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A Series of Lessons in Mystic Christianity964
listened to the teachings and disputations of the teachers and exponents
of the doctrines. From one group to another He wandered, and listened,
and pondered, and thought. He compared the teachings, and submitted
the various ideas to the touchstone of the truth as He found it within His
own mind. The hours rapidly passed by unnoticed by the boy, who found
Himself amidst such congenial environments for the first time. The talks with
the travelers of the caravans paled into insignificance when compared with
these of the great occult teachers of Israel. For be it remembered that it was
the custom of the great teachers of that day to so instruct those who were
attracted to their company. And Jerusalem being the centre of the culture
and learning of Israel, the great teachers dwelt there. And so it will be seen
that Jesus now found Himself at the very fountain-head of the Hebrew
Secret Doctrines, and in the actual presence of the great teachers.
On the third day, there began a breaking-up of the vast gathering of the
two million of people who had made the pilgrimage to the Holy City. Those
poorer in purse were the first to leave, after the obligatory rites of the first
two days had been performed. And Joseph and Mary were among those
preparing to retrace their steps to their distant homes. Their friends and
neighbors gathered together, and the preparations for the return were
completed. But at the last moment, the parents discovered that the boy,
Jesus, was missing. They were alarmed, but friends told them that their boy
had been seen in the company of kinsmen and neighbors traveling along the
same road, who had preceded them but a few hours. Somewhat reassured,
the parents left with their company, hoping that they would overtake the
boy before nightfall. But when they reached the first station on the caravan
route—a village called Beroth—and the night descended upon them, and
the boy failed to appear among the neighbors and kinsmen, the parents
were sorely distressed. They slept but little that night, and when the first rays
of dawn appeared, they parted from the company, and retraced their way
back to Jerusalem, in search of the boy apparently lost in the great capital
amid the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.