by Jaco Basson
The Son scratches in the sand next to Him. Slowly He starts to drop one grain of sand at a time. Almost as if He is counting them. In remembrance of His Covenant and Word, He then looks up to the Father. The Father just slowly nods His head in approval.
For a moment He looks over the crowd with compassion in His eyes. Jesus takes a heap of sand in his left hand and a heap in his right. With immense care and precision, he walks over to the Father so as to not drop but a single grain of sand. The Son then holds the grains of sand before the Father, The Father gently breathes over the hand full of dirt. In a sudden moment and with astronomical power, a
shock wave travels through the open spaces, in the
hands of the Lord there is now a translucent light
shining.
Walks over to the crowd, presents it and
cries out with untold compassion: “Look and
observe, for each of you are as one of these grains of
sand, not one to go to waste. I will not spare the
least, but I will pray the Father and He will send
you another Comforter, He will never leave nor
forsake you, He will guide you in the way you
should go.”
CHAPTER 15
This time the Word stands planted in the centre
of the crowd. With His face pointing north, He
slowly lets the grains of sand flow from His hands.
For a moment, the eyes of the gathering open. And
what they see in front of them, is being unveiled to
be an olive tree. Not only is this an olive tree, but it
carries nine fruits on seven stems. The next moment
the olive tree starts to shine with unspeakable glory
... in one spirit the crowd, including the stars, start
Singing shine, Jesus shine.
CHAPTER 16
As the sons and daughters of men gaze on the
kingly brightness of the olive tree, they are suddenly
ruptured to their human perception. Jesus once again
takes a seated position in the midst of the crowd.
The Son now continues, “Consider the mystery of
the olive tree. Just as the olive tree matures, so shall
all time mature and be brought to fulfilment.
Consider the seasons of the olive tree, for in them lie
truth that will unravel the mysteries of life. As in the
cycle of life, seasons change; seasons come and
seasons go. Learn, son of man, learn and be wise.
Now consider your own lives, for as with any tree,
there comes a season of great joy and prosperity.
During this time the olive tree will spread its Seed.
This Seed is then deeply planted in every life.
As with any plant, great love and care needs be
applied to bring it to its full stature and beauty. Only
when its roots are deeply planted in truth and
righteousness, will it yield its fruit and men and
women will feed from Your tree; surely, they will
come to you, taste and see that the lord is good! The
sun rises in the east, bringing life and joy to all
creation, so shall I rise in three days and bring a
season of great tidings and joy. This season will
yield its fruit, and look – great is this harvest. For
the Great Husbandman watches intently, that My
Word might find root in your hearts and yield a
hundredfold over. Now look at the stars, do not even
they know the seasons and the times?
For I tell you, there will be a star that will rise
over Bethlehem, this star will shine with untold
glory and splendour, bring great joy.
It will be the start of a season, the season of the Kingdom of God on earth.” With this Jesus looks at the open skies, pointing at each star, once again almost as if He is counting them.
As before, the Son looks at the Father and once
again the Father slowly nods His head in approval.
For a moment the eyes of the gathering open. Jesus,
with His right hand, snatches a star from heaven, a
star of great beauty and glory. Once again the Son walks
over to the Father. The Father gently breathes on the
star. This time the star takes on another form, the
form as of the Son of Man. Before them a spectacle plays off, with the stars as the setting.
CHAPTER 17
The Son of Man is led, bound with ropes and
shackles, to the council of Jerusalem. He is then
beaten countless times. The more He is beaten the
more His light dims, with every step He takes, blood
flows. This star is then led to a tree. The Son of Man
embraces this tree, almost as if He has chosen it
Himself. Long nails are driven through his hands
and feet.
With anguish the Son looks at the open skies.
As He breathes His last, the Son of Man cries out:
“It is finished!” Suddenly the scenery is changed.
This time the star is surrounded by twelve dormant
stars. The star then gently breathes on each of them,
giving new life, and with this ... behold ... new stars
are born. Suddenly the audience is restored to their
normal sight.
With this Jesus, with untold
compassion, looks over the crowd as He cries out,
“Observe and see, for each of you are as one of
these dormant stars, for I AM the one that baptises
with the Holy Spirit and fire. Unless man is born
again he will not see the Kingdom of Heaven.”
CHAPTER 19
Trumpets sounds, with this God and all the
angelic hosts of heaven assembles in the heavenly places.
“Gabriel!” “Yes my Lord,” the faithful messenger of
the Lord replies. “Now take the Seed I have shown
you, for this Seed will find root in Mary’s womb, He
will become flesh with voice and deliver my
message...” “Yes, my Lord,” Gabriel responds.
Gabriel descends to a little town called
Nazareth. It is in the early hour of the morning.
Firstly the little latch of the window moves slightly
and there is a little rustle. Light starts to peek
through the thin lines between the spaces of the
wooden window. The messenger speaks: “Mary?”
Still half asleep, she ignores the call of Gabriel.
“Mary!” Mary awakes.
Gripped with fear, the favoured daughter of Zion listens to the messenger of God. “Mary, highly favoured of the Lord, I have come to bring good tidings, for you shall conceive a male child. It is of Him who has been prophesied by Moses, that after him comes a prophet in whose council and might the heavens and the earth were
found, and without Him no thing was found. He
shall be called, Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, even Emmanuel.”
Mary, still a bit afraid, answers Gabriel, “How
can this be, since I have not been with any man?”
Gabriel takes a small Seed from his heavily guarded
bosom, “This Seed Mary, this Seed will find root in your womb by your word.” Mary replies: “Let it be
so according to your word my lord.” Gabriel reaches over to
Mary’s womb, and so he speaks, “So be it." In a
sudden moment the most intense burst of light
explodes in the room.
For the first time Mary sees images flas
h
through her mind. First she sees a small seed, and
then this seed is deeply planted in ready soil. Next
she sees a small seedling. This seedling then grows
in stature. As time matures, she sees nine fruits form
on seven stems. She asks herself, what could be the
meaning of this? Gabriel, standing by, says unto
Mary: “For now, Mary, you know in part, but the
fullness of this great mystery will unfold with the
life of the olive tree.
Furthermore Mary, set out to visit Elizabeth, for
she was barren, but even now she is with child. This
is the one whose voice is crying in the wilderness:
“Make straight the way of the Lord.” This one will
be the Christ and the other His prophet.” With these
few words Gabriel leaves Mary’s presence.
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CHAPTER 20
It is the next day, Mary sets course to Elizabeth, she thinks to herself, what would come from this good word. For the messenger of God did indeed announce a male child from Elizabeth’s womb too, one, the Son of God and the other His prophet. Not quite sure what Elizabeth’s response would be, thinks to herself, this one thing is for sure, there shall be much joy unspeakable! As Mary arrives at her destination, Elizabeth runs to Mary. As Elizabeth sees Mary, the babe inside her womb leaps with Joy!
Nine months has passed. Who will give account on their behalf? For it is the time of the census, and they must go to Bethlehem to be counted. As Joseph and Mary make their journey to the Promised Land, Joseph, for a moment looks into the eyes of Mary,
and lets these few words out: “I love you!”
As Joseph and Mary are about to enter the
vicinity of Bethlehem Joseph speaks: “Mary, my
wife, why do you look so troubled? Is it time?”
“Yes, Joseph. See whether you can find lodging.
Surely the time is now!” In a hurry Joseph makes his
way to the only open lodge at this hour of the night.
Joseph approaches the open door. “Woman!” he
cries out to the one standing nearby, “my wife is in
her time and we need a place, quickly!” The woman
just frowns, “My dearest, there is no place for you
here, neither will another take you and your wife in
at this hour in this way. But I tell you, see deep
down in the valley, yes, down this road, you will
find a stable. I know it is not a suitable place for a
child to be born, but there is a manger with enough
straw for the baby to lie in and a fire a kindle
warmly, I will attend shortly. Go now! I hope this
helps!” Joseph makes his way back to Mary. “Mary,
hurry, I have found a place.” The shimmering light
of the stable pierces the darkness. “This is the place
Mary!” “Joseph, quickly, let me lie down in the
stable.” Joseph, not sure what is happening, takes
Mary in both his strong arms and helps her to lie
down on the stable floor.
It is evident from the sound of hooves and rattling of metal braces that this is indeed a stable, yet so small in size. Mary is not quite sure what to expect. She is experiencing intense labour pains, that which cannot be described in human terms. With much pain indescribable, The Kingly child is born.
“Is anybody here?” A moment later the woman
that spoke at the lodge makes her entrance into the
stable. “Give the child to me.” The way she handles
the child speaks of one who is truly a mother. She
places the kingly Child onto the soft tender hay. “It
is done! But it is not finished,” Mary whispers to
herself.
CHAPTER 21
A soft coo, then a loud cry comes from the
kingly Child. At this point, men dressed in apparel
which is rugged and worn, make their way into the
stable. The shepherds are drawn to the warm light of
the little fire that kindles. This is the place where the
One that has been promised is to be found.
“Whom are you seeking?” the woman asks. The
humble shepherd gives answer to the call of the
woman. “We are here to seek the One, the One that
was promised. For see, we were standing in the
field, and in the brilliance of light spoke to us an
Oracle of God. Saying that we are to find the Child
promised by the mouths of the prophets through the
ages and that He is the true shepherd!” “So then,
come in,” the woman responds.
The shepherds start to hum a hymn: Silent night,
holy night, all is calm and all is bright, round yon
virgin mother and child, Holy infant so tender and
mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly
peace, silent night, holy night, shepherds quake at
the sight, glories stream from heaven afar, heavenly
hosts sing halleluiah, Christ the saviour is born,
Christ our saviour is born, silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light, radiant beams from
thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace.
CHAPTER 21
Jesus Lord at thy birth, Jesus Lord at thy birth
Halleluiah! Halleluiah! Halleluiah! Christ the
Saviour is born.
In this graceful warm atmosphere,
men from another world walks into the open space of
the manger, three men dressed in a fashion that truly
reflects wisdom. “Is this the One?” the wise man
prompts the other one standing next to him... “Yes,
this is the One,” the young shepherd boy speaks.
“We have come from the far corners of the earth to
bring honour and praise to the One, even a King.
For see, according to our calculations, we have
seen the star from afar. It has been a long journey.
Surely now we know this night a King is born.”
The three wise men lay their gifts at the foot of the
crib: Gold for Kingly Rule, Incense – the sweetest
fragrance known to man, and Myrrh, the taste of
Kings, yet bitter to the belly.
CHAPTER 22
“Joseph! Come quickly, Jesus is standing. How
is this possible? Look Joseph!” And with this Jesus
takes his first earthbound steps towards Joseph, the
Son now clings tightly to Joseph, while Joseph
bends his knee, and looks into the piercing eyes of
his Son. A sudden sense of fear grips Joseph as he
recalls all the memories of his birth, the shepherds,
the wise men, this is all too much.
Joseph dare not interrupt the child, the child just
slowly reaches out a hand, lays it into the palm of
Joseph, there are two hands now, a tiny fragile hand
inside a carpenter’s hand, tears start to form in the
eyes of Jesus, in his mind memories are flashing, he
recalls his longing, when all that was, is God!
He travels back in time inside his soft glowing
Spirit, he sees himself walking with Adam in the
cool of the day, laughing, dancing, holding hands,
when there was no one save God and Adam, the
good intent, the love purposed, solely given and
entrusted, taken from the heart, breathed into an
earthen vessel … and behold, man.
CHAPTER 23
Jesus runs into the courtyard where
Joseph is busy crafting a solid piece of lumber.
“Look Jesus,” Joseph speaks, “this piece of wood
was meant for a far greater purpose, take this piece
of wood, apply crafty hands, the hammer, nails, and
it is finished.” The Nazarene Child stares as Joseph
works the lumber, “look Jesus, take this ruler,
straighten a line, cut the wood with care and love,
don’t force the wood, gently until it is in pieces.
Once we have all the pieces together, look, we make
them one again!”
Later the afternoon, Joseph and Jesus depart to
the market. “Mary, I am taking Jesus to the market,
we must find a lamb, a lamb without spot or
blemish! Tomorrow is the beginning of the Passover
and this is our duty, a lamb needs to be sacrificed,
we should eat it with bitter herbs and remember our
day of redemption.
Jesus, this is real, a lamb must die!” Jesus just solemnly replies: “I know.” During the next day Joseph, Mary and Jesus arrive at the place of sacrifice, the crowds are humming, pressing shoulder against shoulder; everyone will sacrifice a lamb today.
It is evident in the bleating of sheep, a lot of blood will flow today. Joseph takes the
blameless lamb, puts it around the shoulders of
Jesus. “Jesus, hold onto this lamb, but once we hand
it over to the priests, you have to let go. For look,
don’t be afraid son, you will see blood today, this is
the custom my boy, blood must flow.” The small family make their way up the steep walkway and into the holy temple.
Smoke fills the temple court where there is ongoing sacrifice, this is evident in the smell, a sweet smell that could only be described as that of flesh being consumed. Jesus sees a man sitting in the one corner of the temple
court. It is clear that this man has no lamb, evident