The Nativity Story Page #2

For nothing said by God

can be impossible.

Let it be done to me,

according to your word.

How is anyone to believe me?

How are they to understand?

"Even your own cousin...

"has conceived a son in her old age."

Elizabeth.

This is foolish talk.

Elizabeth is not expecting you now.

She says I am always welcome.

So does Zechariah.

You said you wished

to visit in the summer.

That's what you told us a season ago.

Much has changed since then.

And what of Joseph?

Is he to expect your return?

He is.

Jacob and his family

are going south in the morning.

I've told Sarah

I can help with the children.

Then make certain Zechariah...

finds a good family

for you to return with.

Thank you.

I'll be here for the harvest.

I promise.

Hey! Stop it!

Help!

Herod's soldiers are coming!

Get down! Get back!

Help us! Herod took his land!

Block the road!

- Hurry!

- Block the road!

- Stop them!

- Hurry!

- Hurry!

- Quickly!

The soldiers are behind us.

Stop their horses.

Death to Herod!

Herod's rule will end!

The Messiah will save us!

Herod is... He'll deliver us!

A Messiah...

to deliver my people.

Please, Lord, let Elizabeth be with child

as the angel spoke.

Look!

Go!

Elizabeth!

Elizabeth!

- Elizabeth.

- Oh, child.

Oh, child!

Blessed are you among women...

and blessed

is the fruit of your womb.

But... how could you know?

Who am I that the mother

of my Lord should come to me?

The moment I heard your voice...

my child leapt in my womb for joy.

Blessed is she

who believes the Lord's words.

The star is here.

Jupiter is here.

But look.

Another star!

No. Venus.

If I am correct, and I usually am...

all 3 will appear to touch...

for the first time in 3,000 years.

Venus is called the mother planet.

Jupiter, the shining father.

Don't you see?

Mother and father

aligned in the heavens as one.

And the star itself?

It is called Sharu.

Babylonian.

For "king."

He's been silent

since he came out of the temple.

Not a word?

He writes.

He writes of who our son will be.

What he will become.

God will lift his burden.

I have told him the same,

but he feels unworthy.

Are you frightened?

Yes.

A husband has been chosen for me.

The law says I was

to remain pure for a year.

How is he to believe this?

Stay with us, then.

We will pray for guidance.

Elizabeth...

why is it me God has asked?

I am nothing.

Oh, child.

Elizabeth!

What is it, child?

He is moving.

Ah! Mine too.

Barren desert.

Inhospitable plains.

Rugged mountain ranges.

Then Jerusalem.

Surely you speak of

a spiritual journey, Melchior.

Not one that would

actually take you there.

You wish to travel

to the land of Judea?

No.

I wish for all of us to go.

Melchior, this land you speak of...

it will take months to journey there.

We know nothing

of the dangers we may find.

And you're following a star?

Only because it burns bright?

Balthasar, surely you will join me.

The star will be as bright

here as anywhere.

You said yourself

it would be a star over Judea!

But, Melchior...

Yes, but I would need

my instruments, my charts.

- Take them.

- But what about my cushions?

My pillows? Wh...?

What about

the food I'm accustomed to?

Huh. Very accustomed to.

Yes. I need my dates,

my nuts, my spices.

What about my wine, Melchior?

If you need another camel,

I'll bring it for you!

Join me.

Both of you.

They will be wasted months.

I'm sorry, but I cannot join you.

Only one more camel?

Now breathe.

A son.

Beautiful.

What name have you given him?

He shall have the name of John.

John?

But, Elizabeth...

there is no one in your family

who bears that name.

Zechariah would not wish for this.

If he could speak...

he would want a name

that honors such a blessed child.

Where does this name come from,

Elizabeth?

Where all names come from.

His name is John.

He speaks!

Zechariah!

His name is John.

- Shalom.

- Shalom.

You're building a strong house.

It will hold your family well.

I wish to have the roof on

before her return.

Before the harvest.

Joseph, she has never broken a promise.

And a great wind

rent the mountains...

and broke in pieces

the rocks before the Lord.

But the Lord was not in the wind...

nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire.

And after the fire...

a still, small voice.

You are a good father, Zechariah.

It's time for me to return home.

The blacksmith will take you

all the way into Nazareth.

Mary.

Thank you.

Fools.

I think I will have a few words with him.

Would you let him know

I want to see him?

You wished to speak with me, Father?

This collection...

has revealed an opposition to my rule...

that I find myself concerned with.

Opposition that may rise

above mere words.

The kingdom will be yours, Father...

until the last of your breaths.

You are the opposition

I speak of, Antipas!

I hear of my subjects

arising against me...

and what do I hear from my own son?

I hear his silence.

Judea, Samaria, Galilee...

all of them talk

of this prophetic king...

this man who will defeat me.

Yet you do not speak against it.

Father, you have no greater ally...

than the man

who speaks to you now.

I know this. I do.

Because you and I,

Antipas, we are the same.

And the man

who inherits my kingdom...

will have the same intentions as I do.

But hear me when I tell you, my son...

that you will never,

never live to see your rule...

if you fail me now.

I have had a wife betray me.

I have had two sons

do the same, before you.

Where are they now?

No more.

No more.

I will end this threat to my rule,

as I will all threats.

I don't really miss him.

Neither do I.

You forgot the map.

You wouldn't have been able

to survive without me.

How do you know?

Because I am the wisest.

Mary.

- Mary's back!

- Mary!

- Shalom.

- Shalom.

She's back!

Joseph, Mary's back.

She's back! She's back!

- She's back?

- Mary!

Mary! She's back! Mary!

Mary! Mary!

Can I go?

She's back.

Mary!

Joseph?

Joseph.

Joseph!

An angel told you this?

That you will bear the son of God?

Mary.

Elizabeth had a baby.

Even in her old age.

Elizabeth has a husband!

Women have been put to death for this.

They could stone you in the street.

Do you understand?

You should have stayed with Elizabeth.

Father.

Father, I have broken no vow.

Oh, you have broken every vow, Mary.

Was it one of Herod's soldiers?

Was it?

I have told the truth.

Whether you believe is your choice.

Not mine.

And what of Joseph?

He's a good man, Mary, but this?

- This is too...

- Let me speak!

Please.

Let me speak.

Come, Anna.

Come.

Joseph...

Do you know...

Do you know the reason

I chose you, Mary?

I believed you were

a woman of great virtue.

I have lived my life seeking honor.

Honor...

Mary, so how am I to answer this?

If I claim this child is mine,

I will be lying.

I will have broken

a law laid down by God.

I would never ask you to lie.

If I say this child is not mine,

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