Skip to main content

Looking

Doctor Luke.  Do come in.

Yes, I'm Simeon's youngest son, John, although he's been dead and gone these thirty years, God rest his soul.  I certainly wasn't expecting someone to be interviewing me about him at this late date!  Take a seat, do.  Now, what was it you wanted to know?

Oh yes, he was always very religious, especially in his later years.  Bit over the top, if you ask me.  I mean, I'll attend synagogue and hear the prayers like any good Jew, but he was into all that hand-waving, psalm-chanting, messages-from-God type stuff.  "I'm looking for the consolation of Israel," he'd say - whatever that meant.  God knows Israel could do with a bit of consolation, what with all these bloody Romans - 'scuse my Samaritan - but I don't expect to see it in my lifetime.

That reminds me, you know, of the other weird notion he had.  He'd picked up this idea that he wouldn't die until he'd seen the true Messiah.  With all those nutjobs proclaiming themselves Messiah every five minutes, back then!  Dunno how he thought he'd recognise the true one.

But there was that one funny incident.  I used to look in on him most days - his eyesight wasn't so good by then and he'd had a fall or two.  Well, I went over that day and they told me he'd gone to the Temple, which wasn't so unusual.  He had some good friends there.  So I thought I'd wander over and see him.  Temple's not really my kind of place, but anyway.  Usual kind of crush with people selling sacrifices and changing money and all that rigmarole, and I'd just managed to find my way over to Dad.

Suddenly he's yelling, "John! John! I see him!"  Well, I told you he was half-blind, didn't I?  I thought he'd lost it at last.  But he's hitching up his robes and practically running over to this country couple who were waiting to present their little boy to the Lord.  By the time I caught up he was gabbling away about revelation to the Gentiles and glory to Israel, and calling blessing down on them.  "My eyes have seen your salvation," he kept saying.  What they made of it God only knows.  I tried to pull him away, but he wouldn't stop talking.  He told this poor lady a sword was going to pierce through her soul, as I recall.  I ask you, what kind of thing is that to say to a new mother?

Oh, you've tracked her down too?  She'd probably remember what Dad said better than I did.  Hope it didn't scar her for life.

Crucified?  Well, that is a bad job.  Nothing worse than seeing your kid turn out a criminal.  Guess old Dad was right about that sword through the soul comment, then, hey?

Yes, I'm sure he said he was innocent.  I was a lawyer for thirty years, you know.  They'll say anything.

Well, I heard some rumour about a guy being raised from the dead, but naturally I didn't pay much attention.  You don't really believe it, do you?  And you reckon it's that same baby?  So that's what these questions are all about.  I see.

My dad?  Well, it's funny now you mention it.  After that Temple incident I told you about, he had a heart attack and died the very next day.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
Luke 2:25-26

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Derwent Valley: Derby City and the Derwent Pilgrimage

It was 8 am and I was already hayfeverish, headachey and hot. Why on earth was I setting out to walk through the middle of Derby, when I could be up in the hills of the Peak District? No one was forcing me to do this section. I could skip it entirely. But I knew I wouldn't, because this was the next part of the Derwent Valley Heritage Way. And besides, I had a suspicion that it would be better than it looked. Alvaston Park was certainly a good start. It's a wide sweep of green grass and mature trees. I used to come here quite often when the boys were small. I was glad to see some of the planets were still there - although Mars has had a lot of feet standing on it, I think. Here's a tiny Toby in 2013 with Mars... ... and a more battered Mars today. Alvaston Park I kept off the roads for a while by following a cycle route. Even when I joined the traffic, it wasn't bad. The factories and office blocks had roses outside. This road, now the A5194, used to be the A6 coming in...

Derwent Valley: Exploring the Astons

It was the hottest day of the year so far, with a forecast high of 32°C, and I was setting out to walk around three places with very similar names: Elvaston, Alvaston, and Ambaston. I was mostly hoping they would be shady! I was expecting to park at Elvaston Castle Country Park, where there is pay and display parking, but I spotted a large layby in Elvaston village, which was not only free, but also shaded by a large hedge. This meant that I didn't walk through much of the country park. Instead I skirted the edges, passing the village hall, with its decorative windows, and approaching Elvaston Castle itself along an avenue of yew trees. Elvaston village hall yew avenue Elvaston Castle was built for the Earls of Harrington and sold to Derbyshire County Council in 1969. Unfortunately the council is struggling to find enough money to keep the building in a state of repair. The castle isn't open to the public, but the gardens are well worth a walk around. The estate church, St Bart...

Greece is the word! Part 2: Epidaurus

For the first part of our Greek holiday, see here . Day 4 - continued After much waiting around, we acquired a hire car and set off for the second part of our holiday. I am so glad that Graham can get into a strange car in a foreign country and drive away with no problems. I would be a nervous wreck. Even Graham was a little spooked by the Athens traffic - very narrow lanes crowded with cars and buses, and mopeds zipping in and out of every available gap. I had left Google Maps set to "avoid tolls", which meant that we stayed off the fancy new highway and took the old road towards Corinth instead. There was practically no traffic, so although it was slower, it felt very relaxed. We passed hills, hotels and oil refineries. Along the way, we stopped at a supermarket for supplies and drank Green Cola at the beach over the road. Crossing the Corinth Canal at Isthmia, we started heading south through the mountains of the Peloponnese. The sky had been growing darker and darker, and...