The scripture for today, December 24 (12/24), is Luke 12:24 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!”

In many nations right now, things are financially strained. Luxuries? No. To be able to live until tomorrow? Yes.

Which is more valuable? To impress men or impress God? A life dedicated to things impresses men. A life dedicated to doing good things impresses God.

I know of a group of believers in Jesus recently in an African country who had to flee soldiers who were after Christians. They had to run immediately upon sight of the soldiers. No time to pack anything. Just run.  Escape. Run. Escape. 

To get to true safety, they had to walk a hundred miles. What did they eat?  Grass. Leaves from bushes. Tree roots. But they made it. They made it to safety and the loving, protective arms of other Christians.

Today, instead of a luxury, can you send the money to people in parts of the world who are struggling to stay alive? Struggling to stay safe because they are Christians?

Consider the ravens.
PS ~ Those of you with children, and you cannot get them much for Christmas: Write IOU’s to them and put each one in a box. Wrap each with typing paper if you don’t have Christmas paper. And with a red or green crayon, draw a ribbon on top. What’s on the IOU’s? “One hour of coloring with you.” “One hour of playing ball with you.” “Three hours of hiking with you.” “Two hours of baking cookies with you.” Give yourself for Christmas!

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99c today and tomorrow.  MICHEL: THE FOURTH WISEMAN is based on a possible descendant of Daniel whose family stayed in Parthia and was in the court of King Phraattes.  He lost everything to make his dream come true: Restore the Garden of Eden so God will walk the earth again.  He was interrupted by a strange star and went on a journey with nine other wise men to find the meaning of the star.  After traveling two years, they find the meaning and go to Bethlehem. There Joseph tells them little Jesus is God walking on earth. Michel goes into a meltdown.  99c today and tomorrow.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/377DRH6

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The scripture for today, December 21 (12/21), is Matthew 12:21 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“In his name, the nations will put their hope.”

Ah, this is the stuff dreams are made of ~ the dreams of Christians worldwide who put their hope in their Savior’s name.  Revelation 21:2, 9, & 26 says the New Jerusalem is the Bride of Christ, which is the Church.  Its foundations are the apostles, and it is protected by the Walls of Salvation.

Who lives inside these Walls of Salvation?  You. Rich or poor, you are that glory. Educated or uneducated, you are that glory. Powerful or subservient, you are that glory.

The nation you live in may not be in good hands right now, or it may be thriving with high morals, or it may be diving into physical or moral poverty. But your nation can still hope ~ Hope in the powerful name of Jesus, whose name you wear.

So, when you are the looked-down-on minority and become discouraged, wondering what your life is all about, remember this:  You, who have put your hope in the name of Jesus Christ, are the glory and honor of your nation.

Never lose hope. You are just one person, but there is great power in one. Jesus came to provide that hope. In your own way, in your own life, use your power of one. Show your nation how to hope, one person at a time.  Bring your nation hope.

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THEY ROCKED THE CRADLE THAT ROCKED THE WORLD tells the story of everyone involved in Jesus’ birth.  He was just one. But they knew. He was destined to change the world forever and offer heaven.  The paperback is HALF PRICE and ebook is 99c up to Christmas.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/2MjWrDR

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• LINK to all BOOKS by CATEGORY:  http://bit.ly/MyBookInfo

• LINK to all BOOKS on AMAZON: http://bit.ly/AmazonBooksByKatheryn

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11—THIRTY-THREE YEARS LATER

Epilogue

 

•  Capernaum, Province of Galilee, Palestine

The day will dawn in unbelievable mourning. It will end in unimaginable adulation. It will dawn in a valley and end on a mountain top.

Today is the memorial service for Jesus. His body is missing, so they cannot have an actual funeral. This will have to do. They need to say goodbye to him. How they miss him.

Everyone has heard rumors he returned to life, but most do not believe it. They will.

Gradually people make their way toward the assembly area. It is a grassy meadow with the backdrop of a high cliff. The service will be led from the top of the cliff. Eulogies will be given also from there.

More and more people on the highway arrive at the hill. More and more blankets and mats being brought out from animal packs and packs carried on heads and backs. More and more crooked rows form in front of the designated area.

People talk among themselves quietly. Sometimes a surge of conversation as people spot friends in the crowd. They explain why they have come, creating their own private mini-memorial service between them. Then they sit back down and wait amidst respectful whispering.

Some do not talk at all. They are thinking. Some of the women are already bringing out handkerchiefs. How they miss Jesus. He was so kind to their families. So gentle.

The men, too sit in silence, sometimes an angry silence. They had been so sure he was the Deliverer. Now, all hope has died with him. All dreams of self-rule once more, and peace, and justice, and a land of the free. All evaporated like the snows of the previous winter.

Now what, God? What was it all for? How could we have been so wrong when he had seemed so right? God, why did you do this to us?

“Welcome, everyone, to the memorial service for Jesus our Holy Deliverer.” It is James calling out from the top of the cliff. He estimates there are roughly five hundred people assembled.

People discontinue private conversation.

“Because so many people have indicated a desire to deliver a eulogy, we will commence by allowing his twelve, er uh, eleven personal aides to speak first. Then some of his personal friends. Finally, the rest of you will be given an opportunity to say something. We will stay here all day if need be.

“But first of all, we need to start with a psalm—Oh Great Deliverer”.

A psalm leader walks forward and sings one line. The crowd echoes him. Then the next line and the next.

• Deliver my soul from death.
• My eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.

 So many voices being raised to the skies above. Mournful voices. Disappointed voices. Forsaken voices.

• What can I give God for delivering me?
• My cup of deliverance…

Rapturous melody, although many do not know how to carry a tune. Blended voices, although many are softer or louder than those nearby. Angelic chords, although many know they do not sound or feel angelic.

• …and calling on his name…

 In mid-verse the psalm halts.

Only a few stragglers sing from the back of the crowd. Startled at the sudden interruption, those on the top of the cliff stare at the audience. The audience does not stare back. They are all staring at a small isolated cliff just below the large one.

And there…

standing on top…

out of nowhere…

is…

No, it cannot be!

Are you sure?

“It’s him!”

“It’s him!” comes an echo.

“Oh, God, it’s him! It’s really him. Thank you, God.”

The women’s tears suddenly turn to tears of unbelievable joy. The men feel goose bumps rising up their arms and backs.

Now there is no more singing.

No more announcing.

No more talking or whispering or praying. No one knows what to do except to stare.

Faded are all the musical tones.

Faded all the talking.

Faded all the doubts and misgivings and qualms.

The impossible.

They have become witnesses to the impossible.

Oh, Jesus!

It IS you!

It IS you!

Gradually the people fall prostrate on the stony wasteland. No dancing. No shouting for joy. No jumping up and down. But falling. Quietly falling to knees and more in the presence of divinity.

Silence. Holy silence that encircles the crowd of people who had dared to hope amidst their relentless doubt.

Though bowed in body, they do not bow their heads. They cannot take their eyes off him.

Is it okay, Jesus?

Wait! He’s saying something to the men above him on the large cliff. What is he saying?

A man at the top raises his arms, trying to gain everyone’s attention. It is hard to do.

People move from full-body prostration to their knees.

“Brothers, sisters, friends,” says Peter. “Jesus has just said he would like to meet each one of you.”

Laughter! Applause! Hallelujahs! Jesus was always like that, wanting to meet all his followers.

“Therefore, I would like to ask that everyone in the front row start making your way up here.”

Then, in the blink of an eye, Jesus disappears from the small isolated cliff, and appears on the large cliff above.

He turns and greets the people already on the upper cliff. One by one they walk up to him and say something briefly. The small group of men step aside.

An old man is led to Jesus.

“My name is Michel. I was one of the ambassadors who came so far from Parthia to find you and your star.”

Michel, the old Wise Man, looks into the eyes of the boy he had seen over thirty years earlier. The star child. The eternal one. They smile at each other.

“You’re the one who brought my parents the sweet-smelling frankincense.”

“Actually, that was Kumar. He is still alive, but his health is poor. He could not come.”

“Then, perhaps you were the one who brought the gold.”

“No, that was Yasib—he is dead now—and Dushatra who is over in northern Indus now.”

Jesus smiles. Michel knows what Jesus is doing, and likes it.

“I am the one who brought you the jar of anointing myrrh.”

“I played with the amethyst lid. It was my favorite lid.”

Michel grows serious. He stares into Jesus’ eyes again, bends his knees, and touches his forehead to the ground.

Jesus reaches down and helps Michel back up.

“Next?” they hear.

Jesus turns, now, and waits as Andrew escorts the second person in the audience to him. Another old man. He bows his head the best he can.

“Hello, Jesus. It’s been a long time. I never saw you grown up.” The old man bows his head and puts out a trembling hand with crooked fingers. Jesus takes them gently between his two hands. “My name is Benjamin. I lost track of Amos. Jesse died a few years back. We were the shepherds the angels appeared to when you were born. You sure were a tired little tyke that night. We always understood who you were, even though no one paid any attention to us. We knew. This is my wife, Eve, and my two sons and their wives.” Jesus smiles and gives them all a hug.

Next?

The couple bows low before Jesus. “It’s been three years, Jesus. But you performed your first miracle at our wedding. My name is Azriel and this is my wife Daniella. Remember? I am Nathaniel’s brother.” Jesus shakes hands with Azriel and gives a brief embrace to Daniella.

“Mother isn’t very well and couldn’t come over from Cana. She probably would have, had she known you’d be attending your own funeral, so to speak!”

The three laugh. “We’re going to have a baby next summer. Maybe we’ll name him after you. You made our wedding the talk of everyone, you know. The talk of the whole country, actually. We’re glad you’re back, Jesus.”

Next?

He bows low before Jesus. “We met personally twice, Jesus, but I doubt you remember me. It took three years for you to get your point across to me. Was I stubborn! I was one of the bankers at the temple who was exchanging people’s money into temple currency and robbing them in the process.

“You really sent us scrambling when you knocked over the tables of money. It wasn’t until you came back last month that I caught on. What you did, Jesus, letting them crucify you like that. I knew you let them. They couldn’t have done it without your permission. I knew that.” He and Jesus shake hands. Jesus is proud of him now.

Next?

He bows low before Jesus. A gentleman approaches wearing a priestly sash. “Jesus, I do not know what to say. All I know is that I helped embalm you. Now here you are. Do you remember me? I am Rabbi Nicodemus. This is my wife Naomah and my assistant Calev. And this is one of my students from the temple classes, Ovadia.

“I know, Jesus, exactly who you are. You are not just a prophet as everyone thought. You are The One. Somehow in a way I have not yet figured out, I know that you are God. I will remember this day forever.” Jesus offers to shake hands. Instead, the old rabbi kneels in worship.

Next?

She and her friends bow low before Jesus. “My name is Istar. We met at a well in Samaria three years ago. You convinced me you were the eternal water. Was that ever an understatement! I didn’t understand how, then, but I knew you knew all about me—my secrets, my past life with all my husbands, everything.

“And here are a few friends I brought with me. We brought a small caravan from Sychar. They’ll all introduce themselves to you. But, Jesus, I just wanted you to know how much I appreciated you talking to me that day. People used to be embarrassed to talk to me in public. Now they’re not. You saved my life.”

One by one Istar and twenty-two of her friends kneel and pay homage to Jesus, the Son of God.

Next?

The family bows low before Jesus. “Jesus, I want to thank you again for the honor you paid by appearing to my lady friends and me first so we wouldn’t worry about you.” Joanna turns and motions for a young teenage boy to stand in front of her. “This is my son, Asher. You remember he almost died, but you healed him. And you remember my husband, Chuza.” Jesus embraces both Joanna and her son.

“It’s an honor and privilege to stand here next to you, sir,” says the dignified Chuza standing behind Joanna. We’re not very popular, you know. But you were kind to our family. I always knew there was something different about you. A kind of nobility. Noble does not nearly describe you, Jesus. You are indeed the One the world should venerate.”

Next?

He bows low before Jesus. He rises, then this older man in the military uniform stands at attention, and salutes him. Jesus returns the salute.

“My name, sir, is Centurion Demetrius. This is my maid, Miriam, and her boy, Claudius. He and Asher are friends. You healed both boys. Your kind of power is such that no army in the world could ever defeat you. Jesus, I knew your power was directly from God. I respect you above all men in history. And there will never be another like you. I am most honored to be among those to see you today. I think you are a god on earth. No, I don’t believe that. I think you are God on earth for some reason.”

Next?

The old familiar couple bows their heads the best they can. “We wouldn’t miss this for the world,” Abel says walking forward slowly with his aged wife. Jesus looks at his long-time friends and gently hugs them, being careful not to squeeze too hard on frail bones.

“You have turned our lives upside down, Jesus. We hear our daughter and Peter are moving to Jerusalem soon. We probably won’t go. We’re a little old for that sort of thing.

“But, Jesus…” Tears come to the old man’s eyes. “Thank you for saving my precious Esther. Thank you for giving us some more years together. She’s my shining star.

“And, Jesus, we know who you are. Peter has convinced us. Although we have known you a lot of years, we now know who you really are. Somehow you are God. Well, give us a few more years and we’ll see you in heaven. Will you meet us at the gate?” Jesus nods and says he will be proud to.

Next?

He bows low before Jesus. “Hello, rabbi. You spent quite a bit of time on our boats in the early days. Man, those crowds nearly got out of control a few times. Teaching them from a boat was brilliant. But I don’t need to tell you that. You know everything.

“By the way, my name is Selig. Zebedee leased his fishing business to me when he got sick. His sons offered to sell the business to me now that Zebedee’s gone and they’re moving to Jerusalem. I guess I will.

“You know I put up a sign after you went to Jerusalem the last time. It says, ‘Jesus taught from these boats.’ You can control nature, can’t you? And not just wind and rain and fish. You can control everything, can’t you? Uh, by any chance, did you make everything?” Jesus nods affirmatively.

Next?

The elderly couple bows their heads the best they can. Simon the Revolutionary is with them. “Jesus, I’d like you to meet my parents, Hiram and Elissar Do you remember healing my mother when she was so sick?” Jesus shakes Hiram’s hand and gives Elissar a gentle hug.

“You really straightened that boy of ours out, Jesus,” Hiram says. “We couldn’t do anything with him. You turned that aggressiveness of his against the government into aggressiveness against Satan. That was a miracle if we ever saw one. Only God could have done that. We will always be grateful for what you did for our family. Thank you.”

Next? The couple bows low before Jesus. “Hello, Jesus. I don’t know if you remember us. My name is Asa and this is my wife, Dinah. Our marriage was headed for doom. But we kept going to synagogue because we didn’t know where else to go for help.”

Jesus shakes hands with the man. Instead, Asa grabs him and gives him a bear hug. Dinah joins them in a triangle of love.

“That demon anger in me—you cast him out,” Asa explains. “I could feel him inside of me fighting you. But you were so strong. I had no idea love was anything other than weak; it was getting so I thought hate was strongest. It was the other way around. Jesus, we tell people everywhere we go about you. Thank you. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.”

Next?

The men bow low before Jesus, then walk forward. “Jesus, my name is Eitan This is my close friend Manoach. We live on the other side of the lake. We will always be grateful for what you did. There were thousands of demons in us trying to control us and drive us crazy. You were stronger than all of them put together.” Again, the two kneel before Jesus, the one they know firsthand has incredible powers over the unseen world.

Next?

The three bow low before Jesus. “You may not remember me, but my name is Moshe, this is my wife, Adina, this is Rabbi Hushi.” Jesus shakes hands with all of them.

“Jesus,” Moshe continues, “You healed me of leprosy. It was eating away at my body. I’d lost some of my fingers and toes. I could hardly walk, I was so weak. You gave me a new life, Jesus. I am so grateful for what you did. Because of you, I now believe you represent God on earth. Thank you.”

“And Jesus,” Rabbi Hushi continues, “I have told my colleagues about you. You are no charlatan. The leprosy was gone, the cysts were gone, the scar tissue gone, the hands and feet were whole again, even the bridge of his nose back instantly. There is no doubt in my mind you have control over nature.”

Next?

The couple bows low before Jesus. “My name is Nachum and this is my wife Dalit. I was part of a colony of lepers. Our whole group—all ten of us—went to your meeting at the town square. You healed us. I don’t know where the other nine disappeared to so fast. I just had to go back and thank you. You turned my life around.

“And now the God in you has brought you back to life. I never stop telling my people that you are not just the spirit of nature but that you created nature.” He kneels in homage. “Thank you.”

Next?

The four bow low before Jesus. “Jesus, you saved my life. Oh, I’m Barnabas, this is my wife Nava, and our two little boys.” Jesus leans over, picks up both children in his arms, and gives them each a kiss. Then he gives a hug to both parents. “Also, these are my friends Eli, Yigal, Tenchum, and Peretz. They’re the ones who got me through your roof when we couldn’t get in because of the crowd.” Jesus shakes hands with all four.

“I was paralyzed and half dead long before the accident,” Barnabas continues. “That accident made me realize how bad I had become. How could that family I killed ever forgive me? It ate away at me until I met you. You not only took away my paralysis, but you also forgave me and assured me that family, now safe in heaven, had forgiven me too. You are life, Jesus. I am convinced of that. Life now, and life forever.”

Next?

The three men bow low before Jesus. “Greetings, Jesus. I’m sure you don’t remember me. My name is Abihu, and these are my brothers, Beril and Nissim.” Jesus embraces them.

“I went to that healing service at the pool. The people who convinced themselves they weren’t sick anymore said it was because they dipped in the pool. But their sicknesses always came back. Then you showed up at the pool and performed the real thing on me. My shriveled legs grew back to normal. How can I thank you enough? I started telling people that those magic angel shows aren’t real; you are the only genuine one. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you very, very much.”

Next?

A man walks forward not very well dressed. But he is smiling. “Hello, Jesus. My name is Yoram. And this is the hand that was shriveled and that you made whole.” With this, the man offers Jesus his hand and they shake them vigorously.

“That synagogue wouldn’t allow anyone to be treated or even healed on their holy Sabbath Day. They didn’t want the likes of me dirtying up their place. Were the synagogue leaders mad at you that day. You brought life back into my hand, and now you have brought life back into your own body. God is somewhere in you, isn’t he? I’m proud to shake your hand once again, Jesus.”

Next?

The teenaged young man and an elderly woman bow low before Jesus. A group of teenagers stands behind them and bow too.

“Jesus, I am Miriam and this is my son, Jonathan. These are his friends. We brought a whole caravan.” With this, the young man and his mother once again bow low before Jesus. The group of teens with them kneel once again. Many of the girls are crying. Some of the boys are. Mariam is. Jesus smiles, then motions for them to stand.

“I will spend the rest of my life telling my friends you came back to life. I know. Because you brought me back to life.” Jonathan says no more, but grabs hold of Jesus, embracing him with a kind of mutual knowledge that they both have. They look into each other’s eyes.

Jesus embraces Miriam. Then he looks at the rest of the teens in the group and receives each one of them heartily. The girls cry with joy. They understand things the grown ups do not.

Next?

She bows low before Jesus. Kneeling, the beautiful woman looks up at him. “Jesus,” she whispers, “once more I kneel before you.” As she does, her tear drops fall to his feet. Then he remembers, draws her back up, and kisses her hand, just as he had done then. “I am Eliana. You forgave me for all the terrible things I had done with those men from the temple. I tell everyone that, if you can forgive me, you can forgive anyone. Jesus, I now have a real life. Thank you.”

Next?

The two men bow low before Jesus. “Jesus, how can we say thank you? You challenged the unseen world and won. We knew you did. Those diseases were in each of us limiting our abilities, just to prove they could. My name is Cherrad. You brought back my sight, hearing, and speech—a triple blessing my friends called it. And this is my friend, Rafoel. You brought back his speech. We have prepared something special for you.”

The two men pause, smile, then sing in perfect duet.

• Jesus is stronger than Satan’s power.
• He is a giant, a colossal tower.
• He is stronger than demon might,
• For he is the creator of goodness and right.

 We try to teach everyone who will let us. We will never stop singing. Someday we hope to join your angel choir. Thank you.”

Next?

The father and grown son bow low before Jesus. There is an obvious physical resemblance. “Jesus, I am Menashe, and this is my son, Nathan. We’re from Syria. You said it was the demons in him causing him to fall into flames, the river, in front of wagons, just anything that could potentially kill him. Your apostles tried to cast them out, and couldn’t. But you did. Your power did. Thank you for giving my son back to me.”

At this, Menashe and his son kneel once again before Jesus. Then they rise back to their feet. “I will spend the rest of my life telling other people about your powers, Jesus,” says Nathan. “It didn’t surprise me that you came back to life. You have power over dark powers and dark death both. I’ll never forget you. Thank you.”

Next?

The elderly woman bows her head before Jesus. Andrew helps her rise and supports her on his arm. “Jesus, you probably don’t remember me. My name is Atara. I live over in Perea. My spine was bent so bad, all I could look at was the ground. You straightened me instantly, even though the elders really got angry when you interrupted their worship.” Jesus leans over and gives Atara a hug and a kiss on her forehead. “Thank you,” she responds.

Next?

The family and their close friend bow low before Jesus. A man, a young teen girl, and two women rise from their knees. Jesus shakes hands with the man, embraces the two women, then pulls the girl over to his side and looks down into her smiling eyes.

“Jesus, sir, my name is Elder Jairus, this is my wife Rina, our daughter Leah, and our friend Shira.”

“I had lost my health, my job, my friends, my furniture, and even my house,” Shira explains first. “For twelve years I had one long menstruation. All I had to do is touch the hem of your robe and it was gone. You gave my life back to me, Jesus. Thank you.”

“These are nine of my co-workers who realize who you really were after you healed me.”

“I am Dr. Micah.  I was only the first of many doctors who saw no hope in Shira. It took a miracle—yours.” They all bow in worship.

Jairus continues. “And this is Leah,” Elder Jairus says as a reminder. “You gave her life back to her also. Literally. She had died. We were having a wake in our home.” He puts his arm around his wife and she puts her head on his shoulder, both in tears. “You gave her… You gave her…back…to us.” Jesus faces Leah, puts his arms on her shoulders, then leans down and kisses her on the forehead. They have something in common.

“I don’t care if they do kick me out of the synagogue. I’m going to tell people you came back to life. I know it can be done. They’ll never stop me, Jesus. They’ll never stop any of us from telling. You are the Son of God!”

Shortly, a group of some fifteen others of all ages walks forward and joins them, bowing low. They were in Jairus’ house that night Leah was brought back to life. They rise and say thank you also.

Next?

Four men walk up, and stare at Jesus a moment. “Growing up, we always knew there was something different about you. We had no idea,” Adam says. With that Adam, Benyamin, Micha, and Hezron kneel before their Lord.

Next?

The woman and the girl walk forward. Simon is with them—A Canaanite woman and teenage girl.

“They are afraid their Aramaic is too bad,” Simon explains. “They just wanted to tell you how grateful they are. Her daughter, Dalia, had a demon that left her unable to control parts of her body. This woman is Phoebe, her mother.

The two back away from Jesus, their eyes full of tears, and kneel once again at his feet.

Next?

The elderly man bows low before Jesus. He rises, smiling broadly. He is not dressed very well. “Jesus,” he says enthusiastically, “I’ve told everyone about you! My name is Berel. I’m from Decapolis. I was deaf and couldn’t talk. From the first time I learned about you, I believed you could heal me. And you did! Thank God, you did! I keep telling people about you. With my new voice. I’ll always use it to tell people that you’re from God. Oh, uh, and welcome back alive.

Next?

The two young men bow low before Jesus. “Jesus, I’m Aram. I was homeless, living out in the city square. This is my friend, Eleazor. He was homeless too. I was blind for years and couldn’t hold down a job. I’d gotten bitter, so I left home and moved east to Decapolis.

“That’s where I met Eleazor. He made me go see you so you could bring my sight back. Then you made me go back home to Gergesa. Things worked out with my family. They saw a change in me. I sent for Eleazor and now we’re working for the same stone mason.”

“Thank you for giving sight to Aram,” Eleazor interrupts. “We’re best friends, you know. We watch out for each other. Now we know you watch out for us too. Thank you, Jesus. And welcome back.”

Next?

A large group bows low before Jesus. “My name is Jockthan and this is my wife, Acsah. We’re from Samaria. I am the lawyer you recruited to be part of the seventy-two men to cover the middle and southern campaign.

“I know you are from God. You actually gave us power to perform miracles so people would believe what we were saying about you was true. Somehow I think you are part of God. I bow as the highest token of honor I can offer you.”

The man leaves. Then, in pairs, various ones approach Jesus, introduce themselves, and pay homage to him. They were all part of those sixty men who joined Jesus’ apostles for the campaign last fall. They all know he is a form of God, although they are not sure how. They thank him for the honor of defending him.

Next?

The man bows low before Jesus. “Hello, my name is Elam. I rode up here from Jerusalem. I had been blind all my life. Jesus, you made me see. You gave light to my eyes and light to my life. I tried to convince my parents, but they were too afraid of being excommunicated by the synagogue. I tried to convince the priests and rabbis and elders, but they didn’t like you being more powerful than them. I will never stop trying.” With this, Elam falls once again to his knees before his Lord. Jesus indicates for him to stand, and gives him a hug.

Without waiting to be called, the next man rushes up, bows low, and waits prostrate for Elam. “Hello, my name is Bartimaeus. I’m from Jericho. I was blind. Everyone kept trying to keep me quiet, but I knew you had the power. I’m sorry if I interrupted your parade, but I was desperate. Thank you for bringing my sight back, Jesus. It only took a word and I was a new man.” With that, he kneels again and kisses Jesus’ hand.

Next?

A man and two women bow low to Jesus. The three are his old friends. They rise, then become intertwined in each other’s arms. They sway back and forth, none of them wanting to let go. They whisper to each other. They weep freely. Jesus too. They part enough they can talk.

“We couldn’t wait to ride up here,” Martha says, representing her sister Mary and her brother Lazarus. “We have you back. We were hoping. We had heard some of the others had seen you. Thank you for coming back. We missed you so.”

“Jesus, I remember the day I walked out of my own tomb,” Lazarus says. “I know the exhilaration. I know what you did was even greater because I know that you are life. I know too, without any doubt in my mind, that you are my creator and my God.”

With this, the three kneel once again at the feet of Jesus. They linger there a few moments, but John walks over and whispers they need to give time to the others.

Next?

The mature man bows low before Jesus. Matthew has accompanied him, a well-dressed man of shorter stature. “Jesus, you remember my former mentor, Zaccheus, with the Procurator’s tax office down in Jericho.” Jesus smiles in recognition as the two shake hands.

“You made me a believer in mankind once more,” Zaccheus continues. “I hated everyone because I thought they should just automatically like me. When I went out of my way to benefit them instead of them having to benefit me, then I got the friends I had wanted all my life. Furthermore, Jesus, you are my best friend. You always will be. And your power. It is limitless. I know somehow you are God in some form. I know this.”

Next?

The middle-aged man bows low before Jesus. “Hello, Jesus. I never met you in person. But I’m the spice merchant who made the ointment down in Bethany that Mary ordered for your anointing. I want you to know, Jesus, that you are the greatest man who ever lived. And now I’m not so sure you’re just a man. You came back to life. I saw the empty tomb. Everyone knew you’d died. I will never forget you, Jesus.”

Next?

Four men bow low before Jesus. The Grecians—Secundus, Justus, Trophimus, and Achaicus—wearing foreign-designed togas remain there until Jesus indicates for them to rise.

“Sir, we met you in person down in Jerusalem at the temple just a few days before they crucified you. We’re sorry they put you through it. They did not recognize the divine when they saw you. We think they’re the ones who wanted to be divine. You are stronger than them. You control life and you control death. You are God.”

Next?

The three couples bow low before Jesus.

“Jesus, I’m the owner of the house you and your twelve apostles used for the Passover meal the night of your arrest. This is my wife. These are the two cooks and their wives.” Jesus shakes their hands and smiles.

“We knew that night you were different. We knew they had tried to make you high priest and king of all the Jews. Then you turned right around and came to our well for those extra pitchers of water.

“We watched from the door as you actually got down on your hands and knees and waited on your own staff. You washed their feet. We all learned a big lesson that night. We learned just how great you are, Jesus. Is it true what’s going around, that you’re God?”

Next?

The big man wearing a sword on one side, a dagger on the other side and a second one stuck in his high-laced sandal, stomps forward. He stands in front of Jesus but does not say anything at first. He just stares, trying to size him up. He cannot.

“Uh, Jesus, I heard you came back to life. I just wanted to come out and talk to the people who claimed you had. With power like yours…” He lowers his eyes. “Uh, I don’t quite know how to say this. I guess I owe you my life. I’m not ungrateful. My name is Barabbas. You took my place on the cross. You made me free.” He leaves as quickly as he had come.

Next?

The lady bows low before Jesus. She is dressed in the height of fashion, regal in her demeanor. She remains kneeling. Jesus helps her back up. She is in tears. They flow more freely than she had intended. Jesus takes a handkerchief out of his sleeve and gives it to her.

“Jesus, my name is Claudia. My husband is Governor Procurator Pilate.” She breaks down in tears again. “I am so sorry for …what they put you through. I believe that you are…the Son of God. My husband believes it too. He hasn’t admitted it. I know you recognized it in him.” Once more she breaks down in tears.

“He tried to save…your life. He really did. But he was afraid for his position…and that a riot would start all over the city. He’ll become stronger, Jesus. Someday…he will realize…all the power in the world does not compare with yours.” She wipes her tears and looks into Jesus’ eyes. “He admires you, Jesus. And I worship you.”

Next?

Two couples bow low before Jesus. “Jesus, my name is Eunice and this is my husband, Caleb. This is my very good friend, Naomi, and her husband Ehud. We were at your crucifixion. We attend as many executions as we can to comfort the family.”

“What she’s trying to say,” interrupts Naomi, “is that we had turned into real good-goodies. We thought God was lucky to have us on his side. But when we saw what you went through, we realized what we do is nothing. You never once complained. And when you stopped to warn us women of trouble to come, we could hardly believe you were thinking of us instead of yourself.

“We know you died. We saw it personally. Jesus, please forgive our self-righteous arrogance. Please. You are our Lord.” With that, the four kneel once again at Jesus’ feet. He helps them back up and smiles.

Next?

The young family bows low before Jesus. The large dark-skinned man stands next to his wife and gathers his five small children close. “Sir, Jesus. I thought I knew strength until I met you. You are the strongest man I ever knew and there will never be another like you. My name is Simon. This is my wife, Abelia, and our sons, Alexander and Rufus. We are from over in Cyrene, Libya.

“I didn’t want to be involved. Now I am glad I did. I saw you at your strongest. You were already half dead at the time. I carried your cross for you.” The big man wipes away an embarrassing tear. “Now you have used that power to come back to life. My family and I kneel before you. You are God. We worship you the best we know how. We always will. Forever.”

Once again, the awkward family bows before Jesus. The parents show the children how. Jesus catches some of the children peeking and smiles at them. They all rise to their feet, and all smile.

Next?

The forty-six-year-old soldier stands straight and tall. He marches up to Jesus, salutes, then drops to his knees. He stays a long time. Jesus reaches down to encourage him to rise. As he does, the centurion notices the holes in Jesus’ hands. “I did that to you,” he says. “I am Centurion Sergius. Under my command, my men nailed those hands to the cross. You actually forgave us for doing it to you. I stood by through the whole six hours it took you to die. I have crucified hundreds, but never someone like you. Then the darkness and the earthquake. Jesus, I knew then, and I know now that you are the Son of God. I worship you.” Jesus smiles. Sergius knows he remains forgiven.

Next?

The elderly gentleman bows lows before Jesus. He is smartly dressed, with a fine turban on his head linen prayer shawl. Eventually, Jesus has to motion for him to stand. “My name is Joseph of Arimathea. I have been religious all my life. I have declared the power of God for decades before my congregations and theology classes. But I never saw your kind of power. It was a stranger to what I called power. Yours is quiet and dynamic.

“Most of my colleagues were angered by your kind of power. They figured out who you were. But they could never admit it, even to themselves. Jesus, I have lost my place on the Supreme Council for defending you. But I have now gained a much better place. Will you accept me into heaven when I die?” Jesus smiles in assurance and the two men embrace.

Next?

The soldier bows low before Jesus. The large man wearing the uniform of a temple guard rises, stands at attention a moment, then salutes. “I deserve trial and death. But I know your kind would never press charges. Jesus, I am Solomon, captain of the Levitical temple guard. I stood by and watched how they treated you before your crucifixion.

“I also stood by when they claimed someone stole your body. I knew it was a lie. I knew you had come back to life. I hope you take over the whole country now. The whole world. You may not want to even bother with us. You are so far superior to us. Jesus, you are the promised Deliverer sent by God. I believe now that you will live forever.”

Next?

The older couple and young man bow low before Jesus. “Jesus, welcome back,” Barnabas says. “Everyone told us you came back to life,” Mary says weeping and smiling at the same time amidst her homage. “Jesus, you have always been my hero,” says her son, John Mark. “Now you are my forever hero. For now, I know who you are. You are the Son of God!” With that, the three kneel once again at the feet of their Lord.

Next?

Two men bow low before Jesus. “Jesus, we’re so glad to see you again. I told everyone I had seen you, but no one believed me,” Matthias says. “Hello, Jesus,” Barsabas says. “Welcome back. I knew Matthias was right. Now I have seen for myself. I will never stop telling people you have the power over death. All they have to do is believe in you and follow you. Then, you will bring them back to life, too, when they die.”

Jesus is proud they understand so well. Both men had always been good friends, having both lived off their investments so they could accompany Jesus and his aides around the country. “We will never stop telling people about you,” they repeat. Jesus has further plans for them.

Next?

A large group bows low before Jesus.

They had been among the 5000 families Jesus had fed with only a handful of fish and bread on two different occasions. One by one they each kneel before him and tell him they believe he is the Son of God. There are about a hundred of them. Whatever happened to the other 4900 families?

Next?

Jesus looks toward one side. Immediately he rushes over. There he envelopes a woman snugly and securely in his arms. Everyone grows quiet. They have figured out who she is. Jesus and the woman both weep. The women in the audience weep with them. The men, too, find it difficult to control their emotions.

“Did you see him? Did you see your father?” she whispers while in Jesus’ embrace.

‘Yes, I did, Mother. He is fine. Father Joseph looked splendid. We had a good talk.’

They continue in their embrace and sway back and forth, not ever wanting to let go.

“If your father had been here,” she sobs, “maybe he could have stopped them.”

“It had to be done,” he whispers. “It was in the eternal plan to defeat Satan. It had to be done.”

They cling to each other. As they do, Jesus looks past his mother to the others. He must give them a turn. But Mary hangs on. There is one more thing she has to say.

“Jesus, he’s the oldest after you,” she whispers. “He just couldn’t come. He couldn’t face it. Give him time. Give your brother, James, more time.”

“Yes, I know. He was always the strongest. He will be again.”

With that, Mary gently pulls back from her son, and his three sisters fall into his arms.

“We don’t know what to say,” says Salome.

“Shhhh, you don’t need to say anything,” Jesus replies.

“But we didn’t realize,” Devorah adds. “We didn’t know.”

“It’s okay.”

“Can you ever forgive us?” Marta adds.

You were good sisters. I love you. And always will.

Then Jesus turns his attention to the three young men. They, too, form a huddle and embrace each other, tears flowing as freely as with the women.

“Jesus,” says Joseph Junior “We always looked up to you. You know that.”

Yes, I knew.

“We always knew you were different,” says Simon. “We resented you for it just because we were jealous. You never got into trouble.”

“I tried to be careful around you.”

“Jesus, we’ve been talking with Mother a lot. She told us the stories again. About your birth,” Jude says. “This time, we knew she wasn’t exaggerating.”

Slowly, Jesus’ brothers pull away from him. “Do you have any idea how hard this is going to be for us?” Joseph Junior asks, representing the family.

“I understand.”

With this, Jesus’ own mother, three of his four brothers, and his three sisters slowly fall to their knees. They look into his face a moment longer, then bow their heads in awe. To their son and their brother who is their Creator. And their God.

10—ARCHELAUS & the BOY

Lost in Wonder

 

• BC 2
• Nazareth, Province of Galilee, Palestine

 Joseph has brought the God-Man, the future priest- king to his home town where he will finish growing up. He is four years old.

It is evening. Mary has brought out some mending to do, and settles down on her favorite cushion.

“I am really looking forward to going to the Passover services at the temple this year,” Mary tells Joseph.

Without replying, Joseph picks up the hand saw he has brought into their living quarters to repair.

It is the same living quarters they had when first married. It was cramped then. It is even more cramped now with toddler Jesus. Joseph has been saving up to either expand this or buy the property next door.

“We could take Jesus and see what happens,” Mary continues. “Maybe, after we show the priests the prophecies Jesus has fulfilled so far, they’ll make him a child priest.”

Still no response from Joseph. Deep inside he knows something is bitterly wrong. How can he explain it to Mary who is always so trusting?

“If nothing else, it would be good to expose him to Jerusalem and the palace and the temple where he will reign supreme someday.” She pauses and puts down her mending. “Joseph, we need to decide.”

“Mary, I don’t know what to tell you,” he finally answers, working the saw handle back and forth to figure out where it came loose. “I think we should stay away. I think we shouldn’t even visit there for now. Not this year anyway.”

“But old King Herod has been dead for a year.” Mary holds up her shawl to find the rip she accidentally put in it two days earlier.

“I don’t trust that son of his.” Joseph puts down the saw, picks up Jesus who has been playing at his feet, tickles him under his chin, and looks over at his wife. “God warning me not to resettle in Bethlehem, or anywhere near Jerusalem, was for a reason. I’ve heard stories about that Archelaus. I’ve heard he’s worse than his father.”

•   Jerusalem, Province of Judea

 King Archelaus Herod is power hungry. Just like his father, King Herod the Great, only worse. Who could be worse? He’s got to establish his territory and his power, right from the beginning.

The common people want justice. They demand justice. Now that the father is dead, they demand young Archelaus punish all those cohorts of his father who had killed their loved ones.

Some set up tents outside the temple complex and go there during the day. They preach appeasement or revolution. Worshipers listen to them, for there has not been a family in all of Palestine that has not been touched by the old Herod’s cruelty.

Samson is tall, head and shoulders taller than most people. He is imposing to see, and takes advantage of people’s inclination to look up to him, both physically and mentally. He has been leading people of various persuasions most of his forty years.

He stands on the base of a pillar along Solomon’s portico. The base takes him three feet above the crowd. He holds on to the pillar with one arm, and raises the other, his hand balled into a fist.

“It is time, my brothers! Young Archelaus still does not know what he is doing.” He waits for his words to sink in. “Now is the time. We must rise up.” His voice booms.

People wander over to hear better what is happening.

“He must imprison the guards who imprisoned our men and women. He must execute those who executed our families.”

The crowd of worshipers grows quickly.

“Bring the officers of the court to us so we can mete out our own justice on them!”

“Kill our killers!”

“Kill our killers!”

“Kill our killers!”

The Sanhedrin does not try to stop him. The Levitical temple guards do not try to control the crowd. The priests are in full agreement. They are in on it.

It does not take long for the teachers of the Law of Moses to emerge and add fuel to the holy fire. Dressed in their grandest, they mingle among the people, urging them to take their stand against those who do not abide by Moses’ laws.

The crowd grows. Fifty. Two hundred. Five hundred.

“Kill our killers!”

“Kill our killers!”

The clamor echoes across the complex and out into the streets nearby.

_____

Archelaus’ Levitical temple guards posted at the gates send a courier to report the melee to their general. The general arranges an immediate audience with the new king.

Archelaus is seated on his throne wearing one of his purple robes. His father’s crown is on a table beside him.

“I cannot do anything until Caesar confirms me as king. They’ll have to wait until I go to Rome,” Archelaus tells the general.

“Yes, sir. But they blocked our way to their leaders.”

“They what? You let them block your way? You never delivered my message to them?”

“They were shouting so loud, no one could hear me,” the general replies.

“I cannot afford a riot my first few months as king.” Archelaus stands and walks to a window. He looks toward the temple. The holy temple. The temple of peace and love.

“I’ll never be confirmed by Caesar so I can wear that crown.” He looks over at the table by his throne.

“Send them my counselors. Send the youngest first, if they don’t listen to him, work your way to the oldest.”

He walks over and picks up his father’s crown.

“And, if these madmen over at the temple refuse to listen to them, send in the army. A thousand of my best men should do it.”

_____

The clamor grows at the temple complex. The crowd of worshipers has now grown to the thousands.

“Kill our killers!”

“Kill our killers!”

“Kill our killers!”

One by one, as Archelaus’ counselors arrive and try to speak to the crowd, they are blocked. Only now, many in the crowd have armed themselves with daggers and it is becoming dangerous. They threaten the king’s representatives who run for their lives out of the temple.

Worship resumes. It is the Passover. God must be honored. Their ancestors remembered. The altar is large enough, it can hold several sacrificial lambs at the same time.

They do not hear the marching of the king’s army. Only when they come forcing their way into the temple complex does the crowd notice. They cannot afford close combat. The soldier swords are longer and more deadly than the few daggers found among the crowd.

The worshipers pick up stones and hurl them at the soldiers. There are too many. The stones fly and hit their mark. Over and over. The soldiers had not drawn their swords. They had thought their very presence would be threat enough to convince the crowd to disburse. They are wrong.

The angry crowd is sure that God is on their side. The angry crowd vents its wrath at the deceased King Herod onto the soldiers. Stones fly, knocking shields out of hands and helmets off heads. Now into legs. Now into chests. Now into heads

There is a death toll. Inside the temple—the place of refuge. This cannot be. Not on holy ground. Not in the Holy Land. All this was supposed to stop. But there they are.

The general escapes and gets word to the palace. Enough is enough. Archelaus sends out the cavalry. They attack the tent city set up outside the temple by the common rebels. Their horses are faster than the fleeing men. The soldiers cut down three thousand of the worshipers.

Three thousand Jews now dead right outside the temple gate.

These are King Archelaus’ personal sacrifices. Human sacrifices to the God he believes he is superior to. Greater than. Elevated above. Satan is proud.

Hundreds more dead right in the temple complex. Personal sacrifices of Jews who believe fire must be fought with fire. Human sacrifices to the God of Peace who they think they are pleasing.

No one wins.

King Archelaus cancels the rest of the Passover celebration and sends all the Jews back home. Jesus, age four, remains safe at home up north.

• BC 1

 Still, the holy city wrestles. Over Pentecost celebration that summer in Jerusalem, things go from bad to worse. A replay of what happened at Passover in the spring. Only this time ten thousand Jewish patriots are sacrificed to the god of Archelaus’ ego.

There is a new addition to the carpenter’s family. Jesus has a new baby brother. His name is James.

Joseph has saved up enough money, he buys the property next door with enough rooms they can have many children.

• AD 2

During the following years, Mary and Joseph, being faithful believers in the God of the Jewish scriptures, go to Jerusalem annually to celebrate Passover at the temple.

But they never take Jesus. They never take any of the children. It is too dangerous.

“God told me to keep Jesus away from King Archelaus, and keep him away I shall!” Joseph announces each year.

Indeed, it is like this every year. Mary and Joseph never stay long in Jerusalem. Just long enough to take care of their duties toward God. God is very close to them. They are taking care of his Son.

Late the following year another baby is born into this family, this one a girl—Salome, named after Mary’s sister.

•  AD 3
• Nazareth, Province of Galilee

 As Jesus grows, his parents teach him to read out of the scriptures for himself. Jesus is eight years old. But not too young.

Jesus needs to know about himself. His real Father is talking to him there. His real Father has left messages for him in these scriptures.

“Son,” Joseph, his adoptive father explains to him one day out in the shop, “did you know God selected your name? Your name has a special meaning. There were two other famous men in the scriptures with that same name.”

Little Jesus stops to rest his arms a moment. Sanding the doors of great villas for his father is hard work.

“In those old days centuries ago, they would have called you Joshua—just a little different accent. The first Jesus led our wandering ancestors into their promised land. There is a message in there for you, son. Think about it. It tells about the work you will do when you are grown.” Joseph instructs his son.

“But, Father, what is that work? We already live in our promised land.”

“When you are old enough to understand it, you will. I can’t explain it. I’m not sure what it means, myself.”

Jesus looks at the rich man’s door he has been sanding, then up at Joseph for approval.

“That’s fine. Now start on the next door. And let’s talk about yet another other Jesus in the Bible,” Joseph says, resuming his spontaneous lesson. “He was the high priest a long time ago.

“Remember the important men—the magi—who came from another country to honor you as priest king when you were just learning to walk? Well, you probably don’t.”

“Yes, I do, Father. I remember they had fancy clothes and I sat on one of their chests on the floor and it was cold.”

“What a memory you have, Jesus.” He ruffles Jesus’ hair in approval.

“Anyway, a long time ago—long before I was even born— three important men from near that same foreign country brought gifts of silver and gold to Palestine and the high priest Jesus, who they called Joshua. They were used to make a crown for him so he could be both high priest and king.”

“Well, if that Jesus was made high priest,” Jesus says, pausing again. “Are you saying someday I’ll be priest and king?”

Joseph does not answer directly. He seldom does. These questions are too hard for him to answer.

“You have a lot to learn yet. Someday you’ll know more than I do about it—a lot more.” Joseph grins, taking the sander from Jesus’ little hand. “I think it’s time for a break and a snack. How about it?”

•  AD 4

 The family continues to expand. Little Joseph has just been born. Jesus is getting some experience as a leader, what with a younger sister and two younger brothers now. Everything he experiences will work together to develop him into a strong man.

“Now, children,” his synagogue rabbi continues one morning at school, “we must keep watching for the Messiah, the Deliverer. He will come and save us some day.”

“Save us from what?” Andrew asks.

“That’s easy, stupid,” Aharon answers for the teacher. “From our enemies. Those foreigners who run our government. He’s going to kick them out. Isn’t that right, Rabbi?”

“Yes, Aharon, you are right. Our Messiah will be our priest-king, and his heirs will never stop being our priest king.”

The rabbi scrolls through his scriptures until he comes to the passage. Here it is. “The Lord God himself shall be their king forever…Bethlehem…will be his birthplace. He has always been alive and will rule forever.”

Forever? Forever? The word grabs hold of Jesus’ young mind and hangs on for dear life. Forever? What does that mean, forever? He struggles with it the rest of the class period, on his way back home, and during dinner.

•  AD 5
• Everywhere in Palestine

 While this family way up north is growing both in numbers and understanding of the impossible, the anarchy of chaos in Palestine does too. It dominates the rumors daily, and monthly, year after year. Skirmishes and snipping apparently in every city. Everywhere.

And everywhere there are men claiming to be the next king of Palestine. Gang leaders, zealots, shepherds, former prisoners, Herod family look-alikes, all making their speeches and claiming to be the next king.

•  Nazareth, Province of Galilee

People in turmoil. Caesar jails two thousand rebel leaders around the country, then has them all crucified on the road that leads to Jerusalem.

Terrible times. Dangerous times. Especially for anyone in Jerusalem.

Back home, Jesus has his own enemies.

“Jesus is a bastard,” he hears behind him on the way home from school.

“Yeah, Jesus is going to hell.”

The two bullies pass Jesus, purposely bumping him as they do. Then one drops his clay writing tablet and stoops to pick it up, right in front of Jesus. Jesus trips over him. The other bully pushes him off his friend, helps his friend up, and they swagger off.

Young Jesus takes off running.

“Look at the sissy run!” he hears.

Jesus runs for reinforcements. He arrives home and rushes to his room.

Joseph knows there is something wrong. His instincts are always heightened where it comes to Jesus. He must be protected until he can grow up. He follows him. He has his father’s scripture scroll out. Frantically he scrolls through them.

“It’s in the writings of Isaiah, Son,” Joseph says quietly, pushing the hair out of his eyes. “Here, why don’t you underline it so you can go right to it whenever you need to?” He unscrews the blackening bottle nearby and hands him the pen.

Joseph sits on the side of his young son’s bed as he follows his advice. “Son,” he encourages. “You did nothing wrong. Your mother did nothing wrong. You were conceived miraculously.”

Joseph and Mary feel passion for the boy. He is learning what it is like to suffer for being sinful, though he is not sinful. He is learning to understand the punishment people can mete out in the name of God. He is encountering Satan for himself.

• AD 6

On the day of Pentecost in mid-summer, another baby comes to their home. This time, it’s a girl. They name her Devorah.

She is a bright spot in the lives of an ordinary family trying to cope in a nation occupied with turmoil, hostility and hatred.

Jesus decides to read through all the scriptures in a year. He thinks he can do it. After all, he’s now eleven years old. He will try to see how many messages God has for him there.

He does not have to wait long. He sees it the very first day. It jumps out at him, grabs hold, and will not let go. “God said, ‘Let us create man to be like us.’”

Was he in on the creation? Somehow in on it? He recalls all the times he stopped the other kids from beating on a dog, or tearing the legs off a grasshopper. His relatives always said he had the gentleness of his mother.

But he’d felt as though it was more than that. He’d always felt like he wasn’t just protecting harmless creatures that would crawl away and disappear from his life. It was more like they belonged to him. He cared for them in the same way he cared for those bowls and bird houses he made in his father’s woodshop. Only a lot more. He’d never told anyone. It sounded stupid. But maybe not so stupid.

•  Rome, Italy

 Things continue to degenerate. Palestine is in turmoil.

Caesar has been pushed too far. King Archelaus Herod is more barbaric than his father. How can anyone be? His son has found ways.

Caesar has no other choice but to exile King Archelaus. Far away from the Promised Land, from his ellusive power, and from Jesus.

• AD 7
• Jerusalem, Province of Judea, Palestine

 Jesus is twelve years old. For the first time, Joseph and Mary bring their entire family with them to celebrate Passover.

As they near Jerusalem, they are awed by the great white temple, and explain to their children that it had been enlarged and magnified by King Herod the Great before they were born. High on Mount Moriah, it can be seen from milles away and any point in the city.

But something mars the spectacle. The new prefect prefect, Coponius, has not only ordered a census for tax purposes, he has made a point to crucify those notorious for stirring up the people against paying Rome their hated taxes.

Joseph and Mary both hide the eyes of their youngest children as they pass the dreaded spectacle of crosses along the road just outside Jerusalem.

Jesus, the oldest, is not protected. He stops and stares and listens to their agony. Some curse the Romans. Some warn the passersby. “Don’t give in to them. Don’t pay their taxes.”

Some cry out, “Kill me, someone just kill me!”

Some no longer speak, for they are dead.

Jesus recalls something in the scriptures he had read just recently. Something about God being pierced at Jerusalem, and mourning for a firstborn son.

“Jesus, come on. They’re just criminals.”

They rent a room at an inn, take in their baggage, and head over to the grand temple. Everyone is excited. Jesus had been until now. He cannot get those crucified wretches out of his head. They haunt him. And those scriptures—they haunt him too. Oh God, he thinks, was that a prediction of me? Please, Father, not that.

At the temple, Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the main courtyard. They walk up to the grand staircase leading to the court of the men and the altar of sacrifice on which a priest had made their ritual sacrifice on behalf of baby Jesus, their first born. The three stand at the bottom in silence.

“Jesus, this is where we took you right after you were born,” Joseph explains softly.

The three turn around and survey the huge temple complex larger than the original City of David, with its throngs of people in town for the Passover. It is the same courtyard Mary and Joseph had walked through a dozen years earlier, carrying their newborn Jesus. It had been nearly empty then.

His parents recall to Jesus their encounters with Anna and Simeon, now long dead. Then they leave.

The next morning, the family returns excitedly to the temple. The adults stand around various rabbis discussing scriptures in various corners and on various porticos of the huge temple complex. The young ones attend children’s classes taught either by young rabbis or elderly women.

Jesus decides to attend one of the adult discussions.

“My name is Nicodemus,” announces the middle-aged doctor of religious law sitting on his rabbi’s bench. “We are going to talk about the Ten Commandments and how they apply to our everyday lives. First, can anyone here recite all ten?”

Jesus raises his hand. Excited that the youngest person in the group is volunteering, the rabbi calls on him to recite them.

“Very good. Now, we are going to discuss each one starting at the beginning…”

“Sir,” Jesus is raising his hand. “I was wondering if you think God had in mind to…”

“That’s a very good question, young man. Let’s talk about that.”

“Now, does anyone have any idea how the fourth commandment…”

Jesus raises his hand again. “That commandment goes much deeper than it seems, because…”

The adults look around at the twelve-year-old who is half way teaching the class from the back of the crowd. To everyone’s delight. Even the teacher’s.

“Young man, what is your name?”

“My name is Jesus.” Jesus stands to answer the priest.

“Well, that should explain everything! You must be named after our High Priest Jesus,” he jests.

“Not exactly. But I’d like to meet him.”

The class is over. Someday Nicodemus will meet Jesus again. When Jesus is grown. Jesus will change his life. For one day Nicodemus will be part of the holy Sanhedrin, the official council of seventy, and he will defend Jesus’ life to them. Later Nicodemus will help bury him. Then he’ll worship him. But that is eighteen years away.

Yes, this is just the first time Jesus will meet Nicodemus. It will not be his last.

“Hi”

There has been another boy in the group who has remained silent. He comes up to Jesus excitedly. He is slightly taller.

“I guess we’re cousins.”

“John? Is that you?” Jesus asks.

The two boys stare at each other with awesome respect, then walk aimlessly around the temple complex.

“I’ve been wanting to meet you ever since I can remember,” John explains.

“Yeah. We kids couldn’t come down here when things were so dangerous. They’re better now.”

The two boys grow quiet a moment, wanting to skip the small talk so they can talk about what is really nagging at them.

“You really understand a lot of things.” John looks at Jesus intently.

They talk, compare and discuss the coming of the Messiah, the Deliverer. There is much they do not yet understand. They are still young. It will come.

“Hurry up, Jesus,” Salome says, tugging at her oldest brother’s sleeve impatiently. “Father and Mother said it’s time to go.”

“In a couple moments. I’ll be right there. Hey, meet your cousin, John.”

“Jesus, come on. Everyone’s hungry. Come on.” Salome urges him.

That night Zechariah, Elizabeth and their son John meet with Joseph, Mary and their children for dinner. Jesus and John put their heads together before and after the meal. The families laugh about teenagers and their long conversations.

Joseph and Mary know it isn’t just that. Zechariah and Elizabeth do too. They know these two boys, these two miracle babies, need to know each other a lot better. But they do not tell the other children. They just make sure everyone leaves them alone to talk as long as they want.

The following day everyone is back at the temple complex. Jesus finds a discussion group that has not yet begun, but which he has heard will be top notch. He locates a standing spot two-thirds of the way back through the crowd. He does not want to be too conspicuous. After all, he’ll probably be the only child in the group.

Someone slips in and stands next to him. He is younger. Very unusual. He must be a very bright young man.

He introduces himself. “Hi, my name is Saul, from up in Tarsus, where all the Gentiles are. Everyone calls me Paul up there. So what’s your name?”

“Uh, Jesus.”

“You’re going to like this rabbi. He’s my regular teacher here.”

“You’re getting your education right here in Jerusalem?”

“Yeah. I guess they think I’m kind of bright. Gifted they call it. You gifted?”

Before Jesus gets to answer, the rabbi walks up.

“Good morning, friends. I’d like to introduce myself. I am Doctor Gamaliel.”

This is the first time Jesus meets Gamaliel. Their paths will cross again when Jesus goes to trial. He won’t be able to save him. But later he will save others’ lives— Jesus’ closest friends, his twelve apostles.

“When the Messiah comes,” Gamaliel begins, “he will establish the eternal Kingdom of God. What do you think that means?”

Saul announces, “It means wallop those Romans, kick them out of the country, and be the greatest nation in the history of the world.”

Jesus makes a quick reply. “I don’t think so.”

The discussion continues. They deliberate prophecies and examine what the prophecies mean. They speculate on how the Messiah will affect their country.

“Do you think the new Kingdom of God will affect the world at large in any way?”

“You bet!” Saul says. “We’re going to rule the world!”

“In what sense?”

“In every sense, sir,” Saul responds simplistically. “We’ll rule with an iron hand! God will be on our side!”

“Sir,” Jesus interjects. “Could I call your attention to what both Isaiah and Micah said? Swords shall be melted down and made into plows.”

“Isaiah said the Deliverer would be a descendant of Jesse, whose son was King David,” Gamaliel responds. “Out of curiosity, how many in our group today are descendants of King David?”

Several raise their hands, including Jesus. Everyone grins, knowing none of them is the Messiah. They’re just ordinary people. Especially this boy toward the back of their group.

“Sir,” says Saul, “Micah said the Deliverer will be born in Bethlehem, Judea.” Jesus knows where he was born, Bethlehem.

Before Gamaliel has a chance to call for hands of those born in Bethlehem, singing of the Levite choir on the steps leading to the priest’s court interrupts them.

“Jesus! There you are.” It’s his mother.

“Well, I gotta be going. Nice to meet you.” He says to Saul.

Saul and Jesus have met only for a first time. It won’t be the last.

One day they will violently oppose each other. Jesus will die. Saul will kill many Christians for believing Jesus came back to life. Then Jesus, this boy of twelve, who Saul has been standing next to for two hours, will appear to him out of the heavens. Saul will then spend the rest of his life defending Jesus.

Saul has no idea, of course, that Jesus is God. But then, no one else does either, except Mary, Joseph, Zechariah and Elizabeth. And John. But no one else. And even they do not quite understand how. It doesn’t matter for now.

_____

Things continue like this all week. After a while, whenever Jesus cannot be located, Mary sends one of her children to go around to the discussion groups to look for their big brother. They always find him with the grownups.

Finally, the week draws to a close. The family has run into some relatives from Galilee and have decided to travel back north together. They decide to leave at mid-morning after one last trip to the temple.

The small caravan of friends and acquaintances makes its way out the gates of Jerusalem and heads north. Everyone is tired but content. Happy with their trip and that the foreign rulers are backing off from the citizens. Happy that things in Jerusalem are more normal these days. Excitedly chattering and exchanging stories.

“Remember when Eli tripped going up the steps to the men’s courtyard?” someone asks giggling.

“Hey, did you see how many children there were this year?” Another voice in the crowd.

“I’ll never forget when the choir sang. I’ve never heard anything so angelic in my life.” A woman puts her hands over her heart.

Four hours have passed. The women call ahead to the men and everyone pulls off to the side of the road and stops.

“Does everyone have enough water? Are the little ones okay?” Mary asks. The other women do the same, checking on the well-being of their children.

“You two boys have been fussing too much,” Joseph admonishes. “We’re going to have to separate you. One of you can walk with Jesus. Jesus, come take this boy! Jesus? Is Jesus in your group, Ebenezer? No? Someone go look among the widow Judith’s kids.”

“Don’t see him.”

The word spreads among the adults. They line up the children. “Where is Jesus?” everyone asks.

Mary and Joseph reluctantly realize no one had sent word to Jesus when they were leaving, and had left him behind. Frustrated, they send the others on their way, gather up their own children, and head back to Jerusalem.

What an anticlimax. “He ruins everything,” James complains.

They check the neighborhood where they had been staying. All day they check. Walking down the side streets calling. Knocking on doors. No sign of Jesus.

Mary is crying. Where is her son? He is in some kind of trouble. She recalls running for their lives from King Herod to Egypt at the beginning. Has he been found out and killed?

Oh God, help Jesus. Protect him, she pleads deep within her soul.

“We’ll spend the night, and try in town tomorrow,” Joseph consoles Mary. “He’s a sensible young man. He’s probably at the temple. They’ll give him a place to sleep in a guest room. He’ll be okay.”

Deep down in Joseph’s soul, he wonders. Herod is out of control. His soldiers are out of control. Did Jesus run into some drunken soldier that last evening? What did they do to him? He tries not to imagine it. He determines not to let on to Mary.

Reluctantly Jesus’ family returns to the inn where they had stayed. It is closed for cleanup. They must go to a different inn. Jesus will have no way of finding them.

That night, as they say their prayers, little Salome prays, “Dear God, take care of Jesus. He plays leap frog with me.”

_____

The next morning at dawn they head over to the temple. For the sake of his family, Joseph tries not to look worried. But deep down he is frantic. Is this the way he takes care of God’s Son?

“Mary, you take Salome. I’ll take James and Joseph Junior. We’ll meet back here in an hour, whether or not we find him.” Joseph instructs her.

Mary spots him. He is asking questions in one of the corridors. The discussion group is being taught by young but promising Doctor Caiaphas, a member of the Sanhedrin, the official religious High Council, who will become high priest one day. He will condemn Jesus, now only twelve years old, to be crucified. No one knows it yet. It is just as well.

Mary excuses herself as she makes her way through the discussion group. Jesus is so far in the front, she motions for someone to punch the skinny boy with the wrinkled robe and hair in his eyes.

Jesus looks her way, Mary motions to him, and he leaves with her. Out in the main courtyard, she hugs her son, then puts her hands on her sides and looks at him sternly but with tears of relief.

“Son, why have you treated us like this?” she asks. “Your father and I have been desperately searching for you everywhere.” Mary has forgotten for an instant that Jesus’ Father is God.

“Why did you feel you had to look all over for me?” he asks his mother. “Didn’t you realize I’d be here taking care of my Father’s concerns?”

She starts at his reply. He is not talking about Joseph. He is talking about Jehovah God. He knows! He not only knows, but he understands. In a way, she is not even sure she does. “My Father’s concerns,” he had said. Is this the beginning? He is so young. Age twelve is too young to declare he has come from God. Surely not yet.

Mary and her son walk out of the grand temple complex, her mind wanders back to when the angel made the announcement to her. She was just three years older than Jesus is now. Is he preparing to make the announcement when he is fifteen? Surely not. He is far too young.

•  AD 8-24
• Nazareth, Province of Galilee

 The family is reunited, and they all safely arrive back home.

A year later Mary has another child, a son. They name him Simon.

Things go along smoothly and without incident. Mary is relieved. She is not ready to let go of Jesus for the world to have. Not just yet.

The boys become involved in an organized series of foot racing, which they hold daily during the summer.

“Hey, Jesus, keep it up. Pass them. You can do it.” shouts little sister Salome from the sidelines.

“Yeahhhhh!”

A couple years later Mary’s youngest son is born—Jude.

The girls become involved in embroidery work and try to outdo each other.

“Jesus, would you show me how to draw a horse? I’m working on a plaque for Mother.”

A couple years after that Mary’s youngest daughter and child is born—Marta.

“So, you’ve got another baby sister. What’s her name, James?” Asks a curious neighbor.

“Marta,” James replies angrily. “She’s my real sister.”

The neighbor wonders if James is referring to the town gossip. He is, of course. Jesus has been a source of conflict ever since James can remember. How he hates his big brother. Or half-brother. Or whatever he is.

As Jesus grows and matures, his understanding of people does too. Eventually, people will forget the gossip. They will actually grow to like the young man.

In the following years, Jesus will contemplate alone who and what he is. He will search for messages to him from his Father—his real Father—in the scriptures.

One day, when he is grown, he will understand it all. Then he will know completely just who he is. The ultimate priest-king. The Creator Priest-King. The God-Man.

Isn’t that a little hard to believe, Jesus?

At his baptism, he will be given the power. Then he will prove who he is to himself and to all the others with miracles. Then he will be ready. Satan will not.