"It is time." She said it simply enough but there was a flicker of fear in her eyes.
"It is too soon!" The voice of the man bounced off the walls of the animal stall.
Carefully standing up the woman moved her garments aside. The proof was there: water mixed with blood. A new life was emerging from unknown darkness.
The man quickly gathered hay from all of the stalls and built up a rectangular area the size of a small sacrificial altar. Gently assisting his wife into a seated position he instructed her to lie back and grasp the iron rings used to tether the animals.
When her breathing began to come in jagged bursts he cried out, "I do not know what to do!" Through clenched teeth she hissed back at him, "You have delivered lambs in the field. This is no different! Think like a shepherd!"
Searching about in the stall he found two skin flasks. Opening the one, he poured wine vinegar on a piece of cloth. "Bite down on this! Let your lips be moistened with the liquid!"
From the second flask he poured a bit of oil on another rag. He sat it aside and returned his hand to the belly of his wife.
When she screamed the final time it was accompanied by piercing words, "It feels like thorns! I have the feel of thorns within my frame!"
Watching the crown of the head appear with a dark tangle of hair the man quickly grabbed the rag with oil. As the baby emerged he wiped the small face and watched as a slightly blue complexion turned flush with life. Turning the baby over he simply said to his wife, "It is as was spoken. It is a man child. His name shall be called Jesus."
Years later, Mary stood on the hill and watched as Jesus was crucified.
When he cried out, "I thirst!" she ran her tongue across her lips. Suddenly, she felt a bit weak. She watched as a sponge soaked with sour wine was raised to his lips.
She stood silently when He cried out, "It is finished." There was nothing more she could do for her son. She had given him birth. She could not give him new life.
But then a Roman soldier pierced his side. Water and blood came out and flowed into the dirt. Mary crumpled to the ground. The woman beside her exclaimed, "Mary, Mary! What is it?"
When he cried out, "I thirst!" she ran her tongue across her lips. Suddenly, she felt a bit weak. She watched as a sponge soaked with sour wine was raised to his lips.
She stood silently when He cried out, "It is finished." There was nothing more she could do for her son. She had given him birth. She could not give him new life.
But then a Roman soldier pierced his side. Water and blood came out and flowed into the dirt. Mary crumpled to the ground. The woman beside her exclaimed, "Mary, Mary! What is it?"
Trying to stand up and moving her garment aside she answered, "I have an intense pain inside of me. It feels like the pain of thorns. It feels like the pain felt when I gave birth to my Son."
John 19:28-37
Tammy Swofford
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