Eleven for Christmas

Eleven.

Eleven boys.

Some older. Some younger. Five of them already learning the skill of fishing from their fathers on the Sea of Galilee. Some leaders, some followers, some fighters.

Pushing, pulling, crawling, falling. Fighting, fearing, asking, telling. They stretched and grew, these eleven, somehow already knowing that there were questions they asked without answers, somehow knowing that there was someone they waited and watched for without name.

Every day they listened to their fathers speak of the promised Messiah, the one who would liberate them from the hated Romans. Every day they played and fought, acting out imaginary battles of rebellion. Every day they hoped and prayed for a place in the Messiah’s new kingdom. A place with authority and power, prestige and riches. 

They all heard the ramblings of the old rabbi, older than their father’s fathers. A spirit kingdom, he would rasp. Fighting not for country, but for hearts of men, they would hear him say. Yes, a kingdom, he instructed, but a kingdom within you.

The boys wondered at the sayings of the old man, feeling a strange tugging inside when they heard him speak. Then they would shrug and go back to their fighting, fighting imaginary, but very physical battles, yearning for the day when their play would become real. Only One knew their appointed tasks. Only One knew the battle they would fight. Only one knew the Power that lay within their grasp.

Meanwhile, far away in another world, a million angels vied for a thousand positions. Only the very best were chosen. Angels with years of experience. Angels with great power and tremendous skill. Angels abounding with enthusiasm and passion for this once only event.  Quietly they practiced, carefully they planned, rapidly they flew.

Angels and boys, voices and noise, each with a task and time. Only One knew the time. Only One knew the Son’s time. Only One knew that time had finally come. He had waited for hours and months and centuries to come.

So now, angels and boys and Son. All willing. All waiting. Some had years to wait. Some had only hours.