The Master's Quilt (14 page)

“So, you are Deucalion,” said Saul
petulantly. “I am Saul of Tarsus and I’m told that you’re one of
the best Rome has to offer. We shall see.”

“Are you Jews always so blunt and
disrespectful? I’ve dealt with only a few of you educated in the
ways of the priesthood, and none of you seem the least bit humble
to me. I thought it was you who served your God, and not the other
way around.”

Saul smiled a crooked, half-smile, the first
glint of respect shining in his eyes. “It’s my understanding,
Centurion, that you’ve been instructed to cooperate fully with me.
Is that your understanding?”

“This is the second time in as many days that
one of you Jews has erroneously, and discourteously referred to me
as Centurion,” replied Deucalion, his voice steady and without any
suggestion of malice. “I’m a Praetorian in the service of Rome, not
you Jews, and I’m quite proud of my position and my country. As
proud, I might point out, as you Jews are of being called
‘Rabbi.’

“While we do have different measurements of
status, I might also point out that I am well studied in a variety
of subjects, speak three languages fluently, and still manage to
communicate with the common people I meet—including Jews—without
resorting to the use of intimidation. I think you would be well
advised to remember that it is we Romans who occupy Judea and not
you Jews who occupy Rome.”

“You and I will get along just fine,”
chuckled Saul. His voice held no sarcasm, and it was clear from his
tone that he acknowledged the mild rebuke.

“Don’t be so sure. I’m not in agreement with
this decision.”

The wily Jew sobered abruptly. “It’s time we
were off; we’ve much to do before dawn.”

Deucalion gave the order, and the small
contingent of men, under the leadership of Saul, headed for the
inner section of the city.

“Tell me, Saul, why do you fear these
believers we are going to arrest?” asked Deucalion as they
walked.

“Arrest? Oh, yes. . .of course,” mumbled the
enigmatic Jew. “In order to answer you properly, and since you seem
to have a genuine interest—unlike most Romans—I will endeavor to
give you a brief education about what it means to grow up as a
Jew.

“Jewish law prescribes that a boy begins
study of the Scriptures at age five, and the study of the legal
tradition at age ten. My first recollections are of my father
repeating words from the Talmud to me over and over again. When he
finished the daily ritual he would admonish me by saying, ‘Saul,
you must never forget that you are a Jew. We serve
JEHOVAH
only. Our life is dedicated to His service. You must endeavor
constantly to learn His Word. In so doing, you will learn what it
means to be a people apart. Never forget that we are different; the
circumcision of our flesh is done in furtherance of the blood
covenant that God struck with the father of our nation, Abraham.
Never let the sun set upon your face without your having memorized
a portion of the
Talmud
.’”

“Was there no time to be a boy?”

“Rarely. The focus of my childhood was a
curriculum of study involving every aspect of Jewish life.”

Deucalion was amazed. “Nothing else?”

Saul shrugged. “There was always work. My
father also agreed with the prevailing sentiment that manual labor
was a noble manifestation of our love for God. He advised me
repeatedly that intellectual prowess and physical activity went
hand in hand. And he often quoted the saying: ‘Excellent is
Torah
study together with worldly business, for all Torah
without work must fail at length and occasion iniquity.’”

Saul turned toward Deucalion. “As you can
see,” he added, “we Jews are not at all like what the world thinks
of us.”

Saul pulled his plain white robe tighter
about him and shook off the fine coating of dust that had settled
upon it. “The primary goal of Jewish education is to produce a man
who can both think and act,” he continued. “Preferably one who is
neither lost in the clouds with his thoughts, nor clumsy in those
matters of daily life.”

“What does all that have to do with what
we’re doing tonight?”

“Patience, Praetorian. At thirteen, boys
become
bar mitzvah’d
—a ‘son of the covenant.’ At that time,
we’re expected to take full responsibility for the obligations of
the Law. Those like myself, who show special talents, are
encouraged to study further under a Rabbi or teacher, in order to
become fully educated in the ways of God. That is how I came to be
in Jerusalem.”

He paused for a moment and gazed at the stars
before finishing the thought. When he continued, there was no anger
in his voice and although his tone suggested that he had accepted
the circumstances, it was clear that he was not resigned to
them.

“Although I’m a
talit
maker by trade,
I’ve spent the better part of the past seventeen years studying
under various teachers. For me, the Law is of paramount
importance—without it, we Jews are nothing. God commanded, through
Moses, that we uphold our portion of the covenant by keeping His
Law. He admonished His people not to turn to the right or the left,
and told us in no uncertain terms that if we did, we would perish
and our nation would die in desolation. The history of my people
stands as obvious testimony to the truth of His Word. And you
Romans have played no small part in the fulfillment of that
prophecy.”

“I’m surprised to hear you speak about Rome
with such a lack of antagonism. I have yet to meet a Jew who
doesn’t resent our presence here in Judea.”

“Perhaps that’s because even though I am of
pure Hebrew descent, from the tribe of Benjamin, I also inherited
Roman citizenship.”

Deucalion was surprised, but said
nothing.

“Shall I continue?” asked Saul
rhetorically.

“By all means.”

“The Nazarene claimed He was the ‘Word made
flesh’; that He was the Son of God. His teachings, rejected by
learned Jews such as myself, were designed for the ears of the
uneducated and therefore gullible populace. Even after His death
the heresies spread epidemically, infecting even the most
religiously faithful among our nation.

“I am one of the few who knew His death would
fail to purge the infection. We waited too long to act and His
inflammatory words have already taken root. Like pernicious weeds
in a garden, they are now choking out the life of our Faith. Now it
is imperative that the blasphemous teachings of His followers be
stopped—before any more damage is done.”

“But the man was a Jew like you,” interrupted
Deucalion, with consternation. “Many called him Rabbi. He healed
the sick and raised the dead.” He stared at Saul incredulously.
“Has any man, Jew or Gentile, priest or not, ever done what
witnesses claim they’ve seen
Him
do?”

Saul scrutinized Deucalion. “You sound as if
you believe,” he growled. “That kind of thinking is dangerous.”

Deucalion ignored the rebuke. “From what I’ve
learned about the Nazarene,” he replied, “He preached against no
man and held scorn for no one but those who refused to believe what
their own eyes, ears, and heart told them was truth.”

“Ah, therein lies our dilemma. If what he
said is
truth
, then the Holy Scriptures are false. And if
they are false, what then of God? If God is not who He has revealed
Himself to us to be, then there is no covenant. If there is no
covenant, then we have no law. And without the Law, there is no
Jewish nation.”

They didn’t speak again for quite a distance.
Deucalion was relieved. It gave him time to think.

Finally, Saul broke the pensive silence. “I
hope you understand now why I don’t take the spread of this false
religion lightly. Not only my existence, but the very existence of
my people is being threatened.”

“And what about Rome? Why do you require our
participation in a purely religious matter?” asked Deucalion, not
sure he really wanted to hear the persuasive Jew’s answer.

Saul smiled. “The answer to that, Praetorian,
should be quite obvious. You yourself observed not twenty minutes
ago that it is Rome who occupies Judea, and not the reverse. The
Legion is responsible for the safety and well being of loyal Roman
subjects. Individuals who engage in seditious activities cannot
expect to be included in that category. I am merely acting as,
shall we say, a concerned citizen who fears not only for the
welfare of his own people, but for the welfare of Rome as well.
Since we Jews have no military authority, you Romans must assume
the burden of cleaning the wound of the poison that rots the souls
of the lost. If the infection is not dealt with at its root, then
the disease will spread, and Rome will also suffer. No doubt
Tiberius Caesar would be most unforgiving should that happen.”

“No doubt . . .” was all Deucalion managed to
reply, before they arrived at their destination.

E
sther sat quietly
upon the dusty floor in the back of a woodworker’s shop and
listened to an anonymous speaker telling about the power of love.
Gradually, she became aware that tonight, unlike the other nights
she had been in this same place, there was an unexpected
undercurrent of tension in the room.

Her companion, a man she had known only a few
days, suddenly gripped her hand in his, squeezing it hard. Several
people around them began to stir, murmuring to one another, but
before she could ask the question that had formed in her mind, she
was touched by a strange sensation. She felt rather than heard a
still, small voice inside her say,
“Fear not, for I am the Lord,
your God; I am with you always. Trust in Me. I will never forsake
you, nor leave you. I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; he that
believes in Me shall not perish, but shall have everlasting
life.”

Instinctively she looked around to see whom
it was that had spoken. When her eyes found those of her new friend
he was staring at her in amazement.

“What’s happening, Joseph?” she asked,
surprised by her lack of fear.

A look of understanding spread across his
face as he replied, “The Lord has spoken to us, Esther.”

“All of us?” she asked, looking at the rapt
expressions on the faces of the people around her.

“Yes, we must trust in Him. Evil is upon
us.”

“But how do you know?”

“Because I’ve heard that same voice
before.”

“Here? Tonight?”

“No,” he sighed, his eyes glistening in the
subdued light. “It was some time ago.”

The speaker raised his hands and spoke to the
group, cutting off their questioning murmurs with his words.
“Brethren, the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid. We must pray
together that we do not fall prey to the snares of the wicked one.”
He scanned their faces unhurriedly, and then began to lead them in
prayer. “Our Father, who lives in Heaven—”

At that instant, the wooden door separating
the storage area from the rest of the shop burst from its leather
hinges. It crashed to the dirt floor with a sickening thud, sending
sawdust and splinters of wood flying about the small, windowless
enclosure.

Esther coughed repeatedly and rubbed her
burning eyes. She was dazed and disoriented, and felt a sharp,
stinging sensation on her right check. When she touched the spot,
her hand came away stained with blood.

Joseph grabbed her by the arm and pulled her
from the center of the room. He dragged her towards the corner, to
the right of where the door had been, out of the direct line of
sight of the squat, baldheaded man who stood resolutely before
them, scowling.

The heat of anger that flamed in the man’s
eyes chilled Esther. His flushed face looked like that of a wild,
maddened dog.

The room went deathly quiet, but as the dust
began to settle, there were intermittent fits of coughing from the
small group of believers.

The man addressed the huddled gathering,
mockery evident in his voice. “I am Saul of Tarsus. And you are a
group of rebels engaged in treasonous activity.”

The speaker, unruffled by all of the
commotion, challenged their accuser’s assessment without rancor.
“Brother, we conspire against no man or government. Our only desire
is to worship God and honor His Son. If fellowshipping with Him who
was, is, and always will be is a crime, then we are indeed
guilty—”

“So you admit your guilt,” interrupted
Saul.

“You didn’t let me finish, brother. I was
about to say that if we are guilty, it is only of seeking to deny
death the tax he levies upon the unregenerate soul.”

Esther trembled uncontrollably as she watched
Saul’s face turn almost purple with rage. She wanted to push
herself deeper into the corner, but could not. She stared at the
doorway behind Saul and wondered if she could squeeze through
without him seeing her.

But in the shadows behind him she saw—

Centurions!

“How dare you lecture me, blasphemer!” yelled
Saul, his voice filled with loathing and disgust. “You are indeed
mad if you think it is I who am at risk and not yourselves. You
speak as if you are drunk with wine. If this is indeed a gathering
whose purpose is the worship of Almighty God, why are you not at
the Temple? Surely you don’t believe that you can edify God
here
?”

“Brother,” continued the leader patiently,
“it is not necessary that we go to the Temple in order to
fellowship with God. We see God in everything that we do and say.
It is only by the power of His grace that we live and breathe, and
it is through His mercy that we are able to return to Him like lost
children to be cleansed when we are fouled by sin. We, who have
lived for so long under the sentence of death, are now free. And we
gather here tonight to give thanks unto Him who has unlocked the
gates holding us captive. We praise the holy name of His son, Jesus
of Nazareth, who died that we might live.”