In the shortest order Yeshua had chided the great wisdom of Nicodemus, first by suggesting that he must indeed become like an infant yet again, to see with new eyes. And then by suggesting that the kingdom was within, buried from sight, found only by those who would forsake all for its value.
“You have heard me say, ‘Do not store up for yourself treasures on earth where moths and vermin destroy… but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’ And so it is. But have I not also said that the kingdom of God is within you? And have I not said that you cannot enter unless you change your mind? For I have said often, repent, for the kingdom is at hand. Then you will see and know that what I say is true.”
To repent meant to go beyond one’s way of thinking, this I knew also from the Greek of the same word, metanoia. In his own way, Yeshua was throwing into madness all that was held dear about wisdom, thereby making it foolish to the learned, and wise only to the infant.
“Faith,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes. “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” He paused. “If anyone steadfastly believes in me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these.”
If there had been a mustard seed in his fingers and he’d dropped it, I think we might have heard it strike the table in that moment. What did it mean to trust steadfastly in him? I did not yet know.
“Hear what I have said and you will know. Yes, Nicodemus?”
The esteemed teacher dipped his head. “As you say, Ra—”
“Good. Now let me tell you a story of another kind,” Yeshua said.
He took a small bite from the fig and leaned against the wall at his back.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.”
He paused, letting the scenario settle in.
“The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’ ”
Yeshua turned his eyes to me now, and I was certain that he spoke only to me, though I knew it could not be.
“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ ”
A hard master who was unfair. My mind immediately went to all the men who had used me for their gain. He was speaking of the hardship of life. And yet the last servant had done well to preserve what had been entrusted to him, as had I, and for this he would surely be praised.
Yeshua leaned into the table now. He spoke in a soft tone, so that each of us clung to his every word, but his eyes were on me.
“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ”
So harsh was this master? But yes—we all knew the world to be a cruel master. No one moved and I was sure they were looking at me.
Yeshua pushed himself back from the table, stood, and rounded to my side. I was so astonished by his approach that I began to panic. I thought I must kneel as Judah had, and I began to move off my seat, terrified that he had come to rebuke me.