The Childhood of Jesus
The Gospel of James
Biographical Gospel of the Lord
- Chapter 96 -
The Woman's Immeasurable Gain
THE SEEMING WOMAN did not fully understand what Joseph meant by the gaining of several parents, therefore she asked him,
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'Oh you dear, most kind man, in whose house such an infinitely wonderful and great grace has befallen me, just what do you mean by your word that I shall find my lost parents again here many times over?'
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And Joseph assured her: 'Truly, you shall be held equal to my children in my house as long as you live!
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You shall learn to know the only and eternally true God with me, who is the Same That created you and now gave you back the light of your eyes!
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Yes, you shall learn to know your Lord and God personally and shall be taught by Him Himself!
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Very soon you will also meet a high Roman here in my house, who will order your affairs in Rome.
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This Roman is Cyrenius, a brother of Augustus.
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He undoubtedly knew your parents and upon my prompting will surely apply himself in Rome in the matter of your parents for your sake. And that will surely be the same as your parents many times over, in body and in spirit!
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For if your earthly parents were alive somewhere, say, could these do more for you?
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Would they have restored the sight of your eyes to you, and could they have shown you the one eternal and true God?
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Your parents would of course have provided for your earthly needs, but here you will be provided for forever if you will only accept this care.
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Say, what is more? Your earthly parents whom the sea has swallowed, or those you have now, whom the sea must obey in the name of the one God?'
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Here the seeming woman was completely silent from all her great respect and love for Joseph.
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For she supposed, since she had anyhow heard it whispered here and there, that Zeus lived somewhere in the vicinity of Ostracine, and that she was now in his bodily presence.
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But Joseph very soon discerned the delusion of the woman and admonished her,
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'Oh maiden, oh daughter! Whatever you do, do not hold me to be more than I am, and least of all for something that does not exist!
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I am a human being just as you are - that is all you need to know for the present. In time you will receive more light, so let us let the matter rest now.
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And now bring in the noonday meal; afterward we will acquaint ourselves with a number of things. So let it be!'