No 76 Learning at the temple. (Jesus is the Christ Himself)
This painting is based on The Gospel According to Luke chapter two.
According to that story, when Jesus was twelve, His parents went to Jerusalem.
And when they had finished the days, the Boy Jesus got separated from them, and they returned to the city, seeking Him.
Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and Mother Mary said to Him,
gSon, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.h
And He said to them, gWhy did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Fatherfs business?h
After that, Luke wrote that but they did not understand the statement that He spoke to them.
But I know that Mary understands Him, the Son of God. So I suppose that Mary recommended Him this opportunity to learn The Word of God at the temple.
Because Mary used to say to Him, gYou must learn about The Word which is written in their Book.h
So I made another story about this with the Holy Spirit.
First of all, I changed Jesusfs answer to them, like this. He said,
gSorry father and mother. But I suppose that all of you knew I had the desire to learn about My Fatherfs business.h
Mary said to Him, gOf course, I knew. But I have been very much upset when you were lost.h
And Mary said to Joseph, gPlease forgive Him. Because He is meant to be here. Therefore, I owe you an apology.h
Mary said so and told Joseph the story about the things that had happened with Jesus on the way to Tyre.
Then Joseph accepted Maryfs talk. And said to Jesus with a smile, gI am happy for You because You have two fathers.
One is in heaven another is on the earth. So, listen to me now, the man who is on earth is a shepherd.
He has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?
That is a fatherfs business on earth. And if he should find it, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.
Now let us go to meet the ninety-nine. They are waiting for us.h
Then there appeared the man of God and said to them, gAll of you, listen to me. You have already three days of delay.
If you hurry after them, you cannot catch up with them. More than this we should better get a shortcut back home.
We will take away home through Samaria. Do not worry. I will guide all of you in safety. h
When they were about to leave the temple, the teachers who were there said in a loud voice,
gMen of Nazareth! The Boy is very good. If you want, I can take Him as an adopted child and bring Him up to a scribe our responsibility. And all of us are with God at the temple.h
However, Jesus answered them in a loud voice, gNo thank you, sir. I am going to become a good carpenter as My father is, in My home town Nazareth.
And I will build a house for him. Because My Father in heaven said,
eThe heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you build for Me? And where is the place of My rest?f
So, there is no God in the temple.h So, all those in the temple, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and they lifted up their voices and said,
gGo away! Galilean who hates the Talmud! Men, can anything good come out of Nazareth?h
When Mary heard this, she said to herself, gHow ridiculous reasoning they say! But bravely spoken My Son. His plan sounds good.h
Then they left the temple in safety and went ahead to Samaria. This was the first journey through Samaria for them.
Because Jews have no dealing with Samaritans. Then they went on a two-day journey, and they came to a city which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
There was Jacobfs well. The man of God stood by the well and said, gLook, this is the center of Samaria which used to be the Kingdom of Israel.
But now there is only the well. The peoples of Israel were gone. For the wrath of God was upon them.h
Then Jesus asked him, g Where have the people gone?h The man of God answered Him, gNo one knows but God. Almost all were isolated from God and assimilated into Gentiles.
Good sheep stay God and ungodly sheep were lost.hThen when Mary heard this and said to Jesus,
" Our ancestors were lost sheep, also the prophetess Anna was the same as she told us.h
And Jesus answered to her, gMother, I will seek them as My father did for Me.h
However when Joseph heard this and said, gTwo of you, remember, they were sinners. For sin, they lost. Nobody can be forgiven of sins but God.
But they were isolated from God, so, they are hopeless forever.h
Then the man of God drew near them and said, gAll of you, do not worry. Isaiah the prophet, says.
eBehold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to Gentiles.
He will not quarrel nor cry out, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. Till He sends forth justice to victory, And in His name, Gentiles will trust.fh
Joseph said, gI ask you, of whom does Isaiah say this?g The man of God answered, and said, gIsaiah said about He who is The lost Lamb whom you two found at the temple a few days ago.h
When Jesus heard it He accepted that He shall be a servant for many. So He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them.
Meanwhile, the parents looked at each other and said together, gOh! We made a big deal with God for David's sakeh
Then Joseph said to Mary, hI made up my mind. I will make a name for myself as David did.h
So, Mary said to him very anxiously, gDo not die on me.h But Joseph said, gSolomon said that then shall the dust return to the earth as it was.
And the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. All of us are under the heaven.h
This painting represents Jesus becoming Christ Himself. Amen!
February 2023@ Oil 983mm~1240mm
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