The Family of Jesus by Karen Kingsbury

Author:Karen Kingsbury
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Howard Books
Published: 2014-07-01T00:00:00+00:00

STORY 6

Mary

The Loving Mother

John the Baptist had been dead for a few weeks, and from a distance, Mary watched her son grieving the fact. With all her heart she wished just one thing.

That Joseph was still alive.

Her love, her strength, her husband. Joseph would’ve known what to say to help Jesus through these tough times. Joseph had always been so protective and capable. Especially when life got crazy. In his absence, Mary did the only thing she could do since Joseph died. She prayed for Jesus. When she didn’t know how to help her son, she asked God to help.

Which He always did.

Prayer was the most Mary could do for Jesus. She couldn’t care for Him or protect Him or give Him advice. She was His follower now, but she would always be His mother. Which was why she had gone to see Elizabeth. She’d been back for a couple of days, and she felt stronger for their time together. Mary understood better now how life could go on.

Even after a son had been killed.

The details of John’s death were gruesome. Mary knew more than she had shared with Elizabeth. Jesus knew, too. How Herodias’s daughter had gotten her wish: John’s head on a platter. After his murder, John’s followers, including one of Herod’s guards, came and tended to his body, placing it in a tomb. Bringing some dignity to his death.

As long as she lived she would never forget what happened when Jesus heard the news. Now, while Jesus taught in the distance, Mary pondered all that had taken place around Him in the wake of John’s murder. The memory played in her mind as if it were happening again.

Jesus had heard the news the day after John had been killed. Mary was one of the followers with Him and she had watched Him turn and bring His hands to His face for a few seconds. Then He lifted His eyes to heaven. After a minute, He turned back to His disciples. Mary could still see the way His face looked, the grief in His eyes as He spoke. “I need to be alone.”

No one could blame Him. He’d been healing people and driving out demons, teaching about the kingdom of God without rest for such a long time. But in that instant, with His cousin beheaded because of Him, Jesus knew what He needed.

Time alone with His Father.

So Mary and the others watched Him climb into a boat and sail to a quiet place by Himself.

“Let’s follow Him!” one of the men had cried out. “We can walk around the lake and meet Him on the other side.”

In no time the disciples and followers began the walk around the lake and along the way others joined them. It took a day and night, but eventually—early the next morning—they reached a spot on the other shore where they could see Jesus’s boat.

The crowd pressed closer, everyone wanting something from Jesus. Mary wanted only one thing—to see her son. In case He needed food or water after His time on the boat.

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