The Childhood of Jesus
The Gospel of James
Biographical Gospel of the Lord
- Chapter 244 -
Though We Lose All - But Have The Lord
FOR TWO HOURS after sundown Joseph was busy with the distribution,
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and also provided a shelter for those deprived of their homes and a means of livelihood,
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since only a few dared to spend the night in the city, partly because of the strong stench from the fire,
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and also from fear that the fire might at any moment seize one or the other still untouched house.
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When Joseph had thus completed his business, he privately asked the little Child whether it might now be safe to leave the house and to go over to Jonathan.
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And the little Child answered, 'What do you care about the house and its contents?
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After all, it does not belong to us, but to him who bought it as well as the contents - which also belong to the buyer.
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So let us just go over to Jonathan who surely has a good fish waiting for us!'
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And Joseph said, 'That is of course true,
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but consider that we have a chest full of gold and silver, and cows, goats and donkeys.
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Could these not be robbed by these now very many guests?'
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Here the little Child said, 'Joseph, that is beyond Me at present;
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so discuss it with James who understands these matters better now than I do.'
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Joseph thereupon put the same question to James.
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And James answered: 'Father, and if we lost everything and still have the Lord, what would we really have lost?
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Now the Lord is going with us to Jonathan - what then should we fear to lose here in the house of the governor?
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Let yourself be robbed of the whole earth but keep the Lord, and you have more than if all the heavens and the worlds were your very own possession!
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Go now, o most upright man, with the Lord to Jonathan without fear or worry, and you will assure yourself that we will lose nothing!'
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These words of the Lord from the mouth of James becalmed Joseph so greatly that he at once made his departure with all of his kinsfolk and went to Jonathan.
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There all were already awaiting the arrival of Joseph with the greatest anticipation.
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And when he came into sight they ran toward him like children toward their father, with Cyrenius in their midst.
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And when Joseph with his kinsfolk was thus led into Jonathan's house, the latter quickly had the well-prepared fish served up and all partook of their evening meal.