The Redeemer (5 page)

I
FLAPPED AS FAST
as I could to get to Jerusalem when I remembered I was supposed to be searching for Adonai. Where was He? If He were roaming around the universe somewhere, maybe I could alert Him that God’s Messiah was in trouble. Adonai knew what a rascal Baal became after he fell from heaven.

As I got closer, I could see a caravan of camels in the outer court of Herod’s palace.

The visitors the angel talked about must already be here.

A light was shining from the window of the throne room. I flew in and set down right in front of Herod, who didn’t see me, but Baal did. The demon god sat on the plush stool at Herod’s side. He’d been there long enough to feel perfectly at home in the lavish surroundings.

“What are you doing here?” he snarled.

“Satan sent me.”

“Why?”

“To help you.”

“Help me do what?”

“Whatever it is you plan to do. What is it?”

“Get out.”

Before he could say anything else, the servant opened the door and escorted three kings from the East into Herod’s presence. They bowed in greeting before Israel’s king.

“Who are you, and what is the urgent matter that couldn’t wait until morning?” asked Herod.

No social skills whatsoever.

“We are kings, just as you are,” Gaspar said, making it perfectly clear this was a peer-level meeting. “This is Balthasar and Melchior, and I am Gaspar.”

“You do me honor, esteemed guests.” Herod used his politically correct voice, sounding anything but sincere. “Now what is it? What is your business with me?”

“We are astronomers, milord,” Balthazar said. “Have you seen the strange light that hangs over your city?”

“You mean the star? Certainly I’ve seen it. We all have. It’s been there for over a year. No one knows what it is.”

“We have been following its light for many months.”

“I suppose astronomers would be interested in something like that.”

“You aren’t interested, King Herod?”

“Not particularly. As I said, it’s been there for quite a while, and it doesn’t do anything, so around here we pretty much ignore it.”

The kings exchanged looks with one another.

“Let me try to be more specific about why we’re here.” Melchior stepped closer. “We have come in search of the King of the Jews. It is His star we are following.”

Baal sprung off his cushion and onto the throne with Herod and whispered in his ear.

“Did you hear that? Who do they think they are?
You
are the king of the Jews. Don’t let them get away with such an insult.”

“You must be mistaken”—Herod tapped his chest—“since as you can see, I am the king of the Jews. There is no other.”

The three visitors exchanged more side-glances that went unnoticed by Herod, who, in addition to lacking social graces, was unacquainted with the subtleties of body language.

Gaspar stepped forward. “I’m sure Your Grace knows the prophecy of the Messiah, as told by your own prophet.”

“I seem to remember an old myth like that. What about it? No one’s thought much about it in four hundred years.”

“We have reason to believe He’s come.”

“Who?”

“The Messiah, the true King of the Jews.”

Herod bristled.

“As I said, I am the king of the Jews.”

“They’re telling the truth,” Baal whispered. “Your reign is history if they find Him.”

“Guards, bring my priests here immediately,” Herod ordered.

After an awkward five minutes of chitchat among the visiting royalty, two of the palace priests were ushered into the throne room still in their sleeping robes.

“What’s happened?”

“How can we serve Your Majesty?”

“Our distinguished visitors have come to us in search of a new king,” Herod said.

“A new king?” The lead priest picked up his robe hem and hurried to the window. “Are the people rioting?”

“They’re looking for a different kind of king,” Herod said.

“Yes, the one the Jews have waited for; we’ve followed His star. He’s been born somewhere near Jerusalem,” said Gaspar.

“We know of no new king,” the second priest chimed in.

“Like I told you,” Herod said. “Now if there’s nothing else…”

“We speak of the King, the Messiah, as prophesied by your prophet Micah.”

“Oh,” said the lead priest. “I didn’t know you meant
the
King.”

“What do you mean
the
King?” Herod demanded. “Have you heard of such a prophecy?”

“Oh my, yes. We just haven’t thought about it in a while. Here’s how it goes:

‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.’”

“Yes, that’s it.” Melchior clapped his hands together in his excitement. “Bethlehem, where is it? Is it nearby?”

“Just down the road. You can’t miss it,” said the older priest.

“You’ve been a great help,” said Gaspar as he shook the priest’s hand. “Thanks for everything, King Herod, and we’ll show ourselves out.”

“Stop in again,” the younger priest said as the three wise men bowed and turned to go.

“You might give us some advance notice next time,” Herod muttered under his breath as he stood up to go back to bed.

Baal grabbed Herod by the beard.

“Hold up there, chum. You snooze, you lose! You can’t let them leave.”

“Wait,” said Herod, rising to his feet.

“Yes, Your Grace?” Gaspar turned back.

Herod choked. It was obvious he couldn’t think of a thing to say. Baal stepped closer and coached him phrase by phrase. “Come back here after you find him—the King, Messiah, whatever He is.”

Herod repeated every word.

“Why?” Gaspar asked

“Why?” Herod echoed with a blank look on his face.

“Tell them you want to go worship Him,” Baal said. “Do I have to tell you every word to say?”

“I want to go worship Him,” Herod said.

“As you wish.” And with that, the wise men turned and were gone.

I wanted to go with them because I didn’t know if the family would still be there by the time they arrived. It depended on whether Joseph woke up and heeded the angel’s warning. But knowing Baal as I did, I knew I’d better stay in Herod’s room as long as he did. If they were hatching a scheme against the baby, I wanted to know what it was. I sat down on a divan in the corner and waited. When Baal realized I was still there, he confronted me.

“Go away. Don’t spy on me.”

“Spy? Why would I do that? I’m here to help you.”

“I don’t need your help. I don’t trust you, and I’ve never liked you.”

It was all I could do to hold my tongue. A demon talking about trust was laughable. Demons trust no one, because none of them can be trusted.

“Satan will punish me if I don’t stay here—in case you need me.”

About that time Herod rose to his feet, stretched, and yawned and was headed back to bed. Baal jumped up to block his path.

“Herod, what if the wise men don’t come back?”

Herod paused. Maybe he heard or maybe not, but he wasn’t worried about it yet. He yawned again, ignored Baal’s insistence that he stay and think it over, and went to bed.

When I was sure nothing else was going to happen that night, I flew as fast as I could to catch up with the wise men’s caravan. Finding an empty camel, I hopped on and rode with them all the way to Bethlehem. It was early morning when we arrived. I was a little worried when I saw Joseph was outside getting water from the well. Maybe he hadn’t heard the angel’s warning after all.

I knew this might happen. Why do angels and demons always think they know more about humans than I do?

When Joseph saw the royal entourage pull up in the front yard, he reached for his staff.

“We’ve come in peace,” Gaspar said.

“What do you want?” Joseph was naturally suspicious.

“We’ve come to see the child who was born of a virgin.”

Born of a virgin? The heralding angels didn’t say anything about a virgin. When God promised David an heir who would rule forever and save His people, He didn’t mention one word about being born of a virgin. I was there; I heard the whole thing. I wouldn’t have missed a detail like that.

“We mean you no harm. We’ve come to bring gifts to the child and His mother. Let us pay homage to Him, and we’ll be on our way.”

“They’re inside,” Joseph said. “Come in and I’ll show you.”

Why didn’t Joseph challenge the born-of-a-virgin part? Unless it’s true. But that’s ridiculous. How could a virgin be pregnant? Why didn’t I pay more attention?

The kings bowed down in front of Mary and Jesus. They offered expensive gifts like frankincense and myrrh and gold. Balthazar was the first to speak.

“Tell us how it happened, my lady. When did you know?”

“It was when my cousin Elizabeth was in the sixth month of her pregnancy. One night an angel of the Lord named Gabriel appeared to me in my house. I was terrified. Then he told me not to fear because he was there to bring me good news if I would agree.”

Gabriel visited her?

“Please go on,” Gaspar encouraged her.

“The angel told me that I would become pregnant by Ruah Ha Kadosh, and the child I would birth would be called the Son of the most high God, and then God would give Him David’s throne.”

That is the most ridiculous excuse I’ve ever heard an out-of-wedlock mother use.

“So I asked the angel how such a thing could be since I was a virgin. The angel said Ruah Ha Kadosh would overtake me, and I would be found with child. The baby would be born, and His name would be Jesus.”

Sorry, Mary. These men know where babies come from. Even if you and Joseph got a little ahead of yourselves, it still works; you’re both descendants of David.

“Behold the Son of God.” Melchior knelt in front of the baby.

Oh, for heaven’s sake, you people will believe anything. This baby is the Messiah, promised by God but not related to God. God has only one Son, and let me tell you, that’s not Him.

I made my way through the kneeling kings and piles of gifts and got right in front of the baby as He sat on Mary’s lap.

“Hey, there little fellow.” I tickled His chin. “Let’s show them who you are and who you are not.”

“Now you people listen up,” I said to the kings and parents. “I know this is wasted on you, but let us be clear, this little guy is the Messiah but not the Son of God. Pay attention to what I’m going to do here.”

I took Jesus by the little hands and looked into his eyes.

“Adonai, are you in there?”

No response.

“See, I told you so.” I stood up and released the baby’s hands, but He wouldn’t let go of mine.

“You’ve got quite the grip there, little man,” I cooed to Him as I tried to wiggle free.

Whomp.

He pulled me back down to His eye level and laughed. Then He winked at me just like before. He let go of me, and I slammed facedown to the floor. I tried to get up but couldn’t, so I lay there and trembled in fear as the glory of God held me down. Since no one could see me, the wise men went right on talking to the parents as if the baby were doing nothing unusual.

Is anyone curious why the baby is laughing and pointing at the floor?

“Joseph,” Melchior spoke, “you must take the child and His mother and leave this place. Herod knows you’re here and is sure to search the child out to kill Him.”

“An angel appeared to me last night and told me to flee to Egypt,” Joseph answered. “But I don’t know if we should. Mary’s been through a lot, and if we stay here, we’ve got family to help take care of her and Jesus.”

“You can’t stay. Take the gifts we’ve brought you and sell them. It will give you enough money to live in Egypt a long time if you have to, but you must go now.”

Well, it was pandemonium after that. The wise men left. Joseph’s uncle took the gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the barter house and sold them. Meantime, the women packed up Mary’s things and loaded them onto a donkey. Everyone rushed to get the couple ready. A cousin and another uncle decided to go with them. I was finally able to get up off the floor and began rushing around with them.

“Hurry,” said the eldest aunt.

“Hurry,” I echoed.

Then I realized there might not be that much to hurry over. When I last saw Herod, he was on the way to bed and didn’t seem concerned about the possible fulfillment of prophecy right there in his backyard. I decided I’d better get back over to Jerusalem to see if anything had changed.

I flew as fast as I could right through the open window to the throne room, but I miscalculated my speed and angle of entry, clipped my wing on the shutter, and rolled like a ball across the floor until I stopped right between Herod, the captain of his army, and Baal.

“You clumsy oaf!” Baal stared at me, seething. “Get out of here.”

“They can’t see me. Can’t see you either for that matter. I don’t know why you’re always in a mood.

“Shut up.”

Baal listened as the captain explained the laws and consequences of unlawful forced entry to the king.

“So you see, Your Majesty, there has to be just cause.”

“You’re the king. You make the laws,” Baal whispered into Herod’s ear. “You must find the baby and destroy Him. Tell the captain it’s a matter of national security.”

“I was visited by kings and prophets from another land last night,” Herod said. “They told me a baby had been born somewhere in Bethlehem who was being groomed to be a rebel who would try to overthrow my throne.”

“A baby?” The captain was skeptical. “You’re afraid of a baby?”

“He’s more than a baby. He’s, ah…” Herod fumbled for words. “He’s got a curse on him. Magic. Black magic. He can’t be allowed to grow up.”

“How old is this baby?” the captain asked as his eyebrows lifted.

Aha! Of course, he’s a military man. He’s not going to believe such a bizarre story. But he’s probably also thinking that Herod is a ruthless king who’s already killed many people whom he considered to be a threat.