The Infancy Of Jesus

In Israel

By

The Twelve Apostles

Jesus’s Bath Water Cures A Son

When they came afterwards into the city Bethlehem, they found there several very desperate diseases, which became so troublesome to children that most of the children died. There was there a woman who had a sick son. When her son was at the point of death, she brought him to the Lady St Mary, who saw her when she was washing Jesus Christ. Then said the woman, “O my Lady Mary, look down upon this my son, who is afflicted with most dreadful pains.”

St Mary hearing her, said, “Take a little of that water with which I have washed my son, and sprinkle it upon him.”

Then the woman took a little of that water, as St Mary had directed her, and sprinkled it upon her son, who being wearied with his violent pains, fell asleep. And after he had slept a little, awoke, perfectly well and recovered. The mother being abundantly glad of this success, went again to St Mary, and St Mary said to her, “Give praise to God, who hath cured this your son.”

The Same Bath Water Cures Another Son

There was in the same place another woman, a neighbour of her, whose son was now cured.

This woman's son was afflicted with the same disease, and his eyes were now almost quite shut, and she was lamenting for him day and night. The mother of the child which was cured, said to her, “Why do you not bring your son to St Mary, as I brought my son to her, when my son was in the agonies of death; and he was cured by that water, with which the body of her son Jesus was washed?”

When the woman heard this, she also went, and having procured the same water, washed her son with it, whereupon the son’s body and eyes were instantly restored to their former state.

And when she brought her son to St Mary, and opened his case to her, she directed her to give thanks to God for the recovery of her son's health, and tell no one what had happened.

The End Of A Wicked Rival

There were in the same city two wives of one man, who had each a son sick. One of them was called Mary and her son's name was Caleb. She arose, and taking her son, went to the Lady St Mary, the mother of Jesus, and offered her a very handsome carpet, saying, “O my Lady Mary accept this carpet of mine, and instead of it give me a small swaddling cloth.” To this Mary agreed, and when the mother of Caleb was gone, she made a coat for her son of the swaddling cloth, put it on him, and his disease was cured; but the son of the other wife died.

Hereupon there arose between them, a quarrel in doing the business of the family by turns, each her week. And when the turn of Mary the mother of Caleb came, and she was heating the oven to bake bread, and went away to fetch the meal, she left her son Caleb by the oven. The other wife, her rival, seeing to Caleb be alone, took and cast him into the oven, which was very hot, and then went away. Mary on her return saw her son Caleb lying in the middle of the oven laughing, and the oven was as cold as though it had not been before heated. Caleb’s mother knew that her rival, the other wife, had thrown him into the fire.

When she took him out, she brought him to the Lady St Mary, and told her the story, to which Mary replied, “Be quiet, I am concerned that you should not make this matter known.”

The rival wife, as she was drawing water at the well, and saw Caleb playing by the well, and that no one was near, took him, and threw him into the well. And when some men came to fetch water from the well, they saw the boy sitting on the surface of the water, and drew him out with ropes, and were exceedingly surprised at the child, and praised God. The boy’s mother came, took him and carried him to the Lady St Mary, lamenting and saying, “O my Lady, see what my rival has done to my son, and how she has cast him into the well, and I do not question that at one time or other she will be the cause of his death.”

St Mary replied to her, “God will vindicate your injured cause.”

Accordingly a few days after, when the other wife came to the well to draw water, her foot was entangled in the rope, so that she fell headlong into the well, and they who ran to her assistance, found her skull broken, and bones bruised. So she came to a bad end, and in her was fulfilled that saying of the author, “They dug a well, and made it deep, but fell themselves into the pit which they prepared.”

A Sick Child Restored By Being Laid On Christ's Bed

Likewise, another woman in that city had two sons sick. And when one was dead, the other, who lay at the point of death, she took in her arms to the Lady St Mary, in a flood of tears, and addressed herself to Mary, saying, “O my Lady, help and relieve me; for I had two sons. I have just now buried One, and the other I is just at the point of death. Behold, how I (earnestly) seek favour from God, and pray to Him.” Then she said, O Lord, you are gracious, and merciful, and kind. You have given me two sons; and one of them you have taken to yourself. O spare me this other.”

St Mary then perceiving the greatness of her sorrow, pitied her and said, “Place your son in my son's bed, and cover him with my son’s clothes.” And when she had placed him in the bed wherein Christ lay, at the moment when his eyes were just closed by death; as soon as ever the smell of the garments of the Lord Jesus Christ reached the boy, his eyes were opened, and calling with a loud voice to his mother, he asked for bread, and when he had received it, he sucked it. Then his mother said, “O Lady Mary, now I am assured that the powers of God do dwell in you, so that your son can cure children who are of the same sort as Himself, as soon as they touch His garments. This boy who was thus cured, is the same who in the Gospel is called Bartholomew, formerly Nathaniel.

Jesus Heals A Leprous Woman

Again there was a leprous woman, who went to the Lady St Mary, the mother of Jesus, and said, “O my Lady, help me.”

St Mary replied, “What help do you desire? Is it gold or silver, or that your body be cured of its leprosy?”

“Who, says the woman, can grant me this?”

St Mary replied to her, “Wait a little till I have washed my son Jesus, and put Him to bed.”

The woman waited, as she was directed; and Mary when she had put Jesus in bed, gave her the water with which she had washed his son, Jesus, and said, “Take some of the water, and pour it upon your body,” which when she had done, she instantly became clean, and praised God, and gave thanks to Him.

Jesus Restores The Marriage Of A Prince And Princess

Then she went away, after she had abode with her three days. And going into the city, she saw a certain prince, who had married another prince's daughter. But when he came to see her, he perceived between her eyes the signs of leprosy like a star, and thereupon declared the marriage dissolved and void. When the woman saw these persons in this condition, exceedingly sorrowful, and shedding abundance of tears, she inquired of them the reason of their crying. They replied, “Inquire not into our circumstances; for we are not able to declare our misfortunes to any person whatsoever.”

But still she pressed and desired them to communicate their case to her, intimating, that perhaps she might be able to direct them to a remedy. So when they showed the young woman to her, and the signs of the leprosy, which appeared between her eyes, she said, “I also, whom you see in this place, was afflicted with the same disease, and going on some business to Bethlehem, I went into a certain cave, and saw a woman named Mary, who had a son called Jesus. She seeing me to be leprous, was concerned for me, and gave me some water with which she had washed her son's body; I sprinkled the bath water on my body, and became clean.”

Then said these women, “Will you, Mistress, go along with us, and show the Lady St Mary to us?”

To which she consenting, they arose and went to the Lady St Mary, taking with them very noble presents. And when they came in and offered their presents to her, they showed the leprous young woman they brought with them to Mary. Then said St Mary, “The mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ rest upon you.” And giving them a little of that water with which she had washed the body of Jesus Christ, she bade them wash the diseased person with it; which when they had done, she was presently cured;

And so they, and all who were present, praised God. And being filled with joy, they went back to their own city, and gave praise to God on that account. Then the prince hearing that his wife was cured, took her home and made a second marriage, giving thanks unto God for the recovery of his wife's health.

Jesus Delivers A Girl From A Dragon

There was also a girl, who was afflicted by Satan. For that cursed spirit did frequently appear to her in the shape of a dragon, and was inclined to swallow her up, and had so sucked out all her blood, that she looked like a dead body. As often as she came to herself, with her hands wringed about her head she would cry out, and say, “Woe, Woe is me, that there is no one to be found who can deliver me from that wicked dragon!”

Her father and mother, and all who were about her and saw her, mourned and wept over her. And all who were present would especially be under sorrow and in tears, when they heard her bewailing, and saying, “My brethren and friends, is there no one who can deliver me from this murderer?” Then the prince's daughter, who had been cured of her leprosy, hearing the complaint of that girl, went upon the top of her castle, and saw her with her hands twisted about her head, pouring out a flood of tears, and all the people that were about her in sorrow.

Then she asked the husband of the possessed person, “Whether his wife's mother was alive?” He told her, that her father and mother were both alive. Then she ordered her mother to be sent to her: to whom, when she saw her coming, she said, “Is this possessed girl your daughter?” The mother moaning and bewailing said, “Yes, madam, I bore her.”

The prince's daughter answered, “Disclose the secret of her case to me, for I confess to you that I was leprous, but the son of Lady Mary, Jesus Christ, healed me. And if you desire your daughter to be restored to her former state, take her to Bethlehem, and inquire of Mary the mother of Jesus, and doubt not that your daughter will be cured; for I do not doubt that you will come home with great joy at your daughter's recovery.”

As soon as ever she had done speaking, the woman arose and went with her daughter to the place appointed, and to Mary, and told her the case of her daughter. When St Mary had heard her story, she gave her a little of the water with which she had washed the body of her son Jesus, and bade her pour it upon the body of her daughter. Likewise she gave her one of the swaddling cloths of the Lord Jesus, and said, “Take this swaddling cloth and show it to your enemy as often as you see him,” and she sent them away in peace.

After they had left that city and returned home, and the time was come in which Satan comes to seize her, in the same moment this cursed spirit appeared to her in the shape of a huge dragon, and the girl seeing him was afraid. The mother said to her, “Be not afraid daughter; let him alone till he come nearer to you! Then shew him the swaddling cloth, which the Lady Mary gave us, and we shall see the result.”

Satan then coming like a dreadful dragon, the body of the girl trembled for fear. But as soon as she had put the swaddling cloth upon her head, and about her eyes, and showed it to Satan, presently there issued forth flames and burning coals from the swaddling cloth, which fell upon the dragon.

z Oh! how great a miracle was this, which was done. For as soon as the dragon saw the swaddling cloth of the Lord Jesus, fire went forth from the cloth and scattered upon his head and eyes, so that he cried out with a loud voice, “What have I to do with you, Jesus, you son of Mary, Whither shall I flee from you?” So he drew back much affrighted, and left the girl. And she was delivered from this trouble, and sang praises and thanks to God, and even so did all the people who were present with her at the working of the miracle.

Judas, When A Boy Possessed By Satan, Strikes Jesus

Another woman likewise lived there, whose son was possessed by Satan. This boy, named Judas, as often as Satan seized him, was inclined to bite all that were present; and if he found no one else near him, he would bite his own hands and other skins. But the mother of this miserable boy, hearing of St Mary and her son Jesus, arose presently, and taking her son in her arms, brought him to the Lady Mary.

In the meantime, James and Joses had taken away the infant, the Lord Jesus, to play at a proper season with other children; and when they went forth, they sat down and the Lord Jesus with them. Then Judas, who was possessed, came and sat down at the right hand of Jesus. When Satan was acting upon him as usual, he went about to bite the Lord Jesus. And because he could not do it, he struck Jesus on the right side, so that he cried out.

And in the same moment Satan went out of the boy, and ran away like a mad dog. This same boy who struck Jesus, and out of whom Satan went in the form of a dog, was Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him to the Jews. And that same side, on which Judas struck him, the Jews pierced with a spear.

Jesus Moulds Birds And Makes Them Fly

And when the Lord Jesus was seven years of age, he was on a certain day with other boys His companions about the same age. Who when they were at play, made clay into several shapes, namely, asses, oxen, birds, and other figures, each boasting of his work, and endeavouring to exceed the rest.

Then the Lord Jesus said to the boys, “I will command these figures which I have made to walk.” And immediately they moved, and when he commanded them to return, they returned. He had also made the figures of birds and sparrows, which, when he commanded to fly, did fly, and when he commanded to stand still, did stand still; and if he gave them meat and drink, they did eat and drink.

When at length the boys went away, and related these things to their parents, their fathers said to them, “Take heed, children, for the future of his company, for he is a sorcerer. Shun and avoid Him, and from henceforth never play with Him.”

Jesus Dyes Clothes Of Different Colours

On a certain day also, when the Lord Jesus was playing with the boys, and running about, he passed by a dyer's shop, whose name was Salem. And there were in his shop many pieces of cloth belonging to the people of that city, which they desired to dye of several colours. Then the Lord Jesus going into the dyer's shop, took all the cloths, and threw them into the furnace.

When Salem came home, and saw the cloths spoiled, he began to make a great noise, and to chide the Lord Jesus, saying, “What have you done to me, O you Son of Mary? You have injured both me and my neighbours. They all desired their cloths of a different colour; but .you have come, and spoiled them all.”

The Lord Jesus replied, “I will change the colour of every cloth to what colour you desire.” And presently, He began to take the cloths out of the furnace, and they were all dyed of those same colours which the dyer desired. And when the Jews saw this surprising miracle, they praised God

Jesus Perfects Joseph Carpentry Works

And Joseph, wherever he went in the city, took the Lord Jesus with him, where he was sent for to work, to make gates, or milk-pails, or sieves, or boxes; the Lord Jesus was with him wherever he went.

And as often as Joseph had anything in his work, to make longer or shorter, or wider, or narrower, the Lord Jesus would stretch his hand towards it. And presently it became as Joseph would have it. So that Joseph had no need to finish anything with his own hands, for he was not very skilful at his carpenter's trade.

On a certain time, the King of Jerusalem sent for him, and said, “I would have you make me a throne of the same dimensions with that place in which I commonly sit.” Joseph obeyed, and forthwith began the work, and continued two years in the king's palace before he finished it.

And when he came to fiit in its place, he found it two spans less in size, on each side of the appointed measure, which, when the king saw, he was very angry with Joseph. And Joseph afraid of the king's anger, went to bed without his supper, taking nothing to eat. Then the Lord Jesus asked him, “What he was afraid of?”

Joseph replied, “Because I have lost my labour in the work which I have been about these two years.”

Jesus said to him, “Fear not, neither be cast down. Do you lay hold on one side of the throne, and I will the other, and we will bring it to its just dimensions.”

And when Joseph had done as the Lord Jesus said, and each of them had with strength drawn his side, the throne obeyed, and was brought to the proper dimensions of the place. When they who stood by saw this miracle, they were astonished, and praised God. The throne was made of the same wood, which was in existence and use in Solomon's time, namely, wood adorned with various shapes and figures.

Jesus Plays Hide And Seek With Boys

On another day, the Lord Jesus going out into the street, and seeing some boys who were met to play, joined himself to their company. But when they saw Him, they hid themselves, and left Him to seek for them. The Lord Jesus came to the gate of a certain house, and asked some women who were standing there, “Where the boys were gone to?” And when they answered, that there was no one there.

The Lord Jesus asked, “Who are those whom you see in the furnace?”

They answered, “They are kids of three years old.”

Then Jesus cried out aloud, and said, “Come out here, O you kids, to your shepherd.” And presently the boys came forth like kids, and leaped about Him; which when the women saw, they were exceedingly amazed, and trembled.

Then they immediately worshipped the Lord Jesus, and beseeched him, saying, “O our Lord Jesus, son of Mary, you are truly that good shepherd of Israel! Have mercy on your handmaids, who stand before you, who do not doubt, but that you, O Lord, are come to save, and not to destroy.”

After that, when the Lord Jesus said, “The children of Israel are like Ethiopians among the people,” the women said, “You, Lord, knows all things, nor is anything concealed from you; but now we entreat you, and beseech of your mercy that you wouldst restore those boys to their former state.”

Then Jesus said, “Come here O boys, that we may go and play,” and immediately, in the presence of those women, the kids were changed and returned into the shape of boys.

Jesus’s Playmates Crown Him As Their King

In the month Adar, Jesus gathered together the boys, and ranked them as though He had been a king. For they spread their garments on the ground for Him to sit on; and having made a crown of flowers, put it upon His head, and stood on His right and Left as the guards of a king. And if any one happened to pass by, they took him by force, and said, “Come here, and worship the king, that you may have a prosperous journey.”

Jesus Cures A Boy Bitten By Snake

In the meantime, while these things were happening, there came certain men, carrying a boy upon a couch. For this boy having gone with his companions to the mountain to gather wood, and having found there a pareridge's nest, and put his hand in to take out the eggs, was stung by a poisonous serpent, which leaped out of the nest; so that he was forced to cry out for the help of his companions, who, when they came, found him lying upon the earth like a dead person. After which his neighbours came and carried him back into the city.

But when they came to the place where the Lord Jesus was sitting like a king, and the other boys stood around Him like His ministers, the boys made haste to meet him, who was bitten by the serpent, and said to his neighbours, “Come and pay your respects to the king.” But when, by reason of their sorrow, they refused to come, the boys drew them, and forced them against their wills to come. And when they came to the Lord Jesus, he inquired, on what account they carried that boy? And when they answered, that a serpent had bitten him, the Lord Jesus said to the boys, “Let us go and kill that serpent.”

But when the parents of the boy desired to be excused, because their son lay at the point of death; the boys made answer, and said, “Did you not hear what the king said? Let us go and kill the serpent; and will you not obey him?”

So they brought the couch back again, whether they would or not. And when they were come to the nest, the Lord Jesus said to the boys, “Is this the serpent's lurking place?” They said, it was.

Then the Lord Jesus calling the serpent, it presently came forth and submitted to Him. Jesus ordered it and said, “Go and suck out all the poison which you have infused into that boy.” So the serpent crept to the boy, and took away all its poison again. Then the Lord Jesus cursed the serpent so that it immediately burst asunder, and died.

And He touched the boy with His hand to restore him to his former health. And when he began to cry, the Lord Jesus said, “Cease crying, for hereafter you shalt be my disciple.” And this is that Simon the Canaanite, who is mentioned in the Gospel.

Jesus Cures His Half-Brother Bitten By Viper

On another day, Joseph sent his son James to gather wood and the Lord Jesus went with him. And when they came to the place where the wood was, and James began to gather it, behold, a venomous viper bit him, so that he began to cry, and make a noise. The Lord Jesus seeing him in this condition, came to him, and blew upon the place where the viper had bitten him, and it was instantly well.

Jesus Made A Dead Body Speak

On a certain day the Lord Jesus was with some boys, who were playing on the housetop, and one of the boys fell down, and presently died. Upon which the other boys all ran away, and the Lord Jesus was left alone on the house-top.

And the boy's relations came to Him and said to the Lord Jesus, “You threw our son down from the housetop.”

But Jesus denying it, they cried out, “Our son is dead, and it is you who killed him.”

The Lord Jesus replied to them, “Do not charge me with a crime, of which you are not able to convict me, but let us go and ask the boy himself, who will bring the truth to light.” Then the Lord Jesus going down, stood over the head of the dead boy, and said with a loud voice, “Zeinunus, Zeinunus, who threw you down from the housetop?”

Then the dead boy answered, “You did not throw me down, but such a one did.” The Lord Jesus bade those who stood by to take notice of his words, all who were present praised God on account of that miracle.

Jesus Recovers Falling Water With His Mantle

On a certain time the Lady St Mary had asked the Lord Jesus to fetch her some water out of the well. And when He had gone to fetch the water, the pitcher, when it was brought up full, broke. But Jesus spread His mantle and gathered up the water again, and brought it in that form to His mother. Who, being astonished at this wonderful thing, laid up this, and all the other things which she had seen, in her memory.

Jesus Miraculously Clears The Water After Rain

When the child Jesus was five years of age and there had been a shower of rain, which was now over, Jesus was playing with other Hebrew boys by a running stream; and the water running over the banks, stood in little lakes. But the water instantly became clear and useful again. Jesus commanded them only by His word, to become clear and useful, and they readily obeyed Him.

Jesus Makes And Animates Clay Sparrows

Then Jesus took from the bank of the stream some soft clay, and formed out of it twelve sparrows; and there were other boys playing with Him.

But a certain Jew seeing the things which He was doing, namely, His forming clay into the figures of sparrows on the Sabbath Day, went away, and told His stepfather Joseph, and said, “Behold, your boy is playing by the river side, and has taken clay, and formed it into twelve sparrows, and profanes the Sabbath.”

Then Joseph came to the place where Jesus was, and when Joseph saw Him, called to Him, and said, “Why do you do that that is not lawful to do on the Sabbath Day?” Then Jesus clapping together the palms of His hands, called to the sparrows, and said to them, “Go, fly away; and while you live remember me.” So the sparrows fled away, chirping. The Israelites seeing this, were astonished, and went away, and told their chief persons what a strange miracle they had seen performed by Jesus.

Jesus Causes A Boy To Wither

Besides this, the son of Anna the scribe was standing there with Joseph, and took a bough of a willow tree, and scattered the waters which Jesus had gathered into lakes. But Jesus seeing what the boy had done, became angry, and said to him, “You fool, what harm did the lake do to you, that you should scatter the water?

Behold, you shall now wither as a tree, and shall not bring forth either leaves, branches, or fruit.” And immediately, the boy became withered all over.

Then Jesus went away home. But the parents of the boy who was withered, lamenting the misfortune of their son, took and carried him to Joseph, accusing him, and said, “Why do you keep a son who is guilty of such actions?”

Then Jesus at the request of all who were present did heal him, leaving only some small member to continue withered, that people might take warning.

Jesus Punishes A Running

Another time Jesus went forth into the street. When He was coming home in the evening with Joseph, and a boy running by, rushed upon His shoulder, at which Jesus being angry, said to him, “You shall go no farther.” And the boy instantly fell down dead.

When some people saw what happened, they said, “Where was this boy born, that everything which He says presently comes to fulfilment?” Then the parents of the dead boy going to Joseph complained, saying, “You are not fit to live with us, in our city, having such a boy as that. Either teach him that he bless and not curse, or else depart hence with him, for he kills our children.”

Then Joseph calling the boy Jesus by himself, instructed Him saying, “Why do you do such things to injure the people, that they hate us and prosecute us?”

But Jesus replied, “I know that you do say this by yourself, and for your sake I will say nothing. But they who have said these things to you, shall suffer everlasting punishment.” And immediately they who had accused Him became blind.

And all they, who saw what just happened, were exceedingly afraid and confounded, and said concerning Him, “Whatever He says, whether good or bad, immediately comes to manifestation.” And they were amazed.

And when they saw this action of Christ, Joseph arose, and plucked Him by the ear, at which the boy was angry, and said to him, “Be easy, for if they seek for us, they shall not find us. You have done very foolishly. Do you not know that I am yours? Trouble me no more.”