The Childhood of Jesus
The Gospel of James
Biographical Gospel of the Lord
- Chapter 287 -
A Schoolteacher Learns The Alphabet
AFTER A TIME of about three months, when Joseph had completed the work in the village, a certain Piras Zachaeus came from Nazareth on a visit to Joseph and for the first time made personal acquaintance with the Boy, about whom he had already heard a number of things.
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Therefore he came only because of the little Jesus.
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For Piras Zachaeus was a substitute teacher in the town who had little to do but still had a very high opinion of his wisdom.
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Now why did he secretly visit Joseph in regard to the little Jesus?
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Because he thought, 'That must be a very talented Boy
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whom I shall bring into my class, so that by His quick progress my class will get a better reputation than that of my rival!'
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He therefore concerned himself mainly with the Boy Jesus, questioned Him about various things and always received the most conclusive answers at which he was greatly surprised.
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When he had thus investigated the Boy, he turned to Joseph and said to him,
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'Brother, the little One truly has an extraordinary understanding for His age. It is really true that you have a very intelligent little Boy here -
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only it is too bad that He still cannot read nor write the letters!
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Would you send Him into my school, so He could learn to read and write the letters with me?
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I will then also teach Him all the other arts and sciences, so He may learn to greet the elders and honor them like grandfathers and fathers;
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and you know, so He may also learn to love His playmates, towards whom on a number of occasions He is supposed to have acted very unmercifully;
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and so He finally may also learn the Law of Moses, know the history of God's people and the wisdom of God in the prophets.'
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And Joseph answered the teacher, 'Good, my friend and brother! But before you take this Boy into your school, make a little test here before several witnesses who are with me today.
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Recite all the letters to Him and explain them to Him clearly; then examine Him,
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and from what the Boy will have remembered of the explanation, you will then be able to form the best judgment as to how His talent is constituted.'
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This the teacher promptly did. He distinctly recited the letters from Alpha to Omega to the Boy and also explained the symbols to the best of his ability.
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But Jesus looked at the teacher in surprise, and as he thereupon examined Him, asked the teacher,
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'Oh you hypocrite of a teacher: How will you teach the Beta to the students, when you have never understood the meaning of the Alpha?
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Explain the Alpha to Me according to true wisdom, and I will then believe what you have to say about the Beta!
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And so you may now find out that I have no need to learn the letters and their origin and meaning from you, I will explain them and show you the true meaning of the letters!'
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Here the little Jesus began to expound the whole alphabet to the altogether befuddled teacher and, as He went along, also inquired diligently of him whether he had comprehended it.
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But each answer of the teacher was so foolish and incomplete that all those present broke out in ringing laughter thereat.
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And since the teacher discovered such amazing wisdom in the Boy, and saw that he had brought disgrace upon himself, he stood up and confessed to those present,
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'Oh woe is me, a poor wretch! I am now completely confused. I have brought disgrace, ridicule and harm to myself, because I wanted to bring this little Boy into my school.
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Oh brother Joseph, take the Boy away from me; for I can never bear the sternness of His countenance nor the incisiveness of His speech.
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Truly, this little Boy is not born of the earth. He must surely be able to tame fire and water in His wisdom.
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I will be a fool always if He was not born long before the creation of the world! Jehovah will know in which mother's body He was carried, and which bosom has nourished Him.
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Woe is me! I am already a fool - I came to enroll a student, and behold, I have found a Teacher whose Spirit I shall never be able to aspire to. Oh feel the disgrace with me, friends! An old man was made a fool of by a little Boy - that is certainly my death.
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Therefore, oh Joseph, take the Boy away from me; for He must be something tremendous, either a God or an angel!'
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Here all those present now began to console the teacher, for they felt sorry for him because of his great distress.