Childhood and Early Education of Jesus

Chapter 16 The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ

The home of Joseph. Mary teaches her son. Jesus’ grandparents give a feast in his honour. Jesus has a dream. His grandmother’s interpretation. His birthday gift.

1. The home of Joseph was on Marmion Way in Nazareth; here Mary taught her son the lessons of Elihu and Salome.
2. And Jesus greatly loved the Vedic and the Avesta; but more than all he loved to read the Psalms of David and the pungent words of Solomon.
3. The Jewish books of prophecy were his delight; and when he reached his seventh year he needed not the books to read, for he had fixed in memory every word.
4. Joachim and his wife, grandparents of child Jesus, made a feast in honour of the child, and all their near of kin were guests.
5. And Jesus stood before the guests and said, I had a dream, and in my dream I stood before a sea, upon a sandy beach.
6. The waves upon the sea were high; a storm was raging on the deep.
7. Some one gave me a wand. I took the wand and touched the sand, and every grain of sand became a living thing; the beach was all a mass of beauty and of song.
8. I touched the waters at my feet, and they were changed to trees, and flowers, and singing birds, and every thing was praising God.
9. And some one spoke, I did not see the one who spoke, I heard the voice, which said, There is no death.
10. Grandmother Anna loved the child; she laid her hand on Jesus’ head and said, I saw you stand beside the sea; I saw you touch the sand and waves; I saw them turn to living things and then I knew the meaning of the dream.
11. The sea of life rolls high; the storms are great. The multitude of men are idle, listless, waiting, like dead sand upon the beach.
12. Your wand is truth. With this you touch the multitudes, and every man becomes a messenger of holy light and life.
13. You touch the waves upon the sea of life; their turmoils cease; the very winds become a song of praise.
14. There is no death, because the wand of truth can change the dryest bones to living things, and bring the loveliest flowers from stagnant ponds, and turn the most discordant notes to harmony and praise.
15. Joachim said, My son, today you pass the seventh milestone of your way of life, for you are seven years of age, and we will give to you, as a remembrance of this day, whatever you desire; choose that which will afford you most delight.
16. And Jesus said, I do not want a gift, for I am satisfied. If I could make a multitude of children glad upon this day I would be greatly pleased.
17. Now, there are many hungry boys and girls in Nazareth who would be pleased to eat with us this feast and share with us the pleasures of this day.
18. The richest gift that you can give to me is your permission to go out and find these needy ones and bring them here that they may feast with us.
19. Joachim said, ‘Tis well; go out and find the needy boys and girls and bring them here; we will prepare enough for all.
20. And Jesus did not wait; he ran; he entered every dingy hut and cabin of the town; he did not waste his words; he told his mission everywhere.
21. And in a little time one hundred and three-score of happy, ragged boys and girls were following him up Marmion Way.
22. The guests made way; the banquet hall was filled with Jesus’ guests, and Jesus and his mother helped to serve.
23. And there was food enough for all, and all were glad; and so the birthday gift of Jesus was a crown of righteousness.

In 1908 a book appeared on the shelves of American bookstores that was destined to garner interest throughout the world, so much so that today it has gone through more than seventy editions in America alone. This book was The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ by Levi H. Dowling. Destined to be continually derided by those who “give liking unto nothing, but what is framed by themselves, and hammered on their anvil”¹–in other words the Bible-believing of varying stripes–it yet evoked a response in those who intuited and sought for a deeper meaning of the person and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. Many at that time, as well as today, could not honestly accept the limited interpretation of Jesus and His words that was offered by “Churchianity”–an acceptance that would have obligated them to reject Him as but one of many misperceiving religionists of the past. For them the Aquarian Gospel was truly Light in Darkness, a fount of life-giving knowledge.