MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2021 STORIES FROM NAZARETH - PART II

 MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2021 STORIES FROM NAZARETH - PART II

Yesterday I started a story from Sarah, the best friend of Mary from Nazareth. (This is a work of fiction).  Sarah is the best friend of Mary from their hometown of Nazareth. 

*****

Sarah continued.

The next time I saw Mary was about four months later.  And, I was shocked, MARY WAS PREGNANT!!!  My friend - who just like me - just had her first-period last year - was pregnant!!! ???  

I was around when she left town.  There was a rumor - may be more than a rumor - that she was engaged to Joseph - an older carpenter.  Seemingly, Joachim and Anne and Joseph’s parents had discussed the marriage proposal and the dowry.  

I didn’t want to be nosy - well, I did want to find out, but I didn’t want to rush in!!!

So, it wasn’t until the next Sabbath when I was upstairs with the women while the men were downstairs.  Mary was there with her mother.  I greeted her and she greeted me back - but it wasn’t quite the same as two teenage girls saying hi after a few months off.  

Mary was still glowing - but it wasn’t quite as bright as before.  My mother was also anxious to know what was going on, so she approached Anne and asked her and Mary to come for tea and prayers on Tuesday and Anne agreed.

*****

We met in our small house.  I understand from Karen in the 21st century that houses are much bigger there now.  While it has been some centuries, our history still talks of living in tents and moving into the Promised Land.

I sat next to Mary.  In kind of a strange start, Anne gave an overview first.

Anne started “Our dear friends, may God our provider be praised.  To him be the glory”.

“Yes, you have many questions.  Let me give you not quite enough information but it might help you.  Yes, Mary is pregnant.  Yet, please trust me, she had not known a man.  She was engaged and still is to wed Joseph.  This is an amazing time for our people.”

She paused as if thinking for the right words.  “God has blessed Israel as His chosen people.  If you remember the prophet Isaiah saying “A virgin shall conceive and bear a child”.  Our people have looked forward to the coming of the Messiah for years.  Again, trust me, Mary has been chosen by God for this time.  I believe her.  I also know a little of the human race and I know how the grapevine and the rumor-mill will be in full operation soon. 

Anne stopped and looked at Mary.  The glow had returned to Mary’s face.

***

Mary started.

“I have been visited by an angel.  It was the angel Gabriel, or so he said.  He indicated that the time for the Messiah had come.  Through the centuries, God has intervened and saved his people.  But, not all of us listened and followed His commandments and laws.  By the way, being visited by an angel is a really scary thing - I thought I was going to die!!”

“There were some personal things that I won’t repeat.  The angel told me about Elizabeth, an older lady from the hill country near Jerusalem, which seemed to be kind of important to him and to me.  (Aside, why would anyone say ‘oh, by the way, an old person who you have never met from a long way away is pregnant’.  I knew in my heart that I was to visit her).  The angel used some strange language like I was blessed among all women - that seemed strange to a girl who got her first period about a year ago.”

“Then something strange, eerie, exciting, and awe-inspiring came over me.  The angel said I would have a child by the Holy Spirit - and something profound come over me - something so deep that I can’t really describe it but, it was delicious - (I’m not even sure that is a good word)”

“Immediately I came home.  I vaguely remember seeing you that afternoon, Sarah.  I was still in the bliss of the Holy Spirit.  I told my parents.  God had already worked a miracle in their hearts.  Dad insisted that we follow the direction of the angel to visit Elizabeth who was pregnant in her old age.  Like your namesake, Sarah, who had Isaac long after her days of being able to have a child, God had blessed her.  My parents packed things for me for a long visit.  The angel said Elizabeth was in her sixth month.  We were figuring that I would stay with Elizabeth for the last three months of her pregnancy and then come home.  

“It took us four days to get to Zechariah and Elizabeth’s home.  It was amazing. God was with us every step of the way.  Once we saw what might have been robbers and when they came close to us, they ran away.  I think an angel or a group of angels was surrounding us.  We found lodging easily every night along the way with synagogue officials that were honored to have us spend the night with them.  Actually, two of the nights, both of the families looked directly at me and said “The Lord has blessed you”.  We were given food and water for the journey by these wonderful people - and again on our homeward trip.”

“As we got closer there was a time when two roads crossed but one of the roads glowed and we took it.  Even coming to the town of Ein Kerem, we were just led to Zechariah and Elizabeth’s home.  

“(Remind me to tell you about Zechariah - he is a priest that was struck dumb by the same angel Gabriel when he tried to tell the angel that Elizabeth was too old to have a child.  It was interesting to be in the house for over three months and he could hear us but couldn’t talk to us.  He had a slate tablet and used chalk to write his messages.  He reminded me of what Elijah must have been like).

“Anyway, Elizabeth and I bonded immediately.  She was filled with the Holy Spirit and through the spirit told me my baby was to be the Messiah. The baby in her womb jumped when we first met.”

Mary stopped for a second and looked directly at me, maybe sensing a little doubt on my face. “Sarah, really, it happened this way.  People tell me I am glowing, I can feel a difference throughout my body.  God has so deeply touched me, and, yes, I am carrying the Messiah in my body - really.”

Something happened to me at that instant - I KNOW that Mary was somehow different and I believed that she was carrying the Messiah in her womb.  Just trust me, I knew!!

Mary continued.  “It was a grand three months with Elizabeth and Zechariah.  I helped in their garden, I was Elizabeth’s constant companion.  And, I really learned about being pregnant!  Elizabeth would tire easily.  It had to be so hard on her at her age to be pregnant for the first time (and probably the only time).  A friend of hers - Miriam - is a midwife and came to help as well.  But, the glow of her face was one of awe and glory to God.  Let’s not take God out of this whole story.  God is to be glorified. He had remembered His people.  Yes, I am awaiting His baby, the Messiah.  I get overwhelmed easily as I consider that God chose ME out of all the girls in Israel; that God chose ME out of all the generations, that God, through the Holy Spirit has caused this to happen.

“I had no idea of how a pregnancy would end.  It seemed that Elizabeth grew bigger every day - and one day she just said to me ‘Today is the day’.  How she knew, I think, was a God thing too.  

“She delivered the baby quickly, and I was there with Miriam and another midwife.  He was such a red, hairy baby.  I don’t know much about babies and birth, but my heart melted with such love at this birth.  I cried tears of joy.  Elizabeth was praising God through her contractions and delivery.  I hope my delivery will be as amazing as hers was. “

“Miriam delivered the baby, and I held him while they washed him with a little salt water.  I got to hold him for a minute.  He was so tiny, so innocent, and yet, somehow, so holy.”

Ein Kerem 

“Maybe the most interesting was when Zechariah was about the baby’s name.  There is a custom that parents name their first son with the father’s name or a close variation, but on his slate tablet, Zechariah wrote ‘His name is John’ - and WOW - it was like a million angels were in the air around that house (although i couldn’t see them, I could sense them), and Zechariah and Elizabeth were so completely in the presence of God.  The glow of the Holy Spirit was upon them, the baby - and me.”

*****

There was more, I really can’t describe the emotions, the love, and the joy.

For the next several months, I was Mary’s helper.  (My mother said it would help me when I got pregnant).  We were in and around the community.  Mary’s story of being the mother of the Messiah was a tough story in our town.  Some accepted it, but the majority thought that Mary had been playing around and gotten pregnant (they didn’t know Mary the way I know Mary that she wouldn’t do that).  There were a couple of men that seemed to enjoy calling her names - prostitute, slut, and even worse.  Even some of our schoolmates who knew Mary better thought she had gone away because she was pregnant.  

One day, Mary called me over to her. She whispered, "The baby is kicking, put your hand on my belly." I did, and I was in awe. As I pulled my hand away my hand was warm - AND glowing.

I didn’t know Joseph much before this, but I learned to love him and honor him as well.  

Mary told me in strict confidence one night that Joseph was going to quietly divorce Mary, but an angel told him the real story about her carrying the Messiah.  

Every day, Mary got a little bigger.  It was good for her to have been around Elizabeth and to understand pregnancy better.  And I was really learning.  

*****

But, about that time, a decree came out that the whole world was to be ‘enrolled’ (or a census taken).  Joseph and Mary debated how to handle this.  And, somehow, the Holy Spirit said to Mary that it was okay for her to go to Bethlehem for the census.  I offered to go with her.  My family's heritage was of the Asher clan so we had to go to a different location.  But, Mary said “No, God would be with her.”

*****

But, that’s another story.

*****

Another story tomorrow!!!

LOVE WINS!!!

Karen