The Making of the Lamb by Robert Bear Read Free Book Online Page B

Scripture now, will I be able to become a rabbi when I get older?” Jesus asked.
    “Certainly you can, if you study. But even rabbis must stick to authorized interpretations.”
    “Perhaps this is God’s will. Now that Papa is ill, the time has come for me to take his place and earn a living for the family.”
    Elimelech said, “You are talking like a man now.”
    “I will stop talking about Scripture and just read from it under the rabbi’s supervision. I owe that to my parents.”
    “Explain the other point,” said Pesachya, the second Sadducee. He had been staring at Jesus and Mary with uncanny intensity.
    Elimelech sighed. “I am afraid we must insist on one more thing.” He turned to Mary. “It is something you will need to do, madam, to ensure we have a permanent solution to this problem. It is in our instructions.”
    “I will do anything to be left in peace with my family,” said Mary.
    “Your rabbi picked up a story among the villagers. They say that Jesus was conceived within you by the Spirit of God, and that you revealed your nakedness to no man.”
    “What must I do?” asked Mary.
    “You must go with us to the synagogue on the next Sabbath. We will call on you before the congregation and ask if the story is true. You will respond that it is not.”
    Mary looked over to Jesus. I will do anything to appease these men, if Jesus can stay. I don’t care what the village thinks of me. But it will not work. Sooner or later, some woman will blame me for her husband’s unfaithfulness, no one will believe anything I say, and they will stone me for adultery. My husband Joseph could die as well. Who will look after Jesus then?
    Jesus pounded a fist on the table. “If that is not the truth, then what do you think is the truth?” His voice quaked and his face turned red.
    Mary had never seen such anger in her son before.
    “We don’t care who your father is,” Elimelech replied. “Our only concern is ending this blasphemous talk about you being the son of God himself.”
    “My mother is not a liar, and she is not a whore, but that is what everyone will say about her. I agree to nothing if my mother must do this.” Jesus abruptly got up and stormed out of the house.
    Pesachya waited a moment for Mary to recover. Then he broke the silence. “You have no real choice. No one wants to put someone as young as your son on trial for blasphemy, but eventually the Sanhedrin will do so—through your king, if necessary. It’s out of our hands.”
    “We can stay in Nazareth a few more days,” said Elimelech. “We will give you both that time to think this through.”
    Mary found Jesus just outside the village, looking over the Jezreel Valley. No words were necessary. Uncle Joseph was right; the Sadducees were demanding too much. Jesus must go, and he would not return for some time. Jesus became once more as a child, upset to be leaving his mother.
    “Do not worry, my child.” Mary embraced him. “This will be an exciting voyage for you. You will come back to us with many stories.” There is no other choice. She wiped the tears from her eyes. He must not see the pain this separation brings to my heart. She could only pray that Jesus’s heavenly Father, as well as Uncle Joseph, would look after him.
    The two walked back to the house to gather the few things Jesus would take with him.
    Husband Joseph’s skin had a white pallor and his legs wobbled, but he managed to get out of bed.
    Jesus ran to him, and the two embraced.
    “I love you, my son. Respect your uncle and learn much from this trip. Be a helper, and know that I am praying for you. God will care for you.”
    Jesus softly replied, “I know he will, Papa. I shall be praying for you, too.”
    “I cannot wait to hear all your adventures.” Joseph smiled, though his sadness showed in his eyes.
    Jesus walked to the corner of the room and removed the flooring where the gifts of the three magi had been safely hidden since the time of his birth. He