Joseph, a carpenter by trade, is a man of simple hopes and desires. He has a love for his family, his village, and the Galilean hills that surround him. All this comes to a sudden and traumatic end when a Roman Centurion comes into Nazareth and demands that Joseph build crosses that Rome will use to crucify captured rebels. When Joseph refuses, the Centurion beats him and later in the same day cruelly murders his wife, Sarah, and cripples his infant son, Simon.
Joseph grieves the loss of his wife and the mother of his four sons, Judas, James, Joses and Simon. Knowing that the grieving Joseph is in need of help caring for and raising his four boys, a friend encourages Joseph to accept, temporarily, the help of a young woman that she has in mind. After much heart ache and deliberation, Joseph finally accepts the suggestion and his friend goes to Jerusalem to the home of her Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Zacharias and returns with her Cousin, Mary, to help take care of Joseph’s four boys. Over time, Joseph and Mary develop a liking and then a love for one another and become betrothed.
The betrothal is not without unexpected complications that are overcome with prayer, the support of friends, especially from an old rabbi, and the marriage takes place. Before the birth of Mary’s son, Caesar Augustus calls for a census that requires the expecting couple to go to the City of Kings, Bethlehem, where the baby, Jesus, is born. But this young couple’s troubles are far from over. They learn that a threat has been made by King Herod against their baby’s life. With the help of an old merchant friend, Joseph of Arimathea, they make a flight into Egypt where they and their baby will be safe.
After two long years, Herod finally dies and the family returns to Nazareth and a much celebrated reunion with Joseph’s sons who have been taken care of by village friends while they were in exile. Still, life continues to pose challenges. Joseph struggles with questions about his youngest son, Jesus. Who is Jesus?
Joseph is also troubled by the long and frequent absences of his third son, Joses. Of all his sons, Joses is most affected by his mother’s cruel death. After one long departure from home, Joses arrives in Nazareth in the company of Sarah’s brother and rebel leader, Judas of Gamala and his compatriot, Zadok. To these armed men, and many others like them, only Adonai rules Israel and the Roman oppressors must be expelled. Joses tells his father that he intends to go with Judas to fight the Romans. Joseph worries when he watches Joses leave that his son may never return.
It is a turbulent time for Joseph and the Israeli people. Because the Roman and the rebel conflicts abound unabated in the land, the Israeli people must bear witness and suffer cruel loses. They grieve and call out the unanswered question, why must they, His chosen people, keep waiting, hoping for the fulfillment of Adonai’s promises?
For Joseph there also remains his unanswered question. Just who is his youngest son? Is Jesus the promise? Some of his questions about his son he thinks have been answered, while many others, like this one, linger.
Joseph grieves the loss of his wife and the mother of his four sons, Judas, James, Joses and Simon. Knowing that the grieving Joseph is in need of help caring for and raising his four boys, a friend encourages Joseph to accept, temporarily, the help of a young woman that she has in mind. After much heart ache and deliberation, Joseph finally accepts the suggestion and his friend goes to Jerusalem to the home of her Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Zacharias and returns with her Cousin, Mary, to help take care of Joseph’s four boys. Over time, Joseph and Mary develop a liking and then a love for one another and become betrothed.
The betrothal is not without unexpected complications that are overcome with prayer, the support of friends, especially from an old rabbi, and the marriage takes place. Before the birth of Mary’s son, Caesar Augustus calls for a census that requires the expecting couple to go to the City of Kings, Bethlehem, where the baby, Jesus, is born. But this young couple’s troubles are far from over. They learn that a threat has been made by King Herod against their baby’s life. With the help of an old merchant friend, Joseph of Arimathea, they make a flight into Egypt where they and their baby will be safe.
After two long years, Herod finally dies and the family returns to Nazareth and a much celebrated reunion with Joseph’s sons who have been taken care of by village friends while they were in exile. Still, life continues to pose challenges. Joseph struggles with questions about his youngest son, Jesus. Who is Jesus?
Joseph is also troubled by the long and frequent absences of his third son, Joses. Of all his sons, Joses is most affected by his mother’s cruel death. After one long departure from home, Joses arrives in Nazareth in the company of Sarah’s brother and rebel leader, Judas of Gamala and his compatriot, Zadok. To these armed men, and many others like them, only Adonai rules Israel and the Roman oppressors must be expelled. Joses tells his father that he intends to go with Judas to fight the Romans. Joseph worries when he watches Joses leave that his son may never return.
It is a turbulent time for Joseph and the Israeli people. Because the Roman and the rebel conflicts abound unabated in the land, the Israeli people must bear witness and suffer cruel loses. They grieve and call out the unanswered question, why must they, His chosen people, keep waiting, hoping for the fulfillment of Adonai’s promises?
For Joseph there also remains his unanswered question. Just who is his youngest son? Is Jesus the promise? Some of his questions about his son he thinks have been answered, while many others, like this one, linger.
