Then
his parents managed to distract him completely, as they decided it was time for
him to set out on his own, take a wife and establish himself.
So
he was introduced to BV (my sister), but as soon as the betrothal was
announced, there was all that rumour about her being with child – and then we
found out it was true...
I
never saw how Joe could have had the opportunity, let alone the brass neck, but
there it is. He stood by BV, which made me conclude, at least at the start,
that the child must be his and perhaps he thinks his momentary weakness is
balanced by a noble approach to the consequences.
Anyway,
just after they had tied the knot, she came to visit me when I was well gone
with young John.
It
was a miserable day with pouring rain, but the baby leapt for joy when I saw
her, and kept kicking me from the inside between that soaking wet event and the
day he was born. It was very often on the same place, which made me feel pain.
There was a hoo-hah at the temple, and both Zeke and I were convinced there was
something spiritual going on. Our baby, John, was to be a sort of herald for
BV’s baby, whom she named Jesus.
Business
must have been pretty good for old Joe, as he stayed put in Nazareth; sawing,
hammering, sandpapering, dovetail jointing and so forth. I can’t say our
families were close with them, and suddenly a dozen years had flown by.
We
did meet at the Temple, when they came down from Nazareth for Jesus’ coming of
age. For several reasons, we missed the event, but we agreed to walk the first
few miles on their way home – we reckoned we could double back before we
travelled too far. Things went okay to begin with, including Malachi selling us
some refreshing fruit, and we had a nice chat, but then Joe and BV realised
they’d lost track of their boy and decided to return to the temple to look for
him. We walked back with them, but she was pretty stressed, as you can imagine.
Joe
entreated her ‘Mama, please relax!’
Anyway,
they found the boy, of course.
Jesus
had reached bar mitzvah, so Joe and BV made him the apprentice, as is the
custom, to their carpentry firm Furnitu-R-Us
(Nazareth) Ltd, est. 5bc. They all kept their heads down and the business began to
flourish quite nicely, thank you. Everyone (especially BV) was very impressed
with the lad, since he was well-behaved, kind, respectful and loving. She’s
always kept herself to herself, being a pensive and inward-focussed person, in
my opinion, so we never really knew what she thought about her firstborn as he
moved into his twenties and began to take more responsibility for the business.
He was able to help in every way.
Which
is why I can’t imagine how she must have felt when instead of moving up to take
the helm, all of a sudden Jesus rashly put down his spirit level and plane and
quit the business. He went on a long tour of synagogues, leper colonies,
graveyards and fishing villages, gathering crowds, making powerful enemies and
weak friends.
It
cannot have been easy for Joe and BV as a couple, since a woodworking firm
needs well-trained staff; so their firstborn son had been apprenticed, and that
represents many years’ investment, you know. The other kids wouldn’t have been
much use as replacements; besides, his firstborn had a natural talent with
creativity and making mortices, and especially in customer relations.
Anyway,
as his boy takes this trip, Joseph is lumbered and after a short time, the
pressure must have become intolerable. Joe stayed at home when BV went with
Jesus to some wedding where the wine was notable, first by absence, then by
quality.
I
had my own troubles at the time, as our John was in prison… You see, he’d made
remarks about King Herod’s marriage being unlawful, and the King took revenge
by throwing him into jail. When we visited him in the joint, he was sure he
would be treated well because he knew the King respected spiritual values, and
would not harm him. Trouble was, that dreadful archvillain Herodias woman
stepped in, everything became tawdry and immoral and before John could defend
himself, they killed him.
We
were not told about this until it was all done and dusted; they’d already
buried him secretly. Such injustice! We were torn apart by this.
Meanwhile
Joe couldn’t cope with the pressure of running the business… not long after, he
passed away, and BV became a widow. Bad news.
I
cannot imagine how awful it must have been for BV not long afterwards, when her
son got himself into serious trouble and ended up arrested, tried and convicted
to death. He somehow missed out on the reprieve we all thought he’d get from
the crowd, so he was beaten and crucified.
BV
went to the place of execution, and he looked at her with great compassion and
donated one of his pals to her as an adopted son. Unfortunately, he is not a
son who can step in to run the business, as the new bloke’s abilities and
experience don’t exactly dovetail in; his are more focused on fishing than
woodwork. More carp than carpentry.
Yes,
a tough deal for Joseph, the father of the Saviour of the World, if that’s what
Jesus turned out to be. Family, eh?
Elizabeth reflects on Joseph’s
humble obedience
What do you suppose might have been the topics of conversation on the
road out of Jerusalem before Joseph & Mary realised they had left Jesus
behind?
What detail does the Bible give about Jesus aged 12-30?
Who is more carp than carpentry? Why do you think Jesus asked him to
care for Mary (nicknamed BV)?
Find 15 concealed or punning woodwork words
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