Johann Quisumbing

An Adventure Story of Yeshua bar Yosef by JQuisumbing

“It was back when Eli, the father of my mother, had just concluded the betrothal arrangement with my step father, Yosef. My imma had just turned fourteen and was quite surprised by the announcement and…” Yeshua chuckled, “was not too happy, since she had not set eyes on him once. She was afraid that my abba was a man of advanced age with a balding head. Of course, Yosef was about twenty nine at that time and was considered quite handsome from among the women of our village. The day after the engagement, my mother was visited by the angelic being named Gabriel.”

“Master, was this at Nazareth?” asked Yohanen.

“Yes, it was. The Angel appeared to her, calling her the favored one because the Lord is with her. She was initially startled, of course, but she was more bewildered by what he said. She once confided that she was not deserving of the Lord’s attention, especially since she was somewhat precocious and hard headed growing up. But Gabriel told her to fear not. He declared that she will conceive in her womb, then give birth to a son; the Son of the Most High. The boldness in her needed clarity, so she asked, ‘How can this be, since I have not known any man?’¹ His answer made her sway. He said, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you…’ Then he completed it by saying, ‘for that reason also the holy Child will be called the Son of God.’^1a ”

“Master… I mean, My Lord,” Yohanen said trembling, then bowed low on the ground. “You are truly the Son of the Most High Adonai. And I am not worthy to be before you.”

“Fear not, Yohanen. And get up and face me, for I am here as flesh. A man just like yourself.”

“Surely, no, my Lord! You are no ordinary man!”

“I am glad you understood this. What makes my flesh different from yours is spiritual in nature.”

Yohanen looked at him a little unsure of how to respond. 

“Every human born of a father and mother carries in themselves a spiritual condition, that is the ‘original sin’ that Adam had passed down onto all mankind.² The final effect of it is the death of the body; then ultimately eternal separation from the Lord Adonai. But my birth was not the same as everyone else… which means…?” Yeshua looked at him with eyebrows raised, expecting him to answer. After a long silence, he said, “Think about it. What makes me completely different from you?”

“Ah… I… ah, was born in sin, but you, Lord, are… without sin!” Yohanen whispered, in awe. “Master, I cannot imagine it. I mean, I don’t know what to think of it.”

“Yohanen, I must again reiterate that the others must not be told what I will reveal to you this day. They will learn of it in due time, but for now, not just yet.”

“Yes, Lord. I understand.”

“Do you know why your last master, the Baptist, called me the Lamb of God?”

Yohanen shook his head.

“I was born to do one task. As Adam was the bringer of sin to all mankind, I was tasked to pay for the penalty of all the sins committed by man, so that mankind would have the clear and only way to ultimate forgiveness.”

“But master, forgiveness cannot be had without… the shedding of blood!”³ 

“Hence the reason for thousands of Temple sacrifices, but the blood of animals, though innocent, was only good for one year’s forgiveness. But the Sin and its Penalty still belonged to man and has yet to be paid. If any man could pay this bill, what price would the Lord Adonai expect?” 

“As the priests would only choose those animals with no blemish, then a man with no sin would qualify the demand of Adonai,” Yohanen said.

“So, can you now surmise what I was born to?”

“Lord, I fear to contemplate on it. I would hate it to happen to you, of all people. I feel that I might try to hinder it.”

“This is the reason why I asked you not to reveal this to the others, especially Shimon. He would be adamant to prevent me from doing what I was born to do. Do you understand, Yohanen?”

“It is difficult, Lord. But I do trust you.” 

“Trust is a very good start. Come, let us go back to the camp. The others are looking for us. Tomorrow, we will go up to the Temple.”

“Master, what will you do?”

That is yet to be seen.

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Footnotes: [1, 1a] Luke 1:34,35; [2] Romans 5:12; [3] Hebrews 9:22

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