The Childhood of Jesus
The Gospel of James
Biographical Gospel of the Lord
- Chapter 89 -
A Penitent Heart The Only Acceptable Sacrifice
FOLLOWING THIS Joseph with his entire family promptly went into the bedroom and honored and praised God loudly an hour long
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and also made a vow by which he bound himself to bring a sacrifice to the Lord as soon as he should come to Jerusalem again.
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Hereupon the Baby said to Joseph: 'Now listen to Me! Do you suppose that the Lord is pleased with that?
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Oh, there you are greatly mistaken! See, neither in burnt offerings, nor in the blood of animals and just as little in flour, oil and grain does the Lord take pleasure,
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but solely in a penitent, remorseful and humble heart that loves Him above all things.
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If you have anything to spare, then give to those who are hungry and thirsty, and you will bring the Lord a fitting sacrifice!
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I therefore release you from your vow and the duty for the temple because I have the full power to do so.
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And I shall one day fill your vow in Jerusalem Myself in such a way that the whole earth will be satiated thereby for eternity!'
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Here Joseph took the Baby on his arms and kissed Him and then said to Him,
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'My dearly beloved little Jesus, Your Joseph thanks You for that from his whole heart and recognizes the wholly divine truth of Your most wonderful declaration,
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but You see, God, Your and all our Father, has still ordained such through Moses and the prophets and ordered us, His children, to keep it!
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Oh tell me, my little Son: do You, although of divine and hallowed descent, really have the right to suspend the laws of the great Father who eternally lives in His heavens?'
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And the Baby answered: 'Joseph, though I were to tell you who I am, you would not believe Me anyhow since you see in Me only a human being!
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But I tell you just the same that where I am, there also is the Father - and where I am not, there neither is the Father!
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I am now here and not in the temple - how then should the Father be in the temple?
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Do you understand that? - Behold, where the Father's love is, there also is His heart. And the Father's love is within Me and therewith also His heart!
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Now no one carries his heart outside of himself, and so neither does the Father - where His heart is, there He is also! Do you understand this?'
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These words filled Joseph, Mary as well as the five sons with a profound, sacred presentiment. And they went outside and praised the so-near Father in their hearts; and Mary then prepared a morning meal.