It might be. But it could also be a mature rabbit or even a very small lamb.
Interesting how feminine “John” appears despite the adam’s apple. The comments to the article mention that some items don’t appear to have been restored appropriately, but some of that could just be the removal of the dirt.
Not to mention, if they didn’t want to be compared to photorealism, they shouldn’t have painted things that lasted; they should have painted on plaster doomed to destruct long before the invention of the daguerreotype.
That’s true of a great many Christians right now. The information people who claim to have read the Torah don’t have about Judaism boggles the mind.
And yes, of course I am aware that a lot of what is practiced is not in the Torah, but I know enough people to have lost count, who claim to have read Genesis - Deuteronomy, and still do not understand that in the gospel story of Mary, Joseph and Jesus going to Jerusalem, and 12-yr-old Jesus stopping to get into a discussion of Torah with some pharisees, they were in Jerusalem in the first place, and then in a hurry to get back home, because they had gone for an obligatory “pilgrimage festival.”
Also, it’s not “amazing” that a 12-yr-old should want to join in a discussion with adults, as a 12-yr-old is nearly an adult by Jewish standards.
Even in modern times, it is not unusual to see 9 - 12-yr-olds in discussion with adults about Torah. They are encouraged and well-regarded. When I read that gospel story, I see a story about a bunch of pharisees listening to 12-yr-old youth by way of encouraging him, not necessarily because they were learning from him.
Just one more way that the gospels look very different to me than they do to someone not familiar with Judaism. But nevermind.
I think that the takeaway from that Gospel story is not supposed to be merely that Jesus was in discussion with the Pharisees, or that he was interested and engaged in the discussion (I imagine many youths regard such discussions as boring homework), but that they were impressed by his erudition and insight, far above the level expected of a 12-year-old, or even above the level they themselves had.
At least, so say the gospel authors. Was he really that precocious as a kid? Without a reliable transcript, who can say? Even if we accept the authors to be as truthful as possible, their only possible source of information on the event would have been his parents, and it has occasionally been known to happen for parents to slightly exaggerate the accomplishments of their children.
On the other hand, judging by his later life and influence, he probably wasn’t your average kid.
Actually, another take-away from the story that has been de-emphasized in the wake of venerating Joseph, and especially Mary, is that Jesus’ mundane parents were eager to do the minimum required to fulfill the mitzvah, and then get the heck out of Jerusalem, and back home, while Jesus was enjoying the stay, and taking full advantage of the fact that there were gatherings of some of the great minds from all around Judah in one place.
Has “Jesus’ bar mitzvah” ever been an SNL skit?
Hm. According to Christians, the Bible was inspired by God. And according to Christians, Jesus was the Son of God.
“So, then–get this!–there’s 5,000 people, and they’ve only got five loaves of bread and two fishes! So what does My boy go and do?”
“Aw, Dad, please, you’ve told this story a thousand times already! It wasn’t that big of a deal, really!”
I don’t think you can necessarily blame that on Mary and Joseph-- Isn’t it implied that they were traveling in a large group of relatives? When the group says it’s time to go, it’s time to go.
I can imagine it would have a bit where he changes the water into some kind of delicious red beverage which turns out to be Cherry Kool-Aid. Joseph and Mary find the discarded Kool-Aid packets and give him hell, not taking into account that this is a time travel type of miracle and not a run-of-the-mill transmutation.
What a twist!