SAUL AND NICODEMUS CHAPTER FIFTEEN - Page 1

SAUL AWAKENED TO the cheery songs of birds and the pleasant gurgling of the stream outside his window. He lay there for a long time before getting up to dress. Emerging from the entrance, he found Hadiah sitting the morning sun beside the arbor. "I can understand why you love your desert home," he said. "I would really love to stay here longer."

"Then promise me you will come back when you can."

"Thank you, Uncle. I will."

Hadiah had grown attached to his young nephew in the short time they had been together. In Saul he recognized a lad with a very keen mind, strongly opinionated, but with great potential. To himself he thought, How could he be otherwise, with Benjamin and Esther for parents, and with a grandfather like Rabbi Ben-Lemuel?

"I am to have a new donkey delivered today. As soon as I make arrangements to have him taken care of, we will be off to Jerusalem," Hadiah said. "They are expecting you home."

"Who will take care of the donkey?"

"A group of Bedouin shepherds is camped nearby. They are always about, this time of year. When they send for water from the spring I will instruct them."

Later that morning, with the donkey cared for, Hadiah noticed that Saul was unusually quiet on the road back to Jerusalem. Each time Hadiah glanced in his direction, Saul seemed to have a faraway look in his eyes. Very understandable, thought Hadiah. After spending the previous night with Josiah, and the long discussion on astrologers and the Magi, there was much for a 12-year-old to think about. For that matter, there was a lot for Hadiah himself to consider.

The traffic was much less on the road this day than the day they had faced the crowds of pilgrims attending the Passover. Saul and his uncle arrived at his Aunt Hulda's in good time.

"We were afraid you would forget that Nicodemus is coming this evening," said Hulda. "When you are in the desert, you have a way of forgetting about time."

"It is so peaceful at Hadiah's house," Saul affirmed. "Time seems to almost stand still. It reminds me of visits to Shaphan's house in the Taurus Mountains."

When Saul arrived in his room he discovered that his cousin Dan had moved into the far end of it. The two of them would be roommates for the period of their education with Gamaliel. "It is good of Hulda to provide this room for us," Dan said.

"Yes," Saul replied. "I am ready to begin school today. How about you?"

Dan laughed. "Saul, you are an eager one. You remind me of a story about Hillel, the grandfather of Gamaliel who founded the school. When he came from Babylon, he had so little money, he couldn't afford to attend regular classes. So he climbed outside to the open window high above the city street. It was winter and cold, but he clung to his precarious footing until he grew faint, and fell unconscious. He was found in this state almost dead from exposure to the cold. However, he recovered and did manual labor to earn enough to support his family while learning the laws of both God and man. Needless to say, he also was an eager student."

"I have never heard this story about Hillel, Dan. Thank you."

Nicodemus arrived not long thereafter. Saul and Dan went down to meet him. Saul was impressed with his distinguished appearance. He was tall, with massive shoulders and a gray curly beard. But his eyes, Saul thought, seemed to penetrate one's very thoughts. It was understandable why he was a respected member of the Jerusalem Council, comparable to being an Areopagite in Jerusalem. Saul liked the manner in which he greeted his parents, Hadiah, Hasham and Hulda, as though they were members of his own family. He was also introduced to Esrom and Miriam, who had come to enjoy his company.

During the evening meal Nicodemus shared a report just received from Rome. Three of Augustus' best veteran legions had been wiped out under Commander Varus, the former governor of Syria.
"Where did this take place?" asked Rabbi Benjamin.

"Far to the north of Rome," replied Nicodemus, "in the forests of Germany."

"Germany. Ah, but haven't the legions learned how to deal with barbarian tribes? Regardless, the death of Varus will excite many in Israel. He crucified 2,000 of our people during the disturbances following Antipas' death."

"I am afraid the excitement will be greatest among our hot tempered zealots. They will celebrate, and God forbid, they may be stirred to action. I fear it, and fear the consequences more. They need to know that Varus was lured into Germany's Teutoburg Forest where his supply lines and battle formations were broken down. That kind of tactic is impossible here in Pales tine. No one should falsely look at this defeat as a signal that Rome is losing the will to rule."

"Indeed," Hasham said, "that would be a very grave error."

"Yes, but tonight I received word that a Roman soldier was found near Sychar with his throat cut, sicari style. I urge you, each and everyone--if you hear talk of this battle, temper all speculations about Rome's loss of will. The Germans happen to be a very fierce band of fighters. They say they are large, like the giants that once roamed Canaan. It is also true that the forest defeated the armies, more than the enemy soldiers. In the desert, the Roman army remains invincible. Of this, I have no doubt."

AFTER THE EVENING meal, Hadiah shared with them the interesting conversation they had with Josiah the previous evening. Everyone seemed puzzled by the strange signs surrounding the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.

"I have heard these reports about the child," Nicodemus said. "Furthermore, I am quite sure that I was present in the Temple the day the parents brought this child in for circumcision. I will never forget it. Suddenly we heard the familiar voice of an elderly man named Simeon. Due to his health and age, he had not appeared in public for some time. In his younger years, he was a very familiar figure at the Temple. Very devout. Some in the Temple tell me that this is the same Simeon who was the father of Gamaliel. Of course, he is no longer with us. He died shortly after this event.'

"After he cried out, I turned and saw him holding in his arms this otherwise quite ordinary looking babe, and looking upward in an attitude of worship. 'Lord,' he said, loud enough so that everyone could hear, 'you may now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all the people, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of the people Israel.'

"I noticed how the parents seemed startled, and perhaps a little afraid, as you can imagine. The father was one Joseph of Nazareth, a carpenter. He had just been to Bethlehem for the Augustan tax. Well, then facing the babe's mother, old Simeon said some sad and disturbing things, 'Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign that shall be spoken against.' Then, still facing the mother of the babe, the look of ecstasy seemed to change on his face, and an expression of tenderness, even sadness, was visible as he said, 'A sword shall pierce through thine own soul also, that the thoughts of many may be revealed.' As he slowly made his way from the Temple, he was heard to say that the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Christ.'

"After hearing this remarkable prophecy from the aged Simeon, we wondered what happened to the parents and the child. They seemed to suddenly disappear. Now I have heard that after leaving the Temple, the father Joseph had a dream that same night, in which he was told to take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt. This, of course, allowed them to escape the terrible tragedy that was visited on Bethlehem. According to reports we gleaned later, Joseph did not even wait until morning. So urgent was the warning, he arose that very night, and under cover of darkness slipped out of the city, and took the road leading to Egypt."

"That would have been a difficult journey," Hasham interjected.

"Yes," Nicodemus answered. "Not being a man of means, they would have had to make the journey on foot, or at best, using only a donkey or two for transportation."

"He must have taken the road leading to Pelusium on the northern end of the Red Sea," Hasham mused. "Can you imagine Joseph passing the old granaries of Joseph?"

"Of course, you are speaking of Joseph, the son of Jacob," Nicodemus replied. "He built those granaries over 1700 years ago. Now that is strange to contemplate, two Josephs finding salvation in Egypt."

"I am sure this Joseph was well cared for," offered Rabbi Benjamin. "There are thousands of Jews in Alexandria. Do you know if he has returned with his family since Herod died?"

"Yes," Nicodemus answered, "we hear that they returned to Nazareth soon thereafter. You see, when Joseph returned from Egypt, rather than linger in Bethlehem, near Jerusalem, they went north 70 miles, back to Nazareth."

"That is when I met him," Hasham said. "I needed some work done by a carpenter, and because Nazareth was near my home in Gischala, I went there and was directed to Joseph. I was quite impressed. He was a quiet man, and bore himself with great dignity, even though working in a very physical trade. One of the scribes told me he was the son of Jacob, and the grandson of Eliud, whose ancestors went back to King David. I saw his wife also, a very beautiful woman. The child Jesus was with her. That was nearly 12 years ago."

Saul had been silently listening to this dialogue, but now interrupted with a question. "If this is the same Jesus the Magi and shepherds came to see, and the one Herod wanted to kill, what can be so important about him if he is just an ordinary boy in Nazareth who assists his father now in a carpenter's shop?"

Hasham seemed embarrassed by the question. He made no reply.

Nicodemus continued the conversation as though Saul had not spoken, which irritated Saul greatly.

"You will be interested, Hasham," he said, "that I saw the boy this very week."

"You were in Nazareth? And you didn't come to see me when you were so near?"

"No, no," said Nicodemus, with a musical laugh. "I was not in Nazareth. The boy was here. The boy came from Nazareth with his parents who attended the Passover."

"And did you meet his parents?" Hasham asked.

"Not at first. The boy was alone. And, actually, I did not meet him in person, but saw him in the Temple."

Saul murmured under his breath, What is so great about seeing a boy in the Temple?

"I had reason to meet with Gamaliel on this particular morning," Nicodemus continued, "and I was told he had not returned from the Temple. Wondering what could be taking him so long, I hurried over to see if I could find him, and find him I did, standing on the edge of a crowd, gathered around this remarkable boy of only 12 years of age. There was almost total silence, and I observed that all were listening to him, just a lad.'

"Moving to the side of Gamaliel, I whispered, What is the attraction? And Gamaliel answered, It is the special boy from Nazareth. I whispered to him, What is he doing? Gamaliel replied, It is not what he is doing, it is what he is saying. He is asking questions that our learned doctors of the law cannot answer. The answers he is giving in response to their questions are astounding them. If you remain here, you can hear for yourself."

"And what did he say?" Hulda asked.

"Not much after that," said Nicodemus. "I would have liked to hear him but there was an interruption of his speaking just then, and I heard nothing more."

"Who interrupted?" asked Hulda.

"Very obviously, it was his parents. Pressing through the crowd, his mother reached him, and she was in a state. Apparently their Passover caravan had gone from Jerusalem a full day's journey north before they had discovered him absent. That night, he did not show up at their carriage and they were beside themselves with worry. The Romans are noted for collecting thousands of young boys and placing them in their harems. With Roman soldiers stationed in the Tower of Antonia at the Temple site, and Romans on the roads and streets of the cities and towns, the thought of their 12-year-old son falling prey to any of these was reason for great concern.'

"We later learned that two days of desperate searching had been in vain. This was the third day of their search that they found him in the Temple, and when his mother approached, she blurted out, Son, why have you done this unto us? And do you know what he replied? He looked at them in amazement that they should ask such a question. He said, Why did you look for me? Didn't you know I had to be about my Father's business?"

"And what did they say to that?" Hulda asked.

"They looked bewildered. It was very apparent to us that they did not understand what he meant anymore than we did."

"What do you think now?" Hasham asked. "What do you think he meant?"

For a moment Nicodemus did not reply. Then with a faraway look in his eyes, he said, "He is a most unusual boy. We will have to wait until he is a man. We must wait, and see. Yes, we will wait and see."

The conversation ended then, but for Saul his answer was firm. As he ascended to his room that night, he murmured to himself, Whoever this boy Jesus may or may not be, I am certain he is not the prophesied king, the Messiah. But a still, small voice of conscience whispered in his mind, And what if he were? Saul paused on the steps, and said aloud to himself, "I do not want him to be!"
He fell asleep that night hearing the voice of Nicodemus saying, "Time will tell."