Jesus prays by His field tent at night, with tears (which Hebrews 5:7-10 tells us about), asking God to speak through Him. He knows His ministry will begin soon, so He prepares with intense, intentional prayers.
In the morning, a girl of about 8 or 9 years runs out of her house, informing her mother, "I'll be by the stream." Her mother calls out, "Do not swim." The girl calls back that she won't. We are told that she is running along the outskirts of Capernaum in A.D. 26. The girl skips happily, taking out a doll tucked in her belt and holding her out, as if the doll were flying.
As she approaches a clearing, she stops in surprise, noticing it is now partly filled with a tent, campfire, stool, small benches, and work tools. The girl slowly kneels by a bench and looks at metal tools sheathed in leather, being careful to put them back as she found them. Seeing a wooden spoon, she grabs it, pretending to stir a pot and feed her doll, who says, "Yum, yum!"
Putting down the spoon, she walks over to the campfire area, where she sees a toy boat. Putting her doll in it, she says, "I'm sailing away, woo!" Noticing a covered bowl on a bench, the girl discovers dried figs, one of which she pretends to feed to her doll. She begins to bring the fig toward her own mouth, but looks thoughtful and quickly puts it back.
Hearing a twig snap, she quickly runs away and hides behind big rocks to see who is coming. It is Jesus, wearing a leather work apron. He removes a leather backpack to take things out of it, but as He does, He straightens up and looks in the girl's direction. She gasps and flees from the area.
Around twilight, we see Jesus busy lighting a fire, which He accomplishes with patient, skillful actions. He cuts vegetables on a little bench by the fire and puts them into a clay pot, stirring the pot and covering it before resting it in an appropriate spot on the campfire.
Meanwhile, the little girl is enjoying a simple dinner with her parents. Her mother, a fellow worker with Mary Magdalene at the hairdresser's shop, is talking nonstop about a friend of hers named Joanna who needs help. She asks her husband to help. Although he seems to have gotten into the habit of not listening to his wife go on, he does agree to try to help. Then the mother asks, "Abigail, how was your day?" Abigail answers that it was fine and asks if she can play with her friend Joshua tomorrow. She learns that as long as Joshua's mother agrees and that Abigail does her chores first, she can play with Joshua by the stream as long as there is no swimming.
Jesus covers the food He has made or purchased, including bread, mends the fire, and prepares for sleep. He removes His sandals on a mat near the tent entrance, washes His feet with a little towel in a small bowl of water nearby, and lies down inside, praying, “Blessed are You, O Lord our God—King of the universe, who brings sleep to My eyes.”
In the morning, Abigail is walking with Joshua, telling him, "There was one tool I've never seen before. I think He is building stuff. I don't know. There was some food too, but even though I was hungry, I didn't take any because that would be wrong. I'm glad I didn't because that's when the man got there." She tells Joshua to walk faster, but he says, "I'm trying, Abby, but your legs are going too fast." Continuing to talk nonstop like her mother, Abby says, "If he comes this time, should we say something to him? I think if you're with me, it's okay. I didn't see a sword or anything like that, so I don't think he'll kill us. He seemed nice. Do you have a sword, just in case? We're almost there—here it is!"
They crouch by the rocks Abigail hid behind yesterday and hear Jesus praying before He eats His breakfast, “Blessed are You, Lord our God—King of the universe, who gives forth bread from this earth…. And I pray that if ever there are two children who come visit My home here, You will give them the courage to say Shalom so that they will know they do not need to remain hiding in secret. Amen.” Joshua tries quietly to get Abby to leave, but she wants to stay. Jesus makes those children laugh with funny sounds.
When they stand up and make their presence known, Jesus says to them, "Greetings, children. You know, it is not safe for a child to wander from their home. You never know if there are bad men around." Abigail steps forward and Jesus tells her, "You were wise to bring your friend this time." She introduces Jesus to Joshua. Jesus commends Joshua's bravery for accompanying his friend and tells him, "Don't worry: I'm not a bad man. You are free to stay for a bit, but I'm afraid I have some work to do." Abigail says okay. Jesus thanks her for not taking any food yesterday, and quickly offers the children the figs Abigail saw yesterday.
She asks Him, "So what are You doing here?" He answers, "I'm visiting for a time." She asks where He is from. He tells her Nazareth. She asks what the wood is for. He tells her He is building something. She asks if He is a carpenter. He answers, "Sometimes. But I am a craftsman: I build all kinds of things." Abigail wonders why He doesn't therefore live in a house. "I travel a lot," explains Jesus. When Abigail asks, "How do you make money?" Joshua quietly tells her shouldn't ask that." Jesus says, "It's okay. I don't make money when I travel. So for now I build them and trade them for My food and clothing."
Abigail inquires about the wooden object in Jesus's hands that He is carving. He explains it is going to be a lock and key. Abigail, noticing how quiet Joshua has been, says, "Joshua, ask Him questions. He's nice." When Joshua responds, "No, thank You," she decides to ask, "What else will You build?" Jesus answers, "Wealthy people love decorations and toys for their children." Abigail looks down and says reluctantly, "My family is not wealthy." Jesus responds, "Many times that is better." She responds, "I don’t know about that." Jesus laughs gently and says, "You will."
Abigail takes her doll out of her belt and shows it to Jesus, explaining, "My mom made me this." Jesus says, "Ah, what's her name?" "Sarah," answers Abigail. "Very pretty," says Jesus. "Okay, time to go home. Bye," says Abigail, handing Jesus back the bowl of figs before running off. Joshua, who has been staring quietly at Jesus this whole time, backs slowly away from Jesus before he turns to follow Abby. Jesus laughs, obviously happy with the new young friends He has made.
Later that evening, sitting by His campfire, He puts finishing touches on His lock and key, pronouncing, "It is good," reminiscent of God's pronouncements of good in Genesis 1. As He lies down to sleep He again prays, "“Blessed are You, O Lord our God—King of the universe, who brings sleep to My eyes,” adding, "and slumber to My eyelids."
Jesus awakes in the morning to the sound of Abigail's voice. He hears her say, "Just leave Him alone" and a younger girl ask, "Is He dead?" When He opens His eyes, He sees standing over Him Abigail with two other girls and Joshua with two other boys. Jesus smiles and says half jokingly, "You couldn't have waited half an hour, eh?" Abigail asks Him, "Can we be around again today? These are my other friends, and Joshua again." Jesus smiles at them and says, "Shalom, Abigail's friends, and Joshua again." They all return His greeting of peace and agree to help Him get some work done.
One of the boys ask as they watch Him finish brushing His teeth, "How long are you going to stay here?" Jesus answers, "Until it is time for Me to go. I have some work to do here and some people to meet. Then I will know the right time." The littlest girl states, "You seem nice. Are You dangerous?” Jesus answers, “Maybe to some but not to you, and I won’t harm anyone.” The other new girl asks, "Do You have friends?" "A few and more to come," says Jesus.
The children are now organized and helping Jesus with different projects. The littlest girl remarks, "Abby says You travel a lot. Do you have a house?" Jesus tells her, "My Father provides everything I need." One of the new boys asks, "Is Your Father rich?" Jesus laughs and asks him, "Did Abigail tell you to ask Me that?" "No," says the boy. Jesus tells him, "That is a question for another time." Joshua asks Him, "What is Your favorite food?" Jesus, noticing, says, "Oh, Joshua the Brave speaks." Joshua smiles. Jesus answers, "Hmm, I like so many different foods but I especially love bread for many reasons."
He asks the children about how the different projects they are working on are coming along. Hearing good reports, Jesus asks them, "So tell Me, do you all know how to pray the Shema?" Abby loudly says yes. "I would love to hear it," says Jesus. He asks the oldest boy to lead and they respond in unison, "Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God; the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And it shall come to pass if you surely listen to the Commandments I command you today that you may gather in your wine, your oil, and your grain that you may eat and be satisfied. I am the Lord your God, who led you out of the land of Egypt to be God to you. I am the Lord your God. Amen." (quoting from Deuteronomy 6 and 11). Jesus, with tears in His eyes, says, "Beautiful—very good."
Abigail asks Him, “Why don’t You have a home?” Jesus responds, “My home is many places.” Another asks why and hears, “Because I have a much larger job than just being a craftsman or a teacher.” Another remarks, “You’re a teacher too?” Jesus says, “I will be soon. Everyone has a much larger job than just a trade. And you are to show love to one another, and to take God’s Word and share it, and at home to honor your father and your mother, and to love Who most of all?" Joshua answers, "The Lord your God, with all your heart." Jesus tells him, "Very good, Joshua the Brave." Joshua smiles shyly, seeming to appreciate his new name from Jesus. "I will be doing My work in many places," Jesus concludes.
As the children walk home , they talk excitedly together. "Maybe He's the best builder whoever lived," says one. "Maybe He's stronger than Samson," says another. "Maybe He's going to be our new teacher at synagogue school," volunteers another. The littlest one says, "I think He's a new prophet and He'll show us the Word of God." Joshua tells her, "No, there's no new prophets. Rabbi Josiah said so." One of the boys says, "Maybe He's a murderer, running and hiding." Abigail says heatedly, "He is not! He's building stuff with us. We're watching Him do it." The little girl agrees: "Yeah, He's smart so we should listen." Others say He is a good man and that they like Him. Abigail stops and sums up their strategy: "No matter what, we all agree we don't tell anyone about Him, right? See you here tomorrow."
The next day, we see Jesus walking with the children by the stream. They raise their hands to ask Him questions as they walk. One of the boys is holding a tall fishing rod. We also see Jesus loading His hand cart with craftsman items He and the children have worked on. By twilight He comes back with supplies.
By His campfire during the day, Jesus teaches the children to pray, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done….” Later that evening, when Jesus is alone, we see Him treating a wound on His arm with a medicinal compound He made and then wrapping it carefully.
By that same fire the next day, Jesus tells the children about when two she bears caused trouble for bad youths who were troubling the prophet Elisha (end of 2 Kings 2). He suddenly rises from His seat with a loud "Roar!" to bring the account to a dramatic end. Some of the kids are scared at first, but they are all obviously loving their time with Jesus. In the evening, Jesus looks up to heaven and prays.
The next day while He and the kids are contentedly working on projects together, He leads them in this Scripture song based on Psalm 133: "Behold, how good and how pleasing when brothers sit together in unity." On the way back home, the children chatter together about their time with Him, their voices excitedly overlapping.
On another day, Jesus is seated with them as the oldest boy explains what happened at school. Jesus asks him, "So what did you do?" The boy answers, "I tried to walk away, but he kept bothering me so I pushed him so hard, he fell down." Jesus responds, "That's why you were punished. Did you expect something different?" The boy counters, "But even Torah says, 'Eye for eye.' Why should I be punished too?" Jesus explains, "That text is for a judge. You were hardly in a court of law. You, all of you, are to be special. You are to act differently from others. "
Joshua raises his hand respectfully to Jesus the teacher and says, “You would tell us to be gentle, but Rabbi Josiah said Messiah will lead us against the Romans, that he would be a great military leader.” Jesus responds, “It is important to respect your teachers, and honor your parents—and Rabbi Josiah is a smart man, but many times smart men lack wisdom. Is there anything in Scripture that says Messiah will be a great military leader? There are many things about Scripture that you cannot understand yet and that is okay. You have many years ahead of you, and God does not reveal all things at once. But children, what if many of the things that our people think about how we are to behave and how we are to treat one another are wrong?
To the boy who got in trouble at school He says, "You want things to be fair. When someone wrongs you, you want to right it. You know who else loves justice?" Jesus points up to heaven, smiles, and asks, "What does the Lord say in the Law of Moses about justice and vengeance?” Abigail answers promptly, “Vengeance is mine.” Jesus says, “Very good! Boys, pay attention: she doesn’t even go to Torah class, huh? The Lord loves justice, but maybe it isn't ours to handle. Do you remember when David had the chance to kill King Saul, who was evil to him, but he didn't? Saul was God's anointed and it was not the right time for justice. God says He will have compassion on His people when ..." "Their strength is gone," answers Joshua (Deuteronomy 32:36). "Very good," says Jesus. "Maybe we let God provide the justice. Maybe we handle these things in a different way, not trying to be the strongest all the time."
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| The Lord loves justice. |
"What about Messiah?" asks another girl. Jesus says humbly, "We will have to see, but do not expect Messiah to arrive in Jerusalem on a tall horse, carrying weapons. He will be most pleased with those of you who are the peacemakers" (Matthew 5:9).
The littlest girl asks Jesus, "Where were you yesterday?" He answers, "I had to stay in town later on. There was a woman who needed my help." (That woman was Mary Magdalene.) The girl wonders if Jesus built something for her. Jesus tells all the children, "You remember when I said I have a job that is bigger than my trade? The is a woman who has had much pain in her life and she was in trouble, so I helped her." Joshua asks, "Is she your friend?" "She is now," answers Jesus. "I have chosen her, others, and more soon to join Me in traveling." Abigail asks, "Do they all know You?" "Not yet," says Jesus. "But what if they don't like You?" asks the boy who got in trouble. Jesus laughs and says, "Many won't. This is My reason for being here."
Abigail says frankly, "I still don't understand. What is Your reason for being here?" Jesus nods His head thoughtfully and responds: "I am telling you this because even though you are children, and the elders in your life have lived longer, many times adults need the faith of children. If you hold onto this faith really tightly, someday soon you will understand all of what I am saying to you. But you ask an important question, Abigail. What is My reason for being here? The answer is for all of you. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me. He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind. To set at liberty those who are oppressed. To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Isaiah 61:1-2).
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| Hold onto this faith tightly. |
Jesus says to them, "I have loved spending this time with you—you are all very special. I hope that My next students ask the same questions you do and that they listen to My answers." He then chuckles and says, "But I suspect they do not have the understanding you do. I hope that when the time comes, they will tell others about Me, like you have." This time walking home together, the children are silent, deep in thought over what they just heard. That evening, Jesus adds final touches to something He has been building. He writes a note on a board.
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| Listen! |
When Abigail returns later by herself during the day, she finds Jesus's campsite cleared of His belongings. She sees a doll house that was not there before. The note by it says this: "Abigail, I know you can read. You are very special. This is for you. I did not come only for the wealthy." Abigail then takes out her doll and seats her on the horses in the stable before playing in the other rooms. (The Messiah, as Wisdom personified, is described like this in the Scriptures: When God "marked out the foundations of the earth, I was besides Him as a Master Craftsman; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him, rejoicing in His inhabited world, and I delighted in the sons and daughters of men," Proverbs 8:29-31.)
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