“So this particular text which Jesus delivered was neither chosen by the minister nor by Jesus but was, indeed, the proper one for that Sabbath?”

“That is correct. When Jesus completed his reading, he handed the open scroll back to the minister and returned to my side. All eyes were upon him, and the synagogue had grown as quiet as a tomb. Jesus raised his head and in a strong voice that could be heard by everyone present he announced, ‘This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears!’ ”

James’ voice had subsided to nearly a whisper, and I had difficulty hearing him above the clamor of the courtyard.

“I remember a woman’s scream, her cry reviving the crowd, who had been transfixed by the announcement from my brother’s lips. The people jumped to their feet, and from the rear I heard a voice ask, ‘Who is this man who pretends to be our savior?’ Another asked, ‘Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joses and of Judas and Simon? Are not his sisters here with us?’ ”

I couldn’t help noticing the intense concentration with which Joseph of Arimathea was hanging on every word—as if he had never heard this particular incident in the life of Jesus described before. “What did Jesus do?” he asked eagerly; then he looked toward me and murmured, “I’m sorry.”

James smiled at the old man and continued. “Jesus was still on his feet, and although I dared not look at him I heard his deep voice, bold and unafraid. ‘A prophet has no honor in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.’ His words both shocked and angered me. All of us were included in his condemnation. Suddenly the people rushed toward him, throwing me to the floor. As they seized my brother I could still hear him shouting something about our prophets Elijah and Elisha, and his words seemed to further incite the mob. While still on my knees I saw him break free from many hands and run behind the ark. Then he was gone, through the back doorway, with the crowd in pursuit. I hurried to my mother, who had collapsed, lifted her into my arms, and carried her home. Later we learned that the people had tried to push Jesus from the cliff at the edge of our village but he escaped.”

I feigned ignorance. “What exactly had Jesus said to offend them to such a degree that they tried to take his life?”