Lazarus left John then, making his way past the campfire lit tents to where he had seen men setting up Sarilia’s tent. He did not know where he himself would sleep but was excited to see the baby before finding a place to rest.
“Lazarus, is that you?” Sarilia called softly as he approached the tent. As he moved the tent’s cloth flap and walked inside he could see her beautiful smile lit by candlelight. “The babies are sleeping soundly.” She motioned to the swaddled little-ones sleeping in a large basket nearby. “They went to sleep soon after eating. Where will you sleep tonight?”
Lazarus kneeled near the basket and kissed the rescued baby’s forehead. “I don’t have a place to sleep yet, but I will find one.”
“You should stay with me for the night. I have spare bedding. You can sleep on the other side of the tent.”
“Are you sure? I can find another place to sleep.”
“No, please stay here. It would be my pleasure. And besides, you should be with the child.”
That night, as Lazarus lay in darkness inside the tent, he breathed a deep breath, finally letting himself truly relax. As he turned his head he could barely make out Sarilia’s form and the dark silhouette of the basket in the far side of the tent.
Thank you, Lord. Thank you for rest and for bringing these people into my life. Thank you for Sarilia and the child. Thank you especially for this night of peace and sense of togetherness I feel with them. Have a blessed night, Lord. Your love warms me.
14
As the caravan approached Antioch days later Lazarus watched the city’s homes as they neared them. Children chased each other through the roads and venders had set up shop in the outer streets of the city. Lazarus was amazed at how foreign the place felt. He had only been away from Bethany and Jerusalem for two weeks, and yet being near such a large city was foreign to him. “I have never been to Antioch before,” he spoke to John, who was at his side. “It is a beautiful and busy city.” Their cart jostled as it met a rocky street beneath them that they would follow into Antioch.
“They benefit well from commerce because of their port on the Mediterranean. There is much prosperity here, but where there is prosperity, poverty is nearby. As we travel through Antioch it is my hope to help those who have little, and spread the word of God’s love to all.”
Lazarus reached into a pocket of his royal blue robe and thought for a moment. “I look forward to helping you help the poor of the city. When I left my home I brought a pouch of denary with me. I have little need of money, but surely it will help someone greatly here.”
John placed his hand on Lazarus’ hand. “I’m sure that it will, but be careful to keep your face covered and not reveal yourself. Caesar’s soldiers still search for you so that they may crucify you.”
The caravan entered Antioch’s main thoroughfare as a crowd thronged its market. Venders shouted their goods’ names above the people’s voices and in some places men and women bid on what they wanted. Then, suddenly, Lazarus heard a cry.
“John! You’re John the apostle!” The shouting man came quickly toward the caravan with a basket of bread braced in his arms. “John, what brings you to Antioch? We hear rumors of Jesus of Nazareth’s resurrection!”
Lazarus wrapped the cloth tighter over his face as the man approached and more people came toward them.
“John!” a woman called out. “Please heal my child!”
“Why do you come here?” another man shouted. “Take your lies away from our city!”
At this John called for the caravan to halt and stood in their cart. “It’s true, I am John the apostle, people of Antioch! And I bring you great news of Jesus Christ’s resurrection! We disciples witnessed him with our own eyes and he spoke to us, saying that because he gave his life all people can find peace with him in heaven and be forgiven of their sins!”
“Why should we trust in you and believe in your Messiah?” the doubter called out.
John looked to the man and Lazarus could see how he cared for even the doubter because of the way he stood and spoke. “Believe because he loves you! Believe because he allowed himself to be crucified so that he can share eternity with you!”
The man with the bread basket stood next to their cart. “I believe Jesus was our Lord’s son, but I have never been baptized. Would you baptize me?”
“Come, come and accept the Lord’s gift.” John motioned him near. Without hesitation John withdrew the jug of water from beside him in the cart and held a cupped hand before the man’s forehead. “Do you accept that Jesus is our savior and that the Lord is the one true God? Do you wish forgiveness of your sins?”
“Yes.” The man looked up to him in anticipation.
“Will you serve the Lord graciously and spread the word of the blessing of his love wherever you go, never denying him?”
“Yes.”
“Then be baptized, son of Antioch, and be reborn in the Lord our father’s grace.” After pouring water from the jug into his cupped palm, John let the water flow over the man’s face. He kissed the man’s forehead and embraced him.
Lazarus saw strength in the embrace and watched as other men and women surrounded their cart, some coming to witness and others to accept baptism by John. To witness such a thing is beautiful, he thought as John baptized a woman and welcomed her into the Lord’s love. The woman wept tears of joy and as John turned Lazarus could see joyful tears welling in his eyes.
“Thank you. Thank you.” The woman held John’s hands.
As John baptized and spoke with members of the crowd Lazarus looked over their surroundings. The street was relatively clean here and there were none of Caesar’s men to be seen. Once they are alerted of our presence surely they will be upon us. He watched John as he baptized another man. But John will not leave until he has baptized as many that wish to be welcomed into the Lord’s love. Then, out of the corner of his vision, Lazarus saw an unkempt man slumped over in an ally just past the front of the caravan. Dirt caked his bearded face. “John,” Lazarus touched John on his shoulder and the disciple turned toward him. “There is something I need to do. I will be back shortly.”
“Take your time, my friend. We can wait as long as you need.”
Lazarus braced his hand on the side of the cart and stepped out into the street. He moved slowly through the crowd as he went toward the man. One of the beggar’s hands was crippled and as Lazarus neared him he saw that his eyes were glazed over a hazy white. There was a blank look there. “Are you blind?” Lazarus asked.
The man’s head turned toward his voice. “Excuse me?” He had a rasped voice. “Yes, since birth.” He hacked out a cough. “Could you spare some bread or a cup of water?”
“I will see what I can do. I’ll return shortly.” Lazarus remembered the man with the basket of bread and went toward the mass of people where he found him still watching John. “Excuse me, sir, there is a beggar who is in need of food. Could you spare a loaf of bread for him?”
The man turned to him and hesitated. “This bread is for my family. If I give a loaf to one man, more will ask. And if I give to them all, then I will have none left for my home.”
Lazarus thought for a moment. “The Lord does not ask only for our love but for our service as well. If we provide for our neighbor when they are in need then the Lord will provide for us in the dark hours of our lives. This man is in need. He cannot provide for himself. Will you share your bread with him?”
After another moment the man took the largest loaf from his basket and handed it to Lazarus. “You are right. If I do not help others then how can I teach my children to be different? And if they were poor then I would hope someone would help them.”
“Come with me.” Lazarus motioned over to the ally where the blind man slumped against the wall. “Come and see what your bread can do.” Soon they had moved through the crowd and Lazarus was before the blind man once more. “I have a loaf of bread for you. There is a man with me who has given it to fill your stomach.” Lazarus placed the
loaf in the dingy man’s outstretched hand and the beggar quickly tore off the end of the loaf and ate the piece, his yellowed and missing teeth evident as he chewed.
“Thank you,” the man spoke in his scratchy voice. “Thank you so much.” The blind man turned with his foggy eyes almost in the direction of the man with the basket of bread. “And thank you, sir, for giving this to me.”
“You’re welcome. Do… do I know you? Mathious, is it you?”
The blind man lowered his head so that his hair fell around his face. “I don’t remember that name. I can’t remember who I am. I have been in these streets for as long as I can remember.”
“It must be you. Here,” The man with the bread braced his hand underneath the beggar’s arm, “come with me to my home. I have not seen you since the soldiers took you from our town in Jerusalem. Even if you do not understand who you are, you are welcome in my home.”
After a moment’s hesitation the beggar stood and began to limp, supported by the other man, in the direction he was led.
“Thank you, sir, for leading me to my friend.” The man with the bread basket looked back to Lazarus. “Who are you?”
Lazarus reached his hand in his robe pocket and withdrew his pouch of denary. “It does not matter who I am. I am a common man, like you. Here, take this. It will help you care for this man.”
The man supporting the beggar reached out the hand that the basket was hanging over and Lazarus placed his pouch into it. Feeling the weight of it leave his hand brought joy to him. He felt good after giving the gift.
“You do not need to…”
“I know, but I want to give this to help you both.”
“Thank you. I will not forget this. I may not know who you are, but you are a great man.”
With that the men walked through the crowd away from him and Lazarus smiled as he watched them go. Thank you, Lord, for bringing them together, he prayed.
חַי
As the caravan approached Antioch’s port, Seleucia, Lazarus was in awe of the Mediterranean Sea and the sun shimmering off of its gentle waves. The air was warm and thick as he looked to the large boats docked up and down the port.
“Our boat is over there!” John pointed to a large, undecorated boat at the far end of the dock. “Men in Antioch have readied our vessel in anticipation of our coming. It is one of Antioch’s greatest fishing boats and will serve us well in our voyage to Cyprus.”
“I have never been out on the Mediterranean,” Lazarus spoke honestly. “It is such a vast sea.”
John put his hand on Lazarus’ shoulder as their cart bumped along the road. “Do not fear for your safety. The Lord will keep us safe on its waters and soon we will arrive at Cyprus where we will preach the Lord’s word for a time before moving on.”
As the boat was loaded Lazarus joined Sarilia and the babies on the upper deck. A crisp wind blew through him while he held the baby boy he had rescued on the Dead Sea close, covering it with part of his robe to shield it from the wind. On the distant horizon he could barely make out a strip of land and in another direction he could see closer land, what he assumed was Cyprus. Two dolphins jumped out of and back into the sea in the distance.
Sarilia touched her soft hand to his, sending a shiver through him. “I saw what you did for the beggar in Antioch.”
Lazarus looked into her pure blue eyes.
She held his hand close, their palms meeting as one. “You are a handsome man, a good hearted man, Lazarus. I would be honored if you would stay with me once we reach Cyprus.”
15
Lazarus held tight to the linen net’s braid as sunlight warmed his skin. The vast fishing boat rocked gently beneath him and John stood at Lazarus’ side, directing men and women on the ship in how to handle the net. It was the day after they left from Antioch and, as they neared Cyprus, John requested they slow and drop a net to catch fish to bring to the people of the island.
The large seine net had been lowered over the side of the ship. Small pieces of stone were fastened to the bottom of the net so that it would drag low in the sea. Its far end was connected to cork floats, keeping it on the sea’s surface. They would drag the net to Cyprus with the ship and pull it ashore from the beach, hopefully collecting enough fish to feed the town which housed them for weeks.
“Latch the edges of the net to the hooks along the boat’s side!” John called out, more to men like Lazarus than to the seasoned fishermen who accompanied them. “But stay close! If the net looks to be breaking from the hooks take it in your hands once more and call for help holding it!”
Lazarus latched his section of net to the hook nearby and looked out to the cork floats that were moving away from the boat, supporting the net as it stretched out into the sea. He realized it must have been several hundred feet to its edge.
“Raise the sail!” John called out as the massive white cloth was hoisted up and wind puffed it full, pulling the boat onward in the sea toward Cyprus.
Lazarus watched with interest as the net was dragged at the side of the ship. He was able to make out the forms of fish being caught in its edges as they moved.
John turned around and stood beside him at the rail. “Do you know why Jesus referred to fishermen so often in his teachings? He told his disciples that fishing was similar to spreading the Lord’s word. We must use the same care, devotion and skill in bringing his message to the world that we use weaving the nets and seeking out the fish.”
Lazarus breathed a deep breath of sea air. “Jesus was a wise man. Knowing that he has risen makes me feel at peace in a way, with myself and also in my relationship with God. His care for us and devotion to the Lord always showed deeply in him. He made me at peace when I thought I could not be.”
John smiled at him. “You speak with such love of God, Lazarus. And you serve him with your actions. Have you thought of serving him in other ways? Surely your resurrection gives you something that would help others come to the Lord as well.”
“It is strange. I still feel distant from my re-birth from death. It is true I am grateful to the Lord for my new life and all that he has given me, but I am unsure of how to use my resurrection to help others. I had hoped Jesus would lead the way. Now he is not with us to show me.”
“Look into your heart, Lazarus. The Lord will lead you through that place inside of you. He always has, even when you did not realize that he was there guiding you.” There was silence for a moment between the men. “Think about what I have said. Know that, though Jesus is no longer flesh, the Holy Spirit is living within us and I will be with you in your journey for as long as you will have me.”
There was warmth in Lazarus’ soul and goose bumps ran up his arms. “Thank you, John. Your support and friendship means more to me than I can express.”
חַי
As the fishing boat approached shore Lazarus stood at its front-rail, watching their approach to Cyprus’ docks. There were several other boats already at anchor in the small port. As they neared the island’s sandy beach Lazarus marveled at the pure aqua hue of the sea where it met the sand.
The large fishing boat dropped anchor at the edge of the docks, where open beach stretched out to one side. Men swam out from the beach to grasp the massive fish-filled net and began pulling it to shore.
“Unlatch the net from the boat’s hooks!” John called out and Lazarus went to the boat’s rail, unlatching the net with the help of others.
Soon the plank was lowered to the dock on the opposite side of the ship. Lazarus met with Sarilia and took the baby he had rescued from her arms. She held her child and together they walked down the wobbly plank to the dock.
“Lazarus, can you help pull in the net? It will take many men to pull it ashore!” John’s voice came from behind him.
“I’ll be back soon,” he told Sarilia and she took the child back from his arms.
Soon he was on the sun beaten beach with his robe removed and a cloth around his waist; rushing down the sand to grasp the net other men wer
e already pulling ashore. The warm sea water splashed up around his legs and body as he ran in. He grabbed hold of the net and pulled hard, digging his feet into the sand and using all his strength to pull backward.
“Heave!” John shouted while joining his side and grinning at him.
Pull after pull they slowly dragged the net up on the beach. Sea gulls circled above and every now and then one would drop from the sky, clasp a wiggling fish with its bill and soar away toward the cliffs of the island behind them. Lazarus’ muscles burned as the sun beat down on his back. Then, as pain seared through his arms, he looked up to see the end of the net come out of the sea, its cork boards bobbing as sea water met them on the sand.
Lazarus let the net fall from his hands to the beach and looked out in awe at the musht, biny, mackerel and other fish tangled in the net on the sand. A rainbow of colors reflected in the sunlight from their scales. Men and women were walking out on the net now with net bags to load the good fish into. They would toss dead fish and other creatures like turtles back into the sea.
“Amazing.” John was standing by his side looking toward the docks where men and women from Cyprus stood watching. “We can feed many with this catch. People will come to eat what we have caught for them and as they eat we will have the opportunity to share the words of the Lord and his love with them.” He walked beside Lazarus as the two men made their way up the beach and put on their full robes. “Come with me,” John told him. “People of Cyprus await us up the cliffs, past the docks. Would you stand by my side as I greet them?”
“I would be honored. John, there is something I have been thinking of since we spoke earlier.”
“What is on your mind, my friend?”
“I have thought about how to better serve others, how to use what the Lord has done for me to spread his word to the world. I need to tell people in the places we go who I am. I cannot keep my resurrection to myself. I need to tell my story and spread the word.”