that through misunderstanding we trouble you."
They picked up the body of The Priest of Priests and hurriedly departed.
40 When The King heard what had happened, he was not altogether
displeased. The Priest of Priests had often been a nuisance. His
successor would be more manageable.
41 The woman married her love, and they took the child to the house in
the country. There he grew in wisdom and stature. For many years he
worked with his father, making chests and shelves, and fine things of
wood. The whole land wondered where The Sacred Child had gone, for his
whereabouts had been kept a secret. Only a chosen few knew where he
dwelled.
42 Now, when he was twenty-two seasons he was in the temple, the holy
books of The One were given him, he opened them, and read. "Behold, the
final sacrifice shall come...the ender of blood, the lamb, pure, and
without blemish, whose blood shall wash away our sins."
43 He turned to another part and read, "There shall come one among you
who is like you and unlike you. Unto him shall no thing be secret,
shall no wonder be unknown. For he shall be one with The Most High God,
and The Most High God shall be one with him."
44 And another place he read , "You shall know him by these things. He
shall make the blind to see, and the deaf to hear. At his touch the
lame will walk, and those who are festered shall be made clean. They
shall seek after him, to destroy him, but though he is in their very
midst they shall not lay a hand upon him."
45 He put down the writings and looked at the crowd. "This day," he
announced, "in this hour,