adapted from Luke 1, 2, 23 and 24 by A.L. Anderson

Belief in Jesus Christ as the Messiah continues to grow a year after His Ascension. Disciples are spreading the Word to all people and all countries.
As the anniversary of His death approaches, the Herald had the chance to talk with His mother, Mary.

Herald: Mary, first let me extend our paper’s sympathy about your Son’s death. Or should that be our congratulations on His resurrection? But now He has left again, hasn’t He?

Mary: Yes, He has ascended back into heaven to be with His Father. But He isn’t gone. I was there when He sent the Holy Spirit. So He is with us always.

Yes, but let’s start at the very beginning. Were you frightened when an angel came to you and said you would have God’s Son?

Shocked would be a better word. That is why I answered the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”

But then you did give birth to Jesus. Was He a pretty good kid?

Oh, yes! He was very helpful with the younger children. He even assisted Joseph in the carpenter shop. The customers loved Him. I had almost forgotten that He didn’t belong to us and to this world, until He reminded me one day.

When was that?

When He was 12 and we went up to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. We started home early one morning, and I kept wondering through the day why Jesus didn’t find us to get something to eat. There were so many cousins and neighbors traveling with us that I didn’t worry much. But when we stopped for the night, He was nowhere among us.

Joseph and I started back right away. By morning we had arrived in Jerusalem. All along the way we were asking, “Have you seen a 12-year-old boy?”

We revisited all our friends. No one had seen Him. We went to all the fishing spots and swimming holes where we knew the children had been. There was no sign of Him.

Finally, after three days, we went into the temple to ask for prayer and for help. And there He was! He had been asking questions of the teachers and elders. Everybody was amazed at Jesus’ understanding. But I just ran up to Him, pulled Him to me and said: “Son, why did you treat us like this? Don’t you know your father and I have been anxiously searching for you?”

He looked me straight in the eyes and answered, “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

He meant God?

Yes, He reminded us that God was His father—not Joseph. He belonged to God alone. I always knew someday I must give Him up.

Were you there when He was crucified?

The entire day. I stood beneath that cross for 6 hours. I kept thinking about what the angel had said to Joseph before Jesus’ birth, “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” I did not understand what that meant when Joseph told me, but as I stood beneath the cross and looked at the blood oozing from His brow and dripping from His wrists and feet, I understood the angel’s words.

He had been born for that hour. He was doing the will of His Father. My Son had triumphed. My Son had finished the race. He was the supreme victor.

My friends and family tried to get me to sit in the shade and rest. I would not move; I stood with my head held high—a proud mother watching her Son win the ultimate victory.

I had been so happy when I heard His first breath and His first cry. But when I heard His last breath and His last cry, “It is finished,” I fell to the ground and worshipped Jehovah.

So does life seem dull now? Now that He has risen from the dead and gone back to heaven and the disciples are scattered everywhere preaching the good news?

Dull? No. People come to my door every day, bringing me supplies, food and gifts of love. They sit and ask me questions about Jesus’ early life and about His teachings. Sometimes I get to pray with them and they come to know Him. Because that’s really what Jesus’ life was all about—He wants everybody to know Him personally and be part of His family.

	Q: Why did the basketball player put his cookie in the milk? A: Because he loved to dunk. Jacob P., 5, Michigan Clubhouse Jr. Click here to subscribe