The Childhood of Jesus
The Gospel of James
Biographical Gospel of the Lord
- Chapter 5 -
A Prophecy Of The High Priest
IN A FEW DAYS Mary also Finished the purple, folded it and laid it with the scarlet.
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She then thanked God for His grace, in that He had allowed her to complete her work so well, wrapped the spinning in clean linens and travelled therewith toward Jerusalem.
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She went alone to the house which Joseph was building; but from there on Joseph again accompanied her to Jerusalem and there into the temple.
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Upon arrival Mary promptly turned the work over to the high priest.
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He well examined the scarlet and the purple, found the work to be of the most excellent quality and greeted and praised Mary for it with the following words,
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'Mary, you did not have such skill naturally, but the Lord has guided you with His hand!
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Great has the Lord therefore made you, blessed shall you be among all women of the earth from the Lord God, for you are now the first who has delivered her work to the Lord in the temple!'
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Here Mary, Filled with joy and humility in her heart, said to the priest,
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'Worthy servant of the Lord in His sanctuary! Oh do not praise me too much nor place me above the others - for this work is not really of my merit but only of the Lord who guided my hand.
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Therefore to Him alone be all praise, all honor, all my love and all my worship without ceasing!'
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And the high priest responded, 'Amen, Mary, you pure maiden of the Lord, you have spoken well before Him. Go your way now in peace; the Lord be with you.'
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Thereupon Mary arose and returned with Joseph to the building site, where she refreshed herself with bread and milk.
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Now by a half day's journey from the building site, across a small mountain range, there lived an aunt of Mary's named Elizabeth, whom she wanted to visit and therefore asked Joseph for his permission.
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And Joseph promptly consented and sent along his oldest son as a guide, who was to accompany her until she could see Elizabeth's house.