The Childhood of Jesus
The Gospel of James
Biographical Gospel of the Lord
- Chapter 3 -
The Annunciation
ON A FRIDAY MORNING Mary again took the water jug and went out to fill it with water, when lo, - a voice said to her,
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'Greetings to you, rich in the grace of the Lord! The Lord is with you, oh consecrated among women!'
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Mary was greatly frightened at such voice, for she did not know whence it came and therefore looked nimbly about to the right and left - but she could discover no one who might have spoken.
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She therefore was seized with still more tormenting fear, hastily took the filled water jug and hurried away into the house.
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Quakingly arrived there, she quickly set the water jug aside, again took the purple in hand, sat down on her workstool and recommenced to spin the purple quite industriously.
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But hardly had she fully reaccustomed herself to her work, when behold, there before the busy maiden stood the angel of the Lord and said to her:
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'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found infinitely great favor before the face of the Lord. Behold, you will become pregnant by the Word of God!'
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When Mary heard this, she began to weigh these words back and forth and could not grasp their meaning, wherefore she said to the angel,
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'But how shall that take place? For I am still a long way from being a man's wife and also have never made the acquaintance of any man, who then might take me as his wife, so I might become pregnant like other women and bear child as they do!'
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And the angel said to Mary: 'Hear, you chosen maiden of God! It shall not happen in that manner, but the power of the Lord will overshadow you.
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Therefore that holy Thing which will be born of you will be called: the Son of the Almighty!
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And when He is born, you shall give Him the name: Jesus - for He will redeem His people from all sins, from judgment and from eternal death.'
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Here Mary fell down before the angel and said, 'Behold, I am only a handmaiden of the Lord; so let it be done to me according to His will, as made known by your words!' Hereupon the angel disappeared, and Mary returned to her work.