Maximus

by Richard L. Black

  It was obvious to Maximus that Pilate had done his research and given great thought to this question.

  Pilate continued. “If someone came to Rome and claimed to be the literal son of Jupiter, we would laugh him off as a sick man. Unless he performed some remarkable actions, he would be dismissed as no more than a lunatic. But this Jesus seems to be an intelligent man. In fact, these miracles—did you witness the miracles reported at the temple yesterday?” he asked Maximus directly.

  “Yes, we did. From the walls of the Antonia fortress we saw unexplainable miracles.” The room fell quiet as Pilate listened to Maximus’s accounts of Jesus’s healing.

  “This is perplexing to me. How do you explain this?” Pilate asked sincerely.

  “It is perplexing to us as well,” Maximus responded.

  “Do you believe he is the Son of God?” Pilate asked candidly.

  Maximus hedged. “I know only what I have seen, and my opinion of the Nazarene remains unaltered. He is not a threat to Rome, only to the leaders of the Jews.” He felt an immediate pang of guilt for not admitting truthfully what he felt about Jesus and what the answers to his prayers had told him.

  Pilate sighed deeply. “It presents me with a serious problem. The Sanhedrin fears him and clamors for his punishment, but he has not broken any law of Rome. And yet he displays a power and a confidence that cannot be ignored. I fear I won’t be able to ignore him much longer, general. Soon I will be forced to make a judgment.”

  Maximus stood to make his point. “Prefect, Jesus is not a criminal. His people misunderstand him, and he does nothing but good for them. I hope you will judge wisely.”

  Pilate likewise stood, and the three men exchanged farewells. “Thank you for coming today. Please keep me informed of future events. I fear this week will not end peacefully.”

  Maximus and Androcles took their leave. As they left the palace, Androcles said, “Anyone else would have taken you for a disciple, my brother.”

  “I am,” Maximus said firmly and walked toward the temple.

  ◆ ◆ ◆

  Seth arrived at the camp and found his father. Jershon, with a subtle motion of his finger, reminded his son to be quiet about his errand until they could speak privately. Soon Jershon led his son to the olive orchard nearby, where they sat, and Jershon asked for his report.

  “I saw them, Father—Jacob and Levi. They have shaved their beards and wear breastplates made of leather and brass. They look so different dressed as Romans,” Seth began energetically.

  “They are Romans, my son. Let us not forget that,” Jershon said. Then, coming straight to the point, he asked, “So when can we meet with them?”

  “They are coming here, Father,” Seth replied. “They will be here after the evening meal. I told them where we could be found.”

  Jershon turned his face skyward. “I wish you had not agreed to that, Seth,” he said quietly. “That is not what I wanted.” He shook his head.

  “But they had to leave for a meeting with someone whose name I can’t remember,” Seth said defensively. “They said they would be gone most of the day and wanted to see our whole family. Ezra said they would explain everything to us.” Seth reached out for his father’s arm. “Father, they are the same. They are still our friends,” he added, pleadingly.

  “They are still our friends, but they are not the same.” Jershon adjusted his robe. “Have you forgotten that your cousins Nehum and Hanan were slain at the hands of Roman soldiers? How do you think this change in Jacob and Levi will affect David and Liora?” he asked with soberness.

  Seth considered his father’s comment. “You have always taught us to respect all men and not be judgmental. Jacob and Levi have proven to us that they are good men. The Romans who killed my cousins were bad men. That doesn’t mean that Jacob and Levi are bad men.”

  Jershon gave Seth an approving smile. “You have wisdom beyond your years, my son.” He placed his hand affectionately on Seth’s shoulder. “You are right. We should not judge them. We will listen to their story. I’m sure it will prove to be an interesting one.”

  Nevertheless, Jershon’s stomach churned at the thought of Jacob and Levi meeting with the entire family. How will Sariah and Liora react? How will David react? What will Naomi say? Where will this lead? Jershon was plagued by a myriad of questions. He would let them come, hear their explanation, and then let God be his guide. Fishing had taught him patience. It had also taught him that sometimes you do your best and come away disappointed, but that shouldn’t cause you to waver from proven methods. He would be obedient to his knowledge and his convictions. Reminding Seth to stay silent on the subject of Jacob and Levi, Jershon and his son returned to the family. As their patriarch, he would find the right time to break the news of their pending visit.

  The afternoon couldn’t pass fast enough for Seth; it progressed too fast for Jershon. It was well after the midday meal, and he still was silent on the subject of Jacob and Levi. The others had gone once again to the temple. He remained behind with Naomi, enjoying the mild day and quiet conversation with his wife.

  Naomi finally summoned the courage to speak candidly. “What troubles you, dear?” she asked as she sat close beside him, leaning comfortably on his shoulder. Jershon caressed her cheek and ran his fingers through her graying hair.

  “Is it that obvious?” he said.

  “Only to me,” she reassured him.

  He decided to be forthright. “Jacob and Levi will visit us after our meal this evening. I sent Seth early this morning to arrange a private meeting with them, but they wanted to speak with all of us. That rather changes things.”

  Naomi gasped. “I wish you had told me sooner; I would have made some sweet cakes.” Naomi began bustling around the camp.

  “I’m afraid our lack of sweet cakes is the least of our concerns,” Jershon replied.

  “Nonetheless, we want to be good hosts.” Naomi began to assemble ingredients.

  Jershon was already lost in thought. He wished he could meet with them first. Worried that their meeting with the whole family at once would turn out badly, he sighed and fiddled with the fire.

  “Are you making sweet cakes, Mother?” Sariah asked when she and the others returned from their visit to the temple. “Are we expecting guests?”

  Naomi nearly dropped the pot she was carrying.

  “Yes, we are,” interjected Jershon. “Let me speak with you all a moment.” His voice was serious, and everyone assembled quickly. “I have news of Jacob and Levi,” Jershon announced. “They are coming to visit us.”

  Liora gasped audibly. Sariah let out a faint giggle, then reached to hug Liora. David scowled at the announcement.

  “I want to prepare you for their visit,” Jershon said, looking at each one to gauge the reaction. “The other day David and Seth spotted our friends in the city. They were among the crowd following Jesus to the temple when he first arrived. They weren’t immediately recognizable because they were dressed as Roman soldiers. In truth, they are Romans.”

  Sariah looked at him, dumbfounded. Liora lowered her head, her head covering shielding her eyes from his view, but he could see the tears streaming down her face. “I know this news comes as a shock, but in itself, it explains some things we all suspected. Seth and I met with their host here in Jerusalem. He is a wonderful man, a rabbi named Ezra. He spoke highly of both of them and assured us that they were the same good men we had come to know in Capernaum. He deferred any further explanation to them, thinking it wise for them to tell us their story directly. I was unsure if it was prudent to meet with them, knowing the tender feelings some of us hold in our hearts.”

  He glanced again at Liora and Sariah, who were now both silently weeping. “Our family has had bitter experience with Romans.” He sat silent for a minute, pondering what to say next. “I believe Jacob and Levi deceived us about their true identity, but I don’t believe they deceived us about their kindness. That, I think, was genuine.”

  Jershon reached
for Liora’s hand. “Seth met with them this morning. He says they look the same, except for their clothing, and they have shaved their beards, which must have been an irritant to them.” His attempt to interject some levity failed. “They will be here shortly after the evening meal. For myself, I’m anxious to hear their story. I can appreciate that it will be strange to see them as Romans; I’m not sure what to expect myself. But if we can believe their friend Ezra—and I do—they will be the same men we came to love. I know this may be a difficult reunion. I caution each of you to reserve judgment.”

  Sariah went to her mother, who hugged her tightly. Liora joined them and Naomi hugged her as well. The three women departed into the seclusion of the tent.

  “David, you have been most somber since you sighted our two friends. I think I understand the reason. I would ask you, especially, to reserve judgment, even though the sight of Romans inspires harsh feelings. We should judge no man by the actions of others, no culture by the actions of a few. There are bad Egyptians, bad Assyrians, bad Samaritans, and bad Romans; there are even bad Jews, my son, but I believe that mankind in general is good. Misguided leaders and occasionally too much wine lead men astray.”

  Jershon continued. “We have not spoken openly of these things before, but perhaps we should in the future. We are isolated in Capernaum. We lead a simple life and are protected from many of the failures of the cultures that surround us. We are exposed only to the inconsequential failings of our neighbors. However, Rome has touched our lives through their occupation of our land and the taxes they levy. That is a harsh infringement and makes it easy to judge all of Rome and its citizens by the same measure. That is wrong. Forgive me for stirring up tender feelings, my son. Our beloved Nahum and Hanan were slain by drunken soldiers, bullies who were weak men prone to violence. Jacob and Levi are men of strong character but their natures are not violent. I am hoping our meeting with them reinforces that judgment.”

  “My beloved David.” Jershon stood to address his nephew. “Open your heart to our friends, allow them to explain. I believe that perhaps they can help you heal your anger, particularly Levi.”

  They embraced, and Jershon held the quivering shoulders of his muscular nephew.

  The meal passed quietly, and the camp was cleaned and tidied. Each was caught up in his or her own anxiety about seeing Jacob and Levi again. Jershon was not one normally to pay much attention to such details, but he noticed that the girls had changed into clean robes and brushed their hair. The sweet cakes had finished cooking and were wrapped in cloth to maintain heat and moisture. Jershon was amazed at how Naomi could make a simple camp seem like home. Seth was vigilant, keeping watch on the road below, looking for two Romans. The sun was setting and the evening was beginning to cool, prompting Jershon to don his thick outer robe and throw additional wood on the fire. Soon it was dark, and their vision was limited to the orange glow thrown from the dancing flames of the fire.

  Jershon saw two men walking slowly along the trail near their camp. They were still in the shadows, but their robes seemed to identify them as Jews. Blankets were draped over their shoulders and heads for warmth.

  “Jacob . . . Levi . . . is that you?” Jershon called out into the night. There was no answer, but the two men proceeded cautiously toward the camp.

  “Jershon?” It was Jacob’s voice. Everyone stood and looked at the two men who entered the light of the campfire and pushed back their head coverings to reveal their clean-shaven faces. They stood hesitantly, gauging the group and their reaction. Naomi walked over to greet them, giving each a warm embrace and leading Jacob closer to the fire. Jershon gave them both a welcoming embrace. Esther unabashedly ran to Levi, who swept her up in his arms and swung her around; she screeched with delight. Seth was next, embracing Jacob and playfully boxing with Levi, who laughed heartily. Liora and Sariah stood apart, each smiling broadly but withholding any outward show of affection. David remained seated by the fire.

  “Come, sit,” Naomi ordered. “I hope you have some appetite left. We have made sweet cakes.” She motioned to Liora and Sariah to serve them.

  The young women went into the tent to fetch the cakes. Jacob tried to look at Liora without drawing attention. He caught the side of her smooth face in the light of the fire. Her eyes sparkled and her hair shone, but she would not make eye contact with him. He momentarily forgot that there was anyone else sitting around the fire. He watched her enter the tent and come out again a moment later. She walked straight toward him and bent to offer him the cake. He looked straight into the dark pool of her eyes. Liora smiled shyly and lowered her eyes, not wanting to meet his searching look.

  “Thank you,” Jacob managed to squeak out of his dry mouth. Liora smiled again but didn’t speak.

  Jershon was glad the two had not worn their Roman clothing. He broke the tension by bringing attention to their lack of facial hair. “I see you have rid yourselves of the traditional beards.”

  “Yes,” responded Jacob, “we have,” as he rubbed his chin and smiled. “There’s nothing traditional about us any longer.” He tried to make a joke, but it fell flat, which made him even more uncomfortable, but he decided to plow forward. “We owe you all an apology and an explanation.”

  “Yes, you do!” David said tersely. Jershon shot him a cautioning glance.

  “Yes, David, we do,” Jacob answered. “First of all, let me apologize with all my heart for our deception. When we arrived in Capernaum, it was not our intent to prey on an unwitting family. It all happened so fast and so innocently. We could not refuse your gracious hospitality, and the next thing we knew we had become part of you. Let me assure you, our feelings and actions while we were with you were not a deception—they were genuine.” He glanced at Liora, hoping she would understand what he was saying. “You all became part of us—both of us,” as he motioned toward Levi. “It was necessary to leave, but I can’t tell you how difficult it was. We have been guilt-ridden ever since for not being honest with you that day. I am so grateful we have the chance to meet and clear this up.” Jacob fidgeted uncomfortably, hoping he was making sense. He wanted to take a bite of the cake, but his mouth was so dry he was afraid he would be unable to talk afterward.

  “Seth, bring Jacob and Levi some wine,” said Jershon. Jacob was grateful for the chance to collect his thoughts. Seth returned with a goatskin bag full of wine and two wooden cups that he handed to each of them and then filled generously. Jacob took a large gulp.

  “Thank you,” Jacob said. “This is harder to put into words than I thought it would be.”

  “Proceed honestly, Jacob. You are among friends; we hold no animosity,” Jershon assured him.

  “Thank you, Jershon.” Jacob put the cup down as his hands shook. “We are Romans,” he confessed. “We came here on assignment in response to a request of the prefect of Judaea, Pontius Pilate, and under direct command of the emperor Tiberius.” All eyes were upon Jacob. He continued courageously. “My real name is Lucius Fabius Maximus. I am a Roman general and command a legion.” Maximus chuckled at what he revealed next. “Ironically, I am the highest-ranking Roman officer on Judaean soil. And this is my good friend, Androcles. He is my deputy commander. We have fought together for Rome since we were younger than Seth. It seems like a lifetime.” Androcles nodded in agreement.

  Maximus continued, “We haven’t known peace for most of our lives. Your family, Jershon, has given us a view of the world and a respite we have seldom known. We are indebted to you and envious of what you have.” He looked at Jershon with admiration. Jershon met his glance, and the old man’s eyes began to fill with tears. “We come from families similar to yours. My father is a senator in Rome. My mother and two young sisters work a small farm north of Rome because they refuse to be caught up in the conceit of the empire.” He turned to Naomi. “You would like my mother, Naomi. She is a great woman.” Now Maximus’s eyes were filling with tears.

  Maximus turned his attention to David. “Androcles comes from a good family.
He grew up like you, David, wielding the hammer of a blacksmith. His talented father taught him the trade, and his skills were refined with the help of his three older brothers. I understand your anger, David, and you also, Liora, at this revelation.” The very sound of his voice saying her name caused Liora’s heart to leap. “Your anger at Rome is understood by us both. Roman soldiers took the lives of your brothers. Androcles, show them your amulet.” Androcles hesitated and then pulled the leather cord from his breast, holding up the lump of gold.

  “Marauding Gauls murdered Androcles’s family. The Gauls attacked his family and burned his home to the ground. This amulet was taken from the charred remains of his mother.” Maximus paused to let the reality of his story take hold. “We know about evil men. We know the horror of war and the scars a conquering army leave on a people and their country. I don’t agree with what Rome is doing here, but perhaps we can have that conversation another day. Androcles and I are sick of the lives we have led. We are tired of the wars and the killing. We have learned so much in our short time here, and much of that has come as a result of our time with you.”

  Maximus took another long drink of wine. “I have gotten off the subject.” He looked around; everyone was staring at him open-mouthed. No one spoke, so he continued. “Some months ago Pilate sent a messenger to Tiberius, requesting that emissaries from Rome come to investigate an upstart Nazarene named Jesus. Pilate thought Jesus might be building an army that could prove detrimental to Roman rule. That messenger was a good . . . no . . . a great man named Ezra.” He turned to Jershon. Jershon concurred with a nod of his head. “My father, knowing my restless discontent, was responsible for my being assigned as one of those emissaries. I am responsible for Androcles being here.” He turned to his friend.