Cast of Characters

Thomas Nelson

Contents

Introduction........................................................................viiChapter 1 Joseph Joseph's Prayer..................................................1Chapter 2 Matthew Friend of Flops.................................................11Chapter 3 Woman Who Washed Jesus' Feet The 7:47 Principle.........................19Chapter 4 Mephibosheth The Privilege of Paupers...................................29Chapter 5 Samaritan Woman Two Tombstones..........................................43Chapter 6 Mary, Martha, and Lazarus Your Place in God's Band......................55Chapter 7 Abigail Barbaric Behavior...............................................65Chapter 8 Paralyzed Man Bright Lights on Dark Nights..............................75Chapter 9 John I Can Turn Your Tragedy into Triumph...............................85Chapter 10 Paul Hidden Heroes......................................................95Chapter 11 Two Criminals I Will Let You Choose.....................................103Chapter 12 Moses The Voice from the Mop Bucket.....................................111Chapter 13 Joseph When Crickets Make You Cranky....................................121Chapter 14 David Facing Your Giants................................................131Chapter 15 Esther Touching the King's Heart........................................141Chapter 16 Job Where Man Covers His Mouth..........................................151Chapter 17 Nicodemus The Most Famous Conversation in the Bible.....................159Chapter 18 Jairus The Sparkle from Eternity........................................169Chapter 19 Rich Young Ruler The Affluent Poor......................................183Chapter 20 Sarah, Peter, and Paul The Kingdom of the Absurd........................191Chapter 21 Lazarus The Final Witness...............................................203Chapter 22 Peter The Gospel of the Second Chance...................................213Chapter 23 Conclusion Cast of Characters...........................................219Notes...............................................................................223Sources.............................................................................226

Chapter One

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This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. His mother Mary was engaged to marry Joseph, but before they married, she learned she was pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit. Because Mary's husband, Joseph, was a good man, he did not want to disgrace her in public, so he planned to divorce her secretly.

While Joseph thought about these things, an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, "Joseph, descendant of David, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the baby in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

All this happened to bring about what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be pregnant. She will have a son, and they will name him Immanuel," which means "God is with us."

When Joseph woke up, he did what the Lord's angel had told him to do. Joseph took Mary as his wife, but he did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to the son. And Joseph named him Jesus.

{MATT. 1:18-25}

Joseph's Prayer

The white space between Bible verses is fertile soil for questions. One can hardly read Scripture without whispering, "I wonder ..."

"I wonder if Eve ever ate any more fruit."

"I wonder if Noah slept well during storms."

"I wonder if Jonah liked fish or if Jeremiah had friends."

"Did Moses avoid bushes? Did Jesus tell jokes? Did Peter ever try water-walking again?"

"Would any woman have married Paul had he asked?"

The Bible is a fence full of knotholes through which we can peek but not see the whole picture. It's a scrapbook of snapshots capturing people in encounters with God, but not always recording the result. A cast of characters in a drama of cosmic importance, but without a denouement. So we wonder:

When the woman caught in adultery went home, what did she say to her husband?

After the demoniac was delivered, what did he do for a living?

After Jairus's daughter was raised from the dead, did she ever regret it?

Knotholes and snapshots and "I wonders." You'll find them in every chapter about every person. But nothing stirs so many questions as does the birth of Christ. Characters appear and disappear before we can ask them anything. The innkeeper too busy to welcome God-did he ever learn who he turned away? The shepherds-did they ever hum the song the angels sang? The wise men who followed the star-what was it like to worship a toddler? And Joseph, especially Joseph. I've got questions for Joseph.

Did you and Jesus arm wrestle? Did he ever let you win?

Did you ever look up from your prayers and see Jesus listening?

How do you say "Jesus" in Egyptian?

What ever happened to the wise men?

What ever happened to you?

We don't know what happened to Joseph. His role in Act I is so crucial that we expect to see him the rest of the drama-but with the exception of a short scene with twelve-year-old Jesus in Jerusalem, he never reappears. The rest of his life is left to speculation, and we are left with our questions.

But of all my questions, my first would be about Bethlehem. I'd like to know about the night in the stable. I can picture Joseph there. Moonlit pastures. Stars twinkle above. Bethlehem sparkles in the distance. There he is, pacing outside the stable.

What was he thinking while Jesus was being born? What was on his mind while Mary was giving birth? He'd done all he could do-heated the water, prepared a place for Mary to lie. He'd made Mary as comfortable as she could be in a barn and then he stepped out. She'd asked to be alone, and Joseph has never felt more so.

In that eternity between his wife's dismissal and Jesus' arrival, what was he thinking? He walked into the night and looked into the stars. Did he pray?

For some reason, I don't see him silent; I see Joseph animated, pacing. Head shaking one minute, fist shaking the next. This isn't what he had in mind. I wonder what he said ...

This isn't the way I planned it, God. Not at all. My child being born in a stable? This isn't the way I thought it would be. A cave with sheep and donkeys, hay and straw? My wife giving birth with only the stars to hear her pain?

This isn't at all what I imagined. No, I imagined family. I imagined grandmothers. I imagined neighbors clustered outside the door and friends standing at my side. I imagined the house erupting with the first cry of the infant. Slaps on the back. Loud laughter. Jubilation.

That's how I thought it would be.

The midwife would hand me my child and all the people would applaud. Mary would rest and we would celebrate. All of Nazareth would celebrate.

But now. Now look. Nazareth is five days' journey away. And here we are in a ... in a sheep pasture. Who will celebrate with us? The sheep? The shepherds? The stars?

This doesn't seem right. What kind of husband am I? I provide no midwife to aid my wife. No bed to rest her...