The Childhood of Jesus
The Gospel of James
Biographical Gospel of the Lord
- Chapter 257 -
The Departure From Egypt
ABOUT THIS TIME the child slayer Herod died, and his son Archelaus succeeded him to the throne.
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This James told to Joseph and to Mary.
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Hereupon Joseph asked James, 'I believe you; but how is that supposed to affect me?'
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And James replied, 'That, father, the Lord did not give me to tell you;
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but as the Lord heretofore has always shown you His will through the mouth of an angel, so will He also do now.
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For it would not be in the divine order that a son should dictate to his father what ways he should take!'
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Here Joseph asked, 'Do you really suppose that the Lord will do this with me?'
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And James said, 'Father, this is the way I just heard it within me:
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Even tonight I shall send My angel to you in a lucid dream, who will make My will known to you.
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And as he will declare it to you, so also shall you act promptly according to his word!'
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When Joseph heard this from James, he went outside and prayed to God and thanked Him for such advance knowledge through the mouth of his son James.
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Joseph continued long in prayer and only after three hours did he go into the house and to rest.
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And as he slept on his couch, giving his labor-weary limbs rest, there appeared to him in a dream the angel of the Lord and said to him:
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'Arise, take the little Child and His mother, and go over into the land of Israel; for they who sought after the life of the little Child have died!'
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When Joseph heard this, he quickly arose and made this known to Mary.
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And Mary said, 'The Lord's will be done ever and always!
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But how is it that you speak only of us three?' Are your children then to remain here?'
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And Joseph answered, 'Oh not at all, for what the angel said to me naturally includes my whole house!
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For thus the Lord also spoke to the prophets as if He were dealing with them alone -
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but just the same the Lord's words always concerned the whole house of Jacob.'
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These words were understood by all, and the sons promptly went outside to put everything in order for the departure.
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But they returned full of surprise; for everything was already prepared for the departure, and for each person a fully packed donkey was ready with all the essential needs for the journey.
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Joseph gave everything that remained to Jonathan, who was present here this night, then blessed him and told him to come to Nazareth in a year.
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And the little Child also blessed him and kissed him. Jonathan wept at this sudden departure.
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And Joseph mounted the pack animals still long before sunrise and thereupon made his departure by land.