Rachel and Jacob, along with family and friends, are returning from the Passover Feast.We join them on their way home…
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At the end of the feast three couples walked the five miles back to Bethlehem together. Eli and Elisabeth, Jacob and Rachel and Mary and Joseph. Dan was with them as well and, along with Eli, led the two donkeys packed with goods bought in Jerusalem.
Jesus was perched upon Joseph’s shoulders his dark curls bouncing with every step while Barak was settled on Jacob’s hip nodding sleepily. Both boys were sturdily built and had the dark eyes of Hebrew children. The only contrast was Barak’s blond hair, dusty now from the day’s journey.
“Thank you for walking with us,” Jacob told the other two couples. “It’s always a little frightening to come back alone with the money taken in at Passover.”
“With what little we have left after taxes, you mean!” grumbled Dan. His first year settling up with the tax collectors had left a bad taste in his mouth.
“It’s our pleasure, believe me!” smiled Elisabeth. “How else could we travel in the presence of two such beautiful children?” She lifted Jesus into her arms but he wriggled, trying to persuade her to let him walk so she put him on the ground and held his hand, dropping back a little to walk at his pace. Eli and Elisabeth had never been blessed with children but had become the adopted grandparents of many a Bethlehem child. Seeing the distance increasing between herself and the others, she scooped Jesus back up and walked on. Barak roused long enough to reach over and pat Jesus’ head then gave up altogether and fell asleep against Jacob’s chest.
The friends walked together in silence enjoying the bright sunlight and the panorama of color stretching out before them. Wildflowers blanketed the wayside and creamy almond and locust blossoms filled the air with fragrance. Almost in unison, Mary and Rachel began singing the same psalm.
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
come before Him with joyful songs!
The young women laughed and hugged one another. “I’m so glad you chose to live in Bethlehem,” Rachel told Mary. “This has been a wonderful day.”
