Memoirs

of the
Last Supper
By
Kathryn C. Theis

PUBLISHED_POSTHUMOUSLY:
2014/2015
FILED

IN

07182013

WGA

West

1665499

Registry

on

Editors
This

is

literary

Note:
the

nearly

legacy

of

believer

and

finished
a

devout

mischievous

questioner.
The
story

full

will

It

weight

never

be

stretches

millennia

and

of

known.
over

reaches

know

of

Jesus

yet

the

immutable

this

all

know

women

two
not

of

who
of
his

life.
May
wisdom
words...

you

hear

and

wit

the

authors

through

her

Table of Contents
Prologue
PART I
Chapter 1:

Keturah,

The

Wealthy

Mans

Mother
Chapter 2:

Marys Childhood

Chapter 3:

Mary and Josephs Family

Chapter 4:

Salome, Marys Sister

Chapter 5:

Jesus Family

Chapter 6:

Marianne, Martha, Lazarus

Sisters
Chapter 7:

Joanna,

Jesus

Youngest

Sister
Chapter 8:

Mary Magdalene, aka Marie

PART II
Chapter 9:

The Passover Celebration

Chapter 10:

Keturahs

Memoir

of

The

Next Day
Chapter 11:

A Memento

Epilogue

Prologue
We were in the middle of preparation for
Passover

dinner

when

Jason

returned

with

water. Two men had been following him. They

knocked on the front door, and, since I had
made sure that every one of the servants was
occupied in some capacity, I answered the door
myself. They asked for the owner of the house.
I was not about to disturb my son, Samuel.
Even

with

the

continued

to

Passover
be

only

absorbed

hours

in

away,

his

he

clients

affairs. But the men were adamant, so I went

to find him.
I knocked softly on his door. Samuel? I
called.
Yes,

Mother.

What

is

it?

he

replied

sharply.
I did not like his tone. I opened the door
and stood there quietly, a stern look on my
face, and waited for his attention. He looked
up, distracted, but recognized my who do you
think you are talking to? face, and rose to
greet me.
Please,

sit,

Mother.

What

can

do

for

you?
Satisfied that I had put him in his place
for

even
4

an

instant,

stayed

standing

and

told him he had company asking for him.

Who

are

they?

What

do

they

want?

answered.

And

they

he

repeated.
Strangers,

said

they want you.

Samuel went to the door and recognized the
men, though I do not ever recall having seen
them before. They told him The Master told
them to come. Samuel immediately invited them
into his office. While he was talking to them,
I

noticed

that

there

were

several

women

waiting outside the door.

After Samuel and the two men returned, he
shook

their

course,
what,

returned

all

hands
will

wondered,
to

his

and
be

told

made

but

ready.

said

office

them,

and

Yes,
Ready

nothing.
the

of
for

Samuel

gentlemen

nodded cordially to me and withdrew.

The

women

approached

the

men

as

was

closing the door, planning on heading right

for Samuels office to demand an explanation.
But before I could, I heard a knock behind me
on our front door. As the servants were still
not around, I again took it upon myself to
answer the door. Please, madam, may we be of
assistance? Peter and John have told us that
Master and his friends will be having their
5

Passover

meal

here

tonight,

and

we

wish

to

help you in the preparations.

Now, this was news to me. I turned and saw
Sarah

and

Ruth

peering

around

the

kitchen

corner to check out the goings on, and Ruth

was giving these women her version of the who
do you think you are talking to? face she had
learned from me.
I am sorry, Ladies, I began, but this is
not

an

Inn

and

unexpected,

we

do

uninvited

not

have

guests

room

this

for

evening.

Please, be gone.
I

started

startled

to

close

the

door

on

their

when

the

tallest,

most

faces,

prestigious looking of the women, put her hand

firmly on the door. It is our Masters desire
to eat here tonight. If money is an issue, I
am happy to provide the funds needed to pay
not only for the room and the meal, but for
your efforts as well.
Now,

was

highly

insulted.

felt

as

though she were treating me as a tavern owner

or

shopkeeper.

This

was

my

was

sons

woman

home,

not

of
her

substance.
masters!

You must be mistaken, I said.

But
door
6

in

before
her

could

face,

indignantly

Samuels

hand

slam

the

restrained

mine. I am sorry, Mother, but you are the one

who is mistaken. These ladies are quite right
in that The Master is welcome here at any time
for

as

long

as

he

cares

to

visit,

and

his

people with him, too.

He

turned

from

my

shocked

face

to

smile

sweetly at the women. Pray, enter, and make

ready for the Master. He took one more look
at me triumphantly, cowering only so slightly
at my disgruntled expression, and returned to
his work.
I could hear Ruth fuming behind me as Sarah
softly tittered. I swung around to face them
both, and here, at least, my glare silenced
both of them.
From the door, the arrogant woman coughed
slightly

to

gain

my

attention.

turned

to

her, my best how dare you? look in place,

only to find her kind eyes smiling. It wasnt
a smile as if she were happy to see that I was
upset, but rather, more of a conspiratorial
smile

acknowledging

that

men

had

the

final

say. My Samuel had the final say here as far

as

was

concerned,

while

her

Master

apparently had the final say for her. It just

so happened that they both agreed that dinner
here tonight was the plan.
7

The woman waited patiently on the doorstep

even

though

Samuel

had

intended

for

her

to

enter. I am Mary Magdalene, called Marie, and

I am happy to help prepare the room for the
ritual. And this is Martha, who is a whiz in
the kitchen. Please let us be of service to
you.
Now,

this

substance

is

the

enjoys.

attitude
bade

them

woman

enter.

of

Marie

wanted to specifically prepare the room with

the help of Sarah and Martha to help Ruth.
There are others, may we tell them they can
help prepare for the group, too?
Group?
The

How many?

Master

and

twelve

men,

and

half

as

many women.
There goes our celebration, I thought. What
are we supposed to do?
I tried to shut the door behind Marie to
ponder

the

situation,

but

she

stood

in

the

way. Now what, I thought.

Please, Madam, but my Masters Mother, is
in the hot sun, and my mother-in-law as well.
May they come in from the heat? And may the
others help, also?
I

looked

out

the

door

to

see

four

more

women materialize from the dust of the road.

8

And

at

the

front,

was

woman

of

serene

demeanor, looking at me with dark eyes that

twinkled.

Surely,

this

was

the

woman

in

charge. I bid them enter.

And thats how I met The Women of the Last
Supper.

Part I
Chapter 1
Keturah, The Wealthy Mans Mother
It was many years ago, yet I remember it as
if it were last week.

Sixty-six years old was

an ancient woman then, though now I see it is

still the prime of life.

On the other hand,

two thousand years ago, if a woman survived

the childbirth years, she would most likely
end up a widow, as I had.
Jerusalem
Romans

ruled

conquered
economic
cared

was

under

under

people
and

about

the

Roman

philosophy

were

permitted

political

freedoms.

were

obedience

necessarily in that order.

Jewish

dominion.

courts,

the

and

The

that

the

religious,
All

they

taxes,

not

They allowed the

Sanhedrin,

to

keep

the

peace for them, but local Roman rulers still

answered to Rome and had the final say for
death

penalty

agricultural

cases.
society

They

revitalized

with

trade

the
and

governmental building projects. Nevertheless,

the Jewish peoples were not fond of foreign
rule.
I was living in the home my late husband,
Jonah,

had

Pharisee.
10

left

us.

Jonah

had

been

He taught the law and traditions of

Israels patriarchs, and strictly conformed to

Jewish

law.

An

attorney

and

scholar

with

influential friends, he did not count among

them

anyone

from

the

Sadducee

class

of

the

wealthy, conservative leaders who rejected the

old

traditions

in

favor

of

political

and

religious cooperation with the Romans.

My

son,

student

of

Samuel,
the

old

learned

attorney

traditions,

was

and

being

mentored by his fathers friend for a place in

religious and political future of Jerusalem.
He was the head of our house and a widower.
My daughter-in-law, poor dear soul, had not
made the transition into motherhood.

Her son,

Philip, had survived, and that had satisfied

my Samuel, but the lovely young Elizabeth had
died

during

childbirth,

which

left

me

in

charge of not only the house, but both men as

well.
Our small household staff consisted of a
cook and a maid. I oversaw the details of our
home to assure that my sons and grandsons
needs were met.

Samuel was forty, and Philip

a young man in his teenage years. They kept me

busy in our little, safe haven. But this is a
story

about

an

evening

with

virile,

sensitive man and the women who served him.

11

My Samuel was a busy man. As a lawyer, he

had

many

concerns,

business

ventures,

political

responsibilities,
needed

issues,

and

coMarieunity

religious

attention.

financial
duties

Philip,

though

that
a

satisfactory student, was somewhat rebellious

with his father, but he still had a tender
heart where his Grandmother was concerned.
Ruth was our cook. She had been with me
since I was a newlywed, and was the only one
who

had

no

fear

of

me,

barely

healthy

respect. Old friends are like that.

Sarah,

the maid, had been our most recent household

addition. Young and talkative, hardworking if
prodded, she, at least, was terrified of my
occasional

gruffness.

Jason

performed

the

heavy duties around the house.

I was a homebody. Ok, I was a recluse. I
rarely left the home site, and then only under
relentless

prodding

from

Samuel

for

some

social or religious event where he needed a

companion. I had not always been such. Why,
when Jonah was alive and we were young, we
were very social and even fun. I knew all of
his friends and many became mine. Even to this
day,

we

were

planning

dinner

for

several

close friends for Passover. They just always

12

came to my house now.

The

day

before

these

events

began

Ruth, Sarah and Jason

spent an extended trip on Wednesday to the
farmers market. They were especially busy that
day

before

the

Passover

feast,

picking

the

freshest foods they could find. It had been a

long time since I had ventured to the market
with

Ruth.

can

still

recall

the

merchant

stalls, the smells of the food cooking and of

animal

dung,

the

sounds

of

the

vendors

pitching their wares and the rowdiness of the

children, the haggling customers and the taste
of the samples. Hmm, maybe it had been too
long

since

had

been

out

in

the

public

streets.
Ruth

was

my

main

source

of

community

interaction, also known as gossip. Apparently,

the market was abuzz about the entrance into
the city of Mary Carpenters son, Jesus, last
weekend. The crowds had thronged the streets,
waving palms at him. I was not unfamiliar with
the gentleman. The way I heard Jesus and his
followers described sounded like a cult to me.
And, unfortunately, a cult with which I feared
Samuel was secretly involved.
Philip found and accompanied Ruth home, an
13

appreciated

set

of

additional

hands.

They

returned home and began preparing for a large,

formal Passover celebration for our family and
closest friends.

Ruth and I had gone over the

recipes we traditionally served.

our

shopping

lists,

she

had

We had made
searched

the

market for the best ingredients, hauled them

all

home

slicing
happy

and

to
to

we

make

spent

hours

everything

help

with

the

chopping

perfect.
work

and

was

knowing

our

dearest ones would enjoy the feast.

At dinner on Wednesday evening, Philip was
excited that he had met the youngest sister of
this Jesus while in the market. This was a
subject I had great interest in. Philip had
not been enthralled with any young girl for
some

time.

Yet

this

girl

would

surely

be

unsuitable, Samuel would need to nip this in

the bud. Samuel made no comment about Philips
new

friend,

brought

up

condemning

and

barely

the

subject

nor

reacted
of

acknowledging

that

Jesus,

had

neither

fellowship

with

him. Admitting he was a disciple would have

been too dangerous for him at the time. It
reminded me of his fathers reaction to the
precocious
prior.
14

boy

in

the

temple

twenty

years

The following morning, I had overseen, and

even assisted, Sarah in preparing the room on
the

upper

level

for

our

feast.

When

the

windows were opened, the air was cooler and

fresher on that level.
We were in the kitchen when Jason returned
from the well with fresh water reviewing the
culinary plans for the supper we were going to
prepare

for

Samuels

guests.

These

are

the

plans I had to change when strangers appeared

and

absconded

the

Upper

room

for

their

own

devices
It was not usual for Samuel to be home at
that time of day, but, since it was Passover,
he was still at work in his chamber before
heading to the temple for prayer when the men
arrived. He left as soon as he assured himself
that I would be civil to the six women now
crowding into my entrance. I might be old and
demanding, but I also recognize his authority
and do as he wishes, usually.
I had never had many female friends. I had
never had many friends of any kind as a child.
My father had been very strict. I had been the
older

of

two

surviving

children.

Two

older

siblings had died before me, two sons. I had

been such a disappointment to father. Why had
15

his sons been taken and he had been left with

just

this

girl

child?

Another

brother

died

after me, and then, finally, when I was six, a

son survived.
I had always wished I could have been a boy
so that my father would have wanted me. But
his

demands

outreached

upon

the

my

brother,

rejection

had

Jacob,

far

endured.

No

matter how hard he tried, Jacob was never good

enough for our father.
Fathers

moods

hanging over us.

compliant,

were

like

black

cloud

My mother had been a quiet,

obedient

wife

who

stayed

out

of

fathers way as much as possible. As soon as

she had provided an heir, he left her alone,
to her great joy. One would think that would
have

given

father;

us

she

common

favored

my

bond,

but,

brother

to

like
my

my

total

exclusion. All three of us were relieved when

I came of age to marry.
Father
friend.

betrothed
Jonah

was

me
a

to

the

nephew

devoted,

of

scholarly

student, with a touch of charisma and a bright

future ahead of him. Why he agreed to marry
plain, unwanted, angry me, I will never know.
But want me he did.
From all appearances, I thought he would
16

put me in a corner and demand a son as my

father

had

done

to

my

mother.

But

Jonah

thought I was beautiful, spirited, and, as you

would

say

himself

to

it

now,

sexy.

educate,

He

refine

took

and

it

upon

my

soul

set

free. We both agreed obey was a four-letter

word,

and

built

our

relationship

on

mutual

respect and friendship.

Looking back on it now, it seems so strange
that we were married a decade before we had
children, but I suppose it was because we were
content unto ourselves.
I would go see Jonah at the temple during
the day, taking him lunch in the hopes that he
would have time to share it with me.
The

temple

was

lovely

place,

but

restrictive for a woman. We were only allowed

access to certain areas. We were permitted in
the

courtyard.

Merchants

were

selling

doves

and small lambs to be used for sacrifices. I

hated that part of it. But I do remember one
vendor,

Joachim.

children

who

He

would

was

kind

wander

to

over

the
to

little

see

the

animals for sale, as if it were a petting zoo.

He

always

prices

sold

were

competition

his

the
would

stock
most

deride

first

because

reasonable.
him.

Not

his
The

for

the
17

quality

of

his

merchandise,

but

for

his

failure to have children. His sheep flourish

under his touch but has nothing left to bring
home to his wife.
His wife, as I recall, was a lovely woman
about

twenty

years

older

than

who

would

bring the midday meal for him because there

were no children at home needing attention. I
think we would have become friends, but not
long after I had settled into my new life,
this older woman became pregnant.
I had seen my mother pregnant, of course,
but

she

had

always

process as duty.
the process.

approached

the

creative

This woman, Anne, embraced

When the child was a girl, she

was delighted. I was so happy for her, and for

the little girl.
Anne

didnt

come

daughter was born.

around

much

after

her

I do remember one occasion

when they brought her for a blessing. She was

the happiest child I had ever seen. Although
laughter

was

not

encouraged

in

the

temple,

that day was different. The little girl danced

up and down the stairs, singing a song she
made

up

in

words

only

she

understood,

but

everyone who saw her was entranced. The temple

guests laughed outright, the Pharisees giggled
18

under

their

breath,

and

even

the

Sadducees

smirked. She was the kind of little girl that

makes you think motherhood is not the curse I
had been led to believe.
Anyway,
experience

that
I

was

ever

about

all

with

women

had

of

unless, of course, you count Ruth.

women

were

other:

so

very

Mary,

the

comfortable
mother

of

the

friends,
But these

with

each

Jesus,

her

daughter, Joanna, her sister, Salome, Salomes

daughter-in-law,

Marie,

and

two

other

companions who were also sisters, Marianne and

Martha.

Of

course,

they

were

introduced

as

Mary and Martha, but I heard Marianne, Martha.

Age has its privileges.

They humored an old

woman and Marianne she has always been to me.

They

seemed

to

know

every

detail

of

each

others lives, the good, the bad and the ugly,

and still were devoted to each other.
They
would,

came
could

in
you

laden

with

please

wares.

show

me

If

you

to

the

kitchen, Martha said.

19

Chapter 2
Marys Childhood
The

women

gathered

around

my

kitchen.

Marie had gone upstairs with Marthas sister,

Mary,

to

make

adequate

and

sure

the

accommodations

inviting.

was

were

unexpectedly

pleased to find that they were met with their

approval.
Martha and Ruth were at each other as both
were clearly head
kitchens,

but

all

chefs in their respective

good-naturedly.

They

had

those young girls, their Joanna and my Sarah,

running

hither

encouraged

the

and

yon

fetching

two

older

women,

things.
well,

not

older than me, but older than the others, to

relax in the shade of the courtyard.
Sarah, please bring us some refreshments.
I, too, am not averse to giving instructions.
Mary was the elder sister.

She looked worn

and haggard, but with clear, soulful eyes.

Mary, you look tired. Would you like to
lie down and rest? her sister Salome asked.
Its been a long two weeks. Maybe its best
to nap before the celebration tonight.
No, Im fine, she answered.
Sarah returned with fresh water and a tray
of

pastries
20

meant

for

my

cancelled

guests.

Mary helped herself. Looking at me she said,

I wasnt always so worn out. I actually had a
privileged

upbringing

here

in

Jerusalem.

Remember, Salome?
You

were

Mothers

favorite.

Joachim

and

she had waited so long for you.

My

father

small

flock

was
of

young

sheep

in

man

who

Nazareth

owned
when

a
he

married his first love, Anne. She was from the

House

of

himself
social

in

David.

He

those

stigma

of

shepherded

early
doing

years
so.

his

flock

despite

Shepherds

the
were

notorious for allowing their sheep to wander

the countryside, oblivious to boundary lines
and often grazing on private property. Add to
that the Jewish requirement for sacrifices in
the temples, and you can see how easy it was
for

people

in

his

line

of

work

to

charge

excessive rates for lambs and doves they were

to offer.
But not father. He dutifully respected the
land

that

nurtured

his

sheep.

Though

his

flocks grazed in the hills nearby the city, on

land he never owned, he paid the landowner for
the right to use the land, and when the flock
was large enough that he needed help, he paid
the men who cared for his sheep a living wage.
21

And still he sold them at a fair price. An

honest man, devoted to his faith, his wife and
his business, he earned a reputation among the
temple

officials

as

worthy

of

directly

supplying the lambs for sacrificial offerings

in Jerusalem. So, they moved to Jerusalem for
fathers business.

Thereafter, father liked

to think of himself as a vendor for God. He

did

not

become

rich,

but

his

income

became

stable.
Yet,

still

they

had

remained

childless.

Now that they lived in Jerusalem and Joachim

was at temple full time, running the business
rather
more

than

tending

devotional

as

the

sheep,

well.

Her

Anne

pleas

became
to

God

began to center around being a vessel to bring

forth a life that would be dedicated to the
Almightys service. Then, finally, I arrived.
Proud parents, they presented me at Temple and
received the blessing of the priests that I
might fulfill the promises of my mother.
Mother told me that Mary had cast a spell
on the temple that day. She was so at home in
the temple that she just began sweetly singing
to the Lord, and dancing on the outer steps of
the temple, Salome finished.
That
22

was

you?

remember

that!

exclaimed. I was there. Your mother, Anne,

was

Both
temple,

good
of

friend

our

and

so

of

mine,

husbands
were

were

we.

Your

exaggerated.

daily

at

mother

the

was

beautiful, sweet and educated woman. Everyone

gathered round. I had not had an audience like
this in years.
During her pregnancy, she would sit in the
temple, singing softly under her breath and
smiling

constantly.

never

saw

happier

woman with child. After your were born, Mary,

she stayed home. But I kept up my routine of
daily temple visits. Thats why I was there
three years later to see your performance. I
didnt see her again for many years. Shortly
after your dance down the steps, your father
died.
Salome

explained.

Joachim

had

been

the

love of mothers life. But she had a child and

her husbands business so it was only a short
period before she remarried. Cleophas had been
her husbands right hand man. Unfortunately,
he only knew how to tend the stock, not how to
run a business. Anne was almost

immediately

with child as Cleophas was a hardy young man.

Unfortunately, he was killed in an accident at
work and Anne was alone again, this time with
23

two children and a now failing business. So,

they moved the sixty-five miles north back to
Nazareth,

staying

Elizabeth

for

with
short

my

mothers

period.

cousin

Step

in

Salomas, my father.
Anne would say, First I married, for love.
Then I married for convenience. The third time
I married for security. Yet, I know she cared
deeply for my father on different levels.
Salomas was an older, successful merchant
running

all

sorts

of

profitable

ventures.

Soon, Anne was pregnant and living a life of

leisure

as

never

before.

Salomas

had

the

golden touch. Salome could remember when they

had been a happy family. She was the youngest
of three children, her mother an old woman of
forty or so when she was born. Salomas was a
good

man,

caring

stepfather

and

devoted

husband. And when his only child was born, he

was never more delighted.
Mary

continued.

Salome

and

were

best

friends from birth. A beautiful child, Salome

brought

out

the

naughtiness

in

all

three

siblings. We three were inseparable.

Salome, Mary and Cleophas, Jr., flourished
in their early years. Salomas took Cleophas
under his wing and brought him up as if he
24

were his own son. Mary was a blessing to any

family, but it was Salome who stole his heart.
Though the girls grew up in a privileged
home with servants, their parents saw to it
that they learned the skills needed to someday
run

their

own

homes.

Shopping,

cooking,

baking, cleaning, and sewing were the subjects

taught with Annes unending patience for the
two

girls

who

tended

toward

mischievousness

and laughter. But Anne was an educated woman.

Her

first

husband,

Joachim,

had

learned

to

read and write, and, over the course of their

childless years, he had taught the skill to
her. Now she proudly taught Mary as well, as
she would teach Salome when she was older.
Religious

observances

were

pressed

upon

them unceasingly as well. Salomas was a stiff

taskmaster,
spiritual

with

heart

of

Anne

being

the

family.

the

gentle

Whereas

the

laughter of the children upset Salomas when it

seemed to come at an inappropriate time, even
as

she

was

shushing

them,

Anne

could

not

resist smiling at her blessing of joy from the

sound.
When it came time to find a husband for
Mary, she already knew who her choice was. She
had met the young carpenter, Joseph, when he
25

came to fix a door jam in their home.

Mary was twelve at the time, Salome five.
Joe was a man of twenty. Though he was not
interested

in

children,

the

girls

were

smitten, as young girls often are, by this man

outside

their

neighbors.

realm

Joe

promptly,

of

completed

noticing

the

relatives

his

work

giggling

and

and

duo

left

as

he

collected his tools to go.

Thereafter, every week it seemed to make
either

or

both

of

the

girls

clumsier,

resulting in a broken shelf, a busted window,

and

another

repair

needing

carpenters

attention. When Anne came upon them hanging

off a door trying to break a hinge, she called
them

to

behavior.

task

as

to

Blushing,

the

shy

meaning

and

of

such

repentant,

Mary

apologized. Salome, knowing her sister was the

one

dedicated

compunction
demanded,

to

for

Why

God,

not

penance.
would

you

her,

When
do

had

Anne

such

less
again

thing?

Salome simply responded: Joseph.

Overhearing the exchange, Elizabeth, Annes
cousin who happened to be visiting, childless
and devoted to Annes children, delighted in
her

new

position

as

matchmaker.

Salomas didnt have a chance.

26

Joe

and

Joe was the easier of the two. A competent

carpenter, he had the added asset of seeing
beauty in the things he made. A table would
gleam with the numerous coats of wax he would
apply. He would whittle a design pattern into
the back of a chair or leg of a table with for
a

nominal

extra

charge.

No

repair

was

too

small, no job too large. He worked alone, with

concentration,

skill

and

patience

as

he

brought the best grains and designs out of the

wood.
The

dowry

system

at

the

time

worked

differently. Instead of the woman bringing the

dowry,

the

man

did.

Since

the

young

girl

worked at home, her departure from it demanded

an economic compensation. The future husband
had

to

pay

the

dowry,

which

consequently

became the property of the woman in case of

renouncement. The amount that the father of a
girl from Jerusalem would receive, at the time
of betrothal of a man not from the same town,
was especially high. An inhabitant of a small
town who married a girl from Jerusalem must
give her, as a dowry in marriage, her weight
in gold.
Joe fell madly in love just as Mary had
hoped

and

Elizabeth

had

planned.

It

was

a
27

great blessing for a young woman to be allowed

to marry a man she loves as chosen by her and
approved

by

her

father

instead

of

just

accepting the choice her father made on her

behalf.
Marys

adamancy

to

choose

this

carpenter

was beyond Salomas ken. But he was willing to

agree

since

both

Anne

and

Salome

were

as

insistent as Mary. Though, he assured himself,

he would have a much greater say in the choice
for his beloved Salome.
Mary

was

only

fourteen

when

they

become

engaged. Plans for the wedding a year hence

were all that concerned Anne and her daughters
thereafter.

They

spent

hours

planning

the

event. Salome was to be the Maid of Honor.

Back at his father's house, he would build
her a "chuppah" in which they would have their
future honeymoon. This was a separate building
on his father's property and it had to be very
beautiful yet simple since it would only be
used for seven days. This construction would
usually take the better part of a year and the
father of the groom would decide when it was
finished. If anyone asked the bridegroom when
the

wedding

was,

father knows that."

28

he

would

answer,

"Only

my

The

bride

was

obliged

to

do

lot

of

waiting. Custom declared she had to be ready

to go and have an oil lamp ready in case the
groom came late at night for her, which would
be

at

period

moment's

of

notice.

waiting,

she

During

was

this

referred

long

to

as

"consecrated," "set apart," and "bought with a

price."
Joe

took

work

at

nearby

Roman

construction site to earn more money for the

dowry.

He

was

overwhelmed,

often

but

the

tired

time

and

spent

bit

with

Mary

refreshed his endeavors and kept him focused

on the life they would share. But, then, the
stranger arrived to ruin their plans.
Mary

looked

at

her

enthralled

audience.

Go on, Mother, Joanna said softly.

At midday on the winter solstice, I went
to draw water from the well during the warmest
part

of

nearby

the
tree,

day.

Sitting

unaffected

quietly
by

the

under
cold,

a
a

stranger arose when I approached and called to

me.

Hail Mary, he said.

The Lord is with

you. Holy is your name.

He walked up and stood before me. Mary,
do not be afraid, he said. I am the angel
Gabriel, Gods messenger.
29

Angel?

asked.

He

looked

like

any

other man.
Yes. Angel. God has sent me to tell you
that He wishes you to bear a son.
Yes, I hope the same with my fianc.
The angel smiled. No, my dear. God wants
you to bear His son.
But how can such a thing be possible? I
asked.
With God, all things are possible. The
Holy Spirit will pass through you as a ray of
sunlight passes through a drop of water, and
so the child will be called the Son of God. I
shook my head in wonder. Only your consent is
needed for such a miracle to be possible, he
said.
As I listened, I was filled with courage.
I replied, Then I give my consent.
A light breeze came up and the sun came
from behind a cloud and I felt warm and cool
at the same time. I looked into the angels
eyes, and he smiled again.
Before he left he added, Your kinswoman
Elizabeth has in her old age conceived a son,
like

your

own

mother

who

was

once

called

barren. But now, thanks to the Lord, Elizabeth

is in her sixth month.
30

Bowing before me, the angel Gabriel kissed

the hem of my robe and then vanished.
I must say, I was dumbfounded. I had heard
rumors,
hear

of

this

course,
simple

thank
factual

you,

Ruth.

But

explanation

of

to
a

virginal conception was beyond me.

He never touched you? I inquired.
No.
Alone, Mary wondered what kind of destiny
she had carved for herself. How was she to
explain this to her parents? And to Joe?
The next morning Anne surprised Mary with
news. I have just received a letter from our
cousin Elizabeth. The Lord has blessed her,
for at last she is with child. It is truly a
miracle!
Miracle,
blessed

with

blessed

with

Mary

said.

this

child

parents

who

knew

was

knew

was

as
love

me,

little

brother who was my protector, and a younger

sister who was my best friend. I was blessed
with a man who loved me. I was ignorant that I
would also need to be blessed with a tough
skin to ignore the snide comments of neighbors
and the ridicule of strangers. But even had I
known
follow,

the
I

sorrow
would

and
have

troubles
still

that

would

consented.

My
31

mother had always told me that God had a plan

for

me.

dreamed

But
that

how

could

the

plan

she

was

have

for

possibly

me

to

be

vessel for a holy child, to nurture him and

protect him and give him space to grow into
his

glory?

Little

did

realize

what

that

would entail.
Mary continued telling us her story.
She

paced

her

bedroom,

explain to her parents.

found her there.
them.

wondering

how

to

Salome and Cleophas

Mary decided to rehearse on

If she could get a ten-year-old boy and

seven-year-old girl to understand, surely she

could do the same for her mother.
The following day Cleophas and Salome stood
strong on either side, holding her hands, ever
ready to step forward and protect their gentle
sibling

as

Mary

told

their

mother

she

was

pregnant.
The girls had spent the day telling Anne of
the

strange

events

that

preceded

this

announcement. A holy woman who had promised

that

her

perform

first
Gods

born

would

service,

be
was

dedicated
at

to

first

unbelieving, then dubious and finally won over

by the adamant tale of an Angels blessing.
Promises of dedicating the child to God went
32

unanswered

for

many

years

before

Anne

was

blessed with this daughter. But Salomas was a

stepfather.
girl

He would be scandalized that this

would

besmirch

the

dignity

of

his

household. Prepared for a different reaction

from her husband, together the four of them
approached him together.
Salomas stormed from the room, immediately
blaming Marys fianc, Joseph, and sending for
him forthwith despite Marys pleas. Thinking
back

years

later,

Mary

recognized

that

she

should have gone to Joe before Salomas, but

that

bridge

had

been

burned

that

spring

afternoon. Salomas was forced to take control

of the situation.
It

was

early

in

the

evening

when

Joe

received the abrupt summons. He was on his way

home

from

the

temple.

No

reason

was

given

except that he was to come at once. Fear for

his beloveds safety coursed through him as he
hastened to her side.
Upon arrival, Mary ran to greet him. He was
so

thankful

she

was

unharmed

but

obviously

very upset, tears staining her face. Salome

was a step behind her just as distraught. Joe
was unable to make sense of what they were
saying when Salomas came to the doorway and
33

called Joe to enter at once. Anne stood at one

side,

sorrowful,

yet

trying

to

tell

him

to

trust the Lord.

He entered the room and Salomas slammed the
door behind him. Accusations spewed forth from
him of ruining his daughter before marriage.
He furiously upbraided Joe for his failure to
control himself.

When Joe finally understood

the circumstances, and knowing he has not had

his way with the girl, he shouted his denial
such that everyone in the neighborhood heard
and stormed from the premises.
Mary was devastated.

She ran to her room

and burst into tears on the bed. Salome and

Cleophas
could.

tried

Mary

to

had

comfort

not

had

her
the

as

best

they

opportunity

to

explain. She wanted so desperately to talk to

him.
Mary was filled with conflicting emotions.
She

was

Angry

angry,

with

fearful

herself

for

and

disappointed.

telling

before she could talk to Joe.

will not want her any more.

her

parents

Fearful that he
And disappointed

that he could really believe that she would

ever be unfaithful to him.
Cleophas concocted a plan. They knew where
Joe

lived.
34

They

only

needed

to

escape

the

house

unnoticed.

The

three

of

them

dressed

warmly against the cold winter night. Young

Cleophas acted as chaperone en route. And when
Joe would not let them in, he was the one who
finally

convinced

him

to

open

the

door

and

talk to Mary.
She tried to explain about the stranger.
Joe

believed

another

she

willingly,

would

not

and

that,

give

herself

therefore,

to
the

stranger had forced her. Who is he who has

deceived me? Who did this evil thing in my
house

and

defiled

you?

He

began

to

blame

himself for failing to protect her. And yet,

she denied this as well.
He,

in

turn,

became

angry,

shamed,

disappointed and fearful. Angry that she had

not

told

him

right

away.

Shamed

by

his

behavior in shouting from the rooftops that

she had been the unfaithful one, exposing her
to ridicule instead of protecting her honor.
Fearful

that

now

she

would

not

want

him.

Disappointed that he would not be her first.

Anne arrived to retrieve the children and
give

Salomas

decision.

Jewish

law

required

unfaithful wives to be mercilessly stoned. To

spare Mary any public shame, it was decided
that she was to go into seclusion, and that
35

the engagement would be broken.

But

that

very

night

Gabriel

appeared

to

Joseph in a dream and said, Joseph, do not be

afraid

to

take

Mary

as

your

wife.

She

has

conceived her child through the grace of the

Holy Spirit. It will be a son, and you must
name him Jesus, for he will be the salvation
of the world.
Joe was a good man, in love with a pure and
faithful woman. He did not understand how this
could

happen.

permeated

His

his

anger

being.

and

But

his
he

hurt

still

believed

in

miracles and trusted his love for this woman

could withstand even this perceived betrayal.
He

still

accepting

wanted
this

Mary

child

as
was

his
the

wife,
price

and

if

he

need

doorstep

the

pay, then so be it.

Joe

appeared

following

morning.

at
He

Salomas
knew

the

only

way

to

protect Mary and child was to claim it as his

own.

So,

he

secluded

himself

with

Salomas,

pleaded for his forgiveness and approval for

an immediate wedding. Because he had made such
a

prominent

display

of

denial

for

all

the

neighbors to hear only yesterday, they agreed

that the ceremony would be concluded that day
in a quiet room in the local synagogue and
36

that Joe and Mary would immediately leave to

visit Elizabeth during her lying in time, and
return to Nazareth as a married couple. They
were never to return to Salomas home again.
And Joe would still pay the dowry, though at
the time, it would entail giving up everything
he

owned

as

he

had

accumulate

the

Salomas
aided

in

expected
sum

connections

the

more

secret

time

to

required.

with

the

ceremony

Pharisees

taking

place

before lunch. There was no wedding feast, no

fond

farewells

and

good

wishes.

There

were

tears among the women and restraint between

the men. Soon after the ceremony, they left
the

city

for

Elizabeths

home

in

the

hill

country. They took with them only what they

could carry. Anne and Salome promised to hold
on to the rest of their belongings when next
they came to Nazareth, should Salomas permit
it.
By

dusk,

the

couple

came

upon

an

Inn

outside the city gates. Joe got them some food

and they were given a sleeping mat to share in
the dormitory room that housed the travelers.
Fully clothed, as were all the others, they
laid down together for the first time. Near
tears,

lying

with

her

back

to

Joe,

Marys
37

emotions threatened to engulf her. Never had

she been away from family overnight. Salome
had always shared her bed, and now there was
this man, this man who she had shamed, and
this man who loved her. Silently, she rolled
over

to

him.

He

was

wide-awake.

She

looked

into his eyes and he lifted his arm for her to

lay her head on his chest and he encircled her
with his arm to protect her. It was not the
wedding night either of them had foreseen, but
it

was

the

wedding

night

that

joined

them

forever.
Poor father, said Salome. I was so hard
on

him.

blamed

him

for

everything,

of

course. He had forced a sad, secret wedding

for Mary and Joe, and then exiled them from
home. He had only planned for Mary and Joe to
go stay with Elizabeth until they could find
their own place in Nazareth to set up a home.
It didnt turn out like that, though, through
no fault of his.

38

Chapter 3
Mary and Josephs Family
They

arrived

at

the

modest

home

of

Elizabeth and her elderly husband, Zacharias

who was a priest in the community. As soon as
Elizabeth heard Mary at the door, she called
out, Hail Mary. Mother of God! and at the
same

moment,

the

infant

Elizabeth

carried

leapt for joy within her. Rushing to embrace

them both, Elizabeth said to Joe, Of all the
women, Mary is the most blessed and blessed is
the infant she carries.
And

blessed

are

we

all,

Elizabeths

husband, the priest Zacharias, told Joseph, so

obviously proud of himself.
Later
gone

to

that

evening,

bed,

Joe

circumstances

told

after

the

women

had

Zacharias

about

the

surrounding

their

quick

and

unexpected wedding and the miracle of Marys

conception.

Zacharias laughed heartily. That

Gabriel has been a busy fellow, he said. He

made an appearance here, too, to tell us of
Elizabeths

condition.

We

thought

she

was

having female problems related to menopause.

He laughed again. Miracles abound.
Mary and Joseph stayed with Elizabeth and
Zacharias through Elizabeths pregnancy. Anne
39

and Salome came to visit a couple of times and

made a point of being there to help Mary and
the

midwife

when

John

was

delivered.

It

terrified and fascinated her. When Mary first

held the child, the infant in her womb danced
with joy. Such was the bonding between these
cousins boys.
By the time Elizabeth was back on her feet
Mary

was

working

heavy

with

diligently

child.

in

the

Joe

had

village.

been

He

had

plans for a small house for them in Nazareth,

but

Elizabeth

until

Mary

insisted

had

also

they

safely

stay

with

delivered.

her
They

hoped to be able to move in before the birth

when Anne and Salome would surely be there.
And then the news came of the Roman census.
The Roman ordered a count of the people for
tax purposes, of course. How can you know how
much tax you should expect if you dont even
know how many people are under your rule?
The timing of the census coincided with the
Feast

of

Tabernacles

pilgrimage
thanksgiving

to

when

Jerusalem
for

the

they

were

to

for

worship

and

autumn

harvest

and

bounty. Mary was not due for almost a month.

They

anticipated

four

days

journey

to

Bethlehem to register, a day in Jerusalem for

40

the

Feast

celebration,

and

four

days

back

should get them back with a three week cushion

for the birth. They decided that the sooner
the better.
Salomas had not relented a bit. Although
Anne and Salomas and the other two children
were also making the trek, he had refused to
allow the families to travel together.
The safest travel to get from Nazareth to
Bethlehem

was

not

straight

line.

Rather,

they traveled east, crossed over into modernday

Jordan

eastern

and

side

of

then

traveled

south

Jordan

River,

the

on

the

before

crossing back into Judea.

The travel was much longer and harder than
either

of

them

easily.

When

Bethlehem,
pilgrims

they

headed

had

anticipated.

Mary

they

finally

arrived

found
to

the

it

full

Feast

of

in

tired
in

fellow

Jerusalem.

They were desperate.

The owners wife, a mother herself, seeing
the state Mary was in, led them under the Inn
to a cave which served as a stable for their
animals and those of their guests.
The animal shelter was practically vacant
that

warm

fall

night

with

clear

sky

and

luminous stars. Shepherds, flocks of sheep and

41

crazing horses, donkeys and cows dotted the

hills nearby. Had it been a month later, the
weather would have forced them to shelter at
night from the cold and rain of winter.
The stable smelled of fresh hay and dung,
but it was warm, private and protected from
the

laments

and

nosy

neighbors.

The

woman,

Suzanna, brought linens and food and sent for

a midwife. Regretfully, she was unable to stay
as already her husband was bellowing for her,
but Mary and Joe thanked her profusely for her
kindness. Joe managed to spread the linens on
the stack of hay and gently assist Mary in
lying down. He made her as comfortable as a
husband could in his panicked condition and
praised

the

lord

when

the

elderly

midwife,

Candace, arrived.
Candace

quickly

assessed

the

status

of

Marys labor and calmed the young girls fears

with her confident manner. When asked how much
she

knew

about

what

was

happening,

Mary

explained that she had seen Elizabeth deliver

John. She was both aware of the process and
terrified as well. Candace assured her that a
strong

healthy

young

woman

such

as

she

was

would have a much easier time of it than an

older woman of undetermined years.
42

Mary put herself in the care of the Lord

and the midwife. Suzanna reappeared after her
guests

had

all

been

tended.

She

brought

young servant, Rhoda, from the Inn, who came

with fresh water, more linens and another set
of hands. The three women, Rhoda, the Maiden,
Suzanna, the Mother, and Candace, the Crone,
were witness to this miracle birth.
It was a strangely quiet process with Mary
trying to not disturb the guests at the Inn.
Joe wandered about outside the entrance, close
enough to be there if they needed him and far
enough away to be out from underfoot.
Mary delivered her son just after midnight.
Strange rustlings filled the sky and voices
of

love

filled

their

ears.

The

childs

cry

sent shivers of joy through all that heard.

And peace filled them.
Suzanna, Candace and Rhoda stayed the night
to watch over the mother and child. Joe was
overwhelmed with his family and lay down next
to his wife and son, careful to not disturb
them.
In the morning, Suzanna invited them into
the Inn as soon as there was room, which Mary
and Joe accepted gratefully. Suzanna insisted
they

take

her

and

her

husbands

quarters
43

against his roaring to the contrary.

They sent word to Anne, who would be headed
back to Nazareth by then, that they would stay
in Bethlehem for at least another week so he
could go to the temple for the circumcision on
the eighth day. A week later, in the presence
of

their

new

friends,

Suzanna,

Candace

and

Rhoda, the child was circumcised. Joe recited

the

prayer

and

blessed

this

son

that

he

claimed. Mary and Joe were so very happy about

the child. Mary was in good health and their
friends were supportive.
The prior plans had been that, if the child
was a son, he was to have been circumcised at
the synagogue in Nazareth. Then the family,
all

but

Salomas,

was

to

have

traveled

to

Jerusalem for the presentation at the temple

and redemption of the firstborn son. But, as
they were already in Jerusalem, the new plan
was to just stay a few more weeks and leave
after the service. Anne was over fifty years
old and had just made the journey to Jerusalem
and back. They decided to just wait for the
happy return to Nazareth.
It was decided that, instead of returning
to the Inn, Mary and Joe would take their son
and stay with Candace in Bethlehem for a month
44

before returning to Nazareth. It was there at

Candaces

home,

three

weeks

later

that

visitors arrived. Just as there had been three

women to guide the birth of Jesus, now there
were three men to honor and guide him.
They explained that they had been studying
the

stars

independently

and

had

sought

the

source of the lone star, which was moving at a

strange pace.
The

three

interpretations
According

to

sages
of

the

each,

discussed
astrological

their

gifts

their
changes.

represented

their philosophy. Melchior, a Persian scholar,

brought the wealth of his nation, Gold. It is
precious and worthy across all cultures and
times. It is a gift fit for royalty, for a
King.
Caspar,
Myrrh.

scraggly

an

Ethiopian

resin

produced

tree

that

scholar,
by

grows

brought

small,

in

tough,

semi-desert

regions of North Africa and the Red Sea, Myrrh

is both a wound healer because of its strong
antiseptic

properties

and

an

embalming

ointment for funerals. Caspar explained that

he read the stars to say that this child was
born to die for the world.
Balthazar,

an

Indian

sage,

brought
45

frankincense derived from the milky sap tapped

from the Boswellia tree. Frankincense has been
touted

for

its

medicinal

and

soothing

properties. People burned frankincense that it

might carry their prayers to heaven. Its use
as incense illustrates the childs role as a
Priest.
Each

of

the

men

had

come

with

different

ideas as to what, or who, they would find at

the end of their journey, but all three agreed
on one thing, it was not safe for the child in
Judea.

They

encouraged

them

to

leave,

go

somewhere safe. They discussed the where, when

and how, having already taken the why as a
forgone conclusion.

Although Joe wanted to

present Jesus at the temple to complete Mary's

ritual purification after childbirth, and to
perform the

redemption of the firstborn, in

obedience to the Law of Moses, he was worried

as to the safety of the child.
That

night,

Joe

again

had

dream

of

Gabriel confirming the need to go to Egypt.

But, being devout Jews, they were compelled to
complete the forty-day ritual before leaving.
Mary

and

protect

Joe

them.

both
Caspar

couldnt, he would.
46

trusted

that

insisted

God

that

would

if

God

Plans began to materialize, Caspars advice

winning the consensus. He would accompany them
to Jerusalem as a merchant to allow them quiet
access to the temple.

He had just traveled

through Egypt en route to the child. That was

the closest safe place they could think of.
Mary

and

Joe

recognized

the

irony

of

leaving the Promised Land to return to Egypt,

but fell under the spell of these three men
concerned only with the safety of their child.
For, yes, Jesus was their child. The events
that led them to where they now were bound
them together as a family. They were young, in
love, committed to each other and their son,
wanting, as every parent does, to protect him
above all else.
So, the next morning, they said farewell to
their friends Suzanna, Rhoda and Candace.
Balthazar and Melchior sent a message to
Anne in Nazareth that the child was in danger,
but he was strong, healthy and blessed, and
that,

due

control,

to
the

circumstances
threesome

underground for

beyond

needed

their
to

go

awhile, but they would send

word when they could. Not to worry, they were

in Gods hands.
Meanwhile,

Caspar

led

the

tiny

family

a
47

circuitous route to Jerusalem and the temple.

Trying to stay covered and anonymous, Joe and
Mary took the option provided for poor people
of

purchasing

and

sacrificing

pair

of

turtledoves instead of a lamb.

Upon bringing Jesus into the temple, they
encountered Simeon, a holy man who had been
promised he would not see death before he had
seen the Lord Christ. Simeon recognized the
child as soon as they entered. He rose and
came to them, and asked to hold the child.
My prayers have been answered for now I
see the redemption of the world by this holy
child. He took Mary aside, this young woman
he had known for many years, no stranger to
Simeon in her disguise of a poor peasant.

He

told her "Behold, this child is set for the

falling and the rising of many in Israel, and
for a sign which is spoken against. Yes, a
sword will pierce through your own soul, that
the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
Frightened

and

saddened

by

Simeons

prophesy and devastated not to be able to see

Anne or her siblings, Mary took hold of Joes
arm,

and

carrying

their

son,

they

followed

Caspar on the trail to Egypt.

They traveled south and west, as quickly
48

and unobtrusively as possible to Cairo. He had

contacts there and found them a place to stay
until they could connect with what remained of
the

Jewish

encouraged

community
them

to

in

use

the

the

city.

childs

Caspar
gold

to

provide him with a home and security, as it

would do him no good if he did not even live
long enough to begin his rule. But Joe and
Mary believed the treasure was Jesus alone.
They would be good stewards and keep it safe
for him.
They were swiftly accepted into the small
but

vibrant

given

expatriate

guest

room

community.

till

they

They

could

were

find

place. Joe found work easily because Egypt was

also

under

Roman

rule

with

the

ongoing

expansion of their empire. As soon as Joe was

able to collect a financial cushion, he found
them a small residence furnished with only a
table and chairs and a bed. They both knew Joe
would spend his evenings and weekends building
whatever else they might need, starting with a
cradle.
They went to the market the day they were
to move in. The Egyptian market has much of
the same things for sale as the Judea markets,
but the smells! There must have been many more
49

spices

passing

assaulted

you

through
at

the

every

area

turn.

as

scents

it

seemed

And

much noisier, though that was probably only

because they did not understand the languages
being spoken, yelled, across the merchandise.
They managed to buy linens and kitchenware,
as

well

as

food

for a few

days.

When

they

returned home, Joe, who had been a bachelor

for several years, helped Mary make the bed
and

prepare

the

meal.

It

was

their

first

evening alone since their marriage almost a

year

ago.

Finally,

there

was

no

one

to

criticize that Joe was doing housework. No one

to criticize that Marys first meal was left
wanting. It was now acceptable for Joe to help
clean up after the meal even as he watched his
beautiful young wife nurse their son.
After they put Jesus down to sleep, Joe put
out

the

light

and

they

both

darkness for a few minutes.

stood

in

the

Each could hear

their heart beating with appreciation for this

moment, with excitement at their solitude and
with love, as they are about to share their
first time together as husband and wife.
By now Joe and Mary had become inseparable.
Throughout their strange engagement, marriage
and

relocation,
50

they

learned

the

ultimate

trust, being able to talk and know you are

understood,

to

listen

and

understand,

to

discuss, share and plan as one unit. It was a

month later that word came of the slaughter of
the

children,

little

boys

under

the

age

of

two. They wept and keened and sat Shiva for

those

shed,

for

their

parents,

for

their

safety.
Many hours they spent in the evening in
their small, quiet and safe surroundings
discussing the angels, the sages, and the
future. And the timing of the massacre of the
children in Bethlehem. In a village of one
thousand, how many boys had their been of that
age? Twenty? Thirty? One was too many. And why
under two years? If King Herod was after
Jesus, he had been less than two months old.
They tried to remember everything the wise men
had told them. They sought to remember what
had happened two years ago that might have set
this whole scenario in motion. The closest
they could remember was Salomes audacity in
telling Anne the reason for their determined
destructive behavior was Joseph.

51

Chapter 4
Salome, Marys Sister
Salome

picks

up

her

version

of

the

timeline.
When Anne received word her grandson was
born in Bethlehem, she wanted to head there
without delay. But the message was firm, they
were both healthy and they would be in the
temple

next

week

for

the

circumcision.

Further, they would return to Bethlehem until

the

forty

days

had

passed

and,

after

presentation at the temple, they would return

to Nazareth for good.
Instead,
appeared

six

with

weeks
a

later,

letter

in

stranger

strange

handwriting. Anne read the letter about danger

and escape and secret and undisclosed location
and safety. Anne was too upset to absorb the
details.
grief:

Salome

eight

became

years

out

old

and

of

control

already

with

talking

about running away to find her sister.

When Marys

letter arrived a month later

from Egypt, Salomas would not allow Anne to

read it herself. Instead he read it to them,
but relating only those pieces of information
that

he

daughter
52

felt
to

would

follow

not
her

entice
sister.

his

wily

They

are

fine, was all that he would tell them and

lock the letter in his desk.
But, unbeknownst to him, Salome was much
cleverer than he imagined. After that, when
the next letter came, Salome snatched it from
the pile before even Anne could see it and
hurried to the temple. A child was invisible;
a woman was a different matter. The old rabbi,
Simeon, had become her closest ally. Salome
rightfully deduced that it was to satisfy his
own

interest

and

concern

for

Mary

and

the

child that was the underlying reason for his

kindness. She would wend her way through the
heavy temple doors, which Joe had worked on,
and

there,

in

corner,

all

but

forgotten,

Simeon would sit daily in prayer. She would

creep up quietly to sit at his feet till he
noticed her. He would peek out the corner of
his closed eyes to find her smiling patiently,
unopened letter in her lap. She would listen,
enthralled to the letter Mary had composed. He
made her promise to bring any other letters,
if she could, so he could keep track of her.
Afterward, Salome told her mother as much
of the contents as she could from memory. Anne
hugged the brave child, and just asked to see
it herself. Together they would arrange a show
53

for

Salomas.

After

Simeon

would

read

the

letter, Cleophas would bring the letter to his

stepfather,

but,

without

fail,

would

accidentally break the seal before handing it

over. Salomas would read his cryptic abridged
version of the content, and, again, lock it in
his drawer.
With her mothers permission, before they
handed the letter over to Salomas, they would
take it to Simeon to read. Anne would wait in
the womens courtyard while Salome would sneak
through the crowds to the old man praying in
the

corner.

After

several

months

and

letters, Salome lost her fear of the man.

few
She

began to stand closer, looking at the designs

on

the

paper,

hidden inside.
began
when

the
they

trying

to

find

the

message

After the third letter, Simeon

reading
could

lessons.

read

the

Two

year

letters

later,

to

their

mother themselves, they began to learn how to

write letters in response. Salome continued to
meet

secretly

with

Simeon,

with

the

new

fascinating topic of numbers to work on. Anne

was in awe of her educated daughter.
continued

the

charade

at

home,

They
always

resulting in a broken seal by the time Salomas

received it.
54

He locked every one of them away

never dreaming that his daughter could read

and write.
Salome

continued

to

blame

him

fully

for

Marys absence. She never forgave him, even

though the Egypt exile was not his doing and
this

seeming

cruelty

resulted

in

her

education.
Mary continued again.
Shortly before

Jesus turned two, even as

she was starting to wean him from her breast,

Mary became pregnant with Joes child.

Jesus

was flourishing, Joe was fully employed and

Mary

was

family.
this

aglow

with

contentment

for

her

Only pangs of homesickness ruffled

family

scene.

Shortly

after

she

gave

birth to their son, James, named after Joes

father, Joe had one more dream.

Gabriel came

one more time to tell him King Herod had died

and it was safe to return to Nazareth.
So,

they

sold

what

they

had

bought,

gathered their few personal items, including

the gold, incense and Myrrh, and headed back
to Nazareth.
On

their

long

journey

north

from

Egypt,

they went a half a day out of their way to

stop and see Annes brother-in-law and Marys
uncle

Joseph.

Arimathea

was

in

the

hill
55

country northwest of Jerusalem, a lovely spot

to

stop

and

refresh

before

the

last

fifty

miles of their journey.

Now my turn to interrupt again. Joseph of
Arimathea is related to you?
He was my fathers youngest brother, Mary
replied. Why?
He is a client of my husbands. Well, a
client of my sons now. What a small world!
Finally,

they

arrived

back

at

Nazareth

almost five years from their departure for a

trip planned for less then two weeks. Mary and
Joe returned, pregnant and with two sons in
tow. Salome flew into Marys arms. They were
both

shocked

by

the

changes

in

the

other.

Mary had left Elizabeths as a lovely young

girl

of

returned

fourteen
home

in

full

nineteen,

pregnancy.
beautiful

She
young

woman, mother, and, again in full pregnancy.

Salome, on the other hand, had been a child
of

seven

was

now

on

the

edge

of

puberty,

blossoming and full of energy.

Joe

returned

with

small

nest

egg

and

experience sufficient for him to open his own

carpentry shop. They found a small house for
their

little

family,

on

the

edge

of

close to the trees not far from the well.

56

town,

Anne

greeted

her

daughter

and

son-in-law

with tears, hugs and a bursting heart. She had

some how still thought that Mary would present
her with her first grandson by giving her a
baby, but instead, a small child with large
brown

eyes,

thumb

in

was

his

hiding

mouth,

behind

staring

Joe
at

with

the

his

pretty

lady. Anne squatted to his level, told him she

was his grandmother and put her arms for a
hug.

He hesitated just a moment and ran onto

them, laughing. Grandmufer, he said.

They

were all reunited and all was finally well.

Shortly

after

Mary

returned

and

was

all

moved into their new home, Mary had a daughter

which she called Salome.
Salomas was even there for the homecoming.
Though the Bethlehem birth and Egyptian exile
were

no

fault

understood,

of

Salome

his,
never

and
did.

though
Salome

Anne
never

forgave him despite all his efforts to entice

his only child to see his side.

This worked

to her advantage later when it came time for

her to choose a husband. She was committed to
never

leaving

her

sisters

side

again.

The

husband she would choose must not only allow

her to live near Mary, but also recognize her
business sense.
57

58

Chapter 5
Jesus Family
Over the next years, Joe built his business
locally.

No

more

traveling

for

him.

He

and

Mary would have three more sons after Jesus,

James, and Salome: Joseph, Jude and Simon.
Jesus was such a charismatic child. Loving,
gentle, but, sometimes, oh, so naughty. Yet
how could you punish him for giving away his
toys,

or

shoes.

his

He

lunch,

never

or

came

sometimes,

back

naked,

even
but

his
just

barely. He was well liked in the neighborhood,

although

few

older

boys

would

taunt

him

about his heritage. Mary remembers the day one

of the bigger boys snuck up on him and slapped
him back handed on his right cheek, as if he
were

slave,

or,

heaven

forbid,

woman.

Jesus stood up straight and offered the bully

his

left cheek,

as

if

to

say,

if you

must

attack me do it as a man and an equal. And the

bully did. Jesus staggered and returned to his
strong stance. His friends and brothers wanted
to jump in and protect him, but he waived them
off.

Again

time

the

he

bully

offered

his

hesitated,

left
but

cheek.
took

This

another

swing nonetheless. Jesus was fast as his lefthand

captured

the

fist

before

it

connected
59

again. There they stood, eye to eye. Finally,

the

older

boy

dropped

his

fist

and

backed

away. Simon, yes, that was his name, the son

of

fisherman

visiting

the

village.

Jesus

smiled at him, but the boy Simon just turned

and walked away.
Salome

stopped

the

story.

Simon?

had

forgotten that. Mary that was our Simon, Simon

Peter!
Wow,

Joanna

commented.

Do

you

think

Jesus knows?
The older set of sisters shared a glance,
as did the younger women.
Yes.

believe

he

does.

And

they

all

the

Carpenter

laughed together, even me.

He

was

the

big

brother

to

Clan. But he also had his third cousin, John,

his best friend. When he was ten, his father
traveled to Bethany, about two miles east of
Jerusalem

on

the

southeastern

slope

of

the

Mount of Olives to work on a lovely home for a

merchant with three children. He took Jesus
with him to begin his apprenticeship. The man
had

son

Jesus

age,

Lazarus,

and

three

daughters, Rebecca, who was older and would

not have anything to do with the younger boys,
and two sisters, Martha, who was his brother
60

James age and the youngest sister, Mary, who

was his sister Salomes age.
Jesus

did

not

work

too

much

that

first

time, but instead hung with Lazarus. Lazarus

older sister, Rebecca, ignored them, but his
two younger ones followed them everywhere.
When it came time for Jesus to return to
the temple in Jerusalem for his Bar Mitzvah,
Lazarus, Martha and Mary from Bethany came for
the

occasion.

Previously,

Jesus,

and

then

James, too, had come with Joe to work at their

home. This was the first time they had met the
whole

family.

Salomas

had

long

since

reconciled their relationship such that he was

even there. He knew everyone, and was proud to
take him to meet the Pharisee scholars. But
before he could make the introduction, Jesus
was lost in the temple.
There had been a small caravan of Nazarenes
on pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Feast of
the Tabernacles that was occurring about that
time.

After

everyone

had

performed

their

offerings and shared a meal, we had all headed

home. There were children everywhere and Mary
and Salome were busy trying to keep track of
the

younger

ones.

Mary

was

heavy

with

her

sixth child and thought Jesus was with them.

61

He was now past his Bar Mitzvah, a responsible

young man. Surely he is with Lazarus, John and
James somewhere.
But when they stopped for the night, Jesus
was nowhere to be found.
So Salome took the children and continued
toward home as Mary and Joe returned to the
temple seeking their son.
They

found

scholars,

him

with

answering

group

questions,

of

learned

not

asking

them. Two of them had sought out Mary and Joe,

wanting

their

permission

to

allow

Jesus

to

stay for formal training.

Here I cut in one more time. My Jonah was
there

that

about

the

day!
child

He

could

prodigy.

not
He

stop
and

speaking

his

friend

Nicodemus, who, by the way, was to have had

dinner

with

us

tonight,

before

had

to

cancel, they were determined to have the boy

study with them at the temple. But, they were
never

able

to

find

him

again,

even

with

Salomas assistance.
Jesus returned without argument to Nazareth
to continue his apprenticeship as a carpenter.
But his heart had never been into it, though
he was a talented artist. But, as soon as he
was assured of his mothers health after the
62

birth of her fifth son, Simon, he told them

his was leaving.
Mary was frantic. She felt as if he were
deserting her and leaving Joseph to run the
business

alone

to

support

their

five

small

children. Jesus was a man and adamant in his

decision to go. Mary and Joe still had the
gifts from the Magi and wanted Jesus to take
them for his journey, but all he wanted was as
much information about the three as they could
remember. Nevertheless, Joseph was determined
to keep the gifts meant for Jesus so he would
have them on his return when he would be ready
to start his own family.
He and his cousin John had a plan all set.
First they would travel to this great-uncle
Joseph and perhaps talk him into taking them
on an excursion. Their next stop was to see
Caspar in Ethiopia, then East to Melchior in
Persia and then Balthazar in India. It was a
rough plan of a spiritual journey to far away
lands filled with mountains and holy rivers
with no timeline or certain addresses, but a
plan nevertheless.
The other children, too, felt deserted, as
they

had

brother.

always

looked

Despite

up

Marys

to

their

protests,

oldest
he

left
63

with his cousin John.

Joe was strong when Jesus left and did what
he could to comfort Mary.

Their relationship

continued one the same devotion and respect

from

the

days

in

Egypt.

He

was

still

her

support and her best friend, well, other than

Salome.
James, too, stood up to the plate to take
on

added

with

his

responsibilities

and

apprenticeship

father.

now

eight,

Salome,

helped

Mary with her younger brothers, Joseph, Judea

and baby Simon.
And

so

the

years

passed.

Salome

married

Zebedee, a fisherman with dreams of a market.

Her fisherman from Bethsaida on the northern
shore of the Sea of Galilee was not averse to
opening a market halfway to Mary and Joes.
Salome had two sons: James and John, who were
in

apprenticeship

with

their

father.

They

lived on the north side of the Sea of Galilee,

in Bethsaida, less than thirty miles from Mary
and

Joe

by

land.

The

easier

route

was

for

Zebedee to take Salome by boat to meet Mary in

Tiberias on the west shore. So they opened a
market there.
Nazareth is located near an international
trade route; we would receive word from Jesus
64

about twice a year, mainly just saying he was

alive and well and not to worry. Love, Jesus.
P.S. Say Hi to Lazarus.
About two years after Jesus left, I gave
birth to my second daughter, Joanna.
Joanna blushed as Marianne gave her a hug.
Joe adored Joanna. All of her siblings did.
Mom, I can tell this part.
Alright, Mary smiled.
OK. Its true. My family adored me. All of
them. I admit it. I was spoiled. Whatever I
needed, whatever I wanted, someone would see
that I received it. But after I was born, Dad
started to age quickly. As James began to take
on more responsibility in the family business,
he wanted to marry and settle in as the heir
apparent.

He

had

overheard

the

exchange

between his parents and Jesus before Jesus had

left and knew of the gifts Jesus had received
twenty-five years before. He wanted Joseph to
share them, but, sick as he was, Joe would not
permit

it.

contributing

So,

James

Jesus

approached
share

to

Mary

about

arrange

for

dowries and family accommodations since Jesus

had refused to accept his responsibilities as
the

oldest

son

to

protect

and

maintain

the

family. Mary, too, refused.

65

Then he got sick. Mom was frantic. We tried

everything we could think of to get hold of
Jesus. Joe wanted so badly to say good-bye.
She put out feelers through her family, even
approaching Salomas, and asking the old man to
use his connections to find him.
Salomes

market

was

flourishing,

had trade connections herself.

and

she

She also sent

word with each merchant headed east to tell

the wandering nephew to return.
Then,

suddenly,

Cousin

John

was

back.

Somehow he knew that Aunt Elizabeth was ill,

too. She was ancient. He came to say good-bye
on his own. He was there when she died. This
led

Dad

to

believe

that

Jesus

would

mysteriously appear in the same manner. But he

didnt.

John

sent

word

to

his

last

known

location for Jesus to come forthwith. But Joe

could not hold on that long. He died when I
was twelve, without ever having the chance to
say good-bye to his eldest son.
Lazarus, Martha and Mary had come for the
funeral. Martha had a son and a baby girl,
which their Auntie Mary doted upon.
I

remember

your

children,

Martha,

Mary

said gently.
The silence was thunderous. They all tried
66

to look at Martha, but Martha was staring at

Mary. Each had a tear and melancholic smile.
Ill start from here, Martha said.

67

Chapter 6
Marianne and Martha: Lazarus Sisters
When we were children, I mainly remember my
brother and his best friend as being the gang
leaders

in

our

little boys.
order

to

hood.

They

were

terrors

as

I pretended to be a tomboy on

hang

out

with

them.

When

Jesus

brother, James, who was my age, was old enough

to

come

with

Joe,

he

had

been

instantly

included in their troop. James wanted a good

ol boys club, and would tell me to go to my
mother

and

learn

the

ways

of

women

in

the

home, lest I fail as a wife later. But Jesus

and

Lazarus

had

always

included

me,

and

continued to do so. James was overruled, the

first of many times. Marianne was two years
younger and very shy. Mother kept her close;
we often saw her watching longingly from the
open door. Jesus and Lazarus would invite her.
James and I thought she was too young to hang
with the big kids. But Jesus would ask her to
come every time, till on occasion she would
follow at a closer distance and could overhear
what was going on, even if not to actually
participate.
He was gentle, firm and caring. We all were
devastated
68

when

he

left

with

no

word

for

seventeen years. Everyone knew I had been in

love

with

Jesus,

since

we

were

children.

told anyone who would listen how personally

rejected

fourteen.

felt
I

when

felt

he

he

left

was

when

leaving

he
me,

was
even

though I was really only a child of eleven.

Mary was nine.
Over the years of his absence, I continued
this huge melodrama of having been abandoned,
when it had all just been in my imagination.
Four
married

years

later,

and

left

his
the

sister,

Salome,

house.

Shortly

thereafter, I did the same.

My parents had chosen an older man for me,
someone who would be able to control my drama
and

melancholy.

Unfortunately,

after

the

wedding, we moved from Bethany to Jericho.

As you know, the road from Jerusalem from
its high hills and low mountains through the
narrow winding mountainous road to the valley
of

Jericho

is

difficult

and

treacherous

path. Though there is a cool oasis, teeming

plant

life

and

city

of

greenery

in

an

otherwise barren desert at the destination due

to the nearness of the Jordan River four miles
to

the

east,

and

from

underground

springs

running from the Central Mountains to the low

69

level, even King David called it the Valley

of the Shadow of Death. Making that journey
is like seeing your spiritual level drop from
the

state

of

holiness

to

the

state

of

sinfulness. And thats what seemed to happen

to my husband when we lived there.
My

husband

was

wealthy

and

had

paid

my

weight in gold to my father in order to marry

me and take me from my family. But once we got
to Jericho, he ranted and raved about how I
had not been worth the price he paid. We had
two children together, a little boy and a baby
girl, before his drinking got out of control.
He became more hateful and abusive.
I, of course, was too ashamed and afraid to
have ever mentioned any of this to my family.
So, when Marianne and Lazarus came to visit
after my daughters birth, they were shocked
to

find

me

cowering

in

his

presence.

Their

first evening there, he came home drunk, but

tried to put on a charming faade to impress
my

sister.

personal,

But
and

his
his

friendliness
touch

too

became

too

intimate

for

Marianne, who was not yet sixteen and not yet

betrothed.
The next morning when he left, I confided
everything to the two of them: the abuse, the
70

fear, the sadness. Lazarus went out

looking

for him to demand a divorce and permission to

take

the

children.

Marianne

and

told

him

that was not the way to handle the situation,

but Lazarus is a gentle peacemaker, not fond
of violence and a believer in negotiation and
integrity. Marianne begged me to leave him and
we

spent

Surely,

the

when

day
we

planning

return

our

home,

get

away.

father

would

protect us.
Lazarus

found

my

husband

in

pub,

of

course. Initially, he thought my husband would

be reasonable and recognize that our family
wealth was a shield to cut the ties between
the

two

of

us.

He

had

not

reckoned

on

the

state of inebriation. My husband retorted with

his disgust of my family. Of my worthlessness
as a wife.

Of Lazaruss preference for men.

Of taking Mariannes virginity in exchange for

the

divorce.

Of

keeping

the

children

as

punishment to our parents for the outrageous

dowry

he

still

complained.

No

matter

what

anyone said or how calming Lazarus tried to

be, my husband became more belligerent, till
finally, he threw a drink in Lazarus face and
stormed out - toward home.
Lazarus somehow was able to get there first
71

to warn us. He wanted us all to run for the

inn, but even then, we cold see him coming
down the narrow road. I feared he would follow
us and that none of use would be safe if his
mood became too foul. I told Marianne to take
the children into the hills to hide, to not
come

out

no

matter

what

until

we

came

for

them.
So, Marianne took my daughter in her arms,
with a back of items for a few hours, and,
holding my sons hand, accompanied them up the
winding

trail

till

she

found

cave

large

enough to hold the three of them.

When

my

husband

came

home,

and

found

my

children, and my attractive, vulnerable young

sister missing, he became furious. First he
beat Lazarus, and then he beat me within an
inch of my life.
Marianne

crossed

the

small

courtyard

and

took her sisters hand. Looking only at each

other, they continued.
I

had

specifically

told

her,

Remember,

its too dangerous to come back until I come

and say its ok. Marianne had not been at
fault when my son slipped and fell hurting his
head on a rock, Martha said softly.
72

He begged me not to leave him even as he

called for you, Marianne replied. I could
not carry both the child and the baby back to
the

village

over

the

rocky

terrain

in

the

dark, even if I had not been told to stay till

I was fetched.
You didnt realize the earth was so cold
when you laid my baby in a nest you made of
your own cloak next to you as you comforted my
son.
She slept while he lay in my arms going in
and out of consciousness.
The neighbors had heard my husband and I
argue

before,

but

the

vehemence

of

this

argument drew them to our door. He was hauled

away, but Lazarus was unconscious and I was
too injured to speak clearly. It was several
hours

before

understand

the

was
need

able
to

to

find

make

Mary

them

and

my

children and direct them to the path they had

taken into the hills. They did not even wait
till first light to begin their search, going
out with torches and calling her name.
It

was

cold

that

night.

And

clear.

So

clear. From within the cave, I could see the

light
stars.

of

the

moon

was

there

and

the

holding

sparkle
your

of

the

son,

and
73

praying for him. I think I dozed off after he

became

as

quiet

as

your

daughter.

Tears

coursed down Mariannes cheeks, but her eyes

never left Marthas.
The

neighbors

found

the

three

of

them

cuddled together, Mariannes arms around both

of

my

children.

My

son

daughter was very sick.

later,

just

as

had

was

gone,

and

my

She died three days

recovered

enough

to

prepare her funeral.

Marianne

finished.

We

three

siblings,

broken of body and soul, returned to Bethany

to break the hearts of our parents. They both
died that following year. So we shared their
Bethany home. Martha, who had never had any
interest in the kitchen, lived there now. But
this was not a home as much as a house of
grief, guilt, anger and remorse. Lazarus was
embroiled in his guilt of not having been able
to

protect

failure

to

Lazarus

for

us.

Martha

protect
staying

in

her

her

anger

at

my

anger

at

instead

of

children,

with

her

accompanying me into the hills, anger at her

husband for his greed and violence, and sorrow
at the loss of her beloved children. And I
with my guilt that I could have should have
done more. My memories of that evening are
74

the softness of my nieces cheek when I kissed

her as I lay her in what I thought was a warm
and

comfortable

nephews

eyes

bed.

when

And

he

the

held

trust

my

hand

in

my

and

assured him everything would be all right.

Marianne finally looked away from Martha.
Her eyes touched each of us in turn, all of
them wet with tears. And so we would have
lived

the

returned.

rest
They

of

our

had

lives

all

had

heard

Jesus
the

not

story

before. And finally someone smiled. Then they

all did. Not me. I was busy blowing my nose
and shaking my head in sorrow.

75

Chapter 7
Joanna, Jesus Youngest Sister
Joanna began again. Over the years, all of
my brothers became involved in the carpentry
business. They married and started families,
but

money

expanded

was

very

faster

tight

than

the

as

the

family

business.

Josephs death, James accepted the

After

onus for

his siblings, mother and the business.

His

first task was searching for the missing Magi

gifts. He found them on the first night he
slept

in

drawers

the
under

master
the

bed.

There

mattress.

were

hidden

had

always

It

looked too thick and lusciously soft. But when

his wife and he climbed in, they found the
mattress was thin and the bed hard. Lifting
the

mattress,

underneath.

three

Each

one

drawers

were

contained

revealed
treasure.

James had had no idea of the wealth hidden

under his nose all those years of financial
struggle. He did not want his mother to know
he had found the fortune.
Without

Marys

knowledge

or

consent,

he

slowly used all of it to lighten the load on

his

familys

needs,

as

more

spouses

and

children were adding to the dependence on the

carpentry
76

business.

He

thought

Jesus

would

never return and that no one would ever know.

He

felt

justified

in

the

theft.

The

ends

justified the means. Yet the guilt hung over

him

like

light,

but

light

cloud,

taking

the

not

obscuring

joyous

blue

the

from

the

sky.
Salome and Zebedee, meanwhile, had opened
two

more

markets

along

the

Sea

of

Galilee

shoreline, in Magdala and Capernaum. All four

markets

flourished

management
Zebedees

and
two

from

the

Salomes

fishing

crews.

One

business

efforts

consisted

of

of

his

sons, John and James, and the other, another

set of brothers, Simon and Andrew
When

Jesus

finally

walked

back

into

Nazareth after a seventeen-year absence, the

first one he met under a shade tree was his
twelve-year-old

sister,

Joanna.

He

knew

instantly. She had no clue who this unwashed

stranger was.
He walked up to me, and tried to give me a
hug.

slapped

his

hand

and

called

for

my

brothers. He laughed as James, Joseph, Jude

and Simon came from the four directions. They
almost came to blows before Jesus hugged James
and

whispered

shared

in

childhood

his

ear

memory.

something

about

Introductions

were
77

just concluding amidst laughter and well-being

when

we

noticed

Jesus

go

silent

as

he

saw

Mother approach.
Just the way she held her arms for him to
run to, or the kisses she generously bestowed
to

his

laughing

face

seemed

to

harden

the

hearts of my other brothers right in front of

my eyes.
This

time

Mary

looked

away

as

Joanna

continued.
But what was worse, even though the four
brothers

had

been

running

the

carpentry

business all those years, before we finished

dinner that first evening, Mother insisted the
business belonged to the eldest son.
Poor Jesus, Joanna laughed. He tried to
accept full responsibility as the eldest son,
but

our

brothers

and

their

extended

family

hated that. He tried to go back to a normal

life of business and family. He tried to do
the carpentry again, to work with his younger
brothers

who

had

been

running

the

business

since Josephs death five years earlier.

Now

true

feelings

began

to

emerge

and

envelope the family. Apparently our brothers

78

were very angry that he left the first time,

especially

James.

He

was

angry

that

he

was

just automatically expected to take the duties

of the eldest son while he was gone. Angry
when

he

came

businesses.

back

Angry

and

that

took

there

over
was

the

another

person to support on the family business. And

afraid

that

Jesus

would

find

out

about

his

theft of the three treasures which were his

birthright.

It

wasnt

long

till

that

fear

faced the light of day.

Mother could hardly contain herself to show
Jesus that he would have his treasures to use
to strengthen his position as the head of the
household.

She

had

gone

to

the

bed

in

the

master bedroom, the one she had shared with

Joseph for so many years and which James and
his wife now occupied. James had known what
she

was

after,

of

course.

When

it

wasnt

there, Mother freaked out.

This time Mary turned back to the group. I
wouldnt exactly say that. I was a bit upset.
Oh, come on, Mother. You freaked out! I am
sorry, but you called James a thief in front
of everyone and yelled and cried.
Mary looked deviant and ashamed at the same
79

time. Well, maybe more than a bit upset.

Jesus

let

the

storm

break

around

him.

James never denied that he had taken the money

and other items. He claimed it was his duty to
provide for the family in Jesus absence and
that Jesus had no right to hoard the fortune
to the exclusion of the family needs. I do not
think my other brothers had been aware of any
of

this.

But

as

James

kept

up

with

his

justification, they took his side as well. I

admit, I agreed with them.
Finally,
Mother

as

Jesus
she

had

kept

put

his

apologizing

arms

around

through

her

tears. Its ok. I told Dad to do that before

I left. Silence. Didnt I, Mother?
One

more

time,

Mary

looked

around

and

continued. Anyway, within a few months, but

it

was

obvious

fulfilling

his

to

all

destiny.

that
He

he

was

not

turned

the

business over to the brothers and began his

ministry. For a time, there was peace.
Jesus
Mother

disappeared
was

the

only

for
one

forty
hoping

days,
he

and
would

return. The others thought he had recognized

he could not handle the business and was gone
for good. When he returned, he explained that
80

he was going to minister to the people of the

good news. What good news, we all asked? And
he stood and put his arms out wide, and said
simply, Moil! We had no clue what he was
talking about.
Now

mother

took

different

tack.

She

encouraged him to take a wife. She told him it

was way past time for that next step and it
wasnt like he was required to be celibate for
any

reason.

He

had

always

had

connection

with those nice girls from Bethany. Martha

and Mary laughed as Joanna said that in her
mothers voice.
Jesus was so funny. Despite his protests
that he was not interested in getting married,
he was very happy to go visit his friends in
Bethany. Mother insisted on going as she was
afraid to let him out of her sight again so
she packed me up despite my many and ongoing
protests, and we have been at his side ever
since. She was not about to let him out of her
gaze again if she could help it.
Mary continued.
When he returned, the clouds cleared from
my guilt and sadness. I saw him coming over
81

the hill from the Jerusalem trail. I knew it

was him from such a distance. We had received
word he was back and had been planning our own
travel to Nazareth, but Martha would not leave
the home that held her prisoner. With bars of
safety. So we waited for him.
I called to Martha and Lazarus and ran to
him full speed. He came running and gathered
me

into

his

arms

and

twirled

me

around.

Little Mary, my little Mary. Lazarus, who

had never quite recovered from the beating he
sustained

from

our

brother-in-law,

walked

painfully down the road. We could see Martha

hanging back in the doorway.
We had such a reunion of good cheer. Martha
prepared a feast, and I am sorry to say, I
didnt

lift

finger

to

help

her.

was

smitten. He drew me in. I was like a moth to a

flame. Food, wine, stories, and laughter. The
first of many nights to treasure. The gloom
was finally gone from our home.
Jesus

told

his

best

friend

that

he

was

quitting the carpentry business, and leaving

it

for

about

his
the

brothers.
three

Not

original

ever

having

birthday

known

presents,

Lazarus offered to lend him some money to keep

the business for himself, which Jesus refused.
82

He was confident God would provide for them

and Lazarus laughed and said Consider me the
conduit - should you ever need it. He has
been

true

to

his

word

and

generous

in

his

it

was

support ever since.

We

three

stayed

in

Bethany

until

time to attend the wedding of our cousin John

in Cana.
Finally, my turn, Marie said. We all
laughed heartily.

83

Chapter 8
Mary Magdalene, a.k.a Marie
I was the only child of devoted parents in
Magdala, a lovely seaside town on the western
shore of the Sea of Galilee between Capernaum
and Tiberias. I was brought up pampered. My
father

was

Jewish

man

of

international

trade, and retired when I was born. My mother

had

been

young

Jewish

slave

girl

he

had

purchased in Rome and made his wife. They both

tried to keep her history secret, but while in
Rome,

she

had

been

brought

up

in

the

home

where Vesta, the virgin goddess of the hearth,

home, and family was worshipped.
In Galilee as in Rome, the hearth was the
place where food was prepared. But in Rome, as
the meal was eaten, offerings were thrown into
the sacred fire to seek the future from the
way it burned. In Magdala, she wanted the same
protection

for

her

home

and

daughter.

She

maintained a sacred fire burning at all times

to

honor

the

Roman

goddess.

When

the

local

merchants some how discovered the ritualistic

secret,

it

began

to

affect

my

fathers

business with the local Jewish tradesmen. Or

perhaps

the

problem

stemmed

from

his

association with Roman trade. Be that as it

84

may, he retired as a relatively young man and

thereafter

was

silent

partner

in

many

venture, never acknowledging his involvement,

just

quietly

accumulating

earnings

to

reinvest.
He was always very generous with his only
child, even if I was a girl. As a young child
of seven, I was very strong and willful as a
result.

My

mother

worried

might

be

too

strong and too fun loving. She insisted I take

training in ways of the pagan priestesses of
Vesta. Vestal Virgins were a sacred group of
women whose duty it was to keep the sacred
fire of Vesta burning in the temple at all
times.

The

Vestal

Virgins

were

required

to

take a vow of chastity and the breaking of

these

vows

painful
highly
they

was

an

offense

death.

These

regarded

by

were

given

punishable

revered

the

seats

Roman
of

women

by

were

populace

honor

in

a
so

that

public

places, like the arena, when the regular woman

was always put in less noble areas.
So I was sent off to Rome to learn the ways
of a temple priestess, though not to become
one of them. My parents both accompanied me as
I lived, learned and prayed in the manner of a
Vestal Virgin. For me, this was not a lifetime
85

vow,

but

science

a
and

university

of

leadership.

love

and

stayed

art

and

there

ten

years, all thanks to the gold from my fathers

pocket.
When we returned to Magdala, I was educated
and

sophisticated

in

the

ways

of

women

and

temple, but a novice in the ways of men. My

mother was now content to stay at home and
practice the ways of Vesta I had taught, but
father and I agreed I must learn the ways of
the Jewish people. I would accompany him on
his

rounds

of

the

business

investment

properties. One of them was a fish market.

Salome continued. Over the years we needed
an occasional influx of funds as we expanded
our markets. Even though Maries father was in
Rome

all

existing

three

years,

investment

we

for

had
him.

been
His

prelocal

solicitor allowed us to increase our line of

credit all those years he was gone. By the
time he returned, he owned forty-nine percent
of the business. But he was an honorable man
and was interested in the financial returns
and not the actual operation of the business,
so it was a mutually agreeable arrangement.
The day Marie showed up with her father, John
and James had just arrived with a boatload of
86

fish. To watch them bring them in is exciting

as they haul the fish to shore. It was a warm
day and John was so young and virile.
Marie

laughed.

Mother

Salome,

please,

it

sounds so embarrassing when you tell it. Allow

me. It was a warm day and John was so young
and virile.
They all laughed.
Salome continued. Marriage to the Jews of
Jesus

day

was

practical

legal

matter,

established by contract and carried through by

exacting procedure. The young man would come
to the chosen girl's house with a covenant (a
true

legal

which

he

agreement)

would

giving

propose

the

marriage.

terms
The

by

most

important being the price he was willing to

pay for this bride.
It wasnt long before we approached father
for his permission to wed. John was strong and
talked about his love for Marie when father
asked about the dowry. We had borrowed money
from Maries father in order to pay the dowry
for our older son, James. For this discussion,
we needed Zebedee, and Salome, and finally,
the agreed upon price was two percent of the
business.
Marie

was

But
an

now

we

only

were
child,

family,
we

and,
were

as
not
87

threatened by a distant relative taking over

at some point. John was to take charge of that
particular market; James was to run the one in
Capernaum.
Maries turn. John and I were very much in
love. Father had a country home in Cana that
he wanted to give us. It was a bit unorthodox
to have the ceremony in our new home instead
of building a bridal chamber for the seven-day
honeymoon,

but

my

father

was

always

bit

unorthodox. Besides, Cana was so much closer

to the family of carpenter relatives, well, no
one objected to the plan. So it was agreed
that the wedding would be held at a lovely
restaurant,

one

of

Maries

fathers

investments.
Everyone

was

coming.

Johns

family.

Fathers business associates. I was concerned

that the Cana restaurant would not be able to
handle the expanse of people, but they assured
father
their

they
menu

had
was

more

than

extensive

adequate

and

staff,

delicious

and

their wines the best in the area.

Finally, father approved of the home and
decided it was time. So, John and his cousins,
and his fishing partners, Simon and Andrew,
88

came to steal me from my father. Abducted by

this

man,

and

family,

who

had

given

up

controlling interest in their business because

they loved me so much.
When we reached our home in Cana en masse,
James

held

assures

watch

him

we

till

John,

were

Marie

coughs,

married

and

the

celebration of the wedding guests began and

continued for a week! At the end of the week,
when

John

and

joined

out

guests

for

the

wedding feast, that was the first time I met

Jesus.
He

was

escorting

his

mother

and

sitting

with his friends Lazarus, Martha and Mary, as

well

as

enjoying

his

large

himself

family.

and

the

Not

aloof,

but

company

of

loved

wedding

meal,

ones.
Halfway

through

that

final

the head chef approached Zebedee as the father

of the groom. Mary had been sitting with her
sister

and

brother-in-law

and

overheard.

Zebedee was nonplussed. Open more, he said.

There is no more, Sir, he answered. Every
bottle in our wine cellar is gone, and all
those we were able to obtain from neighboring
restaurants. There were just too many guests.
I am so sorry, Sir, Madam.
89

Salome

adds,

It

was

so

embarrassing.

Maries father had been so generous and this

had been our responsibility. I began to fret
beyond

Zebedees

threshold

for

drama.

Mary

calmed me.
Mary

goes

sitting

with

on.

his

went

to

Bethany

Jesus.

friends

He

was

and

his

brothers. He got up and was at my side before

I

got

in

explained

earshot
about

the

of

his

wine

companions.
and

he

looked

confused. But I waited and he went with the

headwaiter and, boom, there was wine. Wine so
fine that even Maries father came over and
complimented Zebedee for the selection.
It was the headwaiter who spilled the beans
about Jesus changing the water to wine. They
were the ones who filled the wine casks with
water then filled the pitchers with wine from
those casks.
By noon the next day everyone knew. Even
the hung-over ones.
Thats when it hit the fan.
Jesus had returned to Nazareth with this
family. His friends had retuned to Bethany,
Salome and their crews returned to Bethsaida,
Tiberius, Capernaum. Maries parents returned
to

Magdala,
90

everyone

taking

the

story

with

them,
Jesus

decided

it

was

time

to

officially

begin his ministry. He had already given the

business to his brothers. Now he was ready to
take the show on the road. But, Mary insisted
on

going

with

him.

And

she

insisted

Joanna

come as well. Rebellious teens are so much fun

to travel with.
And

of

course,

the

brothers

were

angry

again. He cant support you, Mother, they

pleaded.

Nevertheless, as the eldest son, it

is his right and his responsibility to care

for

his

mother

and

unmarried

sister.

So,

after the wedding, off they all went.

Marie finished. I had thought life was now
stable and secure and I was ready for routine
happiness with my new husband. But when Jesus
asked

John

followed

to

him!

follow
So

did

him,
his

he

left

brother

me

and

James

and

their fishing staff, Simon and Andrew. Even

his

brother

younger

James

brothers.

left
Salome

the

business

followed

to

them

the
all,

too. Those of us left behind, Zebedee, Jesus

younger siblings, me, we all felt abandoned.
Martha and Mary stayed with Lazarus, but Jesus
and

this

camp

were

frequent

visitors,

and

Mary, on occasion came with them for periods

91

of time leaving Martha to care for Lazarus.

Lazarus was always generous with his money to
support Jesus, Mary and Joanna and his sister
Mary.

Salome

supported

those

from

whom

her

small fortune had come, John, James, Andrew

and Simon. I was restrained with my money and
my fathers. I did not want to be part of this
cult,

wanted

my

husband.

had

only

met

Jesus briefly at my wedding when I had been

the

center

drinking

of

the

attention.

ever-flowing

was

upset

water/wine

and

casks.

Till one day, Jesus showed up at my door all

alone.
I

am

afraid

was

bit

tipsy

one

afternoon, and stumbled near the well in front

of a gathering.

Everyone was either making

fun of me or criticizing me; I think a few

were hoping I might even fall into the well.
But Jesus took my hand and lifted me to my
feet.

I recognized him instantly.

He looked

into my eyes and asked if I was all right. I

told him I was a bit confused and somewhat
lost and he just said, follow me, and smiled.
I

nodded

and

he

took

me to

his

Mother

and

said, shes with us.

And here I am.
When John saw me at the well, I think he
92

was angry and embarrassed, so Jesus turned to

him then and said, we are blessed to have her
with us, dont you agree, John. John nodded.
Jesus turned back and smiled broadly. Blessed,
indeed.
After that, all of the money I had been
squandering on
drinking I gave happily to John to support
Jesus and this strange extended family he had
acquired.
And not a moment too soon as Salomes
business soon failed
and

father

fisherman.

He

took

it

over

continued

to

and
pay

hired

new

Salome

her

forty-nine percent of the profits, he gave me

his

fifty-one

percent

of

those

profits,

as

well as however much of his other funds as I

requested as an early inheritance. So between
Lazarus, Salome, my father and me, we somehow
managed to support a dozen men and half as
many women for three years. Till, here we are,
Keturah!

93

PART II
Chapter 9
The Passover Celebration
All

was

ready.

My

new

friends

were

dedicated, hard working and a dynamo team. Not

that

the

rooms

had

been

dirty,

but

they

sparkled, as did the women, with a sort of

inner glow.
They even had time to launder some clothes
and primp for the party. I offered them the
use of my bathing tub, but they would not hear
of Sarah or Rachel heating water to carry to
the

bathing

room

for

them.

Instead

they

refreshed themselves over a warm pail behind a

makeshift bath in the courtyard, each holding
a screen of drying robes to secure the privacy
of the others in turn.
I gave them my soaps and oils, which they
accepted

with

grateful

hearts,

except

for

Marianne who held hers close as a gift to the

master after his next feet washing.
In an atmosphere of triumph after the grand
entrance

to

the

city

and

the

joy

of

being

together in a now welcoming place, the women

opted to wait outdoors for their Master.
A knock upon the door, and Samuel himself
greeted our guests.
94

Jesus
Samuel

appeared

welcomed

with

him

his

entourage

graciously.

Jesus

and
said,

When I met you after the Sermon on the Mount

and you came up afterward and told me that if
I ever came to Jerusalem to see you and wed
do dinner. Or if I needed anything, anything
at all, to just let you know.
They
smile

were

shaking

encouraged

hands

one

warmly,

from

Jesus

Samuel.

Yes,

absolutely, anything, any time.

Perhaps
sadness

in

represented

tomorrow,

he

his

(The

voice.

Joseph

of

said

next

hint

day

Aramethea

of

Samuel

to

make

arrangements to get Jesus off the cross and

buried.)
Samuel introduced me.
How do I even begin to explain this? I am a
worldly woman. Ok, maybe not worldly, but at
least

hometown

have
of

some

sophistication

Jerusalem,

world

in

center

my
for

trade, education, and religion.

But I felt like a young girl when Jesus
turned to look me in the eye. I blushed, which
I am sure has not occurred in many a decade. I
was

tongue

tied

to

respond

to

his

gracious

greeting.

He took my hand in both of his,

leaned

and

in

said,

Thank

you

for

your
95

hospitality. May I return it tenfold?

Then he smiled and I beamed, giddy as a
schoolgirl.
Jesus and twelve men and six women retired
to the upper room. Marie had explained that
Jesus normally did not have liquid for a meal.
He had spent many years in India, traversed
deserts to reach a land of wealth and spices,
of holy rivers and mountains capped with snow.
Auyrvedic teachings state liquids dilute the
digestive juices. The women and disciples know
this, so Keturah had not provided anything in
particular to drink.
But when Samuel escorted his guests to the
Upper room, he became angry because there was
no wine. He swiftly went to our wine cellar to
pick out the best he had. He returned also
with his finest goblet for Jesus. Despite the
womens
wine

in

protests,

he

himself.

The

insisted
family

and
of

took

the

women

was

seated at a table in the corner, so I brought

them

carafe

of

water

to

demonstrate

my

concern for their welfare. They could drink it

or not, but, like Samuel, I would rather they
had it and did not need it than they needed it
and did not have it.
After
96

everyone

graciously

accepted

our

offerings

of

water

and

wine,

Marie

firmly

showed us the door. Just as she was closing

it, I turned back to Marie and said, I forgot
glasses for the water.

But Marie assured me,

Its ok. Well share.

Samuel and I ate quietly in his office. The
peace surrounding our home did not lend itself
to the disturbance of more company.

Samuel

had cancelled the party they had planned by

telling everyone his mother was ill, so after
dinner he went to meet them, but I, ill of
course, could not go. He went because he did
not want anyone to find out about his company
or connect him with Jesus in any way. It would
adversely affect his business affairs. So he
went out so as to throw off suspicion that he
had company.
I would not have left even if he had not
forbid it. I was a noted hostess of perfection
and would never leave guests unattended, even
if I wasnt actually part of their party, as
was

this

strange

arrangement.

Instead,

waited to see if anything was needed.

Ruth was in the kitchen preparing the meal;
Sarah was serving it. She waited at the top of
the stair.
None of them could go to sleep until the
97

company left and the dishes could not be done

until they left and the table cleared and room
cleaned.
Suddenly,

after

an

hour

of

quiet

murmurings, someone came out stealthily, and

snuck out of the building without saying goodbye.
And again we waited.
Shortly thereafter, Marianne peered out the
door and asked for some clean water to wash
and a towel. Sarah came running down and we
woke

up

Ruth,

nodding

off

near

the

fire.

Together they heated a large bucket full and I

carried fresh towels to the upstairs, Sarah
and Ruth behind me with the warm water.
When the door opened, I was able to peek in
and see the men seated in a circle, with Jesus
in the middle, sitting on the floor. Marie and
Martha took the water from Ruth and Sarah and
carried it into the circle and placed it at
Jesus feet. Mary took two towels from me and
handed them to her son.
Jesus said, Thank you, Sisters to us and
put his hands into the water. Salome turned
and, again, we were shushed from the room.
And again they waited.
Samuel
98

and

Philipp

returned,

and

even

though he had left his guests, he refused to

go to bed while the evening continued in the
upper room. So he went to his room as if he
had

work

to

do,

and

left

the

door

just

slightly open so that he would see them leave.

Philip took up a post with me near the fire.
Ruth

and

Sarah

returned

to

the

kitchen

to

wait.
Finally,

long

into

the

night,

the

group

came down the stairs, Mary on Jesus arm.

With quiet gentleness, sweet sincerity, and
weary

eyes,

Samuel.

he

extended

Anything,

any

his

time,

thank

you

Samuel

to

said.

Jesus nodded. I know.

He turned to me and took both of my hands
in his and looked into my eyes. It was such an
intimate gesture, but I was far from offended,
He

stared

into

my

left

eye,

as

if

he

were

seeing into my soul.

Thank you. We had a great time at your
party. Your hospitality as a hostess shall be
legendary.
Again, for the second time that night, I
blushed.
Peace

is

with

you,

he

said

and

kissed

each cheek. I felt a wave of peace flow up my

spine and spread throughout my body.
99

I am honored you graced our home with your

presence. Thank you for coming. I meant every
word of it, too! The rest of the men walked
past, most saying thank you, a couple nodding.
And they disappeared into the night,
Mary

extended

her

arms

and

hugged

me.

Thank you, and smiled.

You are welcome to stay, the night is so
dark.
Your

kindness

is

boundless,

but

we

are

staying at our brothers house.

Salome and Joanna followed.
I insist that my Grandson accompany you
there. Phillip looked at Joanna, who was the
one blushing this time.
I would be honored to see you three lovely
ladies home.
Each of the three hugged me in turn. And
Joanna did the same to Ruth and Sarah. Then
Philip extended his arm to Mary and off they
went, Salome and Joanna in tow.
Sarah and Ruth and I looked for the three
remaining women, Marianne, Martha and Marie.
We

found

them

still

in

the

upper

room,

beginning to clean it.

Stop

at

once,

demanded.

You

are

my

guests. I took the dirty towels from Marys

100

hands

and

friends.

finished

my

thought,

and

my

Please leave it. We will take care

of all of it tomorrow.

Go! Get some rest.

Please. I insist.
They

gathered

their

belongings.

It

been hours since you finished dinner.

has

Would

you like a cup of tea before you leave?

They all sighed and agreed that would be
lovely.
We left the room and found my fire burning
low. Sarah fixed the fire, Ruth brought tea,
and

then,

hugs

all

around,

Ruth

and

Sarah

retired.
Will

you

also

be

staying

at

Marys

brothers house?
I will, said Marie, as he is my husbands
uncle. But Martha and Marianne will stay at
their

sister

Rebeccas

home

not

far

from

there.
Marianne

expressed

concern

for

the

odd

departure of Jesus and the men. Perhaps we

should go in search of Jesus. In case he needs
anything.
What could he need during the middle of the
night? Surely his men will care for him, I
said.
They looked at each other. Marie explained
101

her trepidation as well. He seemed, tonight,

sad, as if saying a fond farewell.
Phillip

returned

and

offered

to

accompany

them wherever they wanted to go. I told him to

absolutely

not

leave

them

unattended

till

they are safely at home, no matter what route

or how they took to get there.
I thought he was taking them to their homes
and safe beds. I did not find out till morning
that they had gone looking for Jesus.
Exhausted, I made my way to bed. I crawled
in without even washing my face. I was too
tired, was my excuse. But, really, I could not
bring myself to wash away the sensation still
tingling on my cheeks from the kisses from the
Master.

102

Chapter 10
Keturahs Memoir of the Next Day
I

slept

and

dreamt

of

forgotten

discussion with Samuel after he had been gone

one day. I now know it was the day he had met
Jesus.
Samuel

had

come

home

in

pensive

mood

talking about getting a camel through the eye

of a needle. But, tonight, I saw it so clearly
in my dream.
It was the Romans way to lock the city
gates at night to the main road. But, adjacent
to

the

large

main

gate,

there

is

small

guards entrance for emergencies and patrols.

It is called the Eye of the Needle.
In my dream, I clearly saw Samuel ride up
to the gate, with all of his possessions on a
camel behind him. He was desperate to enter
the city. The guard offered the small entrance
door.

Without hesitation, Samuel divested the

camel of all his possessions, demonstrated to

the camel how to kneel and enter on its knees
with head bowed to fit through the doorway.
Once on the other side, he was free to pick up
whatever he desired and go forward.
I

awoke

with

start

to

the

frantic
103

knocking on our own door.

All I kept thinking

was that I needed to remember the dream to

tell

Samuel.

dream

told

before

breakfast

comes true.
I heard voices and Samuels calm response,
a door slam, and quiet. I rolled over and went
back to sleep, trying to recapture the essence
of my reverie.
Shortly before dawn, another knocking came
upon the doors, furtively this time. It was
Sarahs murmuring voice I heard, and then she
was knocking softly on my door.
What

is

it?

asked,

irritated

at

the

me,

the

interruption to my sleep.
Through
friends

of

the

doorway,

Jesus

have

Sarah

told

returned

and

want

to

sleep in the Upper room. Should I let them

in?
I

heard

Samuels

voice

telling

me

The

Master is welcome here at any time for as long

as he cares to visit, and his people with him,
too.
Yes, let them in. But, go back to bed. If
they need anything, we will get it for them in
the morning.
Minutes later, I heard voices yet again.
Sarah
104

and

Ruth

were

outside

my

door,

discussing whether or not they should further

disturb me.
I called from my bed. What is it troubling
you now? in an exasperated tone I would come
to regret.
Ruth entered, tears streaming. Jesus has
been arrested. Phillip came to get his father
to

offer

left

his

legal

together.

expertise,

These

others

and

they

had

are

here

in

hiding.
What! Show them to the room and tell them
to not touch anything.
Nine of them had returned. Peter was still
waiting near the fire. Judas had been the one
who left stealthily before his meal, and John
had gone to notify his mother, aunt and cousin
of the regrettable circumstances.
I

asked

the

but

they

women,
seen

them

men

about

didnt

following

the

know.

along

other

They

behind

had
the

three
last
posse

which had arrested Jesus.

We

three,

quickly
They

and

found

buildings

Sarah,
went
them

trying

in

Ruth

and

search

of

outside
to

get

the

I,

dressed

our

friends.

government

information

about

Jesus. Spread amongst the crowd, we were able

to

locate

each

other.

Marie,

Martha

and
105

Marianne, had been up all night, within ear

shot of the scene, but unable to intervene.
John was there with Salome, Mary and Joanna.
Phillip

was

there

as

well,

offering

his

protection to Joanna. Up near the front of the

crowd, I recognized my old friend Joseph of
Arimathea with Samuel. I instructed Phillip to
gather information.
Apparently,

the

Romans

were

willing

to

release a prisoner due to the Jewish sacred

holiday. Joseph told Phillip that we were to
yell Jesus name to get him released that way
as they had been unable to obtain his release
by any other means.
When the Roman Prefect called for the will
of the people as to who should receive Cesars
mercy,

he

offered

them

the

choice

of

our

beloved Jesus, or the criminal Barabbas,

Jesus

we

vigorously.

yelled.

Louder,

repeatedly,

But it seemed we were the only

ones.
I searched

the crowd for more followers.

Where are the multitudes that greeted him on

Palm Sunday? Why are they not demanding his
release?
We were outnumbered. Somehow they release
Barabbas instead.
106

We

were

sick

at

heart

and

Mary

grew

physically ill.
Everyone is at a loss.
I moved forward to confer with Samuel and
Joseph myself. I see Nicodemus has joined them
too.
They

were

discussing

the

sentence

as

if

there were no other options than crucifixion!

Their focus has shifted to what will happen
after he dies. How long before they will be
able to remove his body? Where would they bury
him? Can all that happen in one day? Today?
Before sunset?
We all knew dying on a cross takes a long
time, and the three of them encouraged me to
go home and rest before the long haul of the
process that I might be there for my friends
when the time finally comes.
I turned and saw those six brave women, and
many

others

including

Ruth

surrounding
and

Sarah.

them
John

as
was

well,
in

the

midst of the women, trying to lend comfort to

all and failing miserably. I could be of no
help during this process and saw the wisdom in
preparing for the worst.
Samuel

motioned

for

Phillip

to

come

and

take me home. My years on top of this terrible

107

sadness

had

drained

all

of

my

strength.

My

sorrow was a burden I would carry no matter

where I lay my head.
Ruth and Sarah return with us to find the
nine

had

become

ten

with

the

addition

of

Peter, all still cowering in the Upper room,

lounging about, helpless, waiting for someone
to feed them. I see one of them drinking from
the chalice and demand its return. That is
not meant for you!
Bunch of cowards and thieves, I murmured
under her breath.
Peter heard and said, Sadly, yes, we are
cowardly, but we are not thieves.
I gave my famous hrump and left with the
chalice in the front pocket of my garment.
Sarah, Ruth and I gathered clean linens and
whatever might be needed to clean and wrap the
body in a temporary manner. We took all of it
with

us

when

we

returned

to

the

grieving

women.
We found them on the hill. Jesus was on the
cross already.

And his women waited and wept

and bore witness to his suffering.

They also

bore witness to his forgiveness.

How can I tell you of the brutality of the
soldiers
108

on

the

hill,

the

quiet

torture

of

Jesus,

and

especially

the

strength

of

the

Women?
When they nailed him on the cross, in the
worst of his pain, he called to God as his
father, and asked him to forgive the soldiers.
Mary collapsed at that point, and John helped
her

to

her

feet,

but

still

she

would

not

leave.
I can tell you about Jesus concern for his
mother,
which,

putting
of

her

course

into

meant

the

the

care

of

security

John,
of

the

household including the care of her sister,

Salome, and the wealth and love of Marie to
support her, soul and body. He had one last
look

to

Marianne,

his

final

tear

leaving

clean track down his sullied face, and then he

gave up his spirit to the Divine and died.
When the soldiers want to make sure he is
really dead, they pierce his side and blood
flows from the wound.
Marie,

who

Goddess/Priestess

has

had

training

traditions,

is

in

the

outraged

as

the blood falls to the pebbled ground below.

I remember my hidden treasure and hand her
the chalice I had removed from the clutches of
the unfaithful ten.

Marie boldly went forth

and swiftly placed the chalice under the wound

109

to save the sacred life force.

Mary, held in her nephews embrace, watches
Maries

ministrations.

The

soldiers

watched,

too, and approached Marie to push her away and

steal

the

goblet.

Salome,

Martha,

Joanna,

Marianne, Ruth and Sarah, and, yes, even I,

surround her and the soldiers backed off.
After the blood flow ceases, all of us step
back and wait some more. Marie returned the
chalice to me. Though not a proponent of that
religious observance, I still recognized the
sanctity of its contents. Carefully, I covered
and concealed the chalice on her person again.
Finally, Samuel and Joseph appear with a
court order to remove the body.

The soldiers

lift the body from the cross and hand him down
to

Samuel

Marys

and

arms.

John

Her

who

place

exhaustion

the

and

body

sorrow

in
are

palpable. We all weep till there are no more

tears

between

us.

Mary

silently

takes

his

hands and kisses each nail mark, placing them

across

his

heart.

Marianne

caresses

and

removes the crown of thorns and leans over to

kiss the forehead of her beloved.
The soldiers tell them to be off.
Samuel
nearby
110

to

is

about

carry

the

to

pay

body,

some
but

strangers

the

younger

women insist on helping, so the six of them,

Samuel,

John,

Phillip,

Marie,

Marianne,

and

Martha, carry Jesus to the bottom of the hill

where Samuel has a cart waiting.

Joanna was

now her mothers support as we left the hill

of

death

behind.

The

driver

came

to

their

assistance and helped lift the body into the

cart. Mary crawled in and cradled his head in
her lap as the cart jostled foreyard. Samuel
climbed

into

the

drivers

bench

to

give

directions to the final resting place.

The

rest of the five women who had appeared at my

door

just

behind.

the

day

Several

before

other

and

women,

John

followed

including

his

uncle Cleophass wife, Mary, my Sarah and Ruth

and I, leaning heavily on my grandson Phillip,
followed a short distance behind.
Two soldiers followed behind us.

And so

the procession wound its way to a nearby crypt

owned

by

Samuel,

Joseph
John,

of

Arimathea.

Philip,

the

The

driver

six
and

men,
two

soldiers, carried the body inside and left him

on a stone slab.
Sarah and Ruth came forward with the items
they had been carrying. Then I asked them to
return

home

to

prepare

some

food

for

our

return. There is nothing more for you to do

111

here.
Now the six women began to clean, anoint
and wrap the body of Jesus. They were rushed
as the sun was setting and the soldiers were
adamant that the tomb be sealed. After they
completed

as

best

they

could

their

ministrations, and covered him lovingly and he

lie

on

the

cold

stone

slab,

they

wept

and

prayed until the soldiers insisted they leave.

We backed out of the tomb, never looking
away from the form of their Master.

In the

darkening light, the gloaming, the men rolled

a huge rock to cover the entrance. They had
instructions to guard the body so that no one
would

come

and

steal

it

and

claim

he

had

risen.
I

handed

Marie

the

chalice.

She

walked

forward and slowly poured the blood across the

entrance

saying

chant

of

protection

and

blessing. Mary stepped forward and took what

was left and poured it in the sign of a fish,
thanking

God

for

having

given

her

Jesus

to

rise and asking forgiveness for not being able

to protect him. She returned the empty cup to
Marie who handed it back to me. I wrapped it
in the remaining linens and placed it back in
the basket, staring down the covetous looks
112

from the soldiers.

Salome was leading Mary away.
Please return to my home. Sarah and Ruth
are preparing a meal for you.
Marie thanked me graciously, but We need
to take Mary to her brothers home, where she
belongs for now.

Please protect and feed the

men who are there as Master would have.

I

was

inwardly

outraged.

Not

only

did

consider them cowards, I felt put upon to be

expected to be responsible for the likes of
them.

Samuel

desire.

But,

turned
then

to

Mary
Mary

and

asked

turned,

her

tear-

splattered, puffy faced, devastated eyes, and

said. Yes, thank you for keeping them safe.
Flabbergasted, I could only nod.
They returned to Keturah's house. Keturah
leaning heavily on Samuel.
When they got back there, the 9 were now 10
with

the

addition

of

Peter.

Keturah

was

so

angry with them and wanted to cast them from

the premises.
Samuel allowed them to stay for as long as
they need to.The servants brought food, which
the men lined up to help themselves. These men
had nowhere to go. Little did we dream they
would stay six weeks!
113

Though the women continued to come, Keturah

rarely had a chance to speak with them again.
She heard it whispered that Jesus had somehow
made an appearance, then two, in the locked
Upper room, but no one told her any specifics
bout it.

Keturah and Samuel were beginning to

think the guests would never leave, when, one

morning

after

about

six

weeks,

they

all

emerged and thanked them graciously and left,

never to return.
The room looked and smelled as if animals
destroyed

it.

It

took

the

servants

several

days to get it clean and aired out.

The only real damage done was that someone
had whittled the sign of the fish into the
wood of the windowsill.
Keturah

touched

it

and

remembered

the

symbol from the graveside blessing.

The

men

went

about

their

new

mission

of

spreading the word of Jesus and his ministry

of

love

and

divinity

of

forgiveness.

The

women, too, preached about him to anyone who

would listen.

There was no point in returning

to their former business running fish markets,

as there were no more fishermen bringing the
goods. But Maries father had several other
114

investments,

which

allowed

them

freedom

to

find a new, safe home for them to begin their

own ministry.
Martha

returned

to

Lazarus

side

and

managed his home for the two of them.

The other five, along with John, became a
unit unto themselves.
Maries strength, education, and money made
her their natural leader. She was consulted,
even

by

the

11,

on

strategic

plans

and

donations to their work.

Marianne was accepted as if she were Jesus
widow.
They made their home in ___Turkey? Greece?
Until Marys passing. Then I heard the rest of
them moved east and settled in Gaul.
Joanna lived to bury all of the others. She
would know.

I only heard hearsay after that.

_____________________________________
She

is

vibrant,

commanding,

involved,

educated and bossy woman. She is not going to

just sit home and wait for someone to tell her
what is going on.
She would go find out.

OR send someone to

ask questions.
Some of the 11 show up during the course of
the night.

Keturah answers the door and wakes

115

Samuel. She would send him to find out what is

going on. She is the one who tells him to go
to Joseph of Arimathea, an old friend of her
husbands. She goes with Samuel to see him.
She might want to focus on getting J released,
but

she

makes

them

realize

that

wont

be

happening as J has already begun the stations

on

his

way

to

Golgotha.

She

insists

they

change their focus to after the crucifixion.

Getting

his

body

nearby to put it.

released,

finding

place

Arana

Once she has them on task, she would switch

her focus
cowering

to
in

the
her

women.
upper

The men

room,

but

might
she

be

knows

where the women will be.

Again, she thinks of after they remove J
and bury him.

The women will be wrecks.

They

will need comfort and sustenance and safety

and peace.

This is her venue.

Where are the women staying?

Mary and Martha would be with their sister,
Rebecca.

Mary and Salome would be with their

brother Cleophas, as would Joanna and Mary M.

Or would MARIE have a place with John and the
others?

Or just with John?

Ultimately, J sends his mother to live with

his cousin John.
116

The reason John has a place

to take her is that his wife MARIE has money.

Salome is already living with them.

So Mary

will go to them.
Joanna will stay wherever her mother is.
She is now about 15.
But, on this particular day, they would all
return to Cleophass house with their sisterin-law, Mary C, who is, on occasion, also one
of the women.

Cleophas is running the old

family business and is doing well, but is not

particularly

wealthy.

frugal

his

them

with

to

Js

revolves

He

funds

as

ministry.

around

has

regarding

His

providing

always

sending

business

organic

been
still

doves

and

lambs for the temple sacrifices. This is his

busy time of year.
He

would

business.

not

want

them

interfering

with

HE would not send them away, but

would, rather, want them to hole up and say

out of sight and not let anyone know where
they are.
Keturah already understands this,
O she wants to prepare the upper room for
the women.
What

will

she

do

with

the

11

apostles?

Send them away?

She would wait to see what Mary, as the
117

mother of the deceased, would want her to do.

And

then

she

would

do

that.

She

approached

Samuel about it, and he is distracted because

he and Joseph A are dealing with the Jewish
leaders

and

the

Romans

to

early release of the body.

arrange

for

the

She takes it upon

herself to make the decision to protect the

women.
She would kick the men out, but allow them
sanctuary in the courtyard.
Comes full circle.

No, the stable.

There would not be any

staff there, so she would clean the room and

start

pot

of

soup,

get

clean

linens

and

fresh water.
And then return to the hill to be at the
cross when he dies.
HOW WOULD KETURAH LET CLEOPAHS KNOW NOT TO
PREPARE FOR THE WOMEN?
WOULD NEVER OCCUR TO HIM.

HE WAS A MAN.

IT

AND HIS WIFE, MARY

C, WAS WITH THE WOMEN.

After the burial, the women all returned to
Keturahs.

It is late in the evening, after

the storm, they come back alone, unchaperoned

except for John and the entourage of expanded
women, the six plus Mary C, Rebecca, Keturah,
and the women servants form all three houses
118

among them.
Keturah served them all herself.
in a state of shock.

Each was

But when Keturah put

food in front of them, they ate, there was a

hierarchy starting with Mary, and as Keturah
worked

her

way

through

it,

everyone

else

voluntarily helps, not servant to master but

friend to friend.
They

wept,

and

ate,

wept

and

slept,

awakened the following morning and went home.

Proudly through the streets.

Accompanying

each other.

When Keturah gets up, Joseph and Nicodemus

are there, they are old friends of Keturahs
late husband, who was their attorney before
Samuel.
D gets up to a quiet house. Everything is
as she left it.

The dishes undone.

Philip

finally shows up to tell her what happened.

He describes spending the time with Martha
and

Marie.

while

waiting

temple steps.

They
for

finally
Jesus

met
to

up
come

with
from

Mary
the

Joanna, Mary, Salome and Marys

119

sister-in-law,

Mary,

all

converged

before

Jesus began his trek thru the streets.

Where is he now? Keturah asked softly.
Dead, Philip answered, crying like a
small child in his grandmothers lap.
And still hanging on the cross.
This was too much for Keturah.
I

left

Samuel.

Philip

to

grieve

and

sought

out

Through the streets to his office I

ran, a strange quiet moaning in the streets.

Coming to his office, I saw him leaving with
his client Joseph from Arimathea.

Nicodemus,

an old friend, halted me from running after

their carriage.
They
believe

are
an

doing

adequate

everything
bribe

will

they

can.

allow

us

I
to

remove Jesus from his death knell.

I waited with Nicodemus in Samuels office.
Finally,

just

before

dark,

the

two

of

them

returned.

Joseph and Nicodemus left together

to

to

attend

certain

religious

matters

now

that my Samuel had taken care of the legal and

financial ones.
120

Keturah and Samuel walk the short distance

home thru the strangely dark afternoon.
When Jesus is on the cross, Ruth and Sarah
come and get Keturah and they go and watch
from afar.
Thats

when

Keturah

determines

meal had been his Last Supper.

that

her

She thinks she

made up that name.

As she looks up at the lifeless body of
Christ, she thinks of the women still on that
cross with him.

121

Chapter 11
A Memento
When she gets home, she goes to the Upper
Room,

and

it

is

still

disheveled.

Ruth

and

Sarah come in, in tears. Keturah sends them to

the kitchen and asks them to prepare a light
fare for all of them as no one has eaten all
day. Then she begins to clean the room.
She begins to stack the dirty dishes when
she suddenly knows what she must do. Calling
to Philip, she wrapped the lone goblet in her
best shawl and raced down the stairs, well,
raced as fast as an old woman can.
Philip had escorted Martha and MARIE home,
so he knew where they were.

She tells Samuel

that she has gone to do SHIVA for a friend,

but

Samuel

is

just

sitting,

staring

at

the

fire, lost, so lost, ears streaming down his

weary face.

Keturah gently closes the office

door behind her.

Philip drags her thru the street till they
find

Salomes

house,

crowded

with

women

in

front. She knocks but they do not want to let

her in.

The 12 are there, hiding, so they are

sending

everyone

away

so

attention to the building.

122

as

not

to

draw

Keturah insists

until MARIE finally is called.

She

immediately

lets

Keturah

in.

She

takes her to Mary.

Everyday, some of the women would come to
make sure they were fed, and to try to make
plans with them what to do next.
On the morning of the third day, Marie and
Marianne arrived, out of breath and glowing.
Keturah let them in, Hes alive, they said,
hugging her and running up the stairs.

Joanna

had gone to her mother to tell her.

The men were skeptical and doubting.
when

Mary,

Salome

and

Joanna

arrived,

But
they

were ecstatic.
They

all

were

in

the

closed

room,

but

Keturah could hear raised voices.

Shortly thereafter, the women left, shaking
their heads sadly at the men and laughing and
hugging
them

to

with

each

Cleophas

other.
house

Keturah
to

see

followed

her

friends

Mary and Salome.

She hands the package to Mary without any
words, and Mary opens it and finds the goblet
from the Last Supper her son ever ate. Touches
her and nods.
Keturahs face turns sour, as angry tears
race

down

them,

as

she

turns

to

go,

Mary
123

reaches out her hand to stop her.

You know what made my son Sacred?
His murder by the Elders?

Keturah asked.

No, many people die or are killed or are

happy

to

cause.

sacrifice

themselves

for

just

No, what made his death sacred was

that his final act was forgiveness.

It freed

him.
Keturah was speechless.
And it freed me, too.

Instead of anger and

hatred and bitterness to mar my every breath

between now and when my time is up, he freed
me to remember and cherish him, to cherish my
life; he left me with the possibility of love
and laughter for my final years.
Gods greatest gift is free will, to choose
him or this unreal dream we seem to be favor.
But

from

Jesus,

greatest gift.

Forgiveness,

that

was

his

He talked only of love, and

proved it in this way.

Go,

home,

Keturah,

forgive

your

son

for

ruining your Passover dinner, for and even

for

having

the

gall

to

even

think

of

confronting you about this generous gift of

something he treasured.
Mary laughed.
Go home, Keturah.
124

All is well.

EPILOGUE
So these are the women I met that night of
Jesus Last Supper.
about him?
of them?

Ah, you say, but what

What is his relationship with each

How does each of them see him?

happened in that room?

another
Joanna

story

you

tells

that

What

That, my friends, is

should
story.

hear
I

from

never

them.

saw

them

again but Joanna was there on the morning of

the third day when she

accompanied Marianne

and MARIE. And she was there when they buried

each and all of the other women.
is Memoirs 2.)

(Her story

Jesus falls in love with her

but does nothing.

They take care of Mary.
Marianne, Marie and their daughter, Sarah,
move

to

France

after

Mary

dies

in

Ephesus,

Turkey
And me?

You might be wondering why it has

taken me so long to publish my memoir.

my

son

getting
criminal

Samuel
out

about

Jesus

anyone ever.

was
that

so
his
he

concerned
connection
forbade

Ever? I asked.

me

Well,

about
to
to

it
the
tell

Ok, not for

two thousand years, he said.

125

126

A SEQUEL...
Joanna's MEMOIRS 2,
LATER_VISITS:
I am afraid it greatly upset my sister.
She thought the men would dismiss me and send
me to work with Martha in the kitchen where
dear

Martha

was

always

trying

meals and oversee the house.

to

make

the

When Jesus did

not pay any attention to her, and they allowed

me to sit at their feet and I yearned for just
the sound of Jesus voice, even if they were
talking about business, she began to think he
was falling in love with me and that I had
betrayed her by stealing her long lost love
from her.
Martha

It was bad.
went

from

She changed again.

loving

him

and

mooning

over him, to planning their wedding and a life

with him, to bitter rejection and anger, and
feeling

betrayed

by

ME,

of

being his devoted disciple.

all

people,

to

Hows that for

power of attraction?
Both were obviously in love with him, she
was such a nurturer, and she would have cared
for

him

regardless

of

his

profession.

He

could have married Martha because Mary was now

127

old enough.
His Mother had approved of Jesus exuberant
and gone to live in Bethany near Lazarus, and
had

lovely

life.

Mary

looks

pensive.

Joanna and I would have liked Bethany.

But only the three of them, Jesus, Mary and
Joanna,
were

When

others

means

of

It

became

that

support,

apparent

followed
Lazarus

him

that

with

sought

there

out

others

any
to

help with the expenses.

Of course, my concern just upset my sons
again, so when Jesus returns, their was a huge
confrontation, and it ended with Jesus just
trying to calm them and tell them he
Loved them, but they asked him to leave,
so he did, and Joanna and I went with him.
Instead of ending the feud, things get worse
when Mary rejects her other children, taking
Joanna

with

her

against

her

will,

follows

Jesus.
When Mary left, the brothers became angry
with her, too, she was ungrateful for all they
had tried to do while Jesus was gone, and now
they were all summarily dismissed.
anyway.

She left

When Jesus would go off and wander

the desert, he left her in the care of his He

has come to follow Jesus and is in his closest
128

12.

That left the younger brothers to carry

on the family
Business, Joseph Judas and Simon are still
carpenters.

Her daughter, Salome business

Married a carpenter in the family and still

in Galilee.
And this is where my story begins, said
Marie.

129