then, when my wife Miriam was well into her pregnancy, she had a dream in which a messenger of the Lord appeared who told her that we should set out to Jerusalem.” Joseph had closed his eyes in order to better recall his memories. “That was the reason why we left Nazareth and went to Jerusalem. In the beginning I was opposed to it, since it was very dangerous in her condition, but she said that the child would not see the light of day until we reached the capital of Judah. I was not to be worry for she knew what she was doing. I let her convince me, for we all know who is in charge at home.”
Loud laughter of the men interrupted his narrative, only Samuel did not even break a smile.
“That was the last you heard of us for a long time. My sons Jossi und Judah from my first marriage found shelter with my sister Anna and were to continue my small craftsman workshop in the meantime. So we left for Jerusalem about two weeks before the Passover celebration. We had made arrangements that we would meet in Jerusalem if possible since Samuel and some others from the village also made the journey to Jerusalem every year. Unfortunately that did not work out for our son simply kept on not wanting to be born yet. “Joseph laughed toward Yeshua and sought eye contact, which his son however denied him. “After a while my wife heard another voice, after we had found shelter in a little house of an old acquaintance. We were to leave Jerusalem toward the south, toward Bethlehem. You all know that Miriam owns a small piece of land in Bethlehem that she leases out. And do you know what happened then?” Joseph looked around the group triumphantly.
“No, how are we supposed to know that. Go on with your story!”, Zephaniah shouted.
“You will not believe it.” Joseph stopped briefly in order to raise the level of attention even higher, though that was hardly possible at the moment since all were eagerly awaiting his story, some of them even almost forgetting to breathe.
“When we left the village, we could hardly believe our eyes, for a ray of light fell upon us although the sun was shining. But the light was much brighter than the sun. And the funny thing was that the ray accompanied us for our next few steps. And then, after the light had vanished, about fifty to sixty happy but excited people from all over the world received us and led us directly to a cave in Bethlehem, which had already been prepared for the birth of Yeshua. And do you know that?” Again Joseph paused and smiled at the group. His eyes flashed as if he were telling a joke. “This barn cave was on the land owned by Miriam. And that was good, for we had barely arrived in the cave when her contractions began. A midwife whom the tenants had called was also there. Everything, truly everything was prepared. Then the many men blocked off the cave entrance so that no one would be able to disturb the birth, as they told me later. The men began to pray. Despite the many different languages it became a quiet singsong that accompanied the entire birthing and gave especially Miriam much strength. Despite the many strange faces I felt strangely moved and a deep joy filled my heart..”
It had become quiet at the table of the men, and only quiet laughter was audible from the women’s table.
“Who were the men that received you in Bethlehem?”, Jeroham asked.
Before Joseph could give an answer, he was not sure at this moment whether he should tell the truth or invent a story, especially since his son was giving him an intense look just now. But in the end Joseph thought that he was in his home village, with his friends and his family. They would understand everything. So Joseph continued with his story.
“These men were wise people and seers from all of the countries in the world. Some came from Babylon, Rome, Greece, Media, Hispania, Arabia and Mesopotamia, from the legendary kingdom Wa, a German was among them, a few Egyptians, one seer even came from India, one from the Ch’in Empire in Asia. A mage of the Zapoteks was also present. He told us he came from a country across the great ocean. “
“Across the great ocean?” Samuel wanted to be sure he had heard correctly, since he could hardly believe his ears.
“Yes, exactly. I can still hardly believe it, even now as I am telling it to you. And all these men told the same story. Each of them had had the same dream, in which a voice told them that they should travel to Jerusalem. There in Jerusalem a bright star would show them the way. And this star would cast its rays on a very pregnant woman, who would then give birth to a king. A saviour, who would free all of humanity from its bondage. The wise people from those many countries said that they had to protect the birth since the demons of darkness wanted to prevent the birth at all cost.” Joseph took a sip from his cup of wine.
Joshua looked around. He could see that the eyes of the listeners were wide with surprise. In fact they all looked as if they had just seen a lion.
Joseph continued: “the presents that they brought served to create a holy vibration. Frankincense and myrrh were burnt to protect the birth, for as the wise told me, demons do not like those smells. Others brought some coins that we would need at some point they said. One wise man had brought a goat and another a donkey who was to bring us and especially the Messiah back to Nazareth in good health, which it did as you can all see.” Joseph smiled when he had finished telling the story. Yeshua gave him an intense look, and everyone looked at Yeshua.
Then a silence fell over the place Nazareth in the countryside of Galilee. At first it was a silence of wonder, yet just a few moments later it turned cold as ice. And then this wonderful evening of celebration was over abruptly. Discussions, arguments, curses and verbal attacks erupted. Samuel sought to gain allies in the shepard Jeroham and the potter Jacob, who shared in his indignation. Some of the men went to their wives and children in distress, pulling by away by the arms and quickly leaving.
Joshua had understood and was happy. Sarah had also understood and gave Miriam a smile and a nod, who now knew that she at least had one friend in the village. There was still silence until Joseph turned to Samuel.
“Samuel, Rabbi of Nazareth, didn’t anyone of you here in the village have a dream that announced the birth of Yeshua?”
Samuel was so stunned that at first he did not seem to know whether to hate, or damn Joseph or merely laugh at how naive he was.
“Joseph, do you realize that you are presuming to be the father of the future Messiah? The saviour of Israel? And what is worse, that you are pulling your son into this nonsensical and false story? Do you truly believe that your son, a son of a small construction craftsman in Galilee, is the king of the Jews? Are you so presumptuous or so dumb?”
Joshua was angry about the arrogance of his father. He knew that if he opened his mouth now he would be getting a beating for it. But he could simply not remain still. Up until know he had always carefully considered when he should say something in order to avoid being beaten for it, but now, gazing into the telling eyes of Yeshua, all of that did not matter to him. Joshua saw from the corner of his eyes that Sarah wanted to stop him, but it was already too late.
“Father, is it not written in the book of Micah: “But from you oh Bethlehem in Ephrata, tiny among the districts of Judah, shall one come forth who is to be ruler in Israel. His origin reaches far back, into the days of the beginning. Thus …“
Joshua did not get any further for Samuel had just given him such a hard slap in the face that he fell into Jacobs lap.
“Now you will go to bed and lie down. We will talk soon. Then I will show you who is your lord.”
Three days later Joshua still had difficulty hearing and two weeks later the wounds that Samuel’s rod had left on his bottom were still not fully healed. Would he ever be able to love Samuel as a son should love his father?
O, God. Where have I landed here? Today was the celebration in honor of our arrival. It
