Abba
The Life and Passing of Joseph of Nazareth (A Novel)
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
"Father," Jesus whispered so as not to wake the others. Joseph rolled over to see his son lying on his stomach with his chin resting on his clasped hands. "What is it, Jesus?" Joseph replied. "You have talked to the Lord, have you not?" "Not directly to the Lord. I mean, not face to face. But I have communicated directly with His angels on more than one occasion. So, in a sense I have talked with Him. Why?" "Father?" Joseph waited. "Has the Lord told you anything about me?" Joseph suddenly felt himself go on edge. He didn't exactly know how to answer his son. "What do you mean?" he said. "I'm . . . different, Father." Joseph turned his head and glanced at Mary whom he presumed to be sleeping. She wasn't. Her eyes were opened and she had a faint hint of a smile on her lips. "Yes, Jesus, you are--different." "Has the Lord told you how I am different?" "Has He told you?" Joseph intentionally begged the question. "Yes," Jesus replied. Joseph closed his eyes. The time had come, he was sure of it. "And what has He told you?" "He has been telling me things for a long time. Ever since I can remember. But in the past few days He has made me come to understand more than ever before--even though in some ways it has been very confusing at times. It seems that at times I know what He is going to say before He even says it. Other times it is as though He is speaking to someone else, and then I cannot quite understand what I should easily understand. It is as though I am two people at the same time; one part of me easily understands, the other does not, not easily." Joseph had to admit that he did not fully understand what his son was telling him. He thought to himself for a moment, then said, "What things do you fully understand about yourself?" "I know I am being prepared to become a prophet. Also, I can call on the Lord any time I choose, and He always answers me." Joseph was, for lack of a better word, enthralled. "Jesus," he began, "could you call upon the Lord this very moment?" "Yes. In fact, I know He is here with me even as I speak. I feel His presence." "Then ask Him what He wants you to be, and what He wants you to do." "I have already done that, Father." "What did He tell you?" "That I am to be a prophet to our people, as well as to many others." "You already told me that. What else did He say?" Joseph didn't mean to sound as though he was interrogating his son. He was simply excited. And he wanted desperately to hear that the Lord had told his son that he is the Messiah, the Promised One of Israel. "He has told me that I am to first learn, then teach others. That is all--so far." Joseph sighed ever so slightly. It wasn't exactly what he wanted to hear, but as Mary told him later when they discussed this conversation, "The Lord will tell Jesus who he is when He is ready to tell him, when He feels Jesus is ready to fully comprehend it, and cope with it." Of course, Joseph fully agreed with his wife on the matter. And they followed by agreeing with one another to be patient. They would trust in the Lord to do what was best for Jesus, and for them. Their conversation ended, that night under the stars, and upon kissing his father on the cheek, Jesus turned up his warm blanket until it covered all but the top of his head. "Good-night, Father," Jesus said with a muffled yawn. "Good-night, Mother," he added. "Sleep well," Mary returned softly. Then she smiled to herself. All along she had thought her son unaware that she had been awake.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Abba: The Life and Passing of Joseph of Nazareth
Throughout the ages the lack of attention given to Joseph lies in the fact there is little information about him outside a few references to him in the Bible. There is, however, much we can know about him through simple deduction, and to know Joseph is to better know Jesus. Joseph was a carpenter. He taught Jesus that trade. And he was "a just man," the Bible says. Surely he taught Jesus about justice, mercy and honesty. So Jesus was, therefore, a product of his foster father's wisdom and talents. All this through deductive reasoning.
Conflict in Joseph's mind exists throughout the novel. It exists because Joseph feels that Jesus should be the one to tell him that He is the Messiah, without Joseph saying anything about it first. He doesn't want to "put the thought" into Jesus' mind. That one percent of doubt torments him, but he manages to continue on, all the while teaching Jesus about the Scriptures and life itself, all of which gives Jesus (in his human nature) the wisdom he will later draw upon for his wondrous parables. Turn to those New Testament parables and immediately see how Joseph's influence abides in them. And rejoice with Joseph when he finally hears the truth from his foster son's own lips that he is indeed the Messiah.
In short, I bring alive the twenty-five heretofore hidden years in the life of the Holy Family. The reader will find himself dining with them and their relatives. He will pray with them as they must have prayed, and he will witness many of the religious and political discussions, which surely they must have had. He will also witness the father and son conversations, which might have occurred, along with some of the humorous events, which must certainly have taken place over the years. Indeed, the reader will discover Joseph, and he will also discover a Jesus practically unknown to most readers of non-fiction.
About the Author
David Laurence Nalick is a graduate of Cal State,
Los Angeles with majors in Political Science, Economics, and English. While
engaged in a teaching career in English and Religion, Nalick became fascinated
with a biblical character about which very little is known- Joseph of Nazareth.
Although heavily involved with writing novels ranging from science fiction to
mystery, this author set aside those endeavors to write a novel that he
considers his most important work. Said Nalick, “I hope to bring alive a character
and a time period in the life of the Messiah about which precious little is
known. It is time for the Christian world to meet its most neglected character.
Know Joseph and you will better know this foster-father’s son- The Lord of
Lords.”