Part 1 - True christmas story - the Gospel of Jacobus by Jesus told to Jacob Lorber 1850

 

Biographical Gospel of the Lord from the time Joseph took Mariam to himself.

Received through the Inner Word by Jacob Lorber.

After the 11th edition in 1996.

Lorber-Verlag - Hindenburgstraße 5 - D-74321 Bietigheim-Bissingen.

All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2000 by Lorber-Verlag, D-74321 Bietigheim-Bissingen.

Preface

Proclaimed by the Lord Himself as an introduction to His History of Youth on July 22, 1843, and May 9, 1851, through the same mouth that He chose to be the organ of this work.

000,01] I lived the known time up to the thirtieth year just as every well-bred boy, then youth and then man lives, and had to awaken the divinity in me - as every man awakens me in himself - by the way of life according to the law of Moses.

000,02] I myself had to begin to believe in a God as well as any other ordinary human being, and then I had to grasp Him more and more with all conceivable self-denial and with ever more powerful love, and thus little by little I had to make the Godhead completely subject to Me.

Thus I, as the Lord Myself, was a living example for every human being, and so now also every human being can put on Me just as I Myself put on the Godhead in Me, and can independently become completely one with Me through love and through faith, just as I Myself as God-Man in all endless fullness am completely one with the Godhead.

To the question how the child-miracles of Jesus and His divine spiritual activity are connected with His as it were isolated humanity in the years of youth and manhood and in these again the miracles performed in the same, if one should think of Him in these years only as man, - serve as answer the sight of a tree from the spring to the autumn.

000,05] In the spring the tree blossoms wonderfully and is dominated by a great activity. After the blossom falls off, the tree again becomes as if it were inactive. Towards autumn, however, the tree appears again in its fullest activity: the fruits, which are certainly wonderful, are seasoned, colored, more beautiful than before the blossom, and thus ripen, and the blessing given to them is loosed from its bonds and falls as such into the lap of the hungry little children.

000,06] With the eye of the heart one will be able to grasp this image, but never with the eyes of the worldly mind. - The passages in question, without approaching the divinity of Jesus, but holding it in the faith of the heart, which is a light of love for God, can be explained only too easily, as soon as one becomes pure of heart, that the full unification of the fullness of the divinity with the man Jesus did not take place all at once, as with one blow, but - like everything under the guidance of God - only gradually, like the successive awakening of the divine spirit in the human heart, and only through the death of the cross completely; Although the Godhead in all its fullness already dwelt in the child Jesus, but only appeared for miraculous activity in the time of need.

The bodily death of Jesus is the deepest condescension of the Godhead into the judgment of all matter and thus the completely new creation of the relationship between creator and creature, which is made possible by it.

000,08] Only through the death of Jesus God Himself becomes fully man and the created man becomes a newly begotten child of God out of such supreme divine grace, thus a God, and only then as a creature can he face his Creator as His perfected equal and in Him see, speak, recognize and above all love his God, Creator and Father and only through this gain the perfected eternal, indestructible life in God, out of God and beside God. Through this, Satan's power (better: will) is broken to such an extent that he can no longer prevent the fullest approach of the Godhead to man, and vice versa of man to the Godhead.

000,09] To put it even more briefly: Through the death of Jesus man can now fully fraternize with God, and Satan is no longer able to step in between; therefore it is also said in the words to the women visiting the grave: "Go and tell My brethren!" - Satan's activity in the outer form may still be perceptible, but the once torn curtain between the Godhead and men he can no longer erect eternally and thus restore anew the old insurmountable gulf between God and men.

[000,10] But from this brief discussion of the matter, every person thinking and seeing in his heart can now very easily and clearly see the endless benefit of Jesus' bodily death. Amen.

 

The Gospel of James on the Youth of Jesus.

Biographical Gospel of the Lord from the time Joseph took Mariam to himself.

July 22, 1843

[43.07.22] James, a son of Joseph, recorded all these things; but they have been so much distorted with time that they could not be admitted to be included in the Scriptures as authentic. But I will give you the genuine Gospel of Jacob, but only starting from the above-mentioned period; for James had also included the biography of Mary from her birth, like that of Joseph. - And so then write as the first chapter:

 

Chapter 1 - Joseph the Carpenter. The drawing of Mary in the temple. God's testimony about Joseph. Joseph's prayer. Mary in Joseph's house.

001:01] Now Joseph was engaged in building a house in the region between Nazareth and Jerusalem.

001,02] This house was built by a nobleman of Jerusalem for a lodging house, because otherwise the Nazarene had no shelter until Jerusalem.

001,03] But Mary, who was brought up in the temple, became mature, and according to the Mosaic law it was necessary to give her out of the temple.

001,04] Messengers were therefore sent throughout all Judea to proclaim this, so that the fathers might come and, if anyone was found worthy, take the maiden into their house.

001:05] And when these tidings came to Joseph's ears, he laid aside his axe at once, and hasted to Jerusalem, and there to the appointed place of meeting and consultation in the temple.

001,06] And when, after the lapse of three days, the candidates had gathered again at the appointed place, and every candidate for Mary had presented a fresh lily-stick to the priest, the priest went as soon as he had received the sticks into the inner chamber of the temple, and there he prayed.

001,07] But when he had finished his prayer, he came out again with the staffs and gave back to each one his staff.

[001,08] But all the staffs became stained as soon as they were given, only the one given last to Joseph remained fresh and spotless.

[001,09] But there were some who were upset by this and declared this sample to be partial and therefore invalid, and demanded another sample with which no mischief could by any means be connected.

001,10] The priest, somewhat agitated by this, sent for Mariam, put a dove in her hand, and ordered her to go into the midst of the candidates, so that there she might let the dove fly freely,

[001:11] and before letting the dove out, he said to the suitors, "Behold, you false interpreters of the signs of Jehovah! - This dove is an innocent pure animal and has no hearing for our eloquence,

[001,12] but live in the will of the Lord alone, and understand the almighty language of God alone!

[001,13] Hold up your staffs on high! - On whose staff this dove, if she will let out the maiden, will alight and on whose head she will sit, let him take Mariam!"

[001,14] But the suitors were satisfied with this and said, "Yes, this shall be an unmistakable sign!"

[001,15] But when Mary released the dove at the priest's bidding, it flew as soon as it came to Joseph, alighted on his staff, and then immediately flew from it to Joseph's head.

001:16] And the priest said, "Thus has the Lord willed it! To thee, thou honest tradesman, has fallen the unmistakable lot to receive the Virgin of the Lord! Take her, then, in the name of the Lord, into your pure house, for your distant custody, amen."

July 24, 1843

When Joseph heard this, he answered the priest and said, "Behold, thou anointed servant of the Lord according to the law of Moses, the faithful servant of the Lord God of hosts, I am already an old man, and have grown sons at home, and have been a widower for a long time; how will I be a laughingstock before the sons of Israel, if I take this maiden into my house?

[001,18] Therefore let the election be changed again, and let me be without, that I may not be numbered among the suitors!"

[001,19] But the priest lifted up his hand and said to Joseph, "Joseph! Fear the Lord God! Do you not know what He has done to Dathan, to Korah, and to Abiram?

[001:20] Behold, the earth split asunder, and they were all swallowed up by it because of their rebelliousness! - Do you think He could not do the same to you?

[001,21] I say unto thee, Since thou hast seen and perceived the sign of Jehovah unmistakably, obey also the Lord, which is almighty, and just, and ever chasteneth the rebellious, and the apostates of His will.

[001,22] But if not, fear greatly in your house, lest the Lord do to your house what He did to Dathan, Korah, and Abiram."

[001,23] Then Joseph was very afraid, and in great anguish he said to the priest, "Pray for me, then, that the Lord may again be gracious and merciful to me, and then give me the virgin of the Lord according to His will!"

[001,24] But the priest went in and prayed for Joseph before the Blessed Sacrament, - and the Lord said to the priest who was praying:

[001,25] "Do not deceive Me of the man whom I have chosen; for righteous as he walks there is none in Israel, and none in all the earth, and none before My eternal throne in all the heavens!

[001,26] And go forth and give the virgin, whom I Myself have brought up, to the most righteous of the men of the earth!"

[001,27] Here the priest beat his breast and said, "O Lord, Thou Almighty, some God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, be merciful to me a sinner before Thee; for now I perceive that Thou wilt visit Thy people!"

[001,28] Then the priest arose, went out, and, blessing in the name of the Lord, gave the maiden to the afflicted Joseph

[001:29] and said to him, "Joseph, you are righteous before the Lord; therefore He has chosen you out of many thousands! And so you may go in peace, amen."

[001,30] And Joseph took Mariam, and said, "So then, let the only holy will of my God, my Lord, be done at all times. What Thou givest, O Lord, is good at all times; therefore I also gladly take and willingly accept this gift from Thy hand! Bless it for me and me for it, that I may be worthy of it before You now, as always; Your will, amen."

July 26, 1843

001:31] And when Joseph had spoken these things before the Lord, he was strengthened in heart, and went out of the temple with Mary, and brought her into the region of Nazareth, and there into his poor dwelling.

[001,32] But Joseph's necessary work was waiting; so this time he did not tarry in his dwelling, and therefore he said to Mary:

[001,33] "Mary, behold, I have taken you to myself according to the will of God out of the temple of the Lord my God; but now I cannot remain with you and protect you, but must leave you behind, for I must go to see to my appointed house-building in the place which I showed you on the journey hither!

[001,34] But behold, thou shalt not therefore be alone at home! For I have a housewife close to me, who is pious and righteous; she will be around you and my youngest son; and the grace of God and His blessing will not leave you.

In a little while I will come home to you with my four sons, and I will be a guide for you in the ways of the Lord. But the Lord God will now watch over you and over my house, amen."

 

Chapter 2 - The new curtain in the temple. Mary's work on the curtain.

002,01] But at that time there was still a need for a curtain in the temple, because the old one had already become very defective here and there, to cover the defective.

[002,02] Then the priests took counsel, saying, "Let us make a curtain in the temple of the Lord to cover what is defective.

[002,03] For the Lord might come today or tomorrow, as it is written, - how then would we stand before Him, if He found the temple thus neglected by us?"

[002,04] But the high priest said, "Do not judge so blindly, as if the Lord, whose sanctuary is in the temple, did not know how the temple is now ordered!

[002,05] Call to me, nevertheless, seven virgins without blemish from the tribe of David, and we will then hold a lottery as to how the work is to be distributed!"

[002,06] So the servants went out to look for the virgins from the tribe of David, and with great difficulty they found barely six, and reported them to the high priest.

002,07] But the high priest remembered that Mary, who had been given into Joseph's care only a few weeks before, was also of the tribe of David, and as soon as he did so he made this known to the servants.

[002,08] And as soon as the servants went out, they made known this to Joseph, and he went and brought Mariam back into the temple, led by the servants of the temple.

July 27, 1843

[002,09] And when the virgins were gathered together in the porch, as soon as the high priest came, he brought them all into the temple of the Lord.

[002,10] And when they were gathered together in the temple of the Lord, as soon as the high priest spoke, he said:

[002,11] "Hear, ye virgins of the tribe of David, who had decreed according to the will of God, that the fine work of the curtain, which divideth the holy of holies from the temple, should always be made by the virgins of his tribe.

002,12] and according to his will the manifold work should be distributed by lot, and then each virgin should do the work assigned to her according to her skill in the best way!

Behold, there before you is the damaged curtain, and here on the golden table lie the manifold raw materials already prepared for processing!

002,14] You see that such work is necessary; therefore let me go at once, that it may be known which of you shall spin the gold thread, and the amiant thread, and the cotton thread,

[002,15] the silk thread, then the hyacinth thread, the scarlet thread, and the true purple thread!"

[002,16] And the virgins timidly drew lots, as the high priest prayed over them; and when they had drawn lots according to the order marked out, it had come out how the work was to be distributed.

[002,17] And the scarlet and the purple fell by lot to the virgin Mary, the daughter of Anna and Joacim.

[002,18] But the virgin, thanking God for such gracious award and allotment of such most praiseworthy work for His glory, took the work and, being led by Joseph, went home again with it.

002:19] Arriving home, Mary immediately set to work with joyful courage; Joseph commended her to all diligence, blessed her, and then immediately set about building his house again.

002,20] But this happened at the same time, when Zacharias, while he was making the incense in the temple, became dumb because of his little unbelief, therefore a substitute was chosen for him, under whom this work was done by lot.

002,21] But Mary was related to Zacharias as well as to his substitute, therefore she also doubled her diligence, in order to be finished with her work quite soon, even possibly as the first.

002,22] But she did not double her diligence for the sake of glory, but only in order, in her opinion, to give God the Lord great pleasure, if she would finish her work as soon as possible and in the best possible way.

002,23] First came the work on the scarlet, which had to be spun with great attention, so as not to make the thread thicker or thinner here and there.

002,24] With great mastery the scarlet thread was spun by Mary, so that everything that came into the house of Joseph was highly astonished at the extraordinary skill of Mary.

In a short time of three days, Mary finished the scarlet and immediately began to work on the purple, but since she always had to wet it, she often had to take the jar and go out to get water while she was working.

 

Chapter 3 - The announcement of the birth of the Lord by an angel. Mary's humble submission.

003,01] Now one Friday morning Mary again took the water pitcher and went out to fill it with water, and hark! a voice spoke to her:

[003,02] "Hail, rich in the grace of the Lord! The Lord is with thee, thou most blessed of women!"

[003,03] But Mary was very much frightened at such a voice, not knowing where it came from, and therefore she looked around nimbly to the right and to the left; but she could discover no one speaking.

003,04] But because of this she was filled with tormenting fear, and hastily took the filled water-pot, and hurried from thence into the house.

003,05] When she arrived there trembling, she immediately put the water jug aside, took the purple again, sat down on her work chair and began to spin the purple again very diligently.

003,06] But she had scarcely settled down to her work when the angel of the Lord stood before the busy maiden and said to her:

[003,07] "Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found an endless grace before the face of the Lord; behold, thou shalt conceive by the word of God!"

[003,08] But when Mary had heard this, she began to ponder these words to and fro, and could not comprehend their meaning; therefore she said to the angel:

[003,09] "How then shall this be, since I am not yet a man's wife, nor have I ever made the acquaintance of a man who would take me as a wife, that I may conceive like other women, and then give birth like them?"

[003,10] But the angel said to Mary, "Hear, thou chosen virgin of God! Not so shall it be done, but the power of the Lord shall overshadow thee.

[003,11] Therefore also the holy one that is born of you will be called the Son of the Most High!

[003,12] But thou shalt give Him, when He is born of thee, the name of Jesus; for He shall redeem His people from all their sins, from judgment, and from eternal death."

[003,13] But Mary fell down before the angel, and said, "Behold, I am but a handmaid of the Lord; therefore let it be done unto me according to His will, as thy words were!" - Here the angel disappeared again, and Mary went back to her work.

Chapter 4 - Mary's childlike innocent conversation with God and the answer from above.

August 1, 1843

004,01] But as soon as the angel disappeared again, Mary praised and glorified the Lord God and said thus in her heart:

[004,02] "O what am I then before Thee, O Lord, that Thou shouldest show me such grace? - –

[004,03] I should conceive without ever having known a man; for I know not what difference there is between me and a man.

004,04] Do I know then what this is in truth: to be with child? O Lord, behold, I know it not!

004,05] Do I know what it is, as they say: "Behold, a woman begetteth"? - O Lord! behold me graciously; for I am but a maid of fourteen years, and have only heard it spoken of, and yet know nothing of it indeed!

004,06] Alas, how will it be with me, a wretch, when I am with child, and know not what such a state is!

004,07] What will Joseph the father say to this, if I tell him, or if he notices that I am with child?

004,08] Surely being pregnant cannot be a bad thing, especially if a maidservant, like Sarah, is mentioned by the Lord Himself?

004,09] For I have often heard in the temple what great joy the women have when they are pregnant!

[004,10] So being pregnant must be something quite good and exceedingly blessed, and I will certainly also rejoice when it is given to me by God that I become pregnant!

[004,11] But when, when will that happen, and how? - Or has it already happened? Am I already with child, or will I first become so?

[004,12] O Lord! Thou ever Holy One of Israel, give me, Thy poor handmaid, a sign when this will happen, that I may praise and glorify Thee for it!"

[004,13] At these words Mary was blown by a light etheric breath, and a very gentle voice spoke to her:

[004,14] "Mary, do not worry in vain; you have received, and the Lord is with you! - Set about your work, and finish it, for no more of this kind will be made for the temple!"

[004,15] Here Mary fell down and prayed to God, praising and glorifying Him for such grace. - But after offering her praise to the Lord, she arose and took her work in hand.

Chapter 5 - The delivery of Mary's finished temple work. Mary and the high priest. Mary visits her mother Elisabeth.

August 2, 1843

In a few days, Mary also finished the purple, then arranged it and took the scarlet and put it with the purple.

005,02] Then she thanked God for the grace that He had allowed her to complete her work so well, and then wrapped the linen in pure linen and set out with it for Jerusalem.

005:03] She went alone as far as the building of the house, where Joseph was working, but from then on she again accompanied Joseph to Jerusalem and there to the temple.

005,04] When she arrived there, she handed over the work to the high priest.

005,05] He inspected the scarlet and the purple, found the work excellent, and praised and greeted Mariam with the following words:

[005,06] "Mary, such skill does not naturally dwell in you, but the Lord has worked with your hand!

[005,07] Therefore God has made you great; you will be honored among all the women of the earth by the Lord God, since you were the first to bring her work to the Lord in the temple."

[005,08] But Mary, full of humility and joy in her heart, said to the high priest:

[005,09] "Worthy servant of the Lord in His sanctuary! O praise me not too much, and exalt me not above others; for this work is not my merit, but the Lord's alone, who there guided my hand!

[005,10] Therefore to Him alone be all praise, all glory, all praise forever, and all my love and all my worship without ceasing!"

[005,11] And the high priest said, "Amen, Mary! thou pure virgin of the Lord, thou hast spoken well before the Lord! - Now therefore go again in peace; the Lord be with thee!"

[005,12] Then Mary arose and went with Joseph again as far as the building site, where she took a little refreshment, consisting of bread and milk and water.

005,13] Now there lived half a day's journey from the building site over a small mountain a mother of Mary, named Elizabeth, who wanted to visit her and asked Joseph for permission.

But Joseph soon gave her permission to do so, and for this purpose he also gave her his eldest son as a guide, who had to accompany her so far until she saw the house of Elizabeth.

Chapter 6 - The miraculous reception of Mary by Elizabeth. Humility and wisdom of Mary. Mary's return home to Joseph.

August 3, 1843

006,01] Having arrived at Elizabeth's house, that is, at her house, she soon knocked at the door with a timid mind, according to the custom of the Jews.

006,02] But when Elizabeth heard the timid knocking, she thought to herself, "Who is knocking so unusually softly?

[006,03] It must be a child of my neighbor; for it cannot be my husband, who is still mute in the temple and awaits redemption!

[006,04] But my work is important; shall I put it away because of my neighbor's naughty child?

[006,05] No, I will not do that, because it is a work for the temple, and this is higher than the naughtiness of a child, who surely again wants nothing but to tease and taunt me as we all know.

[006,06] Therefore I will sit fine at the work and let the child throb well for a long time."

[006,07] But Mary throbbed once more, and the child in Elizabeth's womb began to leap for joy, and the mother heard a low voice from the region of the child leaping within her, and the voice was:

[006,08] "Mother, go, go hastily; for it is the Mother of my Lord and of thy Lord, of my God and of thy God, who knocks at the door and visits thee in peace!" - –

[006,09] But Elizabeth, when she had heard this, immediately threw down all that she had in her hands, and ran and opened the door to Mary,

[006,10] then, according to custom, immediately gave her her blessing, then embraced her with open arms, and said to her:

[006,11] "O Mary, blessed among women! Blessed art thou among all women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb!

006,12] O Mary, most pure virgin of God! - Whence comes this great grace to me, that the mother of my Lord, my God, should visit me?"

[006,13] But Mary, who understood nothing of all the mysteries, said to Elizabeth:

[006,14] "Oh, dear mother! - I have come to you only for a friendly visit; what things do you say about me that I do not understand? - Am I already seriously pregnant that you call me a mother?"

[006,15] But Elizabeth answered Mary, "Behold, when thou didst knock at the door the second time, the little child which I bear under my heart leaped for joy, and told me so, and greeted thee in me beforehand!"

[006,16] Then Mary looked up to heaven and remembered what the archangel Gabriel had spoken to her, although she did not yet understand anything of all this, and said:

[006,17] "O great God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, what have You made of me? What am I, that all the families of the earth should call me blessed?"

[006,18] But Elizabeth said, "O Mary, thou chosen of God, enter into my house and strengthen thyself; there let us confer and praise God together out of all our strength!"

August 4, 1843

And Mary immediately followed Elizabeth into her house, and ate and drank and strengthened herself, and was filled with cheerfulness.

006,20] Now Elizabeth asked Mary many things about all that she had experienced in the temple during her time there as a child of the Lord, and how all this had seemed to her.

006,21] But Mary said, "Dear mother, who is also well blessed of the Lord! - I mean, these things are too high for us, and we women do unwise, if we consult about things, over which the Lord has set the sons of Aaron.

[006,22] Therefore I am of opinion that we women should leave divine things to God and to those whom He has set over them, and should not brood over them.

006,23] If we only love God above all things and keep His holy commandments, then we live entirely according to our station; what is above that belongs to the men whom the Lord calls and chooses.

006,24] I mean, dear mother, that is right, therefore let me leave the gossiping out of the temple; for it is neither better nor worse because of it. But when it shall be right in the sight of the Lord, then He will chasten the temple and change it in due time."

[006,25] But Elizabeth, recognizing in these words the high humility and modesty of Mary, said to her:

[006,26] "Yes, you merciful virgin of God! With such dispositions, indeed, one must find the highest grace before God!

[006,27] For thus, as thou speakest, only the most pure innocence can speak; - and he who lives according to this, surely lives righteously before God and all the world."

[006,28] But Mary said, "The righteous life is not ours, but the Lord's, and is a grace!

[006,29] He who thinks he lives righteously of himself certainly lives least righteously before God; but he who always confesses his guilt before God is the one who lives righteously before God.

[006,30] But I do not know how I live, my life is a pure grace of the Lord; therefore I can do nothing else but love, praise and glorify Him at all times from all my strength! - If your life is like mine, do likewise, and the Lord will be more pleased with it than if we were to chatter so much about the conditions of the temple."

[006,31] But Elizabeth, recognizing very well that a divine spirit was blowing from Mary, therefore ceased her temple questions and, praising and glorifying God, surrendered to His will. - –

August 5, 1843

[006,32] So Mary spent another full three months with Elizabeth, helping her like a maid to do all the housework.

006,33] In the meantime, however, our Joseph had also finished his construction and was again at home with his sons, and there he took care of his small, admittedly only rented property.

[006,34] But one evening he said to the eldest son, "Joel, go and prepare my beast of burden for me for tomorrow morning, for I must go and fetch Mariam!

[006,35] The girl has now been out of my house about three months, and I do not know what will happen to her.

[006,36] Even if she is with the wife of the mute high priest, there is no way of knowing whether this house is free from all the temptations of the one who enticed Eve!

[006,37] So I will go tomorrow and fetch the girl again, lest by and by Israel's sons should speak evil of me, and the Lord chasten me for my care of the girl."

[006,38] And Joel went and did according to the words of Joseph; but Joel had scarcely finished his work, when Mary also stood before the hall of the house, and greeted Joseph, and besought him to receive her again into his house.

[006,39] Joseph, quite surprised at this appearance of Mary, immediately asked her, "Is it you, O unfaithful one of my house?"

[006,40] And Mary said, "Yes, it is I, but not unfaithful to your house; for I would have been glad to be there again for a long time, but I did not dare to go alone over the woody mountains, - nor did you send a messenger for me! So I had to stay away for such a long time!

[006,41] But now three Levites visited Zechariah's wife, and when they returned to Jerusalem, they took me with them, brought me to the border of your land, blessed me then and your house, and then went on their way, and I hastened here to you again, my dear father Joseph!"

[006,42] Although Joseph would have liked to scold Mary a little for her long absence, he could not bring himself to do so; for, in the first place, Mary's voice had touched his noblest heart too much, and, in the second place, he saw himself to blame, since he had not sent for Mariam by messenger for so long.

He therefore sent for the girl to come and bless her, and the girl jumped up to Joseph and kissed him, as the most innocent children kiss their parents and other benefactors.

And Joseph was moved with joy, and said, "Behold, I am a poor man, and am of old age; but thy filial love maketh me forget my poverty and my old age. The Lord has given you to me for a great joy, therefore I will also go and work with joy to provide you, my little child, with a good piece of bread!"

[006,45] At these words tears fell from the old man's eyes. Mary, however, nimbly dried his wet cheeks and thanked God that He had given her such a good foster father.

[006,46] In that time Joseph suddenly heard, as if psalms were being sung before his house. - – –

Chapter 7 - Joseph's forebodings and prophecy. Mary's consolation. The blessed supper. The manifestation of Mary's pregnancy.

August 7, 1843

[007,01] But Joseph was filled with high forebodings and said to Mary: "Child of the Lord! Much joy is given to my house in you; my soul is filled with high forebodings!

007,02] But I also know that the Lord always grievously afflicts those whom He loves; therefore let us always pray Him that He may always be gracious and merciful to us all!

[007,03] It is even possible that the Lord will want to renew the old, already rotten ark of the covenant through you and me!

007,04] But if such a thing should happen, woe to me and to you; we will have to endure a very hard work! - But now no more of that!

[007,05] What must come will surely come, and we will not be able to prevent it; but when it comes, it will seize us with an almighty hand, and we will tremble before the will of Him who has set up the strongholds of the earth!"

[007,06] But Mary understood nothing of all this, and therefore comforted Joseph, who looked very distressed, with such words:

[007,07] "Dear father Joseph! Do not grieve over the will of the Lord; for we know that He always wants only the best for His children! - If the Lord is with us, as He was with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and as He has always been with those who loved Him, what harm and evil should we encounter?"

[007,08] But Joseph was satisfied with this consolation, and thanked the Lord in his heart out of all his strength, why He had given him such a consolation angel in Mary, and said thereupon:

[007,09] "Children, it is already late in the evening; therefore let us join in the hymn of praise, then consume our blessed supper, and then go to rest!"

[007,10] This was done, and Mary hurried and brought the bread, and Joseph distributed it; but everyone was surprised that the bread this time was of such good taste.

But Joseph said, "All praise to the Lord! What He blesses always tastes good and is of the best flavor!"

[007,12] And Mary then remarked to Joseph most sweetly and wisely, "Behold, dear father, so you should not be afraid of the visitations of the Lord; for they are also His most delicious blessings!"

[007,13] And Joseph said, "Yes, yes, thou pure daughter of the Lord, thou art right! I will bear with all patience whatever the Lord will burden me with; for He will not make His burden too heavy and His yoke too hard for me, for He is a Father full of goodness and mercy - also in His zeal! And so may His holy will always be done!"

[007,14] Thereupon the pious family went to rest and worked at home the following days.

007,15] Day by day, however, Mary's womb grew fuller; since she was well aware of this, she sought to conceal her pregnancy from the eyes of Joseph and his sons as best she could.

[007,16] But after a time of two months her concealment was of no avail, and Joseph began to be suspicious and secretly consulted with one of his friends in Nazareth about Mary's strange condition.

Chapter 8 - The Doctor's Opinion. Joseph interrogates Mary. Mary's explanation.

August 9, 1843

[008,01] But Joseph's friend was an expert, for he was a physician who knew the herbs and not infrequently assisted the wailing mothers in dangerous births.

[008,02] This man went with Joseph and secretly looked at Mariam, - and when he had looked at her, he said to Joseph:

[008,03] "Hear me, brother from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, a great evil has befallen your house, - for behold, the maid is heavily pregnant!

[008,04] But thou thyself art also to blame for it; for behold, it is now the sixth moon, when thou wast out building thy house! - Say, who then should have taken heed to the maid?"

[008,05] But Joseph answered, "Behold, Mary was at home scarcely three weeks at a time, and that at the beginning, when she came into my house; then she spent full three moons with her mother Elizabeth.

008,06] But now two months have already passed, since she is under my constant supervision, and I have never seen anyone who has come to her openly or secretly!

008,07] And in the time of my absence she was in the best hands anyway; my son, who led her to Elisabeth, gave me the dearest oath beforehand that, except in case of emergency, he would not even touch her dress on the whole way!

008,08] And so I know with great certainty that Mary must be completely pure from my house; but whether this is also the case with the house of Zacharias is, of course, subject to another question!

008,09] Should this have happened to her in the temple by one of its servants? - Let the Lord keep me from it, if I should be of such an opinion; for such a thing the Lord would long ago have made notorious through the all-time wisdom of the high priest!

008,10] But now I know what I will do to get on the right track to the truth of the matter. - You, friend, may now go in peace again, and I will subject my house to a strong test!"

[008,11] Joseph's friend did not delay, and went out of Joseph's house as soon as; but Joseph turned to Mary as soon as, and said to her:

[008,12] "Child! with what brow shall I now look up to my God? What shall I say about you?

[008,13] Did I not receive you as a pure virgin from the temple, and did I not keep you faithfully by my daily prayer and by the faithful who are in my house?

I beseech thee, therefore, that thou tell me who it is that hath dared to deceive me, and so to deal most shamefully with me, a son of David, and with thee also, who art sprung from the same house!

[008,15] Who hath deceived and defiled thee, a virgin of the Lord?! - Who has been able to cloud your purest mind in this way? - and who, to make of you a second Eve?!

008,16] For so in me the old story of Adam is repeated in the flesh, for obviously a serpent has deceived you like Eve!

008,17] So answer me to my question! But go, and compose thyself; for thou shalt not succeed in deceiving me!" - Here Joseph threw himself on his face with grief on a sack filled with ashes, and wept.

[008,18] But Mary trembled with great fear, and began to weep and to sob, and could not speak for too great fear and sorrow.

[008,19] But Joseph rose again from his sackcloth and spoke to Mary in a more moderate voice:

[008,20] "Mary, child of God, whom He Himself has taken into His care, why have you done this to me-Why have you so humbled your soul and forgotten your God!

[008,21] How could you do such a thing, who were brought up in the Holy of Holies, and received your food from the hand of the angels, and had these shining servants of God always for your playmates?! - O speak, and be not silent before me!"

[008,22] Here Mary stiffened and said, "Father Joseph, thou righteous hard man! I say unto thee, As truly as a God liveth, so truly am I pure and innocent, and to this hour know not aught of any man!"

[008,23] But Joseph asked, "Whence then is that which thou bearest under thine heart?"

[008,24] And Mary answered, "Behold, I am yet a child, and understand not the mysteries of God! But listen to me, and I will tell you what I have encountered. But this is also true, as there lives a righteous God over us!"

Chapter 9 - Mary's narration of the mysterious holy occurrences. Joseph's sorrow and anxiety and his decision to remove Mary secretly. An angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream. Mary remains in Joseph's house.

August 10, 1843

[009,01] And Mary told Joseph all that she had encountered while she was still working on the purple, and then concluded her narrative with this affirmation:

[009,02] "Therefore I say to you again, Father, that as truly as God, the Lord of heaven and earth, lives, so truly am I pure and know of no man, nor do I know the secret of God, which I must now bear under my heart, to my own great anguish!" - –

[009,03] Here Joseph fell silent before Mary and was terrified; for Mary's words penetrated deeply into his troubled soul, and he quiveringly found his secret presentiment confirmed.

009,04] He therefore began to ponder to and fro what he should do, and thus said in his heart:

[009,05] "If I conceal their sin from the world, as it is now, yet irrefutable, because I no longer recognize it as such, then I shall be found to have done wrong against the law of the Lord and shall not escape the sure punishment!

009,06] But if I reveal her against my innermost conviction as a fine sinner before the sons of Israel, since that which she carries under her heart comes only - according to her unequivocal statement - from an angel,

[009,07] then will I be found out by the Lord God as one who has delivered up an innocent blood to the judgment of death!

009,08] So what shall I do with her? - Shall I leave her secretly, that is, shall I put her away from me secretly and hide her somewhere in the mountains near the border of the Greeks? - Or shall I wait for the day of the Lord, that He may make known to me the same day what I am to do?

009,09] But if tomorrow or the day after tomorrow someone comes to me from Jerusalem and recognizes Mariam, what then? - Yes, it will be best for me to remove her secretly and take care of her secretly, without anyone else except my children knowing anything about it!

[009,10] Her innocence, in time, the Lord will surely make manifest, and then all will be saved and won; and so be it done in the name of the Lord!"

[009,11] Thereupon Joseph made this known to Mary quite secretly, and she complied with Joseph's intended good will in preparation, and then, since it had already become late in the evening, went to rest.

[009,12] But Joseph also sank into slumber over his manifold thoughts; and behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said to him:

[009,13] "Joseph, be not afraid for Mary, the most pure Virgin of the Lord! - For what she bears under her heart is begotten of the Holy Spirit of God, and you shall give it, when it is born, the name of Jesus!" - –

[009,14] Here Joseph awoke from sleep and praised the Lord God who had shown him such grace.

[009,15] But since it was already morning, Mary came to Joseph already ready for the intended journey and indicated to him that it might already be time.

[009,16] But Joseph took hold of the girl, pressed her to his bosom, and said to her, "Mary, thou pure one, abide with me; for this day the Lord hath given me a mighty testimony concerning thee, that which shall be born of thee shall be called Jesus!"

[009,17] By this Mary immediately knew that the Lord had spoken to Joseph, since she heard the same name given to her by the angel, since she had mentioned nothing of it to Joseph before!

[009,18] And Joseph took good care of the girl and left her in no need of anything that she needed in that condition. - – –

Chapter 10 - The Roman Census. Joseph's non-participation in the council of the people in Jerusalem. The traitor of Anna.

August 11, 1843

010,01] But two weeks after this a great council was held in Jerusalem, because it had been heard from some Romans living in Jerusalem that the emperor would have the entire Jewish people counted and described.

[010,02] Such news had caused a great fright among the Jews, who were forbidden to count people.

010,03] Therefore the high priest called a great assembly for the purpose, to which all the elders

to which all the elders and men of art, such as Joseph was, were to attend.

[010,04] But Joseph had just made a little journey into the mountains for timber, and was absent some days.

010,05] The messenger from Jerusalem, however, who came to Joseph in the meantime and delivered to him the invitation to the great meeting, did not find Joseph, but gave his elder son the commandment that he, as soon as Joseph came home, should immediately inform him of this in the most urgent manner!

010,06] But Joseph came home the very next day in the morning. The son of Joseph immediately informed him of what had come from Jerusalem.

[010,07] But Joseph said, "Now I have been going about in the mountains for five days, and therefore I am exceedingly weary, and my feet would never carry me if I had not rested a few days before; therefore this time I am constrained not to answer the call of Jerusalem.

[010,08] By the way, this whole great assembly is not worth a hollow nut; for the mighty emperor of Rome, who is now already wielding his scepter even over the lands of the Scythians, will take little notice of our consultation and will do as he pleases! Therefore, I now remain finely at home!"

[010,09] But after three days a certain Annas of Jerusalem, who was then a great scribe, came to Joseph and said to him:

[010,10] "Joseph, thou expert in arts and learned in the Scriptures, of the tribe of David! - I must ask thee why thou didst not come into the assembly?"

[010,11] But Joseph turned to Annas and said, "Behold, I was five days in the mountains, and knew not that I was called.

[010,12] But when I came home and received the news through my son Joses, I was too tired and weak to set out for Jerusalem as soon as I could! - Besides, I saw at first sight that all this great gathering would be of little or no use."

[010,13] While Joseph had spoken these things, Annas looked around and unfortunately discovered the very pregnant virgin.

[010,14] He therefore also left Joseph as if quite silent, and hastened what he could to Jerusalem.

[010,15] Arriving there quite breathless, he immediately hastened to the high priest and said to him:

[010,16] "Hear me, and ask me not why the son of David came not into the assembly; for I have discovered unheard-of abominable things in his house!

[010,17] Behold, Joseph, to whom God and you bore witness by entrusting the virgin to him, has profoundly and grossly erred beyond description before God and before you!"

[010,18] But the high priest was quite horrified at Anna's news, and asked very briefly, "How so, how so? - Speak the fullest truth to me, or you will be of death this very day!"

[010,19] And the Annas said, "Behold, the Virgin Mary, whom, according to the testimony of God, he received from this temple of the Lord for safekeeping, he has profaned most wantonly; for her already high pregnancy is a living testimony of it!"

[010,20] But the high priest said, "No, Joseph never did that! - Can even God bear false witness?!"

[010,21] But Annas said, "Send then thy most trusted servants, and thou shalt be convinced that there is the virgin in the fullest of pregnancy; but if she be not, I will be stoned here!"