«Here, Master, the official.»
«Peace be with you. I ask to teach Israel, amongst the rabbis of Israel.»
«Are You a rabbi?»
«Yes, I am.»
«Who was Your teacher?»
«The Spirit of God Who speaks to Me in His wisdom and enlightens every word of the Holy Scriptures for Me.»
«Are You greater than Hillel, since You say You know all doctrines, without a teacher? How can one be formed if there is no one forming him?»
«As David was formed, an unknown little shepherd, who became a powerful and wise king by God’s will.»
«Your Name?»
«Jesus of Joseph of Jacob of the House of David, and of Mary of Joachim of the House of David and of Anne of Aaron. Mary, the Virgin married in the Temple by the High Priest, according to the law of Israel, because She was an orphan.»
«Who can prove that?»
«There must still be some Levites here who will remember the event and who were the same age as Zacharias of the class of Abijah, My relative. Ask them, if you doubt My sincerity.»
«I believe You. But who will prove to me that You are capable of teaching?»
«Listen to Me and you will judge for yourself.»
«You are free to do it… But… are You not a Nazarene?»
«I was born at Bethlehem of Judah, at the time of the census decreed by Caesar. Banished by unfair orders, the children of David are now everywhere. But the family is of Judah.»
«You know… the Pharisees… all Judaea… throughout Galilee…»
«I know. But be reassured. I was born at Bethlehem, at Bethlehem Ephrathah, whence My family comes; if now I live in Galilee, it is only to fulfil the given sign…»
The official goes away a few yards, hastening to where they call him.