"Come, let us walk, my friends, take in the beauty of this day for my days they are numbered and the time will come when you will walk these streets alone."
The group continued to walk along the dirt road, the sun blazing hot.
"Master, why do you say your days are numbered? Is it because of the talk of the Sadducees? You must not let them get to you, they speak not from their heart; rather only their minds. They let worldly components occupy their time while attempting to master feelings of superiority. They have no means to harm, they just talk for they fear and do not know faith."
"Some of what you say is true, my friend. They do react to the hauntings of their mind which is, indeed, driven by longings of power and prestige. It is fear that propels their words and devious actions, for their hearts have been silenced and they know not how to listen. Their faith is nothing but a shallow regiment of laws followed to their satisfactory liking. Though they preach the letter of the law they keep only the laws which suit them, they are hypocrites whose skewed sense of God is dwarfed by their egotistical sense of self. But where you are wrong, my friend, is their ability to expunge their enemies. A threat to their way of life is enough to make them look for allies in the most unforeseen places. They will stop at nothing to protect their way of life, do not take their cunningness and resourcefulness for granted."
The group together walked in silence contemplating their master's speech. The night began to fall and soon all of the men were in the safety of their homes, reading themselves for sleep. Most tossed and turned that night, thinking about the events of the afternoon. Some thought as they dreamt...
"Are our lives in danger?"
"Could He be right, might the Sadducees act in violence?"
"Even if they act with violence, we will be prepared to fight!"
It was a long night for all and as the morning broke, the group once again gathered. The air was different, some men seemed on edge, as if waiting to be attacked, others paranoid and still others just excited to be in the presence of their master."
The man they called master stood and as He did, the sun silhouetted his being as he spoke, "Tonight, my friends, will be the last night we share company. The Son of God will complete His journey by the week's end."
"No, master, we can go to another town, a small village where we will be safe, where nothing posses a threats."
"Ahh, but then we will not be living. No to live is to walk with pride, not prideful, but confident in one's faith. Faith is who we are, knowledge of the Father and our answer to His call is what sets us apart from those who only follow the law out of fear. You, my friends, have learned the importance of your heart, you have learned to listen to your heart, to walk with God as He dwells within you offering each of you unconditional love. No, running would lead others to believe that we have become unsure of who we are and what we speak; which, when I look into your eyes, I know this to be untrue. Each of you holds a special purpose, each of you will be vital to the promulgation of faith. Let your soul be filled with the Spirit of God that you may not waver in times of doubt or uncertainty. No, we will remain here confident in our God, dependent upon our God."
"Master, you speak with such wisdom, with such authority, it hard to doubt your words. We will do as you say."
The group went off to prepare for the events of the evening as the master went in a separate direction.
As small house could be seen from the road, a woman peers out the window, her face could not be clearly distinguish for the vast manicuring of olive trees landscaping the house. But she recognized the visitor walking in the distance. Running out the door, their eyes met and the two embraced, tears running down both of their cheeks.
"Son, what are you doing here?", she said as they both began to walk toward the house.
"I have come to speak with you and father, where is he?"
"He is inside carving a beautiful piece of furniture, come, let us interrupt him for your eyes speak of sadness, you are distraught, my son."
The two walk into the house and immediately Joseph spies his son.
"Son,", he says as he walks over to him with open arms, "Son, to what to we owe this visit?"
Joseph does not see the sadness in his son's eyes and thinks the visit is somehow related to the Passover.
They sit and Mary takes he son's hand. Tears instantly stream down his face.
"Son?"
There is silence, He squeezes her hand, his pulse racing. With no words she squeezes back. Soon His pulse slows until their pulse, together, unifies into one pulse, as if beating for the other. Tears now streaming down both the son and mother's face for she can feel Him, feel his anxiety, feel His nervous energy. Finally, He speaks...
"The time has come to fulfill my Father's will."
Joseph knew that he spoke not of himself but the Father in heaven. He listened intently.
"Many have died for their faith. Many have heard the call of my Father, they have listened to the words of their heart and for that have been killed at the hands of those without faith. This, too, will be my fate. I will die, not in vain, but that others my have life. My death will be their means of survival; their hearts will speak and they will listen, they will hear the words of my Father speak to them, their lives will be forever blessed because of my death."
Tears streaming down all of their cheeks.
"I believe in my purpose, I trust my Father, I know life begins after death but humanity is flawed, humanity opens the door for such things as fear, weakness, and doubt. Though my heart tells me everything will be okay, everything will fall into place; that in death there is life, I cannot help but want something other than death. I know my purpose is to open the gates of heaven that all may enter but must I truly be the sacrificial lamb? Is there no other way?"
She holds his hand ever tighter, this simple squeeze settles his soul a bit. He knows he is not alone, the love of his parents will carry him through this ordeal. Again, their pulses harmonize.
"Son, from the moment of your conception, we knew you were different. I understand fear and doubt. When I was asked to carry you, I thought to myself, 'I am not worthy of this magnificent task'; but God had a plan for me and I followed. There were many times of doubt even after I said yes to you. But that only came from my hauntings of my mind for my heart knew the truth, that everything was inspired and created by God and therefore was grand. Many nights, my son, I wondered if I made the right choice and each morning I listened with only my heard and found my answer to be yes. This world, my son, you are not of this world though you speak, walk, and act of this world, You are more than this world. Never doubt you and the truth of you. Though You take on the form of humanity, you are one with the Father. Do not let the devious mind creep into your person for you are much more than a mind. Look at all those you have helped, those you have healed, not just physically but more importantly, spiritually. You have brought many to the Father that would have otherwise roamed this earth simply lost. Now they see, they hear God's word, they know love and act in love all because of you. Do not doubt yourself, my son. The coming days will be trying, a piece of me will die with you. You are my heart. But I, like the rest will carry on, we will live your words for we, too, have a purpose and that is to become the love which you have shown. I remember when you were just a lad and we thought you lost yet we found you in the temple teaching the elders. It was then your importance was proven. I always knew of your specialness though I tried to believe it only a dream. I look at you an see only love, genuine love. No one, my son, no one embodies love as you do. You are love, you are of the Father and you will soon return to the Father. They can put an to end the physical body but they cannot kill the spiritual, they cannot take from you who you are, you are the Son. Their actions stem from fear, yours from love. People will recognize this and act in love as you have shown them, the will live the Father's will all because of you."
He gently squeezed her hand and the two embraced. Their hearts spoke. He became refocused, the fear, the doubt left His body and the family shared their last meal.
"I must leave and I will not return."
"I know. I love you my son."
They embraced and He departed to the city where He would meet His companions and share in the cedar meal.
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