The Childhood of Jesus
The Gospel of James
Biographical Gospel of the Lord
- Chapter 285 -
The Reawakening Of The Shepherd Boy
THE FOLLOWING DAY at exactly the same time that the boy ran into the little Jesus, he came to life again in bed, arose, and like someone awakened from a dream asked what was the matter, and how he came to be in this bed.
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And his father told him all that had happened and how he came to be there.
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At this the boy was filled with fear, and he said, 'Oh father, that is a terrible Child -
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who should be avoided by everyone who values his life!
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Oh give me into service far away from here, so I will be sure to never meet up somewhere with that terrible Child on some unfavorable occasion;
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for there He could instantly kill me again!
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But I am not returning to my former master, for he led me to do evil.'
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Here the father replied, 'My son, I thank God that I have you back with me!
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Therefore I shall never send you into any service again,
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and instead shall keep you with me as long as I live!
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But we need not fear Joseph's Child as much as you think,
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for this Child is the very One who obviously has restored your life at the foretold time.
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And if that is so, how then should Joseph's Child be as terrible as you imagine Him to be?
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See, my son, whoever kills and cannot restore to life, he is terrible;
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but whoever can kill without blood and then bring back to life again, He is not as terrible as you think Him to be.
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'And now we shall do something better: We shall go there and thank the carpenter for your awakening.
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For I have know for quite a long time that the carpenter is a most righteous and God-fearing man.'
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At these words the boy forgot his fear and went with his father to see Joseph.
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The latter already met them in the village with his four older sons and with the little Jesus, who was also going to the village with Joseph again.
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When the boy beheld the little Jesus he became very weak;
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for he supposed he now would have to die again.
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But the little Jesus quickly went over to the faint-hearted boy and said to him,
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'Joras, do not be afraid of Me; for I love you more than the whole world!
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For if I did not love you so mightily, you would not have received your life again.
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You see, My love is your life forever!'
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When the boy heard the little Jesus speak thus, he quickly changed his mind and stayed all day long and played with Him.
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And the little Jesus showed the boy a number of very clever games, which made the boy happy beyond measure.