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14
A Call to Stand Apart
easily influenced by their teachings. But when they questioned Him,
He asked for their authority from the Bible. He seemed to know the
Scriptures from beginning to end. The rabbis were ashamed of being
instructed by a child and indignant at His opposition. They soon
realized that Jesus’ spiritual understanding was far beyond theirs
At a very early age Jesus began to act for Himself in the for-
mation of character, and not even respect and love for His parents
could turn Him from obedience to God. The words of Scripture
became the reason for everything He did that was different from
the family’s customs. His brothers, Joseph’s sons, sided with the
rabbis, insisting that traditions had to be followed the same as the
laws of God. They called Jesus’ strict obedience to the laws of God
“stubbornness.” They were astounded at His knowledge and wisdom
when answering the rabbis and recognized that His education had to
come from a higher source than theirs
There were some who wanted to be friends with Jesus because
they felt at peace with Him; but more of His peers avoided Him
because they felt condemned by such a pure life. He was bright
and cheerful; His friends enjoyed His company and welcomed His
suggestions. But they were impatient with His scruples and called
Him narrow and straitlaced
Jesus’ choices were a continuous mystery to His parents from
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the time they found Him in the temple at age 12. For example, His
happiest hours were spent alone with nature and with God. Early in
the morning He would go to a quiet place to meditate, read the Bible,
and pray. Then He would return home to do the family chores. He
loved to help suffering persons, and even suffering animals
Jesus found value in every person. He went out of His way to
speak kind words of encouragement to sick, oppressed, and discour-
aged persons. Sometimes He even gave hungry people His own
lunch. He tried to bring the hope of spiritual victory and the assur-
ance of being part of God’s family to everyone, including the rough
and unpromising. Jesus never contended for His own rights, even
though He was harassed and was often treated unfairly
At times His mother Mary wavered between Jesus and His broth-
ers, who didn’t believe Jesus had been sent from God. But they
could hardly deny His divine character or the fact that His presence
brought a pure atmosphere into their home
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