The Tower of the Flock, Part 5

Tobiah’s story

I don’t remember how we got to the tower. I couldn’t think about anything but all those angels filling the night sky. “Eliezer, you saw them, too, right?”

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased. Luke 2:14

For the seventh or eighth time, my big brother said, “We all saw them.” He cut me off before I asked my next question. “No, it wasn’t a dream. Hush, now.”

Eliezer’s hand on my shoulder gave me the courage to peek into the stable. I don’t know why I was afraid. The angels told us to go find a baby. Babies weren’t scary. Noisy and messy, but not scary.

But this was no ordinary baby. He was the Christ, the Lord’s Messiah, the Anointed One. His birth was announced by a glowing angel who stood a head taller than Uncle Asa, the tallest man I’d ever seen. And the angel’s voice was like nothing I’d ever heard. I could still hear the rumble of it in my ears, like water rushing over thousands of bells.

I was glad Asa pulled me close when the angels showed up. I wasn’t the only one who was scared. He was shaking too. “Do not fear,” the angel said. Yeah, right.

When Uncle Asa knocked, the door opened. I grinned at how smoothly it swung open, how silently. I’d oiled the hinge just that morning. Light from the stable spilled out.

A man not much older than Eliezer stood in the doorway. He looked so tired. As tired as I felt after cleaning sheep stalls all day. But his eyes were filled with wonder. Maybe he’d seen the angels, too. Behind him, a girl  saw me staring, and I looked down, feeling shy.

She got up slowly from where she sat against the wall. I wondered why it took her so long till I remembered why she was there.  Ewes didn’t move very quickly after they’d given birth.

“Shalom.” She sounded tired but friendly.

I’d seen Uncle Asa fight a lion, and he’d never shown fear. But he was unsure of himself as he entered the stable. “Shalom aleichem.” He spread his hands and looked around as if trying to find his words scattered on the ground. “We’re here because . . .”

She smiled, and she inclined her head to the trough. The smile transformed her face. She was beautiful.

The young man put his arm around the woman’s waist. “I am Joseph, and this is my wife, Mary. This must be your stable. I’m sorry we intruded, but we were in desperate need of -”

Uncle Asa looked confused, uncertain, but in awe. “No. It is an honor to host Messiah in our stable. We have come to worship.”

For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. Luke 2:11-12

“An angel appeared to us in the field and told us the Savior had been born. He told us we’d find Him wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in this manger.” Uncle Asa looked into the stone feed trough turned cradle, and his face softened. I followed his gaze. The baby squinched up his nose, yawned, and opened his eyes.

I tugged at Eliezer’s sleeve. How could this baby be the Messiah? I saw the same confusion I felt in Eliezer’s eyes.

Joseph spoke, his voice husky. “An angel announced Him to me, too. He told me the Child was conceived by the Spirit, the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, and that He will save His people from their sins. He will be called Immanuel, God With Us. His name is Jesus in Greek, Yehoshua in Hebrew.”

Yehoshua – God is Salvation. Looking at Uncle Asa, I saw wonder and adoration on his face as he looked at the baby, and then he drew in a quick breath. His brows pinched together, and he blinked rapidly. His jaw jutted out. “No.” He shook his head at Joseph. “No.”

Why was he angry?

“I know.” Joseph’s voice sounded like someone was trying to choke him. “That’s why the angels appeared to you. You inspect the Passover lambs and declare them fit.” His hand trembled as he held it out, palm up, inviting Uncle Asa to examine the baby. Then he wrapped his arms around Mary and cradled her against his chest.

As Jesus lay in his stone cradle, I saw him not as he was, but as he would be. Wrapped in a shroud, his broken, lifeless body lay on a stone slab. Isaiah told us, didn’t he? He would be pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities.

I didn’t want it to be true. I looked at Eliezer, wanting him to tell me I was wrong. Tears glistened in his eyes. He understood. We’d hoped the Messiah would come to throw off Roman rule and set up his kingdom on earth. But that wasn’t why he came.

Uncle Asa’s muffled sob brought me back to the stable. His angry denial crumbled into sorrow. With tears rolling down his weathered cheeks, Asa lifted the baby from the trough. Cradling him with the same tenderness he showed every newborn lamb, my uncle, the chief shepherd, gave him a thorough inspection.

I had to see for myself. I reached out to touch the baby’s soft curls, and he reached out to me, wrapping his little hand around my finger. My Savior held my finger.

In a ragged whisper, Uncle Asa declared, “He. Is. Perfect.” And then he wrapped Jesus back up in the blankets and rocked him gently while he sang him a lullaby.

To be continued, Ihsan’s story . . .