by Paulo Barata
After a decent night’s sleep, I waddled down the stairs for breakfast, when Isaac, too vivacious for such an early hour, sprang up on me.
“It has been delivered!” he cried out.
“What?” I asked still half-doped with sleepiness.
“The petition. We had it delivered to Caiaphas last night.”
“Ah, right. He received you?”
“No, no, it was too late when we finished, but we handed it to one of his secretaries and asked to be given to him early in the morning.”
“What follows next?”
“We are sure that he will convene a meeting of the Council,” he answered with iron certainty, “we do have some friends and he knows who we are, and if he doesn’t act today we will raise it with the guild.”
Father, who had just sat at the table, also added. “You should have given this matter to Gamaliel, after all he is the Nasi of the Council.”
"Rabban Gamaliel?” asked Isaac ?
“Yes.”
“He is too much of a moderate, father.”
“No, Isaac, not so.”
“At least that’s what one hears about him.”
“Do you expect Caiaphas to send for this preacher? To arrest him?”
"They still have to find him,” I mumbled.
“There are some who know of his whereabouts. With the right incentive and yes, I am taking about money, almost anything can be arranged.”
“By the way, Isaac, I think I will need a small loan from you.” Nothing like the right time, and he seemed to be in a particular magnanimous mood.
The hunt was on. While for some the excitement and fervor of a trial for heresy would be a strong motivator, for Isaac it was clearly a case of retribution for an attack on his person and on his colleagues. It was too well known that moneychangers were one of the more preferential targets of many villains, and they had to be relentless to those who threatened their profession, never allowing for any offense or attack to pass without righteous retribution.
Another working day and hopefully a profitable one. I had initially thought of taking one of the mules as I was feeling a bit sluggish to walk all the way to the shop, but thinking of the crowds that I would encounter on their way to the Temple or to the markets, I decided to go afoot.
On the way, between Herod’s theatre and the old Hasmonean palace, I came across Joseph of Arimathea, a well known and most influential merchant, and one of father’s dearest friends.
“Peace be unto you, reverend Joseph.” I saluted him, and he waved to me from his litter.
“With you too, Ahasver. Are you on the way to the shop?”
"Yes, reverend, duty calls. Are you on the way to the Temple, sir?”
“No, Ahasver. But come with me, we are both going in the same direction.”
Joseph was a truly affable man and a frequent visitor at the house, especially after his wife’s passing. His widowhood, something in common with father, brought them even closer, and they usually spent a lot of time together, be it at the Temple or in mild discussions at each other’s houses.
“Your father is up?” he asked.
“Yes, he was taking breakfast. Aren’t you both going to the Temple today?”
“Later, perhaps, but now I have some business affairs to deal with. And how goes the business, Ahasver ? With all these people in town, business must be brisk.”
“I do hope so, sir. But yesterday wasn’t a good day. You, of course, heard about the riots…”
“Of course, everybody knows of it. But that was in the Temple.”
“Yes, but the crowd followed the preacher down the decumanus and ended up disturbing all the businesses on their way.”
“Yes, I can imagine that. But tell me, are you happy with the shop? Simon tells me that business is slow and far from your expectations.”
“Reverend, we have some good and some not so good days. I expect that everyone feels the same. Sometimes I think that it was a mistake going into business on my own, but father wanted me to be a tradesman and not just someone else’s employee.”
“I think that is normal, Ahasver. Fathers always have the highest expectations for their children. I wish I could!”
Joseph was childless and according to father, his family, originally from the small town of Arimathea, was small and spread throughout the various cities of the Levant.
“That I can understand, I too am a father.”
“Oh yes, and your son Yeshua will be a great man, I’m sure. Not as sure as his grandfather,” he said smiling.
“Father exaggerates. Yeshua is getting too spoilt, and now father wants to find a full-time tutor for him, so that he can start with his studies of the scriptures. But he is only eight years old!”
“He told me all about it too. I even recommended someone I know. And Ahasver, let me tell you that if you ever decide to look for another job, I would gladly take you in. You are an honest and diligent worker, and these days it’s getting extremely hard to find someone worthy of our trust. But it’s up to you, if you ever get tired or disillusioned about the shop…”
“I thank you, reverend Joseph, but I am still hopeful. Things will improve, I’m sure.”
As we were now almost at the corner of the great marketplace, Joseph continued on his way to the Fish Gate. The day proved to be calm, with no disturbances and on the whole, a profitable day. I had to close the shop later than usual, much to the chagrin of everyone, and when I finally got home night had already set in.
“Well? Has anything happened with your petition?” I asked Isaac, while we both climbed the stairs up to the terrace, where we could hear father talking with someone.
“Yes, yes, the information we have is that the Council drew an accusation for heresy and another for disturbance of the peace and violence. As soon as they catch him, he will be taken to the Council for questioning. But he couldn’t be found today. Apparently he spent the day in Bethany, but it is now known where they are staying in the mount.”
“And at the Temple? All was quiet?”
“Yes, sort of. Some good business, but tomorrow will be even busier with the start of the rites. Plus the Romans were very much present once again, up in the cloisters watching us all. Pilate must be worried about yesterday’s incident, and even some of the Publicans came up to us to enquire whether we needed additional protection. I think they are afraid to lose some of their tax revenues.”
“By the way, Isaac, about that loan I mentioned to you?” slippery as ever, Isaac still had not yet confirmed my request.
“Not to worry, Ahasver, of course I can.”
Father and his friend, Pinchas, were both deep in conversation, and as they saw us arrive, they changed the tone and continued over more mundane issues. Not too long after that, Pinchas retired, and father, morose and taciturn, did not add much to the conversation that I kept going with Isaac.
“Is there a problem, father?” I asked, sensing his brooding.
“No Ahasver, just thinking. I had a conversation with Joseph this afternoon. I met with him in the Temple, and he seemed disquieted. He told me that Caiaphas and Gamaliel had summoned the Council and that the session was somewhat tumultuous.”
“That was expected" said Isaac gravely.
“But why?” I asked.
“According to Joseph, all the talk was about this preacher Yeshua, and they brought some witnesses who know him and who have been following him for some time. The Council’s opinion is not unanimous in setting a trial for heresy. Most of the members would prefer a simpler accusation for violent behavior.”
“But why is that ? Is it not blasphemy when he calls himself the son of the Lord?” I enquired.
“As I understand it, there is no reliable source to indict him under that charge. And some of the members would prefer to question him only after the pesach and not do anything until then.”
“That can’t be!” exclaimed Isaac fiercely, “He will be gone by then ! The Council has to act now. If he’s not punished it will create a t
ruly dangerous precedent for us in the guild. Besides, I don’t understand the reluctance. Many of us heard him name the Temple his father’s house! What else is needed? We can’t allow him to get away unpunished. The guild will not accept it. I tell you!”
“Calm down, Isaac.”
“Sorry, father, but this is all hugely upsetting.”
“Well let me finish. As you have just said, many of the members of the Council also think that they can’t afford to wait too long. That is also the opinion of Caiaphas.”
“So, who is actually slowing things down, then? The Nasi Gamaliel?” Isaac asked bitterly.
“I am sorry, but I don’t get it. Isn’t this preacher being accused of both heresy and sedition ? If the issue is finding someone who can reliably testify that he calls himself the son of the Lord, then I believe that the solution is simple. All that is needed is that during the trial the judges themselves pose the question. If he confirms it, then he condemns himself. And if he denies it, then he will be publicly exposed for what he truly is, and all his followers will finally know the truth.”
“I think that is it!” smiled Isaac, “well put, brother. But let me tell you, at this point I don’t actually care whether he is accused of heresy. The important thing for us is that he be publicly punished for what he did in the Temple! That must be made known to all. Only then can we be safe from similar threats or violence in the future.”
“Well, Isaac, there is a considerable difference between both. One is a potential beating, and the other is a stoning to death. Let us not forget that. But Joseph believes also that the problem is aggravated with the rivalry between the families of Caiaphas and Gamaliel.”
“Well, that’s why the Council’s reputation and efficiency are being questioned by all,” sentenced Isaac.
“Both Joseph and Gamaliel want a public trial and a just and unquestionable sentencing, otherwise we could risk inflaming the crowds and create a martyr. A condemnation without proof would be seen as a revenge of your guild for the rioting in the Temple. And we must not forget his followers. If there is a riot, it will be ruinous for all, and the Romans will not hesitate to intervene.”
“That is true,” I agreed.
“Besides that,” father still added, “let us not forget that Antipas might have to get involved, since the preacher is a Galilean.”
“In conclusion, it doesn’t seem that they made much progress today, right father?”
“Well, Isaac, they have issued a warrant to question him. That is something.”
“Didn’t Joseph come here today? I met him in the morning,” I asked.
“No. I invited him over, but he was in a foul mood. I think he is upset with this situation of the preacher. He spent the morning looking for anyone who knew this Nazarene. He says he wants to know more about him.”
“The problem with Joseph is that he doesn’t have enough to do with his time. He has grown too rich and has too little to do. Either that or Gamaliel is behind this sudden interest,” said Isaac.
“Whatever for?” I asked.
“I don’t know. But they are very close, you know.”
“But, father,” I asked, “is Joseph against the arrest of this preacher?”
“Not at all. As I have told you, he wants the Council to question him, but all must be done publicly and with real evidence and witnesses.”
“They have to find him first, I’ve told you,” I added.
“I don’t think that’s an issue anymore. Joseph told me that they have some sort of an agreement with one of his followers.”
“They bought someone,” deduced Isaac.
“But it won’t be a reliable witness. No one will believe the word of an informer.”
“Ahasver, the crucial thing is to catch him, drag him into court and punish him for causing the riots in the Temple. None of us is feeling extremely safe these days until everyone sees what happens to those who dare to assault us. After that, I would leave it to the Kohanim to charge him with heresy.”
“Strange, Isaac, you don’t seem particularly upset to see some shabby preacher calling himself the son of the Lord…”
“Of course I am, father. But false prophets and shady messiahs abound in our land. At this point, I am much more worried with fanatics and villains who threaten our very livelihood.”
“I hear you,” replied father, “almost every year we see these charlatans rising from the unlikeliest places with their followers and only after the violence and the deaths do these sects disappear.”
“It’s usually enough to kill the leader, father. Headless, these movements quickly disappear.”
“Yes, Isaac, we have seen that, unfortunately.”
“So ? For such known maladies, we know the cure.”
My brother was truly inspired! But we didn’t progress much further on the subject. We still talked about other subjects, but father soon retired, and we both followed. The next day would be long and tiresome, not just an ordinary day of work, but also the day of the start of the Passover, when we all went to the Temple to sacrifice the lambs and fulfill the other rites of the pesach.
“They caught him! They caught him last night!” Isaac broke the news early in the morning, and he could only be referring to the Nazarene.
“How did you hear about it?” I asked.
“Joseph came earlier looking for father, and they both went to the jailhouse where the preacher is being held waiting for the Council to meet.
“And father went with him?”
“Joseph asked him to accompany him. He left his litter and his servants down in the courtyard, and they both went afoot. I think I’ll go there too, find out what is going on before I go to the Temple.”
“Well, I can’t. I have to get to work. It’s going to be a busy day, I can feel it. Don’t forget that this afternoon we are all going to the Temple.”
“Of course not, I know that. Don’t worry,” answered a grinning Isaac.
I was not to witness what followed after the arrest of the preacher, but father patiently retold it to us later.
“They brought him for questioning once they had gathered sufficient quorum in the Council.”
“They took him into the Council chamber?" I asked.
“Yes, Ahasver. I stood in the back, but Joseph took his seat and I stayed there watching the proceedings. Not all the chairs were taken, but there was a lot of people in the room and many more stood at the back watching.”
“And then?” asked Isaac eager to hear more.
“Caiaphas started to question him. About his activities. What was his purpose in Jerusalem.”
“He answered?”
“Yes. He answered by saying that he was in the city to preach the Lord’s words. But there Gamaliel interrupted Caiaphas and asked the Nazarene why he had attacked the moneychangers in the Temple.”
“Did he explain ?”
“Yes, well, sort of. He said the Temple was being desecrated with the presence of so many salespeople, not just the moneychangers, but also the dove sellers and other tradesmen. Caiaphas asked under whose authority he acted against something that was approved by the Sanhedrin itself.”
“And?”
“Well, that was when he condemned himself. He said he could not tolerate such vile commerce in his father’s house.”
“Really? He actually said that?”
“Oh yes ! We all heard him quite clearly, and from then onwards it was chaos. A general outcry. Many just stood up and tore their tunics, other just prostrated themselves in penitence, shutting their ears with their hands and pleading for the Lord’s forgiveness for having heard such blasphemy. Others just stood up and left the room, shouting to everyone that heresy had been committed right there and then. I was stunned, I must tell you.”
“All reacted with such vehemence?”
“Well, Ahasver, if not all at least a very noisy majority, I can tell you. Something that had never been seen in that room I was later told.”
“But, father, wa
s he then condemned?”
“Of course, what else ? Caiaphas started shouting for silence and quiet in that booming voice of his, and gradually people calmed down, not much, but enough to get back into the order of things. And some started to demand that the Council pass sentence quickly, and the more radical even asked that the preacher be taken outside and stoned right away.”
“And Joseph. Did you see him, father?”
“I can’t say I did. You see, I was extremely upset also, really distraught with all that was going on. Besides, everyone was now standing also.”
“But did they pass sentence?”
“Sure. Caiaphas once more demanded silence and finally sentenced the preacher for blasphemy against the almighty, and asked all the presiding judges to concur with the condemnation.”
“They all did?”
“Yes everyone, and even Gamaliel agreed.”
“Well, I can imagine that was not to his liking. He is too weak to be the Nasi, father.”
“No Isaac. Gamaliel is a truly wise man, but strongly opposed to violence of any kind.”
“Caiaphas is the only real strong voice in that Council. Well, him and Annas, I would say.”
“And then?” I asked.
“Gamaliel asked that the defendant be allowed to speak. He invoked the right of defense for all that are accused. But they wouldn’t let him speak, as the shouting restarted once again.”
“They didn’t allow him to speak?”
“Wait, I will tell you.”
“Sorry, father…”
“As I was saying, again everyone starting shouting incoherently, but Gamaliel did not sit down, and kept asking for everybody to be calm and Caiaphas had to intervene once more. Then Gamaliel asked the accused whether he had anything to say in his defense.”
“And did he ?”
“Yes, surprisingly. First he started to speak in a very low tone. No one could hear him. But suddenly he raised his voice, and turning his back to the presiding table, looked at the audience and smiling said that he was not surprised with his condemnation, as everything was to be as had been foretold in the writings of the prophets, and even quoted some of the writings of Isaiah.”
“And?”
“Well, everyone was quiet at that point. Then the Nazarene, turning his back on us, asked Caiaphas to continue the trial, for no one there could stop the Lord’s will. He would be condemned to atone for their own sins.”
“He really said that?”
“Yes, you can imagine the turmoil that followed. Neither Gamaliel nor Caiaphas could now silence the assembly. They had to call on the guards to take the preacher away before they lynched him right there.”
“It ended there?”
“For me, yes, it did. Caiaphas asked that all who were not members of the Council to vacate the room. I still saw Joseph deep in conversation with one of his colleagues, the merchant Nicodemus, I think, but I had to leave.”
“Do you know what happened next?”
“Later, when I met Joseph outside, he told me that the Council did pass a sentence, and agreed on what to do next. Caiaphas’s supporters wanted to take the accused outside the city walls and stone him.”
“But, father, that’s not possible anymore,” said Isaac, “we all know that nowadays only with the Prefect’s permission can someone be executed.”
“Precisely, and as Gamaliel pointed out to the Council, it would also be necessary the acquiescence of Antipas, as the preacher was his subject.”
“So?”
“Joseph believed that Caiaphas feared that Antipas would postpone any decision for after the pesach, so he suggested that the accused be taken to Pilate instead. But the idea was not well accepted. Once more Gamaliel reminded them that the Romans were quite reluctant to get themselves involved in our religious affairs, and besides that, this was a matter of our own faith and it should be handled by Judaeans and not by the Gentiles.”
“Gamaliel was right in that,” sentenced Isaac.
“I told you, Gamaliel is a wise man.”
“And so, what did they decide after all?”
“Well, Caiaphas did not give in so easily, and Annas suggested that the Nazarene be taken to the Prefect for claiming to be a liberator of the Judaean people.”
“But isn’t that also a religious issue?”
“No, not in that sense. We all know how the Romans have always fought these movements, especially if they fear a riot when the city is full of pilgrims.”
“Yes, that’s true,” confirmed Isaac, “I remember when father told us of the rebellion perpetrated by that Yehuda from Gamala in Galilee.”
“For example. But finally they all agreed with Caiaphas, although not everyone was persuaded that it was the right thing to do.”
“But don’t they fear that the preacher’s followers might also rebel?” I asked.
“Well, as far was we know there aren’t too many of them,” ventured Isaac.
“And that brought the session to a close.”
“Then?”
“Calm down, I will tell you. Let me take some water first.”
“Here, father…”
“Well, as I was saying, Joseph was a bit discouraged with the outcome, quite upset with the proceedings and asked me to accompany him. So we followed the other councilors and we went to the Pretorium.”
“And the preacher?”
“I didn’t see him. The guards had taken him away.”
“Pilate received you?”
“Yes, but despite all the rhetoric of Caiaphas and Annas, Pilate just ignored then. Even when Caiaphas spoke of a possible mutiny in the city during the festival, Pilate was not moved.”
“That’s strange, I wonder why?”
“He started to say that Rome was known for her tolerance to all creeds, and that it had always been the policy of the Senate and of the Emperor, not to get involved in religious disputes, as long as these did not conflict with their own gods. And he quickly concluded that he had already received information on the activities of this preacher and that his followers were few and insignificant. He finished the audience by offering to keep the Nazarene locked until the end of the festival, and then to have him banned from the city. But, he said, if it was the wish of the Sanhedrin, he could have the accused flogged for the disturbances that he had caused in the Temple.”
“Well, he already knew about that then,” said Isaac.
“Of course, your guild is not known for keeping quiet about such disturbances.”
“We cannot afford to do otherwise. The people think we are all wealthy, and we know how much they rejoice with other people’s misfortunes. Envy is a terrible vice.”
“That’s so true!”
“That was it ?" I asked.
“Of course not. Do you seriously believe that Caiaphas would give up so easily ? Imagine his standing in the Council. And he did manage to infuriate Pilate.”
“How?”
“He went on arguing, doing it in the worst possible manner. He called on the Prefect to do his job, reminding him of the agreement between Rome and the Council.”
“That was tactless of him.”
“The man was almost convulsive, deranged, I think. But Pilate was too, angry with such a public reprimand, and dismissed them all, telling them to go off to Antipas, since all this commotion was about a Galilean and therefore out of his jurisdiction.”
“In other words, he just washed his hands off the matter.”
“Did Caiaphas follow his advice ?”
“He was furious still. Adamant that the issue be settled there and then. But Pilate was clever. He asked Caiaphas and Annas if they were asking him to relinquish one of the most fundamental laws of the empire, namely that of citizenship, which gives every citizen the right of appeal to his rightful sovereign. And sarcastically suggested that they should think real carefully before answering, as the wrong answer would be very costly to all those who did not enjoy Roman citizenship.”
“How did C
aiaphas respond to that?”
“He might have been distraught, but he is not mad. He did calm down, and in a more amiable tone he explained to the Prefect that all they wanted was justice, and adherence to the law. He ended by asking the Prefect if he would abide by the decision of the Tetrarch Antipas. To that, Pilate agreed.”
“They managed to speak to Antipas ?”
“Well, not me! I was tired and fed up with all that, and I told Joseph that I was leaving and coming home.”
“Do we know what happened next? " I asked.
“Yes, later Joseph told me all about it.”
Defeated in battle, but not in his war, Caiaphas asked for the preacher to be brought along, and all went to the residence of Antipas. By this time, a small crowd, curious with all that was going on, had joined them too.
According to Joseph’s narrative, Antipas was reluctant to sentence anyone on the day preceding the pesach. Caiaphas presented several arguments, but none seemed to persuade the Tetrarch as to the urgency of a condemnation. Caiaphas, by now totally vexed and not understanding the reason for this reluctance, ended by accusing the preacher of calling himself the legitimate and only King of the Judaeans.
Antipas, son of the former King, took note of this accusation, and finally interrogated the Nazarene. But Yeshua kept his silence and did not answer any question of Antipas. In the face of this mutism, Antipas briefly consulted with some of his advisers and concluded by telling Caiaphas that this so called messiah was nothing more than a smiling and deranged idiot, and closed the audience alleging that he had more urgent matters to attend to.
Dismayed, the delegation now faced a real predicament. Suddenly, what had seemed so obvious to them didn’t appear relevant to others. But if they just gave up now, the prestige and authority of the Council would be weakened, especially since the trial had been public and everyone was aware of the sentencing. Even Gamaliel agreed with this line of reasoning.
Someone then suggested that the best course to follow was to incite the crowd to claim for justice and once more take themselves to Pilate. He would not refuse to receive them once he saw that the people were supportive. So once again they went off to the Pretorium.
At first, Pilate did not even want to see them, but the mob was now howling for justice, and he finally received them. Caiaphas knew now that any argument that was not political would again be rejected by the Prefect, and this time he charged the Nazarene with sedition and acts of vandalism in the Temple itself. Abominable acts, perpetrated on holy ground and too dangerous to ignore in a city already caught in religious fervor. Lastly, he accused the preacher of calling himself King of Judaea, a clear affront to Roman power and prestige.
After this, Caiaphas passed the word to Annas, a more formidable man and well connected with Rome. Annas now pointed out to Pilate that not only the people were claiming for justice, as could be heard, but also the guilds, heavy contributors to the public purse, also demanded punishment for the assault on their members in the Temple. And if the Prefect kept ignoring their requests, there could be serious risk of rioting with nefarious consequences for all, especially the welfare of the thousands of pilgrims now within the city walls.
With such arguments, Pilate now seemed to vacillate, probably thinking of how his inaction would be interpreted in Rome, and he finally accepted their request. The preacher would first be whipped for sedition and also condemned to death for claiming to be the King of the Judaean people. Also, to dispel any future misunderstandings as to his decision, he ordered that a sign be made with the motive of the crime, and to be affixed in the place of execution as a warning for all those who dared to challenge the might of Rome.
Finally, the delegation was sated, and so was the crowd, and Pilate dismissed them all as the preacher was taken to the dungeons after a relentless flogging in the courtyard of the Pretorium, witnessed by all.
Joseph told us that he was not too surprised with the sentencing, but with the method of execution. Crucifixion was one of the most horrid forms of punishment, and usually applied to those guilty of heinous crimes. But since it was already programmed for that afternoon the execution of several criminals by that method, Pilate just added one more to the event. The Romans always liked to perform executions close to the festivals, when the city was full, firmly believing to be a strong deterrent for any possible upheavals.
Soon enough the news spread throughout the city. A pretender to the throne of David was to be executed that same afternoon, and a good part of the crowd that had followed the delegation of the Sanhedrin stayed on at the gates of the Pretorium waiting to see the condemned. They were to be taken by the legionnaires to the place of execution, outside the walls on the western side of the city, close to the Gate of Ephraim.
Unaware of all that was going on in the upper city, I began to be aware of some restlessness in the crowds that passed by the shop later in the morning. I couldn’t believe it! It had been a good day for business, and there were still a couple of hours left before closing time.
“Ahasver, Ahasver!” someone was calling me from the doorway.
“Yes?” it was Eloy, the owner of the pottery works next door.
“Ahasver, you’d better close the shop, there’s a mob coming down the cardo, and legionnaires too!”
“What’s going on?”
“Must be that gruesome ritual of theirs. I just knew that we would have that today.”
“What ritual? What are you talking about, Eloy?”
“Ahasver, don’t you know that they usually execute a few criminals on this day, just before pesach?”
“Yes I do, and that’s why I’m asking. Usually no one pays any attention to it, and you are saying that today there’s a crowd following them?”
“I don’t know what’s happening, but everyone seems to be quite jittery today. I’m just warning you,” and he went off hurriedly.
Aroused by his jerkiness, I went out unto the street, and I could hear the noise and agitation of a crowd far down the cardo. It was clear that I had no other option but to close the shop again, and quickly too.
Just as Eloy had foreseen, an unruly mob soon came down on us. Not a very large one, but certainly a very noisy and enthusiastic grouping that the legionnaires tried to contain and control. But even so, some of these got close to one of the condemned and I could hear their abusive words and derisive attitudes to this man, calling him a King and mockingly asking him to free himself by performing some sort of a miracle. Only then did I realize that the prisoner was no other than the Nazarene, Yeshua. So, the Sanhedrin had delivered! Isaac would be pleased.
As they came closer, I saw him stumble, dazed and curved under the weight of a wooden beam that he was carrying on his shoulders.
“He is going to be crucified!” someone exclaimed in surprise.
And in the midst of all that commotion and the shouts and screams of the mob, Yeshua lost his balance and fell to his knees right in front of me, dropping the wooden pole that rolled right up to my feet. One of the soldiers told me to pick it up and hand it to the prisoner. It was a heavy beam. Struggling with it, I got close to the Nazarene, now kneeling and facing the ground, trying to get his breath back. When he saw my shadow, he lifted his face and looking straight at me asked.
“Water,” he mumbled, pointing towards the fountain in the sidewalk, “water.. there in the fountain…”
Looking to where he was pointing, all I could see was the sullen legionnaire that was frowning on us.
“I can’t,” I replied, still struggling with the plank, “take this and go on your way, you have made me lose enough time and money already.”
And there and then, staring straight into my eyes, he calmly said.
“Time… thou shall not want for time… thou will have all the time in the world until my return…”, and once again, grabbing the wooden plank and casting me a last glance, he was pushed onwards by one of the legionnaires.
And that procession of the doomed continued on its
way.
“What did he want, Ahasver ?" asked Eloy.
“Water, just water,” I said, already regretting my harsh wording to the preacher, “but you saw it, Eloy, there was no way the soldiers would stop and allow for that.”
“No, of course not. What was his answer?”
“Piffle. Something about time and that one day he will return. The poor man was almost moribund and could hardly carry that wood.”
“Return? What can he mean by that? These religious fanatics do like to speak in riddles. He’s on the way to certain death, and he’s talking about returning!?”
Suddenly, someone in the crowd grabbed my arm. It was Joseph who had been following the cortege. A Joseph as I had not seen before, wearing a darkish hooded cloak, and what seemed to be a tunic of rough homespun cotton. I would never have recognized him in that state.
“He spoke with you, Ahasver?” he feverishly asked.
“Reverend Joseph! What are you doing here?” and staring at his attire, I asked, “What’s going on?”
“What did he tell you? Yeshua.”
I could see that he was really distraught, and I quickly told him of the words spoken by the Nazarene.
“Are you sure, Ahasver? Did he really say return? His return?”
“Yes, he did,” I answered, “but what is this all about? Why now this interest with the preacher, reverend Joseph?”
In a single breath he quickly mumbled. “Ahasver, I met today with one of his followers and he told me all about the preaching and the messages of this Yeshua,” and he continued, “I don’t think he is a messiah, nothing like that, but there’s something truly wonderful in his teachings. New messages of hope for us all. But I must get going now, I don’t want to lose them. We’ll speak later, Ahasver.”
With that I lost sight of him in the crowd that continued to flow towards the city walls.
How strange, very strange. What an awkward behavior. One of the wealthiest men in the city, dressed in rags, there among that restless and unruly crowd, following a heretic to his death, and all within a few hours of the beginning of the pesach. Where was the sanity in that?
Not long after, the cardo was once again back to normalcy, and I reopened the shop. But the business of the day was already done. Most of the neighboring shops had closed, and even the marketplace was now rapidly emptying. Everyone was now anxious to get to the festivities and to the customary rituals in the Temple.
On my way home, I could not stop wondering about Joseph. His strange behavior and that feverish run after the Nazarene really marked the day. And why was he dressed like that?
The few words I had exchanged with the preacher had not affected me much. Sure, I felt some pity for him, not for being sentenced, for he had shown in the Temple that he was after all a violent man, but with the method of execution. Crucifixion was a truly horrible way to die, really worthy of the Romans, and the terror of any criminal. To be suspended on a wooden cross with large nails hammered through hands and feet, suffering unimaginable pain for hours and sometimes days… even the most insensitive person would shiver before such a prospect.
Who would have imagined, later in that vespertine hour, as we humbly prostrated in the sacred stones of the Temple, amid the thousands of devotees, listening to the sounds of the bleating lambs and the odors of the immolated meats, all part of that millennial celebration of our covenant with the Lord, that everything had now changed in our world.
In the following morning, a holiday since it was the Shabbat of the pesach, father woke up indisposed and did not come down to have his morning meal with us, staying in his room under the care of Ruth and her tisanes. The previous day had exhausted us all. Every year the city seemed to be more packed with pilgrims, and waiting our turn to sacrifice the lamb was a veritable exercise of patience and tolerance. It was not easy to be so devoted.
Isaac was also in his room, as there was no commercial activity in the Temple on Shabbat. He usually stayed at home or visited some friends in the afternoon, afterwards going to the Temple with father. I was not so zealous, and I preferred to spend these holidays with Ruth and my son Yeshua, or in mild conversations with our relatives and friends who used to come by the house.
I recall that during that night I had some weird dreams, where Romans, slaves and asses played some role, certainly influenced by recent events, and no doubt, also helped by the late digestion of the lamb of the seder.
“Ahasver,” it was Benjamin calling, a distant cousin of Ruth who lived close to Caesarea and usually stayed with us during the festival, “a man called Joseph came by this morning looking for father Simon.”
“So early? That’s unusual. Did he leave any message for father?”
“No, no. He just asked whether father Simon was awake. He seemed very nervous, very upset. But he did mention that he would return later this afternoon.”
It was not usual for people to pay visits so early in the morning of the Shabbat, much less after the seder, which usually lasted late into the night. But then again, his furtive way of yesterday had already left me apprehensive.
Later in the day, a languid and dry afternoon, I was in the terrace with Ruth and Yeshua when Joseph returned.
“Ahasver, may the peace be unto you on this Shabbat,” he arrived coming towards me and embracing, also greeting Ruth and fondling Yeshua’s hair.
“Reverend Joseph!” returning the customary greetings of the day.
“Father Simon went to the Temple?" he asked.
“Yes, he did, and Isaac too. I thought you might have gone with them.”
“No. I am a bit tired today. If you don’t mind, I’ll rest a bit on this couch and keep you two company.”
“Of course, do so.”
I offered some refreshments, and we quietly talked of trivial matters. But Joseph was clearly agitated and morose. Ruth even questioned about his health, but his replies were vague and spaced with long silences.
“You went to Temple yesterday?" I asked.
"Yes" he muttered.
“We did not see you, reverend Joseph.” commented Ruth.
“No, I was delayed,” looking now at me, “and I went later than usual.”
Another period of silence. Yeshua, who had until then been busy with whatever amuses small children, became more restless, and Ruth took him down to the courtyard to check on the horses, something that we all knew he enjoyed doing.
“Ahasver, that preacher, Yeshua, he was crucified yesterday,” said Joseph suddenly.
“Yes, Joseph, I saw him pass by the shop.”
“Of course. We met,” he replied absent minded. “Ahasver, I am afraid that we have made a terrible mistake. It shouldn’t have happened like that!”
“But Joseph, he was a violent man. He was rightfully judged by the Council.”
“Don’t you think that I know that? I also condemned him. It’s true that he caused some upheaval in the Temple, we all know that, and he deserved to be punished, but no one deserves to die like that.”
“You witnessed the execution? Did you really go all the way to that place? That terrible place…”
“Yes.” He almost whispered.
“Did he suffer for long?”
“Any suffering is always too long. When we are in pain, time slows down. But he didn’t last long on the cross, fortunately. The good Lord was merciful and took him. The other two were still alive when I left.”
Crucifixions were really long and painful executions and the victims usually died of thirst rather than as a consequence of the pain or the loss of blood. A truly cruel penitence.
“Ahasver, I rescued the body. There was no one else. I gave some coins to the legionnaires, and with the help of some people that were standing there, I placed him in my tomb, which is not far from that cursed place. And I confess that I have lied also.”
“You lied?” I asked amazed with such a spontaneous confession.
“Yes, I did not go to the Temple yesterday. I did not fulfill the rites. When I
arrived home it was already too late for me to go.”
“But Joseph, what’s all this about? He was a criminal, you said so yourself.”
“That, I must admit is a mystery to me too. When I think of it rationally, I really have no reason for behaving like that. But there was something more. Something that drove me to it. Stronger than reason, stronger than my will to go to Temple. Nothing at that moment seemed more urgent or more appropriate.”
“Joseph, it doesn’t make sense…”
“I know that, Ahasver. But I just couldn’t leave the body lying there throughout the night to be tossed in the morning into any common grave for criminals, especially on a Shabbat. We all know how little the Romans respect our beliefs.”
“Joseph, there are executions almost every week. Why worry so much for this particular one ? You didn’t know the man.”
But Joseph was apathetic. Irrational and he was speaking his own mind.
“After the Shabbat I will go to look for a sepulcher for this preacher, Ahasver,” he went on in an increasingly gloomy voice.
“Is this why you wanted to speak to father, early this morning?”
“Yes. I wanted to get it off my chest, share this with him. He has always been most helpful in my moments of doubt, uncertainty and sorrow. A true rock your father, Ahasver, always true and a firm believer in the faith.”
“Father won’t like it,” I warned him, “and much less when he knows that you didn’t go to Temple yesterday.”
“I know that. A man of strong convictions, your father.”
“He is a stubborn man, yes.” I agreed with him.
“More than that, I’m afraid. I think that if he was any younger he would be a serious candidate for zealotry. But you, Ahasver, you are more like your mother. She was always the most tolerant of souls, always accepted the weaknesses of others. Always with words of comfort.”
“You knew her well, Joseph?”
“Oh, yes. We were sort of relatives.”
“I didn’t know that. Father doesn’t speak much of her.”
“Yes, that is true. One of the few subjects that silence him.”
Still baffled with Joseph’s attitude and behavior, I went on.
“But we were talking of the Nazarene...”
“Yes.”
“What did you see of different in him?”
“As I said, Ahasver. At first glance, nothing! As similar as all the other ascetics that come around to this city. But the difference is in his wordings. His teachings. What he spoke of, something new, different, and the more I think of it, the more wondrous it seems to me.”
“But why? What’s so special?”
“Life, Ahasver. The promise of an eternal life, something beyond the sheol. And at my age, it is something to look for. Can you imagine? Time is drifting by, getting us closer by the minute to our last moments in this world, and our way of living never prepares us for such a moment. Is there anything more tempting for an old man than to think that the end is just another stage, a stepping stone to something higher and more rewarding than life itself?”
“Joseph, I am not a sage, nor have I ever pretend to be one. I actually believe that my thoughts in those matters are pretty rudimentary, and I certainly couldn’t recite as many sayings and passages of our Torah as Isaac can. I’m a plain man, a simple man. Such issues are complex, and many of the readings I hear are not too understandable to me. But I do know that you Saducees don’t believe in the afterlife. Even father has doubts, as do many of the Pharisees. I personally find it hard to grasp such concepts.”
“Ahasver, good sense is not exclusive to the learned and the highly schooled. The followers of Yeshua are mostly simple people.”
“And doesn’t that tells us something about his preaching? If there are no scholars or learned people in their midst, then it's because his sayings aren’t appealing to more sophisticated minds.”
“But the real truth seldom is complex or difficult to grasp.”
“Well, I learned that we cannot go wrong by obeying the laws. How can we err when one follows the commands of the Lord?”
“I agree with you that the law is absolute, but men have a tendency to interpret them for their convenience and to suit their purpose.”
“But those are learned men, who studied, and have been inspired by the Lord to be His interpreters. This Yeshua was an unknown. What do you really know of him and his accomplishments?”
“Even so, they are men like us. I know many of them, Ahasver. I know how fallible and weak most of them are. Man is a compulsive sinner who falls into the most obvious temptations and entrapments. Do you really believe that any of our Kohanim would give their life for the sake of their beliefs or to defend their faith ? But Yeshua did. Ahasver, these times we live in are not the days of heroes. Those days of prophets of unshakable conviction and little learning are gone forever.”
Truly, I had never known in detail the ideas and religious opinions of Joseph, and I was now amazed. I wondered if father shared some of these too. They had always been the best of friends, but I had never heard these same doubts from father, and much less any criticism about the Kohanim.
“So, Joseph, in your opinion, this Yeshua is some sort of a hero, a martyr.”
“Well, at least he fought and conquered one of our most profound fears, the fear of death. His belief was stronger, and that is to be admired and revered. I only wish that one day I could have some of that faith.”
And our conversation paused. We were both silent for some time, immersed in our own thoughts.
“Ahasver?”
“Yes, Joseph.”
“Would you mind coming with me to my tomb, the day after tomorrow? I need to remove the corpse and look for another tomb. I don’t think I can remove the stone door on my own, and I doubt that there will be anyone there who can help me. I certainly don’t want to take any servants. They always prattle too much.”
It was our custom to revisit the tombs of the recently deceased within three days after their death. An old and practical ritual which had saved countless lives before. The interred were not always truly dead.
“But of course, Joseph, I will go with you.”
“Tomorrow I will look for another tomb. In that region there are always some for sale.”
And that afternoon just drifted on, immersed in these momentous affairs, and soon enough, father and Isaac returned from the Temple, both surprised to find Joseph there. And the two of them went downstairs for a private talk, while Isaac interrogated me about Joseph and our conversations. But I wasn’t up to repeat our dialogue.
As expected, Joseph did manage to purchase another small sepulcher close to his own, and sent me word that he would be waiting for me in the morning of the day after the Shabbat. Father, aware of the plan, was fearful with my involvement.
“You have to be careful, Ahasver. Joseph is not well, and it could be dangerous this enterprise of his.”
“I see it as an act of charity, father.” I replied.
“More an act of defiance. Let us not forget that his colleagues sentenced this man as a criminal. Who knows what may happen if word of this leaks out? A member of the Council showing charity to a heretic?”
“Would you prefer if I don’t go ? He doesn’t trust anyone else.”
“No, of course you must go. He is a dear friend. All I am saying is that you both have to be discrete about it. Don’t take a litter. Take one of the donkeys and wear something used. And see that Joseph does the same. Another thing, don’t talk of this with Isaac. You know how he feels about this Nazarene.”
Under a vermillion sky of the early morning, I took to Joseph’s house, where I was already expected, and we both got on our way downtown with the two mules, making rapid progress through the empty streets. At that early hour, the city was still slumbering, and we soon reached the Gate of Ephraim where the few legionnaires on guard hardly noticed us.
We then proceeded to a small hill, where Joseph showed me the tomb he
had purchased. It was a simple single-chamber sepulcher, dug into the hillside, and we spent some time cleaning it and getting the stone portal in place, ready to receive the preacher’s corpse. And with everything ready we proceeded towards the northern side of the hill and to Joseph’s tomb.
As we got closer to the site, we began to see some people walking down the path while others rushed by us climbing in the opposite direction.
“What’s going on?” enquired Joseph from some of them.
But we were mostly ignored, and some, shrugging their shoulders, cried out. “The prophet has risen! The prophet has risen!”
“What was that?” I asked, “What are you saying?”
But no one stopped to give us further details. I looked at Joseph, but he was also puzzled, and we both stepped up our pace, pushed onwards by curiosity.
“What can it be, Joseph?”
“I really don’t know, Ahasver,” but I could see he was agitated.
Before we saw them, we heard the distinct sound of a crowd, and after passing a curve on the path, we came across a clearing partially hidden by some cypresses, where an unruly group was looking towards the cliff side.
“It’s here?” I asked.
“Yes, on the left side. Come Ahasver.”
But it wasn’t easy to get across that assemblage.
“You go on, Joseph. I’ll stay here and look after the mules.”
Still people continued to arrive and a few others leaving, everyone curious. I was curious too. What could all these people be doing at this hour in that dreary place, so far from any road? And they kept on about the dead man, and I finally understood that they were talking about the Nazarene, and that the body was not in the tomb. Some were claiming that he had risen from the dead, while others opined that the tomb had been profaned.
From the crowd, Joseph returned, now in the company of two women and a youngster, stuttering incoherently that he had really risen.
“Who are they?” I asked pointing to the others.
“They are followers of Yeshua. They helped me place the corpse here, and they had asked to come today to prepare the body for burial. Ahasver, I need one of those torches. We need to look inside the tomb.”
“But, Joseph, what are all these people doing here ?”
But the women grabbed him once again and pulled him into the crowd.
I got a torch from the saddlebag, and pushing my way through, I followed them up to the entrance of the sepulcher. I could see that it was open, and on the sandy floor there were large chunks of broken rock that must have come from the stone door that was used to seal the entrance. Lighting it and holding up the torch, I cautiously entered the first chamber, probing the shadows for any evidence of what had happened there, but I could see nothing unusual. It was empty. Moving on to the second, the actual burial chamber, I then saw under the tremulous light, a piece of cloth, a cape or some a sort of robe. Suddenly, pushed inwards by some of the more inquisitive onlookers who were following me, I dropped the torch, and once again deep blackness invaded that recess. Since I could not find the torch again, I pushed my way towards the dim light of the entrance, bringing with me the piece of cloth that I had found.
Joseph was at the entrance with the same two women and asked me in a low voice.
“The corpse is not there?”
“No, nothing. Just this piece of cloth.”
This confirmation prodded the women into new and incoherent exclamations. Turning to Joseph, I asked.
“And now?”
“Ahasver, I don’t know what to tell you or what to do!” he answered in a short burst of indecisiveness.
“Someone must have taken the body,” I suggested.
This was heard by the youngster, who indignantly responded.
“No one took the body. The Messiah has risen, resurrected, just as He announced He would do.”
Once again I looked to Joseph who seemed rattled by this revelation.
“Joseph, it’s obvious that the body was removed. Look at all the stones by the entrance. That door was broken, and no one could do it single-handed, or without some tools,” and I added, “even if this preacher was not dead when you placed him in the chamber, it would have been impossible to break the door from the inside.”
“But Ahasver, who could have done it? Who knew that he was here?”
“These women knew,” I said pointing them out.
“Did you speak of this to anyone?” asked Joseph from them, “we had an understanding. No one was to know about this tomb.”
“We did tell some of our brothers,” confessed one of them.
“Where are they now?” I asked.
“In our camp. They’re waiting for us to return.”
“Joseph, only they could have done it. Who else had any interest in this?”
But the women were adamant.
“But don’t you understand?” asked the eldest in a frantic voice, “He has risen. The prophecy has been fulfilled!”
“What nonsense!” I couldn’t stop saying.
“Listen to me, Ahasver. They told me that this would happen, but I didn’t believe them.”
“Joseph that can’t be true. Listen to yourself!”
“Ahasver, he did bring some people back from death. Everyone saw it.”
“Where was that?”
More people continued to arrive, and the noise was now louder than ever.
“In several places where he preached.”
“Tall tales, Joseph.”
“I don’t think so. Not anymore. I told you. This preacher was special. I always felt it. All this was prophesied before!” and Joseph was now fully aroused, “and see, if he brought the dead to life, then why not himself?”
“Joseph, I told you. Most probably it’s the work of raiders, bandits. They saw the tomb closed, no guards close by… a tomb recently used, and they broke the door and pillaged it,” but I was guessing. I really did not know what else to tell him, and Joseph wasn’t even listening to me anymore, now busy in deep confabulations with the two women.
In truth that was an unlikely scenario. That necropolis always had some vigilance, and there hadn’t been talk of any tombs being broken into for many years. I believed that it was very unlikely that the Nazarene was still alive when the Romans brought him down from the cross. They knew their business, so the most obvious explanation was that someone had removed the body. Nothing else made any sense, despite the denials of those women who kept saying that not even the preacher’s closest followers knew where the tomb was located.
Given the level of the noise of the crowd, soon some guards arrived and started to disperse everyone.
“Joseph, we have to go. There’s nothing to do here,” and I grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the others towards our mules. But the women followed us and gave him the cloth that I had retrieved from the tomb.
“Here, please take your robe. He is amongst us now, he won’t need it.”
And let me confess, at that point I even thought of the absurdity of someone getting out of a sepulcher and walking away naked!
“Where are you going now?” asked Joseph from them.
“We are going back to our place and spread this joyous news to our brothers and to all”, said the youngest.
“Yes, we have to bear witness to this most exalted event.”
“As the scriptures foretold!”
“He truly is the Messiah, sent by the Lord to save us all.”
“Woe to the sinners and the unbelievers for the day of judgment is upon us.”
And they went on in this vein.
“Ahasver, I am going with them too,” Joseph suddenly told me, “won’t you come with us?”
“No, Joseph. What can you mean... I cannot .. to do what ?”
“Know more about this prophet! Can’t you see, Ahasver? He resurrected from the dead. Everything is possible now, all is different.”
“Joseph, it’s too dangerous. Can’t you see how fanatical they are? Yo
u have to be careful. What if someone recognizes you?”
“Ahasver, you are not listening to me! Nothing of that means much now, not when we are close to the end of days and our final judgment.”
“Joseph please. Don’t go. Come with me. I’ll take you home. You need to think this over. Speak with father. You are not thinking straight.”
But it was useless. Seeing that he couldn’t persuade me to follow him, and afraid to lose track of the women, he just went off and left me with the animals. And under the inquisitive gaze of the Romans, I took my leave from that ghastly place and went to work.
“Father have you heard of what happened today?” I asked later in that afternoon as I joined him in the terrace.
“Yes, Joseph told me all about it.”
“Joseph was here ?”
“I met him in the Temple, this afternoon. He was most enthusiastic about that preacher.”
“Do you think it’s possible, that he is alive?”
“Of course not. It’s absurd, and I said so to Joseph. But I was not that surprised to hear that the body is missing.”
“How come?”
“Joseph told me that they believe that his death was predicted by the scriptures. Also, that the preacher knew and accepted the inevitability of his own death. His rise from death would prove his divinity beyond any doubt, and would also bring on the days of judgment and reckoning. If the body had been found in the tomb, then it would be the end of that sect. Now, without the body, his followers can go on with their preaching and claim whatever they want to impress the ignorant and the credulous.”
“I did tell Joseph that someone had removed the body.”
“That’s my thinking too, but Joseph is skeptical. Really, I don’t understand him. I’ve never seen him like this, I can tell you, Ahasver, that I’m worried. He is not old enough to be going senile.”
“Do you know if he spoke to the Kohanim about this?”
“No, I don’t think so. I don’t think he will either. After all, they are the ones who condemned this preacher.”
“And if this Nazarene is seen again by someone?”
“Do you believe that to be possible?”
“No, I don’t. It’s as I said, neither the prophet nor the body will ever be seen again. They got rid of that corpse, for sure.”
In truth we did not hear anything more about this episode. Despite some far fetched rumors that popped up from time to time, this Messianic movement seemed to have faded away, just as it had happened before to others.
THE MERCHANT
