Continuing
our imagination of how God’s preparation for the coming of His Messiah might
have been experienced at the time, we imagine another letter sent in the Fall
of perhaps 5 BC....
Dear
Friend, good to hear from you! Yes, indeed, I got word of the census also. Enrollment for a loyalty pledge to Rome. What next?! I was hoping that Herod’s moratorium on
Caesar’s enrollment would be extended longer – two years was hardly enough!
Herod’s paranoia hasn’t cooled. First he executes his wife, and two years ago
their two sons. Good grief! Who will be the next victims of his paranoia?!
So
now Rome appoints Varus as governor, but he can’t arrive for some time, and we have
this temporary guy, Quirinius. Do you know anything about him? I guess he’s
doing Rome’s bidding. Herod’s bound to be doubly paranoid now. Plus with the
massive movements of people returning to their ancestral homes (Lk 2:3-4) – and in
winter’s darkness too! Yes, I agree with you – who knows what might happen!
We’ll be leaving in about five weeks also. It will be good to see you again!
May the Lord give us both safe travels.
You
asked about the priest Zechariah. I happened to be in Jerusalem in mid-August
when I saw him there. So I joined them at the Temple for John’s presentation
and Elizabeth’s purification. Very nice. They still think John will be a
prophet. Speaking of prophets, do you remember old Anna? She’s still there at
the Temple faithfully serving the Lord (Lk 2:36-37).
The
Temple is a bit chaotic now that Herod has started the rebuilding. Massive
movements of stone and scaffolding. Hopefully it will be as beautiful as
Solomon’s! But it will be years, if not decades, to finish. Perhaps the Lord
will allow us the years to see it.
Speaking
of Elizabeth – do you remember my telling you of the young woman from Nazareth,
Mary, who stayed with Elizabeth for some months? (Lk 1:39-56.) Well, I learned
both she and her husband – his name is Joseph – are royalty, of the house of
David. Imagine! So it turns out that she is from Aaron’s priestly line (Lk 1:5, 36) as well as David’s kingly line (Lk 3:23-38); and Joseph is also a direct
descendant of King David (Mt 1:1-16). Imagine – royalty living in Nazareth! Ha!
So Joseph’s ancestral home has to be Bethlehem where David was from (Lk 2:4), so they’ll
be making the trip for the enrollment soon also.
Could
Mary’s child be the Messiah? Zechariah said John was to prepare the way for the
Messiah (Lk 1:76). And to top it off! – apparently Joseph also had an angel of
the Lord came to him in a dream (Mt 2:20-23)! Well, neither one has been struck
mute – they must have both believed the angels. As Zechariah said, God has
visited His people! (Lk 1:16.) Amazing! So we can hope!
I’ll see you next month. Maybe we’ll know more by then.
Dibby Allan Green