Joseph

Nestled on top of a hill, with a commanding view of the Jezreel Valley to the southeast and Mount Hermon to the north, sits the village of Nazareth, a community of about five hundred people.

Because of its strategic view of the area, it was considered an important military outpost several centuries ago, but now it’s a Roman garrison for the area of Galilee.

It’s a peaceful village except when a few Jewish zealots become upset with the Roman soldiers and challenge them. This generally happens when a legion of soldiers passes by on its way to Jerusalem. Because it’s located at the crossroads of major caravan trade routes, the local residents receive up-to-date world news as well as economic benefits from the caravan traders who visit the local vendors to replenish their food and supplies.

The local citizens are hardworking and loyal to their faith. They rarely venture far from their homes

except to visit family and friends in nearby villages or when they make their required pilgrimage to the temple in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover and other religious festivals.

It’s also the home of Joseph, a young carpenter who was born in Bethlehem but has spent most of his life here. He’s betrothed to Mary, who also lives in Nazareth.

In his youth, Joseph and his friends would explore the nearby hills dotted with olive and date groves.

Nearby, to the northwest, is the town of Sepphoris. Just a very short distance east of it is Cana, and to the south of Nazareth is a larger town called Japha. These communities, along with his hometown, provide a market for Joseph’s farm tools and furniture he builds in his carpentry workshop.

Now that the late spring rains are over, the hills and countryside outside of Nazareth are alive with color. Poppies, phlox, and lupine reach for the warm sunshine. They blanket the slopes of the hills, adding a beauty the townspeople look forward to every year.

It’s early morning in the village, and the merchants are busy waiting on the women who have come to purchase their wares. The food vendors are also anticipating a good day of sales, and most of the women have already been to the village well for their daily water supply. Those who linger enjoy visiting with friends and catching up on the latest news while their children play nearby. In the meantime, the men are busy tending their crops in the fields or are grooming the olive and date groves.

Inside the synagogue, small boys sit cross-legged on the floor at the feet of Rabbi Levi, learning the law of Moses. Over and over they recite them. If they learn them well, they can read them in the synagogue services when they grow up. But outside, the sunshine and warm air on the hills call them to play. For now though, they must remain attentive to the rabbi’s droning voice.

Meanwhile, across town, a young girl named Mary, the daughter of Joachim and Anna, has just returned home from the village well with a jar of water. After placing the jar on the table, she sits down to cool off from her long walk home through the warm, narrow streets. Just then her mother, Anna, enters the room.

Anna finds a chair near Mary, and they both pick up their sewing and start mending clothes. Shortly into their project, Anna notices that Mary seems to be preoccupied with her private thoughts, so she asks,

“Mary, aren’t you feeling well?”

“I’m fine, Mother,” Mary answers. “I just feel the need for some quiet time.”

“I too have those moments and have found that I’m better able to resolve my problems when I’m alone up on the roof. Why don’t you take your sewing up there? The privacy and warm sun will help you feel better.”

“I believe I will, and thank you for suggesting it, Mother.” Mary picks up her sewing and heads for the outside stairway.

When she arrives on the roof, she sits down on a soft rug and starts to sew. In a little while, she’s feeling better. The warm spring sun and a gentle breeze calm her.

As she sits quietly sewing, her thoughts shift back and forth between her upcoming marriage to Joseph and an indescribable feeling of euphoria. Never before has she felt this contented—this spiritually satisfied. She can only compare it to the love she receives from her mother and father.

Mary truly is enjoying her quiet time alone on the roof.

Meanwhile, on the opposite side of town, it’s still early morning, and Joseph’s in his workshop. Because it’s a warm day, he has the window and door open.

He’s busy building a cabinet for his friends Amos and Rachel, who were recently married and are furnishing their new home. He has just fitted the final piece in place and doesn’t hear his mother, Miriam, enter.

“Joseph,” she calls to him, “dinner’s ready. Come, wash up, eat, and then rest for a while. You have been working on that cabinet since early dawn.”

“I’ll be in shortly, Mother,” he says. “It’ll only take me a moment to secure this last piece, and then it’ll be ready to be oiled and rubbed down.”

As Miriam turns to leave, she pauses for a moment to take in the pleasant smell of sawdust and wood shavings that permeates the shop. Then she admires the cabinet Joseph’s finishing. It reminds her of the many beautiful pieces he’s made for her.

A few minutes later she hears him washing at the bench just outside of his shop. She and Jacob sit down at the table as Joseph enters the house. After greeting his father, he hugs his mother and quietly sits down as Jacob offers the blessing.

As they’re eating, Joseph turns to his father and asks, “This afternoon would you help me load the cabinet on the cart? I need to deliver it to Amos and Rachel this afternoon.”

“Yes, I can help,” Jacob replies. “I’m anxious to see it. Your mother says it’s beautiful. Will you need help delivering it?”

“No, I can handle it, but thank you. I’m happy with the way it turned out. Also, I plan to stop by and see Mary. We have some final wedding plans to make, so I may be late getting back.”

With that, Jacob asks, “Have you decided to rent the house you looked at last week?”

“That’s one of the things that Mary and I’ll be discussing, along with setting the date.”