After eight days, Jesus was circumcised.
I could not attend because, according to the Law, I had to remain separate from all religious rites for 40 days after giving birth. In fact, for the first seven days I was considered unclean.
Now, we must travel to Jerusalem for the rites of purification and sacrifice. We left our donkey at the Inn as we began our short journey.
Though the day was bright and sunny, it was cold when we left the Inn. I wrapped Jesus snugly knowing he would stay warm. Wispy clouds played games across the sky, painting pictures of animals, buildings, forests.
Though the temperature was cooler than I liked, it made walking comfortable.
Joseph and I strode happily, chatting, enjoying freedom from work for the day.
Holding tightly to Jesus, we joined a small group of people also headed for the City of David. Some walked rapidly; others rode donkeys; many walked slowly so as not to tire too rapidly. We planned to return to Bethlehem before nightfall, so we outdistanced most of the people, leaving stragglers behind.
Many of the women looked at Jesus. Comments flew. “How beautiful He is.” “What a good baby He is.” “How lucky you are to have Him.”
We said little, only thanked them.
We stopped once, away from the crowds. The shade of a tree on the Mount of Olives gave me the privacy to feed Jesus. Soon, we rejoined rapidly-increasing crowds.
We moved rapidly. Sweat popped to the surface of our skin. Rocks and pebbles found their way inside our sandals and we shook them loose as we continued.
Large oak trees in the distant hills caught our eyes. Sycamores, with their spreading limbs were a common sight. As we neared Jerusalem, the fronds of palm trees drooped since there was not a breath of air stirring.
We ignored most of the cold-injured vegetation along the road. We were too intent on our pilgrimage.
Suddenly, I looked up. “Look, Joseph, the Temple!”
Over everything...the enormous gate, one of Herod"s Palaces, his arena and other buildings...stood this magnificent edifice. Erected of white limestone boulders, there was so much gold inlaid, it looked as if it were completely made of the precious metal.
We stood completely still as we contemplated the beauty. “I read some place that one of those stones can weigh over two thousand pounds.” I remarked.
“That"s true.” Joseph agreed. “They do. The last time we visited Jerusalem, one of the priests told us about them.”
I held Jesus tightly with one hand while I attempted to shade my eyes with the other.
I looked up at Joseph as he reverently said, “The building is truly magnificent.” He took my hand. “There is so much in Jerusalem to see, each time we come for a feast, it"s like viewing it for the very first time.”
“I"ve only seen a small part of the city.” I said. I gawked in all directions, attempting to view the tops of city palaces and public buildings inside the strong walls.
“Joseph, these walls were built as a defense of the city many years ago, weren"t they?”
“Yes. Someone is always building another wall to encompass a new part of Jerusalem that springs up.” He paused to shake a pebble from his sandal. “People build houses outside walls, Jerusalem becomes bigger, so they build walls to encompass the more recent inhabitants.”
“Maybe that"s why there are so many gates.”
“It could be.” Joseph continued. “Too, Herod built so many new structures, he"s erected walls to enclose all his holdings.”
We entered the Golden Gate with a throng of others...Jews, Arabs, Greeks. Living in Nazareth on the Trade Route, Joseph and I both had a fair knowledge of a number of different languages. In this city though, there was a babble of foreign languages, accents and dialects we didn"t understand.
And the merchants on the narrow street...
The last time I saw and heard them was when I visited Elizabeth. I was still enthralled. I remembered the market places in the narrow, stone-lined streets where tables held displays of trinkets and fine goods.
Some of the sellers erected tents to shade their goods. By the time we reached the city, we were so warm with our extra clothing, that when we passed beneath one of the tents it felt like a cool breeze touched our skin. I checked to see if Jesus was all right, then let my gaze wander again.
Haggling merchants and customers made talk all but impossible. Loud clanging of cymbals and beating of drums, waving flags with accompanying yells, braying of asses, and the strange noises camels make added to the babble. We noticed sheep and goats standing in small herds, their plaintive cries adding to the din.
Scents emanating from cooking food and perfume didn"t entirely mask the odor of unwashed bodies and animals" offal. We covered our noses with the corner of our robes and attempted to take in all the color and noise at once.
Joseph looked down at me and smiled as we side-stepped a farmer selling fruits and vegetables, dodged merchants who sold domestic animals for sacrifice, and avoided slaves who bought items for their masters as we strode toward the Temple.
Watchful eyes of soldiers never left the crowd funneled in from smaller streets to wider ones.
Striding along in the shimmering sun beating down on the road, I stepped in a crevice cut in the stone. I teetered and thrust Jesus at Joseph as I grabbed for my husband"s arm.
Joseph attempted to hold Jesus and stand still as I worked to remove my foot. I slipped my foot from the crevice, stood straight and moved my foot around.
“Are you all right?”
“Just fine. Shall I take Jesus?”
“I"ll hold him awhile.”
Looking down, he said, “Those slits in the stones sure don"t make walking easy. I wonder why they do that.”
“Deborah told me soldiers frequently ride over these streets so deep slashes are made to keep horses from slipping.”
“I didn"t know that,” he leaned down to hear what I said. “It sure is noisy, isn"t it?”
“Yes.” I laughed and shouted back. “I thought my ear drums would burst when Deborah and I came that day. I felt I"d never be able to take it all in, there"s so much noise. The colors and so many different peoples only add to the confusion.” When we arrived at the outside of the temple, we stopped and stared. Though we had seen the top of the temple from the road, nothing compared to the impact it made on each of us.
The Temple was embellished with marble colonnades. Golden gates and multicolored hangings acted as a backdrop for palm trees, waving in the sudden breeze.
Poppies, anemones and daisies were a kaleidoscope of colors growing around the grass-dotted grounds.
Pomegranate trees preened themselves with scarlet flowers, while nearby the gnarled limbs of olive trees became mere dark blobs against the landscape.
I shaded my eyes, looking upward. “It almost hurts your eyes to look at those white walls, doesn"t it?”
He shifted Jesus in his arms and made sure the sun did not get in His eyes. “Yes.”
We paused to gawk at the tallest building. As our crowd thronged through the gate, we saw courtyards so large our town of Nazareth could be set in them many times over. There would still have been extra space.
Others as fascinated as we stared at people conducting businesses in this most holy place of worship. The place was not nearly as noisy as the streets we originally entered.
Everywhere I looked there were people: musicians, treasurers, sacrificers and paid priests. Staring at ordinary people, priests, and others, I asked, “Joseph, are all these people needed to run God"s house?”
“The musicians play so people will pay to listen to them.” Joseph returned Jesus to me as we ambled along.
“The sacrificers, of course, must get paid to kill the beasts; and treasurers take care of the money and the priests...ah, the priests.” A note of sarcasm crept into Joseph"s voice. He who never spoke ill of anyone or anything, had only contempt for these men.
“They charge for everything.” He shook his head in sadness. “Charging is permitted, but the prices they ask for their meager services is enormous.” He reached over, patted Jesus and concluded, “I"m sure this Little One will have something to do with changing that.”
Suddenly, I felt a cold shiver and knew I would never revere the Temple again. In this bright sunshine, I felt only darkness. I was selfish enough I didn"t want my tiny Baby to sacrifice Himself to get rid of people like these.
God forgive me for my thoughts, I prayed silently.
As we entered the temple, we were stopped by an old man.
“My name is Simeon,” he said, gazing at Jesus. “The Holy Spirit told me I would not die until I had seen the Redeemer. May I hold Him only a moment?” He held out his skinny arms.
I looked closely at him. He was as thin as a wheat stalk and the hair on top of his head was almost nonexistent.
His beard was so white and thin his darkened skin glowed beneath it. Wrinkles deepened in grooves on his entire face, but I noticed eyes that glowed with happiness.
Joseph nodded.
With misgivings, I released Jesus.
He gazed at the Child in awe as he held him tightly. He prayed aloud, “Lord, I have seen the Redeemer. Now let me go in peace. My eyes have seen Thy salvation which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples. He is a light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of thy people, Israel.”
He gently lifted Jesus and kissed His cheek, then looked directly at Joseph. “Bless you, young people.” Turning to me, he said, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel. A sword will pierce even your own soul...to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
He looked deeply into the eyes of Jesus, then handed the Baby back to me. He appeared to drift, rather than walk down the corridor.
Joseph and I looked at one another in astonishment while this episode took place. Who was this man? How had he known this was the Savior?
Soon, we moved farther into the temple. Walking down the corridor, a tiny, wizened creature, her bird-like eyes glowing with an inner light, stopped us. “My name is Anna.” She shoved a thin knot of hair to the top of her head, then her skinny arms dropped to her side as she said. “I"m a prophetess. May I see the Babe?”
How strange to be stopped by another who knew of Jesus.
“Of course.” I lowered Him so she could look on His face.
We knew prophetesses fasted and prayed constantly in the temple. Now, she clasped her hands before her as she stared at Jesus, her lips curving into a smile. “I"m 84 years old and I"ve waited for this moment all my life.”
Joseph and I stared at this kind, tiny, ancient woman, not knowing how to respond.
“I thank God,” she said, in a tinny voice. “I have seen the Savior.”
She reached her hands toward Jesus, blessed him and turned from us.
Later, we heard what she did after our departure. She told of the Baby who held the redemption of Jerusalem in His tiny hands.
Today, I was required to offer sacrifices to the Lord for my Son, so Joseph purchased two doves in the courtyard of the Temple. As we waited for our doves, Joseph said, “When God slew the first born of the Egyptians at the time of the Exodus, He spared the Israelite"s first born.”
“I know.”
I took the doves and Joseph held Jesus. We pushed ourselves toward a low wall that surrounded the inner courts of the Temple. We walked on toward the Nicanor Gate in the west wall.
“Don"t forget the shekels in your inside pocket, Joseph,” I reminded him.
He smiled down at me. “I won"t. If I did, I couldn"t redeem Jesus.”
I left Joseph and walked up the fifteen steps leading to the Court of Women. Three gates opened onto this court.
I walked into the first one. A Priest waited, ready to make a sacrifice for me.
He was rather a large man dressed all in white, except for a long girdle with a silvery sheen. Bare-footed, he wore an ankle-length, seamless tunic of white linen with the tied girdle reaching to the floor. I was later told he wore this over white linen underclothing.
As I handed the doves to him, his black beard moved, revealing the whitest teeth I had ever seen. His mustache was rather sparse, but it reached the beard on either side of his mouth.
After giving him the information he sought I turned when a timid voice spoke. “Mary?”
“Deborah!” I turned and stretched my hands to her. “How are you? What are you doing here? How are Elizabeth and Zacharias?”
She laughed, clinging to my hand. “First, I"m fine. Second, my sister just had a baby and we are here for her husband to redeem him. Third, I just left Elizabeth and the Priest this morning. They are so happy with John, it is incredible. I"ve never seen parents so totally absorbed in a child.”
“I thought they would be.”
Voices around us were raised in good humor, almost drowning out our conversation. Women were meeting friends, since this was known as a social assembling place.
“You had your baby, Mary?”
We moved a little apart from the others so we could talk. “I had a Son. His name is Jesus and Joseph and I are here for my purification rites, as well Jesus" redemption.”
“I"d love to see Him.” Deborah knew of Jesus. She had witnessed my arrival at Elizabeth"s home and seen Elizabeth"s reaction. John"s birth and his destination was common knowledge to her.
“This is the first time I"ve been here, Deborah. I know I can"t go any farther in the Temple, but there is so much to see I don"t think I"d be able to absorb more, anyway.”
“You didn"t get to enter the Temple the day you and I came. You became dizzy or something, didn"t you?”
Deborah asked.
“Yes.” I thrust that memory from me. “I thought this Court was just for women. Why are those men here?”
She pointed. “It isn"t just used by women. People come from everywhere, talking of the Messiah. They know they can discuss any subject they like without repercussions. We have scribes and scholars that meet here regularly.”
A group of children ran through the crowd. “Children, too?” She grinned. “Children, too.”
I pointed. “What are those four walls for?”
“Each corner has its own wall. One they use for storage and inspecting wood.”
“They inspect wood?” It was unbelievable.
“It"s because the Priests can"t use wormy wood in the altar fires.”
“That"s strange. I didn"t know there was a special kind of wood needed.”
She nodded. “The second wall holds wine and oil which the Priests use for the separate services.”
“The third one?” I asked rather timidly, because I saw a man appear at the door of this one. His body unnaturally stooped, his nose appeared to be about half the size of a normal nose and his hands had fingers missing.
“The third one is for lepers who think they"re cured of this dread disease. They"re inspected by a Priest. If they are cured they purify themselves in a mikveh. Then they must make a burnt offering for the time they were unable to do God"s work.”
“Those men I saw enter the forth wall. Who are they?” Most of the men I"d seen earlier had burnished complexions as if they spent most of their days in the desert. These men looked as though they barely saw the sun. They wore the longest, most tangled beards I had ever seen, and dodged away from anyone who came near.
“They"re Nazirites.”
“Oh? Are they the people who are called the “dedicated” or the “consecrated ones?” I stared at the door to this wall, but there was no one now in sight.
“That"s who they are. They aren"t allowed to come in contact with dead people, at all. God told them what to do in case that ever happened, but I forget what it is at the moment.”
“Are they the ones who can"t drink wine?”
“That"s the group, yes. They can"t even go near a grape vine or eat a grape. It"s against their teachings.”
I shook my head. “There sure is a lot I don"t know about our laws and the different sects.”
“I don"t know them either. I doubt anyone knows all of them. Come, I"d like you to meet my sister.”
I spent a very pleasant time visiting with many of the women. Some I"d met on my journey with Jeremiah, some had visited at Elizabeth"s while I stayed there. I was just a little disappointed that Joseph returned so soon from his making the sacrifice to redeem Jesus.
We were both tired when we left the Temple. Though Jesus had been really good Joseph told me, by the time we reached the road that led to Bethlehem, he was starved.
We stopped under a palm tree and I unwrapped his swaddling clothes. My cloak enclosed us both as I fed him.
He kicked, wiggled and waved his arms like a miniature whirlwind. When he finished eating, I wrapped Him again.
Neither Joseph nor I felt like talking on the way back to Bethlehem.
So much had happened lately. I needed time to absorb it all. Walking silently toward Bethlehem and our temporary home, I wondered. Why had the scriptures decreed that Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem?
Where had The Star come from? Why shepherds? If Jesus was to be a surprise to the world, why had we met people who knew who he was? Why were we stopped by an old man in the Temple? Why did he hold my son so tenderly, then prophesy of his life? Why had an ancient woman, a prophetess, halted us to look at our Son?
I treasured each moment. I needed to think of them without people around. I needed time to store all these happenings in my heart before we started our journey home with a new born babe. Now that Joseph had a job, I would have that time.
A few weeks after returning to the Inn, I hung dyed linen across the middle of our room so we felt we now had two rooms...one for dining and the other for sleeping. With Joseph"s first salary, I purchased dye and lightened the color of our walls. We slept on pallets with Jesus between us and continued to have meals downstairs with Ruth and Matthew.
In the ensuing months I helped Ruth with cooking, cleaning and washing. It wasn"t too long before she hired another person to take care of the cooking. Their business grew as the weather warmed. Flowers blossomed, their animals produced young and our happiness knew no bounds as we all worked hard.
Ruth helped take care of Jesus in addition to her myriad duties as overseer of the kitchen and bedrooms.
Matthew kept the accounts, as well as conferred with Joseph about the various tasks that needed to be accomplished.
Joseph worked on tables, chairs and hanging doors, enclosing rooms for the caravansary. He built pieces of furniture for us and made beds for the now enclosed rooms.
The first thing he made for our home was a bed for Jesus.
“Oh, Joseph, how beautiful,” I crowed, as I gazed at the tiny piece of furniture. The bed had legs and boasted tiny slats of wood all around, so Jesus could not fall out. Many times I blessed him for Jesus" bed.
“I thought it would be easier to pick up Jesus if it were built off the floor.”
“How very thoughtful you are, Joseph.” I kissed him and moved close, hugging him to me.
His strong arms encircled me and we stood for a moment, enjoying the nearness and the quiet.
His next projects were a bed and a couple of tables. Next, he built a larger table for our meals. The benches he fashioned were the height one needed to sit comfortably while eating. We had almost forgotten the habit of reclining as we ate. We found it much more comfortable to sit upright; then we could eat or talk, facing our companion.
Seldom did the noise of the Inn keep us awake.
Jesus awoke early, as did Joseph and I. The first few weeks of His life were a miracle to me. Taking care of Joseph"s needs, then the needs of our baby, was a joy.
Every day or so, Jesus performed some marvelous deed. Smiling...Ruth said it was a gas attack. Or moving his arms and legs so strongly when I removed the swaddling clothes. She laughed at my pride. He turned his head when he heard Joseph or me approach, which Ruth told me was merely normal. His actions were no more marvelous than other baby"s activities I"m sure, but they were very special to me.
He was miserable when he cut his first teeth. He developed a fever and whimpered. I worried and cried with him. In a few days, the teeth blossomed from pink gums and smiles returned. He skinned His knees when he crawled too rapidly, but seldom cried.
The next year was such a happy one. We watched Jesus grow into a beautiful, happy individual. Joseph worked, making pieces of furniture for the Inn, as well as for us.
We received letters from Mother quite often...or as often as we could expect. She kept us informed on the events in Nazareth.
There was still little work, but conditions were improving. Many who worried about Herod"s edict of counting people, appeared to become more complacent. Few soldiers remained in Nazareth.
Sarah was now expecting another baby. They saw Jeremiah on an irregular basis. She said the next time she saw him, she"d tell him where we were, so he could look us up.
We missed the families and home dreadfully. As long as Joseph had work he enjoyed, and was making a good living for us, we felt it better to remain in Bethlehem a little longer. I wanted desperately to take Jesus to meet all four grandparents.
Especially now that he was walking. Actually, he seldom walked. I think He began running the day He discovered feet held up His body. As soon as the night"s visitors left in the early mornings, Jesus followed Ruth or Joseph or Matthew everywhere. He was like a bubbling brook. He sang, laughed, played happily and entertained all of us from morning to night.
One day, watching Jesus follow Matthew across the yard, I said. “Joseph, I don"t think I"ll ever understand just how smart children are.”
Joseph smiled. “What do you mean?”
“Since Jesus learned to crawl, then walk, I can"t keep up with Him. I don"t dare leave Him alone a moment, especially upstairs. He can almost reach the latch on the door.” I could feel the worry lines in my forehead. “I"m afraid He"ll open the door, and fall onto the ground.”
“I"ll make a gate so he can"t get out.” Joseph said. “Think that"ll work?” He looked down at me and grinned.
I took his hand. “How smart you are, Joseph.” I turned his hand over and touched the callouses that were again part of his hands. “Did you get a lot done today?”
“We finished hanging doors on the last room upstairs. Now, people can really have privacy when they pay for a sleeping room.”
“What about the kitchen? Is it finished?”
“Just about. I"ve built more tables and chairs since we enlarged the dining room. The kitchen needed another table on which to prepare food. I think that"s all the work needed for awhile.”
We stood in contentment for a moment, watching Jesus and Matthew. Matthew stooped and picked up Jesus. He looked in our direction, grinned and waved. We waved back.
“Today I met the people Ruth hired to help in the dining room.” Joseph surveyed the Inn that had become a caravansary.
Due in large part to his contributions. He had repaired everything that needed repairing, in addition to making extensions onto the original. Furniture now filled the dining room and kitchen, as well as the bedrooms upstairs.
“Are the people nice and do they seem energetic?”
“Seem like industrious people, to me.”
“Joseph, I must get back to my weeding. Since we had those few drops of rain the other day, I can"t keep up with them.”
“I"ll go get Jesus and get him down for his nap while you"re digging.”
“Why, thank you, Joseph. Aren"t you a sweet man?” I reached, lifted my head and kissed him on his chin, then ran back to my weeding.
Since Ruth wouldn"t let me help in the kitchen, I worked in her yard. I planted palm trees and worked at getting Ruth"s flowers to grow and bloom.
I bent, pulled weeds and discarded them. Suddenly, the clip-clop of a horse"s hooves interrupted the quiet. Since it was early afternoon, I wondered why someone would come to the Inn so early.
As I stood and peered at the rider I recognized him.
“Jeremiah!” I exclaimed, wanting, but because I had dirt encrusted hands, not daring to hug him tightly as he swung from his horse. He picked me up, clasped me to his chest, then plopped me down.
“So, Little Mary has a baby.” He was the same Jeremiah who looked after me on the journey to and from Jerusalem. My Father"s friend...and mine.
“Yes, and you must see this perfect human being.” I grinned and glanced up at him. He was smiling at me as though he were my father. I felt so warm and loved, it was almost, but not quite, as nice as being with my father.
“Come, let"s go to our home. I must clean my hands and I"d like you to meet Joseph. Then, you may meet our son, who"s name is Jesus. He"s asleep at the moment, but I"m sure he"ll be awake soon.”
One of the boys of the caravansary appeared and took the horses" reins.
“Wait!” Jeremiah ordered kindly. He plucked a small bag from the saddle. “Please feed and groom him for me,”
Jeremiah requested.
“He"ll be ready when you are, sir.” And the boy led the horse away.
We walked up the stairs, chatting. We entered our room and Joseph rose. I introduced them, and Joseph invited,
“Please sit. Would you like a cup of wine?”
“I"m a little thirsty, and I"d like some wine, but I"d rather see the baby first.”
I had washed my hands and now poured wine. I placed bread and cheese on the table along with a small knife to cut the cheese as Joseph rose and gently swept back the curtain. He and Jeremiah walked to the small bed.
Jeremiah gazed at Jesus, without moving for what I thought was a long time, but could only have been a few moments.
As he turned, he said, “He is a fine looking young man.”
Sitting, he took a sip of wine. “Your parents asked me to look in on you, Mary. I had no idea you were here or I would have found you sooner.”
“We"ve been in Bethlehem almost two years now. But this isn"t the only reason you came, is it?”
Jeremiah had the grace to look quite abashed. “No, it isn"t. Actually, I"d been told about the furniture at this particular caravansary. When your parents told me you were here, I knew I had to come see the furniture, as well.”
“What about the furniture?” Joseph asked.
Jeremiah turned to Joseph. “You built it, didn"t you?”
“Yes.” He hesitated. “Yes, I did.”
“I especially like the bed you made for Jesus. It"s quite a unique design and very well made.” He stopped, took a sip of his wine and continued. “How would you like to make some of these to sell?”
Joseph was astonished. “Why...why, I don"t know. I never thought of selling them.”
Jeremiah broke a piece a bread, cut a sliver of cheese and placed it on the bread. “I"d like to take them to other cities and see what we can do with them, if you don"t mind.” He bit into his food.
Joseph stared at me as though he couldn"t believe what was happening. “I"d like that very much.”
Jeremiah rubbed his hand on his robe and reached for Joseph"s hand. “Then it"s a deal. The next time I"m through here, I"ll stop by and if you have any made, I"ll be happy to take them.”
He turned to me as he slid a bag from a pocket in his robe. “Here, Mary, are some seeds you can plant.”
I took the small packet from his hand. “What are they?”
“Seeds from an orange.”
I couldn"t believe it. Oranges were so scarce, it was seldom one ever heard of one. In fact, few people knew what they were. As I poured, I gazed at seven seeds in my palm.
“Oh, thank you Jeremiah.”
“You"ll have to have a lot of patience, Mary. You might not have fruit for five or more years.”
I gazed at the precious seed as though they were gold. “It"s all right. I"ll wait. In fact, I"ll keep them until we return home and plant them there.” I sighed, longing for home. “I remember the taste of the orange juice Joseph gave me on the morning after our wedding. I"ve longed for more since that day.” I