4–JOSEPH II

WALKING TALL

• BC 6
• Nazareth, Province of Galilee, Palestine

 There is a wedding in the little town of Nazareth in a couple of weeks. It isn’t the kind they’d planned. Mary is now four months pregnant.

The neighbors don’t come. They do not understand. Instead, they gossip. People think Joseph is crazy for marrying a girl who obviously got pregnant while on vacation with her cousin.

A few trusted relatives come. But they, too, don’t understand. Cousins Elizabeth and Zechariah were invited, of course, but little John is so tiny. They dare not travel with a baby that young.

Besides, an old couple with a baby might attract too much attention. People would probably hound the old parents as they travel from town to town on their way across the country. “She couldn’t be a day under seventy,” they’d declare. Then they’d start treating them like freaks. Then the physicians would converge on them. They’d want to analyze Elizabeth’s reproductive system. Zechariah’s too. No, a trip away from home would be out of the question. Mary’s family has received their regrets.

There are no exciting feasts for Mary, no bridegroom parades for Joseph, no running through the streets on their way to the bride’s house. But there is, indeed, a wedding. And a little reception.

It is a quiet occasion. Mary is obviously pregnant. Everyone is obviously embarrassed, but they’ve loved Mary all her life. She and her parents try to explain it, but no one seems to understand. Actually, they don’t understand themselves very well.

Nevertheless, Mary and Joseph the carpenter are nervously and happily whisked off to wedded bliss. Then they settle down to wait for God’s and Mary’s child.

They move into Joseph’s little home. It only has a courtyard and one room. Mary has trouble finding spots to store things. So she has to go to the market more often than usual.

Joseph insists on going with her. He will not allow his bride to endure people’s malicious remarks alone in the market or on the streets. Insensitive things like, “He’s sure not going to look like Joseph.” Callous things like, “Hey, babe! You available tonight?” Heartless, stabbing, unbearable things like, “There goes the whore.”

When the taunts come, Joseph whispers, “Don’t listen to them. They don’t understand.” When the jeers come, Joseph encourages, “This is God’s baby. Some day they will worship him.” When the hurts come, Joseph spurs her on, “Smile, Mary. Be proud. Walk tall.”

_____

Mary is now six months pregnant.

There is a knock on their gate. Joseph opens it and sees Mary’s now feeble grandmother and her father holding several long, narrow boards.

“I don’t use this old loom any more. I’ll bet Mary can,” her grandmother, Eve, explains while leading her son-in-law, Heli, to the courtyard.

Mary hears and recognizes the voices from inside their one room, her home, and comes out smiling broadly.

“Welcome to our humble home,” Mary announces.

“Where do you want me to put this loom, Joseph?” Heli asks.

“Mary, what would be most convenient for you? Would it be best by the door?” Joseph asks. It’s the farthest away from all my sawdust.”

“That would be perfect. That way I can store my distaff and spindle just inside the doorway out of the rain. Let me bring you two a goblet of juice.

“That’s okay, sweetie. We’ll only be here a few moments. Then we’ll be out of your hair. Joseph has better things to do than talk to crotchety old people,” her grandmother says with a smile.

Heli immediately gets to work putting the loom back together and Joseph goes back to work.

Grandmother Eve sits down on a bench. “As I said, it’s old, but good. I inherited it from my mother. She would be proud for you to have it.”

Mary looks at her grandmother with shimmering eyes. Sometimes the tears aren’t very far away. She says nothing.

“Oh, sweet Mary. How are things going for you? Are the people around the market treating you okay?” her grandmother asks, sensing what life for Mary must be like.

“Yes, I guess so,” she replies.

“Come to your grandmother, sweetie. Let me put my arms around you a moment like I used to do when you were a little girl.”

A quiet moment. A moment when two souls unite in heart. In faith.”

“Oh, God of our fathers”, Grandmother Eve prays. “Mary has taken on such a great burden. But she loves you with her whole heart. Help Mary be strong.”

Another moment. Then Mary pulls away from her grandmother. She is smiling. She takes a deep breath.

“I could certainly use that loom. We just go to the market to buy food, but not fabric or anything else.”

“I remember getting this loom from my mother. Oh, my! I made thread and fabric for my new husband’s—your grandfather’s—clothes. And I made a beautiful tapestry for our little house. Yes, we started out in a little house too—about the size of yours.”

The next day, Mary goes back to her childhood home.

“Mother, would you teach me to spin wool one more time with the distaff and spindle? Cotton too? I think I can do it this time. And could you give me some bolls of cotton? Joseph’s business is just getting off the ground and…”

Grandmother Eve is down taking a nap. She takes many naps these days.

By the time her mother’s lesson is over, Grandmother Eve walks out of her bedroom. “I thought I heard your voice, Mary. Here is some flax yarn so you can make a special linen shawl for yourself. I had a great aunt whose husband was in the business. Normally took him three weeks to convert the fibers out of one batch of straw into yarn.

Mary leaves her bench and sets her thread-making distaff and spindle on it. “Oh, I couldn’t take that, Grandmother. It’s too precious.”

“I have saved it all these years for something special, Mary, and your situation is as special as I will ever see. Take it, child. With my blessing.”

One by one Mary throws away the dingy covers Joseph had used for bedding and makes new ones out of wool Joseph buys for her at the market. For their little room she makes a small tapestry to decorate the wall, just as her grandmother had done in her youth.

She goes through Joseph’s clothes and mends them. What she can’t mend she tells Joseph to use as shop rags.

Before long, using the cotton her mother had given her, Mary is making spans and spans of swaddling bands and baby blankets. For their baby. The baby that belongs to the three of them—Mary, Joseph and God.

Each night she and Joseph pray for God’s baby. But that is as intimate as they get. There must never be any doubt whose baby it is. She must remain a virgin. She just prays that her delivery will not be harder than it is for other women.

Sometimes during the night she hears Joseph out in the courtyard working by moonlight. Cutting and pounding. Cutting and pounding.

_____

Mary is now eight months pregnant.

Early one evening a clay brick comes hurling over the wall of the courtyard.

Joseph hurries toward the gate to find out what has caused the noise. He sees the brick, picks it up, and realizes something is etched on it. He shines his lamp on it.

“And you call yourself a Jew!” is scratched into it. Under that, the star of David.

Booing outside the wall. Then rushing footsteps that soon disappear.

Joseph clenches his teeth, looks up into the heavens, then returns to their room. Mary is humming a song and looking over some of her handiwork.

“What was it?”

No reply.

“Come on,” she prods, “what was it?”

No reply. She looks up, puts down the little blanket, rises and steps over to her protective husband. Then she sees it. The anger in Joseph’s glare, veins sticking out in his neck, and his lips flattened together. She has not seen that look very often in Joseph, but she sees it now. It frightens her.

“What’s going on? Did something fall and break?”

Nothing. Instead, Joseph’s face distorts until his nostrils are flaring and his teeth gritting. He has never been this angry.

He bangs his fist on the closed door to their room.

“Why can’t I protect you better?”

He leans his head on the door while his chest heaves around his racing heart.

Mary draws closer, he turns and looks at her. She puts both hands up to his cheeks and turns his head so she can look into his eyes.

“Joseph, what was it? You’ve got to tell me.”

He says nothing.

She backs up and looks at him again. This time she sees he is holding something behind his back.

“What is it? Please show me, Joseph.”

Slowly, he brings his hand out in front and she sees the brick. She takes it, though he does not give it up easily. And reads it.

The brick falls out of her hand and to the floor. Mary leans her head on his chest.

Protectively, he puts his arms around her.

Silence.

Mary takes a deep breath. Now trembling, a tear slips down her cheek for them both.

“Oh, Joseph, I’m so sorry I brought all this on you.”

“Don’t ever say that, Mary,” he whispers. “God has given us an assignment. We will see it through. Somehow we will see it through. Even if the whole village turns against us. Even the whole world.”

Silence once more. Clinging tighter. Loving deeper. Trusting greater. Then her audible sobs. They mingle with his inaudible anger.

Sighs.

Moments later, Joseph turns Mary so she is beside him, and walks with her to a bench. They sit. He pulls her over to him once more. Her sobbing softens into whimpers.

“Oh, Jehovah God. Don’t let this happen to Mary. I can take it. But Mary. She’s too sensitive. Don’t make her go through this. Give her strength.” He pauses. “What’s going on, Jehovah God? Things don’t make sense right now.” His voice is cracking. It is not supposed to.

Joseph trembles, trying to maintain his masculine control. A few betraying teardrops make their way slowly down his cheek and onto her shiny black hair.

Quiet. Wondering. God leans low. He whispers to them. They cannot hear. But they sense it.

“Something in the scriptures. Something. Where is it?” Joseph, the typical man, the typical fixer, must find some way to solve their problem.

He gently pulls Mary from him, she shifts, then lays her head down on the bench where he has just placed a pillow. She stares across the room into nothingness.

He opens his door wide and goes out to the courtyard where he has a jar in which he stores his precious copy of a scripture scroll. He opens the lid, places the scroll on his work table, and rolls through it. Rolling. Searching.

“I know it’s in here.”

Mary now watches him from their doorway.

“How could God have chosen me, Joseph? I’m not strong enough to bear the insults.” Mary stares up into a few stars appearing in the early evening sky.

“What will it be like after he is born? It can only be worse. What am I going to do, Joseph? Maybe God made a mistake.”

“No, Mary. I found it. Here it is.”

Joseph looks over at his little bride, his very pregnant little bride. “You and I are in training. So we can help him.”

“Help him do what?”

“I’ve been reading from that prophet who said you would be a virgin when you conceived him—Isaiah. Listen to this.” Joseph rolls the scroll in place, puts it under one arm, and leads Mary by the hand back inside where they return to the bench. He puts the scroll in his lap, leans Mary’s head over on his shoulder, and holds her close as he reads.

“We loathed him and rebuffed him. Full of anguish, steeped in heartache. We turned our backs on him and refused to speak to him whenever he came near. No one liked him or wanted to be around him.”

Carefully putting the scroll under the bench, Joseph turns slightly and holds Mary’s head so he can look into her eyes once more.

“Don’t you see? It’s going to be like this all his life. We must be ready. We must learn how to handle the taunts ourselves so we can teach him how to.”

“So, what are we supposed to do, Joseph? Do we report the people who threw the brick over our wall to the congregation at the synagogue? Do we try to avoid them? Do we try to prove God is on our side?”

The distortions in her gentle face return and tears slip down uncontrollably. Joseph groans from his own fountain of agony.

She cries aloud. Out of control. She stands and walks back out to the courtyard, shaking her head, hoping it will all go away—the taunts.

“What are we supposed to do, Joseph?” she cries, her head in her hands. “What are we supposed to do?”

Silence. Joseph is reading again. “There has to be an answer to her question,” he mumbles. He finds it.

“Shhhh,” he says, getting up and walking out to her. “This is what we are to do. It is right here. ‘He was persecuted and tormented. Yet he never spoke out.’”

Joseph reads a little further silently. He decides not to read it to Mary. She is not ready for it. The part where he will be executed someday. Joseph does not like what he is reading. Surely he can protect God’s Son better than that. Can I change the course of history? The providence of God?

He closes his mind to the whole thing and turns his attentions back to his little wife. He sets down the scroll and embraces her once more. They rock back and forth like a whisper in the wind.

“Nothing? We can’t say anything back?” Mary groans, looking up into her husband’s strained eyes.

“Don’t argue with them,” Joseph explains as tenderly as his masculine being can. “They’re going to do what they want regardless of what we say.”

Indeed, through the following weeks, the insults on the other side of their closed gate do come. But gradually the young people learn to handle them. As they do, the insults decrease. The effectiveness is declining too much.

The two continue to go to town every morning to shop for food. Sometimes more often.

“Keep your head high, Mary,” Joseph whispers to her. “Come on! Smile! Hold that head up! Walk tall!”

_____

Mary is now nine months pregnant.

One day, Joseph comes home, slams the gate shut.

“Caesar has ordered everyone to go to the town where their ancestors settled when they first came to this country.” He calls out.

Mary opens the door, holding a baby blanket in her hand.

“We will all be accounted for in this nation-wide census, and then taxed accordingly. What next?”

Mary puts one hand on her abdomen and another on her lower back. “I can’t go. Bethlehem is a week away, Joseph. It’s impossible. I’m due any day. What are we going to do?”

“You have to go. Everyone in the country has to.” He runs a hand through his black hair and paces. “They’ll fine me if you don’t. And if I can’t pay the fine, they’ll put me in jail until I do. Then you’ll be without anyone—anyone meaning me.”

“Oh, God.” Mary lifts up her eyes to the sky. “Do something! Nothing can happen to my baby—to your baby. Please, God, do something.”

“We’ve got to talk to Jehovah God about it right now.”

He takes Mary into his arms, tries to slow down his breathing, and raises his eyes.

“Oh, Lord Jehovah God. We come to you as the ones you have chosen to take care of your baby. We’re only human. We can’t guarantee his safety on a trip like this. It will be too hard on Mary. Please make the government change its mind, or at least make exceptions for the sick. We pray this with…”

Mary tenderly interrupts before the prayer is ended. “…Lord, if you could just make the baby come early, that would be okay. Could you let little Jesus come early? Please?”

Mary is now crying.

“It will be okay, Mary. God will find a way for you to not have to go. Just you watch.”

Joseph lifts her chin, kisses the end of her nose, and smiles comfortingly. She smiles through glistening tears.”

_____

“Nothing’s working, Mary,” he confesses coming through the door to their residence. “I’ve tried everything. I can’t even get the tax collectors to talk to me.

Sitting on the side of their bed, he lowers his head, and puts his hands over it. He stands, walks over to their little window facing the street, and looks up at the sky.

“Nazareth isn’t that old,” Joseph explains. “So the town is nearly empty with people heading out to their ancestral towns. Next time we go out to the market for food, well, we won’t be able to hide in the crowd like we used to.”

He turns and looks again at Mary. “There are more Roman legionnaires and Herodian soldiers on the streets than ever. The tax people are threatening to have me arrested.”

_____

Mary continues to not have birth pains. Taking long walks around the block every morning with Joseph aren’t helping. Taking various oils isn’t working. Nothing is working. What has gone wrong? Doesn’t God hear prayers?

Mary and Joseph are eating their evening meal. It is a week after Joseph has received the ultimatum from the tax people.

“We can’t afford the fine, Joseph,” Mary says. “And I can’t let you go to jail because of me. The last caravan out of town is leaving tomorrow morning. We can’t wait any longer. We have to go.”

Joseph throws down his bread. “No, Mary. I can’t let you do this.”

“I’ll be okay.”

“This isn’t the way it’s supposed to be, Mary. I’m supposed to take care of you and the baby. How can I on the road?”

“I promise you, Joseph. The baby and I will be okay. Really.”

• On a Road Between the Provinces of Galilee and Judea

 The trip is long. The swelling group of travelers makes its way across the plains, over the streams, up and down the hills and around the mountains. Roman patrols are doubled.

In the evenings, the group stops and makes camp. The inns are all full with other travelers. Together in their bedroll, they sleep. At first sleep is sporadic until they can relax. Sometimes they pray a little. Sometimes they giggle or whisper sweet nothings, or cry a little. One day. Two days. Three long, long days.

God looks down on the insignificant couple as Joseph strides and stumbles his way down the sometimes rocky roads, leading Mary and her donkey, one couple of many on the highway.

God is satisfied. They have what it takes. They’ll do fine. Everything’s going along just as planned—planned hundreds of years earlier. God thinks about explaining it to them outright but decides not to. They’ll understand for themselves soon enough.

•  Bethlehem, Province of Judea

 The words Joseph and Mary thought they’d never hear.

“There it is on that hill, folks,” the caravan leader announces. “Everyone needing to stop in Bethlehem, we’ll be there in a couple hours. Don’t forget to take your belongings when you leave.”

The sight of their ancestral home, the home where the great King David once grew up, gives them renewed energy.

The caravan stops to rest outside the city. Mary and Joseph are the last to leave the group. Mary’s birth pains have just begun.

“Hang on a little longer, Mary. We made it this far. Jehovah God is surely with us.” Joseph smiles at her, but his gut is churning.

The two make their way several hundred yards to the city gate. Joseph leads their donkey to a hitching ring along the wall. He takes out his water skin, gives Mary a drink, pours some water in a bowl attached to the saddle, and gives some to the animal.

“Stay here, Mary,” Joseph says as he helps her off their donkey. “I’ll go on into town and line up an inn for us.”

He helps her settle on the saddle blanket where she can lean back against the city wall. “I’ll be right back, Mary,” he promises. He only hopes he can keep that promise.

An hour later, Joseph walks back out through the city gates and toward his young wife. Mary is lying down with their tote of clothing under her head. She looks so little and helpless.

Joseph can hardly bear to tell her the news. He hits his fist on the wall above her and stares at the empty sky.

Without looking up, she whispers, “Don’t say any-thing. Just sit here with me, Joseph.”

He sits down on the barren ground next to Mary and places his head next to hers. He hears her groan and his heart pain mingles with it.

I’ve got to think this through. There has to be a way.

A Herodian soldier on patrol walks up. “You can’t stay here, folks,” he says gruffly. “You’re holding up traffic. I’ll be forced to have you arrested if you don’t move along.”

As Joseph stands, he objects. “But don’t you see, my wife’s about to have a baby?”

Now eye to eye, the soldier counterattacks. “Sorry. This isn’t a hospitium. Move along, sir. Sorry, young man.”

The soldier marches off, but not very far. He turns, and locks eyes once again with Joseph.

Mary stirs. “I can do it. Just help me up.”

Slowly the couple with the bundle now slung over Joseph’s shoulder, and the bundle in Mary’s little womb leave the city wall with Mary on their donkey clinging to its mane. The sun is about down. They begin to walk. Walk the streets. They are homeless.

They pass the market by the gate and turn in direction of homes. Slowly they walk, Joseph puts the donkey’s reins between his teeth so he can use both arms to steady Mary on its back.

They pass a man, Joseph hands the reins to Mary, and they stop. He turns and calls after the man.

“Sir, my wife is about to have a baby. Could we stay in your home tonight? I’ve got money. I can pay you.”

“Sorry. I don’t live here myself. We just barely found a place ourselves. We’re sharing a room with two other couples, on the condition we put our children in the bed roll with us. Sorry.” He walks on down the narrow street.

Crowds everywhere bumping into each other. Out-of-town people here for this needless census and taxing. Trying to go into overcrowded taverns to eat. Sitting in the city square with baskets of food. Squatting in deserted doorways with small loaves of bread or dried meat or not-so-fresh fruit trying to assuage their hunger. Some laughing and making the most of it. Some tussling with restless children. Some just meandering.

“Sir, my wife’s about to have a baby. Please, are there any places left?” I must not give up.

The stranger just hurries on.

Half an hour later, Joseph helps Mary down off the donkey and helps her sit on the saddle blanket on the street again. She is against the wall making up the outside of someone’s home. He walks up to the gate and knocks. “Please, my wife’s about to have a baby. Do you have any room for us?”

“We’ve got people sleeping in every spot. There’s no space left. Try next door.”

“Ma’am, my wife’s about to have a baby. Please, do you have any room left for us? We’re desperate.”

“Sorry. Too bad, too. It’s going to be a chilly night.”

Joseph walks back down the street where he had left Mary and looks up into the sky. A star is beginning to shine unusually bright. He’s grateful for it, as it helps light up the darkening street. He looks at it and prays.

“Please, Jehovah God. Why is this happening? You’ve got to help us.”

He goes back to the wall where he had left Mary. She is trying bravely not to scream. People are passing by unconcerned, unnoticing, busy, busy. Even the Roman legionnaires and Herodian soldiers.

Joseph kneels by her side. He realizes by Mary’s muffled screams that the pains are getting worse and closer together.

“Don’t they realize what’s going on? This is the Son of God they’re all rejecting.”

“You didn’t tell them that, did you, Joseph?” Mary manages.

“No, of course not. They’d think I was a lunatic, and I’d never find us a place.”

He hesitates to say it but does anyway. “It’s not supposed to be this way, Mary. This baby is supposed to rule our country. He should have been born in Jerusalem. You should have given birth in the palace. There should have been an honor guard outside the door.”

“You know, it doesn’t have to be a house,” she responds. People have stables.”

“Be right back!” Joseph announces, and bounds off again.

He hurries up to a nearby house and knocks once again on the gate.

“Young man, I told you a moment ago we have no room left. We just can’t help you. Quit coming here.”

The gate starts to close, but Joseph puts his foot in the way. “Your stable, sir. We’ll take your stable. Here. I’ve got payment in full for one night.” He shows the coins in his hand.

“You’ve got to be out of your mind, young man. It’s dirty and smelly in there.”

“We’ll take it! It’s fine. Just fine.”

Joseph shoves his money at the reluctant and puzzled man in the gateway.

“Young people! What’ll they do next?” the home owner mutters as he jingles the money in his hands. “Well, there is a lamp out there hanging from the peg by the entrance. And there may be an old blanket I used awhile back for a sick calf. Maybe you can do something with that.”

“Yes, sir! Thank you, sir,” he says walking backward a few steps, then turning to run.

“Okay, Mary. We’ve got a place!” he grins. “Just wait here one more moment. I’ve got to go arrange things for you.”

“Ohhh!” she cries out, no longer looking around to see if anyone has heard her. A few on the side of the street nearby turn and stare at her in the darkened dusk, shrug their shoulders at her, then turn away in the unconcern of forgetfulness.

Moments later, Joseph is back.

“All right now, Mary. You don’t even have to walk. I found a small cart, and you’re going for a ride.”

“Oh, Joseph, you’re out of your mind,” she laughs amidst the pain.

He carefully picks her up and gently places the mother of God’s Son into the cart.

“And away we go!” he shouts, pulling it himself.

“Joseph, don’t you drop me!” she giggles.

The stable door is open. He rolls her in and closes the door.

He has cleared out an empty stall and filled it with fresh straw. Again Joseph carefully bends down, picks up his little wife, and moves her carefully to the floor. Then he takes a smelly blanket off a peg on the wall.

With Mary sufficiently covered with the blanket, Joseph sits on the cold dirt floor to wait. Cold, cold ground. Coldness in the air. Coldhearted people around them. But then, they just don’t understand.

Warmth. The warmth of human love. The warmth of divine love. Warmth infiltrating, permeating, saturating. Warmth such as has never been felt before.

“Ahhhhhhh!” Mary screams. “It hurts, Joseph. It hurts!”

She squeezes Joseph’s hand until it turns white.

“That’s fine, Mary. You’re doing just fine.”

“Ahhhhhh!”

“Breathe! Breathe, Mary, just like your mother told you. Like Aunt Elizabeth did.  Breathe!”

Come, Lord Jesus.

“Ahhhhhh!”

Mary’s perspiring. Joseph’s perspiring. Perhaps even God’s perspiring.

“Come on, Mary. You can do it. You’re almost in the final stretch.”

“This isn’t a chariot race, Joseph!” she gently chides unexpectedly.

“That’s good, Mary. Keep up your sense of humor. Keep a positive attitude. That’s good.”

Yes, come to us, precious Savior.

“Ahhhhhh!”

“That’s right! That’s right!”

You’re closer to us now. Keep coming, Lord Jesus.

“Ahhhhh!”

“He’s coming. He’s coming, Mary. Keep pushing!”

Yes, it’s hard. But please keep coming to our world.

“Ahhhhh!”

Joseph cradles the baby’s head in his hand.

“Just a little more, now. A little more, Mary.”

We need you, Lord Jesus. We desperately need you.

“Ahhhhh! Ahhhhh! Ahhhhh!”

“He’s out. He’s born. Jesus, the God-Man is born!”

Mary slumps back in exhaustion. Joseph cuts the cord and ties it, just the way he’d heard things were done. Then he holds the slippery baby up to Mary, gently sets him in her arms and stares.

Tears return to her eyes, but now they are tears of joy and satisfaction. Joseph’s big rough hands are under hers to steady them.

Then he remembers his clean robe in their tote. Joseph pulls it out, lays the Son of God on his robe and folds it around him.

“The swaddling bands, Joseph. I brought swaddling bands along. Finish wrapping him in that.”

Joseph pulls everything out of their tote, finds the bands, wraps the baby’s arms, legs, and body with it, and hands him again to his mother.

The young man squats in the floor next to the mother and baby. All is now quiet.

_____

But in heaven, Jehovah God rises from his throne, raises his holy hand in triumph and shouts “Yes!” A yes that resounds through the universe and beyond. The angels pat each other on the back and burst out in a song of triumph that shoots through the heavens and slides down to the countryside outside of the little town of Bethlehem.

“Light the light! Light the light!”

Suddenly the angels begin to glow. Brighter and brighter. Ready for their descent. Ready for their appearance. Ready for the moment of glory.

Silence. Divine silence. Wonder. Awe. Overwhelming astonishment. Overpowering love.

_____

An insignificant couple. A dirty stable. Smelly. Dingy lighting. Cobwebs.

“Now what happens?” Joseph whispers.

“Well,” Mary replies hesitatingly. “He looks pretty sleepy.”

“Do you think he’ll start talking right away? How fast will he grow? He’s God’s Son, you know. He can do anything.” Joseph’s heart is about to burst with pride.

“We’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we?”

Mary closes her eyes, then opens them again and snickers. “Wonder if he’ll wake up after a while and say, ’Mother, I’m ready for my milk’. “

Joseph snickers too.

He stays awake awhile and watches his wife and baby sleep a now restful sleep. They will have lowly visitors in a few hours, then fall back to sleep.

_____

It is daylight now. The hinges on the stable door creak. Joseph is just returning.

“I tried to pay our taxes, but they insist on seeing you and the baby too for census purposes. They agreed to let you wait a day and check in tomorrow. I bought another scripture scroll while I was out. Just a small one. Micah.”

Joseph spends the next day reading and searching the scroll of the prophet he had just brought. Searching for more prophesies about the Son of God, the Savior, lying beside his Mary.

“Listen to this, Sweetheart! This was predicted by Micah. You won’t believe it! ‘Bethlehem in the province of Judea, you are just a small Judean town, but you will be the birthplace of my King who has been alive since before time.’”

He takes baby Jesus’ little fist into his big rough hand and watches him sleep.

“You mean little Jesus was supposed to be born in Bethlehem all along?” Mary responds.

Joseph grins and shakes his head. “What a time God had getting us here! We fought it all the way!”

Census completed and taxes paid, the young couple wonders what to do.

“Well, if Jesus was supposed to be born in Bethlehem, maybe he’s supposed to grow up here,” Joseph surmises.

“People are beginning to go home now. I’m going to go out and find some work. After the mess people made of the town while here, I don’t think I’ll have any trouble.”

Joseph is back to his normal take-charge self. Mary smiles in approval.

“Besides, we won’t have to put up with the taunts here,” he adds.

Everything works out as planned. The young couple with their divine baby move into the one-room house Joseph had left behind and turned into a sheep pen when he had moved to Nazareth.

Joseph insists on going shopping with Mary, though. He walks beside her and “their” baby. He walks proudly.

Often he grins at the passersby who only glance briefly his way, fleetingly wondering why he is grinning so widely. They do not hear that he is shouting silently to them all, He’s the Son of God, you know! He’s going to save you some day!

Yes, indeed, Joseph is walking tall.

3 –JOSEPH

Two Fathers, One Son

God has selected Jesus’ human father. He is strong as a rock and fiercely loyal. His ability to love is unstoppable. He loves Mary completely and without reservation. He will love Jesus the same. And the gaps in Joseph’s character? God will fill them in. For he is the other Father.

Very soon Joseph will learn of his destiny.

• BC 6
• Road between Provinces of Judea and Galilee, Palestine

Far away, Mary turns in the direction of home and steps into the pages of human and divine history that will indeed include her Joseph.

As her small caravan makes its way up into the mountains. Mary’s mind wanders from one thing to another. She prays fervently. She is more frightened than she ever has been. The fear not only persists, it grows.

Oh, my God. Will my parents disown me? Will I be stoned?

The traveling party is now in the foothills. One step at a time her gentle donkey takes her closer to her destiny. Will it be glory or doom? Sometimes she puts her hand over her womb and looks up into the sky.

Oh, my God. I am so scared.

Tears are her constant companion as she envisions her rejection.

Sometimes her body grows so limp with worry, she nearly falls off her donkey. But a kindly woman in the group has noticed Mary is apparently not feeling well, and rides next to her. Whenever it looks as though the little woman is about to pass out, the woman reaches over and touches Mary’s hand.

“Are you all right, sweetheart?” the new friend always says.

Each time, Mary straightens back up and brings her mind back to the here and now. But it is only temporary.

She thinks back to Joseph and their wedding plans. She’d had everything worked out. What she would wear, what would be served at the wedding feast, and who her maids in attendance would be.

Joseph had even begun etching invitations on small pieces of wood. He is so patient. And full of delightful surprises. Now, it is all gone. Well, a big wedding feast isn’t so important. The big thing is Joseph’s love.

On the donkey treads with its precious passenger. Patient. Reliable.

Oh, my God, will Joseph turn me into the authorities and have me stoned to death? Please, God, don’t let it happen. I’m so scared.

They pass the city of Cana. She is almost home. She must stop the tears. She must return to her old confidence. Oh, I’ve only been thinking of myself. What about my baby?

Jesus is indeed growing within her. Mary is very tired, and she senses her baby is too.

The journey. Such a long journey Jesus has made. From Creator to created. From All Powerful to completely dependent. From the infinite universe to a little womb. From being everywhere at once to confinement in a body. A miniature body at that.

Her donkey sways and plods with the little lady on its back. Now and then Mary thinks the heavenly Father’s Spirit enters her womb and he, too, gently rocks his baby boy.

• Nazareth, Province of Galilee

 Up in the hills, Joseph looks over the two trees he will need to keep his business going the next three weeks. With his ax, he cuts off all the branches close to the trunk and throws them out of his way.

That complete, he stops, takes some big swallows of water and sets his water skin down on one of the tree stumps. He walks over to where he had laid his robe on the small tent he had slept in the previous night and wipes his brow with it. He sits on the larger tree stump to rest his stocky frame.

She’s never going to be gone from me this long again. I love her too much. I could never let her go again.

He looks up at the white clouds playfully bumping into each other. Oh, Jehovah, God, bring her back home to me soon.

Rest over, he expertly strips the bark off the two trees with his adze.

Time for another break, but not nearly as long. He must finish everything before dusk. He eats a few fresh grapes he had bought at the market that morning on his way out of town.

Oh, Mary. Why did you have to go away? Jehovah, keep her safe. Keep my Mary safe.

Back to work. Hovering over one of the tree trunks, he uses the back side of his axe to tap in wedges along its length. Then with full muscle he hammers them in with the precision learned from his father down in Bethlehem until he has split the log.

He moves the wedges over just about a finger span, and repeats the process to make his first board. He goes through the exercise until he has all the boards he can glean from the two trees he had cut the day before. He muscles the heavy cargo onto his wagon, waters his ox, and starts back toward Nazareth.

She said she wanted one last vacation alone before the wedding. What was she thinking? I know she’s sometimes independent, but she didn’t have to go so close to our wedding date.

“Oh great Jehovah,” Joseph says aloud. “It’s been three months. What is she doing down there? Don’t ever let Mary leave me again. I can hardly stand it.”

When he reaches home, there is a small parchment attached to the gate latch. Wiping some of the sawdust off his rough hands, his fingers touch it, and fold around it. Time stands still. His other hand pulls at the twine around it. Slipping. Slipping. Almost off. He drops the twine to the ground. Careful not to tear anything, he begins to unroll the scroll. He sees it is in Mary’s unique script. A little more to unroll the rest. Then a little more. Time. Time takes too long. Now he sees the whole message.

My dearest Joseph. I returned home last evening. I must see you as soon as possible. I have never stopped loving you. Mary.

“Yes!” he shouts to the world. “She’s back!”

He opens the double gates and leads his ox and wagon into his small courtyard. Hurriedly, he takes the yoke off and leads the animal to a water trough. Unloading the cart and taking the ox back to the livery will have to wait.

He tugs off his dirty clothes as he goes through the courtyard, leaving them on the ground. He shakes the sawdust out of his normally black hair and splashes water from his wash bowl onto his grimy face. He shoves his head as far into the bowl as he can, and pours water over it. He rises, slings the water out of his hair, pats it down with his hands, and picks up a discarded shirt to wipe water off his face.

Rushing into his small quarters, he grabs clean clothes off a hook and puts on more decent sandals.

Within moments Joseph is out the gate and rushing up the street.

Before long, he comes in view of Mary’s home. His heart beats faster in anticipation of his reunion with his sweetheart. He touches his hair to make sure it is in place for his Mary. Anything and everything for his Mary.

He knocks on the gate. The latch moves from inside. Joseph grins in anticipation. The gate slowly creeks open. Hurry! Hurry!

But it is Mary’s mother.

“Mary’s upstairs on the roof, Joseph.”

His future mother-in-law does not look happy.

What is wrong? Something’s wrong? Was she injured? Has she changed her mind about the wedding? What’s going on?

He takes broad strides toward the stairway to the roof. Sarah takes hold of his arm and looks up into his young, confused eyes. “Be gentle with her. She’s still our daughter. We still love her.”

Something is wrong. What is it? Oh, Mary, what is it? Whatever it is, I’ll stand by her and help her through it. My love for her knows no bounds.

“Okay,” he responds aloud. “Just let me see her now.”

She nods in agreement, and Joseph springs up the steps, three at a time.

He stops.

There sits his Mary. Nothing wrong that I can see.

His grin returns, wide and unrestrained, his eyes flash in fantastic love. He starts walking over to Mary, the love of his life, when her mother’s hand once again stops him.

“Wait. Not yet,” she whispers.

Mary looks at Joseph with eyes of love and fear.

“Joseph, I love you with my whole heart. I have always loved you. You are the only man I have ever loved. Do you believe that?”

“Of course, Mary. I believe you.”

What an odd question.

Then Mary slowly stands. Joseph is unsure what she is showing him, not wanting to know.

She lets her cloak slip down to her feet.  “Joseph, I am pregnant.”

Joseph stares in disbelief. Confusion takes over his eyes, his lips and his demeanor. Deep breathing builds up as if getting ready to fight an unknown, unseen enemy.

His fists clench.

He puts a hand up to his forehead. He turns and looks away and then back again, hoping he only imagined what he was seeing and what he has just heard. But the love of his life is still pregnant.

Mary does not say anything. She just stands there. Tears. Waiting for him to say something.

“Mary! How could you do this to me?”

Joseph turns, jumps down the stairs and bounds out of the house, leaving the gate open behind him. He throws the gift he’d brought her at the wall of her house.

He stumbles down some street in some village somewhere. Somehow, eventually, in a time where there is no time, a familiar gate appears. He staggers toward it, not completely aware that he is doing it.

Joseph puts his head down on his closed front gate. With his fist, he pounds it relentlessly. “Mary! Mary! Not you! Why? Why?” he cries out to an unseeing and uncaring world. And though he is talking to Mary, he is glad she is not around to hear him. He is now aware that he never wants to see her again.

He sobs uncontrollably. Betrayed by innocence. But not innocence after all. The ultimate betrayal.

His voice, his sobs, swirl through his head and rush to the ears of Satan who laughs in sadistic excitement.

God wants to reach down and comfort him, but Joseph is not yet ready.

Somehow Joseph manages the lock and stumbles through the gateway to his courtyard, and toward his little living quarters, the living quarters he had thought he and Mary would be making into a home. But he cannot go inside.

“Oh, Jehovah God, why? Why, God? Why did it have to happen? Oh, God, not this,” he bellows at the sky.

Stumbling around the ox and wagon he’d forgotten he left there in his hurry, his hand lands on a bowl of water where he’d washed less than an hour earlier. He pushes it over and down onto the ground in retaliation. Retaliation on Mary. He works his way from object to object, throwing everything he can see with young, strong arms. The arms that once held Mary protectively.

He turns and, tramping over the mud and broken pottery on the ground, he finally makes his way into his quarters.

The man! Who’s the other guy? Who did this to her? He kicks the stool in the middle of the room.

Did Mary consent? Was she raped? He takes hold of the stool and throws it across the room.

He picks up a piece of fine clay on which he had sketched a picture of her and throws it at the wall. He drops to his knees and remains there a few moments as though begging providence to back up and start all over again with this morning.

Was it someone she’s known for a long time? Has she been seeing someone behind my back? What’s going on, Mary? Mary!

He sits now on the floor with her picture. All broken. Crushed. Cut to the heart. Unhealable. Inconsolable. Betrayed with the ultimate betrayal.

Oh, Mary… Oh, Jehovah God… Say it’s just a dream.

Sprawling completely prostrate now, he hits his fist against the floor. He is bleeding. Bleeding from the broken pottery. Bleeding from the broken promise. The broken heart. The broken life. “Oh, Mary… Oh, God…” he groans.

Joseph opens his eyes and it is dark. No sounds on the street. It must be very late. Too late. Too late to do any work. Too late for Mary. Too late for him. Too late for happiness.

Getting up, Joseph stumbles toward the courtyard and pauses in the doorway, momentarily forgetting what he’s doing. Forgetting because there’s nothing to remember. Only betrayal. And a treacherous emptiness.

He turns back into his quarters and throws himself across his bed on top of the crumpled covers, and stares at the dark ceiling with unseeing eyes. He pounds his bed mercilessly, turns over. Then over again. And again. How can he sleep?

Turning, he sits up and puts both open hands up to his head and his ears, hoping the echoes of betrayal will go away. But they haunt him. He raises his fists to heaven. “Why, God? Why did you do this to me? Why?”

His masculine nature wants to fight. But who is the enemy? Who can he cut down?

Rushing out through his door into the blackness of his night, he fumbles with a flint to light a fire. A fire to burn the wick in his lamp so he can see.

Joseph sets the olive-oil lamp down and steps over to the wagon filled with the boards he’d brought home earlier in the day. The day of hope and promise. The day of betrayal and utter nothingness.

He jerks the straps off, scourges the boards with them, then throws them down. He grabs the first board and slings it at the storage bin. No more neat piles. No more everything in its place, because now nothing is in its place.

With some strange force coming out of his abyss, he grabs each board, slinging it in the same general direction. He does not care that he is tearing up his bin like his heart has been torn up. He does not care that he is damaging his wall like his life has been damaged.

He must do battle. Battle the boards, the wall and the unknown force that has invaded his world.

The wagon empty, he remembers the doors he’d just begun for the mayor’s new house.

Gotta get them built. Gotta get them done. Gotta do it. Gotta concentrate. Gotta cut and pound, cut and pound, cut and pound.

With all the uncontrollable energy that possesses him, Joseph attacks the wood with a vengeance—cutting, pounding, avenging, thinking…

I’ve got to turn her in to the court. No, I can’t do that. That’s Mary I’m talking about. Mary’s the love of my life. Mary was the love of my life.

He cuts and pounds…

I know. I know what I can do. Yes, that’s it. I’ll pay for her to have an abortion. I know it wasn’t her fault. Someone forced her. Mary wouldn’t betray me like that. She can have an abortion. Then, in a few months, we can be married—celebrations, the wedding parade, the wedding feast, and everything.

Cut and pound.

It’ll all be put back together again. Our dream will be intact. We can go on living as though nothing ever happened. I can forgive Mary. I know I can. I could even move her away from here after the wedding and we could start all over again. No one would be the wiser for it.

Surely, if it means forgiving Mary and getting married after all, God would be for an abortion. God loves forgiveness and marriage. God would approve of the abortion. And the baby wouldn’t ever know the difference.

Cut and pound.

The baby? The baby? It’s growing inside her? It’s already got life? I don’t think I could bring myself to bring it up to her.

And think.

Adoption. That’s the answer. Maybe someone in Mary’s family would adopt it. There’s got to be people around here who can’t have children of their own. Mary could just give it up; then we could go on like nothing ever happened.

No. The baby would still be around. What if the baby looked like Mary? Every time I saw it, I’d be reminded of the betrayal. The betrayal? Yes, the betrayal. What am I going to do?

And weigh.

Annul the engagement. Divorce her. That’s what I’ll do. I’ll quietly send her the legal papers ending our engagement and marriage. That way nothing embarrassing is discussed in the courts to get people asking questions.

Then she can do whatever she wants. Maybe I’ll even move away. Maybe Mary would be better off without me. Maybe I’d be better off without her.

“Oh, Mary… Oh, Jehovah God!” he shouts at the universe. “I don’t know what else to do,” He groans. “Oh, Mary… Oh, God…” Only God hears the helpless whisper.

In a timeless moment, the doors are completely built. The sun, like everything else, betrays him as it shines brightly and unashamedly down onto his courtyard.

He takes a deep breath and puts his forearm up to his brow to decide what to do next. He wants to disappear. He cannot. He will wash up and write out a bill for the doors before delivering them. On his way, he will stop at a lawyer’s shop to draw up a bill of divorcement.

Making his way across the courtyard to his small room, he sits down on his bed, unused the night before. Slowly he takes off his dusty sandals. His logical mind engaged. His emotional mind shut down. The walls stare at him, and he notices the broken pieces of Mary’s picture. He leans back on his pillow. And closes his eyes.

“Joseph! Joseph!”

Startled, he sits straight up in bed. Instinctively, he puts his hand on the hammer he keeps at his bedside.

“Hey, where’d you come from? How’d you get in here? Get out of my house before I do something you’ll regret. Do you hear me? Get out! Now!”

The vague form of a man at the foot of his bed stays. “Joseph, descendant of David…”

“Huh? How’d you know that? How do you know my name? And my ancestry? Lucky guess. Just get out of my house!”

“Joseph, do not hesitate to make Mary your wife!”

“Mary? Mary? Are you the man who…” He can’t quite say it.

“Make Mary your wife,” he repeats.

Joseph’s white-knuckled grip on the hammer loosens and he laughs nervously. “You are kidding me. Who are you, anyway, telling me what to do?”

“Listen to me, Joseph. The child in her womb…”

“The child? It’s already a child, even though it’s not yet born. But… Who are you?”

Joseph completely lets go of the hammer, but he keeps it nearby just in case.

“The child,” the stranger says, “has been conceived by the Holy Spirit.”

Joseph simultaneously tries to comprehend what is said, and fights it.

“The Holy Spirit?” he repeats. “The Spirit of Jehovah God?”

He stands, points a finger at the intruder and lets his guard down to debate him.

“Are you out of your mind?” he objects. “The Holy Spirit does not make women pregnant. You must really take me for a fool. Get out of my house!”

“Joseph, Mary will have a son.”

“A son?” He’s caught up in the conversation even though he knows he should be kicking this stranger out. For some reason, he cannot.

“Mary will have a son.”

“Number one, I could care less what she has. And number two, how can you possibly know she will have a son?”

Without responding, the man continues. “You shall name him…”

“Me?” he interrupts again. “Oh, I’ll not be around when she has that babe. We’re getting a divorce. I’ve already decided. No more Mary for me. It’s good riddance as far as I’m concerned. I don’t know why I ever let myself be taken in by her, anyway.”

“You shall name him Jesus.”

Joseph cannot resist the man. He cannot resist what the man is trying to tell him.

“Jesus?” He’s startled by the name. “Jesus means deliverer.”

“That’s right, Joseph. This Son of God will deliver people all over the world and in all ages from their sins.”

Suddenly, it dawns on Joseph that this man talking to him knows too much to be just an ordinary man. He is speaking with far too much authority. What is there about him?

Joseph sits back on his bed, for some reason feeling drawn into the conversation more than drawn to get rid of him. His message is magnetic. But why? Who is he, anyway?

Anger has given way to curiosity. Now curiosity gives way to possibility. He stares at the man and tries to comprehend his words. Thinking. Absorbing. His head swimming.

Again he objects. He must. But in a different way.

“You mean this is God’s baby I’m supposed to raise?” He doesn’t believe he is saying this.

The stranger smiles. “Precisely.”

“No! No! It’s not possible. God can’t have a son.”

“He can have a brain child.”

“A what?”

“Any time God speaks to mankind, that is his brain child. He’s about to put his words in the form of a human so you can see them for yourself.”

“This is hard.”

“God spoke for centuries and people didn’t quite catch on. So now he’s going to speak through the life of a man. That man is who Mary has conceived.”

Does he dare? Dare to believe? Oh, how he wants to. For Mary’s sake, he wants to. It would put things back the way they were.

Walking over to his little window, Jesus looks up at the sky, his hands holding his head. He turns and stares at the now silent stranger. He looks down at the pieces of Mary’s picture.

Can he take the plunge? The plunge that makes no sense to him, but makes much sense to him?

“How can I do that? I’m not strong like God.”

The stranger smiles and takes Joseph a little deeper. He quotes an ancient prediction. “This will fulfill God’s message through his prophets. Don’t you remember the prophet Isaiah?”

The stranger standing next to Joseph’s bed quotes it. “Listen! The virgin shall conceive a baby! She shall give birth to a son, and call him Emmanu-El, which means God is among us.”

“A virgin? Is Mary still a virgin?”

Joseph lunges at the idea. How he loves his Mary. How can he give her up?

“A virgin?”

Doubts return with his hated unmanly tears.

“No, that can’t be. Virgins can’t be pregnant. Mary has betrayed me.”

Again the stranger waits while Joseph thinks and absorbs and struggles. Momentarily he looks over at the stranger, then picks up one of the pieces of Mary on the floor.

Without looking up, he whispers, “Who are you?”

In his heart, he knows. Somehow he knows. One more plunge of faith. A big one.

“Are you…? I guess this sounds bizarre, but are you an angel?”

The stranger smiles.

“You are, aren’t you?”

The instant Joseph comprehends and believes, the angel disappears. The young man opens his eyes and jumps up. It had been a dream, but a dream of reality. A dream of hope beyond hope. A dream that will change his destiny and the destiny of the entire world.

He raises his eyes to the ceiling and shouts aloud, “Mary’s a virgin! Mary’s still a virgin!”

Turning, he looks for his scripture scroll of Isaiah. “Where did I put them this time?” He rummages around his one room, then the courtyard. He it on the ground next to the broken bowl. Some of the water has soaked the edges.

Grabbing it, he turns it quickly in his hands. It will not turn fast enough. Impatiently he puts the scroll back on the ground and rolls it all out in front of him. He straddles it, scanning and searching for the word to jump out at him—the word virgin. Frantically. Desperately.

“There it is. Mary’s still a virgin. Mary is the virgin.”

Joseph’s excitement recalls another statement of the angel, and his mind climbs deep, deep into the Word of God.

Jesus…Emmanu-El…God with Us. God’s Spirit. Oh, Jehovah God. This is your baby.

His soul grabs at the thought and hangs on to it relentlessly. He looks up at the sky. “Oh, Jehovah God. How can I ever be a father to your baby?”

Joseph once more has startled himself. Did he really hear what he thought he heard? Did he really say what he thought he said?

Looking up into the sky, he shades his eyes from the sun and watches the clouds race by. Confusion returns, and along with it, fear.

He continues to stare at the fleeting clouds above. Clouds willing to flee with the hope that has risen in his soul.

Something swells up inside of him. Something deep within him begins to rumble and quake. His whole body slowly begins to shake—very slowly, very steadily as he continues to search the heavens.

Rising slowly and steadily from the depths of his soul, his being shouts to the heavens beyond the sky he sees.

“Jehovah God! Creator of the universe!”

His heart beats faster. “How can I be a father to your baby?”

His eyes search the heavens for an answer.

“How can you give me this kind of responsibility? I am just a weak man. I am not strong like you. Oh, Jehovah God, I can’t handle it!”

But Joseph hears something deep in his soul.

“We fathers will work it out—you and I.”

He turns and sits on the ground in the solitude of his crowded courtyard. He struggles to comprehend. He stands and goes back into his room. He sits on his bed. He moves to the floor. The floor next to where he had shattered his picture of Mary.

He stands.

His hair in shambles, sawdust permeating his clothes, tear stains crisscrossing his rugged face, he runs out the gate without locking it.

“I must get to Mary. I must tell Mary. I must help Mary. She needs me.”

Bolting down the street, he races toward the home of his bride. Seemingly the homes and shops he passes jump out of his way. Seemingly the wind picks up his feet and delivers him to the familiar gate. He pounds on it and rattles the latch. Deliriously, he pounds.

“Mary! Mary! Open up. Please Mary. Forgive me, Mary. Please, you’ve got to come to the gate. Please, Mary!”

The gate opens and this time it is Mary’s father. “She’s back up on the roof. We’ve been expecting you.”

Joseph once more takes the stairs three at a time, spots Mary, and kneels in front of his beloved, his bride, the mother of God’s baby.

He puts his head in her lap and sobs. Mary sobs. Their tears mingle and rise higher and higher through the universe. At last they reach the throne of God and swirl restlessly at his feet.

God reaches down and touches those tears. Now, somehow, the young couple way down on earth, feels peace like a river.

“We’re still getting married,” Joseph whispers. “God has chosen us to raise his baby. I think I understand now. We’ve got to follow through. He’s put his trust in us. Oh, Mary, how I love you.”

“I love you too, my dear sweet Joseph. I always did and always will.”

The two sit alone together. Together facing something they cannot explain to themselves, let alone to other people. Together facing what seems to be the impossible, and which of course is the impossible.

“Why did God choose us?” she whispers.

There is no answer.

“Mary, all I can say is that I’ll do the best I know how,” Joseph responds. “It won’t be enough.”

“God doesn’t want us to do anything other than give him a normal home so he can grow up,” Mary replies. “That’s all. He’ll do the rest.”

“What about our wedding? No one will believe us.”

“Oh, I didn’t really need a big wedding, Joseph. We’ll be just as married without all the feasts and parades. I’m only worried about how you will handle what people say about you,” Mary adds.

“Not as much as the things people will call you, Mary. But, don’t worry. I’ll stand by you all the way.”

“Me too, Joseph. We’ll stand by each other.”

Late in the afternoon just before dark, Joseph returns alone to his home. The home where the angel of God had actually appeared to him. And changed his life forever.

As he walks in, he sees his scripture scroll rolled out to the place he’d read earlier. He reads it again and again. Then he prays.

One father praying to the other Father.

“Can I do it, Jehovah God?” he asks over and over.

Joseph understands all the hurdles he will have to overcome to protect his son—his and God’s son. At least he thinks he does. There will be so many. Many more than even Joseph comprehends. But God knows. And God is ready to do what is necessary.

_____

Over the next four years, God will speak to Joseph and give him specific instructions to help his young family out of some very tough situations.

God has spoken one time to Mary and that is sufficient. He will speak four times to Joseph. There will be a lot of things for the two fathers to talk over.

The two fathers will need that time together. They will need to confer together. Develop their strategies together. Plan their future together. The two fathers must be strong.

So, on this night, as Joseph drifts off to sleep, God in heaven looks down on this solitary man and knows he made the right choice.

They will share their fatherhood together. Joseph has faith in the heavenly Father. God has faith in the earthly father.

Together, not even hell will be able to stop them.

2—ELIZABETH

Bastion of Barrenness

How can two women—one much too young, the other much too old—change the direction of a nation that its officially selected leaders could never change?

How can two women who no one ever heard of actually believe their sons—not even born yet—will grow up to lead the nation into freedom from the most powerful force in the world?

The audacity. The simplistic nerve.

Besides, the old one—Elizabeth—is way too shy. Has been all her life. Can’t prod her to say anything in a group. That is, if you ever catch her in a group. More like a wall flower. Sometimes even a recluse.

Don’t be surprised if her son turns out to be just like her instead of bold enough to actually lead the nation as she thinks. Don’t be surprised if he shies away from people like she does. Don’t be surprised if he becomes a hermit. Just like his mother.

Then there are their husbands. The young one doesn’t even have a husband. Got pregnant anyway. And the old one’s husband? If ever opposites attracted, it certainly was so of Elizabeth and Zechariah. Zechariah talks too much. Never knows when to shut up.

When her husband goes to serve his month-long term at the temple once every other year, she doesn’t go with him. Too much excitement. Too many people. Too public.

In fact, she’d rather not live in Jerusalem at all like some of the priests’ families do.

Actually, she doesn’t like city living anywhere. She likes the quiet country life. Deep down she has always been a country girl, even now that she is growing old.

Elizabeth should have gotten used to the idea by now. What idea? The new one. She is with child.

Pregnant at her age? How can it be? She knows. Her husband knows. But no one else knows. It is a miracle. But how do you explain a miracle? A sixty-five-year old woman just doesn’t become pregnant.

And to complicate things, her husband has been unable to talk since the angel came to him with the news of her imminent pregnancy. He could have explained it to people. Elizabeth can’t explain anything. She wants to be excited about it, but so many other things are going wrong.

• BC 7
• An Obscure Village in Province of Judea, Palestine

“Thank you, Oh God, for answering our prayers. But, why now?” she prays at night. “My baby needs a father who can talk. Why now?”

Elizabeth’s one long braid hangs straight down her back with many strands coming loose. The large gray streak in her hair begins above her forehead and swirls back almost to her crown. It is almost white. Her clothes are wrinkled most of the time from being in bed so much, but she does not care.

“Elizabeth, are you sure you need to stay in bed all this time?” Zechariah scribbles on the small clay tablet he carries with him now. “It’s been three months.”

Though older than Elizabeth by five years, Zechariah has a little gray hair showing at his temples. Unlike his wife who never cared much what her clothes looked like, Zechariah takes pride in his appearance.

Frustrated and frightened, Elizabeth pats her abdomen, indicating she must rest for the sake of the baby.

Her husband does not agree. But what does he know? He’s never had an expecting wife before.

Several moments later he returns with her lunch, consisting of a square of cheese, a small loaf of bread, and a goblet of milk. He leaves it within her reach, then returns to his work in the other room.

Elizabeth has not eaten since yesterday. Nausea continues. But she forces down what she can. For the sake of the baby.

When she is through, she gets out the scroll she keeps nearby and continues reading.

Though not allowed to attend synagogue school with the boys in her village, her father had made sure she had an education anyway. Elizabeth had always been quick to understand things. Once she had learned to read to a sufficient proficiency, she began asking if she could read some of the scripture scrolls. By the time she was a teenager, she had become an avid scroll reader, and read every one she could lay her hands on. After marrying Zechariah, a priest with access to all the scripture scrolls, she had decided to memorize as many as she could.

Yesterday, she had left off reading the account of the kings of Israel where Elijah was interacting with the king and queen, and with the pagan priests.

The angel had told her husband that her baby would be strong like Elijah, and would prepare people for the coming of the Messiah, the Deliverer.

“Oh, God.” she prays. “Help me raise this child so he will be strong, and so he won’t run from his responsibilities.” She pauses. She reflects. “…Like me, God. I hide because I’m afraid. Afraid of losing the baby, afraid of explaining things to people. I guess I’ve been afraid of people all my life. Help me also to not run from my responsibilities.”

By the end of the day, she feels she has prayed in vain. She cannot imagine herself standing before her neighbors and allowing them to gape at her. How is she ever going to teach her son to stand before kings?

_____

It is now four months. Zechariah leans over her, smiling. As he looks into her eyes, he pulls back her covers, takes both her hands, and gently encourages her to get out of bed. As usual, Elizabeth hesitates. But this time she realizes she can no longer use her old excuses.

So with tears in her eyes, she swings her feet around, stands, puts her arm in his, and walks out to the courtyard. Each step seems easier than the one before.

The warm early summer day feels good. She feels the sun warm on her pale skin, and the breeze flowing gently through her hair. He leads her toward her cushion. He has bought her a new one. She notices, smiles, and says “Thank you.”

As she walks, her tears recede. She smiles. It is nice.

Of course Zechariah is right. I do need to get up and around more. The chance of losing the baby should be passed by now. I need the exercise. I need to stay strong. For the baby.

She gathers her skirts around her and her husband helps steady her. She sits and looks around as though a visitor in her own courtyard.

“Zechariah, thank you for cooking for me, but you forgot to clean up around the cooking oven.” She smiles at him. “We’ll need to put some of these things away soon.” Her shelves along the wall are empty, with cooking utensils on the cobble stone under them. Her normally everything-in-its-place husband has shown her how much she is needed.

After a little rest, she gets up and begins putting things where they belong. Sometime later she puts one hand on her chest and one on her abdomen. “I didn’t think I would be this tired. I’ll have to rest before I finish.” She returns to the cushions her husband has prepared for her. “I’ll have to gradually gain my strength back.”

After a short respite, she continues to silently work her way around the courtyard putting things back in their proper place. The light things, that is. She doesn’t want to endanger the child, of course.

But, as usual, she must do it in silence. Always the silence. How is she ever going to be able to raise their son with her husband not able to talk?

She the introvert. He the extrovert. That’s why her parents had consented to her marrying him with his outgoing personality. He would make up for her social shortcomings.

With things half in order, she heads back to her bedroom. Zechariah looks up and stops her. He leads her over to a bench and smiles. She recognizes that smile. It’s the smile that she responds to when she lets him have his way. “You’ve been up for a while,” he writes. “That is good for you and the babe.”

She knows somehow, she is going to have to be used to staying up during the day.

And so she does.

Each morning Elizabeth rises, washes, rebraids her hair, and then goes to her cushion. After another rest, she prepares the first meal of the day. Then she rests again.

She knows in a little while someone will appear at their gate from the market with the food for the day. Zechariah will answer the gate as long as she is not ready to tell the world about her pregnancy.

As always, in the afternoon, she gets out the scroll and reads once more about Elijah. She does not really have to read it because she has now memorized it. But sometimes she likes seeing the reassurance of the words written on the parchment.

She thinks of the ups and downs of Elijah’s life. He had performed unbelievable miracles, then wanted to die. He had stood up to the king and queen, run for his life, and then returned to his country to put his life in danger again. Will that be the kind of life her son will lead, once he is grown and has begun his life as a prophet? Will he endanger himself as Elijah had? Will he appear before Herod, as Elijah had his own king? Couldn’t he be like some other prophet who wasn’t in so much danger? But, as she thinks over the old prophets, she realizes they all had hard lives.

Oh, God. Don’t let my son have as hard a life as Elijah.

Zechariah returns home. He has been gone to take care of some business. He sees her reclining on the cushions in the courtyard napping, the scroll on the cobblestone next to her. He sets aside the scroll she has been reading.

Gently he wakens her.

“Oh, I didn’t know you were back,” she replies, frustrated with no one to have a real conversation with.

_____

It has now been five months since Elizabeth has become pregnant. Five months of trying to absorb the whole thing and of praying in deep gratitude, but also frustration over her husband’s inability to speak.

Five months of reading about the first Elijah, knowing that the son within her must declare to the people that their Deliverer will come in their life time. Will the people be glad to hear him make the grand announcement? Surely they will. But will King Herod? Of course not. How is her son going to handle King Herod? Will he be brave enough? Brave like his father? Not shy like his mother?

“Elizabeth, you must start getting out. The neighbors keep asking about you,” Zechariah scratches out on his clay tablet.

“Not that again. I just can’t bring myself to do it. How will I explain it to people?”

“You’ll figure it out,” her husband gestures with an outward sweep of his arms.

Although she smiles in agreement, she knows she is not going anywhere.

I’ve changed. How did I let this happen? I can’t even leave my home any more. I used to like being around my friends as long as there weren’t too many at a time. But now… She looks over at her frowning husband. He does not push the issue and leaves her alone.

What if the sensationalist gossips find out I’m going to have a baby in my old age? What if news reaches other towns? Then what happens to our privacy?

So many reasons to stay to herself. Some good. Some not good.

The warm summer sun allows her to stay out in their courtyard most days. She hears people out on the street. I wonder if some of those voices are my old friends. Why did I back away from everyone? Why am I so afraid? I’ve been afraid before, but nothing like this since I became pregnant.”

“It’s not me. It’s just not me,” she declares to her husband one day during their evening meal of lamb stew, bread, and a few grapes. It had taken her all day to prepare it, but she had managed.

I want so to be happy. But I haven’t been able to control my depression. It’s not like me.

“Being pregnant?” he scribbles back.

“Being so selfish,” she replies. “What if my friends have been needing me?” she responds unexpectedly. Then she recites her mental list: “Rebecca. Judith. Hulda. Rachel.”

Elizabeth puts both hands on her husband’s shoulder and uses his strong body as leverage to stand.

She turns and looks at the large pots along one wall she had used in the past to take food to the sick. “Those pots have been up on that shelf since last winter. What has happened to my friends? Have they needed me and I wasn’t around to help?”

With new resolve, she goes to her bedroom where she keeps her cloak and comes back with it on. Sitting down again she takes the cloak back off. “What will I tell people?” she wonders aloud.

“I’ll go with you,” Zechariah writes on his tablet. “I’ve already explained to them why I can’t talk. They know about you.”

“They know?” Why hadn’t she thought of that? Of course they know. Zechariah could never keep a secret. She has been in her own world too long. Her own selfish world.

She imagines her husband going first to their relatives and then to their neighbors and finally to the synagogue. “The Deliverer is coming!” he must have written to them. “The Deliverer is coming! He’s going to be a friend of the family. He’s going to be a personal friend of our son.”

Zechariah interrupts her thought. He takes his elderly wife’s hands, and slowly she rises up from her seat. He is smiling again. That smile that says, “I’m going to get my way now.”

He helps her put her cloak back on, then slowly walks with her to the front gate.

She can do it. She knows she can. As long as he is beside her, she knows.

Zechariah opens the gate and Elizabeth follows him out. She looks at the familiar sights and, though nervous, feels glad to be back.

They turn and walk slowly up the street. Zechariah grins and his eyes sparkle. A few people pass them, not noticing. But then the inevitable.

“Is that you, Elizabeth?”

Her best friend, Rebecca, grabs her hands. “Oh, Elizabeth. I had heard you were pregnant. But I thought Zechariah was just getting senile and making the whole thing up. He was right. Elizabeth, just look at you.”

The women hug. “Come see me, Elizabeth. I’ve been missing you.”

Little by little people recognize her and stop to talk. “Is it true? You’re going to have a miracle baby? Oh, Elizabeth, it is true! I’m so happy for you!”

Little by little Elizabeth realizes she does not have anything to explain. I brought my worry upon myself. I hadn’t realized how much people loved me, and would therefore believe me. I needn’t have stayed away from them as I had.

Days go by. Gradually Elizabeth returns to her old life. But a life that is different. It will never be the same again. For now she is pregnant. People on the street hear her say softly but proudly, “God did this for me. He’s been kind to me after all, and I will never again feel embarrassed because I could not have children just like all of you.”

In the evenings she ponders how irrational she had become in her fear. She had been embarrassed when she could not have children. Then, when she became pregnant, she had become embarrassed by that. How inconsistent humans can be sometimes, she thinks.

“God, forgive me,” she prays sometimes. God knows what she means.

_____

It is now six months. Elizabeth has had a lot of visitors. Everyone in the village has wanted to see this old woman who isn’t supposed to be pregnant but is. The men slap Zechariah on the back. The women exchange stories about their own pregnancy experiences, and what it is like to hold one’s own baby.

With the attention, Elizabeth finds herself talking more and more about Elijah. “He’s going to be like Elijah, you know,” she tells people. She has told this every time she has seen them. They smile with happiness for their friend.

Often at night she wonders who the Deliverer will be. Will I recognize him? Who is the mother? Is she pregnant yet? Do I know her? Is she in seclusion too? What is her name? Will we mothers ever meet?

Then she reminds herself he has not been born yet. But he will be soon.

•  Nazareth, Province of Galilee

 Mary is up early preparing breakfast for the entire family by herself. She has not really slept anyway.

The Son of God… The Son of God… The words echo through her mind continually as they have all night.

“Mary! What’s the special occasion?” her mother asks, delighted with the surprise breakfast.

“Could I go see Aunt Elizabeth? Please, may I?” Mary is quite aware that Elizabeth is actually her cousin, but she is older even than Mary’s parents. So Mary feels more comfortable calling her aunt.

“Well….”

She turns to her father. “Please? I just want to go away awhile before my wedding.”

“It’s a long trip down south,” he responds. “But I guess it will be okay.”

“Oh, thank you, Father. Thank you, Mother. I love you so much.”

“We love you too, Mary” they answer, perplexed at her sudden expressiveness.

Mary spends the rest of the day washing and drying clothes and packing them in her tote. Little sister, Salome, makes suggestions on what she should take on her vacation.

Their parents think she’ll just be gone a couple weeks. But, if Elizabeth is truly pregnant, Mary knows she’ll be pregnant too. The confirmation she needs. She has to get some advice from Elizabeth on how to handle the family. And Joseph. And her friends. She really needs time with Elizabeth right now. Elizabeth will be the only one who truly understands.

The next day at dawn, the family takes her to a caravan forming at the city gate. “Now stay close to them. Herod’s soldiers and the Roman legionnaires on the road should leave you alone. This caravan leader is known to them. They won’t bother him. So stay close. Stay safe,” her father warns over and over.

Mary glances at the tall, rotund, middle aged caravan leader. His clothes are practical for a traveling man, and he wears no jewelry or anything of value a highway robber might want. He carries a sword at his side and a dagger attached to his leg. His dark eyes dart side to side watching for highwaymen lurking in the sidelines, men who he has long ago learned to recognize.

Alternately, he surveys the people in his caravan, locking on to each person’s face individually. He notices Mary, smiles and waves. He winks at Mary’s father who has paid him a little extra to deliver his little girl to her destination safely.

Mary works her donkey into the small group, demanding no attention by the others. Not by word, demeanor, or anything else.

Though Mary believes deep within her soul that her body now protects and nourishes the offspring of the Creator, she looks no different. No halo given her by God. She has not made for herself special clothing or jewelry to display how holy she is. She is just Mary.

• On Road Between Provinces of Galilee and Judea

 Mary settles as comfortably as possible on her donkey, riding side saddle. She follows the caravan down the hill that is Nazareth. Turning slightly, but keeping her balance, she waves to her family watching her until the travelers are out of sight.

Out on the road, she leans securely on her tote, closes her eyes, and prays.

God, please let Aunt Elizabeth be pregnant. If she’s pregnant, then I know I am. God, I believe I am, but I can’t know for sure yet. It’s too soon. Give me this sign. Help me know for sure. Like I knew for sure yesterday. Please, God, let Aunt Elizabeth be pregnant.

Sometimes Mary briefly dreams. Often she is in a half daze. Sometimes it is a whispering in her soul.

Gradually the terrain changes. The flat land is left behind. It is getting hilly.

The caravan stops at a public well. Everyone goes to the side of the road, sits on a saddle blanket on the ground while their animals rest, and bring out their lunch. Nearly all have bread, many have fruit, and a few have dried meat.

Mary eats some cheese and fruit she has brought with her. She must not skip meals any longer as she used to do when busy with something too interesting to break away from. Now she eats for two.

Strange. Yesterday I was just a teenager planning my wedding. Today I am different. I’ll never be the same, will I?

Several talk quietly among each other. Mary does not. Her father had warned her not to talk to anyone unless they were close neighbors, and none of them are. Some lean back and take a quick noon-time nap. Mary is among them.

Lunch over, the caravan leader announces for everyone to finish filling their water skins, watering their animals, and remount.

On the road again.

Please be pregnant, Aunt Elizabeth, Mary continues to repeat silently. God, please make Aunt Elizabeth be pregnant.

It is almost mountainous now. Fewer trees as they wind around curves. Leaning. Swaying. Panting.

Her thoughts go deep. What about Joseph? Will he believe me? Will I lose him?

Her soul whispers a prayer. Oh God. I am blessed among all women of the world. Why did you choose me? But you did. May I be worthy of your confidence in me. And God? Can you touch Joseph’s heart so he will believe me?

She shifts her weight on her donkey. She is so light, the donkey does not flinch, but keeps trudging on down the road.

Mary feels God leaning low and protecting the traveling group with his own hand.

And God, give me a sign I really am pregnant. May Aunt Elizabeth really be pregnant. Just like the angel said. I believe. Help me keep on believing.

•  Obscure Village in Province of Judea

Elizabeth finds herself looking out the window facing the street. She does not know why. She just does.

She goes for a walk. She watches the women pass by. Perhaps the Deliverer’s mother is in Jerusalem. That’s where the government is. Perhaps she is there.

I wonder if I’ll be able to meet her while our sons are babies, or if I’ll have to wait until they are grown and they find each other. Well, I may not live that long. It would be so nice to know her now. Then I would have someone to talk to who understands my situation. And I’d understand hers.

“Holy God, does she—whoever she is—need me?”

It is now late afternoon. Elizabeth is busy preparing their evening meal. She also listens for something out in the street. She is not sure for what. Or for whom.

_____

At long last, just as the sun swells into a red glow in readiness to slip away, Mary’s caravan stops at an inn for the night. She will go on into the village. Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Zechariah live here.

“Got everything you need?” asks the caravan leader. “Your father said this is where you leave us.”

“Yes, but does anyone know which house belongs to Zechariah the priest?”

“The priest? Yeah, I know where he lives,” the man replies. “I can take you there myself.”

“Is it far?” she asks.

“No. Just take this street down two blocks, turn left, and his place is the third gate on the right.”

“Thank you, sir. I think I can find it by myself. Thank you for everything.”

Moments later, Mary and her donkey stop in front of Uncle Zechariah’s and Aunt Elizabeth’s house. Her heart in her throat, Mary slips down, stands in front of the gate and stares. A little fear wells up inside her. What if Aunt Elizabeth is not pregnant?

Well, God, this is it. Mary prays. If Aunt Elizabeth is pregnant, then I know for sure that I am. God, please let Aunt Elizabeth be pregnant.

Mary ties her donkey to a post, takes her tote down, and then pauses. Please, God. Please…

She knocks and waits.

What will she find? Will she be given that final confirmation of the angel’s promise? That final confirmation of her faith? Or was it all a trick?”

The gate slowly opens.

Mary takes a deep breath.

And there stands Aunt Elizabeth. There she stands… Pregnant! Very pregnant and protruding very nicely, thank you!

“Oh, Aunt Elizabeth. You are. You are pregnant!”

The gate remaining open, the old woman and the young woman fall on each other’s necks in immediate understanding, embracing and refusing to let go. Tears rush to their eyes. They sway back and forth with each other. Locked in love and faith. Locked in divine understanding and ultimate submission. Locked in a kind of holiness thus far known only to three people in all the world.

Elizabeth steps aside, lets Mary in, and shuts the gate.

Mary lays her hands on Aunt Elizabeth’s shoulders. They look into each other’s eyes through glistening tear drops, and weep all over again. Their embrace returns as before.

“Aunt Elizabeth. Aunt Elizabeth,” Mary whispers. “It was an angel after all. It was God’s true message.”

She pauses, slowly gaining control of tears still wishing to slip down her dusty cheeks.

“I know now that I am really pregnant with the Son of God. Oh, Aunt Elizabeth, how could it be happening to me, of all the girls in the universe?”

Elizabeth pulls back and puts Mary’s hand on her protruding womb. “He’s kicking, Mary,” she whispers with a grin. “Feel him!”

She puts Mary’s hand in her own. “He’s leaping with joy even inside my womb,” she says a little louder. “He can hear us talk. He knows. He knows, just as you and I know.”

Elizabeth smiles at Mary. “Not only has your faith been confirmed by me, but my faith has been confirmed by you, dear sweet Mary.”

“You are so favored by God!” she exclaims excitedly. “You, Mary, are favored above all other women in history.”

Could this be Elizabeth talking? Shy Elizabeth? What is happening to her?

The older woman hugs Mary once more, then continues as though telling the whole world. “Your baby, Mary, will be given God’s mightiest esteem! What an honor this is, that the mother of my Deliverer should visit me!”

Mary blushes at the role reversal she is feeling. After all, she is just a teenager, and her elderly cousin is looking up to her.

Zechariah, on the other side of the courtyard, realizes his wife has left his side and gone to the gate. She isn’t back yet. He wonders if she needs help getting rid of a peddler.

He walks in that direction, then sees his wife with a younger woman he seems to remember, but older now. “Zechariah, it’s Mary!” she announces to him.

Zechariah looks at the young lady, smiles, and under that scratches, “D-E-L-I-V-E-R-E-R?”

Both women nod their heads yes. Zechariah holds out his arms and embraces his young cousin. So many blessings in this one family. How could it be so?

Zechariah responds to Mary with special understanding, for he had been told by the angel months before even Mary knew. Thank you, God! his heart shouts.

Now the message is a reality. Hardly able to control his happiness, he mouths the words bursting within his soul. “Thank you, God.,” and he raises his arms toward heaven.

Knowing he cannot converse with the women, he goes over to his wife’s favorite cushion, pushes it over a little, and makes room for a new one set aside for guests.

Satisfied, he returns to his earlier task. He picks up the little stick figure he’s been carving. But his hands are shaking so, he puts his work back down. Instead, he stares into the hearts of his family. And of mankind.

The women need to talk. It will be good for my Elizabeth. I can already tell a big difference in her.

Elizabeth moves around to Mary’s side and directs her toward their seats. Elizabeth shifts them around a little so she and Mary can sit opposite each other. The two women rejoin hands and look into each other’s eyes. Elizabeth continues in an excited whisper. Like sharing a delightful secret.

“When you came in and greeted me,” Elizabeth explains, “the instant I heard your voice, my baby moved in me for joy!”

“All those prophecies the angel explained to me,” Mary relates, “all those things predicted hundreds of years ago…”

“You believed that God would do what he said, Mary. That is why he has given you this wonderful blessing.”

“I’m about to burst,” Mary explains. “I’m delirious with delight! God chose me above all other women in the world. Me. It is true. It is really true.”

“Oh, Mary, I’m so happy for you.”

“God is now going to show how strong he is before our tyrannical government,” Mary declares. “He’s going to pull them out of power, and in their places put their victims. At last the oppressed poor will have the money of the rich so they can live decently. He has protected every generation, and he will protect ours.”

Elizabeth hadn’t realized her young cousin knew so much about what is happening in their country. After all, she lives up north away from all the politics around Jerusalem.

The women stare at each other in silence, knowing how unable they are to truly express the inexpressible. Moments later, Elizabeth interrupts their thoughts with the more down-to-earth matters.

“Oh, you must be starved, child. Sit right there while I warm up some stew for you.”

Zechariah smiles as he watches his wife become her old self again.

Stew duly consumed, Elizabeth escorts her young cousin to a bedroom. Mary’s tote is already in it. “This is our guest room. We want you to stay as long as you need to.”

“Aunt Elizabeth, I don’t know how to tell everyone back home. I don’t know how to explain it. It was hard enough for me to believe, and I saw the angel in person. How am I ever going to explain it to my family? And my neighbors? And my Joseph?”

Such questions. How can Elizabeth help Mary with them when she has so many questions of her own?

“We’ll exchange some ideas about it in the morning,” she replies. “And, Mary, I’m so glad you came. For selfish reasons I’m glad. I needed someone to talk to.”

_____

Days come and go. Mary gets settled in. She does everything she can to take work off Elizabeth so she can rest as much as possible. Mary even does the daily food shopping for her, and the laundry. But Elizabeth insists on doing the cooking. She loves to cook. So Mary cleans up afterward.

“Mary, can you read?” Elizabeth asks after lunch and their afternoon naps.

“Yes. I guess I’m lucky. My grandfather, Matthat, taught me to read. He said I had a good mind and should be able to read the scriptures so I can teach them to my children.

“He didn’t rely on whoever you married someday being able to read?” Elizabeth asks.

“I don’t know.  I guess my grandfather didn’t think our village rabbi understood the scriptures as much as he should.”

“Making sure the women in the family could read has apparently been a tradition in both our families,” Elizabeth explains.

That evening, Elizabeth pulls out two scripture scrolls, handing one to Mary.

“Okay. We’re going to read until we find a prophecy about our respective sons,” Elizabeth instructs.

All becomes quiet. Zechariah looks over to them sometimes nodding approval and admiration.

“Look, Aunt Elizabeth,” Mary says excitedly. “The prophet Malachi said your son will be as great as the prophet Elijah, and will turn the hearts of the fathers to their families instead of fighting.”

“Look here what I found,” Elizabeth responds. She had long ago memorized the psalms of David but knows Mary needs to see them in writing. “David prophesied your son will rule forever.”

Taking Mary’s hand and looking deep into her eyes, “You are blessed above all women, sweet Mary.”

Then back to searching through the scriptures. Excited with the revelation of one prophecy, and awed by another. Alternately elated and filled with wonder. A little at a time building up each other’s confidence. And their own.

Gradually, the two women adjust their routine. Elizabeth sleeps a little longer in the morning. Mary can’t eat in the morning. But she does manage to prepare some kind of breakfast for Zechariah and Elizabeth by the time they are up. They have to eat it away from her, though. If she is around food too long in the morning, she becomes nauseated.

And they talk. Talk and encourage and reassure.

“Oh, Aunt Elizabeth, how am I ever going to raise God’s Son? I won’t know what to say or do.”

“Just be the kind of mother your mother has been to you,” Elizabeth explains. “God wants you to take care of the human side of his Son. That’s all. God will take care of the rest.”

Housework, napping, meals and going for walks fill their days. Reading God’s Word for explanations of their sons fill their evenings. And the prayers. After listening to God talk to them, needing to talk to God.

“Please help us raise our babies,” Elizabeth prays.

“Yes, God, we are just human. We will need your help,” Mary adds.

_____

Mary eventually takes over the responsibility of preparing the evening meals. With Elizabeth now in her seventh month, Mary does as much as she can for her. She always finds out what Zechariah is in the mood to eat for his dinner from his scratches on his tablet.

Elizabeth sits nearby on her cushions. From there she tells Mary where everything is she needs for the meal. They chat almost unendingly. Always something to talk through.

Sometimes up. Sometimes down. Their emotions. Wondering why them. Then accepting the best they know how. Then excitement. Then back to doubt. And all over again.

Now and then Zechariah wanders over to them and stands with his head bobbing back and forth between the two women, watching them talk and reply to each other. Then he grins, points to his useless mouth, and shrugs his shoulders as though to say, “It’s just as well I’m unable to talk; I couldn’t fit a word in anyway.”

The women know what he means and grin, handing him a goblet of juice to occupy his stomach until meal time.

Mary’s womb is beginning to swell some now. She has no more doubts that she is indeed pregnant. As pregnant as Elizabeth.

“Sometimes I’m really afraid of what my family will do,” Mary tells her one day.

“You know, Mary, you have the scriptures to back you up.”

“Even if they do believe me, our neighbors won’t. They’ll be so cruel to us.”

“You had your choice, Mary. You could have stayed there and quickly married Joseph, and no one would have been the wiser. But proving that you conceived, even though a virgin, was vital and you knew it. You had the wisdom to come here away from Joseph. That took a lot of courage. God knew you were brave. You’ll survive through the neighbor’s taunts. You’re strong.”

“But the neighbors, Aunt Elizabeth, will want to have me arrested for committing adultery.”

“Joseph is the one who will have to press charges. If he is the kind of young man you say he is, I just don’t believe he’ll do it.”

“I’m scared, Aunt Elizabeth. What if they succeed in stoning me? I am so scared.”

“They won’t. You’re carrying God’s Son. He will protect you. Somehow.”

Elizabeth sounds so strong and wise when she gives advice to others. Deep down, she wonders about how she will deal with her own life. Will she have the courage to teach little John courage?

God, don’t let me fear the crowds like I do, she prays without Mary knowing.

_____

The days go by. Then weeks. Elizabeth is now eight months along in her miracle pregnancy.

The elderly woman rests more and more. Mary spends more time taking over responsibilities of the house, and rests herself. She prays alone, then asks Elizabeth for the answer.

“God, will help you raise your baby. God will help your family understand. And Joseph will understand,” Elizabeth repeats to Mary as she has so often. “Joseph will love you and still want you, Mary. If he is the kind of young man you say he is, he will still want you.”

Elizabeth prays yet another prayer. God, help Zechariah and me to live long enough to raise our son. Help us teach him properly. Help him not be like me. I’m so shy. Make him like Zechariah. Zechariah always knows how to handle any situation. Zechariah is brave. Make him like his father.

“There is going to be so much pressure from the neighbors and gossips,” Mary says for the tenth time in two days. “They won’t believe me. I know they won’t. They’ll think my baby is illegitimate. They’ll treat us terribly. I don’t think I can take that.”

“You are officially betrothed to Joseph,” Elizabeth replies as she always does. “He will stand by you and give you courage, just like Zechariah stands by me. He’ll help you face the neighbors and everyone else. You just wait and see.”

“But what if Joseph won’t finalize our marriage?”

“Have faith in God,” Elizabeth advises both Mary and herself. “God will help Joseph through all this. I believe your Joseph will play an important role in your baby’s upbringing.”

“I keep praying he will, Aunt Elizabeth. I keep praying he will. I love him so.”

_____

Days go by. And weeks. Elizabeth is now in her ninth month.

“The responsibility of raising God’s baby is overwhelming,” Mary repeats one morning, absent-mindedly laying a freshly-washed plate in her lap. “Can I do it?”

“If the Lord hadn’t believed you could handle it, child, he wouldn’t have chosen you,” Elizabeth always replies. Once more, God has used Mary to give his answers to Elizabeth herself.

“But my family.”

“You have a good family. Once you have had a chance to sit down with them and point out the fulfillment of the prophecies made about our Deliverer hundreds of years ago, they will believe. Besides, my own baby will be proof to them, just like it was to you. I know them. Their faith has survived many things,” Elizabeth continues, trying to maintain her self-confidence for Mary’s sake. “It will survive this too.”

“Do you think it will help if you sent my parents a letter? Kind of warning them that I’ll have some shocking news? I’m three months along now. I can’t hide it.”

“I tell you what I’ll do. I’ll write them a letter you can take home with you after you’ve seen little John for yourself.”

_____

Two days later, just as the sun is half way to its noon-time pinnacle, Mary is pleased to assist in the birth of the miracle baby of Zechariah and Elizabeth as he is presented to the world. In a little house of a relatively unknown priest. To a woman too shy to be a miracle mother.

Aunt Elizabeth holds her gift from God and weeps in deep joy.

“Who would have ever thought I would finally have my own baby to rock and love like all the other women? Who would have ever thought any of this would happen? Oh, God. Thank you. Thank you.”

Mary watches as Elizabeth hands the baby to her husband, then leaves the room.

For a moment filled with holiness, the threesome, all gifts from God to each other, merge in heart and soul. The impossible has grown from a spark of hope to a blaze of glory. The impossible has emerged from the horizon of doubt to shining victory. The impossible has become possible.

Zechariah thinks to himself, “At last a son to pass on the family name. Our family will not die out after all.”

Zechariah is wrong. His son will grow up, announce the Deliverer, and be executed as a political threat. Without a wife, a son of his own and a grandson for Zechariah. But for now, Zechariah does not know any of this. It is just as well.

“Mary,” Elizabeth whispers to her husband, half breaking the spell. “She needs to hold our miracle.”

Zechariah understands and takes the baby to Mary who has been waiting out in the courtyard. This had been their moment. Surely this means her moment will come too.

Mary takes the miracle baby in her arms. He opens his eyes briefly and speaks to her heart. She instinctively kisses him on the cheek, then holds that cheek next to her own. How warm it is. How warm and reassuring the God of love is. The Life Giver. The Miracle Maker.

She takes the precious baby in to Elizabeth and hands him back to his mother ever so gently. Elizabeth and Mary smile. Their hearts touch. Miracles do happen. Mary believes now that she can handle anything.

Two weeks later Mary decides it is time to return home. Zechariah’s voice had returned to him a week earlier. Everything is okay in their home now. Very okay. Mary knows it is now time to face her parents. Her neighbors. Her Joseph.

The next morning at dawn, Mary peaks in Elizabeth’s room to say good-bye. Luckily, she is awake. The two women embrace.

“Our sons. They’ll be friends someday,” Mary says walking slowly backward toward the door.

“Yes, they will. Perhaps they already are.”

1—MARY & HEROD

Dayspring Dawning

• BC 23
• Nazareth, Province of Galilee, Palestine

It is night. It has been night for a long time. Forty years night. Self-rule taken from the country. This time for good. Bitter, bitter night.

Mary has just been born. There is not much gladness. They name her Bitterness. That’s what Mary means.

Since Mary’s mother was a toddler, the country has been ruled by a madman. He killed half of the citizens of Jerusalem in order to take over—many of them right there in the holy temple itself.

And just two years earlier when Mary’s parents were married, things got worse. One of King Herod’s spies uncovered a plot to assassinate him. He had the would-be perpetrators tortured and executed. The people in turn tortured and executed the spy. Herod in turn tortured some women until they confessed who had killed the spy. Will it never end?

How will such innocence, as that which baby Mary has, ever survive in a world like this?

Baby Mary begins to fuss and cry in her little bed. Her little heart-shaped face contorts, wrinkles form around her eyes, and her little mouth puckers in readiness for an out-and-out wail.

Her mother, hair falling down around her eyes, leans over and picks up her baby. She sits on the well-worn cushions nearby and rocks, hums and dreams of better days for her little one.

Silent night? Holy night?

Sarah only wishes it were. Her eyes grow misty and she looks up as though searching through a blackness.

“God, why aren’t you saving us from all this?” she whispers. God knows and understands. But does he care?

_____

Satan is laughing. He is in control. He will always be in control.

*

But heaven is stirring. It’s almost time. A thousand years have come and gone. Another thousand. Another. And another. It’s almost time.

In a heavenly realm somewhere, a conversation is taking place.

SON, I’VE SELECTED YOUR MOTHER. SEE HER DOWN THERE? SHE IS STILL A BABY, BUT SHE WILL BE STRONG. SHE WILL LOVE YOU THROUGH IT ALL.

And I will love her, Father.

•  BC 19
• Antioch, Syria    

“Hail, Caesar!”

Julius Caesar,  sovereign ruler of the world, has just been assassinated. Now Augustus Caesar rules. He is a friend of Herod. He’s visiting his friend. They have been celebrating. People worry they are also plotting for who knows what. Will things grow worse?

Caesar is on his portable throne, gold embellished with inlaid mother-of-pearl, holding audience. Next to him is a table with silver chalice for his wine. He sets his square jaw, lowers his head and lifts his eyes as though bored with the whole thing.

The self-appointed ambassadors of the common people among the Jews bow prostrated before him.

“You may rise,” Caesar growls. “Now, what is it that is of such importance that you would interrupt my holiday?”

The group of men rises and their spokesman steps forward. He has dark hair mixed with gray, and his brown eyes are clouded just enough to make one wonder how much he can really see. He leans on his cane, trying to hide trembling hands.

“Your Majesty, King Herod is bringing atrocities on our people in Gadara. And, uhhh…”

Caesar waves his hand at them as though shooing away a fly. “Wait outside,” He orders. “I will send for Herod and find out if this is true.”

The ambassadors bow and back out, still bowing low.

The ambassadors, now waiting in an anteroom, hear Herod ranting through the thick walls. They know they are doomed. Revenge is inevitable.

They look at each other knowingly. They had understood from the beginning it might come to this. They scatter. Rather than be tortured for treason until dead, they take their own lives—swords, high bridges, cliffs—anything to escape the torture.

Bitter night. Deep bitter night

•  Nazareth, Province of Galilee, Palestine

 Mary is now four years old. She does not understand the violent world she has been born into.

“Right down the road,” Heli, Mary’s father, tells his wife upon hearing the news. “Just twenty-five milles from here our own countrymen have to resort to suicide rather than face the wrath of the very one who is supposed to be our protector. There’s no escaping Herod and his power.”

Mary crawls into her father’s lap. He acknowledges her only briefly as she snuggles in and leans her head against Heli’s chest. She has trouble getting his attention.

Mary watches her mother, Sarah, set down a bowl of raisin cakes for refreshments near Heli, then return to her seat.

As her parents resume their talk, impetuous Mary wiggles loose of her father’s hold and steps over to her mother.

Sarah takes her into her lap. Mary looks up at her mother’s sad face. In confusion, she reaches up and wipes a tear from her mother’s cheek. That is the way it had always been done when Mary had cried.

“Don’t be sad, Mother. Mary will take care of you,” she says in her soft voice.

“Oh, sweetheart, you’re too young.” Sarah manages a slight smile.

“How am I supposed to protect you and Mary?” Heli continues. He takes a raisin cake, rises, and paces. “If the leading men of the city cannot stand up against King Herod, who can? Who are we?”

He seats himself again, hangs his head, and whispers, “We are nothing.”

He raises his head and slams his fist on the table beside them. “Where is God?” He shouts. “He has got to pull our country out of this mess!”

Mary is pulled out of her reverie in her mother’s lap by her father’s sudden outburst.

God, where are you?

_____

WELL, SON, DO YOU THINK YOU’RE READY FOR THIS?

“Oh, yes. I’ve thought it through many times over the past centuries. I’m definitely ready to travel to earth.”

•  BC 18

 Mary is now five years old and much too young to understand the turmoil that is going on outside of her little world.

“Why can’t we go to synagogue, Mother?” Mary asks.

She is seated on the floor, rolling a little ball between her feet while her mother puts some loaves of bread to the courtyard oven.

“Why can’t I visit my friends on the Sabbath?” Mary asks.

Her mother shakes her head. Her work done with the bread, Sarah turns her full attention to her very inquisitive daughter.

“Well, because King Herod will not allow us to assemble in groups any more. He’s afraid we’re planning his downfall.”

Mary stops playing with her ball and looks over at her mother. “Is he afraid of falling down?” she asks.

Taking Mary’s hand, her mother walks over to the steps that lead to their flat roof. She turns, sits on the bottom step, looks into her daughter’s eyes, and smiles.

“I’ll teach you a new song if you promise not to sing it in public.”

“But, why, Mother? Why can’t everyone sing the song?” Mary’s little brow crinkles into a frown.

Sarah forces herself to keep smiling. “Our king is afraid of the happiness in the songs. I think he’s just afraid of happiness.”

“Doesn’t he ever laugh?” Mary is confused because all the grownups around her laugh, at least part of the time.

Sarah puts her arms around Mary’s waist and puts her in her lap. “Probably not, sweetie. I heard he spies on us personally. Puts on a disguise and spies on us.”

“What’s a disguise?” Mary’s inquisitiveness never wears out.

Her mother sighs. “It’s where you put on a mask,” she replies patiently, “and don’t let people know who you really are.”

“Can we wear masks sometimes, Mother?”

“I think we already do,” she whispers, looking away from her daughter, her eyes seeing nothing much.

Now Mary’s dander is up. She jumps off her mother’s lap, puts both hands on her hips, and pronounces, “If I ever see that mean King Herod, I’m going to tell him he’s being naughty.”

“Oh, sweetheart, you’re too young to understand,” her mother responds. Then, quickly changing the subject, and putting her smile on again, she announces, “This is a song about love…”

_____

Satan is growing nervous. He has heard things are not the same in heaven. That always makes him anxious. Indeed, he has every right to be.

*

…WHAT ABOUT THE ADJUSTMENTS?  THEY’RE INFINITE.  DO YOU THINK YOU CAN HANDLE THEM?

 Like giving up streets of gold for streets sometimes littered with putrid garbage? I can handle that, Father.

• BC 17
• Rome, Italy

 “And so, Sovereign Ruler Caesar, it is with the greatest of regret that I bring my two oldest sons before you—Alexander and Aristobulus—for trying to overthrow the country.”

It is Herod’s day at the highest court in the world. The charges being brought by himself against his sons are, of course, normal. Everyone will understand his position. After all, kings must defend their kingdom.

He is dressed in tunic with purple stripe edging and wears a small crown in deference to the emperor. His beard, grown out to please his Jewish subjects, has been carefully trimmed and combed.

“Sir,” Alexander begins when given a chance to defend himself to Caesar, “he is listening to lies!”

His father stands aside with a smirk. He knows his sons will never convince Caesar. He and Caesar have been friends far too long.

“Why would we want to assassinate our own father?” Aristobulus continues. “Would we have more wealth or prestige than we have now? No. He is our father. We love him.”

Tears in the eyes of his sons and in the eyes of Caesar.

No tears in the eyes of King Herod. He has no feelings. Instead, he is stunned. Has Caesar now turned against him? Has his old friend sided with his incorrigible sons instead of him?

Herod’s brows furrow down toward his eyes as he looks in disbelief at his emperor. His teeth clench. He leans his head forward to hear better, hoping he has misunderstood what Caesar has just said. But his sons are smiling. He had heard right. Indeed, Caesar must be turning against him now.

Suddenly Herod thrusts his head high as though trying to make himself taller and more imposing. He clenches his fists at his side. He wants revenge against Caesar, but dares not, lest he lose his throne and perhaps even his life.

But revenge will come. How dare his sons defy their own father! Some day they will be executed. So he begins the wait. Herod is frustrated because he cannot have his very own sons executed. Not yet.

But he will continue to execute lesser men. For the sake of the country.

•  Nazareth, Province of Galilee, Palestine

 Mary is now six years old and is being taught happiness at home, even though the kingdom she lives in is not very happy.

She has a baby sister named Salome. “Can I hold her, Mother?” Mary asks.

“Come over here and sit on this cushion close to me. Then you can hold the baby for a little while,” her mother replies.

Carefully the exchange is made. Mary runs her hands over the baby’s thin, silky hair. “I’m going to have a baby someday, aren’t I, Mother?”

“Yes, indeed, you will, little Mary. I hope you have a house full of children.”

“And I will never let anyone hurt my children. I will always protect them like you and Father protect Salome and me.”

“If it were only that easy,” her mother whispers.

“What did you say?”

Her mother sighs. “Oh, nothing. Isn’t little Salome beautiful?”

Moments later, Mary becomes wiggly and her mother gently takes the baby from her.

She stands and twirls herself around the courtyard.

“Mary, you’re going to be dizzy and fall,” her grandfather admonishes with a frown and a smile.

Mary is so happy her grandparents have moved in with them. It had become harder for Matthat to bring in fire wood and do all the other necessary things to keep his house in proper condition. His legs aren’t as strong as they used to be, and his hands tremble.

Matthat looks over at his daughter. “Why in the world did you name that little girl Mary? Bitterness just doesn’t seem to fit our happy little girl.”

Mary stops twirling, puts her hands on her waist, and glares at her grandfather in mock disapproval, the twinkle in her eyes remaining bright.

“I’m sorry, little one,” Matthat responds. I shouldn’t have been thinking out loud.”

Not sure what thinking out loud means, Mary brightens at a fresh new thought.

“Do you want to hear my song, Grandfather?”

“You composed a song? How bright you are, Mary. Yes, indeed, I want to hear your song.”

Mary stands at her grandfather’s knees, hands down by her side, eyes sparkling.

I am excited with God.

I am so thrilled with him.

 Matthat applauds appropriately while his wife, Eve, waves a handkerchief in approval with her arthritic hand.

Mary grins proudly.

“How can King Herod hate his own children?” Mary’s father interjects, spoiling her shining moment.

“Doesn’t he like his children?” Mary asks. “I’ll be their friend. Do you want me to go to Jerusalem and be their friend?”

“Oh, sweet Mary,” Grandmother Eve responds. “You could never have any influence over the most prominent family in the country. Besides, you’re too young to travel so far from home,” she adds, reaching out for Mary’s little hands.

_____

Satan does not like what he is hearing. He must make people more bitter. He wishes he could make Mary bitter. Doesn’t she realize that’s what her name means? Maybe when she is older he can make her bitter. He must work harder. Harder on Mary. Harder on the world. Before it is too late.

*

YOUR POWERS, SON.  YOU KNOW YOU’LL HAVE TO GIVE UP MOST OF YOUR POWERS MOST OF THE TIME.  CAN YOU HANDLE THAT?

 You mean like when I’m angry at sinners and tempted to call lightning down on them? It wouldn’t serve my purpose. I’ll use my powers only when necessary to prove I am from heaven, no more.

•  BC 9
• Jerusalem, Province of Judea, Palestine

“Here we are, gentlemen,” King Herod announces to his closest and most trusted associates. “We have a supply of torches. Everyone should have one.”

It is dark once again. It always seems dark. Tonight it is worse.

Each one in the small entourage wears a hood to camouflage their identity in case they are discovered.

They say nothing. They are dumbfounded at what is about to take place. But they must follow orders.

Their king walks among the night-time shadows through the royal cemetery to the vault. “Break the seal,” he orders, looking at one of his Levitical temple guards.

The seal broken, Herod leads the way into a large vault. His lusty grin broadens, despite the dust that grabs at his breath.

It is the tomb of King David and his son, Solomon. In the back is a door opening into a tunnel. Herod orders the soldiers to enter the tunnel first. It is musty. The air is stale and thick. Thick with death.

“The national treasury is back here. At least, that is what I have been told all my life.” Herod tells them.

A little farther back, torches held high and going strong, they see ahead another door. Passing through it they see a large room, much of it containing gold plated furniture. Everyone searches among the furnishings for hidden treasure as Herod drools unabashedly. Deeper and deeper into the room. Closer to the actual crypts of David and Solomon.

Suddenly a flash.

“Ahhhhhhh!”

Lit torches. Gasses ignited. A hideous scream.

“Ahhhhhhh!”

Clothes on fire. Put it out! Stop the fire! Save him!

A second man throws himself on the first.

“Ahhhhhhh!”

Both on fire. Both in flames. Running. Screaming. Tortured beyond endurance.

“Ahhhhhhh!”

Then it stops.

The others back up in horror. Away from Herod. King or not, they will pursue no farther. What price for money?

Herod looks at the remains of the two men and watches as the others leave him behind.

“Stop, deserters! Traitors! I’ll have you flogged for this!” Better yet, they need to be executed. To keep his secret. The secret of a madman.

•  Nazareth, Province of Galilee

 Mary is now fourteen years old. She understands now how bad things are out there.

“Greetings Mother! Greetings, Grandmother! What’s for dinner?”

Her heart-shaped face is now graced with high cheekbones and fuller lips, but with the same fiery eyes of her earlier childhood. She flings her shawl toward a corner, and it flies uncooperatively only a few paces away.

“Uh, Mary, wash your hands and help your grandmother finish cutting the bread,” Sarah says without looking up. She is almost through dishing up the lamb stew from a large pot by the oven into smaller bowls.

“Despite how much your grandmother’s hands hurt,” Mary’s mother continues, “she insists on helping anyway. I declare, Mary. You are getting more like your grandmother all the time. Always doing things your own way.”

The eyes of Mary and the elderly Eve meet in mutual satisfaction.

“How was your babysitting this afternoon?” Grandmother Eve asks.

“Oh, fine. I can’t wait to have children of my own. They are so much fun.”

“And work, don’t forget,” her mother adds.

“What about the Herod’s soldiers and Roman legionnaires? Did any of them bother you?” Heli asks walking out to the courtyard to greet his eldest daughter.

“Nope,” Mary replies. She places her hands on her hips and stares momentarily at her father. “No one pays attention to someone like me.”

_____

Satan grows nervous over Mary. He has figured out Mary will have something to do with his overthrow.

*

HOW ABOUT GIVING UP YOUR SPIRIT BODY?  YOU’RE GOING TO BE TRAPPED IN A HUMAN BODY THAT CAN TOUCH AND SEE AND HEAR ONLY A FEW FEET IN ANY DIRECTION.  CAN YOU HANDLE THAT, SON?

 Yes, Father. I can handle it.

• BC 8
• Jerusalem, Province of Judea

Spies everywhere. King Herod claims it is for the good of the country. He’s out of control. Therein lies his ultimate control. There is no stopping him.

People are tortured. Tortured to confess what they did not say, plot, see or do.

“It’s my sons. They’re trying to take over again.” Herod paces in his throne room.

He stops, glares at one of his aides, then resumes his pacing. His hair is disheveled, his beard unkempt, and his eyes bloodshot. He has not slept all night again.

“I knew not to trust them. My own flesh and blood.”

His robe flies behind him as though the faster he walks, the faster his problems will go away. And his sons.

“We’ve got to find eyewitnesses,” he declares to one of his puppet advisers.

He whirls around and charges toward the door. “Take their friends into custody,” he shouts at one of the Levitical temple guards on duty. “Make them tell you what Alexander and Aristobulus are up to. They must be stopped.”

He turns back to his adviser, as though having to prove his decision is the right one. “For the sake of the country, they must be stopped!”

• Jericho, Province of Judea

 Things are no different in his summer palace.

“Even here people are against me.” Herod declares, brooding upon his throne.

“Everyone’s plotting to take away my crown, even though they know in their hearts I love my people and want only what is best for them.”

His sister, Salome, is seated on a lesser throne next to him. No one else is in the room. She has just passed on more bad news.

“How many of the women in my family are in on this?” Herod asks.

“A hand full. Small, but dangerous,” Salome explains while running her fingers around the golden chalice holding her wine.

“But they all hate each other”

“Only in public, dear brother. In private, they have their meetings and make plans for the next step to dethrone you.”

Herod laughs. “Others have tried it and failed. These women are nothing.”

Salome gets up from her throne, bored with playing royalty for now, and faces her brother. “They’ve found allies among some of your officers.”

Herod’s smile disintegrates.

More executions. The women. The officers. Eliminated. No more threat. For the sake of the country.

King Herod grows more irrational. Irrational with power and control. He does not know true power nor true control. The time is close. Time for the true Power to arrive.

•  BC 7-5
• Nazareth, Province of Galilee

 “How could he do it, Father? How could the king have his own sons executed? Will he stop at nothing?”

Mary is now sixteen years old. Sweet sixteen, and engaged to a young man named Joseph. Sometimes she thinks about whether she should bring children into such a world as this.

Mary will receive her answer soon, in a few moments. She is not aware. Nor is the world. Satan is. Is it too late to make Mary bitter?

“He’s a monster, Father. How could he just sit there and watch them snuff the life out of his very own sons?” Mary stands with her hands on her hips. “I could never allow anyone to execute my son.”

Heli has just arisen from his afternoon nap. His hair is mussed and his eyes are only half open.

“Father, did you hear me?”

Eve brings her son-in-law a mug of juice. He takes a swig, and looks over at his daughter.

“King Herod has become a slave to power,” Heli finally says. “I’m just glad my father didn’t live long enough to see all this.”

“To think,” Mary continues. “That while we were having lunch yesterday, just a hundred milles away he was sitting there watching them execute his sons.”

Heli looks down and shakes his head.

“Was he this bad before I was born?”

He looks up at his innocent daughter and nods.

“He’s sick, Father. How can God let this go on?”

Mary plops down on a cushion near her elder. She speaks softer now. “Maybe people are right. Maybe there is no hope.”

Heli puts his strong hand on her shoulder and forces a smile. “Never give up hope, sweet Mary.”

Mary’s father stands and announces, “Who wants to walk to the city square and back to get some fresh air?”

Heli’s skin is more leathered now from his years working in the sun as a stone mason.

“Son,” now-widowed Eve responds, walking over to him. “You just want me to exercise more. I’ve known you since you married my daughter. Well, if you walk slowly, I guess I can go along.”

The summer days are long and the heat extends into the evening. Everyone decides to go but Mary.

“I want to go over my wedding plans some more. Is it okay if I don’t go along?”

“It’s okay as long as you keep the gate barred,” her father replies.

“No problem. I’ll be fine.”

The family leaves and Mary is alone.

_____

BUT, SON, HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF THE CROSS YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO ENDURE FOR THEM?  CAN YOU KEEP YOURSELF FROM CALLING ON YOUR POWERS TO DELIVER YOURSELF FROM THE TORTURE?  CAN YOU HANDLE IT, SON?

 Father, we love those people. Only when they see I am really dead can you step in with the powers of life to resurrect me and show them you’ll do the same for them.

_____

Mary gets out her swatches of bridal fabrics and goes up to the roof where there is a slight breeze.

She takes along a clay tablet on which she has written a list of things that must be done before the big day. A few of the items have been scratched out, but not near enough. Everything must be planned precisely. Her wedding will be the perfect wedding. People around town will be talking about it for months.

She reads over her list, then moves her attention to the colors of fabric she’s considering wearing on her wedding day. Her wedding with Joseph. How she loves him. How lucky she had been that her parents accepted her request to marry him and that his guardian, Simeon, had agreed to Joseph’s request to marry her.

Suddenly she hears a man’s voice behind her.

“Congratulations!”

Mary jumps up and turns around. How did that man get in the house? Trembling, she backs away from him.

“Don’t hurt me,” she blurts out.

“Hurt you? Never in a thousand years.”

The man stands where he is a moment, then wanders over to a bench, sitting with his hands loosely in his lap.

“Who are you? How did you get in here?” Tears of fear escape from her eyes.

“I just came to congratulate you, Mary.”

Summoning up a little more courage, she puts her hands on her hips and demands, “How did you know my name?”

“Oh, I know all about you. Please forgive me for not introducing myself. My name is Gabriel. Actually, I’m an angel.”

Mary snickers deep in her throat and her eyes flash in disbelief. She inches over far enough to put her hand on a club used to clean rugs.

“You’re not kidding me. Who are you? Just leave before I scream.” Her eyes flash, but she knows she does not sound convincing.

“Please listen to me just a moment. Then I promise to leave. See, I’m not getting any closer to you. Just stand there by the wall. If I try to come any closer, you may scream all you want. Then all the people down on the street can come rescue you from me. Fair enough?”

Mary isn’t answering. But she’s not moving either.

“I just wanted to give you my congratulations.”

“How did you know I was getting married?”

“Oh, not about that,” the angel responds.

“Well, that’s the only important thing I’m doing these days.”

“Mary…” He grows more serious. “Mary, you are a very favored lady, for the Lord is with you.”

“I know God is with me at all times. He’ll protect me from you unless you really are an angel.” She tries to imitate the way her father sounded once when a thief disguised as a peddler tried to break into their house.

Gabriel resumes. “But God has decided to wonderfully bless you, Mary, in a special way.”

Silence. What is he talking about?

He continues.

“Very soon now, you will become pregnant and have a baby boy.”

“Well, very soon now I will be married. So, yes, you’re right. I’ll probably become pregnant right away. But a boy? How can you know that?” she responds, momentarily forgetting she could be in danger.

Gabriel reassures her. “Remember, Mary, I’m an angel. God has told me everything. Furthermore, you are to call your baby Jesus.”

“Jesus? But my husband will be Joseph. I plan to name my first son Joseph.”

Gabriel continues as though she has not responded. “He shall be very great and shall be called the Son of God.”

The words grab hold of her heart and will not let go. Son of God…of God…of God…

Mary’s mouth opens, but in speechlessness. She does not understand.

Oh, Mary. Listen to what he says. Really and truly listen.

The angel continues. “He shall govern this nation forever; his kingship shall never end!”

His words echo through her mind and are trapped there in a confused abyss. She sits on a bench by the wall, her trembling hands grasping its edges.

“The child will not belong to Joseph. You will become pregnant miraculously before you are married. Remember the prophet Isaiah saying a virgin will bear the Son of God?”

Indeed, Mary does remember. Her father had been talking about it just the day before.

Gabriel continues. “And when I said his nation would never end, I was quoting from the prophet Daniel. Daniel even predicted exactly when he would be born. His birth year, Mary, is next year. Do you have a scripture scroll? I will show you.”

Mary, he’s offering you proof now. He’s helping you believe.

Her confidence has grown enough that Mary replies there is a set of scrolls in the first room downstairs on a shelf where her father always keeps it. Then she remembers the knives for skinning meat which he also stores nearby, and interrupts herself. “Uh, there’s a closer set at the bottom of the stairs in those tall jars with lids.”

Gabriel smiles in understanding, goes to the bottom of the stairs and randomly—though not randomly—chooses one of the jars. He takes the tattered scroll out of it. He turns the scroll as he walks back up the stairs. He sits back down. She is surprised at how fast he has done all this.

“Here it is. ‘Pay attention! It will be 49 years—that’s seven weeks’ times seven days in a week—plus 434 years from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until the crowned One comes!’”

“That’s a total of 483 years,” he explains. “Mary, it has been 452 years since our capital city was rebuilt. The descendant of David is due to be born next year and become priest-king when all priests are eligible—at age 30. That will be the 483^rd year.”

Grasp what he’s telling you, Mary. Can you do it?

Mary tries with all her heart to believe him.

He has proven himself with scripture, with the Word of God. The final proof is yet to be given.

“But I’m a virgin. How can I have the baby? How can I conceive?”

Okay, Mary. Can you handle it? Can you comprehend what he’s about to tell you? Try, Mary. Really try. Don’t let the moment slip by, Mary. It’s. dynamic. It’s spiritual.

Gabriel remains seated and smiling. He stands now, and walks slowly toward Mary, then kneels in front of her so he can look into her eyes. Full of excitement, he whispers as though telling a special secret.

“The Holy Spirit shall come upon you!”

“The Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit helped David write his psalms.” Then, thoughtfully, she adds, “He does other things too?”

Gabriel’s exhilaration swells. His words trip over each other in excitement.

“Mary, the power of God will overshadow you.”

Come on, Mary. You’re almost there. Don’t stop now.

“Therefore,” Gabriel continues, “the baby born to you will be thoroughly celestial.”

“Celestial?” she manages to say.

What is happening?

Hang on to your seat, now, Mary. Here comes the rest of it. You didn’t get it when he told you before. Grasp it now.

“Your baby will…your baby, Mary, will be the Son of God!”

That’s it. That’s the final thing you’ve got to believe. Do you believe it, Mary? Can you? Try hard, Mary.

Divine truth descends to her mind. Dazzles her soul. Ignites her spirit. “I want to believe you. Somehow I do believe.”

Day dawns in the mind, soul and spirit of Mary. And of Mankind.

Gabriel looks into her eyes a little longer then stands. Slowly now he backs away.

“By the way,” Gabriel adds, “six months ago, your elderly cousin Elizabeth—‘the infertile one,’ they called her—became pregnant! God’s promise to you will come true also.”

He continues to back away. Slowly… Slowly…

Mary wants to believe him. In her heart of hearts somehow she does believe. If she could just talk to Elizabeth herself.

“I am the Lord’s servant,” she states taking a deep breath, “and always have been.” Mary knows now that the angel is really an angel, and that she actually believes him.

Now for the final commitment. Mary, can you do it?

“I am willing to do whatever God wants.” Mary stands to walk toward the angel. “Somehow I believe. Everything you said. It will come true. Finally it will come true.”

His work done, Gabriel backs through the bench…through the rooftop wall…suspended now over the street below…fading…fading…gone.

Mary steps to the bench where the stranger had sat and feels it. It is solid as ever. He indeed was an angel. Then she turns and sits on the bench where he had sat only moments earlier.

She picks up the family’s old scripture scroll turned to the passage in Daniel. She reads it and re-reads it, then she prays silently. She reads through the passages in Isaiah.

She prays again. “Me, Lord? Me?”

“Mary, it’s nearly dark! You’re going to ruin your eyes reading like that. You’re too young to lose your eyesight. Light a candle.” Her mother is standing at the top of the stairs.

Quietly Mary follows her down and to the courtyard.

“Everyone, I love you all.”

“You’re a good girl, Mary, but you look a little worn out.”

“I’m going to bed early.”

“Be sure and say your prayers.”

“Oh yes, Father. I will.”

 _____

WELL, SON, I GUESS THIS IS IT.  YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE REDUCED TO A MINISCULE FERTILIZED EGG, HIDDEN DEEP IN MARY’S LITTLE WOMB.  BUT, SON, I WON’T FORGET YOU EVEN THERE. MARY IS ABOUT READY FOR YOU.

Heavenly Father and heavenly Son embrace. The angels stand around watching, some brushing away tears. But Gabriel smiles.

Good-bye, Father….

 *

 Yes. It is night. But Satan has been silenced. Now it is indeed silent night. Indeed, holy night. The dawn comes. And with it all that is calm and all that is bright.

ONE LONE STAR

• One lone star, enlarged with love,
• Led the unknown way
• To the Son who’d brought with Him
• Hope’s redeeming ray.
• Compel YOUR eyes to venture high
• Above what seems so far.
• Soar with Mercy’s omnipotence and
• Dare to be that star.
• Katheryn Maddox Haddad

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 1—MARY & HEROD  Dayspring Dawning
• 2—ELIZABETH  Bastion of Barrenness
• 3—JOSEPH I  Two Fathers, One Son
• 4—JOSEPH II  Walking Tall
• 5—SHEPHERDS  Glory of the Ordinary
• 6—ANNA & SIMEON  Flaming Hope With A Flickering Candle
• 7—THE WISE MEN I  Celestial Secrets and Star Search
• 8— THE WISE MEN II  Cradle of Majesty
• 9— ZECHARIAH  Silent Thunderbolt
• 10—ARCHELAUS & the BOY  Lost in Wonder
• 11—THIRTY-THREE YEARS LATER  Epilogue

INSERT YOURSELF INTO THE STORY

Although the events take place shortly before and during the first century AD, this story is written to help you in our modern world identify with the characters who lived then. While true to the life of Christ in every known aspect, conversations often take a modern flavor as though the characters were speaking today. After all, did they not speak what was “modern vocabulary” in their day, even in the Aramaic language?

You will see places in the story where you are invited to participate either as an encourager or discourager of a character, as though you were there with them. This is your chance to become their friend. You will easily spot those places in the story. Instead of wondering who is talking, remember, it is you.

A NAY-SAYER ATTACKS THIS BOOK

The plot is all wrong. Who’d ever believe it?

Mary and Joseph? Nobodies. They think they have their lives together all figured out. They don’t. An interfering force is about to disrupt everything.

A wedding that will be the talk of the town? Definitely. They will have that all right. But not in the way they intend. Their wedding will be the gossip of the town. Albeit, holy gossip. Whatever that is.   

Instead of guests coming in from everywhere for the happy occasion, hardly anyone will attend. Instead of delight, there will be embarrassment. Talk of the town? Yes. But Mary and Joseph will wish everyone would just leave them alone in peace.

A moderate home in a moderate part of town? Not any time soon. They will be forced to go to their ancestral home at the other end of the country for a pointless census.

Then the military will go after them. They’ll have to escape to another country. It will be a long time before they can have that moderate home in that moderate part of town. What bitterness lies ahead for them.

How could Joseph go through with it in the first place? He’s stupid. Just plain stupid. Who would marry a woman who is already pregnant by someone else? That story she concocted about being impregnated by God. Where did she hatch that up? She needs a good head shrink. So does Joseph. What a weird pair. Maybe they deserve each other.

And that son of theirs. This is where the plot really gets bizarre and makes no sense. Their son is actually supposed to be God.

Now, let’s suppose for argument’s sake he really is God. It’s all wrong. Does he make his entrance as a grown man? No. He’s actually born. He makes his grand entrance as a mere baby. He takes all that unnecessary time to grow up.

Once he’s grown, is he a giant? Nope. He’s the same size as any other man. Shorter than some.

What about a ring of stars around his head to signify his divine station? Well, if not that, at least a halo. Where’s his halo? He has none. He claims it would detract from his divine mission. So, how is anyone supposed to know he’s God if he looks like everyone else?

He could at least fling lightning bolts at his mortal enemies. No way. Not this peculiar specimen of God. He flings words instead. What good is that?

All right, then. How about riding on the wings of a giant eagle as he goes around spreading those words? No way. Not that man—er uh God. He gets around like the mortals do. He walks or uses the same kind of transportation everyone else does.

Well, food. Ah yes, food. He could eat stones and wash them down with water wrung out from a couple of clouds. But no. He eats the same kinds of food everyone else does.

So here he is. He dresses like everyone else. He faces his enemy like everyone else. He gets around like everyone else. He eats like everyone else. No way is anyone going to believe he’s God

 He’s going to do everything wrong. It’s hard enough to believe in a divine eternal being. How is one supposed to believe in someone who looks and acts the same as them?

Poor Mary and Joseph. Especially Mary. What’s about to enter her life is at once myth and mystical and a great big hoax. And even though some people will eventually call her a goddess of some sort, some will call her son a devil.

But others will believe. They will actually believe this whole thing. They will stake their very lives on it!

Beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, December 10, 

I will be posting one chapter a day from

THEY ROCKED THE CRADLE THAT ROCKED THE WORLD

concluding on December 21.

Day one will orient you and give you a chance to listen in on a naysayer who goes on a rampage about this book which s/he says is all wrong.  Why wasn’t he born a giant?

On the last day, you will listen in on that day thirty-three years later when resurrected Jesus appears to 500 people he’d met along the way and the little individual reunion he gives each one.  And surprise of surprises, one of the wise men is still alive and visiting Jerusalem. He is now old and doesn’t get around very well. But, oh, how he remembers that night long ago when he fell to his knees and worshipped the child, the God-King.