Toward Capernaum, Toward Hope is the story of the hidden years of Jesus and his family. It was a turbulent time in Israel. The Israeli people are occupied by Roman soldiers. In addition, there are rebel groups roaming the countryside intent on expelling the Romans from their sacred land.
Joseph, a carpenter by trade, is a man of simple hopes and desires, has a love for his family, his village, and the Galilean hills that surround him. All this comes to a sudden and traumatic end when a Roman Centurion comes into Nazareth and demands that Joseph build crosses that Rome will use to crucify captured rebels. When Joseph refuses, the Centurion beats him and later in the same day cruelly murders his wife, Sarah, and cripples his infant son, Simon.
Joseph, grieving the loss of his wife and the mother of his four sons, Judas, James, Joses and Simon, accepts the suggestion of a neighbor and takes into his home a young woman, Mary, to help him take care of his household and his boys. Over time, Joseph and Mary develop a liking and then a love for one another, become betrothed and marry and Joseph gains another son, Jesus.
Jesus, like his father, struggles with who he is and what his mission is to be in the life he has been given. He is a witness to his brother, a good neighbor, and thousands of rebels who in their struggle for freedom become casualties to their Roman oppressors. Jesus calls out to the heavens for understanding. In search of answers, Jesus, at the age of seventeen, begins a quest that will take him far from home, toiling in different trades, forming relationships and experiences that will bring him to his path, toward Capernaum, toward hope.
