Author’s note: Mary, the mother of Jesus, is revered in both the Koran and the Bible.
25 A.D. September.
Evening. Mary, Jesus and John sat close to the fire and talked about the future. Jesus appeared to be deep in thought.
“What are your plans?” Mary asked.
“Deborah told me she will take care of your needs. Joses and Simon are here for you. And you will be very busy with your grandchildren. If anything goes wrong, I will come back.”
Jesus paused for a moment, looking into the fire as though his future could be found in the flames.
“I will go back to Capernaum. I have friends there. They will help me to reestablish myself as a carpenter. I will have enough income to feed and clothe myself. If I run out of work in Capernaum, I am sure to find it down the coast in Tiberias. And I need time to think about my future. Alexandria was a great experience for me as it was for John. We both learned a lot. Although my thoughts lean toward healing and teaching, he has become more interested in baptism and preaching.”
Jesus turned to John and grinned at his friend. “I do think he has already made up his mind.”
Jesus turned back to look into his mother’s eyes “I feel as though I am being encouraged to have a special relationship with God. He wants me to do something. Both you and my father have suggested I should think of God as my father.”
Mary smiled with deep affection for her son. Now? She thought. Not yet, God responded.
Mary knew she needed to change the subject. With some reluctance, she turned to John. “And what are your plans?”
“I would like to spend some time with the Essenes in Qumran. Like Jesus, I am being encouraged to establish a closer relationship with God. Meditating with the Essenes will clear my head and give me direction. If I am to be a successful preacher, I must have a strong message that will resonate with my audience. And Jesus,” John smiled at his friend “has told you I plan to combine baptism with preaching.”
“Baptizing like they do for children?”
“Oh much more than that,” John responded enthusiastically “here let me show you.”
With that John quickly got up and took a stance with his feet spread apart.
“See how I stand with my feet positioned so I have a flexibility of movement?”
Mary nodded in agreement.
“This is full immersion baptism. I place one hand under the person I am baptizing to support them and one hand on top of the person so I can hold on to their hand or arm. I lower them into the water until their face is completely under water. Then after a moment of prayer, I bring them up out of the water and help them to stand up.”
“Where did you learn this?” Mary asked.
“From a Hindu we met in Alexandria. They believe all water is sacred. By immersion in a river, the pure are made even more pure, and the impure can be cleansed of sin–even if only for a while.”
“Complete immersion is a cleansing process?” Mary asked.
“Yes. We wash away past sins and create a new life that is without sin.”
Mary glanced thoughtfully at her son. “And what if the person being baptized is without sin?”
“For them, baptism is an act of dedication and a commitment to a virtuous cause.”
John paused for a long moment and then added “when I do a full immersion, as I bring them up out of the water, I will be creating a new life.”
Jesus grinned at John’s enthusiasm. His friend had found his calling. All he needed was to think out his message.
John turned to Mary. “Have you been called to do God’s work?”
Mary did not answer right away. Then she said quietly: “Joseph and I were called long ago. Our first obligation has been completed. From now on, I will help my son to do his work and” she paused again ... deep in thought “I believe I am destined to be the mother of all God’s children.”