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activity, the loud screams of the countless animals that were being slaughtered, and the overwhelming smell and gore involved in the ritual use of the animal blood. According to the legend, his mind was cast into doubt concerning the merit of what he saw. The actual record of this episode does not include any details about the thoughts of Jesus on this occasion.
During the first century A.D. the major religious schools of Judaism were in Jerusalem. This is where the great Rabbis held public debates, proclaimed their interpretations of the scriptures, and educated students in their traditions of Judaism. A story is related in the gospels that on the occasion of a family visit to Jerusalem with his parents, when Jesus was 12 years old, he became involved in discussions with the Rabbis. While his parents were occupied with adult involvement in rituals and prayer, the young boy Jesus was pursuing spiritual understanding. Many days passed in this way as they were visiting Jerusalem. On their return home to Nazareth, the parents discovered that Jesus had not returned with their group. They immediately returned Jerusalem to find him. After searching for their son for three days they found him questioning and debating
with the learned rabbis.
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