People of the Book Part One: Masada Scroll by Robert Vaughan & Paul Block

Author:Robert Vaughan & Paul Block [Vaughan, Robert & Block, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781685493509
Publisher: Rough Edges Press
Published: 2023-12-25T16:00:00+00:00

Miles away at sea, a small boat sailed swiftly toward the coast of Greece, bearing the wife of Governor Rufinus Tacitus to Rome. The three other passengers were mere servants, at least as far as the boat’s crew was concerned.

Dismas bar-Dismas found it difficult to play the role of a servant. While he considered himself a servant of Jesus Christ, he did not know how to properly humble himself as the attendant to a mere mortal, even one as prominent as Marcella. And so he tried to avoid notice as he stood alone at the rail, gazing into the distance.

Marcella came up beside him, interrupting his meditations. “Look at them,” she whispered, nodding toward the stern, where Marcus Antonius and Tamara were seated arm in arm on a pile of canvas sail. “I am glad we were able to secure Marcus’s freedom. It means so much to both of them.”

“Yes,” Dismas agreed.

“Oh, how rude of me!” Marcella declared, drawing her hand over her mouth. “Of course, your freedom means as much to you, as well.”

“Does it?” Dismas replied, looking back to sea.

“Do you not value your own freedom and the things you can now accomplish?”

“Of course I do,” Dismas said, turning toward her. “Please do not think me ungrateful. I am very thankful, and not unmindful of the risk you have taken in rescuing us.”

“Then why do you question your freedom?”

“Because I wonder if God truly intended for me to go to Rome,” he confessed. “Perhaps he wanted me to face my death on the cross, so that by my example the Lord might inspire the faithful in Ephesus.”

“Dismas, put your mind at ease. You have done the correct thing,” Marcella said.

“How can I be sure?”

“Didn’t you tell me of a task given you by the apostle Paul? Your commission is not yet finished, is it?”

“It is not,” Dismas admitted.

“And there is so much more to be done in the service of our Lord. Who, may I ask, is better prepared to serve than you, whose own father accompanied our Lord to Heaven? No, you were not meant for such a death. Not today.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“I know I am,” she said. “After all, if not for you, I would not now be counted among the faithful.”

Dismas smiled and put his hand on her shoulder. “Perhaps you are right. Perhaps God is speaking to me, right now, through you.”

Marcella returned the smile, then took her leave and walked over to a special chair that had been brought aboard for her, in keeping with her station.

Alone again at the rail, Dismas tried to convince himself that Marcella was right. Perhaps his work was not yet done. He thought of the love his brother had displayed in risking his life to save not only Dismas but a Roman centurion. And he did so despite being a nonbeliever.

Dismas prayed for Tibro, not only for his safety but that he might one day know the loving embrace of Jesus. He prayed also for the good Christians of Ephesus who had helped him escape.

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