The prophecy

Many months had passed since Mary, her brother and Joseph had left on their return trip to Nazareth. Even though Zacharias could still not speak it did not stop him from thinking about all he had heard Mary tell of the incredible things the angel Gabriel had told to her. He pondered   how the power of the Holy Spirit had overshadowed her and she became pregnant. So as it came time for Elizabeth’s son to be born, Zacharias kept himself busy studying his collection of ancient scrolls. Pouring over each scroll, Zacharias searched for the long awaited promises of God concerning the Messiah-King that was to be born.

In the dim light of the oil lamp, Zacharias poured over the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Although his heart was pounding, it filled with joy upon reading the text 7:13-17 that foretold of the birth of the coming Messiah “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” Zacharias marveled at the fact that his own niece, Mary, was carrying the promised Child Isaiah had foretold would be born! Then as he unrolled the scroll further, he continued reading at Isaiah 9:6-7 “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace their shall be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and Justice from that time forward, even forever.”

As the hours passed, Zacharias also remembered what Joseph had said the night they had arrived. After dinner the dishes were properly cleaned, put away and they settled down by the hearth fire to tell story. When it was discovered that she was pregnant, Joseph revealed the fact that he was going to flee Nazareth with Mary to save her from public judgment, humiliation or something worse. He explained that as he was planning their escape, an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream and said “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

The very next day Elizabeth’s time came to deliver and her son was born. All the neighbors asked if she was going to name him after his father, but she shook her head no, as Zacharias motioned for a writing tablet and scratched out “His name was John!” He had been mute for nine months but now immediately after writing the child’s name his voice returned.

Six months later and seventy miles to the north in the village of Nazareth, Elizabeth’s niece Mary was also getting very close to the birth of her baby. Mary lived with her mother, father, brother and two sisters. Joseph lived just outside of town near the main road that led to the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. His father was a carpenter who built wagons, carts and repaired broken wheels for a living. The nearby road afforded a steady stream of customers to his shop.

Today, Joseph had promised Mary that he would take her for a wagon ride through the vineyards and olive groves that covered the hills and mountains to the north toward the sea. Joseph was sitting up front on the buckboard with Mary snuggled around a pile of pillows in the back of the wagon. She was eight months pregnant but was willing to endure any discomfort to ride through the beautiful Nazarene countryside. Soon after they left the outskirts of town, they spotted a Roman legion about a half mile away marching towards them. Joseph pulled the  wagon off the road into a turn out as the officer in front looked them over and motioned to the centurion to inspect the wagon. After a thorough inspection, the centurion informed Joseph that Caesar Augustus had decreed that a worldwide census was to be taken. He said they had orders to visit every village in Galilee where they were to post the decree. Later, they would be making a return trip to verify that all citizens had complied and registered in their own home city.

The baby kicked Mary as the Roman legion filed past them kicking dust into the air. Joseph turned onto a back road and returned home to begin preparations for their trip to Bethlehem of Judea. They had taken this same trip just six months earlier, visiting Elizabeth and Zacharias. Joseph knew that the trip would be dangerous for Mary and the baby and that he needed to make preparations to get them to Bethlehem before the baby was born. He had been around many births before, but it was the women who assisted with the delivery so the thought of him having to deliver a baby on a rocky road did not appeal to him.

The next morning, Joseph hitched the donkey to the wagon, and loaded food and supplies for the trip. Joseph helped Mary get into the wagon and positioned several pillows around her swollen belly. Everyone was there to ask God’s blessings on them and to say goodbye. Joseph planned to head south towards Beth Shean, avoiding travel through Samaria. As the wagon creaked and bumped along the roadway, Mary closed her eyes and pondered all these wonderful things; a baby who was to be their future king and coming Messiah.

“The prophecy” is part two of a three part short story that will be published during the month of December. Hitch a ride next week with Mary and Joseph as they travel to Bethlehem and encounter the very first and very large holiday shopping crowd.