[Continued from Part 2]
“I’m glad I brought my little study scroll,” said Yervand with a satisfied smile as he rolled up the small scroll with its highly decorated end caps. He had been working his way through it for much of the morning, reading aloud to Joseph and Mary prophecies and allusions from many Hebrew prophets. He had copied more than a hundred of these by hand from the time-worn scrolls kept in his homeland since the days of Daniel and the Jewish captivity. With each passage, he had
copied enough of the context to make its meaning clear, and he and Rakhsha had then answered the parents’ detailed questions. There was an atmosphere of excitement in the room, a thrill that God’s plans had been announced so frequently – and often spelled out so clearly – in the words of these long-dead prophets.
Out of consideration for these excited young parents, Yervand and Rakhsha had passed as quickly as possible over the prophecies that alluded to the
suffering of the Messiah. Yet those prophecies didn’t escape Joseph’s and Mary’s notice, and the pair had exchanged worried glances as they pondered them. It was hard to reconcile the portrayal of joyous victory with such scenes of horrific suffering – and imagining that cruel suffering being meted out to their special child, now sitting quietly beside them, was deeply distressing. Mary couldn’t help picking him up and cuddling him, wishing she could protect him from all
troubles. What else was a mother to do? She couldn’t forget Simeon’s warning, during their first visit to God’s temple in Jerusalem with Jesus, of the anguish this child would bring her. Yet this child was also a delight to care for and train – surely a better child had never been born! After a while, she was able to put him down again, but it was hard to tear her worried gaze from him.
“You’ve now heard many of the prophecies that relate to
this young child,” said Rakhsha, his eyes also resting on Jesus as he sat quietly on the floor near Mary, playing with a wooden toy Joseph had made him, but seeming at times to listen to the discussion. “However, one that we haven’t mentioned comes from the life of Yvraham when he showed his willingness to obey God and offer Isaac as a sacrifice. The angel of God promised him many descendants, but then spoke of one in particular. Tell us what he said, Yervand.”
Yervand answered, “I don’t have that one written down. I had to stop somewhere! However, I know the passage anyway. He said ‘I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies.’[1]”
“That could possibly have been fulfilled by David or Solomon,” commented Rakhsha, “but I feel it
makes more sense to apply it to the Messiah. And yes, little man,” he said to Jesus, suddenly kneeling awkwardly on the floor and touching the smooth young cheek with a gentle finger, “I think that means you.”
Jesus sat still, accepting the old man’s admiration. Not only was there no flinching, but the young eyes looked up calmly into the old eyes that were suddenly brimming with tears.
“This child’s future is so bright,”
said Rakhsha, in wonder. “His importance is unmatched in history. I must bow before such a king, though he be only a child as yet.” And with that, he bowed his face to the floor in front of Jesus. The sight of an aged man bowing before a toddler should have appeared slightly ridiculous, but it didn’t. Rakhsha’s adoration was obviously genuine, and as he bowed, his two companions quickly knelt beside him and bowed likewise.
Joseph and
Mary looked at each other in bewilderment as the three learned men acknowledged that this child was greater than they. At the same time, Joseph couldn’t help wondering if this was the right thing to do. After all, if he and Mary spent all of their time bending the knee before Jesus, there wouldn’t be much food to eat!
Jesus, however, showed no particular response, although he did stop playing with his wooden toy and watch placidly as they honoured
him.
Rakhsha straightened up but stayed on his knees and kept his eyes fixed on Jesus as he said, “Dariush, bring me the gift.”
One of the three servants stepped forward from where he had been silently standing behind his master. In his hands was a parcel, small but obviously heavy. Rakhsha took the parcel and began to remove the wrappings.
Saman and Yervand also straightened and each
beckoned to his servant. Two more parcels were handed over and each was gently unwrapped.
“A small gift for the king,” said Rakhsha, removing one last layer of soft cloth from the object. He reached out and placed it in front of Jesus, where it glowed in the light of the open window.
“Gold!” said Joseph.
“Yes. A golden model of a scroll, representing the many scriptures that foretell
events in his life. No doubt he will need to study them to understand his path. Please accept this gift I offer to the king.”
By this time, Saman had unwrapped his bundle, revealing a small but beautifully decorated silver urn. He removed the lid and placed it and the urn next to Rakhsha’s gift. Within moments, a strong aroma of frankincense filled the room. “Incense,” said Saman, breathing deeply. “Symbolic of the prayers this
prince must offer to the God of heaven for guidance and strength. As your famous king David said, ‘Let my prayer be counted as incense before you.’[2]”
Yervand too had unwrapped his gift and now held in his hands a creamy alabaster jar, its exquisitely carved, translucent form streaked with pale pink. A stopper, obviously meticulously carved from the same piece of stone, sealed the jar. Yervand said, “I won’t remove the lid, as the perfume would
detract from the beauty of my Lord Saman’s gift. This jar contains myrrh, mixed with beeswax and other ingredients of the apothecary’s art to produce a perfume with a delicate beauty all its own. Whether as a healing balm or as incense, this perfume has many uses in the joys and vicissitudes of life. Even in death it is highly prized as a burial spice. Having studied the wide range of prophecies relating to this young king, I feel that such a versatile perfume accurately
reflects the wide-ranging demands that will be placed upon him.” He placed the jar gently beside Rakhsha’s and Saman’s gifts.
Jesus sat still, alternately looking at the gifts and the givers. Mary and Joseph recognised how precious these gifts were – several years of Joseph’s wages at least – and worried what a young child might do to such beautiful but fragile items. The open urn of incense sat easily within reach of his pudgy hands. Not
wanting to seem ungrateful or over-cautious, they sat still and watched, ready to move swiftly if necessary.
After a few seconds of unmoving study, Jesus looked up at Mary and pointed silently at the gifts. The question in his gesture was obvious, and Mary smiled as she answered, “Those are special presents for you from our distinguished visitors. They have given you gifts to help you and for you to enjoy when you are older.”
“Mmm,” said Jesus. “Thank you.” Ordinarily, Jesus spoke often, but he was a little shy in the presence of so many people he didn’t know.
A small hand reached out to touch the golden scroll. None of the watchers moved, each wondering how the child would respond to the gifts.
His touch was gentle. Fingers stroked the smooth golden surface with obvious pleasure, and soon he reached out his other hand as
well. Holding the scroll now with two hands, he tried to lift it and was obviously surprised by its weight. He looked across at Joseph, a question in his eyes.
“It’s made of gold,” explained Joseph. “Gold is very heavy.”
With a greater effort, young Jesus triumphantly lifted the scroll and hugged it to his chest, grinning at Joseph and Mary, who smiled back at him.
Turning back to the
remaining presents, Jesus clung tightly with one hand to the golden scroll while the other reached out for the beautiful alabaster jar. He held it up and examined the bands and swirls of colour that adorned its surface.
After some time, he wriggled the hand holding the golden scroll against his chest until he could hold it in place with his arm. With both hands now free, he tried to remove the alabaster lid, but it proved too tight. After
struggling for a while, still unwilling to put down the golden scroll, he put down the alabaster flask and reached for the silver urn, from which an enchanting smell of incense still wafted.
“Be careful not to spill it,” cautioned Mary.
Jesus picked it up carefully and lifted it to his nose. “Nice,” he said, approvingly.
“I hope its aroma will always stay fresh in your memory, reminding you of
prayer and the power of sacrifice,” said Saman.
Jesus studied him, listening carefully. Taking another deep breath, he said with satisfaction, “Mmm.”
Mary and Joseph were pleased with his circumspect handling of the gifts, but couldn’t help feeling that leaving him to play with them for too long was inviting trouble.
“Let’s put those gifts on the table, Jesus,” said Joseph. “You can study
them again later.”
Jesus put down the silver urn, carefully eased the close-fitting lid into place and picked up the urn, handing it to Joseph.
Then, still hugging the golden scroll to his chest, he carefully picked up the alabaster jar. Unfortunately, as he reached up to pass it to Joseph, his grasp on the smooth surface began to slip. Mary gasped, and Joseph turned quickly to help but slipped himself.
Jesus was clearly trying to get a better grip on the jar, but it was obvious that he was about to drop Yervand’s valuable gift.
Yervand may have been the youngest of the three magi, but he was certainly not young. Nevertheless, he reacted quickly, reaching out and catching the delicate jar just as it slipped from Jesus’ hand.
He smiled and held up the jar. “Perhaps your parents can look after this
for a few years, young man. It is beautiful but fragile. I’m sure you’ll find a use for it when you’re older, and should you need more, your father will provide.”
“Thank you,” said Joseph, taking the jar from the old man’s hand.
Notes
[1] Genesis 22:17
[2] Psalm 141:2
[To be
continued]
