The Crown and the Cross: The Life of Christ by Frank G. Slaughter Read Free Book Online

stand on either side of the Nicanor Gate, at the top of the fifteen steps leading from the Court of Women to the Court of Israel where the men gathered. Here, without actually being in the Court of Israel where her presence was forbidden, Mary could witness the sacrifice. This was quickly performed, the prayers of purification intoned, and the ceremony completed.
    On returning to the outer court, Mary saw an old man coming to where Joseph stood waiting for her with Jesus in his arms, a blanket around the swaddling cloth. She hurried to them for she did not know what such attention from a stranger might mean, and arrived, a little breathless, just as the old man spoke.
    “Shalom,” he said courteously to both. “My name is Simeon.”
    They returned the greeting politely for they could see that he was quite at home in the temple and judged him to be a priest.
    “I shall not see death before I have seen the Lord Christ,” Simeon explained, and held out his arms to take the child.
    Mary had supposed that only she, Joseph, Elisabeth, and Zacharias knew the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ conception and birth. But now, it seemed, Simeon too had somehow learned that the child sleeping peacefully within the blanket was more than just another baby. Eager to learn everything she could about her child, Mary nodded to Joseph to let Simeon take Jesus in his arms.
    Raptly the old man looked down at the face of the sleeping infant, then lifting his eyes upward, he spoke in prayer: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”
    Joseph looked at the old man in astonishment, as it was strictly forbidden a pious Jew to reveal anything of his faith to a Gentile or have any near contact with the heathen. Yet be was familiar enough with the sacred writings of the prophets which were read each Sabbath in the synagogue to know that Simeon was referring to the words of Isaiah concerning the Expected One.
    “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against,” Simeon went on, handing the baby to Mary. Then his face grew grave as he concluded, “Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
    Suddenly afraid, Mary pressed Jesus so tightly against her breast that He woke and began to cry.
    “Come, Joseph,” she said quickly. “Our business here is finished. Let us go back to Bethlehem.”
    As they were leaving the outer court, an old woman stopped them. They recognized her from previous visits to Jerusalem as a prophetess named Anna who spent most of her waking hours in the temple serving God. And since there could be no possible harm in this pious woman of great age, they stopped courteously to answer her greeting.
    “Blessed are you,” Anna said to Mary as she looked at the child. For your Son shall bring redemption to all who shall look upon Him.”
    Mary and Joseph left as quickly as they could without being rude to the old priestess. They had been forewarned by the angel that the child Mary was to bear would be different from others, but so long as only a few people had known of it, they had not been afraid. Now it had begun to seem that many shared the knowledge, and if this were so, word of it might easily come to Herod, who had already ruthlessly exterminated everyone with any claim to the throne of Israel, however remote, even to the point of executing his own sons.

Chapter 4

    Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem.
    Matthew 2:1
    The king of Israel was afraid.
    A determined man, utterly without scruple where he considered his own welfare to be involved, Herod had never been sure of his throne though he