Editor’s note: Salisbury writer Franklin Kincaid wrote this fictional Christmas story and is sharing it with readers of the Post.By Franklin Kincaid
for the Salisbury Post
Long, long ago, on the very night of Jesus’ birth, a small boy overheard some villagers talking excitedly: “Tonight, the prophesy will be fulfilled,” they whispered. “Jesus will be born in a stable. Wise men from the East will be heading for Bethlehem to bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the baby Christ child.”
Surely, the shepherd boy, whose name was John, had none of these fine things to give to anyone. But still, the dream of worshiping the newborn Jesus would not go away.
Even his father had talked in whispers about a savior being born in Bethlehem. But he had never mentioned anything about a stable. Which stable? John wondered.
“What can I bring to a holy infant that would be good enough?” he asked himself. Alas, he had nothing at all to give.
The sun was setting on the tiny desert village. John hurried into his humble home and got out the only protection he had against the chilly night winds, a ragged lambskin. He draped it over both shoulders like a shawl and went quietly out into the cold, dark night.
John’s mother was dead and his father and brother, James, were far off to the west gathering in their small flock of sheep.
If only the Wise Men from the East would pass near enough to his town, John thought. He could follow them to Bethlehem. They would know where to find the very place where the baby Jesus lay. Then he, too, could look upon Jesus’ face, and maybe even kiss his tiny, pink cheek. John couldn’t erase the hope of it from his mind.
Oh, but such a joyous thing as that was too much to hope for, John knew. Strangers rarely came to his simple village of poor shepherds and vineyard keepers.
He walked away from the village, to the edge of the desert. Suddenly, a brilliant star appeared in the sky! The light of it nearly blinded him!
Then he heard hoof beats. His dry lips parted in a big smile. Camels! He knew the sound well. Several of the huge beasts were coming his way. He hid behind a bramble bush. Sure enough, he soon saw the approach of three camels ridden by three men dressed like kings.
The Wise Men, thought young John. He was sure of it. “Thank you, God,” he said quietly, for he had been praying so hard that such a miracle would happen, even though his village lay far south of the Wise Men’s route to Bethlehem.
John fell in step behind the camels and their heavy burdens. But none of the Wise Men turned around to see the small figure following them.
One of the Wise Men seemed disturbed. “We must hurry!” he said to his companions. “I knew we shouldn’t have come this far south. Why did we? Now what if the sun rises before we arrive? What good would the star be in guiding us to the right stable?”
“But we’ve been following the star the whole time,” said the second Wise Man. ” Remember? Strange how it took us so far off course. I wonder why?”
“No matter,” said the third man. “Let us be on our way.”
So the Wise Men whipped up their camels and soon poor John was left behind in the dust of the camels’ cloven feet. The small boy stumbled and chased after the lumbering animals. But it was no use. A boy could not keep pace with camels. And very soon, John was all alone, like a stray lamb. But he had often been out on the plains of Judea with his father and brother, so he knew the way to Bethlehem.
Up ahead, was the great shining star. Now it hovered in the far distance, guiding the Wise Men to the little town. They would be there long before him, John reasoned, for their camels were swift of foot, while his short legs were aching from so much running and stumbling.
But something urged John to go on. A tiny voice spoke to him at times. He kept walking, but the stones and thorns in his path slowed his progress. And the darkness was a problem, too; it was worst of all.
Soon he heard the soft sound of drowsing sheep and came upon a weary shepherd squatting among his flock. “Have you seen anyone pass this way? Some Wise Men on their way to worship the baby Jesus?” John asked hopefully.
“No, I have seen no one!” the shepherd quickly declared. But his eyes were wide with wonder. “The night is very strange. A short time ago, for just a moment, I thought I was among angels and heard the heavenly choir. I was probably just dreaming. But look there! High above in the distance. What is that great light? Do you see it?”
John smiled happily at the glorious sight. “It is the star of Bethlehem that leads to the place where Jesus has been born,” he explained. “I am going there, too. But I wish I had someone to come with me. I am afraid I won’t find the right stable alone.”
” Sorry, lad. I cannot leave my sheep. You understand a shepherd’s duty, don’t you? Besides, how can we be sure that the Lord Jesus has been born this day in the city of David?”
“I just know it is true!” John insisted, still full of joy and expectation. “I heard people talking. Don’t you believe in God?”
“Oh, yes. Indeed I do! Good luck, boy,” the shepherd bade John as he continued his lonely quest toward the holy city.
Soon he heard a sound ó the loud braying of a donkey ó close by. He tried to see in the darkness. Then he heard a voice saying, “Who is there? Is that you John? James?”
John recognized the voice as belonging to Judas, a boy about his own age from the same village.
“Are you going to see the baby Jesus, too?” John asked excitedly. “Why didn’t you tell me? We could have gone together. Isn’t it wonderful?”
“I guess so,” Judas finally answered. ” But I am not going. I’m going to the river to fish. Want to come along?”
“No,” John quickly replied. “I am going to the stable to see Jesus if I can find him. I just have to!”
Judas helped John up on the donkey’s back and they went on their way in silence.
When they finally reached the gate to Bethlehem, a new day was dawning, crisp and clean. And it seemed to John that God had forgotten him. The bright star that had led the Wise Men to the stable had been snuffed out.
Now, how could John find the same stable: the place where the baby Jesus lay in a manger? Bethlehem, as he knew it, was full of stables!
Judas was angry at the sight of the rising sun. “I am late for the best fishing,” he exclaimed and went quickly toward the river.
John looked in the first stable he came to. He looked in many stables. In one stable, he found a beggar boy reaching out to him with unclean hands.
“Could you please tell me where the baby Jesus is?” John asked the boy.
“I’m Paul,” the filthy lad replied. “I sleep here all the time with the animals. There is no baby here, not even a baby lamb. I am hungry. Give me food. And I could surely use a lambskin such as yours to keep warm.”
John stepped back. He, too, was poor and had known hunger often, but he wasn’t dirty or lazy like the beggar boy Paul.
“I don’t have anything to give to anyone,” said John. “I’m sorry, but without my lambskin, I would shiver, too.”
John sat down in the straw away from the beggar boy and the still slumbering sheep and goats. Sadly disappointed because he had come so far for nothing, he put his face in his hands and quickly fell asleep.
“Wake up, John. John, wake up!” a small voice seemed to whisper. John recognized it as the very same voice that sometimes spoke to him out on the plains and back in his village. He looked all around but saw no one except the beggar boy sleeping in a far corner of the stable.
John hurried outside where the air was fresh.
The same voice he had heard inside commanded him further: “This way, John. Be of good faith. I will show you the way to the stable.”
John followed the voice to a certain stable. The Wise Men’s camels were tied up outside. He went to the stable door and looked inside. His heart jumped in his chest! Sure enough, this was the right place. He saw Mary and Joseph, and the holy child lying in a manger filled with straw. And around the Christ child knelt the Wise Men with their fine gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
The boy drew away from the stable door for a moment. What could he, a lowly shepherd’s son, give to one as great and precious as Jesus?
Mother Mary saw John standing in the doorway and beckoned him to come in.
John entered slowly, feeling very ashamed for having arrived empty-handed. But he moved near to the manger and stood gazing down at the tiny, sweet face of the baby Jesus. The baby was asleep, but gave a sudden kick and wiggle. His bare toes and feet slipped free of the swaddling clothes.
“He’s so beautiful!” John exclaimed with happiness.
“But his tiny feet will be cold without anything covering them.”
John pulled the warm lambskin from his shoulders and tucked it around the naked feet and legs of the baby.
“What a wonderful, selfless gesture,” the father, Joseph, said.
“Your gift is the best of all,” Mary said sweetly.
“The very best!” the Wise Men all agreed. “We gave things of wealth, which we have in abundance. But you gave yourself, lad.”
John leaned down to kiss the baby Jesus’ pink cheek. And when he did, it seemed that a strange voice, the very same one that had compelled him to come to see Jesus, was whispering in his ear: “You have loved me with all your heart, soul and body. Someday, John, you will know me better. You will become one of my chosen disciples.”
John turned away from the manger with the wonderful promise of Jesus ringing in his ears. Tears of great joy filled his eyes.
And from that moment on, his days were spent loving Jesus all the more and looking forward to the time when they could join in fellowship together, doing God’s work.