The Adventures of Tobias
Episode 1: At The Jordan River
With a bushy beard, flowing clothes, and a stomach bulging over his belt, the man oozed wealth; a tax collector – the perfect target.
Tobias pushed his way past the roughly clad man that smelt of the desert and squeezed through the gathering crowd, dodging an elbow that suddenly jabbed at his head.
He glanced back at the man in his camel-skin clothes who had barely noticed him pass by. The man was still shouting at the crowds - shouting something about brooding vipers and chopping down trees. The people must be very bored, or at least out for a laugh, to come each day to listen to this man! Soon he would start shoving people into the Jordan – everyday it was the same.
“Hey – watch where you’re going!” A woman spun around as Tobias bumped into her. Her eyes widened with recognition. “You’re the one that stole my coins!”
Tobias dove past her grasping hands. She was a renowned prostitute, not worth the light of day. Everyone called her Mary – the gracious ones anyway.
Brown eyes still on the tax collector, Tobias inched forward. The sweaty bodies pressed against him, merging together into a swarming mass of colours and shapes. Tobias glanced over his shoulder and saw the prostitute craning her neck to follow him, her curling brown hair tumbling over her shoulder. He waved at her, his grin broadening at her answering scowl. Casually, he circled up behind the tax collector. He could see the cloak bulging out at the man’s waist – the money pouch. With a crowd like this there would be no chance of being caught. Slowing to a stop, Tobias pretended to listen to the Desert Man. He glanced up at the jowled tax collector beside him. The man was preoccupied – an easy target.
Sliding a hand under the man’s cloak, he ran his finger tips lightly along the belt until he reached the pouch. He carefully slid his knife into the pouch and let the coins drop one by one into his hand so that they did not clank together. The last coin dropped softly into his palm, leaving the pouch hanging slack against the rolls of fat.
Tobias cautiously began backing away from the tax collector, moving slowly away from the scene of the crime. The sound of murmuring behind him caused the young thief to turn sharply – warily. The crowd parted and Tobias saw a man making his way through the people. For one brief moment their eyes connected. Tobias had never seen the man before, but in that moment he knew that there was nothing the man did not know about him.
(See Luke 3:7-22)
John 1:18 (KJV) “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Episode 2: Jathniel
Tobias turned and ran, toes splaying out on the hot ground. The expected outcry behind him didn’t happen; still he ran listening for the sound of heavy feet in close pursuit. Into the town and down the first street he ran until the murmur of the crowd grew distant and eventually completely faded away until Tobias could only hear the wind rushing past his ears. He slowed to a jog and then to a walk, his chest heavy and his face hot. No one was behind him.
The shaking inside began to ease but his legs still burned from the desperate escape. Who was that man that had looked right into him and why did he feel so afraid?
Gulping in a lungful of air, Tobias held his breath until he thought his chest would explode. He could feel his heart hammering against his ribs. Slowly – very slowly – he let the air hiss out between his teeth, dark eyes absorbing in his surroundings. The streets were narrow and it stunk of fish. He had only been to this area of Bethany once; the men were rough and loud but had pretty much left him alone.
Tobias pressed close to the walls following the street and circled around until he was once again clear of the buildings and back near the Jordan River, only higher up than earlier. Cautiously, he hunkered down beside the river and dipped his burning feet into its coolness.
“Ay boy!”
Leaping to his feet, legs dripping, Tobias spun around. The man had come up on him so quietly and caught him unawares. It was just the two of them – all alone. Instinctively Tobias’s hand gently cradled the coins in his secret pouch that hung against his side. The man did not look like a thief but that meant nothing. His beard was trimmed and his eyes were sharp. Tobias did not recognise him.
“You were at the Jordan River with John the Baptist.”
Tobias said nothing.
The stranger was now towering over him. He was at least twice Tobias’ width and none of his size was fat. The man was built like an ox. Tobias cast an anxious glance past the hairy arm toe the town beyond. With the river behind him and the man in front his options were limited. The only thing he could do was –
“Whoa, not so fast!” The hand that shot out and snagged his arm was fast. This was no lumbering ox!
“Let go of me!” Tobias bellowed, wriggling and squirming to get free from the unyielding grasp. Seeing that the man’s grip was only getting tighter Tobias suddenly went limp, hoping to catch the man off-guard. Nothing changed except for a slight smile quirking up the side of the man’s mouth.
“What do you want of me?” Tobias demanded, straightening to his full height – which brought him up to the mid-point of the man’s chest.
“Where’s your family boy?”
“Gone,” Tobias glared defiantly at the man – waiting.
The man squinted thoughtfully down at him. “I’m leaving soon for Galilee. You work for me and I will give you food and shelter.”
Tobias clutched at his money pouch. Why work for food and shelter when he had his own ways of making money? He looked up, eyes flicking over the man’s face. The stranger was going to Galilee, he said. Tobias thought again of the man at the river who has seen right inside of him and left him quivering. Perhaps it was time to move towns.
“Fine, just let me go,” he jerked free of the man.
The man stepped back and surveyed him, his expression unreadable. Tobias gazed back warily.
“I won’t have you running away, I can’t keep training new help,” the man warned sternly.
“I won’t,” Tobias agreed easily. He would leave when it suited him.
“Alright then,” the man nodded; his eyes steady on Tobias’ face. “I’m Jathniel.” The man slid a bag off his shoulder and Tobias found himself burdened down under the weighty load. He would not be running away easily with this thing on his back.
“Let’s go.” The man called Jathniel strode ahead of Tobias, back towards the crowd at the Jordan River.
Episode 3: The Baptism
It was definitely the bag. Tobias had pressed his own dirty sleeve against his nose but none of the smells were quite the same fishy that filled his nostrils. He caught the spicy waft from Jathniel every time he bumped into the man’s back, so he knew it wasn’t Jathniel. So it had to be the bag. Tobias lifted the bag to his nose again and drank in the fishy smell, a smile spreading across his face – it was heavenly. He would be willing to put up with a fisherman. That would mean days of rocking on the waves, slimy fishing nets and squirming slippery fish flopping around the boat. Heavenly.
He glanced up furtively at Jathniel but the man was too busy pushing his way to the front of the crowd to worry what he was up to. Tobias eased the bag open and peeked into it. It was too dark to see anything so he cautiously slid his hand in and felt through the contents of the bag wondering how many squishy fish he would feel. To his disappointment, and surprise, the first thing he felt was a parchment – the kind he had seen a Roman officer writing on once at the barracks. Something heavy slid to the corner of the bag, he grasped it and felt the solidness of gold coins. The man was letting him carry a bag with gold coins in it? Tobias looked up and eyed the broad shoulders of Jathniel suspiciously. A parchment and gold coins? He dragged his eyes over the man’s clothing. The man was dressed well but not in such a way as to mark him as wealthy. Fingers crawling along the base of the bag, his eyes never leaving Jathniel, Tobias felt a firm leather pouch. He felt along it until he came to the handle – a knife. Eyes narrowing, Tobias swung his hand once more through the bag. The only other thing in the bag was some sort of cloth that might be a cloak. He carefully closed the bag, noticing how the crowds gave Jathniel dirty looks as he moved through them yet none stopped him or argued with him. It was Jathniel’s height and the way that he carried himself – it left little room for argument. Just who was this man that dressed like a Jew and carried a bag smelling of fish but which contained gold coins and a scroll?
Jathniel never looked behind once as he led the way through the crowd, but he knew the boy was still following because the dark curls frequently bumped into him whenever he was forced to slow as he moved through the people. Jathniel smiled to himself. The boy wouldn’t run; he would be too suspicious and intrigued to do anything but follow – especially when he found the gold coins in the bag.
“Excuse me,” Jathniel eased past a woman and her baby. He could see John the Baptist was in the river and a man was with him. Pushing right through to the front, Jathniel gazed down at the pair. He could hear the unhappy murmurs of the crowd around him as he took his place at the front of them. Glancing around he realised he had placed himself right smack amongst the Pharisees, their sour faces were all turned in his direction.
“You get out of here,” one younger Pharisee yanked on the boy’s shoulder dragging the boy back. Jathniel grabbed the man’s wrist and squeezed; his eyes boring into the religious man with the ugly eyes. The Pharisee reluctantly released the boy but Jathniel let his hold linger a moment before he released the man. He ignored the boy’s mutinous look. The boy would have to deal with his own pride issues, there was nothing he would do help him with that.
He focused on John the Baptist, intrigued by the prophet’s awed expression as he gazed on the man he was about to baptise. He had been following the prophet for man weeks now but never seen the man looked as overwhelmed as right now. Jathniel studied the man beside the prophet. There was nothing out of the ordinary that caught his attention, except perhaps the man’s eyes. Eyes of peace. A man at peace or a man of peace? Jathniel watched as John lowered the man into the water, baptising him. The man came up out of the river, water streaming down his cheek and nose, his hair dripping. The man was praying. Jathniel watched, his gaze flicking between the man and John the Baptist. At that moment he caught a flutter of movement and looked up to his right to see a dove come and settle down on the man who had been baptised. Jathniel smiled, wondering if the praying man was even aware of the bird. And then saw the prophet’s face. John’s eyes were wide with wonder, and the tears were very evident as he gazed at the man in what could only be described as holy adoration. A tremor ran through Jathniel; he was not quite certain what was happening.
The air around him seemed to heat up and become charged until even his insides were quivering in an unexplainable way.
“You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Jathniel’s quivering insides stilled. The voice had come from heaven, he was certain of it. Unable to tear his eyes away from the man’s face, Jathniel wondered just what exactly he was witnessing. The awed expression on John’s face reflected the wonder in Jathniel as they watched the man. Jathniel glanced around at the face of the Pharisees beside him, expecting to share a similar wonder with them, but they were talking amongst themselves in angry whispers and some watched the baptised man with hard expressions. Had they not heard the Voice? Had they not experienced the heat and vibrancy in the air before the Voice had spoken?
Jathniel looked down at the boy. The wide frightened eyes convinced him that he was not the only witness to today’s extraordinary events.
Episode 4: The Baptism – Part 2
“Jathniel.”
The rough call could be heard above the din of the disintegrating crowd as mothers counted children and people bunched together and headed towards their homes. Tobias shot his new master a quick look; had he heard his name? It didn’t appear he had for Jathniel was still watching the baptised man with an expression Tobias could not quite interpret. He followed Jathniel’s gaze and gave an involuntary shudder, water droplets still dripping from the man’s beard. Tobias hastily lowered his eyes when the man looked in his direction, afraid that every last secret would be revealed if his eyes met the man’s eyes again. All he knew was that there was something tricky about the man; he knew more about a person than was natural.
“Jathniel!”
This time Jathniel turned at the sound of his name.
Tobias felt suddenly exposed as Jathniel no longer stood between him and the man. He ducked his head sheepishly, realising he had used Jathniel’s body as a shield. The baptised man was only steps away from him. His flesh tingling, Tobias resisted the almost overpowering temptation to cave into the unreasonable fear he felt and hide behind Jathniel. What was wrong with him? He had faced so much opposition in his short life, he could handle one man. There was nothing really peculiar about the man; it was just his imagination getting him all skittish.
Still Tobias watched the man. He watched as the Desert Man came and stood beside him and noticed the similarities of their appearance; a similarity of their noses and the set of their jaws. Neither man was a rich man because Tobias could see their bodies were strong from physical labour. The Desert Man was suntanned and weathered compared to the other man, but Tobias could see the muscles in the other man’s arms against the taunt wet garments; and when the man raised a hand and rested it on the Desert Man’s shoulder, Tobias caught sight of the deep calluses on it.
The two men were similar enough to be cousins, if not brothers.
The men exchanged words before drawing apart. Tobias froze as the man’s gaze drifted onto Jathniel and then dropped down to him. Not daring to move, he could hear his laboured breathing and then even that he no longer heard. Tobias’ vision grew blurred and the man’s sandals merged with the dust. The weight of the gold coins grew heavy and his chest seemed to burn where they rested. Could the man see the coins?
“Tobias?”
Jathniel’s body stepped between him and the man.
“Breathe boy!” Jathniel exclaimed, thumping Tobias on the back and sending a whoosh of air out of him. He glowered down at him, “Enough foolishness. Come.”
Tobias stumbled after Jathniel and the man who had joined him. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the now almost dry feet of the stranger still unmoved. Tobias shot a quick glance across at the man, and his clenched heart finally relaxed. The man was looking out towards the desert.
******
“Jathniel, are you listening?”
Jathniel nodded, answering vaguely, “Yes yes – go on.”
Tobias lowered the bowl down in front of Jathniel. His master was doing anything but listening. And why were they cooped up here in this tiny room? Jathniel had gold coins, he could afford better than this dump. This was the part of town where the outcasts live. Hadn’t he seen Mary going into a house nearby when he had gone to fetch the water?
Tobias lightly tapped Jathniel’s foot, waiting impatiently for Jathniel to slide the sandal off before putting a sand-crusted foot into the water. The sand sunk to the bottom of the basin and the dust rose and floated on the surface of the water.
“The lad should take your sandal off!” Jathniel’s friend interrupted his monologue to smack the back of Tobias’ head. “Show respect for your master, boy!”
“Leave the boy alone, Aculeo,” Jathniel roused himself. “Now finish what you are saying so I can some sleep – I’m weary.”
Aculeo. Tobias stared at the man suspiciously. That wasn’t a Jewish name, or a name of any Israelite that he had ever heard of before. Glaring at the man, Tobias splashed water up Jathniel’s ankles before turning and tossing the towel down near the basin.
Why should he take Jathniel’s sandal off? Jathniel had hands, didn’t he? Tobias watched the second foot dip into the water, noting the pale marks where the sun had not been able to get past the leather of the sandal. He glanced down at the leather sandals and his frown deepened. The pale marks did not match with the pattern of the sandals Jathniel was wearing now.
“I don’t understand you, Jathniel. We came to hear John the Baptist, how can you consider listening to anyone else? You’ve heard the man, you’ve seen the crowds, and you’ve...”
“Exactly,” Jathniel interrupted, splashing water over Tobias’ knees as his foot kicked out of the water. “I heard John say that One is coming who is greater than he is, One whose sandals he is not worthy to undo. This is the Man – I’m sure of it.”
Head shaking firmly, his friend loudly disagreed. “No – he is just a man. Let us stay and listen to John.”
When Jathniel did not answer Tobias glanced up from where he was kneeling to look at him. The expression on Jathniel’s face pleased Tobias. Jathniel’s friend might think he had won the argument but if he did then he hadn’t see the way Jathniel’s jaw twitched or the look in his eyes. Jathniel had agreed to nothing, Tobias was sure of it.
John 1:27 “It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”
Luke 4:1-2b “Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan river. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days.”
Episode 5: The Prophet and Aculeo
Five doors down, he watched the woman’s silhouette step out her door into the pre-dawn light. Now she would fiddle with her clothes and arrange her uncovered hair just as she usually did. He leant against the wall and watched as she combed her fingers through her hair, her body turned partially their way so she could watch them. It sickened him. How could a man like Jathniel willing choose to dwell so close to slime like her? Every morning without fail she came out her door at exactly the same time as them; every morning she waited for them to lead the way down to the river; and then she followed so close behind that sometimes Tobias could hear the scuffle of her foot hitting a stone or the occasional sound of her softly clearing her throat. Slime! Did Jathniel not see her?
Tobias turned away from the woman, an ugly taste in his mouth, and sighed heavily. He looked over at Jathniel who was patiently leaning against the wall beside him gazing up at the morning skies, the light streaks just beginning to stretch across the darkness.
“Let’s just leave Aculeo behind today,” Tobias grumbled.
“Hush,” Jathniel reprimanded, but Tobias felt his unspoken agreement. Aculeo always delayed them. He stayed out late at night, banged his way noisily into the room when they had already been asleep for hours, and then dropped to the ground and into such a loud snore that Tobias sometimes felt the ground tremble beneath him. Aculeo was never ready to join the early morning stream of people heading for the river. Already the crowds would be thick and the man called John would be speaking. Even the Pharisees came to hear John!
“And here we are, still waiting...” Tobias complaints died away under Jathniel’s severe look.
“Here I am!” Aculeo stepped out and adjusted his cloak tighter around his neck. It was cool now but in a couple of hours the sun would be blazing down on them until only the most eager had not abandoned listening to the Desert Man in search of shade. Tobias glanced behind him and watched the prostitute straighten and prepare to follow them. He glowered at her; it didn’t matter that she couldn’t seem him in the darkness.
“Today I am going to be baptised,” Aculeo announced loudly, rubbing his hands together. Tobias noticed Jathniel stiffen but he could not be sure why.
The three of them, or rather four of them, silently trekked along the worn path to the river. As they approached they joined up with others who had come to listen. The soft murmur of voices mingling together grew into a low rumble, and then above them the sound of a man’s voice. John the Baptist had already starting speaking.
Tobias stumbled as a form slid past him, knocking him, before weaving past into the crowd. “Mary,” Tobias sighed heavily. The woman would get a good view right near the front while he and Jathniel had to stand behind the hoards all because Aculeo was so unreliable. It just wasn’t fair.
By the time the sun was hot John had spoken many words. Tobias understood some of it but most he did not. He was restless and wished he could slip away, he could see many wealthy scattered through the crowd nearby that would make a fair picking but Jathniel was watching. The man had an uncanny knack of knowing when Tobias was ready to lighten other people’s pockets. He had already forced Tobias to return two stolen coins and apologise – the humiliation was not worth repeating. Sighing, Tobias turned to look around him. There were the Pharisees bunched together whispering, and not far from them were the Sadducees. They were so clean-looking compared to the ragged fishermen nearby. There were many dusty people as well, people who had travelled from all over Judea. Some Tobias recognised from previous days. One or two he even recognised from other towns. Mary was one of those. She too had come to hear the prophet, he had heard her telling another woman that a couple of days ago – whether or not that was true.
“She shouldn’t be allowed here,” Tobias thought, searching the crowd for her.
“And Herod!" The sound of the prophet’s voice broke through Tobias’ thoughts. He listened.
“Herod has sinned! He has taken his brother’s wife as his own. This is a sin against God’s commands for God said “Do not commit adultery.” Herod has committed adultery!”
The ripple that passed through the crowd seemed to ripple right through Tobias for he felt a tremble in his chest. Surely John knew what would happen if he said such things! Tobias looked at the Pharisees and then at the rest of the crowd. He even spotted the Romans who were present. Herod was sure to hear about this from someone here!
Tobias glanced up at Jathniel; his master’s face was hard, his jaw tense. Tobias leant forward to see Aculeo’s face and saw the shock and anger clearly visible. Heart trembling for John, Tobias gazed back in the direction of the prophet staring blindly at the crowd of backs and the rumble that swirled around him. John had been foolish to speak against Herod – even he knew that.
“Those of you who want to be baptised in water today, come and be baptised. You who want to make your lives right with God and leave your past behind, come – come and be baptised,” John shouted. The surge of people moving forward surprised Tobias. Apparently not all were as offended or afraid for John and for being recognised as one of his followers as Tobias had thought they would be.
“Aculeo?” Jathniel raised a brow questioningly, “I thought today you were to be baptised?”
Aculeo scowled, his eyes dark with trouble, “I would not be baptised by a man who speaks against Herod. Such a man should not be followed; he is teaching the people traitorous things. This is treachery!”
Clenching his fists at his side, Tobias held his silence. He knew Jathniel was a fair man and would give John a reasonable chance. He was right. Jathniel crossed his big arms against his chest and looking straight ahead observed, “But it was you who brought me here to hear the prophet. You told me he spoke truth.”
“And you said you were going to follow the man called Jesus and listen to what he had to say. You said he was ‘The One’,” Aculeo shot back, his voice edged.
Jathniel’s jaw tightened but he said nothing.
For the first time, Tobias was sorry that the man called Jesus, the one from Nazareth, had disappeared. It was said that he had gone into the desert but that was many days ago and he still had not returned. How could Jathniel follow a man who was not available to follow?
Aculeo was being unreasonable as usual.
Luke 3: 16-20
Luke 3:16: - John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Jathniel’s Letter
The rumble of Jathniel’s voice could be heard from his room; he was meeting with those two men again. What was it they discussed so earnestly in there? Tobias grabbed the shopping sack from beside the door and reluctantly slouched over to the door. He didn’t want to go to the market now, it was feverishly hot, but Aculeo had promised him a gold piece if he went.
At the door Tobias hesitated and glanced back at the partition that separated Tobias from Jathniel and his visitors. Jathniel had become very stern every time Aculeo gave Tobias tasks to do. He would not be pleased to know Aculeo had another errand for him.
“Aculeo’s just lazy,” Tobias muttered, and stepped out into the thick heat swatting at the flies. He paused, an idea striking him, and then instead of heading on towards the market place he circled around the building keeping low until he was under the window. Cautiously, he lifted himself up and peeped into the room so only his eyes were above the base of the window. A man was seated at the table writing, stopping frequently to wait for Jathniel to continue speaking. Jathniel was pacing slowly around the table; his thoughts must be deep because Tobias didn’t remember ever hearing him take so long to choose his words. Shifting slightly to the left, Tobias got a better angle of the right side of the room. He could see Aculeo leaning against the wall beside the door. He was drinking from a cup and watching the two at the table. Tobias didn’t like the way he was looking at them, but then there was not much he liked about anything Aculeo did.
Tobias looked back at the man writing. What was he writing?
Tobias crouched down below the window and strained to hear Jathniel’s voice. He spoke slow and very low so it was difficult to hear.
“In conclusion, I have decided that John the Baptist is a man who speaks...”
“Tobias! What are you doing?”
Tobias jerked his head up at the loud and accusing voice to see Mary stalking over to him, one arm waving at him.
“Ugh – why can’t you mind your own business woman,” Tobias softly growled as she diverted from her route to come over. He turned away from her, straining to listen to what Jathniel was saying above her loud voice.
“And so – I leave it to you to decide what you will do with a man who speaks such words as these.” There was a pause and then Tobias heard Jathniel say, “Alright, you can take this letter to him. I will wait for further orders.”
Tobias could picture Jathniel peering over the shoulder of the man who was writing, checking the accuracy of the letter. He knew Jathniel could write, he had seen him once or twice late at night –
“Tobias!” Mary stood right over him, gazing down at him with hands on her hips and lips pursed.
Tobias glared up at her scornfully, brushing past her so he drew her away from the window, “What do you want?”
“You’re eavesdropping,” Mary accused, “and seeing as how I knew what a righteous woman your mother was, I know...”
“Well, she’s not worrying about what I’m doing and you better not,” Tobias warned. “At least my sin is only eavesdropping, unlike yours.” He watched her steady gaze flicker, only for a moment, and then she said, “Then let’s make sure that is the worst of your sins for it is something you can deal with now.”
Disgusted with her, and embarrassed to be seeing talking to her, Tobias swung on his head and dashed around the corner, colliding into the solid body of Aculeo. Here – you poisoned street rat!” Aculeo exclaimed, grabbing Tobias around the neck. “You should be at the market. If you do not get over there directly you can forget about that gold piece.”
Spitting at Aculeo’s feet, Tobias glowered at the man’s stubbled chin, “Roman!” He jerked free and with a sour look back, slowly headed towards the market. If it was any less than a gold piece he wouldn’t be going – not for Aculeo anyway. Tobias paused, turning around to see if he could see where Aculeo had gone. Surprised, he saw Aculeo standing exactly where he had left him, watching him with hard, cautious eyes. Neither moved until someone stepped out the house behind Aculeo, then both turned to watch as Jathniel’s two visitors stepped into the heat. Aculeo nodded politely to the two men that passed by him and turned immediately right.
Tobias frowned, wondering where the second man had been in the room when he had peeked inside. He pretended not to notice the flick of Aculeo’s hand as Aculeo tried to get him moving and instead took his time to study the footprints on the ground knowing it would annoy Aculeo.
Why was Jathniel so concerned about John the Baptist? And who was that letter to? Herod? Would Jathniel be the one who would report the prophet’s words to the Romans?
His heart heavy, Tobias slowly stood. The heat rising from the ground and the sun pounding down from above suddenly seem to be crushing him as he was trapped in the middle.
Episode 7: The Stoning
“Stone him! Stone him!”
The cries reverberated off the walls, rippling through the crowd and erupting in a mixture of tearful pleading and eager determination. People came rushing into the gathering group from all sides, their eyes wide and chests heaving; some even stooping to clamber for loose stones along the edge of buildings before reaching the stoning – they had not yet even found out what the person was to be stoned for or who the person was.
Tobias watched them, back pressed against a wall and heart racing.
“You have heard the testimony of the witnesses! You know the law. This man has been worshipping idols – we have many witnesses who have come forward and given testimony of this. Stone him!”
It was the same man that regularly roused the crowds for stonings. Tobias eyed the man, the twisting feeling inside of him telling him the man was up to no good, he was not even a priest, yet the people responded to his lust for blood with an eagerness that Tobias despised. Pushing off the wall, Tobias pressed past a buxom woman, moving closer to the man with the full grey beard and merciless brown eyes.
“You – throw your stone!” the man bellowed, thrusting a beefy hand out in the direction of the tent-maker who lived just beyond the market. “Throw it!” the beard wobbled angrily.
Tobias sidled closer, raking the man up and down with his eyes. He knew where the man hid his coins – today would not be the first day he had lightened this blood-thirsty man’s purse. Tobias waited until the man reared forward to hurl his first stone and at that precise moment yanked the entire purse from the man, knowing that he would never feel it go with all that murderous blood coursing through him and pounding in his ears.
Stuffing the coins into the depths of his clothes, Tobias shot a sharp glance at the one being stoned. It was a man, skinny and worn from living. Already he was crouched over trying to shield his head and eyes from the jagged rocks that were cutting chunks into his body; Tobias did not recognise him. Turning away, he glided down the front line of the crowd to a group of priests, trying to look unbothered by the scene happening behind him. He was tough, he had seen many stoning before – it was nothing to him now.
“Mercy! Plea-”
The man’s plea was abruptly cut short at the sound of rock connecting with bone. Tobias spun around involuntary, his stomach curdling at the sight of blood pouring out into the dirt from the grey head that now rested – lifeless – on the dirt; red and brown merged into a sticky stain.
On the verge of being sick, Tobias elbowed his way out of the crowd and came to a stumbling stop. Against a wall, slightly away from everyone, was Mary. She watched the crowd impassively, her eyes hard – revealing nothing. She turned and saw him watching her.
Tobias straightened and tried to look cocky, he pointed at her and then jerked his thumb at the dispersing crowd and the dead figure sprawled in the dust. “You’re next,” he mouthed.
Her expression never changed; big eyes with hidden thoughts.
Tobias scowled at her, “Soulless creature.” He kicked at the dust and wandered slowly along towards the market to get Aculeo’s fish, counting the coins in his fingers as he went. He dared not bring the purse into view lest someone spot it and recognise it as belonging to the grey-bearded man.
“Tobias! You want to come fishing?”
At the sound of his name Tobias swung around, losing count. “Samuel? Elias?” he smiled, surprised to see the sons of the carpenter across the street waiting for an answer. He had supposed they would never speak to him again after he had tricked their eldest brother into giving him that donkey. “Sure!” he let the coins drop back into the purse and smiled as they clunked against the other coins.
“You see the stoning?” Elias asked as they dashed through the streets narrowing missing person after person.
“Yeah, guess he deserved it,” Tobias shrugged, his heart squirming.
“My father says that if we obey the law we don’t have to fear it. That man got was coming to him,” Elias careered around another corner. “I just got to get my fishing bag quick.”
Tobias and Samuel were left standing together outside the carpenter’s house. Tobias studied the tanned skin and pale eyes of Samuel out of the side of his eye, pretending to be absorbed in some pebbles on the ground. Samuel was about his own age, younger than Elias, and so clean compared to Tobias. From what Tobias had seen, Samuel didn’t say much.
“So you agree with Elias?” Tobias was surprised to hear himself ask. What did it matter if Samuel agreed or not? He thought of the man groaning as rocks gashed into him, the man’s life ebbing out of him as every stone struck. Tobias must be a heathen to even think of mercy for a sinner.
“Forget it,” Tobias shook his head, glad when Elias stepped out yelling, “I’m going to get at least eight fish. Bet you two don’t get any between you!”
“Be back before dark boys,” a woman appeared at a window, soft brown hair pulled back and half covered by a pale cloth. She must be their mother, Tobias thought, noticing that neither boy responded to her.
Episode 8: The Fishing Catch
Tobias kept watching her hoping that she would look his way, but she resolutely ignored him. She had eyes only for her sons, a worried line crinkling her smooth brow. Tobias took in the soft curve of her face and the worn looking hands. She wasn’t as pretty as Mary but she worked hard – her dry, cracked hands were proof of that.
“Come on Tobias!” Elias bellowed.
Reluctantly, Tobias turned away from their mother with one last wistful glance. Not even Elias’ yell had shifted her gaze his way. Was he that repulsive? He stumbled, his heart heavy, before he saw Elias and Samuel kicking up dust ahead of him. Fishing! Smiling inside, Tobias pounded after them.
“Look – a splash!” Elias hopped up and down, excitedly pointing at a ripple in the water. “Quick, get the fishing stuff. I’m going to catch the first fish.”
It was a command, not a hope. Tobias felt the hairs on his neck prickle up indignantly. Why should Elias catch the first fish? He glanced at Samuel but the younger boy was quietly unwinding his fishing cord, his expression unruffled.
Tobias waited for Elias to lend him a fishing cord but Elias was already wiggling his cord in the water, he had a net beside him ready to scoop a fish out.
“Here,” Samuel handed Tobias the cord he had untangled.
“Thanks,” Tobias accepted it in surprise. “Don’t you want me to untangle my own cord so you can get fishing?”
“There’s no rush,” Samuel shrugged and began unwinding another cord. “See that man there?”
Tobias glanced at Elias who was engrossed in his fishing and then forced himself to wait and listen to Samuel. He followed Samuel’s gaze to where a scrawny old man sat on the bank of the river staring deeply into the water.
“That’s Shallum. He’s not very friendly – you better stay away from him,” Samuel advised.
“He’s plain sour!” Elias called.
Tobias studied the old man with interest. There was nothing outstanding about the man – at least what Tobias could see past the reeds. The man did have a big scowl on his face though – perhaps he had overhead Elias’ loud comment.
Tobias nodded, picking his way through the reeds to find just the right spot to fish from. He found a space to sit amongst the reeds and dipped his cord into the river and wiggled it. He had never fished this way before but it was worth a try. The three boys fished in contented silence, interjected only by Elias’ cries of exuberance or frustration.
The sun was low in the sky when Samuel said in his quiet way, “Time to go – you can keep that cord if you want Tobias.”
“Thanks,” Tobias stayed seated while Samuel got up. He watched Samuel get the grumbling Elias to wind his cord up. Elias’ eyes shifted between Tobias’ fish, Samuel’s fish and then his own fish. Tobias also gazed at his four beautiful fish, then at Elias’ three, and then at Samuel’s three fish. He saw relief flicker in Elias’ face when he counted Samuel’s fish. Tobias glanced at Samuel and met the quiet smile with one of his own. Neither told Elias that Samuel had given away at least three fish on those regular ‘relief’ visits he had kept making.
“See you Tobias,” both boys called.
“Yeah, see you,” Tobias turned back to the water and tickled it with the fishing cord, glancing curiously down the bank at Shallum who was still there, his expression darker than before.
Tobias thought it was prudent to shift himself into the deepest shadows of the reeds near him just in case the man became violent as night set in. The night birds had begun to call and in the distance Tobias could hear the voices of people returning home. Still he stayed where he was. Once he heard the ‘blop’ of a fish breaking surface and a little up the bank he could see the silhouette of a stork posed absolutely still. Tobias rubbed his arms wishing he was not buried in the insects’ stronghold. He was itching like crazy.
The sudden crackle of reeds startled Tobias. He lost a grip on his cord and had to hastily scoop it from the surface of the water with his foot before it sank.
Crouching on his haunches, he shifted cautiously towards the old man, watching in intrigue as the man dragged a heavy bag out of the reeds with some huffing and scooped it into his arms. What was he doing?
Tobias edged closer just as the man stepped into the water and walked in deeper - a short rope tied him to the bag. He watched in horror as the weighty bag slid off the bank and immediately dragged the man under. Gasping, Tobias scrambled to the slippery part where the man had gone in and jumped after him as the last ripple from the bag lapped the bank. The water was warm and plants scratched at Tobias under the water.
He needed to find the man – quick! Legs and arms flailing, Tobias almost choked in relief as his right leg connected with the solid feel of the man’s body. Tobias dove under the water, clawing for the bag and when he found it tugged with all his might. The bag didn’t budge an inch. Tobias felt for the cord that connected the man to the bag and then with every fibre in his body he yanked the cord. It came loose with a sudden jerk.
Clutching at the limp body, Tobias pushed off the sandy floor and broke the surface of the water with a huge gasp. He beat at the water with his legs, sometimes kneeing the man in the back as he struggled to reach the river bank. Occasionally the weight of Shallum’s body pushed him under the water so that Tobias had to fight panic. Sometimes he almost lost a grip on the body in his desperation to reach the surface again and breath.
It felt like hours but it could not have been long at all before he lay heaving on the bank, the limp body of the old man sprawled out beside him. Tobias lay gasping for air, his eyes on the man’s chest beside him – the chest wasn’t moving. Tobias lifted his cheek off the grainy ground and reeds, and then pushed off the floor, his heart pounding. He fought to flip the man onto his stomach and then began pounding Shallum’s back. Once he had rescued a dog that some rich kids had tried to drown – this had worked for the dog, surely it would work for the man?
He watched the water trickled from the man’s mouth; Tobias’s eyes scoured the body until they came to rest on the man’s right hand. The fingers were bent and shrivelled, the hand twisted and warped and unusually small in size.
Taking a deep breath Tobias thumped the old man’s back again, sagging in relief as the man spluttered to life.
Episode 9: The Beginning
“Boy, get!”
“No!” jaw clenched, balled fists at his side, Tobias defiantly ground his heels into the river bank. It wasn’t the first time he had been told to ‘get’ today and the sun wasn’t even up yet! If he skulked away every time he was told to then this old crab wouldn’t have that fresh bread perched on the rock in front of him.
He watched as the lean, weathered face with the bristle stubble shook slowly, “Just no respect for elders, that’s what it is.”
“And no concern for anyone else either!” Tobias shot back sarcastically. His heart still trembled at the memory of Shallum’s still form even though a good many nights had passed by since then. He had been watching Shallum closely afraid that the old man might try another stupid stunt, but if anything the whole incident had already stolen whatever life was left in the man. There was no more life left to fear losing except the shallowest of breaths. Shallum barely acknowledged anything. His eyes were dark caverns of empty dreams. Tobias wondered if his eyes would one day have the life sucked out of them.
“Or maybe my eyes will just turn to stone, like Mary’s,” Tobias mused. He was so deep in thought that he did not hear the soft tread of a man approaching. He startled when a shadowy row of toes stepped into the firelight beside him. A sense of foreboding filled him as he stared at the toes for a long moment knowing deep inside his gut whose they were. He wouldn’t forget that day by the river very easily. Cautiously, he raised his eyes up to the face of the newcomer and gulped nervously – yet was unable to tear his gaze away. There was something so magnetic and compelling about this man that gave him at shiver of nervous anticipation.
“May I join you?”
Instinctively, Tobias shook his head and then glanced over at Shallum who had not registered that their world had been invaded. Tobias changed his mind; it would be good to have any company apart from Shallum’s for a little while – even if it was this man. He nodded, turning back to the fire and the fish that he was roasting.
No one spoke. Instead they all listened to the crackle of dry reeds and driftwood and drank in the smoky smell mixed with roasting fish. Tobias turned his body slightly so he could surreptitiously study the man. He noted the thin face and the peacefulness that enshrouded him and them now that he had come. The man looked hungry.
“You came from the desert?” Tobias queried.
The man nodded, a slight smile curling his lips, “You are very observant.”
Tobias shrugged casually, squashing down the smile that rose up inside of him. He studied the fish and then Shallum. He could feel his own stomach rumbling but then remembered Samuel and the fishing cord that Samuel had taken time to untangle and give him before getting his own cord. Reluctantly, Tobias drew one of the fish from the fire and held it out to the man. He watched the man blow the fish slowly before tentatively taking a small bite. The man’s hands were strong and lean. In the firelight mixed with pre-dawn light Tobias could make out a small scar on one of his knuckles the back of his hand. It was an old scar. What was it this man did? “Apart from get baptised and know everything about everybody,” Tobias wondered.
He wriggled uncomfortably at the warm amusement that met him when the man glanced his way.
“That’s Shallum,” Tobias offered quickly, pointing at the shell of human across the fire from them. He let out his breath as the warm gaze turned towards Shallum. Tobias gazed at the man in wonder. He knew those penetrating eyes saw more than anyone else he knew. How was it that one man’s eyes could hold so much life and another’s could be so empty?
“Shallum.”
Tobias watched as the man stood and circled around the fire. A roughened hand stretched out to touch Shallum’s shoulder.
“Shallum.” The man waited until Shallum lifted his heavy head and stared up at the man dully.
“Rise and stand tall, Shallum, a way shall be made for you where there was no way.”
Shallum’s eyes flickered. Was it fear?
“A way shall be made for you where there was no way,” the man repeated firmly, holding Shallum’s gaze steady. Life was radiating out of the man.
Tobias did not know what was happening but he could have sworn that he heard something like shackles clicking loose. He even looked around to check if anyone was lurking nearby, but he saw nothing move. The horizon was an array of oranges and purples and the sound of the river swirled around them. There was no other movement except some ravens flying overhead, but not even there raucous cry could break the stillness that was over the three of them.
“What should I do?” Shallum asked at last, staring up at the man. His voice sounded dry and dusty.
“Rise and stand tall. You will know what to do when it is time,” the man answered.
The words were a mystery to Tobias and he didn’t know what was going on, so he grabbed the last fish off the fire, glancing over at Shallum’s cold fish that lay stiffly beside the cooling bread. At least the man had eaten his fish while it was hot and crispy.
“Tobias?” the man settled back into the place he had been seated before. “Thank-you for the breakfast.”
Tobias nodded, ducking his head. How had the man known his name? Had he spoken to one of the people by the river that day when he had seen Tobias and surely known about the gold coins? He waited, sensing that the man had more to say. He was right. The question that followed was not condemning, yet it hit home.
“Where is your master?”
Tobias felt like he turned to salt mid-movement starting at the hand that held the fish and ending at his tingling toes. Only his head could still move and he half wished it couldn’t because when he turned he met with those eyes that saw all and yet expressed kindness even more.
Episode 10: Shallum’s Stand
Panic-struck, Tobias could only gape at the man. The rest of him was paralysed. The man was watching him openly, his eyes peaceful but concerned. Angry, Tobias blurted out, “Who told you about my Master? Why are you so nosey?”
“Tobias!” Shallum’s voice cut the air sharply.
Stunned, Tobias looked over at Shallum. Since when had he woken to this world?
“You will not talk to our guest like that. Apologise!”
Lips clamped together mutinously. He would not apologise – after all, he had invited this man to sit with them while Shallum sat like a mute drunk beside him oblivious to the world. Shallum had no say over him. He was his own person, not Shallum’s, not Jathniel’s, no one but his own!
“Tobias, you have choices to make,” the man’s eyes were kind but serious. Tobias didn’t want to meet them and yet at the same time he did. The warmth in them was compelling. “You have many difficult choices to make that will influence the way your life goes. Choose wisely because when the time is right I will come back and give you another chance to make a choice.”
A shiver ran through Tobias as the man stood and thanked him for the fish. Something was wrong, he just knew it. It was as though his response to the stranger had left him feeling empty inside, but why? He had said way worse things to people in the past; why should he feel like this towards this man?
He watched with growing dejection as the man headed into the city.
“What?” Tobias turned to find Shallum glaring at him accusingly.
Shallum’s scowl deepened.
“It’s not my fault he left,” Tobias shook his head firmly. “He obviously had somewhere to go. Anyhow, what’s got you so woken up.”
Suddenly, Shallum jumped to his feet, “I’m going to follow him. Come with me boy.”
Stunned by Shallum’s sudden life, Tobias hesitated.
“You’ve been kind to me boy,” the ragged old man persisted. “Come with me. Don’t let me have to leave you behind when we could be following him,” he pleaded.
Tobias stared at Shallum and then at the man who was just a distance speck now. He didn’t want to follow anyone. Wasn’t that why he had run away from Jathniel? Wasn’t that why he had run away from home before that? Wasn’t that why he had been happy to stay with Shallum because Shallum was no threat to his independence?
He shook his head slowly and turned back to face the fire, sorry to be losing Shallum even if he hadn’t been the greatest of company.
He almost wished Shallum would have insisted he came but Shallum didn’t. But the old man had learnt one thing about Tobias during their time together, and that was that Tobias was stubborn.
Jathniel lingered. He knew he was already pushing boundaries by staying these few extra days but he missed the boy. Perhaps the extra time would be just long enough for the boy to decide to return. He scowled at Aculeo feeling like Aculeo was to blame for the boy’s disappearance.
“You know he won’t be back,” Aculeo’s eyes glittered with cold humour. “He’s from the street, he knows how to survive.”
Jathniel clamped his jaw together, stomping to the door to glare out at the passers-by.
“And if you don’t return soon you’re going to get into heck of a trouble,” the pleasure in Aculeo’s voice drove Jathniel from the house. He would not stay one moment longer with the heckler or Aculeo would have a fine big bruise to show off tomorrow.
Striding through the crowds, Jathniel headed for the market. Just as he was reaching the market he thought he caught sight of a child about Tobias’ size ducking between some women headed towards the river.
Jathniel dove between the women but there was no child anywhere.
The women were both very indignant.
“Excuse me, I thought I saw someone,” Jathniel backed away from them, smiling politely as he circled cautiously around them and then with one last mumbled apology he dashed towards the river.
“Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region” Luke 4:14.
Episode 11: Silver?
They were onto him! Their heavy breathing and clatter of steps now mingled with his own gasps for air. He was out of practice. Playing nurse-maid to an old man clearly did not pay off.
Up ahead he could see the drifting crowds – always on the look-out for excitement. Tobias faltered, his steps slowing and his mind racing as he debated his choices.
“Ha!” a bellow of triumph startled Tobias, as a beefy hand wrapped, unyieldingly, around the back of his neck. His momentary hesitation had cost him.
The jumble of heaving bodies that skidded around the corner roused the slightest of smiles in Tobias as he studied the odd assortments of seething men that uttered venomous mumblings under their breath.
“I’ve got him!” As if to confirm his words, the giant squeezed Tobias’s neck until Tobias’ breaths grew short and he started to cough.
A hairy-faced man tossed his flowing robes around him and strode up to Tobias, his hand out-stretched and his chest still rising and falling sharply. “Give it to me.”
Tobias stared up at the man innocently, the weight of silver in his pocket growing heavier by the minute.
“Give it!” The man hissed, red lines mapping across the white of his eyes. Suddenly, he lunged forward and snatched the pamphlet from Tobias’ hand. “Insolent boy!” the man spluttered.
Tobias fingers grappled at air, his eyes following the pamphlet in wonder. He barely remembered picking it up. It must have been with the silver. He watched as the man turned away, drawing the rest of the men into a whispering huddle.
“What should I do with him?” The gruff voice of Tobias’ captor was accompanied by a curling pain that shot from Tobias’ neck down his arms and torso.
“I’m too busy to worry with him,” the piercing eyes of the leader scorched into Tobias, “this time.”
With apparent reluctance, Tobias’ captor relinquished his secure hold.
Tobias did not wait for second thoughts. He was already running before the finger tips had left his neck. Skidding around a corner, he raced into the crowd ignoring some of the suspicious glances that were cast his way. A few minutes later, assured that the men had not picked up their chase again, he slowed to a walk and eventually slunk stealthily towards a blind man that sat on his cloak against a wall. He crouched into a small ball not too far from the blind man and then began to silently count the silver with his fingers, his eyes constantly roving through the faces around him.
“Here, if you buy this one you will feel as wise as Solomon himself.” The smooth voice was heard persistently above the general hum of the crowd.
Tobias paused in his counting, searching the faces until he spotted the speaker. A man of about thirty was moving through the crowds holding a bag close to his chest. Every now and then he stopped and spoke earnestly with anyone who happened to glance his way, trying to convince them to buy his potions. “Buy this one then, it will make your beard grow longer and thicker. Everyone that has ever bought it has assured me that it has changed their lives.” The speaker now stood in front of a young man with the first scratchings of bristles on his chin. The young man stared at the jar, eyes widening in wonder.
“Don’t listen to him,” the blind man suddenly spoke up from beside Tobias, startling Tobias and the two men who each had a hand on the jar now.
The young man hesitated, staring at the blind man.
“You’ll only be buying water from the river – dirty water at that,” the blind man laughed, scorning the young man for being so stupid.
“Hush up blind man, what do you know?” the seller scoffed relinquishing his hold on the jar so that the young man now held it. “You just want him to give you his money instead of him making good use of it. Selfish beggar!”
As though reassured, the young man smiled suddenly and digging in his pocket flicked a coin at the seller. He glanced at the blind man, shrugged, and then tossed a coin into the man’s lap before disappearing into the crowd, clutching his jar happily to his chest.
Both the seller and the blind man laughed – for different reasons. The seller’s laugh hard whereas the blind man just shook his head, pitying the fool that had bought the useless ‘potion’. Tobias fingers coiled around the coins again, the momentary distraction over.
“Let us through!” The voice of his most recent captor rang out, the crowd parting around them.
Tobias’ shrunk back into the shadow of the blind man’s cloak.
Through the crowd came the giant grim and unsmiling as he shoved a man along ahead of him. Behind, in a tight group, came the rest of the men still glistening from their recent exertion.
“By the order of Herod,” the leader held up the pamphlet, Tobias’ dirty finger-print clearly visible on it, “we arrest John the Baptist.”
Jathniel felt something heavy drop into his inner pocket. His instant reaction was to slap his hand against his pocket, immediately suspecting a theft.
Instead his hand connected with a weighty bulge. He tugged a little pouch out of his pocket, instantly knowing it held coins. Spinning around, his gaze collided with wide brown eyes.
Tobias looked thin and dejected. His shoulders were slumped and he couldn’t hold Jathniel’s gaze as he once had.
Jathniel glanced back at the sack of silver, then at the boy. Looking up, through the crowds, he watched Aculeo follow the group of men that herded the prophet towards Herod’s prison. Scowling at the back of Aculeo’s head, he let out a heavy sigh. Perhaps his former friend would not pay today, tomorrow, or even this year – but he would definitely pay at some point for the wrong that had been done today.
“Come,” Jathniel made an effort to keep the harshness out of his voice as he squeezed through the bodies, pausing long enough to toss the sack of silver at the feet of a blind man leaning against a wall nearby.
Episode 12: More than just a man
Tobias watched Jathniel as closely as Jathniel watched Tobias. Every breath, almost, was mentally recorded. They moved around the inn room pretended to be absorbed with chores and lost in their thoughts but their jerky steps and side-long glances said otherwise.
Twice Jathniel cleared his throat wanting to say something – anything! – to ease this painful silence. Every time he had something to say his throat seemed to dry up, clogging the words in his chest. A hasty, awkward, sip of water and he was ready to speak – only now his thoughts seemed foolish and forced.
The sound of loud laughter floated in the window bringing blessed relief to the cautious silence of the room. Both turned to watch as two men walked by the window. The smaller man with the gold in his ear said, “Herod is sure to kill the prophet – especially after all the things he said against Herod stealing his brother’s wife.” And then they moved on, out of sight and hearing.
A sharp intake of breath caused Jathniel to turn, meeting the frightened eyes of his little protégée. Was this the same cocky, confident lad he had taken in a few weeks back?
“Will they kill him?” Tobias quavered.
“Not sure,” Jathniel’s eyes searched Tobias, seeking answers, but the young face hid all emotion but concern. “Are you worried they will come after you?” Jathniel guessed, but instantly knew he was way off track when Tobias barely acknowledged his question.
“But John – the prophet – he did nothing wrong,” Tobias slowly packed Jathniel’s spare garments into a bag. They would be leaving soon and heading back to Galilee where Jathniel came from. “Why has Herod taken him?” He could still feel that pamphlet in his hand. If only he had not been so concerned about the money – for a while it had been in his power to prevent John being arrested! If only...! Tobias cursed his stupidity and money-grasping habits.
“Tobias.” Jathniel’s quiet reprimand brought Tobias up short.
Glowering, Tobias avoided Jathniel’s gaze as he stuffed the spare pair of sandals into the bag. What did this rich man understand about his life? How could this man with the Roman sandals possibly know the life he had lived? Tobias’ gaze flickered to the window and sunshine. He had only been indoors for a few hours and already he felt restless. He had to do something to undo the wrong he had done. Somehow he had to try and rescue the prophet. And then he thought of the man called Jesus – the man with the eyes that saw deep into people – perhaps he could do something.
“I – I need to-to say goodbye to...to someone.” The words sounded weak even in his own ears. He couldn’t even lie properly anymore. What was happening to him!
Without waiting for an answer, Tobias dashed from the inn, barely avoiding bumping into someone as he dashed to the place where Jesus of Nazareth was staying. He knew where Jesus lived because he had wanted to see where someone like Jesus lived and had followed him home one day. But Jesus was not there. Tobias hesitated before racing across to the blind man’s usual spot. “Where is Jesus of Nazareth?”
5 minutes later Tobias found the man called Jesus. He was standing with some men talking. Even though Tobias could not see Jesus’ eyes he knew without a doubt that Jesus was watching someone – really watching. This was confirmed when Jesus said to those near him, “Here is a true Israelite in whom there is nothing false.”
Curious, Tobias stood on tiptoe trying to see who was receiving such praise from the man who saw deep into people. Jesus, for sure, would not say that about him! He didn’t like to think what Jesus would say about him.
A man came up to Jesus – a man strong and fierce.
“How do you know me?” the man demanded.
Tobias stared at the man in awe, wondering at his audacity – yet admiring him immensely. He decided then and there that he was going to be a man just like this one. A man strong and brave who said exactly what he thought and yet was a ‘true Israelite’ with ‘nothing false’ in him. He hadn’t known such men existed until now – except maybe for Jathniel. But then again, he hadn’t quite figured Jathniel out yet.
“I saw you while you were still under the fig-tree before Philip called you.”
Jesus’ answer made Tobias’ heart thump. He knew this man was more than just ordinary. What kind of person could see people from such a distance and know things about them without anyone telling him? There was something really different about this man. Unsettled, Jathniel watched the ‘true Israelite’ certain he would know how to handle this.
“Rabbi,” said the true Israelite.
Tobias’ heart picked up in tempo, running at gallop. ‘Rabbi’ – teacher? This was not what he had expected – and yet...
He could see the true Israelite, eyes earnest and intense, and then there was the man. The man had turned slightly and he could see his eyes – the eyes that saw everything. Nothing could escape those eyes, Tobias was sure of it, and yet – they were so kind.
“You are the Son of God.”
Tobias’ insides froze.
“You are the King of Israel.”
And then the freeze inside of Tobias melted like a mighty waterfall because his ears began to roar blurring out Jesus of Nazareth’s response to the true Israelite. He instinctively crouched – trying to blend with the ground.
This was the Son of God? Panic ripped through Tobias in a way he had never known before. What was the Son of God doing on earth? Why was he here? What would he do? Eyes flicked to the true Israelite who was watching the Son of God in awe. Surely the true Israelite had nothing false in him – how else could he stand in front of the Son of God and not die?
Tobias scooted back slowly, careful not to make any sudden movements that would draw the Son of God’s attention to him. He would not stay here, could not stay here, a moment longer. He would have to find another way to rescue John the Baptist – a way that did not mean exposing himself to the Son of God.
“You are My Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Luke 3:22
Episode 13: The Rescue Attempt
For hours Tobias haunted the outer courtyard of Herod’s palace. Sneaking and ducking around the palace guards was easier than it should have been – all except for the little guard with the bristly eyebrows that chewed something non-stop. The rest of the guards had a particular path they followed and kept a regular timed routine, but not this guard. It was as though he was determined to be difficult. He would trot along the courtyard to just before the corner and then suddenly loop back on himself, eyes sparkling with anticipation as they darted eagerly around.
Almost disappointed not to see anything unusual, the guard would then slowly cross the courtyard at a diagonal, prodding and poking at shadows and bushes hopefully. Once his stick caught Tobias in the shin. Tobias writhed in silent agony, while trying to skulk silently back into the depth of the bush. The guard must have felt his stick hit something hard because he ducked down and started rummaging in the bush.
Not stopping to recover, Tobias took one skimming glance around and then ducking out the other side of the bush hobbled into the shadows of the wall.
Manoeuvring through the building was slightly trickier than Tobias had imagined it to be. However, he eventually found his way through the darkened passage ways and after some soft whispering located John in the prison.
“Psst, Sir,” Tobias whispered into the darkness. “Please, I want to help you.”
“Who are you boy?” a gruff voice was heard with the scuff of soft steps as the prophet rose.
“A -" Tobias hesitated. Was he a follower? Or perhaps a rebel? More likely the second but it would never do to say that while actually in the prison – too risky. “No one really, but I saw why they took you and I want to get you out. I have friends who can help.”
“And what purpose would it serve for me to be out?” inquired the prophet.
Tobias was stumped. “Well,” he scratched his temple. “It’s just that it is wrong and unfair, I suppose, for you to be here. Please, the guards will be back soon. Will you agree to a plan?”
There was silence. Tobias waited excitedly for the prophet to breathlessly demand to know the extraordinary plan he had. He was a hero. He would make everything right and even out his wrongs. He was bubbling with anticipation and was about to blurt out the plan when the voice spoke again.
“I do have a request of you.”
“Yes?”
“I want you to find the One called Jesus. He is the One that I testify about. Find Him and follow Him for then God’s purpose for me is being accomplished.” The clatter of a guard’s step echoed in the darkness, and then the flicker of a torch flame in the passage began to approach.
“Please,” Tobias exclaimed. “I am responsible for you being here. I held the order of your arrest and yet I did not fight to keep it. Let me do this!” his voice rose desperately.
“Child,” the voice was soft and earnest. “You are not responsible for me being here. God knows.”
As the guard approached, Tobias reluctantly sank into the shadows. His mission had been futile. He crept back to the courtyard and as soon as he came into the sunlight he made a wild dash for the exit. The cry of the little guard sent an adrenaline rush flooding through his body. John the Baptist, and all the accompanying worries, was forgotten as Tobias skidded into the streets enjoying every moment of the chase. Now this was living!
**********
“Tobias, you’re back just in time,” Jathniel was waiting for him at the entrance to their quarters. He took one look at Tobias’ tattered clothes and bruised face and said sharply, “Clean up boy, and then we’re going.” After Tobias was inside the house, Jathniel searched the streets wondering if he would see a pursuer, but there was none in sight. A few people passed lazily by - they were in no rush. Obviously the pursuer had already caught the pursued judging by Tobias' appearance.
A short time later, Jathniel and Tobias set off for Galilee. For some reason Jathniel decided to walk. Tobias could not understand why for he was sure that Jathniel had money to spare. The dusty road stretched long before them, yet held Tobias in fascination. He had travelled a couple of times between towns but this time there would be food, protection and company. He didn’t mind any of them in particular. Besides, John the Baptist – the man he could have rescued – had told him to seek out Jesus of Nazareth. The least he could do to show his regret was to find the man and e knew for a fact that Jesus had left for Galilee. It wasn't like he actually had to do anything once he found the Person. All John had said was to find Him and follow Him - he could do that easily without to much trouble . John had never said how long he had to follow Him, or at what distance...
Episode 14: Sychar and Beyond
Hard, unyielding and long, the road ahead wound endlessly on. Jathniel was already way ahead but Tobias could not help staring back in the direction that they had come. They had passed through some hills that were dotted with trees in certain areas and thick with them in others. However, this particular area was scorched a yellow-brown colour from the relentless heat of the sun. It made Tobias’ throat scratchy causing him to cough from dust and thirst. He just didn’t remember the road being so long before – or maybe he had slept through some of it?
“Tobias, hurry up!”
Tobias turned to see Jathniel had paused up ahead, now a shadowy outline, waiting for him. He reluctantly shifted his weary body back into motion and dragged one foot after the other. Jathniel was walking again. His strides were still strong yet he had tried to slacken his pace a little. The discreet attempt at allowing for Tobias’ shorter legs did what nothing else could have done – it challenged the stubborn pride in Tobias to rear up defiantly. He was a man; he didn’t need anyone slowing down for him. Eyes set straight ahead, Tobias stepped quicker. He noticed Jathniel glance at him curiously but chose to resolutely ignore him.
“Not much longer and we’ll be reaching Sychar,” Jathniel offered, shifting his load to his other shoulder. His eyes sought Tobias’ in concern. “We’ll be able to rest there for a bit.”
Tobias nodded briefly.
“Jacob’s well is there. We can draw water and enjoy it.”
Water. The very word made Tobias’ limbs tremble with pleasure and fatigue. He almost, although not quite, felt weak from dehydration and exhaustion. He could walk a few more miles – it was nothing.
*****
Twenty minutes later and Jathniel was offering for the fifth time to carry Tobias’ small bag. The boy was pale, his lips cracked, his eyes glazed but his jaw set into a stubborn line of determination.
“We are there!” Jathniel whooped in relief. “Jacob’s well.”
A woman was standing beside the well watching them as they approached. Before they had reached her she had begun to draw water up from the well calling, “You must be thirsty. Here is some water.”
“You hear that Tobias – water at last!” Jathniel’s pleasure was mixed with concern. Tobias had not spoken in nearly an hour – he had pushed the boy too hard.
The woman held out the water to Tobias, her eyes kind, “Drink this child.”
Tobias stopped where he was, staring at the hands that were stretched out towards him.
“A Samaritan!” he tried to growl out his scorn but instead spoke in a reedy crackling voice. All moisture in his mouth was gone. His lips were sticking together and his vision was slightly blurred. He should have accepted Jathniel’s help.
Jathniel stared at Tobias, “Are you not thirsty? Drink.”
“A Jew,” the woman explained with a knowing sigh as she gazed at Tobias pityingly. “He cannot accept anything from me because he will be contaminated.” She sighed again, before asking, “Will you drink Sir, or are you a Jew too?” Her eyes flicked down to his shod feet, studying the sandals curiously.
Jathniel’s gaze jumped between her and Tobias. His answer was cautiously worded as he said, “I am thirsty enough to drink.” He ignored the shock in Tobias’ face as he reached out to accept the Samaritan’s jar. The moment was excruciatingly embarrassing with Tobias gazing at him like he had personally been betrayed. Jathniel tilted the jar and drank deeply, enjoying the cool flow that trickled through his body. He turned slightly away from Tobias’ wondering glare to listen to the woman. She was chatting animatedly about a recent event in her town. He made an effort to listen, knowing how many important insights could b gained from everyday babble.
“And He told me everything I had ever done – good and bad. He knew it all and I have never met Him before. He talked with me even though He was a Jew and I a Samaritan! He even asked for a drink!”
Jathniel noticed that Tobias was listening, his mouth slightly agape. There was a certain knowing look in the boy’s eye that made Jathniel wonder.
“And then I called the townspeople and told them about Him; they came to see Him and we invited Him to stay. Two days He stayed with us. He spoke with us and said He was the Messiah. Two days!” she repeated in awe. “Never have I met anyone like Him, Jew or Samaritan.”
“He stayed in your village?” Jathniel was surprised to hear Tobias croak up again.
“He did,” the woman nodded excitedly. "He and all his disciples. He even offered me living water.” She laughed, “I did not know what He meant at first. I thought I would have to drink it but then I found out what it is.” She looked at the two of them expectantly.
Jathniel asked the question, more for Tobias’ sake than his own. The boy was completely absorbed, his whole manner said he was trying to digest this all.
“What is living water?”
“Living water is life!” the woman answered quickly, barely letting Jathniel finish his question; she was so thrilled. “Life that can only come from the Messiah. It is life that you can enjoy living; life that bubbles up from within and satisfies you and makes you complete; life that goes beyond this present world.”
Jathniel nodded respectfully, not sure what to make of this woman or her story. Why was she hanging around the well? And who was this man who called himself the Messiah and offered this living water – this eternal life?
“Come Tobias,” he said, smiling politely at the woman.
“Wait,” Tobias was staring at the woman. “This –“ he shot Jathniel a quick glance and then said carefully, “this man – the one you spoke about – He asked you for water?”
The woman nodded.
Tobias licked his dry lips, gave a slight nod, and then stretched out his hands for the water she offered.
(John 4: 1 – 42)
"Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" John 4:14.
Episode 14: The Nobleman’s Plea
Cana was not what he had expected. Tobias was not sure exactly what he had expected but it was not this. It was so quiet. He turned around, shuffling backwards in an effort to keep up with Jathniel while scanning the deserted streets.
“Oops,” Tobias gasped, backing right into Jathniel. He stepped forward quickly, embarrassed, as Jathniel glanced back at him curiously. “Where is everyone?”
Shrugging, Jathniel also turned, his eyes drifting slowly over their surroundings. After a moment he raised a long, calloused finger to point at a figure that dashed into view for a split second and then out of view again; a scuffled echo from their steps was all that was left of them.
“It was someone anyway,” Jathniel offered. “There must be something happening somewhere. Come. Let’s find a place to stay.”
Tobias fell into step behind Jathniel, eyes constantly darting in an effort to explain this unusual situation. He hated not knowing what was happening. Experience had taught him it was wise to always be on the alert. Trudging slowly behind Jathniel, he debated whether or not to dart down a side street in search of answers but then decided against it. Jathniel had more than proved that he was fair. Once they had found a place to stay he would be free to go exploring. He would just swallow his insatiable curiosity a little longer – even if it did growl in his stomach like a ravenous lion.
“Well?” Jathniel asked over his shoulder.
“Well what?” Tobias retorted without thinking.
Grinning, Jathniel led the way confidently up a side street. Tobias had the distinct impression that Jathniel knew this area well.
“You’re not going to go charging off just yet then?”
Glowering at Jathniel’s dusty heels that rose and fell with each step he took, Tobias chose to ignore the question. He also tried to ignore the slight warmth in his chest at the knowledge that for the first time, in as long as he could remember, someone knew him well enough to expect a pattern of behaviour. No one had ever known him that well before!
“Listen to that,” Jathniel grunted, nodding ahead of them. “You can go on ahead if you want and see what is happening.”
The buzz of voices rumbled up towards them; the sound of a large excited crowd.
Tobias jerked forward, dust flying as he sprinted up the street, rounded the corner and was instantly submerged in a mass of bodies: Children crying, men shouting, women babbling, and market sellers bellowing out their wares. Pushing through the bodies, Tobias recognised a voice that immediately drowned out every other voice around him, even though it was not particularly loud or forceful. He pushed through the crowds, his heart beginning to beat with anticipation and nervousness.
As the crowds parted, he spotted the man he sought standing surrounded by his disciples. A man, dressed in rich robes, was crouched at Jesus’ feet, tears streaming down his face and his face wrenched in agony.
“Please, You are the only one that can save him. He is going to die. Please, heal my son.”
Tobias stared at the man, once again amazed at the variety of people who came to this Man for help. He looked up to study the compassion in the face of this Man. He had heard how Jesus had reached out to an outcast Samaritan; and here again He was reaching out to a person from a different background - a rich nobleman. Did everyone, no matter who they were or where they were from, come to Jesus for answers and help? Was that the way it was to be?
“Except you see signs and wonders, you will not believe,” Jesus said.
Heart pounding, Tobias eyes jumped from between Jesus and the man. Would Jesus not help this man? What did he want the man to believe?
He stared at Jesus, troubled, and then a sudden thought struck him: was Jesus talking to the man or to those listening in the crowd? Tobias gazed around at the watching people, a range of emotions displayed for anyone who could recognise the heart of people written on a face: earnest, glaring, suspicious, doubtful, trusting, disillusioned, hopeful...
“Sir, come with me or my child will die,” the nobleman begged desperately.
Heart pounding in hope, Tobias almost whooped when he heard Jesus say,
“Go your way, your son lives.”
In pure delight, he watched the nobleman scramble to his feet, thanking Jesus profusely as he backed away before turning and darting out through the crowd.
Mouth agape, Tobias couldn’t stop the laugh of joy that bubbled up in him as he grinned at the Son of God in absolute pleasure. His heart almost froze when those eyes turned and twinkled right at him.
“Here you are!” a strong hand came to rest on Tobias’ shoulder. Tobias had been too absorbed in the scene that had unfolded before him to be on the lookout for trouble. His usual instant reaction of wriggling free had been stunned into stillness. He shot a glance up and the tight anxiety in his chest left as he saw Jathniel’s strong jawline jutting out in Jesus’ direction.
“You have a knack of finding this man,” Jathniel quietly observed, as the crowds drifted past them, following the One called Jesus.
(See John 4:46-54)
Episode 15: Coincidence?
The security of Jathniel’s hand on his shoulder made Tobias feel uneasy. Was he becoming too dependent? Too needy? He had been looking after himself so long that having someone to watch out for him was making him weak. Jathniel wouldn’t stay, he wouldn’t want to have to put up with a ragamuffin child forever. He must be careful not to depend so much!
Tobias’ thoughts blurred as his sharp ears tuned into the husky murmur of a man’s voice nearby.
“It’s so easy for this Jesus to say ‘Your son is healed’ and awe the people. Who’s to say whether or not the official’s son is healed? The son is a long way from here; who can prove he is well again?”
Searching eyes found the scowling sceptic as his words caught light and jumped from mouth to mouth, each person elaborating on it and scorning Jesus and the ‘foolish’ official.
Tobias gawked at the man in disbelief, shocked at how eagerly people leapt on his words. He followed the words as they moved from one twisted mouth to another, their eyes lighting with glee at the unrest they were causing.
“You’re a liar! A – a scoundrel!” Tobias suddenly yelled, unable to bear it any longer. How dare they mar this Jesus miracle!
“Tobias!” Jathniel caught at him and jerked him back.
“You’re a corrupt, stone-hearted creature with a soured mouth and tarred eyes that...”
“Tobias!” shocked, Jathniel jerked Tobias back against him, clamping a hand over the boy’s mouth. “Excuse the boy,” he apologised to the pointy-bearded man whose snide expressions had become sharp and menacing. “He is not well.”
“I am well!” Tobias bellowed, wrenched his mouth free with a hard tug. “I will prove that Jesus does not lie. I will find the official and see that his son is better and then you will choke on your words.” He jabbed a threatening finger at as many people as he could remember who had whispered the foul, false words. “Yes, you will choke on your rumours!”
Shoving an elbow into Jathniel’s stomach, he broke free and ran in the direction that the official had gone, hearing an outraged cry of voices raising up behind him.
******
It took Tobias a good few hours to find the official and involved a few manoeuvres that Jathniel would have called ‘questionable’. Yet he had been able to locate his prey and had a free ride on a donkey which made it less difficult. He trailed behind the official for some way, glad when they rested so he could get water and some food before they continued on their way.
“Look, it is Samuel!” the official cried to those with him, pointing at a group of men approaching. Tobias watched as a man broke free from the approaching group of men and raced on foot towards them, arms waving excitedly in the air
“Master!” the panting man dropped at the official’s feet. “Master!” he gasped, eyes alight.
“Samuel?” the official’s voice was a curious mixture of hope and agony, his voice breathless with anticipation.
“He is well, your son lives.”
*******
Tobias retraced his route, pondering all that he had heard and seen. It was no coincidence that the official’s son had been restored at the very same time that Jesus had spoken those words to the official, but how could he prove it? Those scoffers would find some excuse and reason to explain away the events that he had witnessed.
In deep thought, Tobias re-entered the town, silently re-tying the donkey to the post where he had ‘borrowed’ it from before trekking through the town, mulling over all that had happened. He had no way of convincing the people that what Jesus had said would happen, had happened, yet he knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, he knew it was no coincidence.
(John 4: 49-53)
Episode 16: Rich, Poor, a Giver, or all?
With Jathniel glaring down at him, Tobias felt his stubborn resolve weaken. It was one thing to have the local soldiers cussing and knocking him up a bit, laughing and scorning him, but Jathniel was different. It was completely unnerving to have him standing there, massive arms folded across his chest, silently waiting for a truthful answer. And what was more, Jathniel would know – somehow – if he did not give a truthful answer.
“Honest blind man, bend over double and scrape the dust,” Tobias tried to meet Jathniel’s gaze square on as he quoted a phrase he had regularly heard Blind Ben shake out. Never mind that Blind Ben was anything but blind! “I never took the money, Jathniel.”
“Come on Tobias!” Jathniel’s patience snapped, open hand slapping against the wall in frustration. “I give you food, pocket money, clothes and a place to stay – what more could you need? Why can’t you just grow up a little and admit when you’re wrong!”
Tobias’s heart trembled, not with fear but with hurt, as his eyes dropped. He had never seen Jathniel look so bleak before. The man was right upset!
“Speak up boy!” Jathniel’s voice quivered with barely held emotion, his lips twitching.
Something inside Tobias snapped, “Fine!” He glared up unrepentantly at Jathniel. “I took the money and the old battle-ax won’t miss a penny! She was disgustingly rich and I am pitifully poor.” His voice trembled at the lie, Jathniel had given him some extra coins only yesterday. Tobias tried to recover quickly, “And –“ he drew the word out, “I can give some money to other poor people. I don’t hang onto it selfishly like those creaky bones which stagger under the burden of their wealth.”
“Tobias!” Jathniel shook his head, trying to get his head around the child’s logic.
“It’s not like I steal from poor people who will need every penny they’ve got,” Tobias argued.
Jathniel grabbed the bag off the table that was between them and shook it forcefully so that the coins rattled hard. “Just because someone is rich it does not mean that they have no purpose for that money. Maybe they’ve saved up years for a special reason.”
“Ha!” Tobias scoffed, turning his back on Jathniel scornfully.
Suddenly, without warning, Jathniel lunged at him, grabbed him by his upper arm and propelled him out of the house so that Tobias’ feet were scrambling under him in an effort to keep up.
“Hey, what you doing? Where we going?” Tobias cried, eyes scanning the street nervously as Jathniel’s grip tightened with determination.
“You’re taking this back and you’re going to offer to work for the old battle-ax for the same amount as it would take to repay this money!” he answered grimly.
Tobias jammed his heels into the dirt but he only succeeded in raising a lot of dust and cutting his foot on a sharp stone. “That’s not fair! If I...”
His words were drowned out by the sound of someone shouting. Jathniel’s pace slowed as the commotion suddenly swirled around them, like a tidal wave. However, not once did Jathniel’s grip loosen.
“Please! I will pay! Please!” a tearful panicked voice screamed. Tobias caught sight of a man’s agonised face. He was clutching a little girl’s hand desperately, even as a hooked nose woman yanked impatiently on the child’s other arm. “I had the money! I swear! I had the money!”
Jathniel’s grip tightened on Tobias even as the man’s hold on the girl slipped.
“I will pay you, please, just don’t take my daughter. Give me one more day and I will have the money,” he pleaded.
The hooked nose woman’s hard eyes snapped in annoyance as she ordered a man next to her to take the girl. Turning to the father she snarled, “You should learn to pay on time.” Skirts swirling, she spun away, shoving the little girl ahead of her.
Tobias could feel Jathniel trembling with rage. “Did you take this man’s money?” he hissed in Tobias’ ear.
Panicked, Tobias shook his head hard. “Honest, I never!” tears burned his eyes.
“But he’s a rich man,” Jathniel crouched down, his eyes running over the wealthy garments of the man. “He must have plenty of money. Someone else could surely benefit from his money rather than this man.”
“I’m sorry,” Tobias wept now, “I understand. Please, give him this money and I will work double to pay the old woman back.”
Jathniel’s eyes met Tobias’ searchingly. He obviously found what he was looking for, for he dug into the folds of his clothes and withdrew a hidden bag from there. “The old dame gets her money back but we will give this man this. Take it to him, and then come back quickly, we have some explaining to do to another person.”
Fingers trembling, Tobias accepted the money and cautiously approached the father where he lay sobbing into the dust. He hesitated, wondering whether to tap the grey head or purple robed shoulder. In the end he poked the man’s back lightly.
“Please sir,” he croaked, “here is some money to get your daughter back.” The man raised his head and stared up at him through a mud-streaked face.
“It’s a gift,” Tobias whispered, feeling an unknown emotion wash over him when he saw the joyful disbelief spread across the man’s face.
“I will pay you back,” the man wept in joy, leaping to his feet as he raced after the woman.
Tobias watched him go, not moving when Jathniel came and placed a hand on his shoulder. They watched in silence as the man endured the woman’s scornful words a moment longer before his daughter was roughly shoved in his direction.
“Come,” Jathniel said, “we will not stay to speak to him – it was a gift.”
Episode 17: Mary
The days dashed past and all the while Tobias followed Jesus with avid curiosity and determination to discover the truth of this man. If there was anything suspicious going on, he would find out! How was it that everywhere He went people claimed healings, miracles and even life from the death? That widow woman, and many from Nain, were spreading word that Jesus from Nazareth had brought her son to life on the day they were going to bury him. Then there was that leper – this was one healing that Tobias could not squabble over. He had watched the man shuffle on the outskirts of town many times before hiding his face in shame as he rang the warning bell as he passed through the city. Out of curiosity, he had once followed the man and listened to the tell-tale sniffles from beneath the head covering. He had scorned the man and even picked up a small stone and tossed it at him. It was only yesterday he witnessed that very same man standing in the market, no longer hidden by his leper garments. There wasn’t one spot of leprosy evident anywhere on him.
“Healed by Jesus, son of Joseph,” the man was explaining to one nearby.
“Tobias,” Jathniel stood in the doorway, eyes narrowed in thought.
Tobias looked up from where he was curled up in the window studying the passers-by, “Sir?”
“I must attend to business. I will be back before nightfall,” Jathniel paused, gaze passing Tobias to look beyond. For a moment Tobias thought he would say something more, but instead he gave a sharp nod and abruptly departed.
Tobias watched until he appeared in the street, then followed the man’s figure weaving through the people. He wondered where Jathniel would be going today. It wasn’t to find Jesus this time because Jesus was going to that Pharisee’s house and he lived in the opposite direction to the one Jathniel was heading. Tobias swivelled on the window, trying to keep track of Jathniel without falling from his perch. He strongly suspected that Jathniel was following Jesus. It was too coincidental that they kept arriving at the same time and in the same place as Jesus of Nazareth. It suited Tobias fine but he suspicions concerning Jathniel were growing daily. He had even begun to consider the possibility that Jathniel was a Roman soldier, just as Aculeo was. Surely Jathniel was not out to bring harm to Jesus? Tobias bolted into an upright position and almost lost his balance. He clutched the side of the wall for support straining to identify Jathniel, but it was too late – Jathniel was long gone.
Slipping from the window, Tobias grabbed some bread from the basket on the table and hurried from the house. He at least knew where Jesus would be.
It didn’t take him long to reach Simon’s house. Already there was a large gathering near the Pharisee’s door. Tobias tried to push through but for once his small frame was forcibly blocked from all sides. He was exhausted from trying to ram through bodies and his right shoulder ached from the effort. There would probably be a bruise on his ear where the man with the black beard and gigantic hand had cuffed him back. Teeth grinding together, Tobias thought for a moment before suddenly turning on his heel and racing back to their rooms.
Not long after a small figure came shuffling towards the crowds, enshrouded in layers of cloth and ringing a little bell. “Unclean, unclean,” came the mournful wail from beneath the cloths.
The crowd parted before the figure, creating a path with a wall of bodies right up to the Pharisee’s door. The little figure stumbled a little as the cloth caught beneath a foot. Someone reached forward to catch the figure but was harshly pulled back by a friend nearby.
“Don’t touch! You don’t want to be contaminated too, do you!”
Once in the Pharisee’s house, Tobias hastily dropped the clothing and dashed into the shadows. He could hear the scramble as a hurried search was put on for him. He nimbly darted from one hiding to another, avoiding the servants by moving only when backs were turned.
Minutes later he silently snuck into a shadowy nook which gave him an excellent view of those gathering around the Pharisee’s table. He spotted Jesus immediately, noting how comfortable Jesus looked in this surrounding. His disciples, however, looked less relaxed; their eyes were darting from face to face and constantly roving over the servants and the entrance way.
The room fell silent, all eyes turned on Tobias.
“What are you doing here?” an angry voice demanded to know.
Tobias’ stomach flipped, mouth going dry. He was just about to up and run when he felt the soft swoosh of air as someone passed him. A woman moved into the room and fell at Jesus’ feet, crying. The jar she had been clutching under one arm was carefully placed down beside her.
From where he was, Tobias could not see what she was doing but he could see the Man’s face. It was the eyes again that made his breathing grow tight. For a moment he was almost certain that the Man had looked straight at him, but he couldn’t be sure because Jesus was now speaking to Simon.
“Two men owed money to a certain money-lender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had money to pay him back, so he cancelled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Jesus spoke easily, watching Simon.
The Pharisee pondered the question a moment before saying, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt cancelled.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus nodded, turning towards the woman as he spoke. He gestured at her. Tobias rose up on his haunches to better see what Jesus was indicating. Her hair was loosened and she was wiping her tears from Jesus’ feet. She had opened the jar and a strong scent filled the air. Tobias watched as she poured some of its contents onto Jesus’ feet.
“Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not pour oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” Jesus turned to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”
There was shocked silence around the table and then a sudden babble of voices but Tobias heard nothing of what they had said, for the woman turned just then, allowing him a glimpse of her face. His chest tightened. He knew this woman. She was a friend of Mary’s, her name also Mary. She was a sinful woman! Did Jesus know what He had just done? Did he realise that He had just taken the side of a sinful woman rather than that of the wealthy, respected Simon.
Mouth agape, Tobias’ gaze moved from the woman to Jesus and his heart stilled. Jesus was watching him with eyes full of understanding.
Tobias glanced once around the table at the shocked faces and knew there must be some reflection on his own face. Suddenly afraid, he rose and darted from the building, rushing past startled servants, and back into the waiting crowd. A strong hand gripped his upper arm, yanking him to an abrupt halt.
“Let go!” Tobias tried to jerk free.
“It’s me, stop your fighting,” the urgent whisper stilled Tobias and he turned to look up into the face of Mary. Her eyes were wide and hopeful, “You were in there? Yes?”
Wary, Tobias nodded, studying the woman’s face carefully, wondering what she wanted. Her face was half hidden in shadows.
“You saw the woman, Mary, in there, didn’t you?” Mary’s gaze was intense, her grip tightening rather than lessening. “What happened?”
Tobias tried to jerk free, his expression scornful, but Mary only gripped his other arm, holding him in place. “She was wailing away,” he scowled, “and pouring perfume.”
“And?” Mary prompted, determinedly, ignoring the murmuring crowds around them.
“Jesus, He said He forgave her,” Tobias growled, eyes drifting around him. He spotted a couple of soldiers nearby watching the crowds and talking quietly.
“Forgave her?” Mary’s voice grew husky; Tobias felt her intense grip lessen ever so slightly. He jerked back, stumbling free. Mary stared at him, or through him. Not waiting to answer any more questions, Tobias turned and ran. He needed to be home before Jathniel found him missing again. Jathniel would be livid if he discovered Tobias had disobeyed him and left the house. It would not be long before he would have paid his debt to that wealthy woman and then Jathniel could no longer expect him to be chained to a room. He needed to be outside, following Jesus; that was the only way he could discover the truth.
Episode 18: Heaven
Try as he might, Tobias couldn’t stop his eyes from closing. They were stinging from tiredness. Pressing his cold fingertips against his eyelids, he listened to the buzz of voices around the fire before glancing around to watch mouths move, people laugh and others frown in pensive silence. Jathniel was talking to a couple Tobias had never seen before.
Tobias’ breath caught for the briefest of moments as his gaze fell on the woman. It wasn’t his mother, she was dead, and yet...
He drank in the way her hair fell from beneath her covering, the firelight dancing in her eyes, her peaceful expression...it wasn’t his mother but still – there was something about her that was so familiar. For a long time he watched her, her every move observed with wonder and fascination. But even she could not compete with the sleep that was determined to overpower him. Eventually, Tobias surrendered, the voices becoming a soft murmur until they faded to the sound of a waterfall.
For a long moment there was darkness, he was walking along a road, feeling his way as best as he was able. And then the pin prick of light penetrated the darkness, becoming a pale glow. After some time, as he continued to walk forward, he was able to make out a gate. The light was coming from the gate and beyond the gate.
He found himself standing at the gate, his finger tips tentatively touching the twirling white. It was as though the light was alive, his finger tips vibrated. He was here – he knew this place. He stood staring, barely able to absorb the truth of this moment. Once this moment had been a distant dream that he had never considered, in time this place had become a thought where his mind would drift to the future unknown. And then when his mother went it became a reality – just a taste, yet a smooth dollop of soothing hope. She had stood at these same gates. Had she experienced the same sparkling anticipation. Had she hesitated just as he did?
This was the moment he had dreamt about. It had become his one hope, his one goal, his one bright light in a dreary world. Every day his eyes were pierced with dark visions of the world he lived in. Day by day his heart filled with marbles of sorrow that added up into a hopeless dusty heap of discoloured stones. The roots of his ears stung with the acid of abuse, curses and hate – often directed at him. Yet, when he had thought of this place, it all faded. This was the place where the sounds he heard were beautiful notes that danced and swayed through the swishy-swash of rich green leaves – notes like beautiful coloured bubbles that hovered and swirled in radiant light. And sights so soothing and spectacular that his burning eyes, darkened, would be restored; and all those mouldy colours would be washed and made clean. He could see. Awe-striking beauty that he could wallow in, and such stillness. Such peace.
The marbles of difficulties would not be found in his heart. His heart would be soft and warm. It would be complete.
Tobias traced a white swirl with one finger and drew in his breath with anticipation. Just through these gates was the place where everything changed – where his one hope would finally be his. For a moment his finger hovered over the delicate shapes on the pearl gate: pink and purple sprays could be seen deep within the milky white. And the sound of laughter floated over the gates to him, beckoning him.
He glanced back at the darkened road he had walked up. It could have been any dark road, a road that led back to that dreary place that was the only life he had known. Long grass towered over the soft dust track. And there were his footprints, just visible under the light that shone from the gate; footprints still wet from the deep waters he had crossed.
Fingers sprayed out against the gate, tingling, as he stared out at the darkness. Behind him was hope. If he entered, would anyone be there to meet him? And if there was anyone, who would it be? His mother? She would be here. His heart began to pound. Would they let him in? He must see her! He could picture her dark hair, brown searching eyes...
And would the trees beyond the gate be just as he had imagined? Tall with thick knobbly trunks – good to climb! Would they have fruit he could eat when he was lost amongst the branches, hidden by double-hand sized leaves? Would people walk below him? Or maybe angels?
And did all paths lead to the throne room? He could not even begin to imagine what it must be like to stand at the entrance of the throne room! Here he was breathless with hope and only standing at Heaven’s gates. What would he be like outside the throne room about to see the One who knew him – really knew him! The One who was said to be within a whisper’s distance, even a heart’s breath away (shallow and raspy as his heart’s breaths had been at times due to all the sorrow and sin stones).
To see the One who had spoken to him in silences, through His eyes, with soothing sounds and in the softest of winds. The One who had found him in the silences and come to sit beside him. The One who had loved him through the loneliness when everyone else had spit on him, and cursed him. He would recognise Him by his voice and by the strengthening of his heart’s breaths. Even now, at these milky gates, his heart breaths were become stronger and slower, deeper and smoother.
One last time Tobias smoothed the silky pearl gates, savouring the touch as he stared down the path he had come up. He would never have to walk that way again!
Taking a deep breath in, he turned, keeping his eyes down, afraid to see too much at once. Even as he turned the music grew louder, the gate seemed to hum with it causing his body to hum in turn through his finger tips that still pressed against the light. Through the gates he could see the path winding on ahead of him. It was shimmering. Shimmering so much he could not tell if it was white or gold.
And then his heart slammed into his throat as sandaled feet came into view up. Beautiful feet – so familiar.
“Tobias,” the soft voice seemed to be captured by the alive light and the words twirled in the light, echoing like a beautiful memory – except this was real. “Welcome home son.”
Tobias clutched the gate, tears streaming down his face, even as he tried to see clearly through his misty vision.
“Tobias? Wake up! Tobias!”
Tobias clutched the gates, his tears coming faster. “No, no!” he begged, already feeling the darkness pulling at him from behind. “No!” The tingle from the dancing light began to recede from his fingers.
“Tobias, wake up son.”
With a weak cry, Tobias found himself lying beside the dying embers of the fire. He gazed around at the remaining people, his gaze falling on the woman. She was still here. She caught his gaze and smiled.
“Tobias? We must go.” Jathniel stood over him, already trying to help him into a cloak. “The night is cold.” Seeing Tobias’ groggy state, Jathniel gripped his upper arm and shepherded him away from the fire.
Tobias stumbled along beside him, his mind still seeing Heaven’s gates even as he tried to grasp that this was no longer heaven.
“So real,” he whispered, staring up at Jathniel wide-eyed.
Jathniel stared back, his expression curious.
“I was there,” Tobias croaked, stumbled to a halt. “Everything was so alive. I was alive.” He shook his head in wonder, all the feelings about the One rushing back. He knew the One his dream had described, beyond any doubt, he finally knew the One.
“You alright son?” Jathniel asked, concerned etched in his voice.
For a long moment, Tobias stared at Jathniel, his mind still blurred, and then he finally nodded, staring at his still trembling hands as he whispered again, “So alive.”
Episode 19: Without Sin?
“Who’s the boy?”
Jathniel followed Eli’s jerk of the head to where Tobias was standing in the middle of the market, oblivious to the masses that had to move around him to avoid knocking him over.
“He’s a strange lad,” Eli observed, studying the enraptured expression on Tobias’ face.
“Not strange,” Jathniel defended, already re-considering his words as one of Tobias’ hands lifted into the air, as though stretching to touch something. “Alright, so he’s a little unusual,” and then hastily added, “but this is recent! The last couple of days the boy’s been acting strange.” He started towards Tobias, anxious that those around might notice his peculiar behaviour, but something about the lad’s enthralled face made him pause.
“Isn’t this the thief-child?” Eli queried, stepping up beside him, perturbed. “The one you said is a law unto himself; the one who is snooping around?”
Jathniel nodded reluctantly, wishing he had not said so much to Eli. The way Eli said it made Tobias sound like dirt; it wasn’t the impression he had intended to give.
“You ever find out what he is up to all the time?” Eli pressed, curious.
Shrugging, Jathniel hesitated, wondering at his friend’s sudden interest in the boy. “No,” he said gruffily, thinking of how Tobias had visited that prison to see the prophet John, and how he followed the Nazarene with persistence. Sometimes he was sure the boy saw more than he did, even though they saw the same things. Like that night by the fire, Tobias had seen something...
“We should go,” Jathniel growled, abruptly striding forward. But again he hesitated, fascinated by Tobias’ face and the arm still stretching upwards. The boy’s mouth curved in wonder, his eyes wide open and sparkling. Something was going on here with the boy, something very un-Tobias-like. Reluctantly, he tapped the lad on the shoulder knocking him into action. The boy turned, eyes clear and bright.
“This is Eli, Tobias,” Jathniel introduced his friend, watching the boy’s eyes flick up to meet Eli’s. There was a sudden spark in the lad’s eyes. Jathniel glanced over at Eli, not missing the sudden discomfort of his friend. Curious, he waited and watched. The boy had a knack of seeing more than met the eye. Although he would never admit it, he had long been using Tobias to gauge how to respond to people, who to trust, what to expect...
He studied Eli with renewed interest – wondering again what his friend was up to.
“Well,” Eli boomed suddenly, “how about we get going?”
Jathniel glanced down at Tobias, who was watching him with an unreadable expression. He shrugged casually, not rushing the boy’s assessment of Eli, “You ready to go?”
Tobias nodded, eyes moving back to Eli’s face, then trailing down the man’s body to his shoes. He studied the shoes a long time.
Jathniel led the way forward, discreetly checking over his shoulder to see that Tobias was following. He was – eyes never leaving Eli. Intriguing. He glanced at his friend, fully aware of how stiff his movements had become under Tobias’ scrutiny.
“I wish he’d stopped watching me,” Eli growled, “makes the hairs on my neck stand on end.”
“He’s just a lad,” Jathniel responded easily, “a curious lad.” Up ahead a crowd had gathered. “Let’s try and avoid...” Jathniel’s words died abruptly as Tobias suddenly dashed past him, weaving and diving between bodies into the crowd. “Alright, forget that,” he growled in resignation, easing his shoulder into the narrow gap between two people and squeezing his body through after it, ignoring the frowns.
“You don’t have to follow!” Eli exclaimed, shoving after Jathniel. “The boy’s...”
Smiling stiffly, Jathniel pushed through a throng of older women letting their bodies close behind him, cutting Eli off from following further.
****
They had surrounded her, fingers pointed, jagged rocks clutched in tight hands, expressions grim.
Tobias’ heart hammered hard against his chest; he could barely breathe. She stood so still, terrified. As much as he despised her he would never wish her dead!
“Mary!” he yelled, jumping as high as he could to see over the shoulder of a man, arms waving wildly. “Mary!” She caught sight of him just as he reached the highest point of his jump and began to fall again. He had barely touched ground before he was pushed back up.
“Go!” her arm thrust out forcefully, face pained.
Eyes stinging, Tobias hit the ground with a thud and paused to catch his breath before crouching and leaping. The circle of faces around her were menacing and unmoved.
On the verge of panic, Tobias rammed hard into the man in front of him causing a loud grunt of pain followed by an angry bellow.
“You scum-...” the man turned and grasped him by the hair. His fury was suddenly dimmed as a strong hand clamped over his arm. Tobias glanced up – Jathniel! The moment the man released him, Tobias took the gap and dashed through, leaving Jathniel and the man to sort themselves out.
“She must be stoned!” a man was yelling, thumping rocks into the hands of anyone nearby.
Mary was dead. Tobias just knew it. This was the last time he would see her popping up in the strangest of places; another familiar face gone. His flittering gaze came to a stop when he spotted Jesus. The contrast between the Son of God and the raging crowd was startling. His twisting insides eased, confident that the eyes of compassion would not stand back to watch Mary die by the hands of this blood-craving crowd – even if she did deserve it. And when the eyes found his, Tobias smiled.
***
A smile? Jathniel barely kept his jaw from dropping as he tried to spot who had pried a smile out of the edgy child. His surprise lessened when he saw Jesus. The boy was still following Him. He watched as Jesus stood up from where he had been crouched on the ground; the crowd quietened in anticipation, eager hands ready for the signal to slam the first stone into the prostitute’s body.
The Nazarene looked around slowly, before his voice rung out clearly, “Whichever one of you is without sin may throw the first stone.” And then he lowered himself back to the ground and continued writing in the dust, not looking up again to see who would throw the first stone.
Jathniel stared, fascinated and guilty. Inwardly he squirmed, relieved that he was not one of those holding a stone. If he had been he did not know what he would have done. To throw the stone would create so many questions – so many who could point at him and accuse him of sin. But to not throw the stone... He looked up to study the woman whose eyes were wide and terrified.
And then he spotted a stone discreetly drop from a man’s hand nearby, falling silently along his leg into the dust. Another stone followed suit. One elderly woman shuffled past Jathniel, head down. The elders drifted away, in silence. Jathniel avoided their faces, knowing their expressions would reflect his own guilt. Slowly the younger people trailed after them until all that was left was a small crowd of people, presumably Jesus’ followers.
Jathniel beckoned Tobias over, unsure what would happen now.
Jesus stood, looking around, “Where are they? Is no one left to condemn you?”
“No one sir,” the woman whispered, overwhelmed.
“Well then, I do not condemn you either. Go, but do not sin again.”
“Did you hear what he said,” Eli suddenly appeared behind Jathniel, voice low in disbelief. “The implications of that statement are...”
“I know,” Jathniel hushed him sharply, his hand resting on the boy’s shoulder. He bent down to whisper, “You were close enough to see what He was writing in the ground – what did it say?”
Tobias shrugged, eyes watching Jesus in adoration, “I don’t know, I can’t read.” A radiant smile swept over the boy’s face, “But isn’t He amazing!”
Episode 21: Jathniel's Assignment
It was eerie. As a soldier he had seen a lot, but none of it had unnerved him like this. If it had been anyone else but the boy he would definitely have made himself scarce a long time ago. The whole thing disturbed him immensely – but it wasn’t something tangible he could grasp and shake an explanation out of; he was out of his depth. He circled the fire, pausing every few steps to study the sleeping Tobias. It wasn’t just any dream; Tobias rarely laughed. Should he wake him?
“No,” Jathniel shook his head, remembering the tears of disappointment last time he had roused the child. These dreams were not frightening the child, only him. Tobias was changing. He had considered every angle and possibility and narrowed it down to Jesus of Nazareth and the dreams. What manner of man was it that could soothe a ferocious crowd? Or win the devotion of this emotionally scarred boy? A squeal of delight jerked Jathniel’s head back to the boy. The child was clutching his stomach and laughing, his whole body shaking with pleasure. A smile tugged at the corner of Jathniel’s lips as he listened to the contagious laughter. There was nothing sinister about it all - except how these dreams were occurring more and more frequently.
“Your son sleeps well.”
Jathniel turned sharply from the fire to see who spoke; he hadn’t noticed the man approach him. Silently he berated himself for his lack of concentration as he glanced dismissively over the wealthy garments; he wondered why he couldn’t view Tobias with the same calm of this stranger.
“I’ve watched him with the animals, he’s kind,” the man remarked, smiling at the sleeping Tobias. “And what’s a Roman soldier doing in these parts on his own?”
A chill spread through Jathniel as he turned to confront the man, but the stranger was still studying Tobias, his posture relaxed and non-threatening.
“We all have our duties,” Jathniel growled. He examined the man carefully now; a merchant most likely. “Have we met?”
“Possibly,” the man half-smiled. “You follow the Nazarene.”
It was a statement, not a question. Teeth clamped together, Jathniel tilted his head back to look at the stars while observing the man surreptitiously out of the corner of his eye. “And you follow me?” he challenged.
“No,” the man crossed his arms before lifting one hand to scratch his hair-shadowed chin. “But when we follow the same man it is hard not to notice who else follows him.” He bent to pick up a twig and tossed it into the fire. “You have friends who come and go, is that not so?”
Jathniel did not respond, his mind immediately jumping to Eli and Aculeo.
“I do not think they follow the Nazarene, not like you do. Be careful.” And with that the stranger dusted his hands together, looked at Jathniel straight-on for the first time, and then left.
Growling, Jathniel stalked over to the fire, kicking a loose piece of wood into it before turning his back to the sparks to watch the man stroll past two more fires back to his own where a family of five gathered around it. The man looked back and raised a hand. Reluctantly, Jathniel raised his own. He crouched down beside the fire, elbows on knees. It had never occurred to him that others might be watching him. Had the man’s words been a threat or a warning? Sighing deeply, he stared through the dancing flames as Tobias’ rolled over, the glow of the firelight now washing over the boy’s face. The Centurion would be expecting a report soon. Aculeo and Eli had carried no information with substance. In truth, he had given them nothing to feed back to the Centurion, not after Aculeo had played his part in imprisoning John the Baptist. The prophet had done nothing wrong – nothing worth imprisonment.
Fingertips pressed together, Jathniel studied the tousled hair of the boy. He suspected the boy knew he was a Roman soldier, but what he had not worked out was why the child stayed if he knew. The boy loathed Roman soldiers.
A flaming twig shot from the fire landing inches from Tobias’ head but was almost immediately stomped out by Jathniel. He scuffed the ground and glanced back at the fire with the family gathered around it. Tomorrow he would have to tell Tobias the whole truth about his assignment.
Priorities
Tobias hovered on the edge of the crowd anxiously, thoughts tumbling together as he prowled the mass of bodies. Jathniel would be well on his way by now. His insides twisted as he recalled the hurt in Jathniel’s eyes when he had chosen to stay behind with the Nazarene.
Jathniel had only said one thing, “Will the Nazarene miss you if you’re gone?” And now it was as though a thousand voices shouted them over and over again inside of him.
Standing here, an inconspicuous boy on the edge of a cacophony of chaos, he highly doubted he would be missed. The wealth, the talent, the bubbling personalities and tremendous potential that surrounded him was too much to compete with. He glanced down at his grubby hand still clutching the bag that Jathniel had left for him. It was like a frozen claw; the tension had turned his knuckles white.
“Will the Nazarene miss you if you’re gone? Miss you if you’re gone. Will he?”
Tobias slowly unclenched his grip, swapping the bag to his other hand as he sought to catch sight of Jesus. He moved into a gap and for the briefest of moments caught sight of the Nazarene before an overgrown goliath of a man, with a young boy on his shoulders, obliterating Tobias’ view completely. He didn’t even have a father whose shoulders he could sit on.
“There is Jathniel,” the thought flittered through his mind, followed by tremendous guilt. Had he made the wrong decision to stay?
“Will the Nazarene miss you if you’re gone?”
Shoulders slumping, Tobias stared blindly at the body in front of him, loneliness washing over him. His bare toes scuffed the ground and then stilled.
“It’s not about me,” head rose at the revelation, eyes still clouded. “It’s about Him!” teeth gritted stubbornly together. “I’ll miss Him if I go.” Chin lifted and eyes sparkled determinedly, he hadn’t chosen wrongly when he chose to stay, he was sure of it. Renewed confidence jerked him forward, right into the midst of a hushed debated. Jesus’ disciples: Philip, Simon Peter and Matthew.
“The people are growing hungry, as is Jesus. What are we going to do?” Matthew was asking.
“You should have thought of this, Money-Man,” Peter growled.
Matthew glared back, “Don’t rehash tax problems with me. It’s what I used to do. Do you see me collecting taxes now? Huh? Huh?”
“We could never afford to feed all these people!” Philip moaned softly, staring over the masses of people. “And if your squabbling reflects what they’re feeling, we could have a full-blown hunger riot!”
Peter nudged Matthew, “Look, He’s calling. You better go and talk to Him.”
“Me?” Matthew jabbed an indignant finger in Peter’s solid chest. “You listen...”
“I’ll go,” Philip offered, already moving forward.
Mouth agape, Tobias watched Philip until he was blocked from view and then turned his attention back on Simon Peter and Matthew. They were like the squabbling gulls that lined the Sea of Galilee fighting over scraps. Just then a passing body knocked his bag against his leg. He glanced down, an idea suddenly springing to mind. Looking around, he spotted Jesus’ disciple, Andrew, standing quietly by, having observed the whole incident.
“Excuse me?” Tobias approached cautiously, tentatively holding his bag out to the man. The man studied him with an open expression, neither friendly nor hostile. “I have some food in here,” he nodded his head at Jesus, “for the Messiah.”
Andrew’s eyes widened as he numbly took the bag. Tobias hurriedly backed away, wondering if the disciple would toss the food of a dirty child without a second look. The expression in the man’s eyes bewildered him. Was it something he had said, or perhaps it was just how grimy he was? He waited until he saw Andrew make his way to Jesus, and then he followed nervously, heart pounding as he wondered what Jesus would do with his meagre offering.
There was a murmur of voices as Andrew said something to Jesus and then the disciples were suddenly ordering the crowd to get into groups of about fifty. In awe, Tobias watched the people obey even as Jesus held up something in his hand. Tobias recognised it, in embarrassment, as one of his pitiful barley loaves. Heart pounding excitedly, he watched Jesus gives thanks for his food and break it. In wonder, he watched as his pathetic gift continued to be distributed. Group after group was soon seen eating on his barley loaves and fish. It was impossible!
“Will you not eat?” a woman held out some fish to Tobias. Humbled, Tobias meekly accepted the fish that he had given away which had somehow multiplied to feed at least five thousand people! He clutched the fish in his hands, trying to fathom how Jesus had done this. It was then that he realised the eyes of the Nazarene were smiling at him, delight dancing in them.
Tobias ducked his head, embarrassed, and hastily chewed his fish. It was amazing what this man could do with something so small and how he could make something so meaningless have meaning!
He knew, beyond a doubt, his path lay with the Nazarene’s. But for this moment in time, Jathniel needed him. Grabbing one of the barley loaves, Tobias rose and headed back towards the nearest village. He didn’t stay to see what the disciples did with the leftovers. It was time to follow Jathniel to Caesarea, but as soon as it was possible, he would be back to follow the Messiah wherever His journey took them.
Jathniel's Journey to Caesarea
The journey to Caesarea was taking longer than Jathniel had expected. The surprise attack two mornings ago had completely muddled everything, especially because the caravan leader, along with several of the guards, had been severely wounded, knifed in the back. Jathniel had hauled him to cover and cleaned the wound; even now he could scarcely believe the man had survived. The knife had gone deep, only two finger widths clearing the bloodied surface.
Growling under his breath, Jathniel ran his hand along the coarse hair of a camel. It turned to look at him, brown eyes large and jaw working from side to side as it chewed.
“And now we’re crawling along without a caravan leader and a fair amount of guards, prey to every other marauding pack that lurks in these hills,” Jathniel informed the camel, patting its cheek absently. The camel grunted. “Just as well Tobias isn’t with us.” Not for the first time, since he had left, was Jathniel overwhelmingly relieved that Tobias had stayed behind. This caravan was cursed, he was sure of it. The chances of Tobias’ surviving the last attack would have been very low. “You’d like my young friend.” Jathniel circled the camel’s head, looking ahead to where the trail of people wound on ahead of them.
“Hoy!” the call suddenly resounded from far ahead and travelled down the line, growing in intensity.
“Hoy!” a bearded man near Jathniel turned, his eyes wide with alarm.
“What is it?” Tobias called, muscles tensing and hand flying to his sword.
“Lepers’ caves!” the man yelled, racing past Jathniel bellowing out warnings, causing the camel to break into a lumbering gait.
“Lepers’ caves,” Jathniel echoed. A scuffle nearby drew his attention to the young guard who had fought with surprising skill only days ago, surprisingly brutal skill. Violently cruel, the man had mercilessly butchered his enemies with hideous delight.
The young man now watched him with dark glittering eyes, like bottomless pits. “You can fight, but even you cannot deny fear when faced with the leprosy fiend. It is an enemy that none willing engage with. Not even I.” His voice hung, suspended in the air, sending chills through Jathniel.
Choosing not to answer, Jathniel followed the guard’s gaze to the black cavern entrances that dotted the hills. Figures moved in and out of them like ants, pausing frequently to watch the caravan trail. Some seemed to be waving but none in the caravan train waved back, their faces engraved with fear as they moved forward with renewed energy.
“Hoy!” the call came again, this time from behind. “Jathniel!”
Jathniel swung around, the voice familiar.
“Jathniel!”
His gaze swung over those around him, but none were looking at him – all lost in their own worries as they glanced anxiously towards the caves.
“Jathniel!”
Puzzled, Jathniel moved a little out of the trail to get a better view of everyone. A few people looked at him warily, their gaze constantly darting beyond him to the caves. His gaze skimming over them, Jathniel caught sight of the young guard’s elaborate gesture to a place beyond Jathniel. The smirking expression on the man’s face caused bile to rise up inside him; he disliked the youth with surprising intensity.
“Jathniel!”
He turned, following the sound of the voice to where a figure stood on the edge of the path, about a stone’s throw away. Even dressed in numerous soiled garments, there was no mistaking the man who stood watching with such anguish, jerking forward and back as though desperately wanting to rush forward to embrace him and yet something kept pulling him back.
Jathniel stared, a myriad of thoughts tumbling through him.
“Jathniel?” the tortured voice confirmed it.
“Aculeo?” Jathniel stepped forward and then abruptly halted at the sound of the young guard clearing his throat behind him. He glanced over his shoulder, glowering when he saw the satisfied expression on the man’s face. Barely restraining his emotions, Jathniel took in a slow breath and then released it. “Aculeo? You live here?” Never had Jathniel seen such despair. It was as though he was meeting Loneliness rather than a living person. The whole air hung with heavy moroseness. Aculeo looked defeated. He stared, not knowing what to say. What did one say to someone doomed to a life such as the one Aculeo now faced?
“Jathniel,” Aculeo pleaded, voice shaking, “help me. Please.”
Insides squeezing, Jathniel’s finger nails dug into the flesh of his palms. Utter helplessness seized him.
Eyes haunted, Aculeo gazed back at him and then he abruptly turned, escaping to hide the panicked tremors that were increasing in intensity through his body, following routes that Jathniel would, he prayed, never know.
“Amazing how a friend can so easily become an enemy,” the young guard observed, folding his arms across his chest. “An enemy that none willingly engage with.”
Teeth gritted, Jathniel glanced down at his hands, only now aware of the warm moisture that trickled down his fingers. His palms were covered in blood.
Episode 23: Who do you serve?
“The lad’s a mute, don’t mind him!” Eli dismissed the boy with a superior wave of the hand. He cast a long glance over the messenger who was still eyeing the boy warily. “Go ahead, what news have you brought?”
Cautiously, the messenger accepted the water offered him and lifted it to his lips, causing chapped lips to smooth almost instantly. He lowered the cup enough to watch the boy over the rim. The boy was decanting dried fruit from one large basket to many small packs. His profile, lit up by the sun’s late evening rays, gave no indication that he was listening; it was preoccupied and distant.
Taking a chance, he leant forward and whispered huskily, “The Jewish leaders grow restless, already they gather to discuss what must be done with this uprising. The message this man brings is like a mould which is spreading rapidly through our land and which leaves no group of people untarnished. Not only are some Jewish leaders choosing to follow this man’s teachings but there are rumours that even some of our own senior officers are interested in the message he speaks.” The messenger gulped down the remains of the water, tossing it to the back of his throat before continuing, “Perhaps it is worth working alongside the Jewish leaders to eradicate this man and his followers before his teachings erode our strength.”
Eli snorted derisively, scoffing, “You make this man sound like a powerful threat. He is one man, my friend, one man who has a small band of outcasts following him. Yes, he is a problem but he is not the foreboding danger you make him out to be.” He rose, re-arranging his uniform as he did so, his expression pitying as he surveyed the messenger, “I can deal with this man on my own if necessary.” His eyes grew hard, boring into the man opposite, “And never again speak of aligning ourselves with the Jewish leaders. Never! That would be our downfall!”
The brow of the messenger crinkled in confusion, but he nodded silently.
“Go,” Eli commanded, waving him away.
*****
The dried fruit away, Tobias glided silently away from the Roman soldier towards the animals; their musty smell reached him before he spotted them half-hidden behind a clump of shrubby trees.
He shoved between two large bodies to reach the doe-eyed mare with the white splodge above one eye.
“Hello my pretty,” he cooed, gently stroking her neck and then he fell silent, glancing cautiously around to check no one had heard him. Experience had taught him that people weren’t very forgiving when they discovered their ‘mute’ was anything but silent. Clamping his lips together and silently reprimanding himself for his slip, Tobias settled on a rock nearby the horses. He smiled when the mare slowly drifted his way, waiting until she once again stood beside him before he reached up to pat her. He had never ridden a horse before and he doubted he would ever ride one again, but this small band of soldiers had been determined to have an extra hand on their journey and they wanted to travel fast, so he had been given this horse to ride. She was a nimble footed creature, high energy but gentle.
She made the journey worthwhile. Tobias had never been so exhausted in his life. This band of soldiers were definitely making sure he paid his way, some went as far as to wake him up in the night just to get him to put another log on the fire or move their water, which was just out of arm’s reach, beside them. They were a lazy bunch but at least they were travelling fast. It wouldn’t be long before they caught up with Jathniel.
The streaky purples and pinks of the sky were blending into greys and blacks when Tobias lay down for the night, arms behind his head as he searched the sky for the first star. No matter how much he tried to redirect his thoughts they kept coming down to the same question: could he still follow Jesus even when he was heading in the opposite direction to Him? Unable to answer it, no matter which way he considered it, Tobias finally fell asleep, soothed by the nearby movements of the grazing animals. Their shuffling silhouettes darkened and then Tobias was standing in the centre of a busy market place. Merchants shouting out their wares, people bustling about, flocks being herded past...
“Look Tobias, what do you see?”
Tobias looked around, knowing instantly he was dreaming. He had never been to this place before yet it resembled many parts of his life: places he had been, people he had seen, things he had done...
“Life,” he answered, studying the children rushing past. They were skinny and dusty but they looked happy.
“Can you serve Me here?”
Tobias nodded, “Yes, what would you like me to do?” He looked around expectantly.
“Serve these people.”
“These people?” Tobias frowned, surveying the busyness sceptically. “But I want to serve You.”
He felt the smile rather than saw it. “I love these people Tobias. Serve them and you follow My request, and therefore you serve Me.”
The market scene faded and the darkness of night once again swam around him. The stars were numerous now, sprinkled across the blackened sky.
“Serve Me,” the words echoed through him, meeting every question that rose up in him. By going after Jathniel was it truly possible he was still serving God? Tobias shifted to his side, eyes focusing in on a pair of hooves before a white splotched forehead lowered to breathe a rush of air at him.
Episode 24: One day from Caesarea
Jathniel shielded his eyes from the sun’s glare to watch the horseman approach. A confident rider compared to the one that galloped recklessly behind him, flopping from side to side on the horse’s back, asking to be tossed to the ground at any moment.
“What now?” the wagon leader strode past Jathniel, the only indication that he was still aware of his wound was his wince as he rolled his shoulder uncomfortably.
Jathniel fell into step behind him, adjusting his sword for better accessibility. He doubted they would have any trouble from a Roman soldier but there was no point being unprepared. His hand was still on his sword when the front rider swivelled in his saddle, suddenly aware of the wild rider behind him.
“Look at the lad go!” the wagon leader’s grim expression cracked as he let out a sardonic cackle. His pleasure dimmed as he watched the soldier adjust his horse’s stride to match the young rider’s. “He shoulda let the lad ride it out, it’s the best way to learn.” Shoulders slumped in disappointment, he did not notice how Jathniel’s face lit up until Jathniel strode past him to meet the riders, hand out-stretched to catch at the horses’ ropes.
“Eli!” Jathniel greeted his fellow soldier with a nod but his eyes were on the lad. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“And not with a wild mute boy either,” Eli agreed, scowling at the boy.
“Mute?” Jathniel’s brow cocked, intrigued, eyes smiling as Tobias’ dirty head lifted to meet his gaze. He was thin and almost unrecognisable beneath all that grime, but the fighting spark was definitely still there. “Well, come and rest.” He indicated the wagon leader, “I will leave you to it.”
Eli nodded his thanks, turning to Tobias,” You boy, take the horses and water them.” He pointed at the other men who had caught up with them, “All of the horses.” If he was surprised when Jathniel came alongside Tobias to help him, he did not say anything. He did watch, however, as the two led the horses off to find water.
Tobias and Jathniel walked in silence, Tobias feeling strangely shy. After days of fending for himself he hadn’t expected to be so relieved or glad to be with Jathniel again. He felt safe. Is this what being with a father felt like? Glancing up at Jathniel, he found him watching.
“Your journey fine?” Jathniel asked, steps shortened to match Tobias’. He couldn’t help but notice how scrawny the lad’s legs were, or how lean his face had become. Eli was a hard task-master, he knew that.
“Tiring,” Tobias answered honestly, hesitating a moment before asking tentatively. “And yours?”
“Interesting and boring at the same time,” Jathniel pulled a face. “You should see some of the people travelling with me!”
Tobias laughed, the sound of his own voice surprising him. He had almost forgotten what he sounded like.
“There is somebody, though, that I think you’d like to meet,” Jathniel said. “As soon as we’re done with the horses I’ll take you to listen to him.”
Curious, Tobias eagerly rubbed the horses down, his mind racing through dozens of possibilities. It couldn’t be Jesus, he knew that. And not John the Baptist, he was still in prison. But who then?
“You ready?”
Tobias nodded. Jathniel stopped to pick up a raisin loaf which he gave to Tobias before leading them towards the front of the camp.
“He reads every night around this time. I don’t understand everything but he speaks of the things that interest you-” he paused and then corrected himself, “that interest us.”
Jathniel led them to a place where a crowd had already gathered to listen to an elderly man with a white beard. He motioned for Tobias to sit and then followed suit. The man’s shaky voice carried easily to them in the stillness of the evening.
“I read from Isaiah. Listen and may you be blessed.” The man clutched the words in age-trembling hands, clearing his throat before he began to read. “He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
Tobias’ tired heart had stilled as the words ran through his dry soul like the first rains on cracked ground. He soaked up the words, not understanding them all but captivated by every one.
“I don’t understand,” Jathniel whispered. Every night, since discovering these readings, he had come to listen, and every night he had left hungrier to learn.
“He speaks of the Messiah,” Tobias answered without hesitation, “but I don’t understand it all either, except that there is something about the Messiah that we desire, not because of what he looks like but because of something that we can’t see.”
Jathniel’s brow rose as he glanced down at the filth-covered lad who was tearing chunks from the loaf of bread with bony fingers, and then scoffing them down. “That makes sense, sort of,” he shrugged, marvelling at how Tobias had understood after one reading while he had understood nothing after many evenings.
(Isaiah 53: 2-5)
Caesarea
“Look Tobias,” Jathniel stretched a hand out at the place before them. “This is where the base of our Roman forces is. We are strong here and this is where the Centurion that I am under lives. You will meet him tonight.”
Tobias glanced almost carelessly over Caesarea before studying Jathniel intently. His words held praise for Rome but his expression was impassive. Dressed in his Roman uniform, it was like standing beside a stranger. He even smelt Roman! Emotions torn, Tobias tried to refocus on Caesarea, reminding himself for the hundredth time that this was Jathniel he stood beside – Jathniel who just happened to be wearing something different.
“Something foul!” the words hissed out of him before he had time to clamp his mouth shut.
Ignoring the comment, Jathniel jerked his head to where Eli strutted through the crowd leading his now-sparkling band of men behind him. “You better stay out of sight while Eli is around, he won’t take kindly to knowing you are not a mute.”
Tobias avoided Jathniel’s probing eyes, knowing there would be questions in them. His insides churned when Jathniel spoke.
“Is there anything that I need to know Tobias?”
Shaking his head quickly, Tobias held his ground, knowing that if he followed his instinct and darted off, it would be a dead giveaway that he held secrets. He glanced up and then away again, seeing only kindness despite that hated uniform. Did Jathniel share Eli’s views of the Roman army and Jews? Had Jathniel helped Aculeo put the prophet John in prison? And if so, then what would become of Jesus? Teeth gritted, Tobias determined to say nothing, even if it cost him his life. He had messed up once with the prophet when he could have prevented, or at least delayed, imprisonment; he would not make that mistake again!
“Alright then,” Jathniel spoke quietly, and Tobias knew he was not fooled. “Let’s go. I will show you where the Italian regiment is based and then we will go and meet Cornelius.”
“Cornelius,” Tobias repeated, relaxing as they moved forward.
They wandered through Caesarea all morning, Jathniel pointing out this and that like a proud father. He liked Caesarea, Tobias decided, interested in the stories that accompanied every corner they rounded. At mid-day, Jathniel took them down to the sea where the ships lay in the harbour. Tobias barely noticed when Jathniel left with instructions to meet him back here at sunset, so absorbed was he with planning how to sneak onto a ship and explore.
Two hours flipped past and Tobias still lay on the hot sand, soaking in the sun and sound of sea, mesmerised by the way the water lapped against the side of the ships and the activity that buzzed on board them. A movement to his left caught his attention. Two men held a couple of large tree trunks between them and were making their way up towards the nearest ship. Ducking low, Tobias edged nearer until he was just ahead of them, keeping out of sight. As they reached him, he darted under the trunks and half-crawled, half-scampered beneath them, once falling and scrapping his knees. The wrinkled bark hovered over him, large and heavy all the way up into the ship. When they reached the top, Tobias waited until they passed a pile of rope before scurrying out from under the trunk and diving behind the brown coils.
Excited, he poked his head up to survey the wet surface, deciding which direction to go before darting in the direction that look least occupied by sailors. His explorations led him towards the murmur of voices. One sounded suspiciously like Eli’s. Curious, he squirmed along on his stomach and cautiously poked his head around the corner. Resting on a comfortable cushion was Eli, expression smug, facing a man who glowed with pleasure as words spouted from his thick lips.
“I heard three days ago and it has been confirmed,” the man gushed. “Herod beheaded the man! We are finally rid of that filth and all his words against us. Bah!”
Heart knocking on the wooden floor, Tobias leant forward, his knee scrapping noisily against the wall causing both men inside to look up. However, their eyes never dropped low enough to where Tobias lay with cheek on the floor, not daring even to blink.
“It’s nothing,” Eli reassured them both, continuing smoothly, “I did think, though, that Herod had an unfortunate weakness for the prophet.”
“Ha!” the rosy-faced man puffed his chest out in pleasure,” but his wife did not, and thanks to her and her daughter, John the Baptist is dead!”
Dead! John! Tobias scrambled to his feet without thinking, rising up in the entrance abruptly causing both men to startle, Eli going for his sword while the other clutched at his throat in fear.
“You!” Eli glared. “What are you doing here?” he released his sword. “It’s just the mute boy who travelled with me here.” He strode forward but Tobias was already racing from the ship and along the edge of the sea, tears streaming down his face. He ran until the waves pulled him down, his feet catching on the soft sand. Sobbing, he dragged his water-weighted body onto the beach.
“Why God?” he wept, the image of that document that could have kept John from prison branded in his mind as though he held it even now. He could even feel the softness of it in his hand before he released it to hold onto the bag of coins. “I’m so sorry! So sorry!” Tobias clutched at the sand, body wracked with pain. He had killed John the Baptist, killed him because of his own lust for money!
(John’s death – Mark 6:14-29)
With a bushy beard, flowing clothes, and a stomach bulging over his belt, the man oozed wealth; a tax collector – the perfect target.
Tobias pushed his way past the roughly clad man that smelt of the desert and squeezed through the gathering crowd, dodging an elbow that suddenly jabbed at his head.
He glanced back at the man in his camel-skin clothes who had barely noticed him pass by. The man was still shouting at the crowds - shouting something about brooding vipers and chopping down trees. The people must be very bored, or at least out for a laugh, to come each day to listen to this man! Soon he would start shoving people into the Jordan – everyday it was the same.
“Hey – watch where you’re going!” A woman spun around as Tobias bumped into her. Her eyes widened with recognition. “You’re the one that stole my coins!”
Tobias dove past her grasping hands. She was a renowned prostitute, not worth the light of day. Everyone called her Mary – the gracious ones anyway.
Brown eyes still on the tax collector, Tobias inched forward. The sweaty bodies pressed against him, merging together into a swarming mass of colours and shapes. Tobias glanced over his shoulder and saw the prostitute craning her neck to follow him, her curling brown hair tumbling over her shoulder. He waved at her, his grin broadening at her answering scowl. Casually, he circled up behind the tax collector. He could see the cloak bulging out at the man’s waist – the money pouch. With a crowd like this there would be no chance of being caught. Slowing to a stop, Tobias pretended to listen to the Desert Man. He glanced up at the jowled tax collector beside him. The man was preoccupied – an easy target.
Sliding a hand under the man’s cloak, he ran his finger tips lightly along the belt until he reached the pouch. He carefully slid his knife into the pouch and let the coins drop one by one into his hand so that they did not clank together. The last coin dropped softly into his palm, leaving the pouch hanging slack against the rolls of fat.
Tobias cautiously began backing away from the tax collector, moving slowly away from the scene of the crime. The sound of murmuring behind him caused the young thief to turn sharply – warily. The crowd parted and Tobias saw a man making his way through the people. For one brief moment their eyes connected. Tobias had never seen the man before, but in that moment he knew that there was nothing the man did not know about him.
(See Luke 3:7-22)
John 1:18 (KJV) “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Episode 2: Jathniel
Tobias turned and ran, toes splaying out on the hot ground. The expected outcry behind him didn’t happen; still he ran listening for the sound of heavy feet in close pursuit. Into the town and down the first street he ran until the murmur of the crowd grew distant and eventually completely faded away until Tobias could only hear the wind rushing past his ears. He slowed to a jog and then to a walk, his chest heavy and his face hot. No one was behind him.
The shaking inside began to ease but his legs still burned from the desperate escape. Who was that man that had looked right into him and why did he feel so afraid?
Gulping in a lungful of air, Tobias held his breath until he thought his chest would explode. He could feel his heart hammering against his ribs. Slowly – very slowly – he let the air hiss out between his teeth, dark eyes absorbing in his surroundings. The streets were narrow and it stunk of fish. He had only been to this area of Bethany once; the men were rough and loud but had pretty much left him alone.
Tobias pressed close to the walls following the street and circled around until he was once again clear of the buildings and back near the Jordan River, only higher up than earlier. Cautiously, he hunkered down beside the river and dipped his burning feet into its coolness.
“Ay boy!”
Leaping to his feet, legs dripping, Tobias spun around. The man had come up on him so quietly and caught him unawares. It was just the two of them – all alone. Instinctively Tobias’s hand gently cradled the coins in his secret pouch that hung against his side. The man did not look like a thief but that meant nothing. His beard was trimmed and his eyes were sharp. Tobias did not recognise him.
“You were at the Jordan River with John the Baptist.”
Tobias said nothing.
The stranger was now towering over him. He was at least twice Tobias’ width and none of his size was fat. The man was built like an ox. Tobias cast an anxious glance past the hairy arm toe the town beyond. With the river behind him and the man in front his options were limited. The only thing he could do was –
“Whoa, not so fast!” The hand that shot out and snagged his arm was fast. This was no lumbering ox!
“Let go of me!” Tobias bellowed, wriggling and squirming to get free from the unyielding grasp. Seeing that the man’s grip was only getting tighter Tobias suddenly went limp, hoping to catch the man off-guard. Nothing changed except for a slight smile quirking up the side of the man’s mouth.
“What do you want of me?” Tobias demanded, straightening to his full height – which brought him up to the mid-point of the man’s chest.
“Where’s your family boy?”
“Gone,” Tobias glared defiantly at the man – waiting.
The man squinted thoughtfully down at him. “I’m leaving soon for Galilee. You work for me and I will give you food and shelter.”
Tobias clutched at his money pouch. Why work for food and shelter when he had his own ways of making money? He looked up, eyes flicking over the man’s face. The stranger was going to Galilee, he said. Tobias thought again of the man at the river who has seen right inside of him and left him quivering. Perhaps it was time to move towns.
“Fine, just let me go,” he jerked free of the man.
The man stepped back and surveyed him, his expression unreadable. Tobias gazed back warily.
“I won’t have you running away, I can’t keep training new help,” the man warned sternly.
“I won’t,” Tobias agreed easily. He would leave when it suited him.
“Alright then,” the man nodded; his eyes steady on Tobias’ face. “I’m Jathniel.” The man slid a bag off his shoulder and Tobias found himself burdened down under the weighty load. He would not be running away easily with this thing on his back.
“Let’s go.” The man called Jathniel strode ahead of Tobias, back towards the crowd at the Jordan River.
Episode 3: The Baptism
It was definitely the bag. Tobias had pressed his own dirty sleeve against his nose but none of the smells were quite the same fishy that filled his nostrils. He caught the spicy waft from Jathniel every time he bumped into the man’s back, so he knew it wasn’t Jathniel. So it had to be the bag. Tobias lifted the bag to his nose again and drank in the fishy smell, a smile spreading across his face – it was heavenly. He would be willing to put up with a fisherman. That would mean days of rocking on the waves, slimy fishing nets and squirming slippery fish flopping around the boat. Heavenly.
He glanced up furtively at Jathniel but the man was too busy pushing his way to the front of the crowd to worry what he was up to. Tobias eased the bag open and peeked into it. It was too dark to see anything so he cautiously slid his hand in and felt through the contents of the bag wondering how many squishy fish he would feel. To his disappointment, and surprise, the first thing he felt was a parchment – the kind he had seen a Roman officer writing on once at the barracks. Something heavy slid to the corner of the bag, he grasped it and felt the solidness of gold coins. The man was letting him carry a bag with gold coins in it? Tobias looked up and eyed the broad shoulders of Jathniel suspiciously. A parchment and gold coins? He dragged his eyes over the man’s clothing. The man was dressed well but not in such a way as to mark him as wealthy. Fingers crawling along the base of the bag, his eyes never leaving Jathniel, Tobias felt a firm leather pouch. He felt along it until he came to the handle – a knife. Eyes narrowing, Tobias swung his hand once more through the bag. The only other thing in the bag was some sort of cloth that might be a cloak. He carefully closed the bag, noticing how the crowds gave Jathniel dirty looks as he moved through them yet none stopped him or argued with him. It was Jathniel’s height and the way that he carried himself – it left little room for argument. Just who was this man that dressed like a Jew and carried a bag smelling of fish but which contained gold coins and a scroll?
Jathniel never looked behind once as he led the way through the crowd, but he knew the boy was still following because the dark curls frequently bumped into him whenever he was forced to slow as he moved through the people. Jathniel smiled to himself. The boy wouldn’t run; he would be too suspicious and intrigued to do anything but follow – especially when he found the gold coins in the bag.
“Excuse me,” Jathniel eased past a woman and her baby. He could see John the Baptist was in the river and a man was with him. Pushing right through to the front, Jathniel gazed down at the pair. He could hear the unhappy murmurs of the crowd around him as he took his place at the front of them. Glancing around he realised he had placed himself right smack amongst the Pharisees, their sour faces were all turned in his direction.
“You get out of here,” one younger Pharisee yanked on the boy’s shoulder dragging the boy back. Jathniel grabbed the man’s wrist and squeezed; his eyes boring into the religious man with the ugly eyes. The Pharisee reluctantly released the boy but Jathniel let his hold linger a moment before he released the man. He ignored the boy’s mutinous look. The boy would have to deal with his own pride issues, there was nothing he would do help him with that.
He focused on John the Baptist, intrigued by the prophet’s awed expression as he gazed on the man he was about to baptise. He had been following the prophet for man weeks now but never seen the man looked as overwhelmed as right now. Jathniel studied the man beside the prophet. There was nothing out of the ordinary that caught his attention, except perhaps the man’s eyes. Eyes of peace. A man at peace or a man of peace? Jathniel watched as John lowered the man into the water, baptising him. The man came up out of the river, water streaming down his cheek and nose, his hair dripping. The man was praying. Jathniel watched, his gaze flicking between the man and John the Baptist. At that moment he caught a flutter of movement and looked up to his right to see a dove come and settle down on the man who had been baptised. Jathniel smiled, wondering if the praying man was even aware of the bird. And then saw the prophet’s face. John’s eyes were wide with wonder, and the tears were very evident as he gazed at the man in what could only be described as holy adoration. A tremor ran through Jathniel; he was not quite certain what was happening.
The air around him seemed to heat up and become charged until even his insides were quivering in an unexplainable way.
“You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Jathniel’s quivering insides stilled. The voice had come from heaven, he was certain of it. Unable to tear his eyes away from the man’s face, Jathniel wondered just what exactly he was witnessing. The awed expression on John’s face reflected the wonder in Jathniel as they watched the man. Jathniel glanced around at the face of the Pharisees beside him, expecting to share a similar wonder with them, but they were talking amongst themselves in angry whispers and some watched the baptised man with hard expressions. Had they not heard the Voice? Had they not experienced the heat and vibrancy in the air before the Voice had spoken?
Jathniel looked down at the boy. The wide frightened eyes convinced him that he was not the only witness to today’s extraordinary events.
Episode 4: The Baptism – Part 2
“Jathniel.”
The rough call could be heard above the din of the disintegrating crowd as mothers counted children and people bunched together and headed towards their homes. Tobias shot his new master a quick look; had he heard his name? It didn’t appear he had for Jathniel was still watching the baptised man with an expression Tobias could not quite interpret. He followed Jathniel’s gaze and gave an involuntary shudder, water droplets still dripping from the man’s beard. Tobias hastily lowered his eyes when the man looked in his direction, afraid that every last secret would be revealed if his eyes met the man’s eyes again. All he knew was that there was something tricky about the man; he knew more about a person than was natural.
“Jathniel!”
This time Jathniel turned at the sound of his name.
Tobias felt suddenly exposed as Jathniel no longer stood between him and the man. He ducked his head sheepishly, realising he had used Jathniel’s body as a shield. The baptised man was only steps away from him. His flesh tingling, Tobias resisted the almost overpowering temptation to cave into the unreasonable fear he felt and hide behind Jathniel. What was wrong with him? He had faced so much opposition in his short life, he could handle one man. There was nothing really peculiar about the man; it was just his imagination getting him all skittish.
Still Tobias watched the man. He watched as the Desert Man came and stood beside him and noticed the similarities of their appearance; a similarity of their noses and the set of their jaws. Neither man was a rich man because Tobias could see their bodies were strong from physical labour. The Desert Man was suntanned and weathered compared to the other man, but Tobias could see the muscles in the other man’s arms against the taunt wet garments; and when the man raised a hand and rested it on the Desert Man’s shoulder, Tobias caught sight of the deep calluses on it.
The two men were similar enough to be cousins, if not brothers.
The men exchanged words before drawing apart. Tobias froze as the man’s gaze drifted onto Jathniel and then dropped down to him. Not daring to move, he could hear his laboured breathing and then even that he no longer heard. Tobias’ vision grew blurred and the man’s sandals merged with the dust. The weight of the gold coins grew heavy and his chest seemed to burn where they rested. Could the man see the coins?
“Tobias?”
Jathniel’s body stepped between him and the man.
“Breathe boy!” Jathniel exclaimed, thumping Tobias on the back and sending a whoosh of air out of him. He glowered down at him, “Enough foolishness. Come.”
Tobias stumbled after Jathniel and the man who had joined him. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the now almost dry feet of the stranger still unmoved. Tobias shot a quick glance across at the man, and his clenched heart finally relaxed. The man was looking out towards the desert.
******
“Jathniel, are you listening?”
Jathniel nodded, answering vaguely, “Yes yes – go on.”
Tobias lowered the bowl down in front of Jathniel. His master was doing anything but listening. And why were they cooped up here in this tiny room? Jathniel had gold coins, he could afford better than this dump. This was the part of town where the outcasts live. Hadn’t he seen Mary going into a house nearby when he had gone to fetch the water?
Tobias lightly tapped Jathniel’s foot, waiting impatiently for Jathniel to slide the sandal off before putting a sand-crusted foot into the water. The sand sunk to the bottom of the basin and the dust rose and floated on the surface of the water.
“The lad should take your sandal off!” Jathniel’s friend interrupted his monologue to smack the back of Tobias’ head. “Show respect for your master, boy!”
“Leave the boy alone, Aculeo,” Jathniel roused himself. “Now finish what you are saying so I can some sleep – I’m weary.”
Aculeo. Tobias stared at the man suspiciously. That wasn’t a Jewish name, or a name of any Israelite that he had ever heard of before. Glaring at the man, Tobias splashed water up Jathniel’s ankles before turning and tossing the towel down near the basin.
Why should he take Jathniel’s sandal off? Jathniel had hands, didn’t he? Tobias watched the second foot dip into the water, noting the pale marks where the sun had not been able to get past the leather of the sandal. He glanced down at the leather sandals and his frown deepened. The pale marks did not match with the pattern of the sandals Jathniel was wearing now.
“I don’t understand you, Jathniel. We came to hear John the Baptist, how can you consider listening to anyone else? You’ve heard the man, you’ve seen the crowds, and you’ve...”
“Exactly,” Jathniel interrupted, splashing water over Tobias’ knees as his foot kicked out of the water. “I heard John say that One is coming who is greater than he is, One whose sandals he is not worthy to undo. This is the Man – I’m sure of it.”
Head shaking firmly, his friend loudly disagreed. “No – he is just a man. Let us stay and listen to John.”
When Jathniel did not answer Tobias glanced up from where he was kneeling to look at him. The expression on Jathniel’s face pleased Tobias. Jathniel’s friend might think he had won the argument but if he did then he hadn’t see the way Jathniel’s jaw twitched or the look in his eyes. Jathniel had agreed to nothing, Tobias was sure of it.
John 1:27 “It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”
Luke 4:1-2b “Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan river. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days.”
Episode 5: The Prophet and Aculeo
Five doors down, he watched the woman’s silhouette step out her door into the pre-dawn light. Now she would fiddle with her clothes and arrange her uncovered hair just as she usually did. He leant against the wall and watched as she combed her fingers through her hair, her body turned partially their way so she could watch them. It sickened him. How could a man like Jathniel willing choose to dwell so close to slime like her? Every morning without fail she came out her door at exactly the same time as them; every morning she waited for them to lead the way down to the river; and then she followed so close behind that sometimes Tobias could hear the scuffle of her foot hitting a stone or the occasional sound of her softly clearing her throat. Slime! Did Jathniel not see her?
Tobias turned away from the woman, an ugly taste in his mouth, and sighed heavily. He looked over at Jathniel who was patiently leaning against the wall beside him gazing up at the morning skies, the light streaks just beginning to stretch across the darkness.
“Let’s just leave Aculeo behind today,” Tobias grumbled.
“Hush,” Jathniel reprimanded, but Tobias felt his unspoken agreement. Aculeo always delayed them. He stayed out late at night, banged his way noisily into the room when they had already been asleep for hours, and then dropped to the ground and into such a loud snore that Tobias sometimes felt the ground tremble beneath him. Aculeo was never ready to join the early morning stream of people heading for the river. Already the crowds would be thick and the man called John would be speaking. Even the Pharisees came to hear John!
“And here we are, still waiting...” Tobias complaints died away under Jathniel’s severe look.
“Here I am!” Aculeo stepped out and adjusted his cloak tighter around his neck. It was cool now but in a couple of hours the sun would be blazing down on them until only the most eager had not abandoned listening to the Desert Man in search of shade. Tobias glanced behind him and watched the prostitute straighten and prepare to follow them. He glowered at her; it didn’t matter that she couldn’t seem him in the darkness.
“Today I am going to be baptised,” Aculeo announced loudly, rubbing his hands together. Tobias noticed Jathniel stiffen but he could not be sure why.
The three of them, or rather four of them, silently trekked along the worn path to the river. As they approached they joined up with others who had come to listen. The soft murmur of voices mingling together grew into a low rumble, and then above them the sound of a man’s voice. John the Baptist had already starting speaking.
Tobias stumbled as a form slid past him, knocking him, before weaving past into the crowd. “Mary,” Tobias sighed heavily. The woman would get a good view right near the front while he and Jathniel had to stand behind the hoards all because Aculeo was so unreliable. It just wasn’t fair.
By the time the sun was hot John had spoken many words. Tobias understood some of it but most he did not. He was restless and wished he could slip away, he could see many wealthy scattered through the crowd nearby that would make a fair picking but Jathniel was watching. The man had an uncanny knack of knowing when Tobias was ready to lighten other people’s pockets. He had already forced Tobias to return two stolen coins and apologise – the humiliation was not worth repeating. Sighing, Tobias turned to look around him. There were the Pharisees bunched together whispering, and not far from them were the Sadducees. They were so clean-looking compared to the ragged fishermen nearby. There were many dusty people as well, people who had travelled from all over Judea. Some Tobias recognised from previous days. One or two he even recognised from other towns. Mary was one of those. She too had come to hear the prophet, he had heard her telling another woman that a couple of days ago – whether or not that was true.
“She shouldn’t be allowed here,” Tobias thought, searching the crowd for her.
“And Herod!" The sound of the prophet’s voice broke through Tobias’ thoughts. He listened.
“Herod has sinned! He has taken his brother’s wife as his own. This is a sin against God’s commands for God said “Do not commit adultery.” Herod has committed adultery!”
The ripple that passed through the crowd seemed to ripple right through Tobias for he felt a tremble in his chest. Surely John knew what would happen if he said such things! Tobias looked at the Pharisees and then at the rest of the crowd. He even spotted the Romans who were present. Herod was sure to hear about this from someone here!
Tobias glanced up at Jathniel; his master’s face was hard, his jaw tense. Tobias leant forward to see Aculeo’s face and saw the shock and anger clearly visible. Heart trembling for John, Tobias gazed back in the direction of the prophet staring blindly at the crowd of backs and the rumble that swirled around him. John had been foolish to speak against Herod – even he knew that.
“Those of you who want to be baptised in water today, come and be baptised. You who want to make your lives right with God and leave your past behind, come – come and be baptised,” John shouted. The surge of people moving forward surprised Tobias. Apparently not all were as offended or afraid for John and for being recognised as one of his followers as Tobias had thought they would be.
“Aculeo?” Jathniel raised a brow questioningly, “I thought today you were to be baptised?”
Aculeo scowled, his eyes dark with trouble, “I would not be baptised by a man who speaks against Herod. Such a man should not be followed; he is teaching the people traitorous things. This is treachery!”
Clenching his fists at his side, Tobias held his silence. He knew Jathniel was a fair man and would give John a reasonable chance. He was right. Jathniel crossed his big arms against his chest and looking straight ahead observed, “But it was you who brought me here to hear the prophet. You told me he spoke truth.”
“And you said you were going to follow the man called Jesus and listen to what he had to say. You said he was ‘The One’,” Aculeo shot back, his voice edged.
Jathniel’s jaw tightened but he said nothing.
For the first time, Tobias was sorry that the man called Jesus, the one from Nazareth, had disappeared. It was said that he had gone into the desert but that was many days ago and he still had not returned. How could Jathniel follow a man who was not available to follow?
Aculeo was being unreasonable as usual.
Luke 3: 16-20
Luke 3:16: - John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Jathniel’s Letter
The rumble of Jathniel’s voice could be heard from his room; he was meeting with those two men again. What was it they discussed so earnestly in there? Tobias grabbed the shopping sack from beside the door and reluctantly slouched over to the door. He didn’t want to go to the market now, it was feverishly hot, but Aculeo had promised him a gold piece if he went.
At the door Tobias hesitated and glanced back at the partition that separated Tobias from Jathniel and his visitors. Jathniel had become very stern every time Aculeo gave Tobias tasks to do. He would not be pleased to know Aculeo had another errand for him.
“Aculeo’s just lazy,” Tobias muttered, and stepped out into the thick heat swatting at the flies. He paused, an idea striking him, and then instead of heading on towards the market place he circled around the building keeping low until he was under the window. Cautiously, he lifted himself up and peeped into the room so only his eyes were above the base of the window. A man was seated at the table writing, stopping frequently to wait for Jathniel to continue speaking. Jathniel was pacing slowly around the table; his thoughts must be deep because Tobias didn’t remember ever hearing him take so long to choose his words. Shifting slightly to the left, Tobias got a better angle of the right side of the room. He could see Aculeo leaning against the wall beside the door. He was drinking from a cup and watching the two at the table. Tobias didn’t like the way he was looking at them, but then there was not much he liked about anything Aculeo did.
Tobias looked back at the man writing. What was he writing?
Tobias crouched down below the window and strained to hear Jathniel’s voice. He spoke slow and very low so it was difficult to hear.
“In conclusion, I have decided that John the Baptist is a man who speaks...”
“Tobias! What are you doing?”
Tobias jerked his head up at the loud and accusing voice to see Mary stalking over to him, one arm waving at him.
“Ugh – why can’t you mind your own business woman,” Tobias softly growled as she diverted from her route to come over. He turned away from her, straining to listen to what Jathniel was saying above her loud voice.
“And so – I leave it to you to decide what you will do with a man who speaks such words as these.” There was a pause and then Tobias heard Jathniel say, “Alright, you can take this letter to him. I will wait for further orders.”
Tobias could picture Jathniel peering over the shoulder of the man who was writing, checking the accuracy of the letter. He knew Jathniel could write, he had seen him once or twice late at night –
“Tobias!” Mary stood right over him, gazing down at him with hands on her hips and lips pursed.
Tobias glared up at her scornfully, brushing past her so he drew her away from the window, “What do you want?”
“You’re eavesdropping,” Mary accused, “and seeing as how I knew what a righteous woman your mother was, I know...”
“Well, she’s not worrying about what I’m doing and you better not,” Tobias warned. “At least my sin is only eavesdropping, unlike yours.” He watched her steady gaze flicker, only for a moment, and then she said, “Then let’s make sure that is the worst of your sins for it is something you can deal with now.”
Disgusted with her, and embarrassed to be seeing talking to her, Tobias swung on his head and dashed around the corner, colliding into the solid body of Aculeo. Here – you poisoned street rat!” Aculeo exclaimed, grabbing Tobias around the neck. “You should be at the market. If you do not get over there directly you can forget about that gold piece.”
Spitting at Aculeo’s feet, Tobias glowered at the man’s stubbled chin, “Roman!” He jerked free and with a sour look back, slowly headed towards the market. If it was any less than a gold piece he wouldn’t be going – not for Aculeo anyway. Tobias paused, turning around to see if he could see where Aculeo had gone. Surprised, he saw Aculeo standing exactly where he had left him, watching him with hard, cautious eyes. Neither moved until someone stepped out the house behind Aculeo, then both turned to watch as Jathniel’s two visitors stepped into the heat. Aculeo nodded politely to the two men that passed by him and turned immediately right.
Tobias frowned, wondering where the second man had been in the room when he had peeked inside. He pretended not to notice the flick of Aculeo’s hand as Aculeo tried to get him moving and instead took his time to study the footprints on the ground knowing it would annoy Aculeo.
Why was Jathniel so concerned about John the Baptist? And who was that letter to? Herod? Would Jathniel be the one who would report the prophet’s words to the Romans?
His heart heavy, Tobias slowly stood. The heat rising from the ground and the sun pounding down from above suddenly seem to be crushing him as he was trapped in the middle.
Episode 7: The Stoning
“Stone him! Stone him!”
The cries reverberated off the walls, rippling through the crowd and erupting in a mixture of tearful pleading and eager determination. People came rushing into the gathering group from all sides, their eyes wide and chests heaving; some even stooping to clamber for loose stones along the edge of buildings before reaching the stoning – they had not yet even found out what the person was to be stoned for or who the person was.
Tobias watched them, back pressed against a wall and heart racing.
“You have heard the testimony of the witnesses! You know the law. This man has been worshipping idols – we have many witnesses who have come forward and given testimony of this. Stone him!”
It was the same man that regularly roused the crowds for stonings. Tobias eyed the man, the twisting feeling inside of him telling him the man was up to no good, he was not even a priest, yet the people responded to his lust for blood with an eagerness that Tobias despised. Pushing off the wall, Tobias pressed past a buxom woman, moving closer to the man with the full grey beard and merciless brown eyes.
“You – throw your stone!” the man bellowed, thrusting a beefy hand out in the direction of the tent-maker who lived just beyond the market. “Throw it!” the beard wobbled angrily.
Tobias sidled closer, raking the man up and down with his eyes. He knew where the man hid his coins – today would not be the first day he had lightened this blood-thirsty man’s purse. Tobias waited until the man reared forward to hurl his first stone and at that precise moment yanked the entire purse from the man, knowing that he would never feel it go with all that murderous blood coursing through him and pounding in his ears.
Stuffing the coins into the depths of his clothes, Tobias shot a sharp glance at the one being stoned. It was a man, skinny and worn from living. Already he was crouched over trying to shield his head and eyes from the jagged rocks that were cutting chunks into his body; Tobias did not recognise him. Turning away, he glided down the front line of the crowd to a group of priests, trying to look unbothered by the scene happening behind him. He was tough, he had seen many stoning before – it was nothing to him now.
“Mercy! Plea-”
The man’s plea was abruptly cut short at the sound of rock connecting with bone. Tobias spun around involuntary, his stomach curdling at the sight of blood pouring out into the dirt from the grey head that now rested – lifeless – on the dirt; red and brown merged into a sticky stain.
On the verge of being sick, Tobias elbowed his way out of the crowd and came to a stumbling stop. Against a wall, slightly away from everyone, was Mary. She watched the crowd impassively, her eyes hard – revealing nothing. She turned and saw him watching her.
Tobias straightened and tried to look cocky, he pointed at her and then jerked his thumb at the dispersing crowd and the dead figure sprawled in the dust. “You’re next,” he mouthed.
Her expression never changed; big eyes with hidden thoughts.
Tobias scowled at her, “Soulless creature.” He kicked at the dust and wandered slowly along towards the market to get Aculeo’s fish, counting the coins in his fingers as he went. He dared not bring the purse into view lest someone spot it and recognise it as belonging to the grey-bearded man.
“Tobias! You want to come fishing?”
At the sound of his name Tobias swung around, losing count. “Samuel? Elias?” he smiled, surprised to see the sons of the carpenter across the street waiting for an answer. He had supposed they would never speak to him again after he had tricked their eldest brother into giving him that donkey. “Sure!” he let the coins drop back into the purse and smiled as they clunked against the other coins.
“You see the stoning?” Elias asked as they dashed through the streets narrowing missing person after person.
“Yeah, guess he deserved it,” Tobias shrugged, his heart squirming.
“My father says that if we obey the law we don’t have to fear it. That man got was coming to him,” Elias careered around another corner. “I just got to get my fishing bag quick.”
Tobias and Samuel were left standing together outside the carpenter’s house. Tobias studied the tanned skin and pale eyes of Samuel out of the side of his eye, pretending to be absorbed in some pebbles on the ground. Samuel was about his own age, younger than Elias, and so clean compared to Tobias. From what Tobias had seen, Samuel didn’t say much.
“So you agree with Elias?” Tobias was surprised to hear himself ask. What did it matter if Samuel agreed or not? He thought of the man groaning as rocks gashed into him, the man’s life ebbing out of him as every stone struck. Tobias must be a heathen to even think of mercy for a sinner.
“Forget it,” Tobias shook his head, glad when Elias stepped out yelling, “I’m going to get at least eight fish. Bet you two don’t get any between you!”
“Be back before dark boys,” a woman appeared at a window, soft brown hair pulled back and half covered by a pale cloth. She must be their mother, Tobias thought, noticing that neither boy responded to her.
Episode 8: The Fishing Catch
Tobias kept watching her hoping that she would look his way, but she resolutely ignored him. She had eyes only for her sons, a worried line crinkling her smooth brow. Tobias took in the soft curve of her face and the worn looking hands. She wasn’t as pretty as Mary but she worked hard – her dry, cracked hands were proof of that.
“Come on Tobias!” Elias bellowed.
Reluctantly, Tobias turned away from their mother with one last wistful glance. Not even Elias’ yell had shifted her gaze his way. Was he that repulsive? He stumbled, his heart heavy, before he saw Elias and Samuel kicking up dust ahead of him. Fishing! Smiling inside, Tobias pounded after them.
“Look – a splash!” Elias hopped up and down, excitedly pointing at a ripple in the water. “Quick, get the fishing stuff. I’m going to catch the first fish.”
It was a command, not a hope. Tobias felt the hairs on his neck prickle up indignantly. Why should Elias catch the first fish? He glanced at Samuel but the younger boy was quietly unwinding his fishing cord, his expression unruffled.
Tobias waited for Elias to lend him a fishing cord but Elias was already wiggling his cord in the water, he had a net beside him ready to scoop a fish out.
“Here,” Samuel handed Tobias the cord he had untangled.
“Thanks,” Tobias accepted it in surprise. “Don’t you want me to untangle my own cord so you can get fishing?”
“There’s no rush,” Samuel shrugged and began unwinding another cord. “See that man there?”
Tobias glanced at Elias who was engrossed in his fishing and then forced himself to wait and listen to Samuel. He followed Samuel’s gaze to where a scrawny old man sat on the bank of the river staring deeply into the water.
“That’s Shallum. He’s not very friendly – you better stay away from him,” Samuel advised.
“He’s plain sour!” Elias called.
Tobias studied the old man with interest. There was nothing outstanding about the man – at least what Tobias could see past the reeds. The man did have a big scowl on his face though – perhaps he had overhead Elias’ loud comment.
Tobias nodded, picking his way through the reeds to find just the right spot to fish from. He found a space to sit amongst the reeds and dipped his cord into the river and wiggled it. He had never fished this way before but it was worth a try. The three boys fished in contented silence, interjected only by Elias’ cries of exuberance or frustration.
The sun was low in the sky when Samuel said in his quiet way, “Time to go – you can keep that cord if you want Tobias.”
“Thanks,” Tobias stayed seated while Samuel got up. He watched Samuel get the grumbling Elias to wind his cord up. Elias’ eyes shifted between Tobias’ fish, Samuel’s fish and then his own fish. Tobias also gazed at his four beautiful fish, then at Elias’ three, and then at Samuel’s three fish. He saw relief flicker in Elias’ face when he counted Samuel’s fish. Tobias glanced at Samuel and met the quiet smile with one of his own. Neither told Elias that Samuel had given away at least three fish on those regular ‘relief’ visits he had kept making.
“See you Tobias,” both boys called.
“Yeah, see you,” Tobias turned back to the water and tickled it with the fishing cord, glancing curiously down the bank at Shallum who was still there, his expression darker than before.
Tobias thought it was prudent to shift himself into the deepest shadows of the reeds near him just in case the man became violent as night set in. The night birds had begun to call and in the distance Tobias could hear the voices of people returning home. Still he stayed where he was. Once he heard the ‘blop’ of a fish breaking surface and a little up the bank he could see the silhouette of a stork posed absolutely still. Tobias rubbed his arms wishing he was not buried in the insects’ stronghold. He was itching like crazy.
The sudden crackle of reeds startled Tobias. He lost a grip on his cord and had to hastily scoop it from the surface of the water with his foot before it sank.
Crouching on his haunches, he shifted cautiously towards the old man, watching in intrigue as the man dragged a heavy bag out of the reeds with some huffing and scooped it into his arms. What was he doing?
Tobias edged closer just as the man stepped into the water and walked in deeper - a short rope tied him to the bag. He watched in horror as the weighty bag slid off the bank and immediately dragged the man under. Gasping, Tobias scrambled to the slippery part where the man had gone in and jumped after him as the last ripple from the bag lapped the bank. The water was warm and plants scratched at Tobias under the water.
He needed to find the man – quick! Legs and arms flailing, Tobias almost choked in relief as his right leg connected with the solid feel of the man’s body. Tobias dove under the water, clawing for the bag and when he found it tugged with all his might. The bag didn’t budge an inch. Tobias felt for the cord that connected the man to the bag and then with every fibre in his body he yanked the cord. It came loose with a sudden jerk.
Clutching at the limp body, Tobias pushed off the sandy floor and broke the surface of the water with a huge gasp. He beat at the water with his legs, sometimes kneeing the man in the back as he struggled to reach the river bank. Occasionally the weight of Shallum’s body pushed him under the water so that Tobias had to fight panic. Sometimes he almost lost a grip on the body in his desperation to reach the surface again and breath.
It felt like hours but it could not have been long at all before he lay heaving on the bank, the limp body of the old man sprawled out beside him. Tobias lay gasping for air, his eyes on the man’s chest beside him – the chest wasn’t moving. Tobias lifted his cheek off the grainy ground and reeds, and then pushed off the floor, his heart pounding. He fought to flip the man onto his stomach and then began pounding Shallum’s back. Once he had rescued a dog that some rich kids had tried to drown – this had worked for the dog, surely it would work for the man?
He watched the water trickled from the man’s mouth; Tobias’s eyes scoured the body until they came to rest on the man’s right hand. The fingers were bent and shrivelled, the hand twisted and warped and unusually small in size.
Taking a deep breath Tobias thumped the old man’s back again, sagging in relief as the man spluttered to life.
Episode 9: The Beginning
“Boy, get!”
“No!” jaw clenched, balled fists at his side, Tobias defiantly ground his heels into the river bank. It wasn’t the first time he had been told to ‘get’ today and the sun wasn’t even up yet! If he skulked away every time he was told to then this old crab wouldn’t have that fresh bread perched on the rock in front of him.
He watched as the lean, weathered face with the bristle stubble shook slowly, “Just no respect for elders, that’s what it is.”
“And no concern for anyone else either!” Tobias shot back sarcastically. His heart still trembled at the memory of Shallum’s still form even though a good many nights had passed by since then. He had been watching Shallum closely afraid that the old man might try another stupid stunt, but if anything the whole incident had already stolen whatever life was left in the man. There was no more life left to fear losing except the shallowest of breaths. Shallum barely acknowledged anything. His eyes were dark caverns of empty dreams. Tobias wondered if his eyes would one day have the life sucked out of them.
“Or maybe my eyes will just turn to stone, like Mary’s,” Tobias mused. He was so deep in thought that he did not hear the soft tread of a man approaching. He startled when a shadowy row of toes stepped into the firelight beside him. A sense of foreboding filled him as he stared at the toes for a long moment knowing deep inside his gut whose they were. He wouldn’t forget that day by the river very easily. Cautiously, he raised his eyes up to the face of the newcomer and gulped nervously – yet was unable to tear his gaze away. There was something so magnetic and compelling about this man that gave him at shiver of nervous anticipation.
“May I join you?”
Instinctively, Tobias shook his head and then glanced over at Shallum who had not registered that their world had been invaded. Tobias changed his mind; it would be good to have any company apart from Shallum’s for a little while – even if it was this man. He nodded, turning back to the fire and the fish that he was roasting.
No one spoke. Instead they all listened to the crackle of dry reeds and driftwood and drank in the smoky smell mixed with roasting fish. Tobias turned his body slightly so he could surreptitiously study the man. He noted the thin face and the peacefulness that enshrouded him and them now that he had come. The man looked hungry.
“You came from the desert?” Tobias queried.
The man nodded, a slight smile curling his lips, “You are very observant.”
Tobias shrugged casually, squashing down the smile that rose up inside of him. He studied the fish and then Shallum. He could feel his own stomach rumbling but then remembered Samuel and the fishing cord that Samuel had taken time to untangle and give him before getting his own cord. Reluctantly, Tobias drew one of the fish from the fire and held it out to the man. He watched the man blow the fish slowly before tentatively taking a small bite. The man’s hands were strong and lean. In the firelight mixed with pre-dawn light Tobias could make out a small scar on one of his knuckles the back of his hand. It was an old scar. What was it this man did? “Apart from get baptised and know everything about everybody,” Tobias wondered.
He wriggled uncomfortably at the warm amusement that met him when the man glanced his way.
“That’s Shallum,” Tobias offered quickly, pointing at the shell of human across the fire from them. He let out his breath as the warm gaze turned towards Shallum. Tobias gazed at the man in wonder. He knew those penetrating eyes saw more than anyone else he knew. How was it that one man’s eyes could hold so much life and another’s could be so empty?
“Shallum.”
Tobias watched as the man stood and circled around the fire. A roughened hand stretched out to touch Shallum’s shoulder.
“Shallum.” The man waited until Shallum lifted his heavy head and stared up at the man dully.
“Rise and stand tall, Shallum, a way shall be made for you where there was no way.”
Shallum’s eyes flickered. Was it fear?
“A way shall be made for you where there was no way,” the man repeated firmly, holding Shallum’s gaze steady. Life was radiating out of the man.
Tobias did not know what was happening but he could have sworn that he heard something like shackles clicking loose. He even looked around to check if anyone was lurking nearby, but he saw nothing move. The horizon was an array of oranges and purples and the sound of the river swirled around them. There was no other movement except some ravens flying overhead, but not even there raucous cry could break the stillness that was over the three of them.
“What should I do?” Shallum asked at last, staring up at the man. His voice sounded dry and dusty.
“Rise and stand tall. You will know what to do when it is time,” the man answered.
The words were a mystery to Tobias and he didn’t know what was going on, so he grabbed the last fish off the fire, glancing over at Shallum’s cold fish that lay stiffly beside the cooling bread. At least the man had eaten his fish while it was hot and crispy.
“Tobias?” the man settled back into the place he had been seated before. “Thank-you for the breakfast.”
Tobias nodded, ducking his head. How had the man known his name? Had he spoken to one of the people by the river that day when he had seen Tobias and surely known about the gold coins? He waited, sensing that the man had more to say. He was right. The question that followed was not condemning, yet it hit home.
“Where is your master?”
Tobias felt like he turned to salt mid-movement starting at the hand that held the fish and ending at his tingling toes. Only his head could still move and he half wished it couldn’t because when he turned he met with those eyes that saw all and yet expressed kindness even more.
Episode 10: Shallum’s Stand
Panic-struck, Tobias could only gape at the man. The rest of him was paralysed. The man was watching him openly, his eyes peaceful but concerned. Angry, Tobias blurted out, “Who told you about my Master? Why are you so nosey?”
“Tobias!” Shallum’s voice cut the air sharply.
Stunned, Tobias looked over at Shallum. Since when had he woken to this world?
“You will not talk to our guest like that. Apologise!”
Lips clamped together mutinously. He would not apologise – after all, he had invited this man to sit with them while Shallum sat like a mute drunk beside him oblivious to the world. Shallum had no say over him. He was his own person, not Shallum’s, not Jathniel’s, no one but his own!
“Tobias, you have choices to make,” the man’s eyes were kind but serious. Tobias didn’t want to meet them and yet at the same time he did. The warmth in them was compelling. “You have many difficult choices to make that will influence the way your life goes. Choose wisely because when the time is right I will come back and give you another chance to make a choice.”
A shiver ran through Tobias as the man stood and thanked him for the fish. Something was wrong, he just knew it. It was as though his response to the stranger had left him feeling empty inside, but why? He had said way worse things to people in the past; why should he feel like this towards this man?
He watched with growing dejection as the man headed into the city.
“What?” Tobias turned to find Shallum glaring at him accusingly.
Shallum’s scowl deepened.
“It’s not my fault he left,” Tobias shook his head firmly. “He obviously had somewhere to go. Anyhow, what’s got you so woken up.”
Suddenly, Shallum jumped to his feet, “I’m going to follow him. Come with me boy.”
Stunned by Shallum’s sudden life, Tobias hesitated.
“You’ve been kind to me boy,” the ragged old man persisted. “Come with me. Don’t let me have to leave you behind when we could be following him,” he pleaded.
Tobias stared at Shallum and then at the man who was just a distance speck now. He didn’t want to follow anyone. Wasn’t that why he had run away from Jathniel? Wasn’t that why he had run away from home before that? Wasn’t that why he had been happy to stay with Shallum because Shallum was no threat to his independence?
He shook his head slowly and turned back to face the fire, sorry to be losing Shallum even if he hadn’t been the greatest of company.
He almost wished Shallum would have insisted he came but Shallum didn’t. But the old man had learnt one thing about Tobias during their time together, and that was that Tobias was stubborn.
Jathniel lingered. He knew he was already pushing boundaries by staying these few extra days but he missed the boy. Perhaps the extra time would be just long enough for the boy to decide to return. He scowled at Aculeo feeling like Aculeo was to blame for the boy’s disappearance.
“You know he won’t be back,” Aculeo’s eyes glittered with cold humour. “He’s from the street, he knows how to survive.”
Jathniel clamped his jaw together, stomping to the door to glare out at the passers-by.
“And if you don’t return soon you’re going to get into heck of a trouble,” the pleasure in Aculeo’s voice drove Jathniel from the house. He would not stay one moment longer with the heckler or Aculeo would have a fine big bruise to show off tomorrow.
Striding through the crowds, Jathniel headed for the market. Just as he was reaching the market he thought he caught sight of a child about Tobias’ size ducking between some women headed towards the river.
Jathniel dove between the women but there was no child anywhere.
The women were both very indignant.
“Excuse me, I thought I saw someone,” Jathniel backed away from them, smiling politely as he circled cautiously around them and then with one last mumbled apology he dashed towards the river.
“Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region” Luke 4:14.
Episode 11: Silver?
They were onto him! Their heavy breathing and clatter of steps now mingled with his own gasps for air. He was out of practice. Playing nurse-maid to an old man clearly did not pay off.
Up ahead he could see the drifting crowds – always on the look-out for excitement. Tobias faltered, his steps slowing and his mind racing as he debated his choices.
“Ha!” a bellow of triumph startled Tobias, as a beefy hand wrapped, unyieldingly, around the back of his neck. His momentary hesitation had cost him.
The jumble of heaving bodies that skidded around the corner roused the slightest of smiles in Tobias as he studied the odd assortments of seething men that uttered venomous mumblings under their breath.
“I’ve got him!” As if to confirm his words, the giant squeezed Tobias’s neck until Tobias’ breaths grew short and he started to cough.
A hairy-faced man tossed his flowing robes around him and strode up to Tobias, his hand out-stretched and his chest still rising and falling sharply. “Give it to me.”
Tobias stared up at the man innocently, the weight of silver in his pocket growing heavier by the minute.
“Give it!” The man hissed, red lines mapping across the white of his eyes. Suddenly, he lunged forward and snatched the pamphlet from Tobias’ hand. “Insolent boy!” the man spluttered.
Tobias fingers grappled at air, his eyes following the pamphlet in wonder. He barely remembered picking it up. It must have been with the silver. He watched as the man turned away, drawing the rest of the men into a whispering huddle.
“What should I do with him?” The gruff voice of Tobias’ captor was accompanied by a curling pain that shot from Tobias’ neck down his arms and torso.
“I’m too busy to worry with him,” the piercing eyes of the leader scorched into Tobias, “this time.”
With apparent reluctance, Tobias’ captor relinquished his secure hold.
Tobias did not wait for second thoughts. He was already running before the finger tips had left his neck. Skidding around a corner, he raced into the crowd ignoring some of the suspicious glances that were cast his way. A few minutes later, assured that the men had not picked up their chase again, he slowed to a walk and eventually slunk stealthily towards a blind man that sat on his cloak against a wall. He crouched into a small ball not too far from the blind man and then began to silently count the silver with his fingers, his eyes constantly roving through the faces around him.
“Here, if you buy this one you will feel as wise as Solomon himself.” The smooth voice was heard persistently above the general hum of the crowd.
Tobias paused in his counting, searching the faces until he spotted the speaker. A man of about thirty was moving through the crowds holding a bag close to his chest. Every now and then he stopped and spoke earnestly with anyone who happened to glance his way, trying to convince them to buy his potions. “Buy this one then, it will make your beard grow longer and thicker. Everyone that has ever bought it has assured me that it has changed their lives.” The speaker now stood in front of a young man with the first scratchings of bristles on his chin. The young man stared at the jar, eyes widening in wonder.
“Don’t listen to him,” the blind man suddenly spoke up from beside Tobias, startling Tobias and the two men who each had a hand on the jar now.
The young man hesitated, staring at the blind man.
“You’ll only be buying water from the river – dirty water at that,” the blind man laughed, scorning the young man for being so stupid.
“Hush up blind man, what do you know?” the seller scoffed relinquishing his hold on the jar so that the young man now held it. “You just want him to give you his money instead of him making good use of it. Selfish beggar!”
As though reassured, the young man smiled suddenly and digging in his pocket flicked a coin at the seller. He glanced at the blind man, shrugged, and then tossed a coin into the man’s lap before disappearing into the crowd, clutching his jar happily to his chest.
Both the seller and the blind man laughed – for different reasons. The seller’s laugh hard whereas the blind man just shook his head, pitying the fool that had bought the useless ‘potion’. Tobias fingers coiled around the coins again, the momentary distraction over.
“Let us through!” The voice of his most recent captor rang out, the crowd parting around them.
Tobias’ shrunk back into the shadow of the blind man’s cloak.
Through the crowd came the giant grim and unsmiling as he shoved a man along ahead of him. Behind, in a tight group, came the rest of the men still glistening from their recent exertion.
“By the order of Herod,” the leader held up the pamphlet, Tobias’ dirty finger-print clearly visible on it, “we arrest John the Baptist.”
Jathniel felt something heavy drop into his inner pocket. His instant reaction was to slap his hand against his pocket, immediately suspecting a theft.
Instead his hand connected with a weighty bulge. He tugged a little pouch out of his pocket, instantly knowing it held coins. Spinning around, his gaze collided with wide brown eyes.
Tobias looked thin and dejected. His shoulders were slumped and he couldn’t hold Jathniel’s gaze as he once had.
Jathniel glanced back at the sack of silver, then at the boy. Looking up, through the crowds, he watched Aculeo follow the group of men that herded the prophet towards Herod’s prison. Scowling at the back of Aculeo’s head, he let out a heavy sigh. Perhaps his former friend would not pay today, tomorrow, or even this year – but he would definitely pay at some point for the wrong that had been done today.
“Come,” Jathniel made an effort to keep the harshness out of his voice as he squeezed through the bodies, pausing long enough to toss the sack of silver at the feet of a blind man leaning against a wall nearby.
Episode 12: More than just a man
Tobias watched Jathniel as closely as Jathniel watched Tobias. Every breath, almost, was mentally recorded. They moved around the inn room pretended to be absorbed with chores and lost in their thoughts but their jerky steps and side-long glances said otherwise.
Twice Jathniel cleared his throat wanting to say something – anything! – to ease this painful silence. Every time he had something to say his throat seemed to dry up, clogging the words in his chest. A hasty, awkward, sip of water and he was ready to speak – only now his thoughts seemed foolish and forced.
The sound of loud laughter floated in the window bringing blessed relief to the cautious silence of the room. Both turned to watch as two men walked by the window. The smaller man with the gold in his ear said, “Herod is sure to kill the prophet – especially after all the things he said against Herod stealing his brother’s wife.” And then they moved on, out of sight and hearing.
A sharp intake of breath caused Jathniel to turn, meeting the frightened eyes of his little protégée. Was this the same cocky, confident lad he had taken in a few weeks back?
“Will they kill him?” Tobias quavered.
“Not sure,” Jathniel’s eyes searched Tobias, seeking answers, but the young face hid all emotion but concern. “Are you worried they will come after you?” Jathniel guessed, but instantly knew he was way off track when Tobias barely acknowledged his question.
“But John – the prophet – he did nothing wrong,” Tobias slowly packed Jathniel’s spare garments into a bag. They would be leaving soon and heading back to Galilee where Jathniel came from. “Why has Herod taken him?” He could still feel that pamphlet in his hand. If only he had not been so concerned about the money – for a while it had been in his power to prevent John being arrested! If only...! Tobias cursed his stupidity and money-grasping habits.
“Tobias.” Jathniel’s quiet reprimand brought Tobias up short.
Glowering, Tobias avoided Jathniel’s gaze as he stuffed the spare pair of sandals into the bag. What did this rich man understand about his life? How could this man with the Roman sandals possibly know the life he had lived? Tobias’ gaze flickered to the window and sunshine. He had only been indoors for a few hours and already he felt restless. He had to do something to undo the wrong he had done. Somehow he had to try and rescue the prophet. And then he thought of the man called Jesus – the man with the eyes that saw deep into people – perhaps he could do something.
“I – I need to-to say goodbye to...to someone.” The words sounded weak even in his own ears. He couldn’t even lie properly anymore. What was happening to him!
Without waiting for an answer, Tobias dashed from the inn, barely avoiding bumping into someone as he dashed to the place where Jesus of Nazareth was staying. He knew where Jesus lived because he had wanted to see where someone like Jesus lived and had followed him home one day. But Jesus was not there. Tobias hesitated before racing across to the blind man’s usual spot. “Where is Jesus of Nazareth?”
5 minutes later Tobias found the man called Jesus. He was standing with some men talking. Even though Tobias could not see Jesus’ eyes he knew without a doubt that Jesus was watching someone – really watching. This was confirmed when Jesus said to those near him, “Here is a true Israelite in whom there is nothing false.”
Curious, Tobias stood on tiptoe trying to see who was receiving such praise from the man who saw deep into people. Jesus, for sure, would not say that about him! He didn’t like to think what Jesus would say about him.
A man came up to Jesus – a man strong and fierce.
“How do you know me?” the man demanded.
Tobias stared at the man in awe, wondering at his audacity – yet admiring him immensely. He decided then and there that he was going to be a man just like this one. A man strong and brave who said exactly what he thought and yet was a ‘true Israelite’ with ‘nothing false’ in him. He hadn’t known such men existed until now – except maybe for Jathniel. But then again, he hadn’t quite figured Jathniel out yet.
“I saw you while you were still under the fig-tree before Philip called you.”
Jesus’ answer made Tobias’ heart thump. He knew this man was more than just ordinary. What kind of person could see people from such a distance and know things about them without anyone telling him? There was something really different about this man. Unsettled, Jathniel watched the ‘true Israelite’ certain he would know how to handle this.
“Rabbi,” said the true Israelite.
Tobias’ heart picked up in tempo, running at gallop. ‘Rabbi’ – teacher? This was not what he had expected – and yet...
He could see the true Israelite, eyes earnest and intense, and then there was the man. The man had turned slightly and he could see his eyes – the eyes that saw everything. Nothing could escape those eyes, Tobias was sure of it, and yet – they were so kind.
“You are the Son of God.”
Tobias’ insides froze.
“You are the King of Israel.”
And then the freeze inside of Tobias melted like a mighty waterfall because his ears began to roar blurring out Jesus of Nazareth’s response to the true Israelite. He instinctively crouched – trying to blend with the ground.
This was the Son of God? Panic ripped through Tobias in a way he had never known before. What was the Son of God doing on earth? Why was he here? What would he do? Eyes flicked to the true Israelite who was watching the Son of God in awe. Surely the true Israelite had nothing false in him – how else could he stand in front of the Son of God and not die?
Tobias scooted back slowly, careful not to make any sudden movements that would draw the Son of God’s attention to him. He would not stay here, could not stay here, a moment longer. He would have to find another way to rescue John the Baptist – a way that did not mean exposing himself to the Son of God.
“You are My Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Luke 3:22
Episode 13: The Rescue Attempt
For hours Tobias haunted the outer courtyard of Herod’s palace. Sneaking and ducking around the palace guards was easier than it should have been – all except for the little guard with the bristly eyebrows that chewed something non-stop. The rest of the guards had a particular path they followed and kept a regular timed routine, but not this guard. It was as though he was determined to be difficult. He would trot along the courtyard to just before the corner and then suddenly loop back on himself, eyes sparkling with anticipation as they darted eagerly around.
Almost disappointed not to see anything unusual, the guard would then slowly cross the courtyard at a diagonal, prodding and poking at shadows and bushes hopefully. Once his stick caught Tobias in the shin. Tobias writhed in silent agony, while trying to skulk silently back into the depth of the bush. The guard must have felt his stick hit something hard because he ducked down and started rummaging in the bush.
Not stopping to recover, Tobias took one skimming glance around and then ducking out the other side of the bush hobbled into the shadows of the wall.
Manoeuvring through the building was slightly trickier than Tobias had imagined it to be. However, he eventually found his way through the darkened passage ways and after some soft whispering located John in the prison.
“Psst, Sir,” Tobias whispered into the darkness. “Please, I want to help you.”
“Who are you boy?” a gruff voice was heard with the scuff of soft steps as the prophet rose.
“A -" Tobias hesitated. Was he a follower? Or perhaps a rebel? More likely the second but it would never do to say that while actually in the prison – too risky. “No one really, but I saw why they took you and I want to get you out. I have friends who can help.”
“And what purpose would it serve for me to be out?” inquired the prophet.
Tobias was stumped. “Well,” he scratched his temple. “It’s just that it is wrong and unfair, I suppose, for you to be here. Please, the guards will be back soon. Will you agree to a plan?”
There was silence. Tobias waited excitedly for the prophet to breathlessly demand to know the extraordinary plan he had. He was a hero. He would make everything right and even out his wrongs. He was bubbling with anticipation and was about to blurt out the plan when the voice spoke again.
“I do have a request of you.”
“Yes?”
“I want you to find the One called Jesus. He is the One that I testify about. Find Him and follow Him for then God’s purpose for me is being accomplished.” The clatter of a guard’s step echoed in the darkness, and then the flicker of a torch flame in the passage began to approach.
“Please,” Tobias exclaimed. “I am responsible for you being here. I held the order of your arrest and yet I did not fight to keep it. Let me do this!” his voice rose desperately.
“Child,” the voice was soft and earnest. “You are not responsible for me being here. God knows.”
As the guard approached, Tobias reluctantly sank into the shadows. His mission had been futile. He crept back to the courtyard and as soon as he came into the sunlight he made a wild dash for the exit. The cry of the little guard sent an adrenaline rush flooding through his body. John the Baptist, and all the accompanying worries, was forgotten as Tobias skidded into the streets enjoying every moment of the chase. Now this was living!
**********
“Tobias, you’re back just in time,” Jathniel was waiting for him at the entrance to their quarters. He took one look at Tobias’ tattered clothes and bruised face and said sharply, “Clean up boy, and then we’re going.” After Tobias was inside the house, Jathniel searched the streets wondering if he would see a pursuer, but there was none in sight. A few people passed lazily by - they were in no rush. Obviously the pursuer had already caught the pursued judging by Tobias' appearance.
A short time later, Jathniel and Tobias set off for Galilee. For some reason Jathniel decided to walk. Tobias could not understand why for he was sure that Jathniel had money to spare. The dusty road stretched long before them, yet held Tobias in fascination. He had travelled a couple of times between towns but this time there would be food, protection and company. He didn’t mind any of them in particular. Besides, John the Baptist – the man he could have rescued – had told him to seek out Jesus of Nazareth. The least he could do to show his regret was to find the man and e knew for a fact that Jesus had left for Galilee. It wasn't like he actually had to do anything once he found the Person. All John had said was to find Him and follow Him - he could do that easily without to much trouble . John had never said how long he had to follow Him, or at what distance...
Episode 14: Sychar and Beyond
Hard, unyielding and long, the road ahead wound endlessly on. Jathniel was already way ahead but Tobias could not help staring back in the direction that they had come. They had passed through some hills that were dotted with trees in certain areas and thick with them in others. However, this particular area was scorched a yellow-brown colour from the relentless heat of the sun. It made Tobias’ throat scratchy causing him to cough from dust and thirst. He just didn’t remember the road being so long before – or maybe he had slept through some of it?
“Tobias, hurry up!”
Tobias turned to see Jathniel had paused up ahead, now a shadowy outline, waiting for him. He reluctantly shifted his weary body back into motion and dragged one foot after the other. Jathniel was walking again. His strides were still strong yet he had tried to slacken his pace a little. The discreet attempt at allowing for Tobias’ shorter legs did what nothing else could have done – it challenged the stubborn pride in Tobias to rear up defiantly. He was a man; he didn’t need anyone slowing down for him. Eyes set straight ahead, Tobias stepped quicker. He noticed Jathniel glance at him curiously but chose to resolutely ignore him.
“Not much longer and we’ll be reaching Sychar,” Jathniel offered, shifting his load to his other shoulder. His eyes sought Tobias’ in concern. “We’ll be able to rest there for a bit.”
Tobias nodded briefly.
“Jacob’s well is there. We can draw water and enjoy it.”
Water. The very word made Tobias’ limbs tremble with pleasure and fatigue. He almost, although not quite, felt weak from dehydration and exhaustion. He could walk a few more miles – it was nothing.
*****
Twenty minutes later and Jathniel was offering for the fifth time to carry Tobias’ small bag. The boy was pale, his lips cracked, his eyes glazed but his jaw set into a stubborn line of determination.
“We are there!” Jathniel whooped in relief. “Jacob’s well.”
A woman was standing beside the well watching them as they approached. Before they had reached her she had begun to draw water up from the well calling, “You must be thirsty. Here is some water.”
“You hear that Tobias – water at last!” Jathniel’s pleasure was mixed with concern. Tobias had not spoken in nearly an hour – he had pushed the boy too hard.
The woman held out the water to Tobias, her eyes kind, “Drink this child.”
Tobias stopped where he was, staring at the hands that were stretched out towards him.
“A Samaritan!” he tried to growl out his scorn but instead spoke in a reedy crackling voice. All moisture in his mouth was gone. His lips were sticking together and his vision was slightly blurred. He should have accepted Jathniel’s help.
Jathniel stared at Tobias, “Are you not thirsty? Drink.”
“A Jew,” the woman explained with a knowing sigh as she gazed at Tobias pityingly. “He cannot accept anything from me because he will be contaminated.” She sighed again, before asking, “Will you drink Sir, or are you a Jew too?” Her eyes flicked down to his shod feet, studying the sandals curiously.
Jathniel’s gaze jumped between her and Tobias. His answer was cautiously worded as he said, “I am thirsty enough to drink.” He ignored the shock in Tobias’ face as he reached out to accept the Samaritan’s jar. The moment was excruciatingly embarrassing with Tobias gazing at him like he had personally been betrayed. Jathniel tilted the jar and drank deeply, enjoying the cool flow that trickled through his body. He turned slightly away from Tobias’ wondering glare to listen to the woman. She was chatting animatedly about a recent event in her town. He made an effort to listen, knowing how many important insights could b gained from everyday babble.
“And He told me everything I had ever done – good and bad. He knew it all and I have never met Him before. He talked with me even though He was a Jew and I a Samaritan! He even asked for a drink!”
Jathniel noticed that Tobias was listening, his mouth slightly agape. There was a certain knowing look in the boy’s eye that made Jathniel wonder.
“And then I called the townspeople and told them about Him; they came to see Him and we invited Him to stay. Two days He stayed with us. He spoke with us and said He was the Messiah. Two days!” she repeated in awe. “Never have I met anyone like Him, Jew or Samaritan.”
“He stayed in your village?” Jathniel was surprised to hear Tobias croak up again.
“He did,” the woman nodded excitedly. "He and all his disciples. He even offered me living water.” She laughed, “I did not know what He meant at first. I thought I would have to drink it but then I found out what it is.” She looked at the two of them expectantly.
Jathniel asked the question, more for Tobias’ sake than his own. The boy was completely absorbed, his whole manner said he was trying to digest this all.
“What is living water?”
“Living water is life!” the woman answered quickly, barely letting Jathniel finish his question; she was so thrilled. “Life that can only come from the Messiah. It is life that you can enjoy living; life that bubbles up from within and satisfies you and makes you complete; life that goes beyond this present world.”
Jathniel nodded respectfully, not sure what to make of this woman or her story. Why was she hanging around the well? And who was this man who called himself the Messiah and offered this living water – this eternal life?
“Come Tobias,” he said, smiling politely at the woman.
“Wait,” Tobias was staring at the woman. “This –“ he shot Jathniel a quick glance and then said carefully, “this man – the one you spoke about – He asked you for water?”
The woman nodded.
Tobias licked his dry lips, gave a slight nod, and then stretched out his hands for the water she offered.
(John 4: 1 – 42)
"Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" John 4:14.
Episode 14: The Nobleman’s Plea
Cana was not what he had expected. Tobias was not sure exactly what he had expected but it was not this. It was so quiet. He turned around, shuffling backwards in an effort to keep up with Jathniel while scanning the deserted streets.
“Oops,” Tobias gasped, backing right into Jathniel. He stepped forward quickly, embarrassed, as Jathniel glanced back at him curiously. “Where is everyone?”
Shrugging, Jathniel also turned, his eyes drifting slowly over their surroundings. After a moment he raised a long, calloused finger to point at a figure that dashed into view for a split second and then out of view again; a scuffled echo from their steps was all that was left of them.
“It was someone anyway,” Jathniel offered. “There must be something happening somewhere. Come. Let’s find a place to stay.”
Tobias fell into step behind Jathniel, eyes constantly darting in an effort to explain this unusual situation. He hated not knowing what was happening. Experience had taught him it was wise to always be on the alert. Trudging slowly behind Jathniel, he debated whether or not to dart down a side street in search of answers but then decided against it. Jathniel had more than proved that he was fair. Once they had found a place to stay he would be free to go exploring. He would just swallow his insatiable curiosity a little longer – even if it did growl in his stomach like a ravenous lion.
“Well?” Jathniel asked over his shoulder.
“Well what?” Tobias retorted without thinking.
Grinning, Jathniel led the way confidently up a side street. Tobias had the distinct impression that Jathniel knew this area well.
“You’re not going to go charging off just yet then?”
Glowering at Jathniel’s dusty heels that rose and fell with each step he took, Tobias chose to ignore the question. He also tried to ignore the slight warmth in his chest at the knowledge that for the first time, in as long as he could remember, someone knew him well enough to expect a pattern of behaviour. No one had ever known him that well before!
“Listen to that,” Jathniel grunted, nodding ahead of them. “You can go on ahead if you want and see what is happening.”
The buzz of voices rumbled up towards them; the sound of a large excited crowd.
Tobias jerked forward, dust flying as he sprinted up the street, rounded the corner and was instantly submerged in a mass of bodies: Children crying, men shouting, women babbling, and market sellers bellowing out their wares. Pushing through the bodies, Tobias recognised a voice that immediately drowned out every other voice around him, even though it was not particularly loud or forceful. He pushed through the crowds, his heart beginning to beat with anticipation and nervousness.
As the crowds parted, he spotted the man he sought standing surrounded by his disciples. A man, dressed in rich robes, was crouched at Jesus’ feet, tears streaming down his face and his face wrenched in agony.
“Please, You are the only one that can save him. He is going to die. Please, heal my son.”
Tobias stared at the man, once again amazed at the variety of people who came to this Man for help. He looked up to study the compassion in the face of this Man. He had heard how Jesus had reached out to an outcast Samaritan; and here again He was reaching out to a person from a different background - a rich nobleman. Did everyone, no matter who they were or where they were from, come to Jesus for answers and help? Was that the way it was to be?
“Except you see signs and wonders, you will not believe,” Jesus said.
Heart pounding, Tobias eyes jumped from between Jesus and the man. Would Jesus not help this man? What did he want the man to believe?
He stared at Jesus, troubled, and then a sudden thought struck him: was Jesus talking to the man or to those listening in the crowd? Tobias gazed around at the watching people, a range of emotions displayed for anyone who could recognise the heart of people written on a face: earnest, glaring, suspicious, doubtful, trusting, disillusioned, hopeful...
“Sir, come with me or my child will die,” the nobleman begged desperately.
Heart pounding in hope, Tobias almost whooped when he heard Jesus say,
“Go your way, your son lives.”
In pure delight, he watched the nobleman scramble to his feet, thanking Jesus profusely as he backed away before turning and darting out through the crowd.
Mouth agape, Tobias couldn’t stop the laugh of joy that bubbled up in him as he grinned at the Son of God in absolute pleasure. His heart almost froze when those eyes turned and twinkled right at him.
“Here you are!” a strong hand came to rest on Tobias’ shoulder. Tobias had been too absorbed in the scene that had unfolded before him to be on the lookout for trouble. His usual instant reaction of wriggling free had been stunned into stillness. He shot a glance up and the tight anxiety in his chest left as he saw Jathniel’s strong jawline jutting out in Jesus’ direction.
“You have a knack of finding this man,” Jathniel quietly observed, as the crowds drifted past them, following the One called Jesus.
(See John 4:46-54)
Episode 15: Coincidence?
The security of Jathniel’s hand on his shoulder made Tobias feel uneasy. Was he becoming too dependent? Too needy? He had been looking after himself so long that having someone to watch out for him was making him weak. Jathniel wouldn’t stay, he wouldn’t want to have to put up with a ragamuffin child forever. He must be careful not to depend so much!
Tobias’ thoughts blurred as his sharp ears tuned into the husky murmur of a man’s voice nearby.
“It’s so easy for this Jesus to say ‘Your son is healed’ and awe the people. Who’s to say whether or not the official’s son is healed? The son is a long way from here; who can prove he is well again?”
Searching eyes found the scowling sceptic as his words caught light and jumped from mouth to mouth, each person elaborating on it and scorning Jesus and the ‘foolish’ official.
Tobias gawked at the man in disbelief, shocked at how eagerly people leapt on his words. He followed the words as they moved from one twisted mouth to another, their eyes lighting with glee at the unrest they were causing.
“You’re a liar! A – a scoundrel!” Tobias suddenly yelled, unable to bear it any longer. How dare they mar this Jesus miracle!
“Tobias!” Jathniel caught at him and jerked him back.
“You’re a corrupt, stone-hearted creature with a soured mouth and tarred eyes that...”
“Tobias!” shocked, Jathniel jerked Tobias back against him, clamping a hand over the boy’s mouth. “Excuse the boy,” he apologised to the pointy-bearded man whose snide expressions had become sharp and menacing. “He is not well.”
“I am well!” Tobias bellowed, wrenched his mouth free with a hard tug. “I will prove that Jesus does not lie. I will find the official and see that his son is better and then you will choke on your words.” He jabbed a threatening finger at as many people as he could remember who had whispered the foul, false words. “Yes, you will choke on your rumours!”
Shoving an elbow into Jathniel’s stomach, he broke free and ran in the direction that the official had gone, hearing an outraged cry of voices raising up behind him.
******
It took Tobias a good few hours to find the official and involved a few manoeuvres that Jathniel would have called ‘questionable’. Yet he had been able to locate his prey and had a free ride on a donkey which made it less difficult. He trailed behind the official for some way, glad when they rested so he could get water and some food before they continued on their way.
“Look, it is Samuel!” the official cried to those with him, pointing at a group of men approaching. Tobias watched as a man broke free from the approaching group of men and raced on foot towards them, arms waving excitedly in the air
“Master!” the panting man dropped at the official’s feet. “Master!” he gasped, eyes alight.
“Samuel?” the official’s voice was a curious mixture of hope and agony, his voice breathless with anticipation.
“He is well, your son lives.”
*******
Tobias retraced his route, pondering all that he had heard and seen. It was no coincidence that the official’s son had been restored at the very same time that Jesus had spoken those words to the official, but how could he prove it? Those scoffers would find some excuse and reason to explain away the events that he had witnessed.
In deep thought, Tobias re-entered the town, silently re-tying the donkey to the post where he had ‘borrowed’ it from before trekking through the town, mulling over all that had happened. He had no way of convincing the people that what Jesus had said would happen, had happened, yet he knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, he knew it was no coincidence.
(John 4: 49-53)
Episode 16: Rich, Poor, a Giver, or all?
With Jathniel glaring down at him, Tobias felt his stubborn resolve weaken. It was one thing to have the local soldiers cussing and knocking him up a bit, laughing and scorning him, but Jathniel was different. It was completely unnerving to have him standing there, massive arms folded across his chest, silently waiting for a truthful answer. And what was more, Jathniel would know – somehow – if he did not give a truthful answer.
“Honest blind man, bend over double and scrape the dust,” Tobias tried to meet Jathniel’s gaze square on as he quoted a phrase he had regularly heard Blind Ben shake out. Never mind that Blind Ben was anything but blind! “I never took the money, Jathniel.”
“Come on Tobias!” Jathniel’s patience snapped, open hand slapping against the wall in frustration. “I give you food, pocket money, clothes and a place to stay – what more could you need? Why can’t you just grow up a little and admit when you’re wrong!”
Tobias’s heart trembled, not with fear but with hurt, as his eyes dropped. He had never seen Jathniel look so bleak before. The man was right upset!
“Speak up boy!” Jathniel’s voice quivered with barely held emotion, his lips twitching.
Something inside Tobias snapped, “Fine!” He glared up unrepentantly at Jathniel. “I took the money and the old battle-ax won’t miss a penny! She was disgustingly rich and I am pitifully poor.” His voice trembled at the lie, Jathniel had given him some extra coins only yesterday. Tobias tried to recover quickly, “And –“ he drew the word out, “I can give some money to other poor people. I don’t hang onto it selfishly like those creaky bones which stagger under the burden of their wealth.”
“Tobias!” Jathniel shook his head, trying to get his head around the child’s logic.
“It’s not like I steal from poor people who will need every penny they’ve got,” Tobias argued.
Jathniel grabbed the bag off the table that was between them and shook it forcefully so that the coins rattled hard. “Just because someone is rich it does not mean that they have no purpose for that money. Maybe they’ve saved up years for a special reason.”
“Ha!” Tobias scoffed, turning his back on Jathniel scornfully.
Suddenly, without warning, Jathniel lunged at him, grabbed him by his upper arm and propelled him out of the house so that Tobias’ feet were scrambling under him in an effort to keep up.
“Hey, what you doing? Where we going?” Tobias cried, eyes scanning the street nervously as Jathniel’s grip tightened with determination.
“You’re taking this back and you’re going to offer to work for the old battle-ax for the same amount as it would take to repay this money!” he answered grimly.
Tobias jammed his heels into the dirt but he only succeeded in raising a lot of dust and cutting his foot on a sharp stone. “That’s not fair! If I...”
His words were drowned out by the sound of someone shouting. Jathniel’s pace slowed as the commotion suddenly swirled around them, like a tidal wave. However, not once did Jathniel’s grip loosen.
“Please! I will pay! Please!” a tearful panicked voice screamed. Tobias caught sight of a man’s agonised face. He was clutching a little girl’s hand desperately, even as a hooked nose woman yanked impatiently on the child’s other arm. “I had the money! I swear! I had the money!”
Jathniel’s grip tightened on Tobias even as the man’s hold on the girl slipped.
“I will pay you, please, just don’t take my daughter. Give me one more day and I will have the money,” he pleaded.
The hooked nose woman’s hard eyes snapped in annoyance as she ordered a man next to her to take the girl. Turning to the father she snarled, “You should learn to pay on time.” Skirts swirling, she spun away, shoving the little girl ahead of her.
Tobias could feel Jathniel trembling with rage. “Did you take this man’s money?” he hissed in Tobias’ ear.
Panicked, Tobias shook his head hard. “Honest, I never!” tears burned his eyes.
“But he’s a rich man,” Jathniel crouched down, his eyes running over the wealthy garments of the man. “He must have plenty of money. Someone else could surely benefit from his money rather than this man.”
“I’m sorry,” Tobias wept now, “I understand. Please, give him this money and I will work double to pay the old woman back.”
Jathniel’s eyes met Tobias’ searchingly. He obviously found what he was looking for, for he dug into the folds of his clothes and withdrew a hidden bag from there. “The old dame gets her money back but we will give this man this. Take it to him, and then come back quickly, we have some explaining to do to another person.”
Fingers trembling, Tobias accepted the money and cautiously approached the father where he lay sobbing into the dust. He hesitated, wondering whether to tap the grey head or purple robed shoulder. In the end he poked the man’s back lightly.
“Please sir,” he croaked, “here is some money to get your daughter back.” The man raised his head and stared up at him through a mud-streaked face.
“It’s a gift,” Tobias whispered, feeling an unknown emotion wash over him when he saw the joyful disbelief spread across the man’s face.
“I will pay you back,” the man wept in joy, leaping to his feet as he raced after the woman.
Tobias watched him go, not moving when Jathniel came and placed a hand on his shoulder. They watched in silence as the man endured the woman’s scornful words a moment longer before his daughter was roughly shoved in his direction.
“Come,” Jathniel said, “we will not stay to speak to him – it was a gift.”
Episode 17: Mary
The days dashed past and all the while Tobias followed Jesus with avid curiosity and determination to discover the truth of this man. If there was anything suspicious going on, he would find out! How was it that everywhere He went people claimed healings, miracles and even life from the death? That widow woman, and many from Nain, were spreading word that Jesus from Nazareth had brought her son to life on the day they were going to bury him. Then there was that leper – this was one healing that Tobias could not squabble over. He had watched the man shuffle on the outskirts of town many times before hiding his face in shame as he rang the warning bell as he passed through the city. Out of curiosity, he had once followed the man and listened to the tell-tale sniffles from beneath the head covering. He had scorned the man and even picked up a small stone and tossed it at him. It was only yesterday he witnessed that very same man standing in the market, no longer hidden by his leper garments. There wasn’t one spot of leprosy evident anywhere on him.
“Healed by Jesus, son of Joseph,” the man was explaining to one nearby.
“Tobias,” Jathniel stood in the doorway, eyes narrowed in thought.
Tobias looked up from where he was curled up in the window studying the passers-by, “Sir?”
“I must attend to business. I will be back before nightfall,” Jathniel paused, gaze passing Tobias to look beyond. For a moment Tobias thought he would say something more, but instead he gave a sharp nod and abruptly departed.
Tobias watched until he appeared in the street, then followed the man’s figure weaving through the people. He wondered where Jathniel would be going today. It wasn’t to find Jesus this time because Jesus was going to that Pharisee’s house and he lived in the opposite direction to the one Jathniel was heading. Tobias swivelled on the window, trying to keep track of Jathniel without falling from his perch. He strongly suspected that Jathniel was following Jesus. It was too coincidental that they kept arriving at the same time and in the same place as Jesus of Nazareth. It suited Tobias fine but he suspicions concerning Jathniel were growing daily. He had even begun to consider the possibility that Jathniel was a Roman soldier, just as Aculeo was. Surely Jathniel was not out to bring harm to Jesus? Tobias bolted into an upright position and almost lost his balance. He clutched the side of the wall for support straining to identify Jathniel, but it was too late – Jathniel was long gone.
Slipping from the window, Tobias grabbed some bread from the basket on the table and hurried from the house. He at least knew where Jesus would be.
It didn’t take him long to reach Simon’s house. Already there was a large gathering near the Pharisee’s door. Tobias tried to push through but for once his small frame was forcibly blocked from all sides. He was exhausted from trying to ram through bodies and his right shoulder ached from the effort. There would probably be a bruise on his ear where the man with the black beard and gigantic hand had cuffed him back. Teeth grinding together, Tobias thought for a moment before suddenly turning on his heel and racing back to their rooms.
Not long after a small figure came shuffling towards the crowds, enshrouded in layers of cloth and ringing a little bell. “Unclean, unclean,” came the mournful wail from beneath the cloths.
The crowd parted before the figure, creating a path with a wall of bodies right up to the Pharisee’s door. The little figure stumbled a little as the cloth caught beneath a foot. Someone reached forward to catch the figure but was harshly pulled back by a friend nearby.
“Don’t touch! You don’t want to be contaminated too, do you!”
Once in the Pharisee’s house, Tobias hastily dropped the clothing and dashed into the shadows. He could hear the scramble as a hurried search was put on for him. He nimbly darted from one hiding to another, avoiding the servants by moving only when backs were turned.
Minutes later he silently snuck into a shadowy nook which gave him an excellent view of those gathering around the Pharisee’s table. He spotted Jesus immediately, noting how comfortable Jesus looked in this surrounding. His disciples, however, looked less relaxed; their eyes were darting from face to face and constantly roving over the servants and the entrance way.
The room fell silent, all eyes turned on Tobias.
“What are you doing here?” an angry voice demanded to know.
Tobias’ stomach flipped, mouth going dry. He was just about to up and run when he felt the soft swoosh of air as someone passed him. A woman moved into the room and fell at Jesus’ feet, crying. The jar she had been clutching under one arm was carefully placed down beside her.
From where he was, Tobias could not see what she was doing but he could see the Man’s face. It was the eyes again that made his breathing grow tight. For a moment he was almost certain that the Man had looked straight at him, but he couldn’t be sure because Jesus was now speaking to Simon.
“Two men owed money to a certain money-lender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had money to pay him back, so he cancelled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Jesus spoke easily, watching Simon.
The Pharisee pondered the question a moment before saying, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt cancelled.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus nodded, turning towards the woman as he spoke. He gestured at her. Tobias rose up on his haunches to better see what Jesus was indicating. Her hair was loosened and she was wiping her tears from Jesus’ feet. She had opened the jar and a strong scent filled the air. Tobias watched as she poured some of its contents onto Jesus’ feet.
“Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not pour oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” Jesus turned to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”
There was shocked silence around the table and then a sudden babble of voices but Tobias heard nothing of what they had said, for the woman turned just then, allowing him a glimpse of her face. His chest tightened. He knew this woman. She was a friend of Mary’s, her name also Mary. She was a sinful woman! Did Jesus know what He had just done? Did he realise that He had just taken the side of a sinful woman rather than that of the wealthy, respected Simon.
Mouth agape, Tobias’ gaze moved from the woman to Jesus and his heart stilled. Jesus was watching him with eyes full of understanding.
Tobias glanced once around the table at the shocked faces and knew there must be some reflection on his own face. Suddenly afraid, he rose and darted from the building, rushing past startled servants, and back into the waiting crowd. A strong hand gripped his upper arm, yanking him to an abrupt halt.
“Let go!” Tobias tried to jerk free.
“It’s me, stop your fighting,” the urgent whisper stilled Tobias and he turned to look up into the face of Mary. Her eyes were wide and hopeful, “You were in there? Yes?”
Wary, Tobias nodded, studying the woman’s face carefully, wondering what she wanted. Her face was half hidden in shadows.
“You saw the woman, Mary, in there, didn’t you?” Mary’s gaze was intense, her grip tightening rather than lessening. “What happened?”
Tobias tried to jerk free, his expression scornful, but Mary only gripped his other arm, holding him in place. “She was wailing away,” he scowled, “and pouring perfume.”
“And?” Mary prompted, determinedly, ignoring the murmuring crowds around them.
“Jesus, He said He forgave her,” Tobias growled, eyes drifting around him. He spotted a couple of soldiers nearby watching the crowds and talking quietly.
“Forgave her?” Mary’s voice grew husky; Tobias felt her intense grip lessen ever so slightly. He jerked back, stumbling free. Mary stared at him, or through him. Not waiting to answer any more questions, Tobias turned and ran. He needed to be home before Jathniel found him missing again. Jathniel would be livid if he discovered Tobias had disobeyed him and left the house. It would not be long before he would have paid his debt to that wealthy woman and then Jathniel could no longer expect him to be chained to a room. He needed to be outside, following Jesus; that was the only way he could discover the truth.
Episode 18: Heaven
Try as he might, Tobias couldn’t stop his eyes from closing. They were stinging from tiredness. Pressing his cold fingertips against his eyelids, he listened to the buzz of voices around the fire before glancing around to watch mouths move, people laugh and others frown in pensive silence. Jathniel was talking to a couple Tobias had never seen before.
Tobias’ breath caught for the briefest of moments as his gaze fell on the woman. It wasn’t his mother, she was dead, and yet...
He drank in the way her hair fell from beneath her covering, the firelight dancing in her eyes, her peaceful expression...it wasn’t his mother but still – there was something about her that was so familiar. For a long time he watched her, her every move observed with wonder and fascination. But even she could not compete with the sleep that was determined to overpower him. Eventually, Tobias surrendered, the voices becoming a soft murmur until they faded to the sound of a waterfall.
For a long moment there was darkness, he was walking along a road, feeling his way as best as he was able. And then the pin prick of light penetrated the darkness, becoming a pale glow. After some time, as he continued to walk forward, he was able to make out a gate. The light was coming from the gate and beyond the gate.
He found himself standing at the gate, his finger tips tentatively touching the twirling white. It was as though the light was alive, his finger tips vibrated. He was here – he knew this place. He stood staring, barely able to absorb the truth of this moment. Once this moment had been a distant dream that he had never considered, in time this place had become a thought where his mind would drift to the future unknown. And then when his mother went it became a reality – just a taste, yet a smooth dollop of soothing hope. She had stood at these same gates. Had she experienced the same sparkling anticipation. Had she hesitated just as he did?
This was the moment he had dreamt about. It had become his one hope, his one goal, his one bright light in a dreary world. Every day his eyes were pierced with dark visions of the world he lived in. Day by day his heart filled with marbles of sorrow that added up into a hopeless dusty heap of discoloured stones. The roots of his ears stung with the acid of abuse, curses and hate – often directed at him. Yet, when he had thought of this place, it all faded. This was the place where the sounds he heard were beautiful notes that danced and swayed through the swishy-swash of rich green leaves – notes like beautiful coloured bubbles that hovered and swirled in radiant light. And sights so soothing and spectacular that his burning eyes, darkened, would be restored; and all those mouldy colours would be washed and made clean. He could see. Awe-striking beauty that he could wallow in, and such stillness. Such peace.
The marbles of difficulties would not be found in his heart. His heart would be soft and warm. It would be complete.
Tobias traced a white swirl with one finger and drew in his breath with anticipation. Just through these gates was the place where everything changed – where his one hope would finally be his. For a moment his finger hovered over the delicate shapes on the pearl gate: pink and purple sprays could be seen deep within the milky white. And the sound of laughter floated over the gates to him, beckoning him.
He glanced back at the darkened road he had walked up. It could have been any dark road, a road that led back to that dreary place that was the only life he had known. Long grass towered over the soft dust track. And there were his footprints, just visible under the light that shone from the gate; footprints still wet from the deep waters he had crossed.
Fingers sprayed out against the gate, tingling, as he stared out at the darkness. Behind him was hope. If he entered, would anyone be there to meet him? And if there was anyone, who would it be? His mother? She would be here. His heart began to pound. Would they let him in? He must see her! He could picture her dark hair, brown searching eyes...
And would the trees beyond the gate be just as he had imagined? Tall with thick knobbly trunks – good to climb! Would they have fruit he could eat when he was lost amongst the branches, hidden by double-hand sized leaves? Would people walk below him? Or maybe angels?
And did all paths lead to the throne room? He could not even begin to imagine what it must be like to stand at the entrance of the throne room! Here he was breathless with hope and only standing at Heaven’s gates. What would he be like outside the throne room about to see the One who knew him – really knew him! The One who was said to be within a whisper’s distance, even a heart’s breath away (shallow and raspy as his heart’s breaths had been at times due to all the sorrow and sin stones).
To see the One who had spoken to him in silences, through His eyes, with soothing sounds and in the softest of winds. The One who had found him in the silences and come to sit beside him. The One who had loved him through the loneliness when everyone else had spit on him, and cursed him. He would recognise Him by his voice and by the strengthening of his heart’s breaths. Even now, at these milky gates, his heart breaths were become stronger and slower, deeper and smoother.
One last time Tobias smoothed the silky pearl gates, savouring the touch as he stared down the path he had come up. He would never have to walk that way again!
Taking a deep breath in, he turned, keeping his eyes down, afraid to see too much at once. Even as he turned the music grew louder, the gate seemed to hum with it causing his body to hum in turn through his finger tips that still pressed against the light. Through the gates he could see the path winding on ahead of him. It was shimmering. Shimmering so much he could not tell if it was white or gold.
And then his heart slammed into his throat as sandaled feet came into view up. Beautiful feet – so familiar.
“Tobias,” the soft voice seemed to be captured by the alive light and the words twirled in the light, echoing like a beautiful memory – except this was real. “Welcome home son.”
Tobias clutched the gate, tears streaming down his face, even as he tried to see clearly through his misty vision.
“Tobias? Wake up! Tobias!”
Tobias clutched the gates, his tears coming faster. “No, no!” he begged, already feeling the darkness pulling at him from behind. “No!” The tingle from the dancing light began to recede from his fingers.
“Tobias, wake up son.”
With a weak cry, Tobias found himself lying beside the dying embers of the fire. He gazed around at the remaining people, his gaze falling on the woman. She was still here. She caught his gaze and smiled.
“Tobias? We must go.” Jathniel stood over him, already trying to help him into a cloak. “The night is cold.” Seeing Tobias’ groggy state, Jathniel gripped his upper arm and shepherded him away from the fire.
Tobias stumbled along beside him, his mind still seeing Heaven’s gates even as he tried to grasp that this was no longer heaven.
“So real,” he whispered, staring up at Jathniel wide-eyed.
Jathniel stared back, his expression curious.
“I was there,” Tobias croaked, stumbled to a halt. “Everything was so alive. I was alive.” He shook his head in wonder, all the feelings about the One rushing back. He knew the One his dream had described, beyond any doubt, he finally knew the One.
“You alright son?” Jathniel asked, concerned etched in his voice.
For a long moment, Tobias stared at Jathniel, his mind still blurred, and then he finally nodded, staring at his still trembling hands as he whispered again, “So alive.”
Episode 19: Without Sin?
“Who’s the boy?”
Jathniel followed Eli’s jerk of the head to where Tobias was standing in the middle of the market, oblivious to the masses that had to move around him to avoid knocking him over.
“He’s a strange lad,” Eli observed, studying the enraptured expression on Tobias’ face.
“Not strange,” Jathniel defended, already re-considering his words as one of Tobias’ hands lifted into the air, as though stretching to touch something. “Alright, so he’s a little unusual,” and then hastily added, “but this is recent! The last couple of days the boy’s been acting strange.” He started towards Tobias, anxious that those around might notice his peculiar behaviour, but something about the lad’s enthralled face made him pause.
“Isn’t this the thief-child?” Eli queried, stepping up beside him, perturbed. “The one you said is a law unto himself; the one who is snooping around?”
Jathniel nodded reluctantly, wishing he had not said so much to Eli. The way Eli said it made Tobias sound like dirt; it wasn’t the impression he had intended to give.
“You ever find out what he is up to all the time?” Eli pressed, curious.
Shrugging, Jathniel hesitated, wondering at his friend’s sudden interest in the boy. “No,” he said gruffily, thinking of how Tobias had visited that prison to see the prophet John, and how he followed the Nazarene with persistence. Sometimes he was sure the boy saw more than he did, even though they saw the same things. Like that night by the fire, Tobias had seen something...
“We should go,” Jathniel growled, abruptly striding forward. But again he hesitated, fascinated by Tobias’ face and the arm still stretching upwards. The boy’s mouth curved in wonder, his eyes wide open and sparkling. Something was going on here with the boy, something very un-Tobias-like. Reluctantly, he tapped the lad on the shoulder knocking him into action. The boy turned, eyes clear and bright.
“This is Eli, Tobias,” Jathniel introduced his friend, watching the boy’s eyes flick up to meet Eli’s. There was a sudden spark in the lad’s eyes. Jathniel glanced over at Eli, not missing the sudden discomfort of his friend. Curious, he waited and watched. The boy had a knack of seeing more than met the eye. Although he would never admit it, he had long been using Tobias to gauge how to respond to people, who to trust, what to expect...
He studied Eli with renewed interest – wondering again what his friend was up to.
“Well,” Eli boomed suddenly, “how about we get going?”
Jathniel glanced down at Tobias, who was watching him with an unreadable expression. He shrugged casually, not rushing the boy’s assessment of Eli, “You ready to go?”
Tobias nodded, eyes moving back to Eli’s face, then trailing down the man’s body to his shoes. He studied the shoes a long time.
Jathniel led the way forward, discreetly checking over his shoulder to see that Tobias was following. He was – eyes never leaving Eli. Intriguing. He glanced at his friend, fully aware of how stiff his movements had become under Tobias’ scrutiny.
“I wish he’d stopped watching me,” Eli growled, “makes the hairs on my neck stand on end.”
“He’s just a lad,” Jathniel responded easily, “a curious lad.” Up ahead a crowd had gathered. “Let’s try and avoid...” Jathniel’s words died abruptly as Tobias suddenly dashed past him, weaving and diving between bodies into the crowd. “Alright, forget that,” he growled in resignation, easing his shoulder into the narrow gap between two people and squeezing his body through after it, ignoring the frowns.
“You don’t have to follow!” Eli exclaimed, shoving after Jathniel. “The boy’s...”
Smiling stiffly, Jathniel pushed through a throng of older women letting their bodies close behind him, cutting Eli off from following further.
****
They had surrounded her, fingers pointed, jagged rocks clutched in tight hands, expressions grim.
Tobias’ heart hammered hard against his chest; he could barely breathe. She stood so still, terrified. As much as he despised her he would never wish her dead!
“Mary!” he yelled, jumping as high as he could to see over the shoulder of a man, arms waving wildly. “Mary!” She caught sight of him just as he reached the highest point of his jump and began to fall again. He had barely touched ground before he was pushed back up.
“Go!” her arm thrust out forcefully, face pained.
Eyes stinging, Tobias hit the ground with a thud and paused to catch his breath before crouching and leaping. The circle of faces around her were menacing and unmoved.
On the verge of panic, Tobias rammed hard into the man in front of him causing a loud grunt of pain followed by an angry bellow.
“You scum-...” the man turned and grasped him by the hair. His fury was suddenly dimmed as a strong hand clamped over his arm. Tobias glanced up – Jathniel! The moment the man released him, Tobias took the gap and dashed through, leaving Jathniel and the man to sort themselves out.
“She must be stoned!” a man was yelling, thumping rocks into the hands of anyone nearby.
Mary was dead. Tobias just knew it. This was the last time he would see her popping up in the strangest of places; another familiar face gone. His flittering gaze came to a stop when he spotted Jesus. The contrast between the Son of God and the raging crowd was startling. His twisting insides eased, confident that the eyes of compassion would not stand back to watch Mary die by the hands of this blood-craving crowd – even if she did deserve it. And when the eyes found his, Tobias smiled.
***
A smile? Jathniel barely kept his jaw from dropping as he tried to spot who had pried a smile out of the edgy child. His surprise lessened when he saw Jesus. The boy was still following Him. He watched as Jesus stood up from where he had been crouched on the ground; the crowd quietened in anticipation, eager hands ready for the signal to slam the first stone into the prostitute’s body.
The Nazarene looked around slowly, before his voice rung out clearly, “Whichever one of you is without sin may throw the first stone.” And then he lowered himself back to the ground and continued writing in the dust, not looking up again to see who would throw the first stone.
Jathniel stared, fascinated and guilty. Inwardly he squirmed, relieved that he was not one of those holding a stone. If he had been he did not know what he would have done. To throw the stone would create so many questions – so many who could point at him and accuse him of sin. But to not throw the stone... He looked up to study the woman whose eyes were wide and terrified.
And then he spotted a stone discreetly drop from a man’s hand nearby, falling silently along his leg into the dust. Another stone followed suit. One elderly woman shuffled past Jathniel, head down. The elders drifted away, in silence. Jathniel avoided their faces, knowing their expressions would reflect his own guilt. Slowly the younger people trailed after them until all that was left was a small crowd of people, presumably Jesus’ followers.
Jathniel beckoned Tobias over, unsure what would happen now.
Jesus stood, looking around, “Where are they? Is no one left to condemn you?”
“No one sir,” the woman whispered, overwhelmed.
“Well then, I do not condemn you either. Go, but do not sin again.”
“Did you hear what he said,” Eli suddenly appeared behind Jathniel, voice low in disbelief. “The implications of that statement are...”
“I know,” Jathniel hushed him sharply, his hand resting on the boy’s shoulder. He bent down to whisper, “You were close enough to see what He was writing in the ground – what did it say?”
Tobias shrugged, eyes watching Jesus in adoration, “I don’t know, I can’t read.” A radiant smile swept over the boy’s face, “But isn’t He amazing!”
Episode 21: Jathniel's Assignment
It was eerie. As a soldier he had seen a lot, but none of it had unnerved him like this. If it had been anyone else but the boy he would definitely have made himself scarce a long time ago. The whole thing disturbed him immensely – but it wasn’t something tangible he could grasp and shake an explanation out of; he was out of his depth. He circled the fire, pausing every few steps to study the sleeping Tobias. It wasn’t just any dream; Tobias rarely laughed. Should he wake him?
“No,” Jathniel shook his head, remembering the tears of disappointment last time he had roused the child. These dreams were not frightening the child, only him. Tobias was changing. He had considered every angle and possibility and narrowed it down to Jesus of Nazareth and the dreams. What manner of man was it that could soothe a ferocious crowd? Or win the devotion of this emotionally scarred boy? A squeal of delight jerked Jathniel’s head back to the boy. The child was clutching his stomach and laughing, his whole body shaking with pleasure. A smile tugged at the corner of Jathniel’s lips as he listened to the contagious laughter. There was nothing sinister about it all - except how these dreams were occurring more and more frequently.
“Your son sleeps well.”
Jathniel turned sharply from the fire to see who spoke; he hadn’t noticed the man approach him. Silently he berated himself for his lack of concentration as he glanced dismissively over the wealthy garments; he wondered why he couldn’t view Tobias with the same calm of this stranger.
“I’ve watched him with the animals, he’s kind,” the man remarked, smiling at the sleeping Tobias. “And what’s a Roman soldier doing in these parts on his own?”
A chill spread through Jathniel as he turned to confront the man, but the stranger was still studying Tobias, his posture relaxed and non-threatening.
“We all have our duties,” Jathniel growled. He examined the man carefully now; a merchant most likely. “Have we met?”
“Possibly,” the man half-smiled. “You follow the Nazarene.”
It was a statement, not a question. Teeth clamped together, Jathniel tilted his head back to look at the stars while observing the man surreptitiously out of the corner of his eye. “And you follow me?” he challenged.
“No,” the man crossed his arms before lifting one hand to scratch his hair-shadowed chin. “But when we follow the same man it is hard not to notice who else follows him.” He bent to pick up a twig and tossed it into the fire. “You have friends who come and go, is that not so?”
Jathniel did not respond, his mind immediately jumping to Eli and Aculeo.
“I do not think they follow the Nazarene, not like you do. Be careful.” And with that the stranger dusted his hands together, looked at Jathniel straight-on for the first time, and then left.
Growling, Jathniel stalked over to the fire, kicking a loose piece of wood into it before turning his back to the sparks to watch the man stroll past two more fires back to his own where a family of five gathered around it. The man looked back and raised a hand. Reluctantly, Jathniel raised his own. He crouched down beside the fire, elbows on knees. It had never occurred to him that others might be watching him. Had the man’s words been a threat or a warning? Sighing deeply, he stared through the dancing flames as Tobias’ rolled over, the glow of the firelight now washing over the boy’s face. The Centurion would be expecting a report soon. Aculeo and Eli had carried no information with substance. In truth, he had given them nothing to feed back to the Centurion, not after Aculeo had played his part in imprisoning John the Baptist. The prophet had done nothing wrong – nothing worth imprisonment.
Fingertips pressed together, Jathniel studied the tousled hair of the boy. He suspected the boy knew he was a Roman soldier, but what he had not worked out was why the child stayed if he knew. The boy loathed Roman soldiers.
A flaming twig shot from the fire landing inches from Tobias’ head but was almost immediately stomped out by Jathniel. He scuffed the ground and glanced back at the fire with the family gathered around it. Tomorrow he would have to tell Tobias the whole truth about his assignment.
Priorities
Tobias hovered on the edge of the crowd anxiously, thoughts tumbling together as he prowled the mass of bodies. Jathniel would be well on his way by now. His insides twisted as he recalled the hurt in Jathniel’s eyes when he had chosen to stay behind with the Nazarene.
Jathniel had only said one thing, “Will the Nazarene miss you if you’re gone?” And now it was as though a thousand voices shouted them over and over again inside of him.
Standing here, an inconspicuous boy on the edge of a cacophony of chaos, he highly doubted he would be missed. The wealth, the talent, the bubbling personalities and tremendous potential that surrounded him was too much to compete with. He glanced down at his grubby hand still clutching the bag that Jathniel had left for him. It was like a frozen claw; the tension had turned his knuckles white.
“Will the Nazarene miss you if you’re gone? Miss you if you’re gone. Will he?”
Tobias slowly unclenched his grip, swapping the bag to his other hand as he sought to catch sight of Jesus. He moved into a gap and for the briefest of moments caught sight of the Nazarene before an overgrown goliath of a man, with a young boy on his shoulders, obliterating Tobias’ view completely. He didn’t even have a father whose shoulders he could sit on.
“There is Jathniel,” the thought flittered through his mind, followed by tremendous guilt. Had he made the wrong decision to stay?
“Will the Nazarene miss you if you’re gone?”
Shoulders slumping, Tobias stared blindly at the body in front of him, loneliness washing over him. His bare toes scuffed the ground and then stilled.
“It’s not about me,” head rose at the revelation, eyes still clouded. “It’s about Him!” teeth gritted stubbornly together. “I’ll miss Him if I go.” Chin lifted and eyes sparkled determinedly, he hadn’t chosen wrongly when he chose to stay, he was sure of it. Renewed confidence jerked him forward, right into the midst of a hushed debated. Jesus’ disciples: Philip, Simon Peter and Matthew.
“The people are growing hungry, as is Jesus. What are we going to do?” Matthew was asking.
“You should have thought of this, Money-Man,” Peter growled.
Matthew glared back, “Don’t rehash tax problems with me. It’s what I used to do. Do you see me collecting taxes now? Huh? Huh?”
“We could never afford to feed all these people!” Philip moaned softly, staring over the masses of people. “And if your squabbling reflects what they’re feeling, we could have a full-blown hunger riot!”
Peter nudged Matthew, “Look, He’s calling. You better go and talk to Him.”
“Me?” Matthew jabbed an indignant finger in Peter’s solid chest. “You listen...”
“I’ll go,” Philip offered, already moving forward.
Mouth agape, Tobias watched Philip until he was blocked from view and then turned his attention back on Simon Peter and Matthew. They were like the squabbling gulls that lined the Sea of Galilee fighting over scraps. Just then a passing body knocked his bag against his leg. He glanced down, an idea suddenly springing to mind. Looking around, he spotted Jesus’ disciple, Andrew, standing quietly by, having observed the whole incident.
“Excuse me?” Tobias approached cautiously, tentatively holding his bag out to the man. The man studied him with an open expression, neither friendly nor hostile. “I have some food in here,” he nodded his head at Jesus, “for the Messiah.”
Andrew’s eyes widened as he numbly took the bag. Tobias hurriedly backed away, wondering if the disciple would toss the food of a dirty child without a second look. The expression in the man’s eyes bewildered him. Was it something he had said, or perhaps it was just how grimy he was? He waited until he saw Andrew make his way to Jesus, and then he followed nervously, heart pounding as he wondered what Jesus would do with his meagre offering.
There was a murmur of voices as Andrew said something to Jesus and then the disciples were suddenly ordering the crowd to get into groups of about fifty. In awe, Tobias watched the people obey even as Jesus held up something in his hand. Tobias recognised it, in embarrassment, as one of his pitiful barley loaves. Heart pounding excitedly, he watched Jesus gives thanks for his food and break it. In wonder, he watched as his pathetic gift continued to be distributed. Group after group was soon seen eating on his barley loaves and fish. It was impossible!
“Will you not eat?” a woman held out some fish to Tobias. Humbled, Tobias meekly accepted the fish that he had given away which had somehow multiplied to feed at least five thousand people! He clutched the fish in his hands, trying to fathom how Jesus had done this. It was then that he realised the eyes of the Nazarene were smiling at him, delight dancing in them.
Tobias ducked his head, embarrassed, and hastily chewed his fish. It was amazing what this man could do with something so small and how he could make something so meaningless have meaning!
He knew, beyond a doubt, his path lay with the Nazarene’s. But for this moment in time, Jathniel needed him. Grabbing one of the barley loaves, Tobias rose and headed back towards the nearest village. He didn’t stay to see what the disciples did with the leftovers. It was time to follow Jathniel to Caesarea, but as soon as it was possible, he would be back to follow the Messiah wherever His journey took them.
Jathniel's Journey to Caesarea
The journey to Caesarea was taking longer than Jathniel had expected. The surprise attack two mornings ago had completely muddled everything, especially because the caravan leader, along with several of the guards, had been severely wounded, knifed in the back. Jathniel had hauled him to cover and cleaned the wound; even now he could scarcely believe the man had survived. The knife had gone deep, only two finger widths clearing the bloodied surface.
Growling under his breath, Jathniel ran his hand along the coarse hair of a camel. It turned to look at him, brown eyes large and jaw working from side to side as it chewed.
“And now we’re crawling along without a caravan leader and a fair amount of guards, prey to every other marauding pack that lurks in these hills,” Jathniel informed the camel, patting its cheek absently. The camel grunted. “Just as well Tobias isn’t with us.” Not for the first time, since he had left, was Jathniel overwhelmingly relieved that Tobias had stayed behind. This caravan was cursed, he was sure of it. The chances of Tobias’ surviving the last attack would have been very low. “You’d like my young friend.” Jathniel circled the camel’s head, looking ahead to where the trail of people wound on ahead of them.
“Hoy!” the call suddenly resounded from far ahead and travelled down the line, growing in intensity.
“Hoy!” a bearded man near Jathniel turned, his eyes wide with alarm.
“What is it?” Tobias called, muscles tensing and hand flying to his sword.
“Lepers’ caves!” the man yelled, racing past Jathniel bellowing out warnings, causing the camel to break into a lumbering gait.
“Lepers’ caves,” Jathniel echoed. A scuffle nearby drew his attention to the young guard who had fought with surprising skill only days ago, surprisingly brutal skill. Violently cruel, the man had mercilessly butchered his enemies with hideous delight.
The young man now watched him with dark glittering eyes, like bottomless pits. “You can fight, but even you cannot deny fear when faced with the leprosy fiend. It is an enemy that none willing engage with. Not even I.” His voice hung, suspended in the air, sending chills through Jathniel.
Choosing not to answer, Jathniel followed the guard’s gaze to the black cavern entrances that dotted the hills. Figures moved in and out of them like ants, pausing frequently to watch the caravan trail. Some seemed to be waving but none in the caravan train waved back, their faces engraved with fear as they moved forward with renewed energy.
“Hoy!” the call came again, this time from behind. “Jathniel!”
Jathniel swung around, the voice familiar.
“Jathniel!”
His gaze swung over those around him, but none were looking at him – all lost in their own worries as they glanced anxiously towards the caves.
“Jathniel!”
Puzzled, Jathniel moved a little out of the trail to get a better view of everyone. A few people looked at him warily, their gaze constantly darting beyond him to the caves. His gaze skimming over them, Jathniel caught sight of the young guard’s elaborate gesture to a place beyond Jathniel. The smirking expression on the man’s face caused bile to rise up inside him; he disliked the youth with surprising intensity.
“Jathniel!”
He turned, following the sound of the voice to where a figure stood on the edge of the path, about a stone’s throw away. Even dressed in numerous soiled garments, there was no mistaking the man who stood watching with such anguish, jerking forward and back as though desperately wanting to rush forward to embrace him and yet something kept pulling him back.
Jathniel stared, a myriad of thoughts tumbling through him.
“Jathniel?” the tortured voice confirmed it.
“Aculeo?” Jathniel stepped forward and then abruptly halted at the sound of the young guard clearing his throat behind him. He glanced over his shoulder, glowering when he saw the satisfied expression on the man’s face. Barely restraining his emotions, Jathniel took in a slow breath and then released it. “Aculeo? You live here?” Never had Jathniel seen such despair. It was as though he was meeting Loneliness rather than a living person. The whole air hung with heavy moroseness. Aculeo looked defeated. He stared, not knowing what to say. What did one say to someone doomed to a life such as the one Aculeo now faced?
“Jathniel,” Aculeo pleaded, voice shaking, “help me. Please.”
Insides squeezing, Jathniel’s finger nails dug into the flesh of his palms. Utter helplessness seized him.
Eyes haunted, Aculeo gazed back at him and then he abruptly turned, escaping to hide the panicked tremors that were increasing in intensity through his body, following routes that Jathniel would, he prayed, never know.
“Amazing how a friend can so easily become an enemy,” the young guard observed, folding his arms across his chest. “An enemy that none willingly engage with.”
Teeth gritted, Jathniel glanced down at his hands, only now aware of the warm moisture that trickled down his fingers. His palms were covered in blood.
Episode 23: Who do you serve?
“The lad’s a mute, don’t mind him!” Eli dismissed the boy with a superior wave of the hand. He cast a long glance over the messenger who was still eyeing the boy warily. “Go ahead, what news have you brought?”
Cautiously, the messenger accepted the water offered him and lifted it to his lips, causing chapped lips to smooth almost instantly. He lowered the cup enough to watch the boy over the rim. The boy was decanting dried fruit from one large basket to many small packs. His profile, lit up by the sun’s late evening rays, gave no indication that he was listening; it was preoccupied and distant.
Taking a chance, he leant forward and whispered huskily, “The Jewish leaders grow restless, already they gather to discuss what must be done with this uprising. The message this man brings is like a mould which is spreading rapidly through our land and which leaves no group of people untarnished. Not only are some Jewish leaders choosing to follow this man’s teachings but there are rumours that even some of our own senior officers are interested in the message he speaks.” The messenger gulped down the remains of the water, tossing it to the back of his throat before continuing, “Perhaps it is worth working alongside the Jewish leaders to eradicate this man and his followers before his teachings erode our strength.”
Eli snorted derisively, scoffing, “You make this man sound like a powerful threat. He is one man, my friend, one man who has a small band of outcasts following him. Yes, he is a problem but he is not the foreboding danger you make him out to be.” He rose, re-arranging his uniform as he did so, his expression pitying as he surveyed the messenger, “I can deal with this man on my own if necessary.” His eyes grew hard, boring into the man opposite, “And never again speak of aligning ourselves with the Jewish leaders. Never! That would be our downfall!”
The brow of the messenger crinkled in confusion, but he nodded silently.
“Go,” Eli commanded, waving him away.
*****
The dried fruit away, Tobias glided silently away from the Roman soldier towards the animals; their musty smell reached him before he spotted them half-hidden behind a clump of shrubby trees.
He shoved between two large bodies to reach the doe-eyed mare with the white splodge above one eye.
“Hello my pretty,” he cooed, gently stroking her neck and then he fell silent, glancing cautiously around to check no one had heard him. Experience had taught him that people weren’t very forgiving when they discovered their ‘mute’ was anything but silent. Clamping his lips together and silently reprimanding himself for his slip, Tobias settled on a rock nearby the horses. He smiled when the mare slowly drifted his way, waiting until she once again stood beside him before he reached up to pat her. He had never ridden a horse before and he doubted he would ever ride one again, but this small band of soldiers had been determined to have an extra hand on their journey and they wanted to travel fast, so he had been given this horse to ride. She was a nimble footed creature, high energy but gentle.
She made the journey worthwhile. Tobias had never been so exhausted in his life. This band of soldiers were definitely making sure he paid his way, some went as far as to wake him up in the night just to get him to put another log on the fire or move their water, which was just out of arm’s reach, beside them. They were a lazy bunch but at least they were travelling fast. It wouldn’t be long before they caught up with Jathniel.
The streaky purples and pinks of the sky were blending into greys and blacks when Tobias lay down for the night, arms behind his head as he searched the sky for the first star. No matter how much he tried to redirect his thoughts they kept coming down to the same question: could he still follow Jesus even when he was heading in the opposite direction to Him? Unable to answer it, no matter which way he considered it, Tobias finally fell asleep, soothed by the nearby movements of the grazing animals. Their shuffling silhouettes darkened and then Tobias was standing in the centre of a busy market place. Merchants shouting out their wares, people bustling about, flocks being herded past...
“Look Tobias, what do you see?”
Tobias looked around, knowing instantly he was dreaming. He had never been to this place before yet it resembled many parts of his life: places he had been, people he had seen, things he had done...
“Life,” he answered, studying the children rushing past. They were skinny and dusty but they looked happy.
“Can you serve Me here?”
Tobias nodded, “Yes, what would you like me to do?” He looked around expectantly.
“Serve these people.”
“These people?” Tobias frowned, surveying the busyness sceptically. “But I want to serve You.”
He felt the smile rather than saw it. “I love these people Tobias. Serve them and you follow My request, and therefore you serve Me.”
The market scene faded and the darkness of night once again swam around him. The stars were numerous now, sprinkled across the blackened sky.
“Serve Me,” the words echoed through him, meeting every question that rose up in him. By going after Jathniel was it truly possible he was still serving God? Tobias shifted to his side, eyes focusing in on a pair of hooves before a white splotched forehead lowered to breathe a rush of air at him.
Episode 24: One day from Caesarea
Jathniel shielded his eyes from the sun’s glare to watch the horseman approach. A confident rider compared to the one that galloped recklessly behind him, flopping from side to side on the horse’s back, asking to be tossed to the ground at any moment.
“What now?” the wagon leader strode past Jathniel, the only indication that he was still aware of his wound was his wince as he rolled his shoulder uncomfortably.
Jathniel fell into step behind him, adjusting his sword for better accessibility. He doubted they would have any trouble from a Roman soldier but there was no point being unprepared. His hand was still on his sword when the front rider swivelled in his saddle, suddenly aware of the wild rider behind him.
“Look at the lad go!” the wagon leader’s grim expression cracked as he let out a sardonic cackle. His pleasure dimmed as he watched the soldier adjust his horse’s stride to match the young rider’s. “He shoulda let the lad ride it out, it’s the best way to learn.” Shoulders slumped in disappointment, he did not notice how Jathniel’s face lit up until Jathniel strode past him to meet the riders, hand out-stretched to catch at the horses’ ropes.
“Eli!” Jathniel greeted his fellow soldier with a nod but his eyes were on the lad. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“And not with a wild mute boy either,” Eli agreed, scowling at the boy.
“Mute?” Jathniel’s brow cocked, intrigued, eyes smiling as Tobias’ dirty head lifted to meet his gaze. He was thin and almost unrecognisable beneath all that grime, but the fighting spark was definitely still there. “Well, come and rest.” He indicated the wagon leader, “I will leave you to it.”
Eli nodded his thanks, turning to Tobias,” You boy, take the horses and water them.” He pointed at the other men who had caught up with them, “All of the horses.” If he was surprised when Jathniel came alongside Tobias to help him, he did not say anything. He did watch, however, as the two led the horses off to find water.
Tobias and Jathniel walked in silence, Tobias feeling strangely shy. After days of fending for himself he hadn’t expected to be so relieved or glad to be with Jathniel again. He felt safe. Is this what being with a father felt like? Glancing up at Jathniel, he found him watching.
“Your journey fine?” Jathniel asked, steps shortened to match Tobias’. He couldn’t help but notice how scrawny the lad’s legs were, or how lean his face had become. Eli was a hard task-master, he knew that.
“Tiring,” Tobias answered honestly, hesitating a moment before asking tentatively. “And yours?”
“Interesting and boring at the same time,” Jathniel pulled a face. “You should see some of the people travelling with me!”
Tobias laughed, the sound of his own voice surprising him. He had almost forgotten what he sounded like.
“There is somebody, though, that I think you’d like to meet,” Jathniel said. “As soon as we’re done with the horses I’ll take you to listen to him.”
Curious, Tobias eagerly rubbed the horses down, his mind racing through dozens of possibilities. It couldn’t be Jesus, he knew that. And not John the Baptist, he was still in prison. But who then?
“You ready?”
Tobias nodded. Jathniel stopped to pick up a raisin loaf which he gave to Tobias before leading them towards the front of the camp.
“He reads every night around this time. I don’t understand everything but he speaks of the things that interest you-” he paused and then corrected himself, “that interest us.”
Jathniel led them to a place where a crowd had already gathered to listen to an elderly man with a white beard. He motioned for Tobias to sit and then followed suit. The man’s shaky voice carried easily to them in the stillness of the evening.
“I read from Isaiah. Listen and may you be blessed.” The man clutched the words in age-trembling hands, clearing his throat before he began to read. “He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
Tobias’ tired heart had stilled as the words ran through his dry soul like the first rains on cracked ground. He soaked up the words, not understanding them all but captivated by every one.
“I don’t understand,” Jathniel whispered. Every night, since discovering these readings, he had come to listen, and every night he had left hungrier to learn.
“He speaks of the Messiah,” Tobias answered without hesitation, “but I don’t understand it all either, except that there is something about the Messiah that we desire, not because of what he looks like but because of something that we can’t see.”
Jathniel’s brow rose as he glanced down at the filth-covered lad who was tearing chunks from the loaf of bread with bony fingers, and then scoffing them down. “That makes sense, sort of,” he shrugged, marvelling at how Tobias had understood after one reading while he had understood nothing after many evenings.
(Isaiah 53: 2-5)
Caesarea
“Look Tobias,” Jathniel stretched a hand out at the place before them. “This is where the base of our Roman forces is. We are strong here and this is where the Centurion that I am under lives. You will meet him tonight.”
Tobias glanced almost carelessly over Caesarea before studying Jathniel intently. His words held praise for Rome but his expression was impassive. Dressed in his Roman uniform, it was like standing beside a stranger. He even smelt Roman! Emotions torn, Tobias tried to refocus on Caesarea, reminding himself for the hundredth time that this was Jathniel he stood beside – Jathniel who just happened to be wearing something different.
“Something foul!” the words hissed out of him before he had time to clamp his mouth shut.
Ignoring the comment, Jathniel jerked his head to where Eli strutted through the crowd leading his now-sparkling band of men behind him. “You better stay out of sight while Eli is around, he won’t take kindly to knowing you are not a mute.”
Tobias avoided Jathniel’s probing eyes, knowing there would be questions in them. His insides churned when Jathniel spoke.
“Is there anything that I need to know Tobias?”
Shaking his head quickly, Tobias held his ground, knowing that if he followed his instinct and darted off, it would be a dead giveaway that he held secrets. He glanced up and then away again, seeing only kindness despite that hated uniform. Did Jathniel share Eli’s views of the Roman army and Jews? Had Jathniel helped Aculeo put the prophet John in prison? And if so, then what would become of Jesus? Teeth gritted, Tobias determined to say nothing, even if it cost him his life. He had messed up once with the prophet when he could have prevented, or at least delayed, imprisonment; he would not make that mistake again!
“Alright then,” Jathniel spoke quietly, and Tobias knew he was not fooled. “Let’s go. I will show you where the Italian regiment is based and then we will go and meet Cornelius.”
“Cornelius,” Tobias repeated, relaxing as they moved forward.
They wandered through Caesarea all morning, Jathniel pointing out this and that like a proud father. He liked Caesarea, Tobias decided, interested in the stories that accompanied every corner they rounded. At mid-day, Jathniel took them down to the sea where the ships lay in the harbour. Tobias barely noticed when Jathniel left with instructions to meet him back here at sunset, so absorbed was he with planning how to sneak onto a ship and explore.
Two hours flipped past and Tobias still lay on the hot sand, soaking in the sun and sound of sea, mesmerised by the way the water lapped against the side of the ships and the activity that buzzed on board them. A movement to his left caught his attention. Two men held a couple of large tree trunks between them and were making their way up towards the nearest ship. Ducking low, Tobias edged nearer until he was just ahead of them, keeping out of sight. As they reached him, he darted under the trunks and half-crawled, half-scampered beneath them, once falling and scrapping his knees. The wrinkled bark hovered over him, large and heavy all the way up into the ship. When they reached the top, Tobias waited until they passed a pile of rope before scurrying out from under the trunk and diving behind the brown coils.
Excited, he poked his head up to survey the wet surface, deciding which direction to go before darting in the direction that look least occupied by sailors. His explorations led him towards the murmur of voices. One sounded suspiciously like Eli’s. Curious, he squirmed along on his stomach and cautiously poked his head around the corner. Resting on a comfortable cushion was Eli, expression smug, facing a man who glowed with pleasure as words spouted from his thick lips.
“I heard three days ago and it has been confirmed,” the man gushed. “Herod beheaded the man! We are finally rid of that filth and all his words against us. Bah!”
Heart knocking on the wooden floor, Tobias leant forward, his knee scrapping noisily against the wall causing both men inside to look up. However, their eyes never dropped low enough to where Tobias lay with cheek on the floor, not daring even to blink.
“It’s nothing,” Eli reassured them both, continuing smoothly, “I did think, though, that Herod had an unfortunate weakness for the prophet.”
“Ha!” the rosy-faced man puffed his chest out in pleasure,” but his wife did not, and thanks to her and her daughter, John the Baptist is dead!”
Dead! John! Tobias scrambled to his feet without thinking, rising up in the entrance abruptly causing both men to startle, Eli going for his sword while the other clutched at his throat in fear.
“You!” Eli glared. “What are you doing here?” he released his sword. “It’s just the mute boy who travelled with me here.” He strode forward but Tobias was already racing from the ship and along the edge of the sea, tears streaming down his face. He ran until the waves pulled him down, his feet catching on the soft sand. Sobbing, he dragged his water-weighted body onto the beach.
“Why God?” he wept, the image of that document that could have kept John from prison branded in his mind as though he held it even now. He could even feel the softness of it in his hand before he released it to hold onto the bag of coins. “I’m so sorry! So sorry!” Tobias clutched at the sand, body wracked with pain. He had killed John the Baptist, killed him because of his own lust for money!
(John’s death – Mark 6:14-29)
