H Trope: Precognition
of death/murder/execution
Current Event:
Christmas Eve
NOT MY USUAL
FARE, BUT SOMETHING FOR THE SEASON: Joseph, Mary’s betrothed and then her
husband knew exactly what is going to happen to the Son he’d been charged with
raising. Matthew 1:20-21 says it all: “But when he had considered this, behold,
an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived
in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name
Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’”
Joseph was
Jewish. He KNEW that the atonement of sin was bought with BLOOD – of rams,
sheep, doves…lambs. Whatever, atonement was a bloody business and the Angel of
the Lord said in his dream that Jesus would save His people from their sins. So here’s my
story:
Joseph lay in bed, staring at the ceiling while noises in the kitchen in the courtyard let him know that the women of the household – including his newly betrothed, Mary – were up and at work.
Joseph lay in bed, staring at the ceiling while noises in the kitchen in the courtyard let him know that the women of the household – including his newly betrothed, Mary – were up and at work.
How could he
tell her about his dream? He could be blunt...
“Mary? Can I
talk to you for a second?”
She looked over
her shoulder, arms floured and white to her elbows, almost masking the glowingly
olive skin. “Can’t you see I’m busy, man?” She smiled to take the sting out of
her words.
“I have to tell
you a dream I had.” She rolls her eyes, smiling and blushing faintly. The other
women in the kitchen who were studiously not listening to the conversation,
snicker and make rude noises and motions. Joseph felt the heat rise on his
face, only adding oil to their lanterns of lust.
Mary laughed,
straightened and strode to him across the kitchen as she dusted the flour from
her arms onto a hand towel. Placing her hand on his chest, she gently pushed
him back into the hallway…
Joseph in bed
noticed the ceiling was blurred and cool tears rolling down his face to his
neck. How could he tell her that their Son – her son? his son?
The Son of God.
How could he
tell her that once their Son was born, his destiny was not to grow old. His
destiny was not to marry and father children and become a feeble old man with
children and grandchildren running around His feet.
His destiny was
to remain pure, without blemish, without sex...and to be given to His real
Father as a sacrificial lamb. The Lamb of God.
The angel of the
Lord had left it to Joseph, a simple carpenter, to tell Mary the Mother of God –
that her Son was to be murdered to cover the sins of all men.
Joseph found
himself sore afraid…
Names: ♀ Ancient Hebrew ; ♂ Ancient Hebrew
No comments:
Post a Comment