We do well to include in our understanding of Jesus that he lived for thirty three years, as a human being to the degree that he could without denying himself. In that physical and natural setting he presented (and continues to present) an exemplary life as model for the way in which his followers ought to pattern their lives. In our period of time we are so taken with his divinity that we may miss his modeling for natural life. That model was intense for the disciples who would, after his ascension accent the holistic Christ, the God/man who would provide a way of life in the natural world, and a preparation for the hope of life after death as a citizen in the kingdom of God. (According to the New Testament, immortality is the blessed hope of the Christian which hope becomes a factor of faith.) (Titus 2:13) In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) Jesus accented the Father in heaven so to keep clear that he was identifying with them, his listeners, and presenting a message for a way of life possible for mere humanity. As he had taken on humanity without losing his divinity, so human beings could take on spiritual life without losing their humanity. This would further take on a magnificent perception when he told the disciples that he would be in them and that by the agency of the Holy Spirit. (The Gospel of John details only a few days in the life of Christ, offers the last conversation with the disciples addressing the matter of his humanity and deity to their understanding, belief and ultimate ministry – John 13 -16. He closed the explanation and instruction with a prayer summarizing the teaching with specificity about his identity – John 17.)
We can summarize his conduct with what we know of him through Scripture. He set aside competency to provide miracles for his personal benefit. He accepted the natural life of any human being that included weariness, sorrow, meals, friends, enemies, work, inconvenience, put-down, hunger, temptation, anger, misunderstanding, even lament to tears – and we might well list out the factors of human existence. In all he (the man) conquered, but even then it was through prayer and the application of Scripture which he religiously (objectively and consistently) followed. Jesus was a human being living as persons without his uniqueness can live. To achieve that objective he too prayed, and we are given a magnificent example in the revealed temptation. So intense was the experience that angels ministered unto him after the prolonged events took place – from fasting to victory – Matthew 4:1-11. (Angels minister for humanity.)
Jesus was a secret for Mary not shared except with Joseph and Elizabeth and understood in the Joseph epiphany – so accepted generally as his son. He was reared well, summarized in the cryptic verse from Luke 2:52. In the passing of time Jesus did household chores, and was likely treated by Joseph with emphasis in the natural course of life. As the specialness of Jesus began to emerge, illustrated in his exchange with the priests at twelve years of age, the siblings of the family found some rift between themselves and the elder brother. Even in this difference there was nothing more than that found in many homes where one child appeared to have a talent or favor that seemed to siblings to create a competition for parental approval, perhaps also from the community. Ultimately Jesus became controversial in his small hometown, and removed to Capernaum to set up his home base for ministry. For his public life Nazareth faded from the action even though he was identified as Jesus, the Nazarene. The title was something of a put-down in that there was believed to be nothing of social meaning that had ever emerged from Nazareth. Jesus recruited a team called Disciples and ordered them in professional fashion. Offerings sustained them and each was assigned duties. (Judas was treasurer.) There were women in the group (some of whom may have been wives of disciples) who organized to manage the domestic care of the team. This likely included the preparation of meals, the washing and mending of clothes, and the like. From the income the disciples were likely given stipends so to maintain their homes in their communities. Jesus had a payroll to meet. He fixed the hours and working conditions, thoughtful of the Disciples. They lived in moderation neither poor nor rich. That evangel team model has been repeated often in history. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020