Chapter 56: John the Immerser
Jesus returns to Nazareth, electrified by news of a prophet named John the Immerser baptizing people in the Jordan River. Captivated by John’s message of repentance and condemnation of Herod Antipas, Jesus believes John may be the prophesied Messiah priest who precedes the Messiah king. Despite his family’s skepticism, Jesus announces his decision to travel to Judea to see John for himself, and invites Ana to join him.
Ana, initially enraged that Jesus can leave while she feels trapped by her gender, is overjoyed by this affirmation of their partnership. As she packs, she includes a brass comb to trade for food, a practical measure that contrasts with Jesus’s unwavering faith. She reflects, "He would trust God. I would carry a comb," underscoring their different approaches and complementary bond. Lying awake that night, Ana feels secure, believing Jesus will always take her with him.
Chapter 57: A Cord of Light
Before departing, Ana says goodbye to her aunt, Yaltha, noticing a calendar marking the twelfth of Tishri as the birthday of Yaltha’s lost daughter, Chaya. Ana realizes that she and Chaya are the same age, twenty-four, deepening their connection. A ray of sunlight creates a "cord of light" connecting them, which Ana interprets as a sign of their unbreakable bond, reminiscent of Ruth and Naomi.
Despite this reassuring sign, Ana feels dread as she leaves, comforted only by the thought that Yaltha is healthy and that Jesus would never separate them. Yaltha awakens briefly to give Ana her blessing, invoking Sophia, a representation of Alternative Faith and Spirituality. The scene is heavy with foreshadowing, highlighting Ana’s deep love for her aunt and her fear of losing this important female relationship.
Chapter 58: A Voice in the Wilderness
The journey to the Jordan River is arduous but thrilling for Ana, who feels alive and free. They find John the Immerser preaching to a massive crowd, and Ana is struck by his wild appearance and powerful charisma. She notices two of his disciples are Simon and Andrew, the fishermen Jesus befriended in Capernaum.
The pivotal moment arrives when a Sadducee challenges John to identify himself. John declares, “I am a voice crying in the wilderness.” These words stun Ana, resonating with the inscription on her incantation bowl: she was a voice. The proclamation validates her deepest longing and brings her to tears. Inspired, both she and Jesus wade into the river to be baptized. This solidifies the theme of Feminism and Women's Voices, as Ana sees a man celebrated for being a "voice," the very thing she yearns to be.
Chapter 59: Beloved Son
After their baptism, Ana and Jesus feel spiritually awakened and inseparable. Ana suggests they visit her friend Tabitha in Bethany, but Jesus becomes distant and goes off to pray. He returns before dawn with a momentous announcement: he has decided to become John’s disciple. During his baptism, he had a profound spiritual experience, hearing God call him "beloved son." This affirmation resolves his lifelong search for identity and belonging, and he now feels a divine calling to help bring about God’s kingdom.
Ana gives him her blessing, assuming she will join him. The ideal of their Love as an Egalitarian Partnership is shattered when Jesus tells her he must go alone, explaining that he must first spend time in the wilderness and that John’s movement includes no women. Ana is devastated and furious, railing against the "flawed reasons" used to exclude women from public and spiritual life. Though Jesus agrees, he says he is powerless to change John's rules and asks for time, promising to return for her in the spring. The chapter ends with Ana’s profound sense of loss: "I’d held the world too close and it had slipped from my arms."
Chapter 60: The Red Scarf
Jesus escorts Ana back to Nazareth and departs, plunging Ana into a deep depression. She isolates herself, grieving the abandonment and loss of her dreams. Yaltha cares for her, urging her not to abandon herself. The catalyst for Ana’s return to life is Salome, Jesus’s sister, who announces she is being married off to a stranger in Cana to provide a bride price for the struggling family.
Moved by Salome’s quiet sacrifice, Ana agrees to help her weave her bridal clothes. In a symbolic act, Ana gives Salome her treasured copper mirror, a gift from her childhood. Together, they defy the village’s norms by weaving cloth dyed a brilliant scarlet. Ana sews a headscarf from the red cloth and wears it defiantly, a bold statement of her individuality and resilience. When James tells her Jesus would not approve, she retorts, “Well, he isn’t here, is he?”
Key Events
- Jesus and Ana travel to see John the Immerser.
- Both are baptized in the Jordan River.
- John’s declaration deeply affects Ana.
- Jesus decides to become John’s disciple after hearing God's voice.
- Jesus leaves Ana in Nazareth, as John’s movement excludes women.
- Ana helps Salome prepare for her arranged marriage.
- Ana wears a defiant red scarf, symbolizing her reclaimed identity.
Character Development
Ana experiences a dramatic emotional journey, from elation to despair, and finally to a defiant sense of self.
- Ana: Her journey solidifies her longing for a voice and purpose. Jesus's departure forces her into grief, but she emerges with a newfound sense of self, symbolized by the red scarf.
- Jesus: He finds his divine calling through John the Immerser and feels affirmed by God. This sets him on the path of his public ministry, forcing him to leave Ana.
- Yaltha: Yaltha remains a source of strength, caring for Ana during her depression. The connection to her lost daughter adds depth to her character.
Themes & Symbols
This section explores the collision between personal ideals and societal reality, highlighting the systemic barriers women face.
- Feminism and Women's Voices: John's declaration contrasts with Jesus's decision to leave Ana behind, highlighting the barriers women face in expressing their spiritual lives.
- The Search for Self and Personal Longing: Jesus finds his identity in divine affirmation, while Ana struggles to define herself outside her role as Jesus's wife. This is a key aspect of The Search for Self and Personal Longing.
- Love as an Egalitarian Partnership: The patriarchal realities of their society test and break Ana and Jesus's egalitarian marriage.
Symbols
- John as "A Voice": Validates Ana's desire to have her words heard.
- The Copper Mirror: Symbolically sheds Ana's old self, allowing her to construct a new identity.
- The Red Scarf: Represents defiance, passion, and individuality, a declaration of her refusal to be silenced.
Key Quotes
“I am a voice crying in the wilderness.”
John’s self-proclamation is a powerful symbol of identity and purpose. For Ana, it is a validation of her own deepest desire—to have her words and stories heard and remembered.
“I’d held the world too close and it had slipped from my arms.”
This quote encapsulates Ana's profound sense of loss and disillusionment as Jesus departs. It speaks to the shattering of her dreams and the realization that her future will not unfold as she had envisioned.
Significance
This section marks the novel's turning point, initiating the central conflict: the separation of Ana and Jesus as he begins his public ministry. His spiritual awakening subordinates their personal relationship to his divine mission, forcing Ana onto her own independent journey to find her own voice and purpose. The events set the stage for Ana's evolution from Jesus's wife into a woman with her own story, faith, and legacy.