December 19- A Glimpse
During the first day of the journey, Joseph kept his eyes ahead on the road as he walked next to the donkey. When he addressed Mary, he looked up but never directly into her eyes. Mary kept her gaze downcast. These were small rules they had adjusted to in the previous months. A formality, so to speek. Now, slowly, Joseph was stealing glances in her direction and several times they had gazed at each other briefly, as if they shared a common secret.
“So this is what it will be like”, thought Mary contentedly. “I will be a wife who looks into her husband’s face and speaks to him in quiet tones while he handles business. I will wash my children and the linens. Joseph and I will come together over the common hardships of life as we are uniting during this journey. This is a glimpse at marriage. This is a taste of my life.” Mary looked around at the scene before her and took in the soft, musky scent of ripening olives.
The slow ascent from the Jezreel Valley took them past mile upon mile of olive trees. The olive trees spoke silent testimony to the unborn child. Oil from olives produced by these very trees would anoint kings and sacred objects. In coming years, the Child would be anointed, not by a priest or prophet, but twice – once by a prostitute (Luke 7:36-50) and once by Lazarus’s sister (John 11:1-2). He will be a King but not one of gold and riches. He will come to lift up the lowly and untouchable.
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