THE CHILDHOOD OF JESUS - THE GOSPEL OF JAMES

THE CHILDHOOD OF JESUS
THE GOSPEL OF JAMES

Biographical Gospel of the Lord

- Chapter 283 -

A Father's Entreaty

1
WHEN JOSEPH CAME into the village and looked at the work to be done,

2
there the hue and cry already came after him, especially on the part of the shriveled boy's father.

3
The latter had at once sought out the parents of the dead shepherd boy and incited them against Joseph.

4
And these ran hastily and desperately over to Joseph and shouted,

5
'Begone from here with your terrible Child, with which every word is an accomplished deed!

6
For children are always supposed to be a blessing to mankind from above;

7
but your Child is only come to curse us!

8
Therefore be gone from here, you bringer of woe!'

9
Here the little Jesus retorted: 'If so, what then are you to Me?

10
Did you, father of Annas, not tell the shepherd boy that he should kill Me?

11
Did you not even promise him a good reward if he should kill Me, since he acted safely because he was not yet subject to the law?

12
And behold, thus I also thought in My early enlightenment of Spirit:

13
I too am still far from being subject to the law; therefore I shall also give the boy his well-deserved reward immediately.

14
And if you take Me or father Joseph before the court, we too will know how to explain the law to you.

15
See, thus I have thought like you and also acted upon it. How then can you find your own conduct unjust in us?'

16
At these words of the little Jesus the father of the shriveled boy was seized with a great fear;

17
for he saw therefrom very clearly that this little Boy also knew the thoughts and the secret resolves of men,

18
and that one would have to be very careful of Him.

19
Thereupon all the shouters left Joseph and the little Jesus.

20
Only the father of the slain child remained before Joseph and wept for his boy and said, 'Killing is no art, but restoring to life is!

21
Therefore no one should ever kill who cannot restore to life!'

22
And the little Jesus replied, 'That I could do also, if I wanted to; but your boy was bad, therefore I do not want to!' - Upon these words the father began to entreat the little Boy. And the little Jesus said, 'Tomorrow, but not today!'

1	WHEN JOSEPH CAME into the village and looked at the work to be done,
2	there the hue and cry already came after him, especially on the part of the shriveled boy's father.
3	The latter had at once sought out the parents of the dead shepherd boy and incited them against Joseph.
4	And these ran hastily and desperately over to Joseph and shouted,
5	'Begone from here with your terrible Child, with which every word is an accomplished deed!
6	For children are always supposed to be a blessing to mankind from above;
7	but your Child is only come to curse us!
8	Therefore be gone from here, you bringer of woe!'
9	Here the little Jesus retorted: 'If so, what then are you to Me?
10	Did you, father of Annas, not tell the shepherd boy that he should kill Me?
11	Did you not even promise him a good reward if he should kill Me, since he acted safely because he was not yet subject to the law?
12	And behold, thus I also thought in My early enlightenment of Spirit:
13	I too am still far from being subject to the law; therefore I shall also give the boy his well-deserved reward immediately.
14	And if you take Me or father Joseph before the court, we too will know how to explain the law to you.
15	See, thus I have thought like you and also acted upon it. How then can you find your own conduct unjust in us?'
16	At these words of the little Jesus the father of the shriveled boy was seized with a great fear;
17	for he saw therefrom very clearly that this little Boy also knew the thoughts and the secret resolves of men,
18	and that one would have to be very careful of Him.
19	Thereupon all the shouters left Joseph and the little Jesus.
20	Only the father of the slain child remained before Joseph and wept for his boy and said, 'Killing is no art, but restoring to life is!
21	Therefore no one should ever kill who cannot restore to life!'
22	And the little Jesus replied, 'That I could do also, if I wanted to; but your boy was bad, therefore I do not want to!' - Upon these words the father began to entreat the little Boy. And the little Jesus said, 'Tomorrow, but not today!'