Jackson Says Needy Must Get Help : Policy: In local speeches, the civil rights leader, using biblical analogies, defends welfare and affirmative action.

The Virgin Mary was an unwed teen-age mother. Joseph was an unemployed carpenter. Jesus was an “at-risk baby” born in a Bethlehem slum.

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Eternally provocative and fiery, the Rev. Jesse Jackson put a biblical spin on today’s national welfare debate and struck a resonant chord Friday before an overflow audience of 650 at the Claremont School of Theology.

“All these attacks on unwed mothers are on very shaky ground when it comes to the leader,” Jackson thundered. “Christians have to ask the question, ‘What would Jesus have to say about this?’ ”

During a 70-minute talk, Jackson spoke colorfully about why affirmative action must continue. He said equal rights in America will be set back 100 years if conservatives succeed in shifting the debate from race and gender equality to race and gender neutrality.

In another biblical analogy, this time addressing the white male backlash against affirmative action, Jackson told the crowd that a conscientious shepherd doesn’t focus on the majority of the flock in good health but keeps his eye on the few sick stragglers.

“Giving one lost sheep attention is not reverse discrimination,” Jackson said. “He’s the one that needs it most. He’s sick, he needs to get well. Who knows, a big sheep could have kicked him. The good shepherd reaches out to that one. That’s affirmative action.”

Earlier in the day, Jackson went to Sylmar, where he spoke for 40 minutes in a cramped brick chapel to the toughest juvenile delinquents of a county detention center. As he does so often before troubled young people, Jackson spoke of hope and the power of change.

He had the youths kneel and pray with him. At least two of the youngsters wept. They repeated the phrases that Jackson commanded during his speech: “I want to change my mind. I want to go home. I want to leave dope and guns and gangs and violence behind. I choose life over death. I want to be a real person, sober, sane, sensitive and caring. I want to be free !”

In the short silence following the emotionally charged speech, a 17-year-old boy named Caleb, charged with homicide, stood up slowly, smoothed his orange work suit and cleared his throat. “I think nobody really has any questions,” said Caleb, fixing a hard stare on Jackson. “But we want you to know we just really appreciate you coming down here to talk to us. We know you’re a busy man. It means a lot.”

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Caleb then folded his arms behind his back, sauntered up to the lectern and buried himself in Jackson’s embrace.

Jackson and members of his National Rainbow Coalition were invited to the detention center as part of the county Probation Department’s 6-month-old peace campaign, aimed at getting juvenile offenders to forswear drugs and guns, finish school and stay out of jail.

Later, in Claremont, Jackson dodged the question of whether he would run for President in 1996. “All options are open,” Jackson said. “We just don’t know.”

Jackson will speak at a leadership breakfast today, then lead a community teach-in and rally on affirmative action at Holman United Methodist Church in Los Angeles. He is scheduled to speak at churches in Inglewood and Compton on Sunday.

Also, Superior Court Judge Lance A. Ito has granted permission for Jackson to visit O.J. Simpson at the County Jail, according to the Associated Press. Simpson apparently requested the visit, but Jackson could not be reached for comment on whether he plans see the former football star.