The Shepherd Chapter 15

Chapter 15

          It was Passover week and I had lambs to bring into Jerusalem. As a matter of fact, I had to make several trips to the Temple that week. I had a new boy helping me. His name was Ezra. Looking at Ezra brought back many wonderful memories. Ezra was a lot like me when Mr. Isaac had brought me to the Temple for the first time with a flock of Passover lambs. He was bright and energetic and a hard worker, just like Nathan had been. Now Nathan was one of my best men. Ezra had a string of Lambs and handled them like a pro.

          After we had sold them to the Temple priest, we went to the market to buy supplies. We were just selecting some dried dates when we heard a commotion. Everyone began running toward the Eastern Gate. I asked what was going on, and someone said that the Teacher was riding into town.

          I asked, “What teacher?”

          The man looked at me in dismay and said, “Why, Jesus, of course!”

          I joined the crowd; Ezra followed me. He had no idea what was going on. I was interested in seeing Jesus, but Ezra was only interested in keeping up with me. The closer that we got to the main street, the louder the crowds got. Many had torn off palm branches and were waving them in acknowledgement of the arriving Teacher. Dust and excitement were thick in the air. I could see people in the crowd straining to catch a glimpse of Jesus, so I could tell about where he was.

          Many began the prophetic chant, “Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord!” If the local governor would have heard the crowd’s cheering, they would have feared for their position. Jesus could have taken over all of Israel that day!

          Suddenly, I caught a glimpse of the Master. He was riding on the colt of a donkey: the symbol of humility. A conquering king rides on a prancing charger, but Jesus arrived on a donkey. “Jesus has style,” I thought. People were throwing down their robes and palm branches in front of the Jesus. The disciples walking behind Jesus appeared to be enjoying their fame. But no one was cheering for them; they were cheering for Jesus.

          Jesus was riding a wave pf popularity, and it was growing each day. Despite his approval of the crowds, he had many enemies. Would he confront the Romans and liberate Israel? Would he assume authority over the priests as the Messiah?

          I had left my staff at the Temple when I had dropped off the lambs. The Temple was on my way home, so I stopped by to retrieve it. I walked up the white marble steps and found Eleazar, who had bought the lambs. Off-handedly, I asked him what he thought of Jesus of Nazareth. His face clouded with a scowl and he said, “He is a dangerous man. Pontius Pilate, the governor says the Romans will retaliate if Jesus begins an uprising. We have no idea what he intends to do. He talks peace, but his followers are fanatics.”

          I countered, “But isn’t almost everyone behind him?”

          Eleazar replied, “The common folk follow him without thinking. But the Jewish leaders know he has to be stopped. I think they will make their move this week.”

          “This week?!” I protested. “Did you see all of the people cheering him when he entered the city this morning?”

          Eleazar nodded his head, but gave a crooked half-smile. “The people are fickle. They can be manipulated. It won’t be very hard, you’ll see.” And with that, he handed me my staff and turned back up the stairs.

          I shrugged and thought to myself, “I guess our discussion is over.” But I couldn’t forget all of those people cheering and waving palm branches. “Can Jesus control his followers, or can his followers be controlled by someone else,” I thought. “We’ll see. We’ll see.”

The Shepherd Chapter 14

Chapter 14

          A couple of weeks later, I visited my mother in Bethany. It was hard for me to get away from my job, but I needed to make sure she was all right. I missed my father, and I knew that she did too. It was great to see her again.

          My mother told me that Jesus was in town.

          “Really?!” I said. “Is he staying with Lazarus and his sisters?”

          “Of course,” my mother responded. She went on, “Jesus will be at a banquet tonight at the home of Simon, the Leper. I’m sure he would be glad to set another plate for you. You remember Simon, don’t you?”

          I was confused. I answered, “I remember him well, but as I recall, he was diagnosed with leprosy and had to leave home.”

          Leprosy was a terrible disease. It was incurable and highly contagious. When someone contracted leprosy, they had to leave their home and live outside of town in isolation. Loved ones would bring them food and clothing, but had to keep their distance. Those with leprosy first develop scabs on the skin. Then they lost feeling in their fingers and toes. The fingers and toes would begin to rot and ooze fluids. Lepers had to wrap their fingers and toes to keep them intact. Soon the disease attacked their insides and the leper would die. A terrible disease. My mother interrupted my thoughts.

          “Oh, he did leave home.” my mother said. She went on, “He was isolated from his family for several years.”

          Now I interrupted, “But I have never heard of anyone recovering from leprosy!”

          My mother smiled and said, “No one. That is until Jesus came into town. Jesus met Simon and another leper outside of town and healed them! Then he told them to go and show themselves to the priest. Of course, the priest had to investigate in order to pronounce them clean so they could return home.” Mother chuckled and said, “I wish I could have been there to see the look on the face of the priest who had to say that Jesus had healed Simon of his leprosy!”

          “Wow!” I exclaimed. “Simon is healed of his leprosy! I just couldn’t believe it.”

          “Oh, you can believe it!” my mother remarked. “And every time they see him, the priests are mad. They are mad at Simon and they are really mad at Lazarus.”

          I thought, “Oh, yeah, Lazarus. If Simon is an embarrassment to the priests, I’ll bet they really hate Lazarus.”

          I stopped by to see Simon that afternoon and was invited to the banquet. I’m not saying that I went by to see him just to get an invitation to the banquet, but I did get an invitation just the same.

          That afternoon, I was excited to see Jesus once again. As I sat at the table, I was amazed at Simon, a former leper, at Lazarus, who was dead, and at Jesus, who had caused both miracles. Just to think of his power over disease and death! What a wonderful man!

          Then, halfway through the banquet, Mary came in uninvited. She went to Jesus, just weeping and weeping. She knelt down at the feet of Jesus. Her tears rolled down her cheeks and dripped off her chin and wet his feet. She wiped her tears off his feet with her long hair. And then she produced an alabaster box and broke it open. The sweet perfume spilled out all over Jesus’ feet and the aroma filled the room. Mary massaged Jesus’ feet, rubbing in the costly ointment. No one in the room could believe what they were seeing. One of his disciples mumbled that it was such a waste of expensive ointment. The alabaster box should have been sold and the money given to feed the poor. Simon was obviously displeased. But Jesus was displeased with all of them. He took Mary by the hand and raised her up.

          “Simon,” Jesus began, looking at his host, “When I came in to your house this afternoon, you didn’t offer to wash off the dust from my feet. But this dear woman has washed my feet with her tears and wiped them dry with her hair. And Judas,” Jesus said, turning to the criticizing disciple, “You think this should have been sold to feed the poor. There will always be poor people in the world. But I will not be here always.”

          Jesus looked at Mary again and said, “In the future, whenever people read of this event, they will remember your act of kindness, sacrifice, and devotion to me. You have done this in preparation for my burial.”

          Mary hugged Jesus fervently and was gone. Jesus stood and followed her out. The banquet was over. Simon made small talk and tried to lessen his embarrassment. But Jesus was right. Simon should have been kinder. Judas should have been more thoughtful. And we all should have learned from Mary. I know that I did.