A Story of God and All of Us

PART SIX

HOPE

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Five hundred years pass. War, conquest, and subservience to the empires of Macedon and Rome. The Israelites have reestablished themselves in the Promised Land but are ruled by a Roman puppet named Herod. This king of the Jews, so to speak, comes from a family that converted to the faith. He has been married ten times, murdered one wife, and will soon murder two of his sons. He suffers from fits of paranoia, has been in power for forty years, and owes his position to none other than Julius Caesar. The Jews live under oppression, which causes fear and tension, but they are allowed to practice their religion without fear of prosecution.

Jews have learned patience during their long years under the boots of the Egyptians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and now Romans. So they pay the austere tax demanded by Rome, knowing the soldiers will go for now and leave them alone. They wait in the hopes that the Messiah will come rescue them. They long for the end of poverty and senseless death at the hands of their oppressors.

The revolution starts quietly and without notice, in the small village of Nazareth. Joseph, a carpenter, sits in a small synagogue as an elder reads from the Torah, the Israelites' holy book. Joseph is a direct descendant of



King David, and his life revolves around scripture, work, and family. His time in the synagogue would normally be spent in quiet prayer and meditation, just like the men around him who have come to worship, lost in their communion with God.

But today, Joseph is lost--in love.

A latticework screen separates the men and women. Joseph has purposely seated himself next to the divider, allowing him to sneak a look at at his bride-to-be. Her name is Mary, and she's the most beautiful girl he's ever seen.

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"Mary, my betrothed," Joseph whispers to himself, making sure not to slip and begin mumbling the words loud enough for all to hear. That would cause a stir in the synagogue. "You have the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen. And the sweetest smile."

Mary, who is pure of heart and has been praying for an end to wickedness and sin, and for the restoration of David's royal lineage, catches him staring.

She blushes and turns away. Then Mary's eyes glance back and meet Joseph's gaze. A sense of deep connection passes between them.

Mary looks away first. Joseph forces himself to focus on the words of the elder, but he finds it almost impossible. He longs impatiently for the wondrous life that he and Mary will build together once they are man and wife. Joseph is not a man of great vision; even if he were, he still could not possibly imagine how extraordinary their lives will soon become. Every bit of his faith in God will be required to understand what is about to happen.

Dust blows through the streets. The sound of marching feet is heard, then the clatter of metal. Swords, shields, and battle armor glint in the hot Judean sun as a body of Roman soldiers moves in lockstep up the empty lane. They have come to collect tribute to Rome, and they soon go house to house, emerging with bales of cloth, leather goods, sacks of fresh fruit and grain, and even small animals.

As Mary walks home on a day like any other day, an angel of the Lord stands before her on the road. "Mary," he says softly, "I am Gabriel. Don't be afraid. The Lord is with you. You have found favor with God. Soon you will give birth to a child, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will



be known as the Son of the Most High."

"How can that be?" she asks. "I am still a virgin."

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you. And the power of the Most High will overshadow you."

Mary's hands press against her midsection, as if she can already feel 199

an energy there. "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said,"

she says to Gabriel.

After Gabriel vanishes, she runs her fingertips over her abdomen. "Jesus,"

she whispers. "I am to name him Jesus."

Mary hides her pregnancy for as long as she can, not knowing how she can explain it to Joseph. For the first few months she moves away to live in the hill country with her cousin Elizabeth, who is also pregnant and will become the mother of John the Baptist. When she returns, it is obvious that she is with child, and Joseph notices.

"Tell me what's going on, Mary. Please."

"Not here," she insists with tears in her eyes.

"Then where?"

It is forbidden for the two of them to be alone together until marriage, but she has no choice. She leads Joseph to her father's sheep shed and closes the door. She removes her robe ever so slightly, revealing her pregnant stomach to Joseph, confirming what he has suspected. His eyes squeeze shut.

"Mary? Who did this to you? What on earth have you done?" He feels angry, betrayed, confused, and then a fool.

"Joseph, let me explain." Mary struggles to control herself. She's never seen Joseph like this. Normally he's quiet and strong; now he's on the verge of tears. She grabs hold of his calloused hands. She is so desperately in love with this man that it hurts to see his heart so broken. She forces him to look in her eyes. Their future hangs on the words she is about to say--along with the fate of all mankind. "Joseph," she whispers. "There has been no one. I



swear to you. I am a virgin. This is God's work. An angel of the Lord appeared to me, telling me that I would be with child. He is to be the Messiah."

He looks at her in horror.

"This is the truth."

Joseph breaks away. He circles the room like an animal in a cage.

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She reaches for his hands again. "My love, please believe me. I am telling you the truth."

"I want to believe," he says softly. "But God would not send the Messiah to people like us." He opens the door, walks out, and doesn't look back. Only then does this mountain of a man let himself cry.

Joseph has a house to build out on the edge of town. But it can wait. He wanders the streets of Nazareth alone, mumbling to himself. "What do we say? What do we tell our parents? Of course, I must disown her. There's no other choice." But the grief that comes with the mere thought of a life without Mary soon sits on his chest. The weight is like an elephant, and it takes away his breath. The hard truth is that if he leaves Mary, both she and the child will become outcasts. They will live on the street, begging for handouts and fending for themselves. "God help me," Joseph prays. "Help me find a way to do the right thing." Joseph leans against a wall, lost in his thoughts.

People stare at him. He doesn't care. Joseph's head droops and his shoulders sag. Joseph closes his eyes in prayer and falls into a dream state.

"Joseph," a voice says. "Joseph." The angel Gabriel now stands powerfully before Joseph, the hood of his cloak pulled around his soft and tender face.

His eyes seem to peer straight into Joseph's soul. Gabriel reaches for Joseph's hands."Take Mary as your wife," commands Gabriel. "She is telling you the truth. She is pure. The child that she carries is from God."

A stunned Joseph stares into the divine beauty of the angel. The weight upon his heart is gone. He wipes a tear of joy from his eye, and in that instant Gabriel is gone. Joseph emerges from his dream, elated, and races to Mary's home to tell her that he believes her. It's just the two of them against the world. That's the way it's going to be. Their baby will be named





Jesus.

One translation of the name is "God rescues." It also means "God saves." To many in Israel, the notion of a Messiah is a conquering king like David, a savior who will deliver them from Roman oppression. God,

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however, has something far bigger in mind. God will remain God, yet also become human in Jesus. He will save not just Israel but the entire world.

Periodically the Romans demand a census. No matter where they are residing, citizens must return to the town of their family lineage and be counted. Now happily married, Joseph and Mary strap their belongings to a donkey and set off for the town of Bethlehem, the city where King David was born. The sun has not yet risen, and the morning air is cold. Mary is far too pregnant to walk the eighty-mile journey, so Joseph helps her onto the donkey, where she will ride. Normally it is a four-day trek, but the threat of bandits on the highway has Joseph planning on taking a slower, safer, and circuitous route that will add an extra three days. He leans in to kiss her belly, grabs the reins, and leads them out onto the dusty road at the edge of town.

They soon clear a low rise leading away from Nazareth, where they come upon a sight so utterly astonishing that Joseph's eyes widen. It is the most brilliant star he has ever seen, shining clear and low in the southern sky. Its brightness is a lamp unto their feet, and a light unto their path. Joseph squeezes Mary's hand. This is a sign God is with them.

Mary and Joseph are not alone admiring the star. Just outside faraway Babylon, a sage and astrologer named Balthazar gazes out at the amazing heavenly light hovering over Jerusalem. He is wealthy beyond measure, dressed in fine silk clothing. Soldiers surround him on this hillside, there to protect him against bandits on his long journey. Balthazar has followed the star all the way from Persia, riding his camel up and over the mountains into Babylon. They ride by night and sleep by day so that they may more easily follow the star.

Balthazar is a learned man who has studied the prophecies of many faiths, and he believes the star to be a sign from God. His escorts are





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quickly bored by the unusual sight, which they consider a mere cosmic fluke.

Balthazar studies it at length every night, certain that two great forces are coming together before his eyes: first, God's command of the heavens; second, and equally powerful, the words of God's prophets. "A star shall come out of Jacob," Balthazar recites the record of Moses in the Book of Numbers. "And a scepter shall rise out of Israel." Balthazar is certain this star portends the arrival of a great leader. He feels blessed to be alive for such a momentous occasion. "Perhaps it is true. Perhaps the prophets of Israel were right," he says in awe. He hurriedly rallies his men, climbs back on his camel, and sets off into the night. He is bound for Jerusalem, eager to deliver the Good News.

But Balthazar is taking the Good News to the one man in Israel who doesn't want to hear it: King Herod. The man who rules Israel for the Romans, dominating his fellow Jews under his iron will, clings to power with a paranoid desperation. Even the slightest rumors about an attempt to take away his throne are dealt with immediately. All dissent is crushed. All dissenters are killed.

Now he waddles through his palace, down a marble and gilt corridor lined with rich tapestries. Herod wears velvet slippers, his feet splayed and shuffling. Each step causes him extreme pain. His breathing is labored, and his bald head is shiny with sweat.

Herod's captain of the guard follows close behind, careful not to step alongside the slow-moving king. For that would be seen as an attempt at equality, which would enflame Herod and might result in this career soldier losing his cushy, powerful position.

"You bring me news?" asks Herod, gasping for breath between each word.

"More trouble from the God-fearing fanatics, I'm afraid," replies the captain.

"Fine," Herod says, issuing a death warrant. "If they love God so much, send them to be with Him."

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Mary and Joseph are well aware of Herod's evil--and that their journey to



Bethlehem will bring them within just five miles of the royal palace. It is dusk now. Joseph makes camp on a barren hillside, even though there's enough daylight to travel a few more miles.

"I could go on," Mary insists, her face lined in weariness and the discomfort of yet another long day riding the donkey.

Joseph smiles and adds another piece of kindling to the fire he's building.

"You need to rest. I'm tired and so is the donkey. Let's stop here."

A boy steps forth, carrying a bundle of kindling. He wordlessly hands it to Joseph, who accepts it, and sees the boy's father tending a flock of sheep in the distance. Joseph nods to the shepherd in thanks, even as the boy scurries away.

Their journey has been filled with a dozen such kindnesses. Mary and Joseph are both coming to grips with her imminent motherhood of the Messiah. From now on, all generations will call her blessed.

She curls up by the fire as a hard gust of wind rakes the hillside. Joseph sits down at her side and covers her with a rough blanket. She falls asleep, even as the great star once again rises into the night. Joseph will stay up most of the night, making sure the fire stays strong and keeps his beloved and her unborn child warm.

Herod gazes out into the coming night. He sees the unusual star shining in the east, but thinks nothing of it until the lavishly dressed Balthazar is escorted into the royal chamber. "So what brings you here, oh prince?"

Herod demands, his voice echoing off the marble pillars.

"I just want to know if there is an official word about these signs?" Balthazar asks, trying to be as deferential as possible. He knows Herod's reputation for whimsical evil.

Herod stares at his guest, deciding how best to deal with him. "What signs?"

he asks.

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"The star. The new star rises in the east. I have followed its progress. The star is a sign that a great man is coming."



Herod glares at him. Not wanting to ignite Herod's legendary temper, Balthazar quickly motions for his men to lay out their elaborate charts of the stars on the marble floor. He then goes on to explain how he was guided by the star to Jerusalem.

But Herod isn't listening. He stares intently at Balthazar. "Every week," he finally says, "someone claims to be the chosen one. But those are mostly madmen in the marketplace--easily ignored, and just as easily silenced. So are you telling me that I should take your charts and your belief in a chosen one seriously?"

"Very seriously, sire." Balthazar once again motions for his men to step forward. This time they hold gifts in their arms. "We bring this chosen one presents fit for a king," he tells Herod.

That gets Herod's attention. "King?"

"Yes, Majesty. This man will become King of the Jews."

An awkward silence fills the chamber, making it quiet enough to hear a snake slither. Balthazar realizes he has just said something wrong.

Herod's eyebrows rise "Really?" he says through pursed lips.

"Yes, Majesty. This is from God. This is prophesied. The heavens testify to his arrival."

Herod smiles warmly, feigning a religiosity that he does not possess. "It has been testified? Really? If that is so, then we must do something immediately to pay homage."

Herod summons the captain of the guard and whispers in his ear. "Bring me the priests and scribes. I need a word with them." Then Herod dismisses Balthazar with a wave of his hand, walks to a terrace, and gazes out over Jerusalem. There, in the midst of darkness and turmoil, rises the star.

Herod curses. "I am king of the Jews. And I will forever remain king of the Jews," he vows to himself. "I will keep my throne."

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Joseph wakes Mary from a deep sleep and loads the donkey. He walks





quickly, leading the animal down the rocky hil side by its rope.

Mary groans. "It won't be long now, Joseph," she says.

"We're getting close to Bethlehem. I'll hurry," he replies, picking up the pace.

Mary is in agony, clutching her stomach and trying not to cry out in pain. To their shock, the streets of Bethlehem are a sea of people, all of them looking for someplace to sleep. They've all traveled there for the census. The young couple look around, overwhelmed by the numbers.

"Thousand upon thousands," Joseph exclaims. "Why do they make us all register at once?" He pulls the donkey under an archway, where others already huddle. Mary's stiff cold fingers spasm as they lock around his arm.

"Joseph?"

He says nothing.

"Joseph!" There is a desperation to her words: the baby is coming.

"I'll find a place," Joseph responds. He leaves Mary and the donkey, and then runs, searching for someplace warm and private where she can deliver the baby.

But no such shelter exists in Bethlehem tonight. Joseph is turned away time and time again. The innkeepers are kind but insistent: there is no room in Bethlehem for Mary and Joseph.

The shepherds stand watch over their flocks, waiting for the moment when the clouds will part and reveal the brilliant star they have become used to seeing each night.

And there it is.

The sheep calm down as the night settles into a time of quiet. And the shepherds, shivering from the damp of night, sit back and stare at the star, wondering what it means.

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Herod is also studying the star, though not with the same sense of tranquility as the shepherds. Thanks to Balthazar's alert, he now demands to see all that has been written about the prophesied "King of the Jews." A half-dozen priests and scribes furiously tear through pages of sacred texts in the temple library as Herod paces. His blotched and bloated face is red with fury. "Find it!" he screams again and again. "Find it!"

The scribes anxiously drag piles of scrolls from the shelves. Sweat pours from their faces in the fetid head and dust.

"Here!" one priest yells with excitement. "In Micah."

"Read it," demands Herod.

" 'He shall feed his flock in the strength of God, and they shall live secure.' "

"Is that all?" asks a puzzled Herod.

Another priest has found a different reference in scripture. "No, lord. There's more. This is from Isaiah: 'Therefore the Lord himself will give a sign... the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.' "

An elderly priest, suddenly unafraid of speaking up, adds another sentence:

" 'And he wil be cal ed Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.' "

The priest finishes, and looks over to see Herod staring at him intently. " I'm the one who brings peace," the king snarls. "Do you think some child can do that?"

Silence.

Then the elderly priest clears his throat. "It is written," he says solemnly.

Herod charges at the man, grabbing him by the robe. "Is it? Is it now? Well, then, is it written where this mighty prince, this answer to all prayer and problems, will be born?"

The elderly priest is unruffled. "In Bethlehem. It will be Bethlehem. Micah says, 'You Bethlehem... out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my





people, Israel--' "

The captain of the guard comes to drag the elderly priest away. But the old man will not be silenced, and even as he is pulled from the temple 207

library, soon to meet his fate, he keeps reciting prophecy. " 'Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth. And the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord.

" 'And his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.' "

Mary goes into labor. All that matters to her is safely bringing her child into the world. Joseph still hasn't found a place for her to give birth. A local takes pity on them. He directs Joseph to a small cave used as a barn--called a grotto--smelling of animal waste and grain. Sheep and cows clutter the small space. Joseph and Mary eagerly step inside.

This baby is coming.

Herod has returned to his palace from the temple library. The words of the priests ring in his ears as he makes his way across his courtyard. As if the visit from Balthazar had begun a long series of very bad news, Herod is shocked to see another entourage enter his palace to offer their regards.

Two Nubian potentates, dressed in elaborate robes and headgear, point to the star in wonder.

"More of them," Herod mutters to himself. "More of them. What's going on? Is the whole world in on this? These people come here to my country, to my palace, and ask me about the king who is coming to take my place."

But Herod's mind is devious, and by the time he reaches the Magi, his tone and expression have changed. "Gentlemen," he says sweetly. "You are most welcome. I have the most amazing news for you: the boy king that you are looking for will be born in the town of Bethlehem." He smiles broadly.

"When you find him, please come and tell me precisely where he can be found so that I can go pay homage. More than anyone, it is my solemn duty to do so."



Suddenly the king coughs hard. Blood comes from his mouth. His

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face grows pale. It is quite clear that Herod is seriously ill. His body is ravaged by infection.

"But should you be traveling in your condition?" asks one of the Magi.

"Yes," Herod says solemnly, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Even in my condition."

Joseph holds the tiny newborn baby up to the light. A smile of wonder crosses his face, for he has never known such joy. He brings the child to Mary. As she holds her son, the baby Jesus, her face transforms from tired and drained to radiant joy.

A crowd starts to gather. The star has led many to this site. The same angelic intervention that brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem has also spread the news to those who need to hear it most: locals, shepherds, neighbors, and ordinary people. These are the ones whom Jesus has come to save, and for them to be standing in this small barn on this cold night is a moment unlike any other in time. They are witnessing the dawning of a new era--the fulfillment of the new covenant between God and humanity.

Between Herod's palace and Bethlehem, Prince Balthazar, atop an adorned camel, greets and falls into step with the Nubian wise men. They ride elegantly on their camels, ecstatic about the prospect of meeting this great new savior. Not one of them completely realizes who Jesus is and what he represents, but on this night, in their hearts, Bethlehem feels like it is the center of the universe.

In the grotto, the crowd offers prayers and small gifts to the child. Some bow, while others weep with joy. A young shepherd--the same boy who gave Joseph a bundle of kindling just hours earlier--now steps forward to offer something far more precious: a lamb.

Joseph is thankful, but the truth is that he doesn't fully appreciate the gift. He smiles at Mary. She is so taken with her child that she can't stop staring at Jesus. Mary has never has never seen anything so precious, nor anything that fills her heart with such love.

A reflection near the grotto door catches Joseph's attention. His smile 209

fades. The mass of farmworkers, children, and shepherds part as royal attendants quietly and very efficiently clear a path. The crowd backs away, their eyes lowered in deference.

Joseph is uneasy. The last thing he wants is trouble.

Balthazar steps forward. He has changed into his finest robes and wears a gold headdress. His behavior is not regal, however. "I am humbled," he murmurs, as he drops to his knees. He has brought gifts for the newborn child. Balthazar looks to Mary and says to her, "Lady, I believe your son is the chosen king of his people." Joseph realizes that he should bow to Balthazar, but before he can, Balthazar prostates himself on the ground.

"What is his name?" he asks Mary.

Mary gently kisses her child on the forehead. "Jesus," she tells Balthazar, surprised to see that the Nubians have also come to see their child. "His name is Jesus." These fine kings all bow down on the dirty ground before the newborn Jesus.

The crowd departs well into the night. The Magi do not return to tell Herod what they saw, or where they found Jesus, because they learn in a dream that Herod has cruel intentions. They return to their homeland by a very different route.

Exhausted, Mary and Joseph are alone for the first time since Jesus' birth.

The animals in their stalls are sound asleep, and the new parents soon fall into a deep slumber, too. The infant is swaddled and lying atop a feeding trough. The trough, which rests on a pile of hay, is called a manger. Joseph lies on the floor next to her, his muscles aching from the long days on the road. It feels good to get some rest, and even better to know that their son has entered the world safely. In the morning they can be counted for the census. Soon they can return home to Nazareth, where Joseph's carpentry business awaits.

This routine of sleep and recovery in the grotto goes on for several days.

Then one night, Joseph has a dream: he hears a child screaming and Mary calling his name. He looks down and realizes that his feet are soaking wet.

But they are not drenched in water; blood flows through the streets. That blood becomes a torrent, raging through the city like

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high tide. Joseph battles to stay on his feet. That screaming of a single child becomes the wail of hundreds. Joseph sees Herod's soldiers. He screams out for baby Jesus. He cannot be taken.

Joseph wakes up in a panic. The dream felt so real that he is actually stunned to behold Mary and Jesus sound asleep, the picture of serenity. But Joseph knows better. He is a changed man since the angel appeared to him.

Joseph's belief in the words of the prophets has become far deeper since he became a vital player in the fulfillment of prophecy. He knows God speaks to prophets in many ways, including dreams. Joseph is absolutely sure God has given him the dream, and he knows what he must do next.

He stands and gathers their belongings. When everything has been packed for travel he rouses Mary from her much-needed sleep. Joseph doesn't realize how panicked he seems, nor how he's behaving. Mary looks at him, completely unsure what has happened to her calm and easygoing man.

Joseph doesn't have time to explain himself. "We have to leave immediately.

Just trust me, Mary."

She pulls Jesus closer, holding him tightly, then nods to Joseph and hurries out.

The same people who visited Jesus at his birth come to the aid of Mary and Joseph. Their departure from Bethlehem does not go unnoticed, and even in the dead of night, total strangers approach them and press parcels of food into their hands. These same strangers offer up prayers for them, making sure to get a last glimpse of this very special child before he disappears.

Soon Mary and Joseph reach the edge of town. Before them lies danger and uncertainty. They turn to look back at Bethlehem one last time. This small city will always have a special place in their hearts, even though they were there for just a few short days.

Turning again to look at the road in front of them, they see the torches atop the city walls of Jerusalem burning in the far distance. In another direction, to the east, the great star shines upon them like a compass





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beacon. Joseph pulls on the donkey's rope, choosing the eastward road.

Within a few moments, Bethlehem isn't even visible in the distance, which is good--for Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, have gotten out just in time.

Dawn. Herod's soldiers ride into town. The captain of the guard, a man who never seems to grow tired of carrying out Herod's acts of barbarism, leads the charge. Teams of soldiers split up and scour the city streets.

Without a specific location for Jesus, or even a description of his parents, from the Magi, Herod has sent his army into Bethlehem to slaughter every male child less than two years of age. He believes that is the only way he is sure to murder the right one.

Houses are broken into. Soldiers drag infants from their mothers' arms. The kil ing is beyond gruesome. Herod's soldiers kil without a second thought.

No one counts how many innocents are slaughtered in Herod's purge, but the one child Herod wants has already escaped.

Joseph undertakes an audacious plan to save Jesus: he will traverse a vast desert to take his family to Egypt. Joseph knows that it's a bold move, and he can only hope that the Pharaoh is kinder to his family than Herod. But the Romans also occupy Egypt, and a number of like-minded Jews have

returned there, making for the second-largest Jewish community outside of Israel. He is retracing the footsteps of Moses in reverse: from the Promised Land, into the great wilderness where Moses wandered forty years, and then on into Egypt.

But someday Joseph wants to go home. He loves Nazareth, and he longs to raise Jesus there. But this young family cannot and will not return until Herod is either dead or no longer king--whichever comes first.

They make a home for themselves in Egypt and wait. Joseph prays that word will come soon when it is safe to go home. He doesn't have long to wait.

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Herod has lived a life of debauchery, and it catches up with him. His face bloats and becomes covered with running sores; his joints become inflamed





with gout and his liver fails, making it hard for him to eat or drink without discomfort; poor circulation has led to swelling and gangrene in his lower legs, making it almost impossible for him to walk. His mind is also failing. He lies in bed, waiting to die. A table strewn with pestles, mortars, herbs, and snake heads stands nearby. Herod's doctor makes him drink from a jar containing a potion designed to ease the king's pain. Herod's head lolls to one side. He is moments away from standing before God to explain himself.

Decades of resentment about Herod's treatment of priests, his subservience to Rome, his excessive taxation, and his brutality toward his subjects soon boils over. A collective rage engulfs Jerusalem. Statues of Herod are toppled. Images of his likeness are desecrated. Herod's kingdom is soon split between his three sons, who lack their father's brutal ability to control a nation. Anarchy ensues. Three thousand pilgrims attempting to prevent the looting of a sacred temple are murdered by authorities. Riots and revolts soon follow, which leads Rome to send in their own troops to restore order.

The Romans have a history of allowing people to embrace their own religions, but political dissent is the one thing they will not tolerate. The penalty for political dissent is crucifixion. A man is lashed to a tall pole, which features a horizontal crossbar. The arms are stretched wide on the crossbar and tied in place. His feet are nailed to the vertical pole. In some cases, spikes are driven through the hands to increase the pain of the punishment.

By the time Rome has quelled the disturbances brought on by Herod's death, more than two thousands Jews have been crucified. Their bodies hang in silhouette on hills surrounding the city as warning to those who might also be considering dissent. The Romans' patience with Herod's 213

sons has worn quite thin, so they assume more and more control of Jerusalem.

Jesus is a five-year-old boy as Mary and Joseph make their way home from Egypt. The land is burned. The road is lined with the bodies of the crucified.

"Oh, God. What have they done?" Mary gasps quietly. She is worried as never before. She looks back toward Egypt, wondering if it would be better for them to turn around and wait a few more years before returning home.

Mary pulls young Jesus close and tries to cover his eyes with her shawl.



They move forward, pushing on.

"We must trust in God," Mary sighs. "He has placed trust in us."

As Jesus rides with his mother atop their donkey, he is fascinated by all these bodies hanging on crosses. Jesus is completely unafraid of the journey ahead. He is compassionate and calm. Meanwhile, Joseph is not so tranquil. He urges on the donkey, staring grimly ahead the whole while.

Joseph's family returns to Nazareth, the quiet city in the backwater region of Israel known as Galilee. Both parents know Jesus is destined by God to do something special. His prodigious knowledge of scripture can be a little startling at times, because it is so complex and thorough for his young age, but otherwise he behaves just like a normal boy. He does chores. He helps his father at work. He loves animals. He spends part of each day with Mary, his beloved mother, who carried the Son of God and knows his life will be extraordinary. Sometimes he's such a normal child that it's hard for Mary and Joseph to remind themselves that an angel once proclaimed to them that he is the promised King of the Jews.

When Jesus is twelve years old, Joseph decides it is time to further his son's education. Just as he once placed Mary on a donkey for that long

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trip to Bethlehem, now he mounts up Jesus and Mary for an equally arduous trek to Jerusalem. Even in the depth of the Roman oppression and despair, faith in God grows in Israel each day. The people make time to celebrate God's greatness. Now, more than ever, they need the ritual and celebration of worship to lighten their burden.

That is why Joseph brings his family to Jerusalem. They travel to the great Temple for the celebration of the Passover. It is the biggest festival of the year in Judea, and thousands of like-minded pilgrims make their way into the city every year to celebrate.

Mary's face bursts into a broad smile as they ride through the great ancient city, once home to such heroes of their people as David, Solomon, and Daniel. People fill the narrow streets and great plazas, and both she and Joseph are swept away in the euphoria.

It is this way throughout Passover, one delight after another. This is their happiest time as a family. But once the holiday is over, as they set out for home, something goes horribly wrong: Jesus is missing.

"I don't see him," Mary cries to Joseph. One minute they were packing to leave, and the next Jesus was gone.

"I don't either. Joseph frantically looks over the masses for a sign of Jesus.

But Jesus has vanished, and he could be anywhere. Mary and Joseph have reason to be concerned, remembering that just a dozen short years ago soldiers were hunting him down.

Mary studies the face of every child she sees. There are so many of them.

No Jesus. "Please God," she prays, "please. Give me a sign. Keep him safe.

Let him know I'm coming, and that I will find him."

Mary sees a group of boys carrying doves and sheep to a place where animals are being sold. "Animals," Mary cries to Joseph. "He loves animals!"

They follow the boys and are soon led inside the Temple. Mary thinks she spots Jesus and runs up to a young boy holding a dove, but when she turns him around she discovers that it is not her son. The startled child releases the dove. It flies away, straight into the center of the great Temple. Her eyes follow the flight of the dove. The delicate bird lands

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near a circle of people, all of whom are listening to a great teacher give a lesson. The crowd around him is so thick that Mary and Joseph can't see who it might be.

"Someone's teaching," Joseph points out to his wife. "Jesus will want to listen to the words of a wise and learned teacher."

Mary and Joseph hurry to the edge of the circle, just as an old priest questions the unseen teacher. "What does God say about justice?" the man asks.

They hear a very familiar voice give the answer, and they begin pushing through to the center of the crowd. "It is written in Isaiah," says the youthful voice of the teacher, "that a king and his leaders will rule with justice. They will be a place of safety from stormy winds, a stream in the desert, and a rock that provides shade from the heat of the sun."

Mary and Joseph break through to the center of the circle. They freeze in shock. There, standing in the very center, is Jesus. He doesn't seem to notice them as he continues the lesson. "Then everyone who has eyes will open them and see, and those who have ears will pay attention," says their son.

"Jesus," Mary says angrily. She realizes that her son is no ordinary child, but he has scared her half to death.

Jesus turns and offers his mother a reassuring smile. He mouths the word Mother almost imperceptibly. Their eyes connect. And as she gazes into these eyes, Mary sees a depth she has never noticed before. These are not the eyes of a child. These are eyes that have witnessed the beginning of time, and everything since then. Mary is humbled by this vision.

She's also Jesus' mother. And in relief at finding him, her anger fades.

"Where have you been? We couldn't see you anywhere. Do you know how worried we were? We have been anxiously searching for you!"

"Why were you searching for me?" he replies calmly. "Didn't you know I had to be in my father's house?"

Mary looks again into Jesus' eyes. She is caught for a moment, unsure of how to react. Then she takes his hands and kisses them, in an instinctive act of homage. She then looks around at the faces of her son's audience 216

and realizes his wisdom and maturity have touched them, too. Oh, my child, you're not my child anymore. How can I take you away? This is where you belong. These people need you , Mary thinks. But she says nothing. Instead she kisses Jesus on the cheek and backs away to let him finish his message. Joseph stands with her, marveling at him.

The old priest takes this as a sign to continue his questioning. "How then will we know that justice is coming?"

"Malachi," Jesus responds. "I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes."

The old priest is stunned by this succinct and immediate response. He looks



with admiration at Jesus, and then to Joseph. "Are you a teacher?" he asks.

Joseph can't help but smile. "No, sir. I'm a carpenter."

From the Temple, Jesus will return to the quiet village of Nazareth with his parents and later experience the passing of Joseph. For almost twenty years he will grow physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Jesus' voice is unique. But to fulfill his destiny, that voice must reach more than a small circle of believers in the Temple. That voice must be heard throughout Israel and, beyond that, to the entire world. That's why God has sent someone to prepare the way, to start opening the hearts and minds of the people. He is strong in spirit, intensely driven, and pure of heart. He has been a preacher all his life. His clothes are made from the hair of a camel, and he eats locusts and wild honey for food. This new prophet shuns the corruption of the towns and cities for the purity of the wilderness. He lives as he preaches, in simple and uncompromising terms. What he demands from his growing legions of followers is that they change their lives, repent unto the ways of the Lord, and commit themselves to His path. His goal is nothing less than to light a new fire in the hearts and minds of thousands of Jews.

The prophet's name is John. He is called John the Baptist because he baptizes followers

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of God by immersing them completely in a river--the Jordan is his favorite--

symbolically cleaning away their sins.

Now he stands alone in the desert near Jericho. John has a wild look about him, with a thick beard and a tangled mat of hair. He is powerfully built, and he dispenses truth.

A group of young men approaches John, who is in an ornery mood today and pretends to ignore them. One of them races ahead to be the first to pepper John with questions. "Please teach us," the young man implores. His face is open and his eyes shine with an eager zeal. "We know you talk about the Messiah and the kingdom of God, and of the importance of repentance."

"So repent," John answers impatiently.

The young man and his friends look confused. John sees they have no intention of repenting and turning to God. He hadn't planned on spending the day teaching. "Come on," he chides them and starts to walk away. "You've come this far. Are you ready to go all the way?"

The tongue-tied men have no choice but to follow. "Is the kingdom of God near?" the young man asks tentatively, appointing himself the group's spokesman.

"Nearer than you can imagine," John replies.

"Then it's true: you are the Messiah, returned to earth by God?"

"No, I'm not the Messiah. Remember what Isaiah said," John responds, growing even more irritated. He picks up the pace. They hasten to keep up.

"I am the voice in the wilderness. I will prepare a way for the Lord," he calls over his shoulder. "And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind will see it!"

"Wait," the young man yells. "Where are we going?"

John leads them to the Jordan River. It gleams in the sun as he reaches the water's edge. "We are going in here. This is your journey's end--and its beginning."

But they don't follow. "What are you talking about. Are we here to bathe?"

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"You must be cleansed of your sins to prepare yourself for God's kingdom."

"But we're already prepared."

John stoops and selects a large smooth rock from the mud along the riverbank. He angrily holds it up, thrusting it close to the man's face. "No, you're not. You think that just because you have Abraham as your father, that's enough? God can raise this stone to be a child of Abraham if He so desires." John hurls the stone into the river. Only then does his tone soften, for he is not truly angry with these young men, but merely frustrated. He desperately wants them to not just know God, but to truly understand what it means to follow Him. He reaches out his hand. "To be worthy of God's deliverance, you must repent your sins and give yourself to Him completely."

Slowly, the young man closes his eyes and relaxes his body, letting John guide him backward under the water's surface. "I, John, baptize you for



repentance..." is all he hears before the water rushes over his ears and his head is submerged. But even though he cannot hear the rest of the prayer, something inside him is suddenly changed. He feels different. He also feels it in his heart, as if there is now a direct connection between him and God.

John guides him back up out of the water. The look on the new believer's face says it all: he has given himself to God. Without being told to, the young man hastily splashes ashore and pulls one friend after another into the river.

John baptizes them all.

John baptizes people from miles around, helping them cleanse their hearts in joyful preparation for the coming of the Messiah, bringing them back to God, one baptism at a time. But many don't just come to be baptized. Many who step into the Jordan at John's behest believe that John himself is actually the Messiah.

"There is one to come, more powerful than me, whose sandals I am not fit to carry," John always tells those who ask. " He is the Messiah. Trust me, you'll know him when you see him."

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But John sees him first. From out of the crowd steps Jesus, now ready to begin his life's work. John is stunned. His entire life has been building to this moment.

The crowds along the shore notice the look in John's eyes. They turn to Jesus, wondering what makes him so special.

"Surely I need to be baptized by you," John says humbly. "And yet you come to me?"

Jesus gently takes hold of John's hand and places it atop his own head. "Let this be so now, John. It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness."

John nods in understanding. With all the people along the shore looking on, John the Baptist immerses Jesus in the cold waters of the Jordan. And in that moment, the weight of John's ministry becomes lighter. He is no longer a prophet, foreseeing the distant coming of the Messiah.

The Messiah is here. Now. His head and body are submerged in a baptism that he does not require, for Jesus has no sin. But the ritual sends the symbolic message that a time of renewal for all mankind has begun. He is



on the threshold of the greatest mission in human history. All of the world's imperfection, suffering, and pain wil soon be laid upon him. Mankind wil receive God's salvation.

As Jesus emerges from the water, the heavens open. The Spirit of God descends, and a voice from heaven says, "This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased."

First the purification of baptism. Now the contemplative solitude of the desert, where Jesus must fight the greatest battle he has ever fought. He has traveled alone into the farthest reaches of this stark and waterless region.

For forty days, he fasts, meditates, and prays. His mind is focused on nothing but the will of God.

Buzzards circle overhead. The sun beats down on Jesus, burning his skin and cracking his lips. He walks along a rock-strewn hillside, knowing that he is beginning his ministry at a time when the unflinching

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might of the Roman Empire and its puppet kings stands ready to destroy any and all opposition, and where a man's physical existence can be

extinguished on a whim.

Yet the power of all the legions and all the emperors in the world is nothing compared to the one true enemy who stalks human emotions and human minds. Before Jesus can take on the spiritual leadership of all mankind, he must confront and overcome that opponent--Satan.

Jesus staggers as he walks, on the verge of collapse from his fast. The hem of his filthy robe drags along the ground. His face is swollen, and thirst is driving him mad. He is consumed by hunger; his muscles and stomach turn inward for nourishment, and starvation sets in as his body begins to feed on itself. It has been forty days and nights since Jesus entered the desert--his personal wilderness. Forty days, one day for each of the forty years that Moses and the Israelites wandered in their own wilderness, seeking the Promised Land.

A snake slithers past, its tongue flicking at the dry desert air. Jesus recoils.

The serpent is thick and powerful, poised to coil and strike in an instant.

Jesus bends down carefully and selects a large rock. He grasps it firmly in





his fist. He stands, and as he does, a shadow appears.

"If you are the Son of God," Satan speaks from the shadow, "tell the stones to become bread."

"Man shall not live by bread alone," Jesus calmly informs Satan, "but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Satan turns away in disgust and simply vanishes.

Jesus enters a dreamscape where everything and nothing is real. He dreams that he stands atop the roof of the great Temple in Jerusalem. Soon, the shadow of Satan stands next to him once again. "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down so that angels can save you."

"Do not put the Lord your God to the test," Jesus warns Satan.

Jesus turns away from the edge. He dislodges a roof tile, which plummets to the cobbled courtyard below and shatters into a hundred pieces.

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Now he awakes from the dream to find himself standing atop a mountain cliff. The desert stretches out far below him, as vast and wide as the eye can see, seemingly stretching to infinity. The shadow is next to him. "I will give you the whole world," promises Satan, "if you will bow down and worship me." The shadow extends his hand for Jesus to kneel down and kiss.

Jesus pushes it away. "Get away from me, Satan. It is written, 'Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.' " The Spirit of the Lord has come upon Jesus. He defiantly turns his back on Satan.

Rugged, upright, and sure, he walks out of the desert in the power of the Spirit to begin his mission. A single venomous snake slithers back into a hole in the ground.

Cold water is pulled from a deep, clear well. Nothing has ever tasted so good to Jesus. He takes his water in sips as his body once again grows accustomed to drinking. The wind blows, whipping dust through the backstreets as he steps away from the well. Joseph passed away many years ago, and he knows that his mother waits anxiously at home for her son to return. But even as he enters his hometown of Nazareth for the first time in months, Jesus does not go straight to see Mary. Instead, he makes his way to the synagogue.

He soon stands before the congregation, reading from the Torah. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me," Jesus begins. The synagogue is small and cramped, filled with dozens of faces looking back at him. He sees Mary entering through the door at the back, a smile of pride on her face as she sees her son.

It is normal for members of the congregation to read lessons aloud on the Sabbath, and reading the words of the prophet Isaiah is common, but it's clear from his confidence and knowledge that Jesus is no mere member of the congregation, or even a learned student of scripture. He is the teacher.

The ultimate teacher. He speaks the words of a distant prophet as though he has written the words himself: " 'He has anointed

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me to preach good news to the poor. Everyone who has eyes will open them and see, and those who have ears will pay attention. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners. And to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.' " Jesus rolls up the scroll. He grasps it firmly in his right hand as he looks out over the synagogue. "Today," he proclaims, "this scripture is fulfilled in me."

There is a collective gasp. Jesus' behavior is not usual. These words are blasphemy.

Mary's smile is replaced by a look of worry and concern. A pang of fear shoots through her heart, knowing what is sure to come next. Time slows as the weight of her son's words press down on the congregation.

Then the room explodes. "Who do you think you are?" one man in the audience screams. "How dare you stand there pretending to be the Messiah?" demands another.

Mary tries to force her way through the crowd, hoping to protect her son. But the mass of the congregation has erupted into a rage. The crowd empties out of the synagogue and into the streets after Jesus, meaning to punish him for his blasphemous words. She is terrified. But he has slipped away, and neither Mary nor the congregation can find him anywhere. Mary is relieved; for the time being, at least, he is safe. Her knees grow weak, and she sinks





to the ground. "Keep going, my son," she whispers, knowing that Jesus will somehow hear her words.

Mary's fears are well founded. For she knows, just as Jesus knows, that they live in a world where making waves and challenging the status quo is met with unrelenting violence.

John the Baptist, who has long delighted in thumbing his nose at authority, is about to learn that lesson firsthand. The sun sinks low over the hills, casting the banks of the River Jordan into shadow. The water swirls as John stands in the center of the current, baptizing a new believer. Neither man knows that this is the last person John will ever baptize in the name of God.

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The moment is sacred and quiet. A long line of men and women wait on shore for their turn. Word has spread far and wide about John's demand that Israel repent and observe the sanctity of God's law. They not only embrace these teachings, but they also hunger for more of John's spiritual teaching. It is a hunger he is more than happy to fulfill.

Then, soldiers on horseback approach from the distant shadows. John sees them before anyone else, and he knows precisely why they have come. He has publicly confronted Herod Antipas, the son of the great and feared king.

John has scolded the younger Herod for marrying his brother's wife, a violation of God's law. Now Antipas' soldiers are coming to enforce Antipas'

law. John helps the devoted new believer escape before he himself is surrounded by soldiers, who swing clubs and grab at him. But John is wily and slips underwater, only to be caught and beaten. He escapes one more time, forcing Antipas' men to call for reinforcements. They finally capture John, put him in chains, and force him to walk to the road. He turns and looks lovingly at the river where he has changed so many lives, and then he leaves it behind forever.

Jesus will be told of John's imprisonment, which is perhaps a warning to him. But none of them will ever see John again. The dusk is clear and golden, and the Jordan rolls on so effortlessly. John is in shackles, soon to stand before Herod to answer for the crime of speaking the truth.

On a body of water far more turbulent than the Jordan River, three fishermen--Peter, James, and John--finish a long night of trying to fill their nets. They have nothing to show for it. They guide their boats to shore, looks of exhaustion smearing their faces.

They care little for the concerns of prophets or kings, or Rome, or the brutal methods of Herod Antipas' soldiers. They live in Galilee, the same area as Jesus, and their fishing village of Capernaum is also a sleepy backwater.

The routine of their lives is simple, predictable: fish all night, mend nets in the daytime, sleep, and then fish some more. They are happy, despite these nights where the nets come back without a

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single fish to show for hours of backbreaking labor--casting their heavy nets into the sea, then hauling them back in, hand over hand. Fishing is what they do.

As the fishermen guide their boats up onto the sandy beach, a distant figure can be seen walking their way. Jesus' incendiary appearance in the Nazareth synagogue was a sign that he needs to preach to people who have not known him all their lives.

Peter, the most burly and rough of the fishermen, notices Jesus watching their labors. Andrew, Peter's brother, has taken it upon himself to help pull the boats ashore, and to drag the heavy nets up onto the beach to dry. Peter pretends not to notice Jesus, though it's hard not to. Andrew, a well-meaning and bright young man, is clearly captivated by Jesus.

"Who's that?" Peter finally says in a gruff tone.

"John says he is the Messiah."

"Oh, really? Can he teach you to look after your boat instead of leaving me to do it? And can he teach you to find fish?"

"Yes, I can," Jesus replies.

Peter glares at him. His hands are great mitts, calloused and rough from years at sea. His face is lined and sunburned. His back aches from hauling nets. The last thing he needs is a "teacher" to tell him how to fish.

But before he can stop him, Jesus walks over to Peter's boat, takes hold of the hull and shoves it back out into the water.

"Hey!" Peter barks, staring with openmouthed incredulousness at the sheer nerve of this stranger who clearly knows nothing about fishing, for if he did, he'd know this is not the time of day to catch anything. "What do you think you're doing? That's my boat. And you're not allowed to launch it all by yourself."

"You'd better help me then," Jesus calmly replies.

Peter runs into the water and grabs the hull. But Jesus won't be stopped. He looks Peter in the eye and keeps pushing the boat out into the Sea of Galilee. Something in that look startles Peter. He doesn't know whether he's looking into the eyes of a madman or the eyes of a king.

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But something in his gut--and Peter is well known for his intuition and discretion--tells him to do as Jesus orders. Peter stops trying to pull the boat back toward shore and starts shoving it out to sea. When the water is waist deep he pulls himself up into the boat. Jesus climbs on board, too.

"What are we doing here?" Peter asks.

"Fishing."

Peter stares into those eyes one more time. "There are no fish out here."

"Peter," says Jesus, "I can show you where to find fish. What have you got to lose?"

Peter reaches for his nets, preparing to cast.

Jesus shakes his head. "Go farther," he commands.

Peter looks at him. "You've never fished here. So listen when I tell you--there are no fish out there at this time of day."

"Please."

So Peter guides his boat into deeper waters.

"Blessed are they who hunger after righteousness," Jesus says. "For they shall be filled."



"Who are you?" Peter demands. "Why are you here?"

"Ask and it will be given to you; look and you will find."

What follows is a day of fishing unlike any other in Peter's life. Thousands of fish fill his nets. His shoulders burn from the strain of pulling them all into the boat. His nets begin to tear. But Peter casts again and again and again, and every time the nets come back full. Other boats soon set out from the shore as Peter is forced to call for help.

"See?" Andrew says when he arrives. "What did I tell you?"

Peter doesn't answer. He merely studies Jesus and wants to know more about this outrageous individual. As the day ends, too exhausted to steer his boat to shore, Peter collapses atop the pile of fish filling the hold. "How did this happen?" he asks Jesus in a tone of desperation. He can feel a tear welling in his eye. Something in his gut tells him that the direction of his life has just changed.

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Jesus does not respond, although he is quite aware that this rough-edged fisherman has just become his first true disciple. It is a beginning of a new world for the both of them.

"Teacher, I am a sinner," Peter tells Jesus. "I am not a seeker, just a mere fisherman."

"So follow me," Jesus finally responds. "And don't be afraid. Follow me and I will make you a fisher of men."

"But what are we going to do?" asks Peter.

"Change the world," Jesus answers.

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