A.D. 30

by Ted Dekker

  I bowed my head. “I am humbled.”

  “Never cross me again.”

  This I could not promise, so I held my tongue.

  “May you find Dumah yours,” she said.

  Find it? I wasn’t sure what she meant.

  “Under what terms?”

  The king clasped his hands behind his back and paced to his right, then back.

  “You may return to Dumah as you wish. I hereby withdraw my support from the Thamud and from all tribes in Dumah. So long as I receive my tax, I will not meddle. Find your way. Wage war if you must. May the Bedu most deserving rule the tribes of northern Arabia.”

  “And Judah?”

  “He’s alive. Find him. Save him. You seem quite adept.”

  “Rami—”

  “Is still alive. I suggest you leave soon.”

  So… I had no Nabataean warriors, only their honor.

  “Then I go alone.”

  “You go with Saba.”

  “Father.” Phasa stepped forward, concerned. “You promised—”

  “The slave goes with Maviah!” he snapped. “My word is final.” Then, turning to me, “Even the gods know that a queen needs at least one subject.”

  It was settled then. I wasn’t sure what to think, but I felt no fear.

  “Today,” Shaquilath cried out for all to hear, “Petra honors a new queen in the desert. Maviah, daughter of Rami bin Malik, we salute you.”

  The massive stone arena built into the cliffs at Petra shook with the response.

  Maviah.

  Queen.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  I HAD HEARD of kingdoms far beyond the oasis that give birth to life where none should be, kingdoms beyond the vast, barren sands of the Arabian deserts.

  I had lived in one such kingdom beyond the great Red Sea, in a land called Egypt, where I was sold into slavery as a young child. I had dreamed of the kingdoms farther north, where it was said the Romans lived in opulence and splendor, reveling in the plunder of conquered lands; of the silk kingdoms beyond Mesopotamia, in the Far East where whispers and magic ruled.

  But none of these kingdoms were real to me, Maviah, daughter of the great sheikh of the Banu Kalb tribe, which presided over Arabia’s northern sands. None were real to me because I, Maviah, was born into shame without the hope of honor.

  But there came into that world a man who spoke of a different kingdom in words that defied all other kingdoms.

  His name was Yeshua.

  Some said that he was a prophet from their God. Some said that he was a mystic who spoke in riddles meant to infuriate the mind and quicken the heart, that he worked wonders to make his power evident. Some said that he was a Gnostic, though they were wrong. Some said that he was a messiah who came to set his people free. Still others, that he was a fanatical Zealot, a heretic, a man who’d seen too many deaths and too much suffering to remain sane.

  But I came to know him as my master, the one who saved me. Yeshua, who showed me the way into a far greater kingdom within and among and at hand, full of power and wonder. Yeshua, who through tears learned obedience and so commanded the waves with stunning power and authority.

  Yeshua, who introduced me to my Father, who did not judge me but cherished me even among the least as his prized daughter.

  Saba and I sat upon our camels at the high point five miles east of Petra, gazing at the desert sands, which slept under the watchful gaze of the hottest sun.

  “Tell me, my queen,” he said. “Which kingdom rules your mind now?”

  “At this moment?” I would not deceive my only trusted servant. “The kingdoms of the earth. But with a weak hand.”

  He kept his gaze fixed toward Dumah.

  “There will be much bloodshed in these kingdoms,” he said.

  “There may be.”

  “We are ill equipped.”

  “We have all we need.”

  “The Kalb will hate you.”

  “I will love them.”

  “Kahil knows you come and gathers his armies already.”

  “Mine too waits, unseen.”

  “It may take many months to gather all the tribes.”

  “I have no other engagements.”

  A smile tempted his face. My pillar, my servant, my strong right arm, my Saba. But my heart ached for Judah.

  We were silent for a few moments before I spoke.

  “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” I said, quoting Yeshua. “This is why we go, Saba. To be awakened and to awaken that kingdom of the Father on earth.”

  “You are asleep?”

  “Are you, Saba?”

  He gave me a nod. “I am awakening.”

  His tone was sure, resonating from a place deep within him. It was then that I first became aware that the quiet, stoic Saba had been profoundly changed in a way not yet seen by the world. His day would come, I thought. This is only the beginning for him.

  “The way we have seen is only the half of it,” I said. “There is more to learn. Much more.”

  “And yet even this half is easily forgotten.”

  His words struck me. So, then, Saba had seen how easily I had misplaced my own faith in Yeshua before remembering in the arena.

  “The forgotten way of Yeshua,” I said. And even in saying it I realized I might very well forget again.

  “You will return to Palestine to find him?” he asked.

  Yeshua’s words came back to me. There is far more to be revealed in time. Only then will you be able to follow where I will go.

  And where will you go, master? Where will you lead me?

  It was a mystery. I would trust, absent of that knowledge, for this was faith.

  I had wondered on occasion why he would reveal himself to me as he had. Perhaps I could accept his teaching as I had only because of my ignorance of deep Jewish convictions, so dear to those Galileans to whom he spoke. But none of that mattered now.

  He had revealed himself to me. And I would never be the same.

  “Yeshua and I will meet again,” I said. Then I tapped my camel and took us into the sands.

  Toward Dumah.

  Toward Judah.

  To my fate.

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  Every teaching spoken by Yeshua in A.D. 30 is taken directly from the record of his teachings, referenced in the appendix below. How his teachings were understood by various characters in the story is a matter of their interpretation.

  In addition, though I have fictionalized Maviah’s journey, none of what otherwise occurs in A.D. 30 contradicts well-supported historical records of what happened within the scope of this novel. Among many others, these events include the suppression of the rebellion in Sepphoris by Varus and Aretas’s army of Bedu (though his dagger is my addition); Herod’s divorce of Aretas’s daughter, Phasa; the imprisonment of John the Baptist following Herod’s marriage to Herodias; and the events surrounding Yeshua’s ministry, including his referenced meeting with Nicodemus, the calming of the storm, the healing of the woman with the issue of blood, and his teachings in the hills of Capernaum and Bethsaida.

  Scholars agree that Yeshua would have repeated his teachings many times throughout his ministry from beginning to end, yet I have focused primarily on those teachings recorded early in the gospels, because his emphasis shifted toward the end of his life, as we shall see in A.D. 33.

  Please note that there is little agreement in the scholarly community regarding specific dates for certain events—whole books have been written to argue various points of view. But in the end, the lack of consensus about the specific timing of some events has little bearing on the significance of those events. I contend that when an event occurred is not nearly as important as the fact that it did. I have thus chosen a scholarly calendar that best facilitates Maviah’s story.

  And this is only the beginning…

  COMING SOON

  A.D. 33

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  TED DEKKER is a New Yor
k Times best-selling author with more than five million books in print. He is known for stories that combine adrenaline-laced plots with incredible confrontations between unforgettable characters. He lives in Austin with his wife and children.

  APPENDIX

  References for the teachings of Jesus. Unless otherwise noted, all references are from the NIV.

  Dumah: Matthew 5:39 “I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.”

  The Nafud: John 12:24 “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

  Galilee: Matthew 11:25 (NASB), 18:3 (NIV) “At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to infants.’… And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’ ”

  Capernaum: Luke 17:20, 21 (NKJ) “Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, ‘The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, “See here!” or “See there!” For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.’ ”

  Petra: Matthew 6:22, 23 (NASB) “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”

  Bethsaida: John 14:12 (AMP) “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father.”

  Chapter 16

  1. The kingdom is within you: Luke 17:20, 21 (NKJ) “Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, ‘The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, “See here!” or “See there!” For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.’ ”

  2. Jesus speaks of the sword: Matthew 10:34–36 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ ”

  3. Abolish the Law, fulfill the Law: Matthew 5:17–19 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

  4. The law concerning an eye for an eye: Exodus 21:12–17, 23–25 “Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death. However, if it is not done intentionally, but God lets it happen, they are to flee to a place I will designate. But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately, that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death. Anyone who attacks their father or mother is to be put to death. Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnapper’s possession. Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.… You are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.”

  5. Reversal of the law of an eye for an eye: Matthew 5:38–42 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”

  6. Speaking parables so that they do not understand: Matthew 13:13 “This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ ”

  7. Pharisees accuse Jesus of coming from Beelzebul: Matthew 12:22–24 “Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. All the people were astonished and said, ‘Could this be the Son of David?’ But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, ‘It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.’ ”

  8. Rebirth is like the wind, unseen: John 3:8 “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

  9. One cannot see the kingdom unless they are born again: John 3:3 “Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’ ”

  10. Few will follow the narrow way to life: Matthew 7:13, 14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

  11. Jesus is the way: John 14:6 “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ ”

  Chapter 17

  1. Revealed the truth to infants: Matthew 11:25 (NASB) “At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.’ ”

  2. Unless you change and become like a child: Matthew 18:3 “And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’ ”

  3. Treasure in the field: Matthew 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”

  4. Pearl of great value: Matthew 13:45, 46 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”

  5. Treasures in heaven: Matthew 6:19–21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

  6. The kingdom is at hand: Matthew 4:17 “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ ”

  7. Faith to move mountains: Matthew 17:20 “He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’ ”

  8. Greater things: John 14:12 (AMP) “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father.”

  9. Parable of harsh taskmaster: Matthew 25:14–30 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the o
ne who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ”

  10. The beatitudes: Matthew 5:3–11 “Blessed [also translated ‘happy’] are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.”

  11. You are the light of the world: Matthew 5:14, 16 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.”

  12. The eye is the lamp of the body: Matthew 6:22, 23 (NASB) “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”

  13. Take the plank out of your eye: Matthew 7:4, 5 “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

  14. Do not resist an evil person: Matthew 5:38–42 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”