The Madonna and the Political Prisoner, Chapter 16/1

Chapter 16 AD 25

I wanted to go with him back to Capernaum straight away. We’d been unable to persuade him to stay any longer with us in Nazareth.

“I’m wasting my time here,” he’d said – not angrily, but sadly. “The people here find it difficult to believe in me. They think they know me too well. Roman soldiers and tax-collector collaborators have shown more faith in me.” James overheard this last remark and I thought he was going to explode on the spot. Instead he curbed his tongue at the time, but castigated me in no uncertain terms later.

“I trust you know just what you’re letting yourself in for. You can see the morality of the man now – he’s not even trying to hide his contempt for us. First he snubbed the family. Now he seems to be rejecting his own nation in favour of the hated occupying army. Old Eli would be turning in his grave if he knew. You’ll be sorry. It will all come to a bad end. Don’t come crawling to me for comfort later. I’ll just say I told you and you wouldn’t listen.”

Joshua persuaded me to remain at home and Mary, the Magdelene, to stay with me.

“Be patient,” he said. “It’ll be a long and stressful journey back to Jerusalem. Save your energy for that. I won’t be long. Just a few weeks. I need to ensure my followers are trustworthy enough and ready to support me, whatever problems may arise. I need a bit more time with them privately away from the crowds. I’ll take them further north towards Mount Hermon and Caesarea Philippi. There’s no need for you to join us there. I know you, Mother, and I have confidence in Mary too.”

I feared it would be more than weeks before Joshua rejoined us.

“The crowds won’t let him go,” Mary told me. “And he’s too soft with them. It doesn’t matter how long he’s been out in the hills or in the synagogue talking and healing, there’s always more waiting to grab a word or to ask for a healing for some relative or friend who’s too sick to come to him. So off he’ll traipse, no matter how tired he is. He never turns anyone down if they really need him. And on top of that he’ll spend time with children who come flocking to him. The mothers should really stop them, but Yeshua won’t hear of it.”

“Do you think that wears him out further? My guess is that the children rejuvenate him. He’s always loved the company of children and is brilliant with them. I doubt if that really tires him.”

“Perhaps he misses having children of his own.”

“Perhaps he does, Mary.” I thought hard before asking the next question but decided to come to the point that had been exercising my mind. “And what about you, Mary? Do you seek a husband and children? Do you see Joshua as a prospective husband for you?”

Mary looked confused at this and blushed. Her answer was obvious without saying a word.

“Would you object?”

“I would be pleased for him. I’ve felt guilty that we could not find him a suitable wife. Family responsibilities would settle him down. I’ve not known you for long, but Joshua obviously cares for you. Has he ever spoken to you about the possibility?”

No, never. I don’t think it’s even occurred to him. He’s too tied up with his ministry to everyone.”

“Why don’t you speak to him?”

“I couldn’t, Mari. But you could! Although, frankly, I think he wants to avoid family responsibilities. He sees that everyone has claims on him. I don’t think he will allow himself to restrict his care to one person. I know some of his disciples are already jealous of me and think he listens to me too much.”

“Do you want me to say something to him, Mary?”

She thought for a long time. Eventually she shook her head.

“I think he’d refuse me. And that would be more painful than not asking. And he might feel bad about it and it could spoil our present relationship.”

“Is that enough for you, Mary? Don’t you feel frustrated that you are in one sense so close to him, and in another, removed from intimate contact?”

“I know what you’re thinking, Mari. Believe you me, I’ve had enough experience of a superficial kind. I’ll settle for a meeting of minds.”

I thought she might say more. She was so near to telling me about her past. She was clearly hinting at some sexual relationship but she volunteered nothing further and I felt it inopportune to press her further. Perhaps one day she’d trust me enough to tell me her secrets but she clearly was not ready yet.

So we jogged along together without baring our deepest secrets to each other. My sisters joined us often and my daughters too, but it was Anna who spent most time with us and took every opportunity to squeeze each detail of Joshua’s sayings and activities from Mary’s memory. Brother Ben was full of vigour, his leg injury totally healed, and free from the headaches that had plagued him. Despite all the evidence, James obstinately refuses to acknowledge the healing action of his brother. ‘Time heals’ is his explanation every time. ‘Just a coincidence’ he argues when I point out that nearly ten years had gone by since the attack in which he’d suffered the injuries and there had been no sign of any improvement at all until Joshua tended to his leg and eye at Anna’s insistence.

My neighbours seem to treat me with some reserve now. They know all about Joshua’s reputation and the claims about him that reverberate around Galilee and they know I believe. I suspect they don’t want to show obvious support or credence to the claims, as most of the menfolk of the village still feel slighted by his words in the synagogue last year, egged on by Rabbi Jonas who makes no bones about his contempt for Joshua and his mission. He is a true son of Eli whose malign influence still holds fast so many in this village. Thank heavens his brother-in-law Clopas has been so generous to us.

Then I hear scandalous rumours circulating about my friend Mary. I think someone is deliberately spreading dirt to upset me and get back at our support for Joshua. Someone apparently has whispered that Mary was a prostitute in Magdala and only met Joshua when he went with her. It’s absurd the lengths people will go to spread slander. I know my son and he’d never put his mission and calling at risk by being compromised in such a manner. I know he is accused of spending time with drunkards, collaborators and fallen women, but that’s because he wants to help them change. The Pharisees and others who accuse him say they have no need of repentance because they haven’t sinned, so who do they expect Joshua to turn to if his urgent message is the need for change and forgiveness?

Then, suddenly, Joshua comes home one evening. We were not expecting him then, he’d sent no word in advance. He looks very upset. Other men are with him, Simon Peter and some of his followers that I recognise, and they all look sombre and concerned. Something has obviously gone very wrong.

I throw my arms about my son.

“What’s the matter, Joshua? What’s happened?”

He kisses me on the cheek and puts his arm around me.

“Bad news, I’m afraid, Mother. There’s no easy way to say this. I’ve received news that our cousin, John, has been killed. Executed by that tyrant, Herod Antipas.”

My heart lurches into my mouth. Instinctively my first thought is for my own son and the danger he might be in.

“I don’t know the details but I’m sure it’s true. The messenger is a very reliable fellow. I’m glad that his mother is not alive to hear it.”

“But he was so famous, wasn’t he? Doesn’t the tetrarch respect the people’s opinions about him?”

“John’s been outspoken for many years. He always was a brave man. He was quick enough to criticise the corrupt religious authorities in the capital, which would have lost him any support of influence. Then he condemned Herod’s marriage, so his arrest and imprisonment was not unexpected. But I must admit, I’d not thought Herod would have risked the wrath of the people by actually ordering his execution.”

“So why have you come back here so quickly? There’s nothing you or anyone else can do now if John’s already dead.”

“I need to get to Jerusalem as soon as possible. John’s disciples need support. Someone else needs to speak up about the wrongs perpetrated by our leaders.”

“But, Joshua, won’t that be putting yourself at risk? Surely now is the time to lie low. Herod will be expecting trouble. Why tempt him to act against you?”

“Mother, you’ve always known that our calling was dangerous. We achieve nothing without risk. You learned that as a young girl and it never stopped you from doing what you felt you had to. What is different now? We have God’s will to obey. You as well as me. You know that in your heart of hearts, don’t you? You’ll come with me and Mary. My disciples know what is at risk and they’re coming too. They tried, just like you, to dissuade me initially, but they know what has to be faced. We can’t shirk it.”

“When shall we go?”

“Tomorrow, as soon as possible.”

“But, Joshua, I’ve got to get ready. Can’t you give me longer to let everyone know?”

“What have you got to do? You’ve no responsibilities now. Your family has grown up. Your sisters have their own families. My brothers and sisters too. Uncle Benjamin is fit now. He will take care of everything necessary here.”

“But what about telling everyone and saying farewell? I can’t go without telling Salome and Rebecca and my daughters and their families. And what about Anna?”

“Anna already knows I’m here, so Benjamin will know and you can be sure that Salome and Andrew will soon hear. Benjamin will tell your sisters. And you’re not leaving here for ever, are you?”

He’s taken me completely by surprise. I haven’t got my head around things yet. I know I agreed several weeks ago to join him in Jerusalem, but I’d expected a few days’ notice. I haven’t given it the thought needed. Joshua expects me to just drop everything and go with him, just like that. I suppose I’ll get used to the idea in a minute. He’s right, I don’t really need to think of much. I just need a change of clothes. Joshua says we can stay with his friends, Lazarus and his wife and sister, in Bethany. But what about a bedroll and surely we need to take gifts?