ALIVE: Chapter 152, Jerusalem in Love

The crowd and the disciples slept soundly under the starry night sky warmed by blanket-bedrolls and their neighbor’s body heat. Tired from the trek and teaming with thoughts about the prophecies, the nighttime was rich, like creamy dark chocolate, like a powerful good king on his throne amidst his prosperous, grateful and diligent subjects, like the mother of a newborn whose difficult birthing was over as she rests with the sleeping infant beside her, content, joyous to the core.

On this day, instead of going away to pray to His Father, Jesus stayed in the cave. He had been with His Father and the prophets all night. The disciples stood guard at the mouth of the cave. The people woke up one at a time in a certain rhythm that only the angels above discerned. 1- the first person, then 8 simultaneously, 50, 5, then 20 and so on. It was entertaining to the angels and archangels to watch the rhythm of awakening.

The newly awakened people chatted with delight. Manasseh woke up remembering instantly that this was the day he would visit Jerusalem. If he had wings, he would have flown the short distance, so anxious was he to visit The Temple. He felt like he was going to visit God there and could barely contain himself. Hampered by his feet as his only mode of transportation and worse yet, by having to wait for all the others, Manessah decided to distract himself with prayer. He walked away from the crowd and thanked the Lord with every fiber of his being. He recited the Shema and morning prayers, and Psalm 5. “In the morning You shall hear my voice in the morning…” then asked for patience, which he was granted with distraction when young Lev fetched him for breakfast.

“Brothers and sisters,” announced Jesus as He emerged from the cave. “Thank you for your patience. Have you eaten?”

Saul answered, while heads nodded, “Yes Master, we are ready to go to Jerusalem.”

“Good, little Lev, do you want to walk with Me? Together we will lead the way.”

Excited to be called out young Lev scurried up to Jesus. The crowd got into formation to enter the city lead by those who started the journey in Capernaum weeks before, with Jesus and His twelve.

The crowd arrived at The Temple within an hour filling the space that already had plenty of pilgrims within its hallowed walls. The rabbi wondered why the Temple was so full and tried to think of a holiday that he missed, until he spotted Jesus in the crowd and immediately understood with arrogance, “That vagabond, I hope He doesn’t cause a commotion this morning. I’m not up for that. Let’s just get this service over with so I can rest. I have a headache this morning.” Meanwhile, it was a somewhat rare occasion when Jesus was merely worshipping with the people and not teaching or healing.

After the service ended, Jesus told Peter and Andrew, who were standing next to Him, that He wanted to go to His mother’s house.

“Well what should we do with your crowd?” asked Andrew.

Jesus replied. “Tell them, and the rest of you, that I am going to visit My mother, and that they can explore the city. We will meet up at the Temple tomorrow morning.”

At that announcement Manasseh was the first to break away followed by about 1/2 of the crowd, but the rest refused to leave. Those were the curious ones, mostly the women and children, who wanted to meet the mother of Jesus.

……

Meanwhile, Mary was babysitting a 3-year old boy for her neighbor Sarah who had just given birth and needed help. As her own Son Jesus was walking with the smaller entourage toward her home, she was playing with him. Little Lev was so bright and loving. His big brown eyes and curly hair, his open face always wearing a smile endeared Lev to her and reminded her of Jesus when He was that young. Oh, the happy days of His youth before she had to share Him with the world. As Mary was playing and day dreaming, she heard a wrap on the door. She quickly stood up and before she reached the door her heart leapt  for joy. She opened the door quickly to see her beloved Son as she sensed she would.

“My darling! You’re here. Oh bless my heart!”

“Greetings Mama.” said Jesus before reaching over to give her a kiss on the cheek and a big bear hug. He knew how much His mother loved a good hug and so did He.

Mary looked beyond her Son at all the people behind Him looking at her. She flashed a questioning expression at her Son, that conveyed her thought. “Who are these people?”

Jesus answered her expression saying, “These are My friends who want to meet you.”

Mary looked at the crowd to measure them up and then at Her Son and said, but there is not enough room in our home for all these people!”

“That’s okay Mama; just come out and greet them. That will be enough, then I’ll come in.” Then Jesus spotted little Lev who had been hiding behind and clutching Mary’s gown with one little hand, while he sucked his thumb with the other.

Feeling the little tug on her gown Mary looked down to see Lev straining his neck to look up at her. Suddenly remembering Lev, she said, “I have a little boy here. He is shy.” Lev plucked his thumb out of his mouth and clutched her gown with that hand too while peeking out from his hiding hiding place to see the big man who intruded on his visit.

Jesus looked down at Lev and exclaimed with delight at the surprise of seeing this child, “Oh! hello little one! What is your name?”

Instead of replying, Lev re-inserted his little thumb in his mouth to plug it up. He didn’t know this Man who hugged his babysitter.

Mary looked down and said gently, “Lev, this is my Son! His name is Jesus. He used to be a little boy just like you. Say hello to Him.”

“Come little Lev, I want you to meet my friends. There is another boy, bigger than you, named Lev too! May I pick you up so you can see them?”

Lev thought about it for a moment, and looked up at Mary who smiled warmly and nodded her approval.

Then little Lev pulled his thumb out of his mouth and lifted both arms up to Jesus.

Mary said, “He is normally so shy with strangers, but look how he opens up to You!”

Jesus easily lifted Lev with His strong arms as if he was as light as a puppy. Then the three of them went out to meet the crowd.

Seeing Jesus carrying a little boy, the older Lev meandered his way through the crowd to reach Jesus and the little boy He was carrying. The older Lev looked at the oblivious little boy to size him up. “Hi! My name is Lev, who are you?”

The little boy in Jesus arms looked down and replied, “Lev.” At that point the older Lev’s mother reached him and took his arm and said, “Don’t bother the Master Lev.” And to Mary she said, “I am very pleased to meet you mother.” Mary smiled and greeted Lev’s mother.

Then she ventured off her doorstep to greet the rest of her Son’s friends.

John was the first familiar face she spotted and said,  “John, how good to see you again! How have you been?” John accepted her outstretched hand and said “Well, mother.” and reached over to kiss Mary on her cheek. She received his peck.

The pilgrims, about three persons deep and a block long were quiet and respectful. They just came to see the Master’s mother.

When Mary reached her, Arielle exclaimed, “Oh mother, I am so blessed to meet you! Will you pray for me? I want to please the Lord, but I don’t know exactly how to.”

Arielle reminded Mary of herself when she was much younger and replied, “Of course I will. What is your name?”

“I am Arielle from Bethany. Your Son is amazing!”

Mary smiled at the understatement. “Thank you, I know, and I will.” She thought, “Imagine that!She wants me to pray for her; first time someone asked me that since my school days.”

Mary continued down the line recognizing one disciple after another who greeted her with reverence and honor. Mary was taken aback by the honor these people bestowed on her. She wasn’t used to that. She had been a simple girl, a student and even after the angel Gabriel appeared and she was pregnant with her Holy Child, she was humbled by the adversities, giving birth in the stable, living in Egypt. Her happiest days were back in Nazareth with her amazing little boy and Joseph. No one honored her. She was just another young mother. Her friends and neighbors shared food and gossip sometimes. When she moved to the big city, she became anonymous like most city people. Anyway, she thanked the people who loved her Son so much that they would follow Him like this, sleeping outside, walking all day. What people will do to see miracles, and to be healed! Mary to herself, ‘this is an awkward experience for me.’ Mary, betraying her discomfort smiled and thanked the people for their kind words. As she reached the end of the line of followers, Mary excused herself. She felt so shy having all those eyes on her. She was ready to get back into her home. Jesus was still carrying little Lev who enjoyed being so high up.

“Come Mother, let’s go inside.” said Jesus.

To the people He said, “Enjoy the city, meet Me tomorrow morning in the Temple.”

When they went inside Jesus put Lev down; he started running around the house being filled with energy and excitement.

Mary pulled herself back together; she wondered how her sweet Son dealt with those crowds, day after day. No wonder He was glad to be home alone with her. She cherished that moment more than ever.  “My dear, can I make you some tea? I have honey! And there is fresh water in the bowl for you to wash yourself.”

“Ahh! Home!” exclaimed Jesus. It felt so good to be in His grandmother’s home alone with His mother, and being cared for. She was so beautiful inside and out;  she had a young tender heart. Jesus thought to himself that His Father, God, chose His mother well.

“Tea?” asked Mary, cutting into His thoughts.

“Oh! I, sorry mother. Yes, tea would be good. I’m famished!”

They heard a knock on the door. “I’ll get it” said Mary.

“Greetings!” said Sarah. “Thank you so much for watching Lev for me! Lev! Sweetheart, come; it’s time to go home. Your father is waiting for us.” called out Sarah.

At the sound of his mother, little Lev hid behind the divan where he managed to squirrel himself into a good hiding place. He didn’t want to leave.

“Lev! Come! Where did you go?”

While scanning the room for her son Sarah noticed Jesus. “Oh! Hello! Who have we here?”

Mary smiled, “Oh, I’m sorry. This is my Son who I told you about. Jesus, this is my neighbor Sarah, Lev’s mother.”

Jesus stood up and extended His hand. “It is good to meet you Sarah. You have a lovely boy there.”

“Thank you Jesus, we’ll keep him.” she teased. “Lev!!! Come out NOW! We have to go!”

At that, Lev started to crawl out of his hiding place and found that he couldn’t! “Help!” he whimpered.

Jesus went over and moved the divan to help Lev escape. Then He picked the child up one more time and gave him a hug and handed him to his mother saying, “Here you go Sarah, not a scratch.” Lev didn’t want to get down. He grabbed Jesus with his two little arms and hugged His neck. Then he gave Jesus a big kiss on the cheek. Jesus hugged the boy. “Thank you Lev, I love you too.  Now you have to go home with your mama.” Then Jesus gently pulled Lev away from His neck and set him down by his mother.

“Thank you Jesus, will you stay for long?”

“I am afraid not. But I hope to see you and little Lev again. I come to Jerusalem often.”

“Where do you live?”  she inquired.

Mary interjected, “Thank you for bringing Lev, we enjoyed him so much.”

“Thank YOU.” replied Sarah and taking Lev’s hand, they left, and little Lev turned back and waved goodbye.

Alone at last! The sun cast a warm but waning light on the cozy room. Grandmother’s chair, a dresser that Joseph had made for Mary, Joachim’s scrolls, oil lamps with flickering lights.

“My, I don’t know what to make you for supper. Do you have any requests my dear?” asked Mary.

“Mama, you have already given Me everything I could ever ask for.” replied Jesus as He went over and patted her in the back.

“Well, you have to eat! I will make you a lamb stew. I just happen to have a nice lamb leg that a kind man brought me yesterday. Now wash up and rest while I cook.”

“Okay.”

Jesus was content alone with His mother. Such a visit hadn’t happened in a long time, maybe a year. All alone, with no disciples and no crowds. “What golden hours these are.” He thought.

Mary suddenly had a flashback of when He was born in the cold stable, and how the lambs and goats kept them warm. How the only sounds she heard was the breathing and neighing of the animals, and the sweet quiet breaths of her baby…and Joseph’s snoring. The memory choked her up and nearly brought a tear to her eye. Here He is, all grown up, a man. A man of God always surrounded by people who cling to His words and begged for His healings.

Jesus wasn’t just hers any more, and never would be again. But that day, and that evening He would be. What a joy.

Mary’s daydream was interrupted by the loud sound of her Son who was snoring on the bed that her papa, Joachim, passed away on so many years before. She wondered what her parents were doing and if they had any sense of her from Hades.

Jesus slept all afternoon and up until sunset. He woke up just as the stew was ready and the table set.