Yeshua's Thief

by R. E. Addison

  “Do you need to be alone, or could you use some company?” said Rina. Ezekiel hadn’t noticed she was back, and the sound of her voice took him by surprise.

  “Have a seat,” said Ezekiel.

  “It seems we’ve been arguing every time we see each other lately.”

  Ezekiel paused for a moment. “I haven’t been fair to you. It’s just that my whole life has been a battle. I felt as though you were too.”

  “Ezekiel, you’re my best friend. I care about you more than anyone in the world. I just hate to think that we can’t get past this.”

  “Yeah, I know I’ve been pretty foolish. Take it slow?” Ezekiel offered.

  “Sure, but not too slow. You’re getting pretty old,” said Rina with a twinkle in her eye.

  “I never thought I would see your eyes smile like that again,” said Ezekiel.

  Embarrassed, Rina said nothing but just inched a little closer to Ezekiel and lay her head on his shoulder. It sent a shiver up Ezekiel’s spine. For once, he felt like he was home. Elyam was right. She was perfect.

  Just then Ezekiel heard a noise.

  “Did you hear that?” he asked Rina.

  “Yes, I heard it too. It’s coming from just inside that window over there,” she whispered.

  “Wait here,” said Ezekiel. He rose from the bench and tiptoed over to the window opening. Looking down he saw a jar of water that was used to store water from the well. Taking a handful, he threw it just inside the window and heard a squeal.

  “Yes, yes, I know it’s wrong to eavesdrop, but I’ve been waiting a long time for you two to patch things up,” said Bathshua.

  “We are just talking,” said Rina.

  “Well, as long as you’re just talking about marriage and then great-grandchildren. I would like to get to know them before I die.” Bathshua made her way to the front door. “You kids don’t know how easy you have it.”

  Ezekiel and Rina looked at each other and smiled. They talked for a while, catching up on the events and tragedies of the time lost between them. It felt good to reconnect. Ezekiel had wondered if he would ever reconnect with Rina or even be allowed to talk to her again. He didn’t realize how much he had missed her. This was going to be the best Passover yet.

  CHAPTER 43

  Dismas was gaunt in demeanor. Time had lost meaning in the dungeon. The shackles rubbed his wrists and ankles raw as he sat in the corner of his cell. He heard the guards throw another prisoner in with him during the night, but he said nothing to the man who now shared the small world of darkness. Several times the man reached out, and Dismas ignored each one of his pleas.

  “Do you have a name?” the man asked. “Mine is Sittish.” Hour after hour the man asked his name. Still, he did not give in.

  Dismas could not believe his ears. Didn’t this guy take a hint? Finally worn down from the question, Dismas offered a terse response.

  “With the things I have done, I don’t deserve a name.”

  “Well, I hold true to mine. It is my family’s honor.”

  “I suppose you hold true to your innocence as well.”

  “Of course. Everyone in prison is innocent,” said Sittish.

  Dismas forced a laugh.

  “Well, we are going to die soon. Your honor will die with you as well.”

  “How do you know that?” asked Sittish.

  “They’re giving us good food. They want us to improve our strength. My guess is they want us for a show.”

  “A show?”

  “Yes, they must want to torture us for their entertainment. The Romans are known for such things.”

  Dismas could see the despair on Sittish’s face even through the gloom of the cell. It was not long before he could hear Sittish sobbing.

  “I only came to this place to hear Yeshua and his talk of peace. I stole only what I needed to live when my men abandoned me. Surely I don’t deserve to die.”

  “It doesn’t matter what you deserve. It matters what is going to happen.”

  CHAPTER 44

  The time for the Passover meal was upon them. Elyam reclined at the head of the table, and next to him reclined Ezekiel and then Bathshua, Aaliyah, Ester, and Rina. Each ceremoniously washed their hands in a basin provided at the entrance of the home. Since no one came from far away, they dispensed with the foot-washing ritual. The table was barely four inches from the ground. Each person reclined on their side as they ate.

  Before Elyam were four cups. Each was to be ceremonially poured at the right time, and each person was to drink from them.

  Elyam began with the kiddush, or prayer of sanctification.

  “Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has created the fruit of the vine . . . And you, O Lord our God, have given us festival days for joy, this feast of the unleavened bread, the time of our deliverance in remembrance of the departure from Egypt.”

  Elyam poured the first cup of wine. He then cited Exodus 6:6-7, saying, “I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians . . .” He then passed around the first cup.

  Elyam pulled out the karpas, or bitter herbs. He dipped them twice, prompting the ceremonial questions from Ezekiel, the only son at the table.

  “Why is this night different from all other nights? On all other nights we eat leavened or unleavened bread, but this night only unleavened bread.

  “On all other nights we eat all kinds of herbs, but this night only bitter herbs. Why do we dip the herbs twice?

  “On all other nights we eat meat roasted, stewed, or boiled, but on this night why only roasted meat?”

  While he asked these questions Aaliyah and Ester removed all food from the table as required. The second cup was poured.

  Elyam answered the questions by saying, “The father of the children of Israel was obedient to God as was his line to the line of Moses. When the children of Israel were asked to leave, they would paint their doorpost with the blood of a lamb, and they roasted that lamb. They had no time to allow their bread to rise, so we eat unleavened bread.”

  Elyam then began to sing. “Praise the Lord. Praise, you servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. May the Lord’s name be praised now and forevermore. From east to west the Lord’s name is deserving of praise. The Lord is exalted over all the nations; his splendor reaches beyond the sky. Who can compare to the Lord our God, who sits on a high throne?”

  While Elyam was singing, Rina smiled at Ezekiel. It was as if nothing had ever happened between the two. Ezekiel’s heart jumped inside of his chest. How can I still have feelings for her? he thought. It was in that moment, that perfect moment, that Rina suddenly became more beautiful than Ezekiel had ever imagined.

  Ester shot her daughter a look as if to say not now! With that look the moment was gone.

  “The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. Why do you flee, O sea? Why do you turn back, O Jordan River? Why do you skip like rams, O mountains, like lambs, O hills? Tremble, O earth, before the Lord—before the God of Jacob, who turned a rock into a pool of water, a hard rock into springs of water.”

  Elyam prayed over the second cup. “Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has created the fruit of the vine . . .” He then passed the cup.

  He recited Exodus 6:6 by saying, “I will deliver you from their bondage . . .” Praying over the bread he broke it, prompting each to break their neighbor’s bread one by one. Each at the table ceremoniously washed their hands again. Dipping the bread in the bitter herbs, each began to eat.

  The anticipation of the meal was almost more than Ezekiel could stand. The roast lamb smelled amazing, and after the bitter herbs it tasted amazing as well. Each person was free to talk during this time as they ate. He looked once again at Rina, causing her to blush.

  When they were finished, Elyam rose from his reclining position again. He poured the third cup, praying, “Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth. Blessed are y
ou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with your commandments, and commanded us to eat unleavened bread.”

  Ezekiel could hardly contain his enthusiasm. He longed to be right with Rina. He longed for celebration of her as his wife. He tried to push any thought of her betrayal from his mind. His daydreaming was interrupted by the responsive prayer he was supposed to recite along with everyone else.

  “The name of the Lord be blessed from now until eternity. Let us bless him of whose gifts we have partaken: Blessed be our God of whose gifts we have partaken, and by whose goodness we exist.”

  “Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has created the fruit of the vine . . .”

  Elyam, then recited from Exodus 6:6, “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.”

  They passed around the third cup of wine, and each drank from it.

  Elyam poured the fourth cup, and this time they blessed it in unison, saying, “Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has created the fruit of the vine . . .”

  Then Elyam recited the end of Exodus 6:6 and beginning of 7, saying, “Then I will take you as my people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.”

  Finally, they all sang Psalm 115 to 118.

  ______________

  When everything was finished, Elyam took the lambs to the Temple. Ezekiel walked over to where Rina was still reclining.

  “Would you like to go for a walk?” he asked.

  “I don’t know. I think Bathshua needs some help with cleaning up.”

  “I have more help than I need,” Bathshua called from the other room. “You go and have your fun. Just not too much fun.”

  “C’mon. I saw a great garden near the Temple. There won’t be many people around this time of night.”

  “Alright. Just for a little bit,” said Rina. She rose slowly and yawned. “Too much wine,” she said.

  Ezekiel smiled. The couple picked up two oil lamps and left without another word.

  The time was now considered morning as days were counted from sundown to sundown. The walk to the garden was unusually quiet. Some families were still finishing up their Passover meal, and many had just gone to sleep afterwards. Ezekiel and Rina tried to be quiet and respectful.

  When they arrived in the garden the dim light of their oil lanterns cascaded off the olive trees. Ezekiel could see others who had the same idea. Lovers who wanted to walk off the wine and food they had just consumed and a few travelers who decided to camp in the garden because there were no vacancies in the inns. As they walked, they could see the oil lamps of men praying, some of whom seemed to be asleep.

  A familiar voice split the night. “You can sleep later! The hour has come upon us. The Son of Man is betrayed!” It was Yeshua. Ezekiel heard the moan of what appeared to be Simon and several others. The commotion was so out of place that neither Rina nor Ezekiel saw the Roman soldiers arriving with Judas. The crowd closed around them. Ezekiel pulled Rina to hide behind a stout olive tree. Ezekiel decided to climb up and get a better look.

  “What do you see from up there?”

  “SHHH! I’ll tell you when I get down,” said Ezekiel. From his perch he could see a man greeting Yeshua with a kiss on each cheek. In an instant, the Roman guards seized Yeshua, prompting Simon to pull out his sword and swing for one of the soldier’s head. The soldier ducked his head to the side, but not enough. The sword sliced off his ear.

  “If you live by the sword you will die by it. Put it away. If I wanted, I could have a whole host of angels protect me. But it must be this way,” said Yeshua. The moment caught all by surprise, allowing Yeshua to pick up the ear and place it back on the soldier’s head. The Roman soldiers then led him away.

  “They are arresting him,” said Ezekiel. “I wonder if they’re taking him to the same place my father is held.”

  “Ezekiel, you can’t be serious. They are going to kill him. And you if you go after him.”

  “I have to try to get to him. Are you coming with me?” Ezekiel dropped to the ground beneath the olive tree.

  “No!” Rina backed away. “I didn’t agree to this. You cannot do this now.”

  “I have to. I have to get a message to my father.”

  “What . . . what if you get killed? What will I do then? What will your poor mother or your grandparents do then?”

  “I can’t explain it, but I have to get to him,” Ezekiel said. He had kept the dagger strapped to his thigh under his garments since he received it from Abigail. If I can return the dagger, then maybe my father will be released. He hated the thought of leaving Rina there alone, but he had to.

  “Listen, there’s not much time. Take the lanterns and go straight back to the house. Try to stay close to other family groups for safety. I’ll see you soon.”

  He didn’t want to put her in further danger. Walking fast, he walked to catch up with the soldiers, who were now a good way off in the distance. He then broke into a run to see where Yeshua would be held for his trial.

  CHAPTER 45

  Rina ran all the way back to their house. She didn’t stop until she saw Elyam walking back from the Temple.

  “Slow down there, child!” she heard him say.

  “Grandfather, Ezekiel has gone to chase after Yeshua. He has been arrested, and Ezekiel thinks he can get a message to his father!”

  “What? You’re kidding! Here is what I want you to do. I want you to get Aaliyah and your mom. I will retrace the steps to the Roman court. The prison is not far from there. I will bring Ezekiel back. Let’s meet in front of the Temple at the south gate. You got it?” said Elyam.

  “Yes, I got it,” said Rina.

  “He is going to be alright. Believe that!” said Elyam. He turned and walked as fast as his old legs would take him.

  CHAPTER 46

  Ezekiel was gaining ground on the group of soldiers. The rest of the group had dispersed. Simon was the only one who was even close. Ezekiel caught up to him.

  “I don’t know you,” said Simon.

  “Don’t be silly. We worked together in Tiberias.”

  “Yes, but people don’t know that. I don’t want to be seen with anyone who’s a part of this.”

  “Alright. I’ll just be on my way,” said Ezekiel. Looking to his right, he could see that the prison was next to the court, where two Roman guards stood at the front ironclad door. Ezekiel walked up to one guard. “Sir, is there a man named Dismas being held here?”

  The guards said nothing. They just stared straight ahead as if he were not there.

  “Excuse me, I’m trying to see if there is a man . . .”

  “I heard you. Now get lost. Prisoners of Rome have no name. These men will be executed at dawn.”

  “Well, you see, that is why I came. If I can buy his freedom . . .”

  Ezekiel was interrupted by the men’s laughter.

  “You can’t buy his freedom, boy. He is marked for death.”

  “If you will just give me a chance to explain . . .”

  One of the guards broke ranks and pushed Ezekiel out into the street. Drawing his sword, he hit him with the pummel and swung his sword back and forth. Ezekiel fell backwards to the ground. A crowd formed around the scene, people coming out from all over. Ezekiel tried to get up, and again he was struck by the flat part of the Roman gladius. He thought of pulling the dagger, but he knew at this point it would mean certain death. The soldier sheathed his sword and delivered punishing blows to Ezekiel’s face to the point where he fell onto his back once again. The Roman drew his sword and held it high with both hands, about to plunge it into Ezekiel’s abdomen.

  “Wait!” said a voice in a Samaritan accent. Ezekiel could not make out who it was.

  “Let me kill him. I am owed retribution from this snake.”

  The Roman guard glanced at where the voice came from. “And why should I let you kill this m
an?”

  “Because he gave me this.” The Samaritan pulled out his right stump where a hand should have been. Then Ezekiel recognized him. He was the netmaker.

  The other guard called, “We don’t have time for this foolishness!”

  “I take it you have a sword?” the Roman asked.

  The Samaritan pulled it out from under his tunic. “Yes, I do,” he said. He spat on the ground next to Ezekiel’s face.

  “Then he is all yours.” The Roman turned to leave.

  The Samaritan turned to Ezekiel and grabbed him by the back of the cloak while still clutching his blade in the same hand. “When I tell you to scream, you let out a scream like your life depended on it,” he whispered.

  Dragging him to an alleyway, he whispered, “Now!” Ezekiel screamed as if he had been stabbed. “Good, that’s enough.”

  “Why are you helping me?”

  “I recognized you as a Galilean. I couldn’t believe this was the same boy who turned me down because of my heritage. I thought to myself ‘I could let him die’ or ‘I could save his life and have someone who will buy all their nets from me.’” The Samaritan smiled. Ezekiel tried to stand up and staggered.

  “Whoa, whoa, easy now. You took quite a beating,” said the Samaritan. Ezekiel started to laugh through his agony.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “I . . . am out . . . of the . . . fishing . . . business.” This brought a smile to the Samaritan’s face.

  “Then you will be in my debt forever then.” And he turned and walked away. Ezekiel tried to stand once more. Once he was able to get his feet under him, he limped back toward the street. Blood was dripping from his nose. He reached up and felt a trickle from his right ear as well.

  As the shock wore off, his head became a weight that was difficult to hold up. Pain shot through his whole body, and he fell to the ground. He tried to pick himself back up, but he just fell back down again. Every muscle in his body tensed as he tried to get his bearings. He still had the dagger strapped to his side. He didn’t even have the chance to make the trade. One more try to get up. Wincing in pain, he willed himself to his feet. Putting one foot in front of the other, he began to get his stride once again.