Announcement to the Family

CHAPTER 3

Yeshua and Yochanan return from the wilderness and call all of their extended family together to speak about what 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 wife’s 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 Yeshua smiled with contentment and replied, “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 used.” And Lazarus did as Yeshua bid.

 4 That night, Yeshua and Yochanan called 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 among 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 brightness of the Celestine Light.

 8 Those who seek in humility shall be given the greater light. And all who live the Celestine Light shall be given the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven.”

 9 Lazarus stood up and exclaimed, “I am your disciple, Yeshua. I will come with you and aid you in that which you must fulfill.”

 10 Yeshua gave 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 than to just walk by my side as a disciple. I humbly ask that you watch over my family and that of Yochanan and care for them, 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 without conflict in our hearts and do that which we must do.”

 12 Lazarus bowed his head for a moment as if in disappointment, but then raised it with a slight smile, saying, “I am saddened not to accompany you, Yeshua, but my heart swells 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 Yochanan came to his opposite side and put a hand on his other 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 Miriam came from among the women, and standing beside Yeshua, she looked with uncertainty into his eyes, “Husband, is it your will that I should remain here? Though I would miss our children with pangs of my heart, I have always thought that I would never leave your side when the time came for you to begin the fulfillment of your life. Is that not what we have spoken about for many years?”

 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 the 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 and look to her as the pillar of the heavens. There will be some among you, even my greatest disciples, who will expound with mighty spirits upon the things which I taught them. And they shall work miracles and wonders. But only in the steadfastness of Miriam shall all knowledge reside. And the world will never again see another like her.

 22 Verily, though the world shall know her not, she is the holy receptacle of truth, and the fullness of the Celestine Light shall flow through her.”

 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 Yesod, an uncle to Miriam, stood and said to 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 In reply, 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, “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 good-bye 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 The children wept a little as they embraced Yeshua and Miriam and one another, and Uriel told his parents, “You have prepared 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 this 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 Yeshua and Miriam embraced their children in a close family circle and said in unison, “No, children, Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother will never ask more of us than we can do.”