December, 1984

Miracle In Bethlehem
Nellie Tuinhof

The sun shone and caressed the rich dark head bent intently over her work. Her fingers fairly flew, as the shuttle passed through the shed and the batton pushed the thread into place. She had been weaving since early morning and the cloak, a soft musky grey was almost complete. She stopped now and stretched luxuriously, easing the tension in her stiff muscles. Weaving was hard work, but she enjoyed it. As she settled once more, her eyes turned to the beautiful hills easily seen from the rooftop. The snows were gone now and the flowers had pushed out of the ground dotting the hills with their colour, defiantly mocking the dry season which always followed.

The warm wind wafted gently about her as she sat absently gazing across the village rooftops into the hill country. The sun shone warm on her olive skin. She was a beautiful young woman, and until her recent engagement was much sought after by the young men of the village. Her betrothed was a carpenter by trade and somewhat older than she. She pictured his large, rough, work-worn hands and rugged tawny features. Oh how she loved him. He was kind and patient but most importantly loved and served the same God as she. They had known each other for some time now and it was little surprise when he had gone to her father with the dowry asking formally for her hand. They would be happy together she knew.

Suddenly her thoughts were interrupted by the sight of a figure standing before her. Her large black eyes peered fixedly at him. Where did he come from she wondered? Who was he?

"Greetings you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you." Her heart began to beat wildly. What strange words. What do they mean? Why is he speaking this way she thought greatly troubled?

"Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

I ... with child she thought. How can this be? I have never been with a man. Joseph and I have only been betrothed a short time. It would be improper to marry so soon. Maybe this stranger could tell her how this would come to pass. As she gazed at him once more, she suddenly knew who it was standing before her. It must be an angel sent from God, the God she served. But why an angel sent to her? She must know more.

"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most Holy will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth, your relative, is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."

Mary in awe answered, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her and she was alone once again.

Mary looked around her in amazement. Nothing had changed. She was still sitting on the rooftop, the Galilean hills still arched their way gracefully across the land. The sun still shone and the gentle breeze still blew softly about her. Yet somehow, through the brief encounter with the angel, everything had changed.

She slowly left the rooftop beginning to understand what God had chosen her to do. She would go to the home of Elizabeth and Zachariah she decided.

The footpath was well worn as it hugged the slopes of the hills surrounding her. It was her third day of travel along the sometimes steep and stoney path that led her south to Judah. Her thoughts went back to the little rooftop in Nazareth where just two days before the angel had brought her the special message. She was to be the mother of the Messiah. Would Elizabeth know she wondered? How would this baby be different?

Her thoughts then turned to Joseph. Would he understand? Could he understand? There would be much gossip she knew. She was only betrothed to Joseph, not married, and yet was carrying a child. She would be subject to the criticisim and scorn of the people. They would most surely suspect Mary had been adulterous. Joseph would be expected to divorce her or expose her to public disgrace, and she according to custom could be put to death after the birth of her child. Fear gripped her heart. Could she face what possibly lay ahead?

Suddenly she stopped. There before her in the valley below lay the town where Elizabeth and Zachariah made their home. She quickened her step and again wondered if Elizabeth would know.

"Peace be with you, oh woman blest of the Lord," Mary greeted Elizabeth as she entered the humble home. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished."

When Mary heard the words of Elizabeth she was overjoyed and began to praise God. Elizabeth knew, she knew!

The yoke gradually took shape under the skillfull hands of the carpenter. Anyone entering the carpenter shop would P have noticed a difference in the carpenter today. Gone was the joyful, soft humming that usually accompanied Joseph's work. Darkness clouded the handsome craggy features, despair could be seen in his eyes. His thoughts turned back to the morning's events.

Mary had just returned from Judah. Oh how his heart had leaped as she had stepped into the shop. "We must talk," she had said, as she gently pulled the tools from his working hands. She was more beautiful than ever, he thought, as she had led him to a bench in the comer of the shop. When she had begun to speak, he remembered feeling numb. He had closed his eyes, but the words still pierced him ". . . with child. . . Holy Spirit ... Messiah." It couldn't be true. Why hadn't she told him there was someone else? She could be put to death, surely she had known that before . . . no, no, there couldn't have been another man, and yet ... Oh Mary, Mary ...

He sat quietly in the shop for a long time. What was he to do? His 'heart ached as he thought of losing her, yet he would either have to divorce her, or expose her to public disgrace. It was the only way. Finally he rose. It was late, he must be getting on. He closed the shop and retreated to the adjoining rooms that made up his home.

He had lain down on the pallet almost immediately. Sleep, however, did not come quickly for him this night. It was almost morning before he fell into an exhausted sleep. As he slept, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Joseph awoke with a start. It was true. Mary would have a child. He would be the Messiah. Joy filled his being at the realization of what the angel had spoken to him. At daylight he did what the Lord commanded him and took Mary as his wife.

The pungent smell of smoke from the fires where people stood warming themselves drifted through the busy streets. The city was bustling with activity, as hundreds came from all parts of the country. "Ceasar Agustus had issued a decree that a census should be taken of Roman world, and everyone went to his own town to register."

Mary and Joseph had just arrived in the little town of Bethlehem after a long three day journey from Nazareth. It had been a difficult journey especially for Mary. She was cold, tired and her back ached from the long hours spent riding on the donkey. She did not have to come to Bethlehem, as the officials only required the head of each family be present, but Joseph had insisted. He did not want to leave her behind to face the tireless tirade of gossip alone.

Joseph led the donkey with its precious burden through the busy street. All around them people were shouting, trying to find shelter. Mary hoped Joseph would soon find a room, she needed to rest. She watched as time and time again they were turned away, the now familiar words echoing in their ears, "Sorry, no room." Mary saw the lines of worry etched on Joseph's face. He knocked on yet another inn door, this time begging for any available shelter. Mary could not hear the exchange of words but noticed the innkeeper had looked at her several times. Joseph turned and Mary saw the look of relief spread across his face.

"We've found something Mary. It's crude but we will be warm enough," said Joseph.

Joseph led the little donkey into the stable behind the inn. It was crude, nor were they the only inhabitants, Mary noticed as she slipped from the donkey's back. She took a quick census as her eyes scanned the shed for a place to spend the night. One cow, two sheep, a donkey, a few doves and some hens shared the stable with them.

As Joseph fed and bedded the donkey, Mary gathered some straw and began to make a pallet for them to lay down. She heard the doves crooning in the rafters overhead, while behind her the hens clucked throatily as they too settled for the night. The other animals had settled after being disturbed by Mary and Joseph's entrance, and were again rythmically chewing their cud. Joseph had finished with the donkey and came to help Mary. They listened and laughed at the orchestrated sounds of their little abode.

Mary turned to her husband, "Joseph," she said, "it will soon be time for the baby to be born." Joseph looked

around him wildly. What kind of place was this to bear a child he thought. If only they could be inside a clean, warm room, Mary, sensing his thoughts, placed a hand on his arm, "Joseph the stable will be fine. I will wrap the baby in strips of cloth and lay him in the manger." And so Mary "gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and placed him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn," and they called the baby Jesus.

Several hours later Mary and Joseph were awakened by the sound of voices and a tapping at the stable entrance. Who could be there Mary wondered as Joseph walked across the stable floor toward the sounds. He returned a few minutes later, four wide eyed shepherds following. "They've come to see the child," he said to Mary. How could they possibly know of Jesus' birth Mary thought. She listened as the shepherds poured out their story, words tumbling over one another. They had been keeping watch over their flocks they told her, when all of a sudden an angel of the Lord appeared to them. They told of the glorious light that shone all around the angel and of the terror that had gripped their hearts. What could the angel want they had wondered. Then they heard the angel's words:

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the city of David, a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger."

Mary and Joseph were amazed and eagerly listening to the shepherd's continuing story. Suddenly the sky had been filled with a great company of the heavenly host praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests-"

The shepherds said it had been a beautiful sight. When the night grew quiet again they had left their flocks and come to Bethlehem to see the child the angel had spoken of. The room grew quiet as everyone sat and gazed with wonder at the child, Jesus Christ the Lord, God's gift to mankind.

Various Scripture verses used throughout were taken from Luke 1, 2 and Matthew I - New International Version