Lamb of God: A Novel

Chapter 1

They finally arrive at the place: an already dug grave on the ground some four feet deep. The elder of the synagogue at Nazareth is there too. He was a friend of Joseph. He just is not of Jesus, since Jesus refuses to accept the oral and sacred traditions. Jesus would ask, "Is this what the Lord says?" or "Where is it written in Scripture?" or "Does this fall in line with the Word of God?"

Ugh. The rabbi can't take enough! He thinks Jesus is irritating for his refusal to comply with their traditions.

Before the body of the carpenter is laid to rest in the earth, the elder, rabbi Joel, has everyone stop. Now he makes a speech. "You know, it's really quite impressive to me. Joseph."

Mary is at the point of wanting to wail.

Joel continues, "This... Joseph was a pious man, committed to the Law of Moses. He became a carpenter because of his father, Jacob. Jacob was also a devout man. Yes, His whole life was spent being virtuous. Now, Joseph had married a woman, Judith. He had four children from her. When Judith died, he engaged with—"

"Me," says Mary softly, now sobbing harder, yet still quieter.

"—Mary, over there."

Everyone turns to Mary; everyone knows her. The rabbi proceeds, "But if you were around years ago, you'll remember that she was... already pregnant.

"Yet Joseph married her anyway. That's when... when Jesus was born. Yes, him."

Mary and Jesus knew Jesus was born at Bethlehem of Judea, but of course the rabbi is going to drop that detail. He does not want to give the impression Jesus might be the Messiah, who, Scripture says, should be born in Bethlehem.

Joel notices that James is not emotional like the others. "James," he says, "go ahead and wail."

James, surprised by the sudden mention of his name, tries to wail.

Joel resumes. "Anyways, when the family returned, there Joseph continued in his carpentry. He still matched the Law of Moses. It's just that neither he nor Mary sent Jesus to synagogue school. But, Jesus, how. He did not match with the traditions of the elders—which ought to be kept at all times." Then he makes a slight scoff. "And no wonder he's so stubborn in his defiance of the traditions, which must be honored."

This comment makes Mary, Jesus, and even the whole family, look bad before others. Indeed, James and the other sons of Joseph had multiple times tried to get Jesus to follow the traditions and not to discredit the family. They always get the response: "But is this what God commands?"

The rabbi says, "But Joseph is—was still honest and upright. And yes, I'm certain God has him a place."

Mary closes herself up to the hole, her son Jesus helping her in every step.

The widow had teary eyes as she hears the rabbi say "Amen" and the body is being laid down into the crypt. The rabbi adds, "I have hope that one day there will be a day when men can be free from sin."

The people say their "Amen"s.

Especially Jesus of Nazareth.

Soon the hole will be covered up and the site marked with some stones that are coated in white.

"Jesus, I'm sorry you had to hear that," says Mary to Jesus, "again. Again and again, you had to hear that, son. You had to put up with the village gossip."

Jesus at first says zero. Then he speaks silently to Mary. "And thank you for caring so much. I'll need that, but you know someone else cares for me; you know."

Now Joseph is buried as the shrouded body gets covered up by the brown dirt. Finally, the hole is covered up.

"Joel, if you—" says Mary.

"Yes, yes," says Joel, turning to the widow, "It's true. Oh, it's true. So much. Yes, we must cover the grave with whitewashed stones, that none may be defiled touching a grave. Because in that grave—"

Mary signals for Joel to stop. Joel finally turns to the others.

"Get at it, then!" says Joel in an impressive voice. "No one ought to be unclean touching a grave!"

So the whitewashed boulders are placed about where the hole used to be. But Joseph is still there, resting, waiting to be rejoined to the dust.

"It is done," says the rabbi.

Now Joel turns over to Mary. He snubs Jesus and says to her, "Take courage. You are a lucky widow. Think of all the widows with no descendants. Lucky you."

Joel walks on his way. Jesus finally lets go of Mary. She falls on her knees; now she's praying to God. "Oh, God! I do not... grasp why you let noble Joseph die. But, but may your will be done!"

"Now that's my mother," says James in the distance.