From Carpenter to King: The Anointed One

By John Fuja

From Carpenter to King is a fictitious narrative of what Jesus’s private life might have been like during his public ministry. The novel focuses equally on the human and the divine nature of Christ.

The story delves into the acrimonious relationship between Caiaphas, the high priest, and his father-in-law, Annas. Both men are despised by the Roman procurator, Pontius Pilate.

Centurion Gaius Longinus is appointed by Pilate to clandestinely follow the Messiah. His plan is to use Jesus as his pawn in bringing about the downfall of Annas and Caiaphas.

Pilate’s wife—Claudia, the granddaughter of Caesar—appeals to her father, a noted Roman senator, to allow her half brother Marcus to begin his military career under her husband’s command.

On his first mission as a courier, Marcus is captured and abused by a brigand named Barabbas. The incident prompts General Flavius to resign from the senate and sail to the Middle East with a cohort of soldiers. Once he and his army arrived, Flavius wreaked havoc throughout Galilee as he attempted to capture his son’s abuser.

The novel remains true to the Gospel’s accounts while also intertwining the personal lives and loves of individuals who have been touched by Jesus. Blended within the story is a copious amount of intrigue.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Sep 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781982230425

John Fuja

This is Fuja’s final novel in a trilogy on the life of Christ. “From Carpenter to King” was preceded by “None Shines More Brightly, which dealt with the boyhood of Jesus through the beginning of his public life, and “Favored” covering the events leading up to the birth of Jesus. Like Fuja’s two prior novels “From Carpenter to King” is rich with Jewish culture and tradition. It presents a unique perspective into the lives of the individuals who were most affected by Jesus’ ministry.

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Copyright © 2019 John Fuja.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-9822-3041-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-3040-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-3042-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019908511

Balboa Press rev. date:  09/09/2019

CONTENTS

Foreword

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Chapter 67

Chapter 68

Chapter 69

Chapter 70

Chapter 71

Chapter 72

Chapter 73

Chapter 74

Chapter 75

Chapter 76

Chapter 77

Chapter 78

Epilogue

FOREWORD

F rom carpenter to king is the final novel of the trilogy on the life of Christ. It was preceded by ‘Favored’ and ‘None Shines More Brightly’, which focused on various stages of the Messiah’s life.

Although this novel is religious fiction, it follows as much as possible the Gospels and the book of Acts. The narrative intertwines the story of characters not found in the scriptures with the public life of Jesus Christ. I have added these individuals to show how people may have reacted to Jesus and his message. Readers of my previous novels will be familiar with some of these characters. They have added continuity to the trilogy

Though most of the dialogue in this novel is paraphrased it is based on my daily reading of scripture from different bibles over the past half century. If I have inadvertently used one of those direct quotations in my paraphrases it was not my intention and I deeply apologize.

Some quotations, however, have been taken directly from the NIV Bible. Those quotations are preceded by four bold dots (e.g. ….) and conclude with reference to the evangelist, chapter and verse in italics (e.g. Jn.3:16).

Since John, the evangelist, sets the cleansing of the temple at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, and the three synoptic gospels place the incident just days before the crucifixion, I present the incident twice.

Even though this novel is dedicated to my parents, it would be unfair if I did not acknowledge the support and encouragement of my lovely wife, Mary Ann. Without her this novel would never have been finished.

This novel is dedicated to

my beloved parents, John

and Rose Fuja, who were my first teachers in how to

lead a life devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank you, Mom and Dad

PROLOGUE

R abbi asa sat in the synagogue waiting for jesus (yeshua in Hebrew). The sun was about to set and Jesus still hadn’t arrived. The large meeting hall was almost pristine in appearance. It was empty except for a reading table, a lectern, a decorative cabinet that contained the Torah and other scriptural scrolls, as well as several wooden benches. An ornate oil lamp always stayed lit in front of the elaborately carved wooden shelved container that held the sacred writings of the Jews. Asa was confused. For the past twelve years Yeshua had come to the synagogue during the tenth watch of the day to meditate on the scriptures.

The rabbi went to the bottom shelf of the cabinet and found two tallow candles. As the mellow, golden light of sunset began to fade from the building; Asa lit the candles and placed them on the reading table. The soft light struggled in its attempt to pierce the darkness in the large meeting hall. The sound of the rabbi’s footsteps echoed through the empty synagogue as he paced on the stone floor, pensively waiting for Yeshua to arrive.

Midway through the first watch of the night, Asa’s wife entered the synagogue. She stood behind the grille work that cordoned off the women’s section of the building from the main meeting hall. The distraught woman came to ask her husband to come home and eat his dinner. He hadn’t eaten anything since early that morning. Ever since Jesus started meeting regularly with the rabbi, his wife had to remind him to come home and eat. She was very concerned about her husband’s health. What puzzled her tonight was the fact that although his study with Yeshua usually extended past their normal dinnertime, it never lasted this long.

The rabbi had been so deep in thought that, at first, he didn’t hear his wife. When she called out to him again, he was startled. Walking over to the grille work, he took her hand and patted it gently as he told her he would be home shortly. He wanted to run over to Yeshua’s house, and find out why he hadn’t met with him that day. A look of disappointment crossed his wife’s face as she turned and left the synagogue.

Asa ran through the silent Nazareth streets until he reached Jesus’ house. He kept knocking on the door until Yeshua’s mother, answered. The forty five year old woman greeted the rabbi and asked him if he would like to step inside. He shook his head from side to side as he said, No, Mary, thank you for offering, but my wife is still waiting to serve me dinner. I came because I was concerned about Yeshua. He didn’t come by the synagogue today.

Mary told the rabbi that her son had left early that morning to go to Bethany, beyond the Jordan, where his cousin John was baptizing. Jesus had told her that he didn’t know when he would return. Asa saw the poor woman’s eyes tear up when she said those words. The rabbi was a very tenderhearted man, but he couldn’t prevent his eyes from lighting up with enthusiasm when Mary finished speaking. Could it be that Yeshua’s time had come? The rabbi thought. Asa wished Mary ‘shalom’ and headed back toward his house overjoyed. He was waiting for this day since he first heard that Mary was with child.

That same night, in the Machereus Fortress in Perea, King Herod Antipas was awakened from his sleep. His teeth were chattering. He couldn’t understand why the room was freezing cold. It was so cold that he could see his vaporous breath. The king pulled the elaborately embroidered quilt up to his chin, but he only felt colder. Suddenly a very foul stench filled the bed chamber. It was odd that Herod noticed the disgusting odor because the king smelled horribly. His body odor permeated most of his palaces. As Antipas began to gag, the oil lamp in his bedchamber suddenly was extinguished.

The monarch panicked, he left his bed in haste so he wouldn’t vomit on his mate, Herodias, who was lying beside him. In the extreme darkness the king panicked, he couldn’t find his way to the door. He waved his arms about frantically trying to touch something familiar so he could acquaint himself with his surroundings.

Herod regurgitated several times before his hands finally touched something solid. He was so disoriented in the darkness; that he didn’t realize that he had passed the door to the bedchamber several times before he found the doorknob. He finally was able to exit the putrid smelling room.

Antipas ran toward a window in the hallway where he regurgitated several more times. With his head out of the window, the cacophony of voices that suddenly filled his bedchamber sounded like loud claps of thunder to the king. He had no idea that his wife was in the throes of another state of possession. Herod was so sick and distressed that he didn’t realize that it was a pleasantly warm early spring night.

Meanwhile Herodias sat up in bed. The loud hellish sounding voice of Satan came from her vocal cords shouting, What are we to do with her? Tomorrow John will baptize the Son of the Most High. The Almighty will lift the remaining fog from his mind and his entire mission as well as the fullness of who he is will be revealed to him. This sow has failed us.

Another demon within Herodias said, My liege, slither out of the sow’s mouth. Stop her heart just as you did to the witch who failed to kill Yeshua and his parents on the night of the Messiah’s birth. Then go to the Jordan and sink your venomous fangs into the Baptist while he stands in the river. He will be dead in seconds.

You fool! Satan said. The hand of the Mighty One will protect John until his will has been accomplished through him. Furthermore, only human hands can take the life of the Messiah and the Baptist.

Another demon said. Herodias has served your purpose in the past. After all she gave birth to Salome as you requested. She also convinced Herod to sell his soul to you. She can still be a valuable asset to you, my liege.

Satan agreed with the last demon, but he couldn’t resist toying with Herodias before he and his demons became silent within her. The prince of darkness kept slamming the queen into her bed with such rapidity that she was just a blur. Satan then caused her body to fly out of bed with such force that she knocked over a bed stand. Herodias finally struck the wall. Her shoulder was dislocated and her head had a very long gash that stretched from the top of her head to the bottom of her ear lobe.

The noise caused Herod to grab hold of a torch that was mounted in the hallway and run into the room. He was astonished to see his mate lying in a pool of her own blood. The king was shocked even further as Herodias hauntingly turned toward him. Her eyes were wide open, but only the whites of her eyes were visible. With a hellish sounding voice she yelled, Send out a troop of your soldiers and arrest the Baptist tonight! He is baptizing again! Herodias then passed out from the pain of her dislocated shoulder.

CHAPTER 1

F orty-two days had passed since the night asa visited jesus’ mother. Yeshua sat alone in the desert. He hadn’t eaten anything for the past forty days. The hot afternoon sun beat down on him with all its blazing fury. In a mirage like haze, the starving Messiah saw a pale, very thin, famished woman approach him. The two children with her were starving too. Their bellies were bloated and their hair had turned a bright orange color from lack of protein. They were so thin that in the distance they had appeared as sticks.

Yeshua’s heart broke when he saw the pitiful trio, until Satan who had transformed himself into the woman spoke. Kind sir! My children and I are starving to death. I’m sure you can empathize with our plight, for it looks as if you’re starving too. My children haven’t had anything to eat for forty days. As she spoke, the children held their hands over their distended abdomens while they bent low and moaned loudly. The woman looked directly at Jesus and said…."If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. (Mt. 4:3). Then we all can eat."

Jesus looked deep into the woman’s eyes and recognized his adversary….Jesus answered, "It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Mt.4:4) The woman’s name was Deception, and her two children named Neglect and Greed then walked away from Jesus and disappeared into the wavy haze of the unbearable afternoon heat. Yeshua moved from that location. Finding a cactus plant; he broke off a spine of the succulent and squeezed a few drops of water from within the plant onto his parched, burning lips.

The extreme heat made Jesus delirious, exhausted; he fell to the sandy desert floor. When he did, Satan took him in thought to the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus saw himself standing atop the highest point of the structure. A man, dressed in camel hair, as the prophets of old were dressed, called Jesus over to the very edge of the highest point of the temple. As Yeshua looked down into the courts below, the devil said to him….If you are the Son of God, he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:

"‘He will command his angels concerning you,

And they will lift you up in their hands,

So that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’"(Mt.4:6)

Jesus looked Satan in the eyes and answered him….It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’(Mt.4:7) The Messiah immediately saw the old man transform himself back into the hideous creature from hell that he was.

Yeshua finally mustered up enough strength to raise himself off the desert floor. He wandered aimlessly through the barren landscape, stumbling several times, as he moved about. Jesus didn’t realize that he was heading upward until he reached a high summit. Still dazed as he was from the desert heat, the setting sun caused the hills to appear as palaces of gold and glorious kingdoms in the lowlands to the anointed son of God. Satan entered Yeshua’s mind again and said….All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me. (Mt.4:9)

Jesus, in near delirium, was still able to resist the devil’s temptation. He shouted…. Away from me Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’ (Mt.4:10) Jesus then passed out from the day’s heat, his weakness, and unrelenting hunger.

When the cool night air settled in, it stung Yeshua’s sunbaked flesh. When he awoke, he found a skin full of water and a loaf of bread by his side, for angels had come to minister to him while he slept. With his strength renewed, Jesus headed back to Bethany, beyond the Jordan where he had previously submitted to his cousin’s water baptism.

Andrew, John’s first disciple, stood next to the Baptist in waist-high water as he dipped anyone who repented of their sins in the cold, rapidly moving flow of the River Jordan. John stopped suddenly and looked toward the ridge next to the river. The dazzling rays of the rising sun blinded Andrew as he tried to see what the Baptist was staring at. Placing his hand on his forehead, to shield the bright sunlight, Andrew saw the man whom his master had baptized forty days ago standing on the nearby ridge.

The man was tall for his time; standing at least two handbreadths over any other person in the crowd. The muscular man had broad shoulders. One could tell that whatever the man’s line of work was; it required heavy lifting. His deep-brown, chestnut-colored hair, which had a slight curl to it, reached to his shoulders. In sunlight his hair took on a deep mahogany sheen. This was the same man; who after coming up from under the water’s surface more than a month ago, had had a bright light in the form of a dove descend upon his head. A heavenly sounding voice then announced that this man was God’s beloved Son.

The Baptist pointed to Jesus and said…."Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world (Jn.1:29) ….I have seen and testify that this is the Son of God." (Jn.1:34)

John turned to look at Andrew and another one of his disciples who stood next to him. He nodded toward Yeshua as if he were giving his permission for them to leave him and go follow their new master. The two men kissed John on his beard and waded toward shore. They then followed Jesus as he walked away from the shoreline. Yeshua turned toward them and smiled as he asked…."What do you want? (Jn.1:37)

Andrew looked at the man with the strong, yet ruggedly handsome facial features who stood before him. When Jesus smiled, his face lit up and deep dimples formed in his cheeks. His smile was so alluring that it caused Andrew and the other disciple to respond in kind. The most notable feature of Jesus’ tanned, bearded face was the man’s unusual, intriguing, heavily lashed eyes. They were a deep honey color with flecks of gold in his irises. The two men asked Jesus where he was staying. Yeshua told them to come and see. They followed their new master and spent the whole day with him.

That same day a young, handsome man by the name of Marcus Gratus, who had just joined the Roman military, was starting his trek toward the port of Joppa in the Middle East. When he arrived there, he was to report to Pontius Pilate, the governor of the region. The recruit’s father, Senator/General Flavius Gratus, rode his white stallion alongside his son’s black steed. The two men were heading toward a Roman seaport.

When the young man reached the seaport and boarded the ship, his legs began to tremble uncontrollably. He was embarrassed. He didn’t want his father to notice how nervous and frightened he was. Marcus had never sailed before, nor had the sheltered patrician ever been outside of the Eternal City, Rome.

The young recruit was determined not to allow his brother-in-law, Pontius Pilate, to treat him any differently than any of the other recruits stationed in the area he governed. He wanted to start his military career as a plebe and then advance to courier, just as every other foot soldier did.

CHAPTER 2

I t was a stifling hot afternoon in capernaum. simon and his fellow fisherman had spent the entire night and the early part of the afternoon fishing on the Sea of Galilee. Their whole days catch amounted to less than two-dozen fish. Simon jumped out of his boat. With biceps bulging, the short, muscular, balding man and some of his crew pulled the vessel onto the pebbly shore. His face, arms and legs were deeply tanned from his constant exposure to the sun.

Even though he was a Jew, he never covered his balding head with a hat or a turban as Jewish law required. Simon didn’t like the feeling of being confined. Even the loose fitting, short tunic that he wore felt too tight for him as he worked. He had his wife cut through the front of the woolen garment from the neckline down to about his navel, even though Jews were thought to be modest and never expose their chests in public. Whenever he changed his clothing while in his wife’s presence, she would smile broadly. Simon had a deep bronze-colored V that extended from his neck over his barrel shaped chest down to his abdomen.

The short-tempered man’s language at times was even saltier than the mineral itself. Simon cursed under his breath as he sorted through the few fish that had been caught; there were only thirteen worth keeping. His anger flared, so he kicked the side of his boat and cursed a bit louder as he gutted the catch. His hired hands saw how angry Simon was so they headed back to their homes. They knew how to read their boss’ mood. The angry fisherman wouldn’t be going back out that day. It was best if they just got out of his way.

Simon salted the fish, threw them into a basket and put them in the shade. He took his nets and waded back into the water. The late-afternoon sun almost blinded him as its brilliant, white light reflected off the surface of the huge body of water. He mumbled to himself as he angrily picked off seaweed and shells that clung to the fibers of the netting. When he was finished; he hauled the nets to shore and laid them out to dry. When Simon looked up, he saw his brother, Andrew, coming towards him with two other men he had never met.

The agitated fisherman was still angry with his brother. Several months ago Andrew had gone off to chase another one of his dreams. He found a man who had been baptizing people in the River Jordan. His brother decided to follow him. If one of the men that were with Andrew was the Baptist, Simon decided that he’d give him a piece of his mind. What right did he have to encourage people to leave their family and friends and go off on some useless mission that would lead nowhere? Simon thought. He was still hurt by what his brother had done. When he was through with the Baptist; he’d give his brother a piece of his mind too.

Simon put his head back down and pretended to straighten out the net a bit more. His brother would have to come crawling back to him and beg his forgiveness. When the three men came closer; Andrew ran ahead of his two companions and shouted to his brother, Simon, Simon, I’ve found the Messiah! The Christ-The Anointed One!

Simon threw his arms up in the air and shook his head from side to side in disbelief. He chided his brother as he asked, Who is it this time? Is it one of our town elders or perhaps its Levi the tax collector? Or is it that wild looking man that you went to follow? Tell me Andrew, who is it now? You dreamer!

By now the two men that accompanied Andrew reached the shoreline. The tall, bearded man looked at Andrew’s brother and placed his huge calloused hand on the fisherman’s shoulder. He said….You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas (which, when translated, is Peter or rock). (Jn.1:42)

Simon was mesmerized by the man’s honey colored, heavily lashed eyes. The thirty five year old man had never seen eyes that were so intriguing. The fisherman finally shook his head to clear his brain and started laughing. He brought both of his arms into the air and lowered them abruptly as if to convey that he thought the man who stood before him was out of his mind.

Andrew’s brother left the three men standing on the shoreline and headed to his house. Jewish etiquette required that Simon should have invited his brother and his two companions into his home for a brief respite and some libations. But Simon was so angry with Andrew that no invitation was extended. He just walked toward his house mumbling to himself.

That evening while Simon sat with his wife, his mother-in-law and his two sons at the dinner table, he said, Guess what? Andrew has found another Messiah, and he renamed me Cephas (Peter or Rock.) Humorously, he continued, Do you think I should have my men call me ‘Rocky’ from now on? His family chuckled. No matter how hard the fisherman tried, he couldn’t forget the way he felt when he looked into the stranger’s eyes.

Early the following morning, Jesus, Andrew and the Messiah’s other disciple headed for Nazareth. On the way, they came to the town of Bethsaida, Andrew and his brother, Simon’s birthplace. After morning prayers in the synagogue, Philip, a willowy young man, sat near the roadside with a group of older men. He was telling the group about what he had witnessed when he stood on the banks of the Jordan River when Jesus was baptized. Philip was shocked, for as soon as he finished speaking, he saw the Messiah coming toward him. He recognized Jesus by his height and chestnut colored hair.

Jesus walked up to Philip and said….Follow me.(Jn.1:43) The Messiah then kept on walking. Without saying a word to the group, Philip stood. The long legged man ran to catch up with the deeply tanned Messiah. When he was in front of Jesus, Philip turned and walked backward while Yeshua continued on his journey. He asked Jesus if he could go find his friend, Nathanael. I’d like to tell him about you, Rabbi. Maybe he’d like to follow you too.

Jesus stopped, he smiled at Philip and said, Go!

Philip ran as fast as he could to a fairly distant grove of fig trees. Panting as he tried to catch his breath, Philip said….We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.(Jn.1:45) Nathanael laughed….Nazareth! Can anything good come from there? (Jn.1:45)

Come and see, said Philip. (Jn.1:46) Nathanael reluctantly got up from beneath the fig tree and followed his friend to the roadside where Jesus waited.

When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said to him, Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false. (Jn.1:47)

Nathanael smiled and shook his head from side to side in disbelief; he wasn’t going to fall for the phony obsequiousness of this con artist. He wasn’t as gullible as his friend, Philip, was. The complimentary words of a charlatan meant nothing to him. How do you know that I’m an honest man when you never met me before? Nathanael asked sarcastically as he turned to leave.

….Jesus answered, I saw you sitting while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you. (Jn. 1:48)

A dumbfounded look crossed Nathanael’s face. How could this man possibly have known where I was? Nathanael thought. He looked toward Philip questionably, as if to ask if his friend had told the Messiah where he had been. That’s when he realized that the expression on Philip’s face revealed that his friend was as astonished by the Messiah’s statement as he was. Nathanael fell to his knees before Jesus and said….Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel. (Jn. 1:49)

Jesus smiled as he raised Nathanael to his feet and said….You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You shall see greater things than that. (Jn. 1:50) Yeshua then turned and started to walk toward his hometown. His amazed disciples followed him.

While a sliver of the bright-orange sun still shone above the dusty gray hills of Galilee, Jesus and his disciples reached Nazareth’s town gate. Omar, the gatekeeper, was already in the process of closing the portal for the night. When Omar looked up and saw Yeshua he ran to him, hugged him, and kissed the beard on his chin. The Messiah returned the typical Middle Eastern greeting.

Yeshua, I’m so glad that you’re back! Rabbi Asa’s been by at least twice a day asking if I’ve heard anything about you from any of the caravans that stopped here. I was worried, because he never told me what he expected to hear. I thought that you might have turned Zealot and were arrested. Omar chuckled when he said those words. He knew Jesus realized that he was trying to be humorous.

Not quite yet. The Messiah said with a broad smile on his face. Yeshua then introduced Omar to his friends and the group entered the city. The townsmen hadn’t gathered at the gate yet, as they customarily did, because it was still quite early.

As Jesus headed toward his family home, he saw Rabbi Asa walking down the street toward him. His head was bowed in prayer as he walked. When the rabbi raised his head and saw Yeshua, he ran toward his former pupil with his arms outstretched in greeting. When he finally reached Jesus, he almost knocked him over with his enthusiastic hug.

After kissing the Messiah’s beard, Asa whispered in his ear. I see you have followers. Have you started your ministry?

Asa was surprised by Jesus’ words when he answered with a rather lack luster response. He simply said, Not yet. The rabbi would be late for dinner again tonight, because he followed Yeshua back to the Messiah’s mother’s house and spent most of the evening there.

When Jesus was twelve years old, his foster father’s cousin, Jehu, along with his seven children came to live with Yeshua and his parents. The man lost his wife and had no other family members to turn to. The following night Jehu left, leaving his children in the care of Jesus’ mother, Mary and her husband. When the Messiah’s parents realized Joseph’s cousin would never return, Joseph and Mary adopted the brood of seven and treated them as if they were their own offspring.

Upon reaching his house, Jesus, rather than entering, knocked on the door to surprise his mother. The Messiah’s youngest sister Milkah answered the door. She always adored her eldest brother. When she saw Yeshua, her heart took flight. She threw her arms around him and buried her head in his shoulder. Milkah whispered in her brother’s ear. Don’t say anything. Let Momma be surprised when she sees you.

Jesus’ mother, as always, was busy. With her back to the door she called out; asking who was at the door of the one room home. When Milkah didn’t respond, Mary turned and saw her son standing in the doorframe. Wiping her hands in her apron, Mary ran to her son and hugged him. Her eyes glistened with tears.

When their embrace ended, Mary invited her son’s friends and the rabbi to enter. Milkah, seeing the number of people that would be joining them for dinner, immediately started to make some extra flat bread. Mary excused herself and joined her daughter in preparing additional food for her guests. Hospitality was a God given law to the Jews.

The group of men sat there in virtual silence. Neither Asa, nor Jesus’ disciples knew what either of the others knew about Yeshua; so they all were rather quiet. The Messiah smiled broadly. He knew what the men were thinking. He said nothing that could clear up their confusion. As a matter of fact he found humor in their dilemma.

While Jesus and his group ate their dinner, Marcus Gratus couldn’t even look at his. The young man was seasick. He had spent the last day and a half in the hold of the ship vomiting. Earlier that day one of the crew suggested Marcus go and stand on deck and stare at the horizon. That usually allowed a person to cope with the ship’s constant movement. No matter how hard he tried, Marcus couldn’t keep his eyes fixed there. He was drawn to the waves and the sea life that frolicked about in the sea.

It wasn’t long before Marcus was leaning over the ship’s rail retching miserably. The ship’s captain ordered a crewmember to help the patrician back down to the hold. Marcus spent the rest of the voyage coping with seasickness. He felt miserable. He thought, why did I decide to become a soldier? I should have stayed in Rome.

After Jesus and his guests had eaten, the rabbi left, Yeshua noticed how tired his disciples were. Joseph had added an addition to his house so there were four large earthen beds in the home. There was plenty of sleeping room for his guests. Milkah too retired for the night. Yeshua and his mother, however, still sat at the table talking. When everyone was asleep, Jesus suggested that he and his mother go outside and visit further under the starry canopy of night. Both he and his mother loved to sit and gaze at the nighttime sky. They both felt closer to God when they saw his handiwork.

I’m so happy that you came back for Jude’s son’s wedding. The Jude Mary spoke of was Jesus’ cousin, his mother’s eldest sister’s son, Judas Bar Thaddeus/Clopas. Grandma left for Cana last week with your brother Simon. She walks a lot slower now. The rest of your brothers and sisters and their families will be traveling with us.

Mary then started to reminisce about the joyful times they spent together as a family when her husband Joseph was still alive. Jesus had very happy memories of those times too. When they finished talking about those loving memorable times they went inside. Mary went to sleep in the bed she shared with her daughter. The Messiah just curled up on the floor and slept there.

CHAPTER 3

J esus rose early. as yet the light of the sun hadn’t begun to pierce the night’s darkness. In the warm glow of the nighttime candle he walked softly toward the back of the one room home where he bathed. The cool water he poured over his body caused goose bumps to form on his arms and legs. Yeshua toweled himself dry and changed into a fresh, long woolen tunic his mother had made for him for the wedding celebration. By the time he finished dressing, the sun rose.

While everyone still slept Jesus slipped out of the house and headed for the synagogue. He wasn’t surprised to see that Rabbi Asa was already sitting under the old Sycamore tree waiting for him. Before the rabbi left last night, Jesus had whispered to him that he would meet him the following morning.

Asa stood up the minute he saw Yeshua approaching and warmly greeted his former student. When the two men sat down; Jesus recounted his experiences since he left for Bethany. Yeshua said that as he was being baptized, his Father confirmed his mission. The Holy Spirit in the form of a dove rested upon me and my Heavenly Father spoke openly before the crowd John was baptizing by saying that I am His beloved Son. A look of wonderment was on Asa’s face as the Messiah spoke. The rabbi regretted the fact that he wasn’t there to witness the miraculous event. Yeshua then went on to describe his desert experience.

The rabbi sat there with his mouth opened wide, captivated by what he heard. Jesus said, I’m not certain my Father wants me to begin my ministry quite yet, even though he’s sending me disciples. The fullness of God’s Spirit that dwells in me is telling me to wait. I know he’ll give me some sign when to begin. Yeshua kept the meeting short for he and his family would be heading to his cousin’s son’s wedding shortly, and he hadn’t eaten yet. Asa hugged the Messiah and wished him ‘shalom’ as he left.

Yeshua’s entire family was at his house when Jesus returned. James gave his brother the cold shoulder. Of the two of them; Jesus was the better carpenter in their joint business. James was angered that Yeshua simply decided to leave one day and all of his unfinished projects fell on his shoulders. People were clamoring for their orders. Knowing how his brother felt, Jesus went up to him and apologized.

James’ children loved their uncle Yeshua. They soon gathered around him. That caused James to seethe with even more anger. When Jesus entered the house; all the children followed. Their uncle could be as teasingly humorous as Joseph, Jesus’ foster father, had been. All of his nieces and nephews loved to be around Yeshua and laughed at his dry sense of humor.

When James entered the house and saw Jesus wrestling with his sons, his face turned as red as a pomegranate. Rather sternly he shouted, Brother why don’t you stop horsing around. Act your age for a change. My children will be so excited now, that I won’t be able to control them while we travel. Instead of wrestling, why don’t you eat so we can get started?

Yeshua’s four disciples were shocked that James talked the way he did to Israel’s future king, the Anointed of God.

When the group left the house and headed toward Cana in Galilee, Mary’s two granddaughters held her hands while James’ two sons held onto Jesus’. James, with a disgusted look on his face, followed behind in his brother’s footsteps again.

Midway to Cana, the travelers stopped for a light lunch. James’ wife could see that her husband was seething with jealousy; so she came and sat next to him. James whispered to his wife. Look how our children love my brother. None of them care about me that much. His wife told him it was because Yeshua never had to discipline them. He could spoil them and send them home to them. Her remark was meant to pacify her husband, not to degrade the love Jesus had for their children. What she’d just told her husband didn’t seem to cheer him.

In the fading light of early evening the travelers reached their destination. Mary’s eldest sister and her son Jude (Judas,) stood waiting at the town gate for Mary and her family to arrive. It was a loving reunion for all. Jude had not seen Jesus since his visit during the mourning period for their late grandfather, Joachim, three years ago.

As soon as James located his blood brothers, Joses and Judas, he complained about Yeshua for the rest of the evening. His two brother’s just listened, they couldn’t understand why James felt the way he did about their brother; neither did their other blood brother Simon.

When Jesus saw his grandmother, Anna, he quickly walked over to her. He lifted the rather portly elderly woman off the ground. Yeshua’s muscles bulged while his grandmother lathered his face with her kisses. She had a very tender spot reserved in her heart for her favorite grandson.

The sun set and all activities ceased. It was the Sabbath and by the command of the God of Abraham, all faithful Jews rested. That night all the men slept outdoors while the women and children occupied Mary’s sister’s house and the home of her son, Judas bar Clopas as well. Jesus’ nephews insisted on sleeping outside with their uncle Yeshua. That angered James, even further.

Sunday morning, Clopas along with his son Jude were busy in the town square. They assisted the bride’s father in preparing for the wedding celebration that would begin at midday. Jude, like his father and the bride’s father, was a wealthy merchant. No expense was spared on the grand celebration.

Yeshua, his entire family and his four disciples gathered in the square at noon along with the other guests. They watched the proceedings and the affirmation of the dowries that had been set on the day of the couple’s betrothal before the bride and groom arrived.

The joyful sounds of tambourines were soon heard as the town’s virgins led the bridegroom and his close friends to the square. Shortly thereafter, the bride was carried in on an open liter to the ooohs, and the ahhhs, of the women in attendance. The people cheered loudly when the bride’s father placed his daughter’s hand into her husband’s. The bride blushed. The couple then sat down and shared a cup of wine and a morsel of bread. The celebration now began in earnest; wine flowed freely as the guests danced and ate heartily.

When the first watch of the night began, Jesus’ cousin came up to him and whispered something in his ear. Nodding his head, Yeshua stood and went over to join Jude’s three sons. The four men interlocked their arms and the groom sat upon the hammock like seat their conjoined arms formed. The bride’s sisters did the same for her. The couple was then carried to the door of the groom’s home. The hoots and hollers of the men filled the night air as the door closed behind them.

The bride’s father, with a huge smile on his face, stood by the couple’s door tapping his foot. Quite a while later, the door of the home was cracked open a bit. Just the groom’s hand could be seen as he handed his father-in-law the marital sheet, as was the custom in the Middle East. The man proudly displayed it as he ran back to the group of revelers. The women became teary eyed while the men hooted and hollered even louder. The marriage had been consummated and the bride was proven to be a virgin. The crowd danced and drank way into the night. Most of the people stayed in the commons and slept there since this was only the first day of a celebration that would last for at least five more days.

The following day, the crowd feasted, drank and danced way into the late evening. Each night after sundown, the crowd would cheer when the couple entered their home. On the fourth day of the celebration, while Mary sat next to her sister, Thaddeus came up to his wife and told her how humiliated their son, Jude, was. He had not procured enough wine for their grandson’s celebration to continue. No local merchant would have enough to allow them to celebrate further. This was an embarrassment the family would never live down.

Yeshua was sitting with his disciples when his mother came over to him and called him aside. Looking at her son pleadingly, Mary said, Son, I heard your Uncle Thaddeus tell your aunt that Jude is embarrassed. They have no more wine.

Jesus lowered his head and rubbed his beard for several seconds before he spoke. Was this the sign he’d been waiting for to begin his public ministry? Yeshua looked at his mother….Dear woman, why do you involve me? Jesus replied. My time has not yet come. (Jn.2:4) As soon as Jesus finished speaking, he heard his Heavenly Father whisper to him, ‘Listen to your mother. Do as she requested!’

Mary smiled at her son, prompted by the Holy Spirit she went over to the youngest servant. She pointed to her son and politely said, See that tall man over there, please do whatever he asks of you. Because the woman was so polite and respectful, the young man smiled at Mary and nodded his head in agreement. She wasn’t rude like most of the other guests were when they wanted something. She treated him like an equal not as a lowly servant.

….Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. (Jn.2:6) Jesus walked over to the servant his mother had spoken to, and said, Young man, please fill each of the stone jars to the brim with fresh water.

The servant walked over to his fellow servants. Pointing to Yeshua, he said. See that man over there. I don’t know what he’s up to, but he just asked me to fill the purification jars with water. I’m curious to see what he plans on doing. Let’s do as he asked. So the group reluctantly agreed to do as Jesus requested.

After the jars were filled, Yeshua said….Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.(Jn. 2:8)

One of the older servants laughed and whispered to his fellow servants, I think that fellow thinks the wine steward and the bridegroom’s guests are drunker than they are, or maybe he’s just crazy. Doesn’t he think the guests will know the difference between water and wine? At his remark, the group of servants laughed too.

The young servant dipped the ladle into one of the water filled jars and reluctantly headed toward the wine steward. He expected the man to scold him when he realized it was just water. Jesus smiled broadly when he saw the expression change on the servant’s face. The young man’s eyes bugged out and his jaw dropped open when he saw the clear, clean water change to a claret color in the ladle and turn into wine. The same transformation took place to the water in all of the purification jars. All of the servants stared into the water jars with open mouths when they realized what had happened.

The servant, who had mocked Jesus, looked around to see if anyone was watching him. When he was confident they weren’t, he dunked his finger into the water jar and then placed his finger into his mouth. The stunned man said, a little more loudly than he had intended. By all that’s holy, I swear, this is really wine! How did the man do it? The other servants asked themselves, who is this man?

When the master of the banquet tasted the water turned into wine he went over to the bridegroom and said, Sir, the new wine you found is better than any wine I’ve ever tasted. Where did you get it from? I saw that all the wine jars were empty….Everyone brings out the choice wine and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink, but you have saved the best till now. (Jn. 2:10)

The bridegroom ran over to his father, Judas, and said, Abba, the wine steward just complimented me for choosing the finest of wines. He wanted to know who you bought it from. Jude’s mouth dropped open. He ran up to the steward to find out where the wine came from. The wine steward pointed to the six water jars.

Judas went to his servant and had him draw a ladle of the water turned to wine. He tasted it and said aloud in amazement. This is the best wine I’ve ever tasted. Where did it come from? The servants, rather loudly, told him what Yeshua had done. When some of the guests overheard what the servant told Jude, word of the miracle soon spread throughout the crowd.

When Jesus returned to his place, he nodded to his mother. Mary smiled at her son in gratitude. She knew that Jesus had miraculously handled what could have been an embarrassing situation for her brother-in-law and nephew.

David, ran up to his father, James, and said, Abba! Abba! Did you hear what Uncle Yeshua just did? He turned water into wine.

James was so angry that he grabbed his son’s hand and collected the rest of his family. He insisted they leave at once. As they headed toward the town gate, his wife asked him why they left so abruptly. I’m sick of my brother, Yeshua. He always one-ups me with my own children. He has our son believing he’s a magician. I guess he told David he could change water into wine. Magic is against our religion. I won’t have him polluting our children’s minds with such nonsense. What’s the next thing he’s going to claim that he can walk on water?

His wife knew that when her husband was in one of his moods, it was best not to disagree with him. Now was not the time to tell him that what their son told his father was true. She too had sampled the water turned to wine and it was the best wine she had ever tasted.

As soon as James and his family left, the awestruck crowd murmured amongst themselves about the miraculous transformation. The disciples who were sitting with the Messiah didn’t know how to react. Dumfounded, they just sat there with their mouths opened wide, astonished by what Jesus had just done. Yeshua said to them, Go have some wine, there’s plenty for everyone.

While his disciples walked toward the jars filled with new wine, the other guests began to gather around the miracle worker from Nazareth. Some of them just wanted to touch his cloak, while others were bold enough to sit down next to him. His disciples had to edge the newcomers away so they could sit next to their Master again.

Yeshua’s followers sat there basking in Jesus’ glory as the crowd fawned over the Messiah. Jesus humbly sat in his place as if nothing had happened. He was kind and welcoming to everyone who came to him. Everyone who tasted the new wine couldn’t believe how delicious it was. Jesus and his miracle soon became the topic of many conversations throughout Galilee.

On the night before the wedding feast ended, Judas bar Thaddeus/Clopas lay next to his wife. After everyone had fallen asleep, he gently tapped his wife’s shoulder. She awoke startled. He raised his finger to his lips so she wouldn’t cry out or speak too loudly. He tenderly kissed her cheek and then whispered in her ear. I have to leave you for a while and follow my cousin, my love. I’m convinced he’s the one all Israel has been waiting for since the time of Moses. I believe he’s the Messiah, the Anointed of the Most High God, Israel’s long awaited eternal king.

Tears brimmed in his wife’s eyes as she whispered, You go do what you have to do, my love. She then squeezed her husband’s hand. When she was sure her husband had fallen asleep, the woman wept bitterly. She would miss the gentle soul whom she had spent most of her life with.

CHAPTER 4

O n the morning that jesus and his followers left cana, the seasick recruit, Marcus Gratus, finally arrived at the port of Joppa. There, he was met by Centurion Gaius and six other soldiers. Pilate made certain his brother-in-law would be adequately protected until he was assigned to a regiment under his command. The procurator was in Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. So instead of going to Caesarea Marittima, Pilate’s permanent residence on the Mediterranean, the recruit was taken to David’s City to begin his basic training there.

Several months ago, when Claudia, Pilate’s wife, received a letter that Marcus planned on entering the military, she insisted that Pilate request to have his brother-in-law train in a regiment under his command. When he received word that Marcus would be sailing for Joppa, the procurator went to Claudia’s apartment. The moment he entered, Pilate knew his wife was in her shrine room petitioning her gods again, because her chambers were filled with fragrant smoke. Claudia heard her husband’s cough, so she came out to meet him. What is it my love? The procula asked.

I just wanted you to know that your brother should be arriving in Joppa within a few weeks. I want to remind you that you’re to have no contact with him, whatsoever, until he’s through with his basic training and successfully completes several missions as a courier. I don’t want him to be razzed by the other soldiers or lower morale within the fortress. Do you understand me? Pilate said rather sternly.

Can’t he just stop by the palace so I can see him before he reports for duty? Claudia asked.

No! Don’t you think he’ll have a difficult enough time dealing with the other soldiers because of his influential blood lines? Word would soon spread through the ranks that I’m giving my brother-in-law preferential treatment. How do you think that would fare with the other soldiers in the barracks? You’ve been able to live without seeing him for two years, I’m sure a couple more months won’t matter. Promise me now that you’ll do as I requested.

Reluctantly, Claudia nodded her head and finally said, I promise.

Good! Pilate said. Now don’t disappoint me!

Gaius, seated upon his white stallion, held the reins of a dark black steed for the Roman aristocrat to ride until they reached the Antonia. The moment the ashen faced Marcus disembarked from the ship, the centurion recognized him. Claudia, who was the granddaughter of the Emperor through her mother’s blood line, had described her half-brother to the centurion at least a dozen times in the past week. Even if she hadn’t, the tall recruit’s straw colored hair made him stand out from the crowd of other short, dark haired seafarers.

The Roman officer rode up to Marcus and said, I’m Centurion Gaius Longinus, your commanding officer, plebe. Mount this stallion and ride with us to Jerusalem. The Roman patrician wasn’t used to being regarded as a commoner, but he knew that he would be treated in the same manner as any other recruit who entered the military. The young man, himself, would settle for nothing less. If he was to climb in military ranking, he would do so on his own meritorious performance, not just because his father was a Senator/General of Rome and a first cousin to Tiberius.

Marcus made a fist with his right hand and struck it to his chest. He then straightened out his arm in a typical Roman military salute as he said, Yes Centurion! Plebe, Marcus Gratus, reporting for military service, Sir! At least the boy knows how to salute properly, Gaius thought. When Marcus mounted his steed, Gaius ordered him to fall in behind him as the troop headed southeast toward David’s City.

Being a patrician, the young nobleman was used to living in the grandeur of Rome, with its superb architecture and its patrician residents always dressed in their finery. As he rode through the Middle Eastern countryside, the young Roman considered the local populace to be living just a step above squalor. Their small, one-room, white-washed homes were so different from the fabulous residences in the Eternal City.

In Rome there were colorful gardens with flowering, lush green foliage that surrounded the villas of its wealthier residents as well as fabulous fountains. Here there was nothing but barren landscapes and an occasional grove of olive, almond, pomegranate and date palm trees that occasionally dotted the land. Why would anyone want to live here? He thought. Marcus couldn’t help but notice something else. Whenever the troop passed a group of locals walking alongside the road, the men would spit at their tracks when the Romans passed.

As if Gaius knew what the plebe was thinking, he shouted back to the recruit, See how much the locals love us. You’ll get used to the warm welcome we soldiers of Rome receive from Caesar’s subjects here. Then he laughed.

The centurion and his troop rode at a fast pace toward Jerusalem. Marcus, still nauseous from his seafaring adventure, didn’t feel too well as he bounced up and down on his horse. The blazing hot Middle Eastern sun didn’t help matters either. Although the new recruit had a thick head of blondish colored hair, he didn’t have a helmet or any other type of head covering. The strong, piercing rays of the blazing daytime orb soon caused him to see green flashes before his eyes. Marcus regurgitated all over his horse just before he fell from his saddle.

The soldiers at the Antonia laughed when they saw General Flavius’ son enter the courtyard of the fortress with his body draped over the horse he was supposed to be riding. Pilate, who was on his balcony when Gaius and his troop arrived, couldn’t help but laugh too.

When the procurator was first assigned to the Middle East, he tried to make an ostentatious entrance into Jerusalem seated upon his richly adorned, white stallion. His head had been uncovered too, except for an open crown of gold olive leaves. Fortunately, when Pilate passed out from heatstroke he was about ten stadia away from David’s City. Gaius was able to revive the procurator before his grand entrance, thereby saving him from embarrassment and ridicule.

Marcus awoke in the barracks. If he was shocked by the squalor of the residents of the Middle East, he was now totally stunned when he realized his bed was a straw mat laid over the roughhewn boards of a very long common bed that stretched the length of his side of the barracks. Another common bed ran along the wall of his new quarters on the opposite side of the huge room. The same was atypical on each of the three other sides of the four sided structure, on the first through the fourth floors. The thirty-two common beds provided sleeping space for over six thousand soldiers inside the building and for over two thousand more under the fortress’ interior overhang that surrounded the courtyard.

In his Roman home the young aristocrat had slept on an upholstered couch or cushioned bed with scented pillows. Marcus’ stomach churned. He wasn’t accustomed to the pungent stench of over one hundred men with poor hygiene as barrack mates in his wing of the Fortress.

As a patrician, Marcus bathed regularly in Roman bathhouses and wore togas that were perfumed with aromatic oils. He stuck his face into his clothing and breathed deeply hoping that the scent of cassia would relieve his nausea. But since he had been wearing the same toga for several days now, most of the fragrance of the aromatic substance had dissipated.

Marcus changed into his uniform and left the barracks where he took a deep, stabilizing breath of fresh air. The soldiers who stood under the arches of the courtyard laughed as the recruit, who was a little green in the gills, joined the drill team in the fortress. Now the recruit wore a helmet. The patrician had enough sense to keep his head covered while he stood under the lethal rays of the sun.

That night, the young plebe had a difficult time falling asleep. He wasn’t accustomed to having another man sleeping within a handbreadth of him on both sides. Their incessant snoring combined with their body odor and flatulency made Marcus so ill that he couldn’t even eat the following day. The constant diet of beans, and lentils with a very little meat, flat bread and local produce didn’t appeal to him anyway. Once again he questioned whether being a soldier was the lifestyle for him.

The other night, less than a half mile from where Marcus evaded somnolence, Claudia looked out of the window of her apartment. She pined away for her brother as she looked toward the Antonia that was clearly visible from where she sat. Her heart panged. The woman was more like a mother to Marcus than a half-sister.

The procula had cared for her brother since he was a child. Their father had divorced the recruit’s mother when