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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Inspirational
- Subject: Drama
- Published: 12/11/2015
The Unknown Woman
Born 1954, M, from St Louis Mo, United StatesThe day was hot as she hurried to the market, she noticed that the streets were crowded and there seemed to be an excitement in the air.
What’s going on she asked an old lady who was setting out her wares for sell. The lady looked at her with a broad smile, one missing most of her teeth, “he is coming by today.” “Who is coming by” she asked, frustrated that the lady went on about her business ignoring her completely. She pushed through the crowd, she had to get some wheat and some goats milk and really wasn't that interested in who it might have been. Then the crowd broke out in shouting and she heard a mother say to her son, “its him, its really him.”
“Who?” She asked again to no one in particular. A child spoke up and said, “the Master.” The Master she, thought, oh my, it must be the king and began to push through the crowd.
What she saw startled her, it wasn't the king but a group of men and in the center one in a long white robe, his hair was long and bushy, his eyebrows thick, and the men around him looked for the most part to be rough men, she recognized, the big guy as the fishermen known as Simon. In fact she had grown up playing with him as child then she saw James and John. Her mind went back to the days of her childhood, she remembered how she and James had played tricks on the bigger Simon, like the time they put a snake in his bed roll. This alone made her smile. But she still didn't have any ideal who the man was they followed and listened too so intently.
Just then he seemed to look right at her, her heart stopped, his gaze was so knowing, so filling. His blue eyes ever so bright and yet so very deep. Just than the crowd began to push around him and Simon and James and the others tried to push them back. She heard the man in white let out a loud groan, and then began gazing around the throng of people who touched me, he demanded. She shrink back under the demanding voice, as one of the men she recognized as a former tax collector, Matthew said something about how can well tell with so many people pressing against us?
He knew who it was for he looked at Sara with such directness. Everyone knew who Sara was she had been sick for months and often was forced to beg for bread. Her husband had died only a few years ago leaving her behind to fend for herself. She had some blood ailment that the doctors had said was killing her. The Master spoke in a quiet voice; she had to strain to hear his words. Something about her faith and that she was now whole. How could such a thing be, why would he give her such false hope. What kind of man would lie to such a poor sick lady? She wanted to push up and demand of him who did he think he was when the crowd pushed back and they moved past her.
As she went on about her business, she couldn't help thinking about his rugged looks and more important about how he had looked at her, how she felt. She had never been in love before and often heard tails about the feelings that come over women in such a state. She wondered had she fallen in love with a man just because he gazed at her. Could she be so foolish as to think he would look on her poor being in such a way? She was just a poor girl who made her living caring for others. Yet he had gazed at her with out wavering eyes.
That night she found it hard to sleep, her thoughts would return to this strange man. By the time night had fallen the tail had passed all through the city about how Sara was no longer sick and she had seen her later in the day praising God and smiling which she had not seen in years. What power did this man have, that could heal a woman, and even worse, trouble a woman’s heart to the place she could think of little else but him?
A few days passed and she could take it no more, she started out in search for Simon, James and John. These men she knew well and they could tell her the long and short of things. He confidence grew with each step. She came up on a small village and asked had they seen this man called Master and learned that in fact he was close by teaching up on the peak of the mountain. She grew tired with the walk but knew it would be worth it just to gaze into his eyes once more.
When she toped the hill which was known in the those parts as Mount Olive she stopped in her tracks, she couldn't even get close to any of the men she knew much less him, there must of been over ten thousand people gathered there. To her amazement she sit at the back and was able to hear his voice speaking softly as if she were right at his feet. She also noticed that he was a kind man who loved children because so many were gathered at his feet. At one point he had even picked up a small lad and sit him on his lap saying something about the kingdom of heaven being like small children.
As the day grew on toward night she found herself hanging on to every word, her heart was warm and full. She had not noticed that her belly was empty or that she had not had a drink of water in many hours. She was as a bird sitting on a limb, enjoying the life that passed around her. His words so soothed her aching heart; her mind was at so much ease. When he called for a lad to bring him up all the baskets of food that were in the crowd, she was dumbfounded that he said he would feed everyone until they were full when all they had found among the thousands were a few little puny fish's and seven loaves of bread. Yet indeed he looked up toward heaven and said some prayer or magic words and gave the baskets back to be passed among them. When it was her turn to reach in she grabbed four fish's and two pieces of bread. For as soon as she took them more seemed to appear. Everyone ate and still there was left over’s.
She wondered what manner of man was this, as the crowd left and he rose to go away with the men, he once again gazed into her face and she felt the heat of it reach to the edge of hair line. She did not mean to stare but couldn't take her eyes away and yet he spoke not a word to her but her heart was jumping up and down inside her. As he turned to leave she managed to get James attention. “James”, she demanded who is this man? He smiled and said the Master, the worker of great and good things, the comforter and friend.” “No silly, what is his name I must know”? “He is called Jesus, you remember the carpenter that came out of Jerusalem, well he is that boy, the one we all used to make fun of and ignore.”
“Oh no that can't be, the boy that had that crazy cousin, John that roamed around in the woods like a wild man, shouting prepare you the way and make your paths straight or some silliness such as that?” “ Yes indeed this is the man John spoke of, for us to follow.” As James turned and walked away, she hardly believed her ears. These men she had grown up with were smart men how could they be fooled?
She found a friend, Mary who too was in the crowd, and asked to spend the night with her. Mary was very happy to have her company and she talked for hours about this Jesus, her heart sank for she had known Mary for many years. Mary was beautiful and she could tell she very much in love with this man. Yet it was she who loved the man and loved his teaching even more. Like somehow that man, was not as important as the things he stood for and taught.
She heard how many hated him and that some plotted to kill this man, who healed the sick and feed the hungry and had done never done a evil thing. She remembered her own childhood and they had often left him alone as if he was ill with leprosy because he was so different. Now she longed to take those days back and wished to know all she could about this man.
Mary asked her to stay with her and follow him, for he promised to those that follow him he would make them all fishers of men. She had no ideal what that meant, but given the opportunity and hope he would just look at her again she agreed.
Part II
Mary talked about him often, and she learned such stories that she would of found hard to believe except she had looked into those eyes. She heard fantastic stories of him healing a blind man by spitting in the dirt and putting the mud on the eyes. She heard a story of how he had cleansed a leper, which she didn’t understand how such a thing could be possible.
She asked why some call him a king for after all he is only the carpenter’s son. Mary burst out laughing. “My where have you been hiding, in a cellar or some other country. He is the Messiah as promised by Isaiah, the king of kings, the Son of God.” Her eyes grew big, “why isn’t that blasphemy?” Mary put her arm around her and with a gentle smile and said, “some try to say it is, but how can that be if it is true? It would only be such if he were a mere man full of lies. No man could do the things he has done, it is no earthly magic, you know the stories that have been told too us of the great works that Moses did, but did Moses ever heal the blind or make lame men walk, or even heal anyone? No my dear, this man is all that he claims to be, I have followed him, I have seen his great works.”
“How did you meet him?” “It is a long story so I will give you the short the version, my cousin was going to be married and one of my dearest friends is his mother Mary and I asked her to come to the wedding. She did and along with her his brothers and sisters.” “Oh, was this the big wedding that so many talked about in Canaan?” “Yes you know of it then?” Mary replied leaning back as if not to go on with the story. “Oh, please I only heard rumors of some strange event please Mary tell me what happened, please.”
Mary smiled and a very gentle look moved across her face and one of such pleasure. It made her heart burn with a bit of jealousy to see such emotion for the man she knew in her heart she loved. Why last night she had laid there on the cot thinking if only he would ask her to marry him and the beautiful children they could have, she was sure he would ask by the look he gave her.
Mary then began to speak with not only a voice filled with love but one filled with a conviction and soft strength. “The wedding was beautiful and so many were there, I didn’t see him or even know he was there until a terrible thing happened. My uncle had not counted on such a crowd and the wine ran out early. There were so many people and they began to grumble, I thought for a while that a fight was going to break out. My aunt was beside herself with panic when Mary, Jesus’s mother said have no fear there would soon be more wine then we would know what to do with. She went to the upper room where Jesus was sitting and talking with some of the wise men and bid him to make more wine. I think it was not only the first time I saw him but also the first time I saw him a bit angry. For I had followed her up to talk to him thinking I would be needed to go fetch wine. I expected he was going to give her a few coins, but he replied to her a bit sharply that it was not yet his time. I had no ideal what he was talking about, but Mary began to cry and he rose and told me along with a few others near by to go fetch the barrels of water. I was going to object but something in his face said that would have been a very foolish thing for me to have done so I rushed down with the others and gathered all the jugs of water we could find and the two barrels out back. He came down and looked at the jugs of water; he looked up toward heaven then told us to draw our wine.”
She looked at Mary in total disbelief and confusion, “are you telling me that he turned water into wine?” Mary smiled the brightest smile she had ever seen on another person and said, “not only that but it was the sweetest, purest wine I have tasted and not only that no matter how much we seemed to drink no one got drunk.”
She sit back amazed for she knew by the whimsical look on Mary face all that had been said was true. Everything in her heart was turning flips and her mind felt full of thoughts that she couldn’t quite understand but yet knew were true. Just then there was a knock at the door, Mary rose to answer it when a woman came in. She was tall and her hair and jewelry said she was a Samaritan; she was surprised when Mary let her in for it was custom not to keep company with that sort. After all they were a mixed breed and full of cross marriages, not pure bloods. Mary turned with a huge smile and said let me introduce you to a great friend of mine, I think she can tell you a story of interest about this man Jesus that will amaze you. At those words her fears and offenses at being with a Samaritan was quickly put to bed in her mind. For she longed to learn all she could and hear every thing there was to know about this man with such deep blue eyes.
The woman sit down crossed legged on the matt before her and with such a open joy on her face began. “I was drawing water from the well, it was a hot day and I was tired. In fact I was thinking about all the work that was yet to be done when this man came up to me. You know of Jacob’s well, well there is where I was hot and dusty and up he walks and says to me, “Give me to drink.” And I said to him, “How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” He looked at me with the bluest eyes I have ever seen I am sure he was looking at my soul and replied. “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” Now I tell you, I had all kinds of thoughts go through my mind, yet those eyes and the gentleness of them, and I said, “Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?” Jesus then said to me, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” To which I replied, “Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.” You won’t believe what he told me to do next, “Go, call thy husband, and come hither.” I was dumb founded; I knew I had to answer him truthfully so I told him, “I have no husband.” To this he replied staring right into my soul with those eyes, “Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.” All I could say to that is, “Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” I thought this would put him on the spot and it bothered me that he knew so much I had not told him so he looks at me with such sadness and said, “Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” So I said, “I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.” To which he replied, “I that speak unto thee am he.” So I left my water pot right there as his fellows came up to him and went to the village and told the people there, “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” Everyone went out to hear him and I know he is really who he says he is.”
She sit and listened many thoughts going through her head, yet she couldn’t help to start to admit to herself that she too was beginning to believe. So much she didn’t understand, when she heard a crowd beginning to gather and they got up to go see what was going on. It was him, her heart stopped she pushed through the crowd to see him but there was no need to do so because he was coming right toward her then she realized it was Mary he was pushing toward and yet he was looking in her eyes again. She stepped back somehow she felt unworthy now to look up on him. She felt confused, but as he passed he reached out his hand and took hers and pulled her through the crowd with him.
He never spoke to her but when they entered into the place he sit and began to talk to Mary about the times to come, Mary’s sister came in, Martha and began to fix a meal of bread and lamb while he spoke, he would look over to her at times but she didn’t have words to say, it was as if her mouth had quite working and she was glad to hear Martha fussing and needing help so she rose to help her.
Still Martha wasn’t happy and Mary took a bottle of perfume and poured it over his head, then she sit at his feet and began to cry as he told her, he soon would be going to be with his father. She found that strange that Mary would start crying when he was going to be with Joseph after all she was sure he needed the help in his carpenter shop. As they worked the other men came into the room and a group of Pharisee’s stood at the door complaining how a sinner woman would be there and using such expensive oil on his head and then crying so and then drying the tears with her hair. Of course if they knew Mary the way she did, if they understood how much she loved him or even the reason for the tears maybe they wouldn’t of been so sharp. But Jesus spoke not to the Pharisee’s but to Simon, and said, “I have somewhat to say unto thee.” And he saith, “Master, say on.” “There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most.” And he said unto him, “Thou hast rightly judged.” Then he turned back to Mary and to Simon and said, “Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my hair with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”
I could not believe what I heard but when I saw Mary and that look on her face I knew it was true, no one could love a man more then she did, it was all over her face. My own jealousy was gone as well for instead of being angry I found I loved him more, I too wanted him to say such words to me. Then she heard him say a strange yet beautiful thing to her, “Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”
Now Martha was grumbling about much serving, and came to him, and said, “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.” And Jesus answered and said unto her, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
She knew that this was true and she so wanted Jesus to turn to her and say thy sins be forgiven, to promise her a place beside him. Instead he rose and left to go on teaching out in the streets. It was getting late so she went to her cot to sleep.
For the next few days they did not see him but word was coming and goings came by those who passed by of the great things he was doing, but also of the anger of the leaders and some said that Judas one of his men was a crook and could not be trusted. She didn’t know how to take such things for how could anyone not be trusted that was with him. Then a messenger came by and told Mary that she would be needed for a special supper for Jesus, he said it may well be his last for the leaders were very upset with him and promised they would rid the country of him.
She was scared and couldn’t bear the thought of not seeing him again so went to Mary and said, “Mary I know you love him with all your heart and so do I but I won’t interfere with him and you but please can’t I go and help.” To this Mary smiled, and said “you don’t understand my young friend but yes come and help me for there will be so much to do.”
That evening he came in and all twelve of his men with him, she smiled at Simon, James and John and told them it must be wonderful to get to see so many things up close. As they talked Jesus took his seat at the center of the table, and she went about serving the bread. Jesus blessed the bread then said something about it being his body, and then he gave them a drink of wine from his own cup and said something about that being his blood. She whispered to Mary, “what is he talking about” and she said, “to be quiet and listen.” She might have been angry at such a retort but coming from Mary she couldn’t get mad all she could do was listen.
After more talk he asked for a pan of water and washed each mans feet, she couldn’t believe a man who said he was the Son of God would do such a thing. But there he was doing it. Then they all washed each others feet, in all her life she had never seen such a thing for normally the woman of the house would wash her mans feet after he came in from working the fields but not men washing each others feet. Yet it somehow touched her, to see a man humble himself in such a way, as she stood no doubt with her jaw hanging open she found him looking deep into her.
She suddenly felt what the woman meant. She could feel her face grow red under his look that wasn’t a stare but yet moving. She knew at that moment he understood her love, knew her dreams, and knew every thing there was to know about her. She found herself whispering to herself, oh Master forgive me, for I am not worthy of thee or your love. Just as those words silently passed from her lips he smiled at her. It was the most radiant smile she had ever seen or ever would again. Somehow she knew something had changed in her, her heart felt light and there was a joy that was peaceful in her soul. Than Jesus winked and rose with his men and left.
She turned to Mary and asked, “Why does he not ever speak to me?” Mary laughed, “have you ever spoken to him?” “Well not out loud, I would be too embarrassed to do that.” “If you have listened he has spoken to you in the same way you have him. Do you not remember that God speaks in a small still voice?” She smiled for yes she had felt him even if she had not heard him, in a way maybe she had with that smile and wink. She understood one thing for sure he loved her, no man could look at woman that way and not love them. They made their way back to Mary’s and went to sleep though she had bad dreams that the enemies had caught him.
The next morning someone woke them to say Jesus had been caught and a crowd was gathering wanting to have him crucified. She rushed with Mary to the place they were holding him but couldn’t get close. Soon they found the trial was over and he was caring his cross to be killed. Her heart was breaking in ways she couldn’t explain, Mary was just as upset and so even was Martha. As they stood at the edge of the crowd not able to look at the terrible scene in front of them, Jesus’s Mother came to stand with them, she put her arms around both of them and said something she couldn’t understand. “Have no fear children, this is what he choose to do, he will only be gone a while and come again.” Even as tears came down her cheeks and his sisters and brothers gathered in close to them she smiled.
He was taken when it was over and buried and though she never saw it Mary said he had risen from the grave and she knew Mary wouldn’t lie. She never saw him again, but her love didn’t die, it did change though in a way that is hard to explain. She loved him more then when he was alive, she felt free and clean, in some ways she was healed in her heart. And when his mother said they would all go to see him someday she knew it was true. When Simon who now ever one called Peter started having people meet in caves to teach more about him she was on the front roll wanting to hear more and learn all she could. She knew only one thing, when her day came she wanted to die as he had, head up high knowing she was right, and she wanted most of all to be the kind of woman he would want when they met again. Peter said, that Jesus had said he went away to prepare a place for them, and she was so happy to know this was true.
The Unknown Woman(Rich Puckett)
The day was hot as she hurried to the market, she noticed that the streets were crowded and there seemed to be an excitement in the air.
What’s going on she asked an old lady who was setting out her wares for sell. The lady looked at her with a broad smile, one missing most of her teeth, “he is coming by today.” “Who is coming by” she asked, frustrated that the lady went on about her business ignoring her completely. She pushed through the crowd, she had to get some wheat and some goats milk and really wasn't that interested in who it might have been. Then the crowd broke out in shouting and she heard a mother say to her son, “its him, its really him.”
“Who?” She asked again to no one in particular. A child spoke up and said, “the Master.” The Master she, thought, oh my, it must be the king and began to push through the crowd.
What she saw startled her, it wasn't the king but a group of men and in the center one in a long white robe, his hair was long and bushy, his eyebrows thick, and the men around him looked for the most part to be rough men, she recognized, the big guy as the fishermen known as Simon. In fact she had grown up playing with him as child then she saw James and John. Her mind went back to the days of her childhood, she remembered how she and James had played tricks on the bigger Simon, like the time they put a snake in his bed roll. This alone made her smile. But she still didn't have any ideal who the man was they followed and listened too so intently.
Just then he seemed to look right at her, her heart stopped, his gaze was so knowing, so filling. His blue eyes ever so bright and yet so very deep. Just than the crowd began to push around him and Simon and James and the others tried to push them back. She heard the man in white let out a loud groan, and then began gazing around the throng of people who touched me, he demanded. She shrink back under the demanding voice, as one of the men she recognized as a former tax collector, Matthew said something about how can well tell with so many people pressing against us?
He knew who it was for he looked at Sara with such directness. Everyone knew who Sara was she had been sick for months and often was forced to beg for bread. Her husband had died only a few years ago leaving her behind to fend for herself. She had some blood ailment that the doctors had said was killing her. The Master spoke in a quiet voice; she had to strain to hear his words. Something about her faith and that she was now whole. How could such a thing be, why would he give her such false hope. What kind of man would lie to such a poor sick lady? She wanted to push up and demand of him who did he think he was when the crowd pushed back and they moved past her.
As she went on about her business, she couldn't help thinking about his rugged looks and more important about how he had looked at her, how she felt. She had never been in love before and often heard tails about the feelings that come over women in such a state. She wondered had she fallen in love with a man just because he gazed at her. Could she be so foolish as to think he would look on her poor being in such a way? She was just a poor girl who made her living caring for others. Yet he had gazed at her with out wavering eyes.
That night she found it hard to sleep, her thoughts would return to this strange man. By the time night had fallen the tail had passed all through the city about how Sara was no longer sick and she had seen her later in the day praising God and smiling which she had not seen in years. What power did this man have, that could heal a woman, and even worse, trouble a woman’s heart to the place she could think of little else but him?
A few days passed and she could take it no more, she started out in search for Simon, James and John. These men she knew well and they could tell her the long and short of things. He confidence grew with each step. She came up on a small village and asked had they seen this man called Master and learned that in fact he was close by teaching up on the peak of the mountain. She grew tired with the walk but knew it would be worth it just to gaze into his eyes once more.
When she toped the hill which was known in the those parts as Mount Olive she stopped in her tracks, she couldn't even get close to any of the men she knew much less him, there must of been over ten thousand people gathered there. To her amazement she sit at the back and was able to hear his voice speaking softly as if she were right at his feet. She also noticed that he was a kind man who loved children because so many were gathered at his feet. At one point he had even picked up a small lad and sit him on his lap saying something about the kingdom of heaven being like small children.
As the day grew on toward night she found herself hanging on to every word, her heart was warm and full. She had not noticed that her belly was empty or that she had not had a drink of water in many hours. She was as a bird sitting on a limb, enjoying the life that passed around her. His words so soothed her aching heart; her mind was at so much ease. When he called for a lad to bring him up all the baskets of food that were in the crowd, she was dumbfounded that he said he would feed everyone until they were full when all they had found among the thousands were a few little puny fish's and seven loaves of bread. Yet indeed he looked up toward heaven and said some prayer or magic words and gave the baskets back to be passed among them. When it was her turn to reach in she grabbed four fish's and two pieces of bread. For as soon as she took them more seemed to appear. Everyone ate and still there was left over’s.
She wondered what manner of man was this, as the crowd left and he rose to go away with the men, he once again gazed into her face and she felt the heat of it reach to the edge of hair line. She did not mean to stare but couldn't take her eyes away and yet he spoke not a word to her but her heart was jumping up and down inside her. As he turned to leave she managed to get James attention. “James”, she demanded who is this man? He smiled and said the Master, the worker of great and good things, the comforter and friend.” “No silly, what is his name I must know”? “He is called Jesus, you remember the carpenter that came out of Jerusalem, well he is that boy, the one we all used to make fun of and ignore.”
“Oh no that can't be, the boy that had that crazy cousin, John that roamed around in the woods like a wild man, shouting prepare you the way and make your paths straight or some silliness such as that?” “ Yes indeed this is the man John spoke of, for us to follow.” As James turned and walked away, she hardly believed her ears. These men she had grown up with were smart men how could they be fooled?
She found a friend, Mary who too was in the crowd, and asked to spend the night with her. Mary was very happy to have her company and she talked for hours about this Jesus, her heart sank for she had known Mary for many years. Mary was beautiful and she could tell she very much in love with this man. Yet it was she who loved the man and loved his teaching even more. Like somehow that man, was not as important as the things he stood for and taught.
She heard how many hated him and that some plotted to kill this man, who healed the sick and feed the hungry and had done never done a evil thing. She remembered her own childhood and they had often left him alone as if he was ill with leprosy because he was so different. Now she longed to take those days back and wished to know all she could about this man.
Mary asked her to stay with her and follow him, for he promised to those that follow him he would make them all fishers of men. She had no ideal what that meant, but given the opportunity and hope he would just look at her again she agreed.
Part II
Mary talked about him often, and she learned such stories that she would of found hard to believe except she had looked into those eyes. She heard fantastic stories of him healing a blind man by spitting in the dirt and putting the mud on the eyes. She heard a story of how he had cleansed a leper, which she didn’t understand how such a thing could be possible.
She asked why some call him a king for after all he is only the carpenter’s son. Mary burst out laughing. “My where have you been hiding, in a cellar or some other country. He is the Messiah as promised by Isaiah, the king of kings, the Son of God.” Her eyes grew big, “why isn’t that blasphemy?” Mary put her arm around her and with a gentle smile and said, “some try to say it is, but how can that be if it is true? It would only be such if he were a mere man full of lies. No man could do the things he has done, it is no earthly magic, you know the stories that have been told too us of the great works that Moses did, but did Moses ever heal the blind or make lame men walk, or even heal anyone? No my dear, this man is all that he claims to be, I have followed him, I have seen his great works.”
“How did you meet him?” “It is a long story so I will give you the short the version, my cousin was going to be married and one of my dearest friends is his mother Mary and I asked her to come to the wedding. She did and along with her his brothers and sisters.” “Oh, was this the big wedding that so many talked about in Canaan?” “Yes you know of it then?” Mary replied leaning back as if not to go on with the story. “Oh, please I only heard rumors of some strange event please Mary tell me what happened, please.”
Mary smiled and a very gentle look moved across her face and one of such pleasure. It made her heart burn with a bit of jealousy to see such emotion for the man she knew in her heart she loved. Why last night she had laid there on the cot thinking if only he would ask her to marry him and the beautiful children they could have, she was sure he would ask by the look he gave her.
Mary then began to speak with not only a voice filled with love but one filled with a conviction and soft strength. “The wedding was beautiful and so many were there, I didn’t see him or even know he was there until a terrible thing happened. My uncle had not counted on such a crowd and the wine ran out early. There were so many people and they began to grumble, I thought for a while that a fight was going to break out. My aunt was beside herself with panic when Mary, Jesus’s mother said have no fear there would soon be more wine then we would know what to do with. She went to the upper room where Jesus was sitting and talking with some of the wise men and bid him to make more wine. I think it was not only the first time I saw him but also the first time I saw him a bit angry. For I had followed her up to talk to him thinking I would be needed to go fetch wine. I expected he was going to give her a few coins, but he replied to her a bit sharply that it was not yet his time. I had no ideal what he was talking about, but Mary began to cry and he rose and told me along with a few others near by to go fetch the barrels of water. I was going to object but something in his face said that would have been a very foolish thing for me to have done so I rushed down with the others and gathered all the jugs of water we could find and the two barrels out back. He came down and looked at the jugs of water; he looked up toward heaven then told us to draw our wine.”
She looked at Mary in total disbelief and confusion, “are you telling me that he turned water into wine?” Mary smiled the brightest smile she had ever seen on another person and said, “not only that but it was the sweetest, purest wine I have tasted and not only that no matter how much we seemed to drink no one got drunk.”
She sit back amazed for she knew by the whimsical look on Mary face all that had been said was true. Everything in her heart was turning flips and her mind felt full of thoughts that she couldn’t quite understand but yet knew were true. Just then there was a knock at the door, Mary rose to answer it when a woman came in. She was tall and her hair and jewelry said she was a Samaritan; she was surprised when Mary let her in for it was custom not to keep company with that sort. After all they were a mixed breed and full of cross marriages, not pure bloods. Mary turned with a huge smile and said let me introduce you to a great friend of mine, I think she can tell you a story of interest about this man Jesus that will amaze you. At those words her fears and offenses at being with a Samaritan was quickly put to bed in her mind. For she longed to learn all she could and hear every thing there was to know about this man with such deep blue eyes.
The woman sit down crossed legged on the matt before her and with such a open joy on her face began. “I was drawing water from the well, it was a hot day and I was tired. In fact I was thinking about all the work that was yet to be done when this man came up to me. You know of Jacob’s well, well there is where I was hot and dusty and up he walks and says to me, “Give me to drink.” And I said to him, “How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” He looked at me with the bluest eyes I have ever seen I am sure he was looking at my soul and replied. “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” Now I tell you, I had all kinds of thoughts go through my mind, yet those eyes and the gentleness of them, and I said, “Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?” Jesus then said to me, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” To which I replied, “Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.” You won’t believe what he told me to do next, “Go, call thy husband, and come hither.” I was dumb founded; I knew I had to answer him truthfully so I told him, “I have no husband.” To this he replied staring right into my soul with those eyes, “Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.” All I could say to that is, “Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” I thought this would put him on the spot and it bothered me that he knew so much I had not told him so he looks at me with such sadness and said, “Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” So I said, “I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.” To which he replied, “I that speak unto thee am he.” So I left my water pot right there as his fellows came up to him and went to the village and told the people there, “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” Everyone went out to hear him and I know he is really who he says he is.”
She sit and listened many thoughts going through her head, yet she couldn’t help to start to admit to herself that she too was beginning to believe. So much she didn’t understand, when she heard a crowd beginning to gather and they got up to go see what was going on. It was him, her heart stopped she pushed through the crowd to see him but there was no need to do so because he was coming right toward her then she realized it was Mary he was pushing toward and yet he was looking in her eyes again. She stepped back somehow she felt unworthy now to look up on him. She felt confused, but as he passed he reached out his hand and took hers and pulled her through the crowd with him.
He never spoke to her but when they entered into the place he sit and began to talk to Mary about the times to come, Mary’s sister came in, Martha and began to fix a meal of bread and lamb while he spoke, he would look over to her at times but she didn’t have words to say, it was as if her mouth had quite working and she was glad to hear Martha fussing and needing help so she rose to help her.
Still Martha wasn’t happy and Mary took a bottle of perfume and poured it over his head, then she sit at his feet and began to cry as he told her, he soon would be going to be with his father. She found that strange that Mary would start crying when he was going to be with Joseph after all she was sure he needed the help in his carpenter shop. As they worked the other men came into the room and a group of Pharisee’s stood at the door complaining how a sinner woman would be there and using such expensive oil on his head and then crying so and then drying the tears with her hair. Of course if they knew Mary the way she did, if they understood how much she loved him or even the reason for the tears maybe they wouldn’t of been so sharp. But Jesus spoke not to the Pharisee’s but to Simon, and said, “I have somewhat to say unto thee.” And he saith, “Master, say on.” “There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most.” And he said unto him, “Thou hast rightly judged.” Then he turned back to Mary and to Simon and said, “Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my hair with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”
I could not believe what I heard but when I saw Mary and that look on her face I knew it was true, no one could love a man more then she did, it was all over her face. My own jealousy was gone as well for instead of being angry I found I loved him more, I too wanted him to say such words to me. Then she heard him say a strange yet beautiful thing to her, “Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”
Now Martha was grumbling about much serving, and came to him, and said, “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.” And Jesus answered and said unto her, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
She knew that this was true and she so wanted Jesus to turn to her and say thy sins be forgiven, to promise her a place beside him. Instead he rose and left to go on teaching out in the streets. It was getting late so she went to her cot to sleep.
For the next few days they did not see him but word was coming and goings came by those who passed by of the great things he was doing, but also of the anger of the leaders and some said that Judas one of his men was a crook and could not be trusted. She didn’t know how to take such things for how could anyone not be trusted that was with him. Then a messenger came by and told Mary that she would be needed for a special supper for Jesus, he said it may well be his last for the leaders were very upset with him and promised they would rid the country of him.
She was scared and couldn’t bear the thought of not seeing him again so went to Mary and said, “Mary I know you love him with all your heart and so do I but I won’t interfere with him and you but please can’t I go and help.” To this Mary smiled, and said “you don’t understand my young friend but yes come and help me for there will be so much to do.”
That evening he came in and all twelve of his men with him, she smiled at Simon, James and John and told them it must be wonderful to get to see so many things up close. As they talked Jesus took his seat at the center of the table, and she went about serving the bread. Jesus blessed the bread then said something about it being his body, and then he gave them a drink of wine from his own cup and said something about that being his blood. She whispered to Mary, “what is he talking about” and she said, “to be quiet and listen.” She might have been angry at such a retort but coming from Mary she couldn’t get mad all she could do was listen.
After more talk he asked for a pan of water and washed each mans feet, she couldn’t believe a man who said he was the Son of God would do such a thing. But there he was doing it. Then they all washed each others feet, in all her life she had never seen such a thing for normally the woman of the house would wash her mans feet after he came in from working the fields but not men washing each others feet. Yet it somehow touched her, to see a man humble himself in such a way, as she stood no doubt with her jaw hanging open she found him looking deep into her.
She suddenly felt what the woman meant. She could feel her face grow red under his look that wasn’t a stare but yet moving. She knew at that moment he understood her love, knew her dreams, and knew every thing there was to know about her. She found herself whispering to herself, oh Master forgive me, for I am not worthy of thee or your love. Just as those words silently passed from her lips he smiled at her. It was the most radiant smile she had ever seen or ever would again. Somehow she knew something had changed in her, her heart felt light and there was a joy that was peaceful in her soul. Than Jesus winked and rose with his men and left.
She turned to Mary and asked, “Why does he not ever speak to me?” Mary laughed, “have you ever spoken to him?” “Well not out loud, I would be too embarrassed to do that.” “If you have listened he has spoken to you in the same way you have him. Do you not remember that God speaks in a small still voice?” She smiled for yes she had felt him even if she had not heard him, in a way maybe she had with that smile and wink. She understood one thing for sure he loved her, no man could look at woman that way and not love them. They made their way back to Mary’s and went to sleep though she had bad dreams that the enemies had caught him.
The next morning someone woke them to say Jesus had been caught and a crowd was gathering wanting to have him crucified. She rushed with Mary to the place they were holding him but couldn’t get close. Soon they found the trial was over and he was caring his cross to be killed. Her heart was breaking in ways she couldn’t explain, Mary was just as upset and so even was Martha. As they stood at the edge of the crowd not able to look at the terrible scene in front of them, Jesus’s Mother came to stand with them, she put her arms around both of them and said something she couldn’t understand. “Have no fear children, this is what he choose to do, he will only be gone a while and come again.” Even as tears came down her cheeks and his sisters and brothers gathered in close to them she smiled.
He was taken when it was over and buried and though she never saw it Mary said he had risen from the grave and she knew Mary wouldn’t lie. She never saw him again, but her love didn’t die, it did change though in a way that is hard to explain. She loved him more then when he was alive, she felt free and clean, in some ways she was healed in her heart. And when his mother said they would all go to see him someday she knew it was true. When Simon who now ever one called Peter started having people meet in caves to teach more about him she was on the front roll wanting to hear more and learn all she could. She knew only one thing, when her day came she wanted to die as he had, head up high knowing she was right, and she wanted most of all to be the kind of woman he would want when they met again. Peter said, that Jesus had said he went away to prepare a place for them, and she was so happy to know this was true.
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