The Childhood of Jesus
The Gospel of James
Biographical Gospel of the Lord
- Chapter 140 -
A Gospel Of Forgiveness
WHEN CYRENIUS saw the deep gratitude of this servant and his great repentance, he consoled him and said:
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'See, my new brother in the Lord, we human beings are all deficient before God, and God forgives us our errors if we recognize and repent them,
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when, after all, God is holy, while we are all great sinners before Him!
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For if the Holy one forgives, why should we sinners not forgive each other our trespasses?
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As long as a person has not sunk to the level of the furies, just that long does God's grace remain with him,
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but if a human being becomes a complete devil in the world, then God takes His grace away from him and gives him over to the judgment of hell!
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That is why the twenty who bribed you were torn to pieces by the three lions - for they had already become devils.
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But you were spared, since you were only misled and were blind and did not know what you had done.
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The Lord God has not taken His grace from you and has opened your eyes, so that you came to a full realization of the sin committed by you.
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You have repented of the sin that you recognized as such, and God has forgiven your sin.
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For that reason do I also forgive you your trespass against me and hereby make you my friend and my brother in the Lord.
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Therefore I raise you up and lead you over to my divine, exalted company.
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Be of good cheer now and follow me, so you will be blest by my eminent friend to be a real brother!'
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This altogether splendid talk of Cyrenius to the treasonable servant had excellent results.
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The servant was comforted and strengthened thereby, then arose, and dissolving in tears followed Cyrenius over to the company.
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When he arrived there, Joseph promptly lifted up his hands, blessed the servant and said only, 'The Lord be with you!'
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Thereupon Cyrenius ordered that shining, splendid clothes be immediately brought and put on the servant
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and promptly invested him with a name of honor and then gave him a brother's kiss.
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Then Cyrenius called all the servants of the household together and introduced their new brother to them and ordered them to obey him.
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Here the servants objected, 'How can you be a just judge since you elevate the traitor, but humiliate us who have always demonstrated the greatest faithfulness to you?'
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'What is it to you,' countered Cyrenius, 'if I am kind and compassionate? Which of you has ever lacked anything with me? But none of you has ever risked his life for me!
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And he was always the least among you and has risked his life for me - by his action I have become rid of my enemies. Does he therefore not deserve this rank?'
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At this the house servants became silent, went about their business again and were satisfied with this answer.
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And a youth from the heavens said: 'In the future it will also be just like this in the kingdom of God. There will be more joy over a repentant sinner than over ninety-nine of the just who have never sinned!'