I’m relieved to have no trouble finding the cave and to see it hasn’t been disturbed. The inside feels like a tomb again. There are no notes waiting for me in the arena so I grab some paper and head outside to write a letter to the future. I realize I’m afraid to describe everything that’s happened so far. If I tell the world that I witnessed and then experienced a miracle Henry might destroy the note and leave me here in the past. I need to tell Henry what he wants to hear. I write:
To the People of the World:
I finally found Jesus on the road as he entered Jerusalem riding on a colt. I’ll admit, he is not what I expected at all. It’s like how our world treats movie stars. They’re calling him Lord. I watched as He taught in the street and in the Temple but he caused such a stir that I left and sought the protection of Roman soldiers. Hopefully this friendship will allow me watch the crucifixion and the tomb when the time comes. He will not rise from the dead, and I’ll be there as witness. It all begins tomorrow.
The puzzle should be complete in just 4 days. Check for a message from me then.
I look back over my handiwork and hope I’m not being too obvious. Anyone who knows my love of puzzles and codes should suspect I’m leaving a hidden message and that the number four is a tip off. All you have to do is look at the fourth word in each sentence and you’ll find the message “Jesus is our Lord. He will rise tomorrow.” On the other hand, it also says exactly what Henry wants to hear, that I’m looking for the proof that he’s so sure I’ll find.
Once I’ve placed the note in the arena I grab some more silver and gold and rebury the cave entrance. It’s not far out of the way so I head to where Esther and her boys were camped.
From their vantage point they see me approaching from a long way off.
“Mother, the goat man, I mean Cephas is coming back,” Eli yells and Esther emerges from her tent. Seth runs up the hill to greet me.
“Cephas, mother bought weaned lambs with the money you gave us. She says we’ll have our own flock and move away from our uncle.”
I smile and nod like I’m still mute. I continue smiling until I’m standing before Esther but she frowns when she sees me up close.
“You are changed, Cephas.”
I reach out and take her hands between mine.
“You are right.”
Seth squeals a little at the sound of my voice but Esther continues to look at me intently.
“It is not your voice. Even when you were mute your eyes and your hands and your smile spoke for you. It is like there is a new light shining from your face, as if a great weight has been lifted from your shoulders.”
“I sense the opposite is true for you. What’s troubling you Esther?”
“To say would seem ungrateful.”
“But it would be the truth, so please speak it.”
“My husband’s brother will come here soon to check on his sheep. He will see the lambs I bought and claim them as his own. He is a coward at heart who hits me and my boys because he is stronger but he would not dare stand against you. Maybe you could rest here for a day? Or maybe you could stay much longer than a day? Maybe you are tired of being a traveler and could become a shepherd? I would warm your bed.”
It’s tempting. There’s really nothing left for me to return to in my own time.
Jesus’ last command to me sticks in my mind.
“I’m sorry Esther. I must return to my people.”
“Then your kindness will be for nothing.”
“Kindness never comes to nothing. You bound a stranger’s wound when you could have let him bleed. For that kindness alone I promise that you’re being watched over.”
***
When I get back to Jerusalem I look for food and end up buying a large supply of meat, bread, fruit and cheese. I’m becoming accustomed to the physical exertion of the first century and my appetite is increasing to match.
I decide to walk around the city and eventually end up on the temple grounds. The temple itself is locked up tight with multiple guards at every entrance turning people away. I find a spot in the shade and pretend to sleep while listening to everyone possible. The talk is mostly about how all the Pharisees and Sadducees have locked themselves inside. They’re not even taking offerings.
They must be upset to stop the flow of money into their own pockets.
Two temple guards stop in front of me and have a whispered conversation.
“Have you been inside? Is it true about the shroud?”
“It’s true. It’s torn from top to bottom but that’s the least of your worries.”
“What do you mean?”
“You have the night watch tonight. The priests asked Pilate to seal the Nazarene’s tomb to prevent his followers from taking the body. Pilate refused so their sending a Temple guard instead. That means you.”
“How do I get out of it?”
His voice is quavering, he’s terrified.
“I’d go volunteer to clean the stables.”
***
As sunset approaches I make my way to the tomb. The guard was right, there’s an energy in the air that should make the enemies of Christ nervous. I’m nervous too, but not afraid.
A very large stone has been rolled in front of the entrance and there are temple guards milling about. Some have already fallen asleep and the rest are cooking or eating. Unlike my experience with Romans, I know I have little hope of befriending this group so I conceal myself in some rocks about a hundred meters away and eat more bread, meat and cheese.
Around midnight there’s a change in the contingent of guards. In their dim torchlight I can see that most settle down to fall asleep. As the hours wear on I can’t keep my eyes open any longer.
I awake to a boom like a sharp crack of thunder that echoes off the nearby canyon walls along with a great white light that lasts much longer than a lightening flash but goes out after a few more seconds. I peer at the tomb area to see all of the temple guards on the ground, but they’re not laying like they fell asleep. Their weapons are scattered among them like they were all standing at attention and then fainted. The great stone has been rolled away from the tomb.
You’ve slept through the greatest moment in human history.
I don’t dare approach the tomb for fear the guards will wake and attack me so I sit behind the rock and wait until I hear a commotion from the temple guards. By now there’s a small amount of light on the horizon, indicating the sun will soon rise. When I peek out again two of the guards are kicking at the others and yelling at them to get up. One of the guards enters the tomb for a moment but emerges quickly. His hands gesticulate wildly about the absence of Christ’s body and in seconds they’re all running towards the city.
I know from the Bible that three women will soon make their way to the tomb and that I can’t risk being seen so I continue to watch from behind the rocks. As the sky continues to grow brighter I see movement on a low rise several hundred meters from the tomb. There are three people hiding on that rise who now stand up. The largest figure heaves what looks like a dead body over his shoulder and the trio make their way over the rise and disappear from sight.
No, it can’t be.
I’m about to stand when I catch movement out of the corner of my eye. Its three women carrying jars of ointment meant for Christ. I sit behind the rock again until I hear the jars break as they’re dropped to the ground followed by the women fleeing.
I make my way to the tomb entrance. I see the jars of burial ointment that have been dropped outside. I don’t know if I want to enter the tomb or not. What if there’s evidence that the body was stolen? I decide that I must stay objective and observe all evidence, so I enter the tomb. The linen wrappings are lying there but the body is gone. Given the low entrance it wouldn’t be possible to carry a body and there are no signs in the dirt that a body has been dragged from the tomb or rolled out on a cart. I look at the linens and am tempted to take them back w
ith me but I decide to leave them alone.
Next I climb to the low rise where I saw someone throw a body over their shoulder. As I reach the spot, Simon Peter and another disciple run past so I conceal myself in the rocks. The other disciple reaches the tomb first but doesn’t go inside. Peter goes in first and then the other. They too quickly leave.
It’s only when they’re out of sight that I notice I’ve been kneeling beside a pool of blood in the dirt and there are signs that a body laid here for a while. Could someone have sacrificed an animal way out here? Maybe I saw someone throw a sheep or a goat over their shoulder rather than a human body? That makes no sense and even if it was an animal sacrifice the idea would be to collect the blood rather than allow it to run onto the ground.
I still have a synthetic skin bandage in my first aid kit so I use it to sop up some of the blood for analysis. As I place it into a sterile bag the blood drips onto my hand and inside the case of the first aid kit. The blood is definitely fresh.
As I’m finishing, the Jewish leaders arrive with Temple guards and a few Roman soldiers. I don’t hang around to hear what they say.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
I spend the next two days going to the places where the Bible says Jesus appeared after the resurrection. Despite the blood on the ground and seeing a dead body being carried away my heart is still hoping there’s another explanation and that I’ll see Him. I search everywhere for Mary Magdalene without success. I walk up and down the road from Emmaus looking for Cleopas but never see him either. When I hear that at least some of the disciples have left for Galilee I know I’ve missed seeing Jesus when he appeared in Jerusalem.
I feel guilty because doubt is starting to creep into my mind despite all I’ve seen and experienced. How can I go back to my time without knowing for certain? I would regret it for the rest of my life. I wonder if the wrong person survived to complete the mission. Maybe Thomas, who named himself after the greatest “doubter” in history should be here instead of me.
The disciples are on the Jericho road so I take a side trip to the arena cave. There are two notes waiting for me. The first is the usual note from “The People of the World”:
Cephas, the whole world is rejoicing that the end of primitive belief systems is at hand and mankind can move forward once and for all. Come home soon!
The second note is from Henry:
The world is NOT rejoicing. The group “Four” has become active worldwide and are much larger in number than we thought, though they’re still peaceful we’re sure it’s just a matter of time before things get ugly. They have taken over countless broadcasts and we can’t stop them or track them. Sometimes they put your name onto screens instead of the number four. The fish heads are completely silent and appear defeated. Our experts think the Four’s are seeking to replace the Christians. Your leadership is needed back here before another Holy War erupts.
How on earth am I supposed to respond to that? My attempt at sending a hidden message must have failed. If the Christians had seen it they would be vocal. If the pagan Four’s had gotten my message they wouldn’t be so happy. If Henry had seen it then the note would tell me to “go to hell” instead of “come back soon”.
I grab the paper and decide to write something very short so the problems in the future don’t get worse on my account.
To the People of the World:
Jesus was crucified but by the time I reached the tomb everyone was gone. I’ve followed his disciples and have seen neither his dead body nor him risen from the dead. Although I’m eager to return to our time, I must complete my mission so I’m following the disciples to Galilee to get final proof. Check for notes daily starting in one week.
I don’t want to write a note to Henry, but I guess I must so I write:
Henry, I’m sorry for the additional delay but we only get one shot at doing this completely right. It seems like I have some sway with the Four’s. Keep me in the news and I’ll address them directly when I get back.
I grab more money and start towards the Jericho road. It’s a minimum of a four or five day walk but it’s likely the disciples will be holding a stiff pace on their way to Galilee since Jesus instructed them to go there. My legs have been getting stronger but I don’t think I can keep up with men and women who have walked such distances their entire lives.
Trying to use the River Jordan isn’t an option, it’s not navigable. There’s a shorter route to Nazareth but travelling through Samaria is more dangerous. As I walk I become aware of the weight of the money in my cloak pockets and I have an idea.
When I get to Jericho I look around for anyone with an animal I can ride. Only the rich ride but technically I’m rich here. I find a house with four donkeys and knock on the door. A solid-looking man answers the door.
“I see you have four fine asses. Are any of them for sale?” I ask.
“You don’t look like a farmer. Do you need an ass to ride or work?”
“To ride to Galilee and back.”
“You must be a rich man, seeking an ass to ride.”
“I’m not rich, but I can pay you.”
“You are also not a good judge of animals. The youngest colt is too young to ride, the Jack is lame but can still breed, the Jenny is pregnant and the older colt isn’t broken to the saddle.”
“You are right, I’m not a good judge of animals.”
I turn to leave.
“But I do have what you need.”
He leads me behind the barn where a horse is tied up.
“She was left to die at the river by Roman soldiers because she had broken her leg. I brought her back to health. She can’t be used as a war horse or even to pull a plow because the break is weak. She cannot not gallop but she can walk and even trot to Galilee and back.”
“Do you have a saddle?”
“No, the Romans took their saddle of course.”
“Do you know where I can buy a saddle today?”
“A large saddle for an ass might be made to fit. There’s a merchant in town who might have one big enough.”
I get the horse and saddle for most of my gold. I have no idea how much a horse is worth and I haven’t figured out the conversion system between gold, silver and bronze coins so I just hope they were being honest salesmen. I’m much happier riding a horse. Riding on a donkey like Christ did as he entered Jerusalem just seems wrong somehow.
***
Even riding at a horse’s walk I’m making much better time than if I were on foot. The disciples started out at least a couple of days ahead of me so I don’t catch them until I reach the tip of the Sea of Galilee.
They’re all walking. There’s no way they could have carried a body far without being noticed.
I’ve just refilled my water skins so I trot up next to them.
“Are you thirsty?” I ask the group.
The days have been getting warmer so I’m riding in just my Roman toga. They look up at me then back at the ground.
“We just drank and filled our skins.”
I’m not sure which one it is. Except for Simon Peter I never did figure out who’s who.
“Thomas be gracious,” Simon Peter says. “I know this man. He was mute and was healed by our Lord in Jerusalem.”
“That’s right. I was very grieved when he was crucified.”
“Grieve not! Our Lord has risen just as he and the scriptures foretold. We have seen him in Jerusalem and we go now to Galilee where he says he will come to us again.”
If Simon Peter is lying to me, he’s very good at it.
“Then our paths go the same way. May I join you?”
“Of course,”
Peter looks around as if seeking someone else.
“Is everything okay?”
“I’m just surprised to see you traveling alone.”
***
For the next day I travel with the disciples. They tell the story of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection to every Jew they see along the road
but with me they remain quiet and explain it’s because I’m a Roman and a gentile. It’ll be a while yet before missions to spread the good news of Christ to the gentiles will begin. We reach the Sea of Galilee and spend several days resting. Simon Peter and his brother know the area well, having grown up fishing here.
Although I seem welcome at their fire, I make a camp down the shore from where they’re staying. They kindly give me extra fish when they catch them. One night I hear them gathering their nets and pushing off their boat to go fishing but I fall back asleep. Just at dawn I hear a man’s voice say “Friends, have you caught any fish?” and the disciples in the boat say “No”. I pull on my cloak and look along the shore. There’s the dark figure of a man standing near the water and I can see a lamp on the boat, which is about ninety meters from shore.
“Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat and you’ll get plenty of fish!” instructs the man on the shore. I hear the splash of the net and soon after the sounds of happy men straining at a net full of fish.
“It is the Lord!” one of the men in the boat says.
There’s just enough light that I can see someone dive overboard and swim to shore. I strain my eyes in the growing light to see what’s going on and in time there’s no doubt, Jesus is standing among them. I felt his cold, dead flesh at Golgotha, he was dead and now here he is walking among us. I still don’t know how to explain the blood near the tomb, but now that I can see him it no longer matters.
It takes every bit of willpower I have to not join their fire and eat breakfast with them. I want to put my fingers on the scars on his wrists and side, but I know I can’t.
You don’t need to touch him in order to believe.
After breakfast, Jesus and Simon Peter walk along the shore towards me. Like I did outside Jericho I conceal myself in the bushes and wait. Jesus stops not far away and bids Simon Peter to sit with his back towards me.
“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” Jesus asks Simon Peter.