When Jesus was a Little Boy

When Jesus was a little boy he liked to sit under his fathers work bench. Joseph, his Dad was an accomplished finish carpenter and cabinet maker. Under the bench little Jesus would play with the wood scraps, chips and curls falling from his father's wood plane. Out of these bits and pieces little Jesus would make his creations. Some might call them monsters as they were assembled from his imagination. Even Jesus would say when his Mom and Dad laughed at his oddities, "They are not of this world." Remember, even at the age of five Jesus was the son of God. If any kid knew of otherworldly things Jesus was one. Other than that Jesus was a normal, nice little boy. He was popular with the other kids in the neighborhood because his otherworldly miniatures made great toys and their active imaginations created great battles on faraway planets. Sometimes the cruel and bloody scenarios played out amongst the boys frightened little Jesus but he played along. He was so popular you might say he had a following.

Joseph was so proud of his kid that he made him his own tiny set of tools. Jesus had saws, hammers, chisels, wood planes, a glue pot and all sorts of fasteners just like Dad's but on a much smaller scale. When customers would come into Joseph's shop Jesus would often display his creations. They would say, "Joseph you have a clever boy. Someday he will be something." Then they would offer Jesus a coin for one of his oddities to take home to their kids. Joseph would pick him up and give him a big hug, Jesus would slip the coin into his father's tool belt, "For you Pop, don't give it to the Romans." Yes, Jesus had a wonderful sense of humor.

One day two Roman centurions entered Joseph's shop. A tall blond capo named Nolo and a swarthy dark soldier named Guillermo. Nolo's father was a baker and pasta maker from Milan, an important man. Nolo was recruited out of school where he was a star athlete, the vast Roman army needed leaders with his strong Germanic nature. Guillermo was the son of a slave, his Dad was from Espania and was captured during a war with the conquering Romans. Guillermo was conscripted because he was a big strong boy. The blond Centurion told Joseph that he needed roughly finished beams, as many as he could make. Joseph demured, "Sir, I am a finish carpenter I do not do rough work." Nolo, the blond answered. "Listen Jew, this is not a request, it is an order." The beams were to be made into the crucifix, a cruel instrument of execution much favored by the Romans. Joseph knew this and he was much saddened and troubled but if he did not comply the cruel blonde centurion would nail him to a tree of his own making.

While Nolo, the blond centurion was intimidating Joseph, Guillermo, the dark Spainiard was playing with Jesus. Jesus, a swarthy little lad reminded him of his kids at home. Guillermo was admiring all of Jesus' creations when Jesus spoke to him, in Spanish. "Brother, don't hurt my Dad. Here take some of these creatures and send them to your kids." (Hermano, no hacer dario a mi padre. Tome algunas de estas criaturas para enviar a sus hijos). Guillermo was stunned, where did this little Jewish kid learn Spanish? But he reached down and ruffled Jesus' hair and gathered up a collection of toys, his kids would love them.

Well we all now know what Jesus did with the rest of his life. He went to Hebrew school and excelled, then took up as an itinerant preacher, gathered a following and unfortunately attracted the attention of the powers that be.

As the years advanced Nolo didn't, his cruelty extended to his troops and the men under his control often complained up the chain of command. Guillermo stuck with him because the blond would let him rotate back home to Spain every few years to spend some time with the wife and kids. They were now in charge of an execution detail in Jerusalem. Guillermo thought it demeaning work, even though he was a trained and excellent killer nailing poor Jewish saps to the cross was distasteful. Nolo didn't care, he focused on his stalled career. He thought, if I could be even more cruel maybe the command would take notice.

The little boy was now a man and facing his executioners. Nolo, the blond, supervised his scourging and had him whipped within an inch of death. Guillermo was in charge of the execution team. He marched Jesus through the streets of the city, summoned the man to help carry the cross, supervised the nailing to the cross and put the cross into place on the hill called Golgotha. When Guillermo looked at the hanging, suffering criminals he felt nothing. He was just doing his job. Then in the eyes of the dying Jesus he saw the little boy from Nazareth and he thought of home. His kids had so loved those crazy creations he sent them from Palestine.

Guillermo was an efficient Roman killer, and he killed Jesus with a single stroke of his lance. This was an act of kindness because it ended Jesus' suffering.

Many years later Guillermo was converted to Christianity. He was back in Spain with his family and was drawn to the communal dynamics of Christianity. Nolo committed suicide because his career fizzled out after the torture of Jesus.

Jesus in heaven loved them both.