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. On his last visit here, I overheard him tell my father what Jesus said to those close to him, ‘I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. The only way to the Father is through Me.‘”
“Any man alive could say that.”
“Only one can fulfill it. In the midst of his suffering, Job said, ‘Surely even now my witness is in heaven, and my evidence is on high.’ Man needs someone to speak for him before the Lord. Job said also, ‘I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth.’ A redeemer who sacrificed himself for our sake. Only God himself is pure and without sin, Marcus. I believe Jesus is the Redeemer I’ve been waiting for all my life.”
“Think with reason. You’ve waited so long for your Messiah you want this Jesus to be the one. But what stand did he take other than to die on a cross between two other criminals?”
“He presented himself as the Passover Lamb. He was sacrificed as an atonement for the sins of all mankind.”
“You’re saying he gave up his life and became a symbol.”
“No, not a symbol. Truth. I believe he did arise from death. I believe he is God the Son.”
Marcus shook his head. Was it possible that all he had said to make this man see the fallacy in Hadassah’s faith had only convinced him it was true? “Why? How can you?”
“You have told me many things over the past few days, Marcus. Events I remember from my childhood. I was a boy when Jesus came into Jerusalem and was crucified. Words were said, and I overheard. To add to that, I have read and copied the Scriptures from the time I was a boy. It is my craft. Your testimony and the Word of God and what I remember of those times have confirmed what is in my heart. Jesus is the pathway to almighty God. Only through him will I find what I’ve been hungering for all my life.”
“And what’s that?”
“A personal relationship with the Lord.”
“Be careful what you wish for, old man. Jesus is the pathway to death. Believe me. I know. He will demand your life’s blood.”
“He can have it.”
Marcus looked away, disturbed. What had he done to him? He should never have spoken. He tried to block out the memory of Hadassah standing in the center of the arena. “I hope what you have come to believe will not prove to be the death of you.”
“Why do you harden your heart against God, Marcus Valerian? Who do you think it was that led me to you on that road from Jerusalem?”
Marcus gave a brittle laugh. “It was the vultures who led you to me. Remember?” He saw Ezra wanted to say more and held up his hand. “But let’s not argue about something over which we can never agree.” He didn’t want his last conversation with Ezra to end in anger. “It is time I left. I want to walk as long as possible before nightfall.”
“So be it.”
Ezra walked down the steps and out of the house with Marcus. He accompanied him all the way to the city gates. And then he blessed him. “May the Lord shine his face upon you and give you peace, Marcus Lucianus Valerian.”
Marcus grimaced at the blessing. “I’ve much for which to thank you, Ezra Barjachin, and I fear what I’ve given you will cause you great harm.” He extended his hand.
Ezra clasped his arm. “You have given me a gift beyond price.”
Marcus’ mouth curved wryly. “You are a good man. For a Jew.”
Well aware Marcus meant no insult, Ezra laughed. “Perhaps one day you will overcome your Roman blood,” he said in kind.
The casual words struck Marcus like a blow, for they unwittingly brought to his mind an image of himself laughing and cheering as men and women died for no other reason than entertainment for the mob.
Ezra saw his anguish and understood. “Your Hadassah is alive, Marcus.”
“She’s dead,” Marcus said with flat clarity as he withdrew his hand. “I saw her die in an Ephesian amphitheater.”
“Life is far more than we see with our eyes. Your Hadassah is with God, and God is eternal.”
Pain clutched Marcus’ heart. “I wish I could believe it.”
“In God’s time, perhaps you will.”
“May your God protect you,” Marcus said and smiled slightly. “And find a good, strong man for Taphatha.”