Journey to Jerusalem: Halt at Jericho
The water was refreshingly chill. Yeshua felt. He immersed fully in the water for a minute. When he rose fully straight and squeezed the water from his flowing black hair, he noticed a stranger on the colt in the horizon on the bank of the Yarden.
The stranger was coming towards the bank where Yeshua was bathing in the shallow waters and where the Yarden was curved with the eastern bank going up to meet the horizon. He stopped the colt nearby, dismounted and waited for Yeshua to come up from the river.
“Chaire! Hope the water refreshed your tired body!” greeted the stranger.
“Chaire!” nodded Yeshua. He put on his cloak.
“It appears your sleep was not so peaceful,” noted the stranger and pointed to the swollen eyes. “I have some dates and figs to share with you,” invited the stranger.
Both sat down on the grass and slowly started munching the fruits in silence.
“I can see from your face that you are disturbed and pondering over something very important. I am on an important agenda. But I have some spare time to listen to you and offer my suggestions.”
Yeshua was overwhelmed. After few moments of silence, Yeshua opened his heart.
“I am also on a mission from my hometown to Jerusalem, where I have planned to execute a very critical assignment. I along with my twelve stayed overnight in the village. I fear voices of discontent and murmurs in my team.”
“Any specific event that triggered?” queried the stranger.
Yeshua seemed to recollect for a moment.
“Yes. Yesterday two of my important men made a ridiculous request about reservation for positions in my office.”
“But, I assume that you don’t have any office on your own yet!” intercepted the stranger.
“Yes, of course! I meant the future.”
“True”, smiled broadly the stranger. How did you resolve?
“Well, I said that they don’t understand what they are asking,” replied Yeshua.
“That seems to be over,” observed the stranger.
“Yes and no”.
“I am not worried about the murmurs within my team. I am concerned about their perseverance and strength to take my good news to the nooks and corners of the world for the next few thousand years, particularly to the empire”.
“Why do you doubt? After all, it is you who chose them!”
“No doubt about their capabilities. In fact, I have already told them that they would be shattered like the sheep but they would be strengthened from above.”
“I understand it is not their capabilities. It is the magnitude of the revolution whose impact would last thousands of years that you are overwhelmed about. As it is said, the harvest is plentiful but the reapers are few. It is the fatigue. Am I right?” asked the stranger.
“You are!” Yeshua realized.
“Yes, I am sure you would recollect how I led the chief warrior against the mighty pharaohs over decades and how patient I AM towards tolerating the weaknesses and frailties of the leaders. In fact, they are the ones I choose, the ones that are rejected become the cornerstone.”
The stranger continued and revealed the plan.
“I have seen that a strong opponent, converted to your ideology, becomes one of the best unswerving leaders and fully committed to the mission. He must be able to penetrate the main ranks and assembly of the main force. He shall speak the same language of the empire, citizen by birth and have access to the highest ranks to the kingdom. Such a one must you appoint for the good news to reach everywhere and forever.”
“My Father! As you know, now I am on my last mission. After the calling, I have selected them, trained them and they understand the faith. One of the greatest social innovations in the history of mankind, perhaps! Only a few before have changed the course of the world and fewer are the ones whose impact would be seen thousands of years later. That, I believe, this would be thrust upon the shoulders of eleven men is an incredible act of faith and action, indeed!”
Yeshua continued.
“A strategic decision is required. A successor, not in the exact meaning, but one who would take the torch and relay it to thousands of miles away and thousands of years hence. A warrior by heart, a global citizen who could cross the empire, one who could appeal to the emperor, yet one who could preach and sermonize to the young followers of the innovation.”
The stranger sat quietly, listening with close attention.
“Where do I go and find him?”
The stranger finally revealed the grand plan.
“After your mission is completed and before your ascension, you shall meet him on the way to the Syrian capital. You shall perform miracle again and enroll him for the mission. My best wishes to you!”
The stranger got up, untied his colt and proceeded towards the horizon in the east.
Yeshua closed his eyes and in the vision, saw a young fierce man harassing the followers. Yeshua smiled at the thought that this warrior would be quoted as much as him.
He remained calm for a long time, confident that he is the right choice and the one who would take the mantle forward…
