Chapter 504: God's Special Permission

Today, a special guest arrived at Jesus's house.

Mary's cousin Elizabeth, accompanied by her husband, the priest Zacharias who had once, while serving in the Temple, seen an angel, temporarily lost his speech because of a moment of disbelief, and later recovered.

And their only son came to visit.

Their son is named John, only half a year older than Jesus, and is Jesus's cousin.

The Prophetic Books of the Old Testament prophesied that before the Messiah arrives, there will be a Forerunner who prepares the way for him.

The New Testament explicitly states that this Forerunner is John.

John, the one who truly baptizes Jesus.

John's attire is at odds with the surrounding environment.

He wears a rough garment woven from camel hair, a leather belt around his waist, is barefoot, and his skin, long exposed to the desert sun and wind‑blown sand, appears dark and coarse.

He is very thin, his cheekbones protrude, his back stands perfectly straight, and the most striking feature is his eyes—unusually bright, as if something is brewing within them.

When he entered the house, his gaze swept around and finally fixed firmly on Jesus, who was quietly doing carpentry work in a corner of the courtyard.

Jesus is carving a wooden statue about his own height; its outline suggests a human shape, but the features are not yet clear.

He is focused, the chisel in his hand moving along the grain, and wood shavings fall rustling.

John walks straight over, stops a few steps away from Jesus, and those startlingly bright eyes stare directly at Jesus:

"My brother, are you ready?"

Jesus's movement with his hand pauses slightly.

He turns his head, looks at this oddly dressed cousin he meets for the first time, and a hint of doubt appears in his eyes:

"What is ready?"

At those words, the fierce burning light in John's eyes flickers like a candle gusted by wind, then dims a few shades.

He looks deeply at Jesus, offers no further explanation, merely shakes his head slowly and says softly:

"It seems... you are not ready yet."

After speaking, he no longer looks at Jesus, turns and sits on a simple wooden chair on the other side of the courtyard.

He does not join the small talk of the parents, Yuese and Mary, but straightens his back, his gaze fixed toward the distant desert beyond the courtyard wall, as if staring at something unseen by ordinary people, and also simply staring blankly.

His attire, out of place in the modest farmyard, and his solitary posture make him look like a silent wilderness beast that has wandered into the crowd.

Jesus does not pay much attention to John's headless question and odd silence.

The cousin has been somewhat different since childhood; it is said he was sent to the wilderness for austere cultivation early on, so his unusual behavior is considered normal.

He lowers his head again, refocusing his attention on the Wood Carving in his hands.

Thud, thud, thud…

A subtle silence falls over the courtyard, leaving only the rhythmic light taps of Jesus's tools against the wood and the muffled conversations of the adults in the distance.

Until a figure appears silently at the courtyard entrance.

Afternoon sunlight slants in, stretching the figure and perfectly blocking the light falling on Jesus's Wood Carving.

Jesus stops his motion and turns his head again to look.

When he sees the newcomer clearly, a genuine smile spreads across his face:

"Yu Lin, you have come."

He puts down the chisel and wooden mallet, pats the wood shavings off himself:

"Today my aunt's family is visiting; stay and have dinner with us. Mother has prepared good flatbread and stew."

Yu Lin has not yet had time to answer.

Beside him, John, who had been sitting stone‑like in a daze, suddenly springs up from the chair!

His movement is swift, starkly contrasting his thin, quiet appearance.

He turns, those unusually bright eyes now sharp as knives, stabbing straight at Yu Lin; a flash of confusion crosses his face, then, as if a revelation has struck, an expression of sudden understanding appears.

Immediately, that expression swiftly turns into an unmasked scrutiny and… a hint of malice!

"It is you."

John's voice carries a questioning tone as he steps forward, his gaze locked on Yu Lin:

"Is it you who made Jesus like this?"

His words are disjointed, making him seem puzzling.

But Yu Lin knows what he is saying, and he also knows that Yu Lin has understood what he is saying.

John's gaze becomes severe, as if accusing a grave desecration:

"This is disrespect to the divine; you are interfering with the ordained path."

Yu Lin raises an eyebrow, scanning the young man in beast hide, his imposing aura, from head to toe:

"Who are you?"

"John." John's reply is short and forceful.

"Oh—" Yu Lin draws out his tone, feigning realization:

"John... yes, it's me."

"What's the matter?"

He admits it with great ease, even a bit self‑righteous.

John is momentarily choked by this almost brazen candor, his brow furrowing tighter:

"Why can you be so self‑righteous? You are interfering…"

"So what of it?" Yu Lin interrupts, shrugs, in a relaxed tone.

Then he lifts his right hand, spreads his five fingers, his mind subtly shifting.

A faint glow appears in his palm, quickly coalescing and materializing into a pair of Gloves.

The moment the Glove appeared, there was no earth‑shaking aura, but John's eyes suddenly widened!

He felt a............... presence belonging to God!

Then Yu Lin grinned, "First cut, then report; God's Permission—any objections?"

"I've done so many jobs for Him; what's wrong with stirring something up?"

"You should be clear: when I appear, there is no predetermined path, only whether Jesus wants to keep going that way."

"If He doesn't want to, no one can force Him."

At that remark, Yuese's mouth dropped open:

"Ah?"

What does "God's Permission" mean?

What does "doing so many jobs for Him" mean? To stir something up?

What does "when you appear there's no set path" mean?

Not a buddy—who exactly are you?

Yuese was bewildered.

Until Yu Lin retracted the Glove and walked toward the interior, he still stood rooted, unable to regain his senses.

Everything that just happened far exceeded his imagination.

As for Yu Lin using God's name…

Anyway, God isn't here, so it doesn't matter.

Yu Lin crossed his legs and called out to Mary:

"Mary, pour me a glass of honey water and bring some dried fruit."