Chapter 4
“I’ve got a
special job for you today, Sammie,” Mr. Isaac announced. “I need you to go with
me to deliver some lambs to the Temple.”
It had been a
week since the most wonderful night of Sammie’s whole life. He hadn’t gotten
over it. But after whole week, it almost seemed like a dream. Had it really
happened? Had angels actually spoken to him? Had Sammie actually seen the
Christ Child first-hand? Mr. Isaac talked to Baruk at breakfast. Sammie
supposed that Mr. Isaac was putting Baruk in charge while they were gone. This
was Sammie’s first trip to the Temple and he was excited. Every other time that
Mr. Isaac had gone to Jerusalem with lambs, he was back by that evening. It
would be a long day, but an eventful day as well. What was the Temple like? Was
it as beautiful as people had described? Would Sammie know what to say if one
of the priests asked him a question? His mind was going crazy with thoughts.
Sammie ate his warm bread without thinking. He didn’t even want to eat, but he knew
he would be hungry later if he didn’t. Nathan and Old Benjamin were busy
selecting twenty lambs. Each one was carefully examined and then put into a
holding pen. Sammie could hear the bleating protests of the ewes as their
little ones were taken away from them. Sammie was used to the process, but it
had been hard the first few times. Taking lambs away from their mothers was
hard business. But it had to be done. It was the shepherd’s job. Soon Mr. Isaac
was ready to set off. Each shepherd caught a lamb and strung a small rope
around its neck. Sammie gathered up seven or eight ends. Mr. Isaac gathered up
that many and then some. After a few parting words, they were off.
After a short
time tugging on the cords, the lambs’ resistance faded, and they eased into the
pace behind the shepherds. Lambs were easy going and didn’t struggle very much.
It was still
early morning. Sammie had been chilled, but the brisk walking began to warm him
up. Sammie was not much of a conversationalist. And he certainly wasn’t going
to strike up a conversation with Mr. Isaac. Mr. Isaac was nice enough, but
Sammie had been taught to respect his elders by his parents. Sammie usually
waited for Mr. Isaac to say something and then he responded.
It took them
only a few minutes to be out of Bethlehem and on the road to Jerusalem. Another
ten minutes found them at Rachael’s tomb. Sammie could recite the story about
Rachael and Jacob and little baby Benjamin by heart. How sad to think of losing
your mother on the day you were born. But that was the story of little
Benjamin. Just think of growing up without a mother.
A little past
the tomb was a well near the highway. Mr. Isaac stopped and asked a woman to
fill the stone trough with water for the lambs. The woman had two little
children with her and they eagerly petted the lambs. Sammie didn’t have the
heart to tell the kids that the lambs were on their way to the Temple and would
be sacrificed by the next day. After watering all of the lambs, Sammie and Mr.
Isaac set off once again.
The sun was
beginning to warm the cool air nicely. In another fifteen minutes, they crossed
the Kidron Valley and into Jerusalem through the Sheep Gate. The Temple towered
ahead, dazzling white marble sparkling in the late morning sun. It was a
beautiful sight and amazed Sammie. Mr. Isaac found the priest and passed the
ropes on to an assistant. Other vendors were shouting offers to visiting
celebrants. Their lambs were half as clean costing twice as much. These
ruthless vendors took advantage of out-of-town Jews coming from faraway lands,
who had no way to bring their lambs with them. But Mr. Isaac was different; his
lambs went straight to the priests for a fair price. Because of his honesty,
Mr. Isaac was the only shepherd that the high priest trusted. After the lambs
were inspected, the agreed price was paid. Mr. Isaac sat down to a cool drink
of water with the priest. Sammie wandered into the outer court of the Temple to
take in the sights and sounds.
He heard a
commotion near the entrance stairway at the gate called Beautiful. There was an
old man with lifted hands who was loudly praising God. Many were gathering
around, but Sammie was able to work his way to the front. To his amazement, he
saw the young couple that he had met in the stable in Bethlehem just a week ago!
They were there dedicating their son, the baby in the manger! The old man,
Simeon by name, was holding the newborn baby up to God, dedicating Him with
eloquent words. All the folk that were gathered around were amazed at Simeon’s
words.
He said, “Lord,
now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine
eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all
people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” What
a powerful statement!
Every
firstborn son had to be given to the Lord for God’s service. So, the young
couple had to bring an offering to redeem back their son. Sammie noticed that
they had brought a pair of young pigeons as their sacrifice. “They must be very
poor,” Sammie thought. He hadn’t seen the couple since that night in the stable
just a week ago. Sammie had heard that the man was working as a carpenter for a
citizen in Bethlehem. Although Caesar’s taxation was completed, Bethlehem was
still overcrowded and needed workers. The young man had broad shoulders and
powerful arms. He looked like a fine carpenter.
But about
that time, the crowd parted to let Anna, the old prophetess step in. She took
up where Simeon had left off. She looked toward heaven and thanked the Lord
above for sending, as she described it, “The Redemption of Israel.”
Many were
amazed at her words, but Sammie knew that they were right on! Most people
didn’t understand why Simeon was making such a big deal about the little baby
boy, but Sammie did. This was no ordinary baby boy; this was the very Son of
God. Sammie knew it because the angels had said so, and Sammie knew it because
he felt it in his heart. Sammie thought, “These people have no idea who this
baby is! But they will know it when he grows up.” And they did.
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