The Childhood of Jesus
The Gospel of James

ON THIS OCCASION a few other Jews also came to the spot where this wonder took place,

and they very curiously asked Joseph what had taken place here.

Among these were the neighboring parents of a certain very quarrelsome boy, who as the only child of his parents was greatly spoiled.

The little Boy Jesus had already reprimanded this seven-year-old boy often because of his quarrelsome nature -

but this did not help matters much; for as often as a new opportunity arose, he promptly quarreled again and quickly destroyed some plaything.

This boy, who was present with the children this time also, became excited shortly after this wonder, took a willow twig and exclaimed,

'Not bad, that these clay sparrows have flown away;

so I shall promptly make the water fly away also with this twig!'

After these words the boy, whose name was Annas, began to whip the water and to drive it from the little holes.

Here the patience of the God-Child broke, and He said in a very serious tone of voice:

'Oh you resentful, foolish, evil human being! You, a devil only recently come into the flesh, want to destroy what I have built?

Oh you wretch, whom I can destroy with the least breath, you want to annoy Me and always defy Me?

Behold, so your folly and your spite may become evident, you shall shrivel up for three years like the twig with which you have driven My water!'

Upon this word of the God-Child the malicious boy at once sank down and shriveled up so greatly that nothing was to be seen but skin and bones

and he became so weak that he could not stand and all the less walk.

Here the sad parents took their shriveled child and carried him home weeping.

Soon thereafter they came into Joseph's house and then brought an action against Joseph with the chief judge because of what his Child had done,

which they did because Joseph did not permit them to punish his God-Child for this deed.

When the chief judge arrived, the little Jesus went to meet him and asked him,

'Why do you come here? Do you want to judge Me?'

And the chief judge replied, 'Not You, but Your father!'

And the little Jesus warned, 'Go back quickly, or your judgment will come upon you!'

At this the chief judge became so frightened that he suddenly turned back and then would not hear any more about this matter.

And that was the second wonder which the little Jesus effected at that same time.

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The Childhood of JesusThe Gospel of James