The Childhood of Jesus
The Gospel of James
Biographical Gospel of the Lord
- Chapter 14 -
See, There In The Hill Is A Cave
THUS THE TRULY DEVOUT group of travelers came within six hours of Bethlehem and rested in the open.
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Here Joseph looked toward Mary and saw that she must be full of pain, so he thought quite disconcertedly,
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'What is the matter? Mary's countenance is filled of pain, and her eyes are filled with tears. Perhaps her time presses her?'
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Therefore Joseph looked at Mary again more closely, and behold, this time he found to his great surprise that she was laughing.
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At this he asked her, 'Mary, tell me, what is going on in your heart? For I first see your face filled with pain, and then laughing and radiating great joy!'
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And Mary said to Joseph: 'See, I now have two nations before me! The one wept, so I wept with it out of sympathy.
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But the other walked before me laughing, and I was filled with joy and happiness, and had to laugh along with it and take part in its joy.3 - That is all that drew pain and joy from my face.'
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When Joseph heard this he was reassured, for he knew that Mary oftentimes had visions; accordingly he had the journey resumed and went up toward Bethlehem.
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When they came close to Bethlehem, Mary suddenly announced to Joseph,
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'Listen to me, Joseph! That which is within me begins to press me with great force, so call a halt!'
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Joseph was thoroughly alarmed at Mary's sudden announcement, for he now realized that her time had come.
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He therefore called a sudden halt, whereupon Mary hastily said to Joseph,
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'Lift me down from the donkey, for That which is in me presses me mightily and wants to leave me - and I cannot resist Its force any longer!'
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At this Joseph declared, 'But in heaven's name! You can see that an inn is nowhere in sight - where then shall I put you?'
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And Mary said, 'See, there in the hill is a cave - it can hardly be a hundred steps to there. Bring me there - it is impossible for me to go on!'
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Thereupon Joseph led his party of travelers to there and with great good luck found some hay and straw in this cave, since it served the shepherds as a stable in time of need, and immediately had a makeshift bed prepared for Mary.