Jesus’ Radical Choice: A Journey to Spiritual Rebirth

Jesus' choice does not appear as a mere abandonment of crafts, but as a decisive step toward inner transformation and self-denial. At the foundation of this decision lies the profound idea of spiritual mortification of one’s own will, where every aspect of our strength is directed toward fulfilling God's will rather than satisfying personal desires. This perspective implies that true renewal is possible only through overcoming our selfish impulses and accepting the path of suffering, where even the slightest spark of personal will must be brought under the control of higher spiritual laws.

This approach is vividly reflected in the example of Theodosius, for whom the image of Jesus became, from early childhood, the embodiment of life's highest purpose. It was this image that motivated him to follow Christ, rejecting worldly pleasures and accepting the necessity of self-sacrifice for eternal values. Inspired by the example of the great sacrifice, he saw in the renunciation of personal comfort the opportunity to attain true spiritual wealth and draw closer to the Divine will.

Thus, the path of Jesus symbolizes not so much a change in occupation as a fundamental transformation of the inner world and consciousness. This bold choice opens up the possibility for each person to carry the light of the divine plan, urging us to view our life as a process of constant spiritual self-perfection.

How can we interpret the life choice of Jesus: was it an abandonment of traditional crafts in favor of a spiritual path, or another course?

The life choice of Jesus, as presented in the sources, should be seen not merely as a renunciation of traditional crafts but as a decision that fundamentally defined the path of self-denial and the spiritual self-annihilation of one’s will in order to fulfill God's will. For example, one text emphasizes that the spiritual life requires the mortification of one's will:
"And if part of a person's will is used for evil, and part for good, then he will never achieve anything. ... The point is that by directing one’s will against the devil's will, the spiritual life requires mortification, suffering." (source: link )

Additionally, another source provides the example from Theodosius’s life, where the deed of Jesus became a model to be emulated from childhood:
"From childhood, the image of Jesus Christ became an example for Theodosius—in both general and particular. The boy, being admonished by his mother... justifies and simultaneously explains his life choice: Listen, Mother, I beg you to listen! For the Lord Jesus Christ himself impoverished and died, giving us an example, so that we might die for his sake... And how much more fitting it is for us to suffer in order to gain Christ." (source: link )

From these statements, it is clear that the emphasis is not on changing one’s occupation (for example, abandoning crafts) but on a profound acceptance of the path of self-denial, suffering, and spiritual renewal. In other words, Jesus' life choice is interpreted as a radical decision to dedicate his life to fulfilling God's will, which implies an inner revolution and self-sacrifice rather than simply transitioning from material pursuits to a spiritual one.

Supporting citation(s):
"And if part of a person's will is used for evil, and part for good, then he will never achieve anything. ... The point is that by directing one’s will against the devil's will, the spiritual life requires mortification, suffering." (source: link )
"From childhood, the image of Jesus Christ became an example for Theodosius—in both general and particular. ... For the Lord Jesus Christ himself impoverished and died, giving us an example, so that we might die for his sake... And how much more fitting it is for us to suffer in order to gain Christ." (source: link )