. On this eventful afternoon in
the temple he exhibited that same reluctance to take unfair advantage of an
opponent which characterized his entire subsequent public ministry. As a youth,
and later on as a man, he seemed to be utterly free from all egoistic desire
to win an argument merely to experience logical triumph over his fellows,
being interested supremely in just one thing: to proclaim everlasting truth
and thus effect a fuller revelation of the eternal God.
P1383:2, 125:5.9
When the day was over, Simon and Jesus wended their way back to Bethany. For
most of the distance both the man and the boy were silent. Again Jesus paused
on the brow of Olivet, but as he viewed the city and its temple, he did not
weep; he only bowed his head in silent devotion.
P1383:3, 125:5.10
After the evening meal at Bethany he again declined to join the merry circle
but instead went to the garden, where he lingered long into the night, vainly
endeavoring to think out some definite plan of approach to the problem of
his lifework and to decide how best he might labor to reveal to his spiritually
blinded countrymen a more beautiful concept of the heavenly Father and so
set them free from their terrible bondage to law, ritual, ceremonial, and
musty tradition. But the clear light did not come to the truth-seeking lad.