Francine Rivers by An Echo in the Darkness

Author:An Echo in the Darkness
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

21

Marcus stood on the roof with Ezra Barjachin for the last time. Though his strength had not fully returned and his wound was not fully healed, he felt driven to continue his quest. He had informed Ezra last night that he would leave this morning, requesting clothing for his journey with a promise to repay him.

“Accept these as a gift,” Ezra said and presented Marcus with a new seamless, ankle-length tunic, a sash of colorful striped cloth, a heavy mantle to serve him as a cloak and bedding, and a pair of new sandals.

Marcus was deeply touched by the Jew’s generosity and kindness and was even more determined to see that Ezra was properly recompensed for his inconvenience. He had asked Taphatha to find him a Roman messenger. He gave the man a letter and promised him payment when he arrived at his destination. It took some convincing, but the messenger finally agreed to ride to Caesarea Maritima on trust and contact Marcus’ representatives. As soon as they read his instructions and saw his signature, Marcus knew they would send what he demanded and all would be done as he instructed.

Marcus looked at the older man standing by the roof wall. Ezra wore the tallis draped over his head, and Marcus knew he was praying. He felt a mingling of impatience and envy. The older man was as disciplined and tenacious as Hadassah had ever been. Would he share the same fate? What good were all his prayers? What good had hers ever been?

And why had Ezra become so hungry to learn about Jesus?

Marcus had been surprised at how intently Ezra had listened to every bit of information he could relate of what Hadassah had said about the man she had worshiped as a god. Marcus hoped telling Ezra would bring the truth to light. Perhaps this learned Jew would see the impossibilities and discrepancies of the strange story of a homely carpenter-turned-magician who proclaimed himself the Son of Adonai and who, some claimed, had arisen from the dead.

But something strange had transpired on the rooftop over the past few days. Marcus had witnessed a change in Ezra. Subtle, indescribable, yet undeniable. Marcus couldn’t put words to it. He only sensed it with his inner being. It was as though he was with someone completely different from the Ezra Barjachin who had found him in the wadi half-dead.

Marcus looked at Ezra, studying him. The older man was gazing distractedly into the street. He had to know for certain. “You believe Jesus is your Messiah, don’t you, old man?”

Ezra lifted his head and looked at the heavens. “It is as you say.”

“As I say? Don’t credit me with that story. I didn’t say Jesus was your Messiah, or God, or anything other than a man. I told you what Hadassah believed he was.”

“Yes, but with every word you spoke, I remembered the Scriptures’ foretelling of him.” He looked at Marcus. “My uncle was stoned because he believed Jesus was the Messiah.

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