(A new story, posted in its entirety)
AT THE TEMPLE
Two hours of looking had produced no results. Every person, all 75 or so, had been questioned, and no one had seen Yeshua. Even the child’s favorite cousin, John, had not seen him. In the confusion of such a large caravan leaving the festival, he had somehow gotten lost.
Mary was beside herself. They had already been gone a whole day! Why hadn’t she kept a closer eye on him? The answers to that, Joses, who was 8, and James, 7, came running up with Miram and Sarah, ages 4 and 2, toddling behind. “Mother, none of the children have seen him, either. Can we go back?”
Mary nodded, but added, “Your father and I will return to Jerusalem and find him. You will continue on with your grandparents. I just hope he didn’t get mixed up with the wrong caravan and is half-way to Egypt by now.”
Though Joseph chose the fastest camel, it still took another day to get back to the city. Once there, he found temporary lodging, then they set out. They went to Jacob’s well, where Yeshua had played with his brothers several times. They tried the market place, the camel races, everywhere they could think of that a 12 year old boy might gravitate. They checked the homes of everyone they knew. Still, Yeshua remained missing. At the end of the third day, they still hadn’t found him. By this time, Joseph was having to keep himself, as well as Mary, calm. How could he go to the temple, and explain to God that he had lost His son?
Friday evening came, and Mary asked absently, “Will we look for him tomorrow, even though it’s the Sabbath?”
“I’m not sure. Perhaps I should go ask at the. . . .” Joseph looked up into Mary’s eyes, and they both suddenly knew. Where else would he be? Whether he became lost, got left behind, or simply chose to stay, Yeshua would be in the temple.
Disregarding the fact that running was breaking the Sabbath, they both sprinted to the temple, holding hands, with tears of relief flowing down Mary’s face. When they arrived outside the temple, they stopped to catch their breath, and heard his voice.
“Yes, I can see that, Rabbi. But didn’t Elohim, our God, order us to honor our fathers and mothers in the same commandments? Why is it that we obey “Observe the Sabbath” so strictly, but we make exceptions to other commandments? Is there an order of importance; this one is more important to Him than that one?”
“In what way, boy, to we not honor our parents?” Joseph recognized the voice of a close associate of the high priest. He did NOT sound happy.
“Well, rather than take care of them when they get too old to work, don’t you allow someone to give that money to the temple, therefore dishonoring the parents by making them beg, or maybe even starve? That doesn’t sound like “honoring” to me.”
An argument began to break out among the men, with some agreeing with the priest and some with Yeshua. Joseph and Mary looked at each other and Joseph went into the temple proper, while Mary stayed in the women’s court, but stood where she could see and hear.
“Yeshua!” Joseph’s voice rang out above the discussion. “Come here, son.” Yeshua bowed slightly to the men and obediently came to Joseph.
“Why have you treated your mother and me this way, child? You knew when we were leaving. We were an entire day away before we realized you were not with John or his parents. Your mother was worried sick.” Joseph, of course, would not admit to worrying. Not in front of the priests.
“Abba, I know I missed the caravan when I got into a discussion with these gentlemen. I am sorry. But waited right here. I thought you would easily find me in my Father’s house.” Joseph stiffened slightly. This was the first indication that Yeshua knew.
“You are still a child, for all your knowledge, Yeshua.” Joseph’s voice was gruff. It’s too soon!! his heart cried out to God.
“I am, Abba. I apologize for any worry I caused. I will obey whatever punishment you consider appropriate. Please forgive me.” Joseph could see the regret in Yeshua’s eyes – not that he had stayed, but that his staying had caused them pain.
“Go to your mother, child. She will decide if punishment is warranted. Though not likely until she gets past the relief of finding you whole.” Yeshua ran to Mary and threw himself into her arms, nearly bowling her over. Joseph could read the boy’s lips, I am so sorry, Mother. I love you. As he watched her irritation melt, he knew there would be no punishment. And that was fine with him.
“You need to teach that boy respect.” The priest came up behind him speaking harshly. “He should know better than to question a priest.”
Joseph turned back to the man. “I am a simple carpenter, Rabbi. I am not educated, nor overly smart. But I did notice that you did not have an answer to his question.” Joseph waited, but no answer, other than self-righteous sputtering, was forthcoming. He shook his head and turned his back to the irritated priest, walking off. It would be a long, tiring trip to catch up with the others, but it had been worth it to see these arrogant, know-it-all priests stumped by a little boy. He hoped that this Caiaphas character would stay on the lower levels of priesthood. The young Pharisee obviously had never studied the scriptures themselves, and was only mimicking what he had been taught.
Two hours of looking had produced no results. Every person, all 75 or so, had been questioned, and no one had seen Yeshua. Even the child’s favorite cousin, John, had not seen him. In the confusion of such a large caravan leaving the festival, he had somehow gotten lost.
Mary was beside herself. They had already been gone a whole day! Why hadn’t she kept a closer eye on him? The answers to that, Joses, who was 8, and James, 7, came running up with Miram and Sarah, ages 4 and 2, toddling behind. “Mother, none of the children have seen him, either. Can we go back?”
Mary nodded, but added, “Your father and I will return to Jerusalem and find him. You will continue on with your grandparents. I just hope he didn’t get mixed up with the wrong caravan and is half-way to Egypt by now.”
Though Joseph chose the fastest camel, it still took another day to get back to the city. Once there, he found temporary lodging, then they set out. They went to Jacob’s well, where Yeshua had played with his brothers several times. They tried the market place, the camel races, everywhere they could think of that a 12 year old boy might gravitate. They checked the homes of everyone they knew. Still, Yeshua remained missing. At the end of the third day, they still hadn’t found him. By this time, Joseph was having to keep himself, as well as Mary, calm. How could he go to the temple, and explain to God that he had lost His son?
Friday evening came, and Mary asked absently, “Will we look for him tomorrow, even though it’s the Sabbath?”
“I’m not sure. Perhaps I should go ask at the. . . .” Joseph looked up into Mary’s eyes, and they both suddenly knew. Where else would he be? Whether he became lost, got left behind, or simply chose to stay, Yeshua would be in the temple.
Disregarding the fact that running was breaking the Sabbath, they both sprinted to the temple, holding hands, with tears of relief flowing down Mary’s face. When they arrived outside the temple, they stopped to catch their breath, and heard his voice.
“Yes, I can see that, Rabbi. But didn’t Elohim, our God, order us to honor our fathers and mothers in the same commandments? Why is it that we obey “Observe the Sabbath” so strictly, but we make exceptions to other commandments? Is there an order of importance; this one is more important to Him than that one?”
“In what way, boy, to we not honor our parents?” Joseph recognized the voice of a close associate of the high priest. He did NOT sound happy.
“Well, rather than take care of them when they get too old to work, don’t you allow someone to give that money to the temple, therefore dishonoring the parents by making them beg, or maybe even starve? That doesn’t sound like “honoring” to me.”
An argument began to break out among the men, with some agreeing with the priest and some with Yeshua. Joseph and Mary looked at each other and Joseph went into the temple proper, while Mary stayed in the women’s court, but stood where she could see and hear.
“Yeshua!” Joseph’s voice rang out above the discussion. “Come here, son.” Yeshua bowed slightly to the men and obediently came to Joseph.
“Why have you treated your mother and me this way, child? You knew when we were leaving. We were an entire day away before we realized you were not with John or his parents. Your mother was worried sick.” Joseph, of course, would not admit to worrying. Not in front of the priests.
“Abba, I know I missed the caravan when I got into a discussion with these gentlemen. I am sorry. But waited right here. I thought you would easily find me in my Father’s house.” Joseph stiffened slightly. This was the first indication that Yeshua knew.
“You are still a child, for all your knowledge, Yeshua.” Joseph’s voice was gruff. It’s too soon!! his heart cried out to God.
“I am, Abba. I apologize for any worry I caused. I will obey whatever punishment you consider appropriate. Please forgive me.” Joseph could see the regret in Yeshua’s eyes – not that he had stayed, but that his staying had caused them pain.
“Go to your mother, child. She will decide if punishment is warranted. Though not likely until she gets past the relief of finding you whole.” Yeshua ran to Mary and threw himself into her arms, nearly bowling her over. Joseph could read the boy’s lips, I am so sorry, Mother. I love you. As he watched her irritation melt, he knew there would be no punishment. And that was fine with him.
“You need to teach that boy respect.” The priest came up behind him speaking harshly. “He should know better than to question a priest.”
Joseph turned back to the man. “I am a simple carpenter, Rabbi. I am not educated, nor overly smart. But I did notice that you did not have an answer to his question.” Joseph waited, but no answer, other than self-righteous sputtering, was forthcoming. He shook his head and turned his back to the irritated priest, walking off. It would be a long, tiring trip to catch up with the others, but it had been worth it to see these arrogant, know-it-all priests stumped by a little boy. He hoped that this Caiaphas character would stay on the lower levels of priesthood. The young Pharisee obviously had never studied the scriptures themselves, and was only mimicking what he had been taught.