NEUOFFENBARUNG← The Childhood and Youth of Jesus · Part 1 · Contents
The visit to the harbour. The valuable ship. Cyrenius' expression of gratitude to Joseph. The Infant's reply and advice on doing good to the poor. 24 February 1844
01] Cyrenius carefully inspected the ship and estimated how many people could be accommodated on it.
02] And he found that, if necessary, at least a thousand people could be accommodated on it comfortably.
03] During this estimation, Cyrenius also convinced himself of the ship's extraordinary sturdiness and workmanship;
04] for it did not look as though it were an old and patched up ship; instead, the whole ship looked as though it were cast.
05] No seams could be seen, and the wood had no visible marks of annual rings, knots or other fibres and wood pores.
06] As Cyrenius convinced himself of all this and returned from the ship to the company on the shore, – naturally with his necessary entourage – he immediately went over to Joseph and spoke:
07] "My most exalted friend, you most fortunate man on earth! I do not anymore wonder about the miracles; for I now know only too well, that all things are possible with God!
08] I know that this is no manufactured or patched up ship, but one created fully anew; but I am not surprised about its.
09] For it would surely be as easy for the Lord to create a whole new world as it would to create such a ship; for the earth is, after all, a ship that carries a huge number of people on the sea of infinity!
10] But that you have now put me greatly in your debt, see, it makes me think as to how I could ever repay you?!
11] For look, this ship, which earlier resembled more of a wreck than a ship and was thus hardly worth a pound of silver, is now worth over ten thousand pounds of gold!
12] For it can now be used for a voyage via the Pillars of Hercules (Gibraltar) to Britannia, and for the circumnavigation of the whole of Africa up to India!
13] Indeed! – For its use in the world, such a creation cannot be paid with any amount of gold!
14] See, my most exalted friend, the repayment of this debt gives me much to think about!
15] If you would value gold, then as truly as your and now my God lives, you would get ten thousand pounds in seven days!
16] However, I know that you loathe gold, and thus it makes me sad now, that I will remain indebted to you, my greatest friend!"
17] And Joseph seized Cyrenius' hand, pressed it to his heart and wanted to speak; but tears welled up at the sight of this noble Roman.
18] Instead, the Infant sat up, smiled at Cyrenius and spoke: "My dear Cyrenius Quirinus! Truly I say to you: If you had accommodated just one poor person in My name, the value
of your deed would have been higher than ten thousand such ships!
19] However, you have taken care of several hundreds within a short period of time and I would have to give you a great number of such ships to compensate you materiallly!
20] For look, a human being is worth more to Me than the whole world full of such ships! Therefore do not worry about your imagined debt!
21] Whatever you do for the poor, you do for Me; however, I will not reward you for it on earth but when you die, I will instantly awaken your soul and make you equal to My attendants here who repaired the ship!"
22] Here Cyrenius wept and declared that from now on, he would devote his life to the welfare of the poor and suffering human beings. 23]The Infant raised His hand, said Amen, and then blessed Cyrenius and the ship. –