The Childhood of Jesus
The Gospel of James
Biographical Gospel of the Lord
- Chapter 258 -
The Return To Nazareth
AFTER 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!