God's New Bible

The Childhood of Jesus
The Gospel of James

Biographical Gospel of the Lord

- Chapter 278 -

Joseph Confounds The Beadles Of Archelaus

WHEN JOSEPH was some distance away from Dumas, he said to his family,
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'It seems to me that we can probably expect to find a similar reception everywhere -
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so let us not spend much more time visiting our former friends, acquaintances and relatives;
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for I have just seen with Dumas how people act if one crosses them even just a little.
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It therefore seems to me that we should go home again. - What do you, my faithful wife, say to that?'
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And Mary answered, 'Joseph, my beloved husband, you well know that I have no will before you, since your will is also mine at all times and also must be according to the divine order of the Lord;
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but I would surely say that since the Lord Himself walks bodily in our midst, we should ask His advice in this matter also.'
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Here Joseph agreed, 'Mary, my faithful wife, therein you are altogether right;
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that I will do at once, and then we will find out for certain just what we should do!'
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And the little Child said without being asked, 'Even though everything were in order wherever we went, it still would be better to be at home.
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You see, My time is still a long way off, and if I now go with you wherever it may be, I still cannot cover up the fullness of My Deity to the extent that such may not be felt by those nearby.
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Therefore it is best for Me to stay at home now, for there What dwells in Me is least noticed.
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When you, Joseph, have to go anywhere in the near future in matters of your trade, then just go out with your other children,
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but leave Me nicely at home, and you will have the least trouble.'
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Joseph thereupon returned to his home. And when he arrived there, he found to his not little surprise that his four sons, who had remained at home, were in a mighty argument with a few overseers of Archelaus.
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These vultures were quick to notice that someone had moved in here;
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for which reason they also were promptly at hand to extort the tribute.
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But when the sons of Joseph showed them the charter on the door, they became angered thereat and wanted to tear it off.
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And just at this moment Joseph arrived and at once confronted the thieves with the question by what authority they did this.
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These asserted, 'We are servants of the king and do this according to the authority of the king!'
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Here Joseph declared, 'And I am a servant of God the Almighty and am sending you on your way according to His authority!' - At this the marauders were seized with a mighty fear, and they ran away in great haste. And thereafter Joseph's house was left in peace from similar marauders.

Footnotes