The Childhood and Youth of Jesus · Part 2 · Chapter 216

Cold fish with oil and lemon juice. The reason for the Mosaic dietary laws. "Now and for evermore it will be said: The Lord is the best cook!" 25 May 1844

01] Thereupon all returned to the house and went to the table, according to the Infant's will.

02] For none of the principal guests had eaten even one morsel of food; the three large fish lay there practically untouched.

03] However, as several hours were spent in the search for the Infant and it was almost evening,

04] the fish had naturally become cold, in which condition the Jews were usually not permitted to eat them.

05] But as the sun had not yet set, the fish could still be eaten; they were however required to be brought to the fire again to be warmed up.

06] Therefore Joseph called his four cooks and ordered them to roast the fish again.

07] The Infant spoke: "Joseph, do not bother with this work; because from now on, fish can be also eaten cold if they have been previously roasted!

08] Instead of roasting again, let lemons and good oil be brought,

09] and these fish will taste even better than if they were roasted again!"

10] Joseph followed the Infant's suggestion and had a full basket of lemons and a large pitcher of fresh oil brought in.

11] And all the guests were greedy to taste this new food.

12] Cyrenius was the first to take a rather large piece of fish and he put oil and lemon juice on it.

13] And as he began to eat, he could not give enough praise to the tastiness of the fish prepared in this way.

14] The governor's experience induced even the other guests to help themselves, and all found the food so delicious that they were utterly amazed.

15] As Joseph himself had sampled a rather large piece of fish, he said:

16] "Indeed! If Moses had ever tasted a fish prepared in this way he would surely have included it in his diet!

17] However, he must have not been as well versed in kitchen matters as You, my most beloved Jesus!"

18] Here the Infant smiled very warmly and spoke most affably:

19] "My dear father Joseph, the reason is due to the following:

20] Under Moses in the desert it was said: Hunger is the best cook! – And the people would have often eaten raw meat in their hunger, much to their ruin;

21] hence Moses stipulated such a diet, and the food had to be consumed fresh and warm. Now and for evermore it will be said: The Lord is the best cook! – And so one can also

enjoy cold fish with lemon and oil.

23] And that is so because the cold but nevertheless well- roasted fish represents the state of the gentiles, the lemon juice represents the power from Me that unifies and pulls them together, and the oil represents My words to them. – Do you now understand why the fish tastes better?" – These words moved everyone to tears and they all greatly marvelled at the Infant's wisdom.