THE CHILDHOOD OF JESUS - THE GOSPEL OF JAMES

THE CHILDHOOD OF JESUS
THE GOSPEL OF JAMES

Biographical Gospel of the Lord

- Chapter 258 -

The Return To Nazareth

FTER TEN ARDUOUS DAYS of travel, Joseph with his family arrived safely in the land of Israel, where they rested on a hill with a few people who dwelt there and earned their livelihood by raising cattle.

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Here Joseph made close inquiries about all conditions in his homeland.

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But when he heard from these people that Archelaus now reigned after his father Herod

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and that he was still more cruel than his father, a great fear came over Joseph and all of his family.

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And he thought to turn back and journey to Egypt again - or instead to Tyre.

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For although, while in Egypt, he had learned by the mouth of James that Archelaus now reigned in Jerusalem,

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he had not heard that this king actually exceeded his father in cruelty.

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And it was this news which made Joseph so fearful that he wanted to turn back again at once.

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Mary did indeed speak to him and ask,

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'Joseph! It was the Lord Himself who told us to go; why should we fear the human king Archelaus more than the Lord?'

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Joseph replied. 'Oh Mary, my dearly beloved wife, your question cannot be denied:

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but I also know that the ways of the Lord are often truly incomprehensible, and that He often leads His own through death - beginning with Abel.

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Therefore I now fear that the Lord will lead me through death also.

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And the more I consider the cruelty of this new king in Jerusalem, the more probable does this possibility appear to me.

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On that account I have also decided to turn back again tomorrow morning.

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Truly, if the Lord has our death in mind, then let Him rather send lions, tigers and hyenas over us that Archelaus!'

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Thus Joseph firmly decided to turn back.

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But during the night the Spirit of the Lord came over Joseph in a dream.

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and Joseph received the order from God Himself to go to Nazareth.

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Thereupon Joseph promptly arose and went his way very early.

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And that very day he came into the little towns of the land of Galilee.

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And late that night he came to the town of Nazareth where he took permanent residence, so the word of the prophet would be fulfilled, which states: He shall be called a Nazarene!

	FTER TEN ARDUOUS DAYS of travel, Joseph with his family arrived safely in the land of Israel, where they rested on a hill with a few people who dwelt there and earned their livelihood by raising cattle.
2	Here Joseph made close inquiries about all conditions in his homeland.
3	But when he heard from these people that Archelaus now reigned after his father Herod
4	and that he was still more cruel than his father, a great fear came over Joseph and all of his family.
5	And he thought to turn back and journey to Egypt again - or instead to Tyre.
6	For although, while in Egypt, he had learned by the mouth of James that Archelaus now reigned in Jerusalem,
7	he had not heard that this king actually exceeded his father in cruelty.
8	And it was this news which made Joseph so fearful that he wanted to turn back again at once.
9	Mary did indeed speak to him and ask,
10	'Joseph! It was the Lord Himself who told us to go; why should we fear the human king Archelaus more than the Lord?'
11	Joseph replied. 'Oh Mary, my dearly beloved wife, your question cannot be denied:
12	but I also know that the ways of the Lord are often truly incomprehensible, and that He often leads His own through death - beginning with Abel.
13	Therefore I now fear that the Lord will lead me through death also.
14	And the more I consider the cruelty of this new king in Jerusalem, the more probable does this possibility appear to me.
15	On that account I have also decided to turn back again tomorrow morning.
16	Truly, if the Lord has our death in mind, then let Him rather send lions, tigers and hyenas over us that Archelaus!'
17	Thus Joseph firmly decided to turn back.
18	But during the night the Spirit of the Lord came over Joseph in a dream.
19	and Joseph received the order from God Himself to go to Nazareth.
20	Thereupon Joseph promptly arose and went his way very early.
21	And that very day he came into the little towns of the land of Galilee.
22	And late that night he came to the town of Nazareth where he took permanent residence, so the word of the prophet would be fulfilled, which states: He shall be called a Nazarene!