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Announcement to the Family
CHAPTER 3
Yeshua and Yochanan return from
the wilderness and call of their extended family together to
speak about their that which they must now do. -Yeshua proclaims
that Miriam will be his one perfect witness to all things.
1 And it came to pass that Yeshua and Yochanan returned to
Bethany to the house of their wives father and mother. And they
were greeted with much joy by their families upon their return.
2 Shortly after their return Lazarus came to Yeshua saying,
“My father plans to throw a feast to celebrate your safe return,
but being mindful of our talk in the desert, I have told him you
may not desire such a thing.”
3 And Yeshua said unto him, “You know my heart well Lazarus.
Please ask your father if he would donate the money he would
have spent on our feast to widows with children at home, where
it will be better given.” And Lazarus did as Yeshua bid.
4 That night, Yeshua and Yochanan called all of their extended
family in
Bethany
together, including the uncles and aunts and cousins of their
wives, and Yeshua said unto them, “We come from the wilderness
entrusted by Elohim to begin in earnest the work we have come to
Earth to fulfill.
5 From this day forth we will go unto the children of
Israel
preaching repentance and baptism by water and the Holy Spirit of
Fire.
6 And the worthy and virtuous shall be given the foundations
of life.
7 Many will curse our names and we shall be reviled and
persecuted. But from among the multitudes of the unknowing will
come forth those that seek the light.
8 And those who seek in humility, shall be given a greater
light. And all who live the greater light shall be given the
mysteries of the
Kingdom
of Heaven.
9 And Lazarus stood up exclaiming, “I am your disciple
Yeshua. I will come with you and aid you in that which you must
fulfill.”
10 Yeshua smiled a warm smile saying, “Lazarus, it would be an
honor to have you by my side, for I know your heart is pure and
true. But your calling is greater, for I would ask that you
would watch over my family and that of Yochanan, for it will not
be often that we can return.
11 In your stewardship we know they will be well nurtured, and
only knowing that can we go forth and do that which we must do.”
12 Lazarus bowed his head for a moment as if in sadness, but
then raised it with a slight smile saying, “I am saddened not to
accompany you Yeshua, but my heart does swell with joy knowing
you love me so greatly that you entrust to my care, your family,
even your greatest treasure.
13 I will magnify that which you have given unto me.”
14 “Thank you my brother”, Yeshua said softly, as he put his
hand upon Lazarus’s shoulder.
15 And Yochanan came to his other side and also put a hand on
his shoulder saying, “Yes, thank you brother. Knowing that you
are here to watch over those I love brings the peace to my heart
from which I can preach the words I must; knowing that despite
the harsh things that may happen to me, all is well with the
treasures of my eternity.”
16 Then came Miriam from among the women, and standing beside
Yeshua she looked uncertainly into his eyes saying, “Husband, is
it your will that I would remain here? Though I would miss our
children with pangs of my heart, I have always thought that I
should never leave your side when the time came for you to begin
the fulfillment of your life.”
17 Turning to hold Miriam’s face between his hands, Yeshua
kissed her lightly on the lips in front of all the witnesses,
and said unto her, “Beloved, I am the mountain, and what I have
said does not change.
18 Even as I told you on the road from Egypt, you will always
be at my side, in the moments of darkness and light; the one
person who knows me above all others; that when I am gone from
this Earth, through you, all truth of my life and words shall be
known without error.
19 You are the one perfect witness whom Elohim has decreed
shall see all things.”
20 Then turning to the family Yeshua said, “I say unto you
that the day will come when both Yochanan and I are no longer on
the Earth in the body. And then there will be many who will
claim to speak in my name and teach my teachings. And many, even
among the righteous and well intended, will speak in error
concerning the things which I said and did.
21 Therefore, in the days that shall come after, remember
Miriam. There will be some among you, even my greatest
disciples, who will expound in a mighty power of the spirit upon
the things which I taught unto them, and they shall work
miracles and wonders. But only in the quiet power of Miriam
shall all knowledge reside.
22 Verily, though the world shall know her not, she is the
holy receptacle of truth.”
23 At this declaration there was murmuring of discord among
the family. There came words of jealousy from the women and
words of malcontent from among the men.
24 And Yesod, an uncle to Miriam, stood and said unto Yeshua,
“It is not comprehensible that you would ask your wife, the
mother of children still at home, to abandon them. Nor can
anyone understand your words elevating her to a position above
the men who would follow you.
25 Many of your teachings are good, but some are strange, and
this is the most strange of all. I cannot abide it, the law
cannot abide it, and I ask that you would reconsider what you
have said, lest even those in your family stand against you.”
26 And Yeshua stood facing all the men, and in his height he
looked down upon most. And his words, though spoken softly,
resonated like quiet thunder in the room, and he said unto them,
“You have heard the promise I have given unto Miriam, that she,
above all others, is the holy witness of my life and teachings.
27 Even as you have heard me say that I am the mountain, and
that which I have said is immovable and unchanging.
28 Therefore, choose as you will, to heed or not to heed my
words, even as you may choose to climb the mountain and come to
know it, or you may sit idly gazing at it in the distance,
always wondering about its nature, and never knowing its
blessings.”
29 Then Yeshua and Miriam bid goodbye to all who were present
and returned to their quarters to be with their children.
30 In careful words and with much love they explained that
their family would journey first to Nazareth to visit Yeshua’s
kin, and then return to Bethany where the children would live in
the care of their Uncle Lazarus while their father and mother
did the work of God among the Children of Israel.
31 And the children wept a little as they embraced Yeshua and
Miriam, and each other, and Uriel said unto his parents, “You
have told us for some time now that this day would come. Even
so, my belly seems to have fallen and my body trembles.
32 But I know Elohim has chosen you for a great calling, and
also chose us to be your children, and that too is a great
calling. We will be strong, for Heavenly Father and Heavenly
Mother will never give us more than we can bear, will they?”
33 And in one family embrace, Yeshua and Miriam said in
unison, “No children, Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother will
never ask more of us than we can do.”
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