‘Why does this wasteful woman not sell that ointment?’ he blurted out. ‘It would fetch more than three hundred silver coins for the poor, that’s enough to feed a farmer for a year!’
Lazarus-John entered with his spirit into Judas and saw what was made plain by his words: his lustful heart.
Christ Jesus looked up. ‘Why do you trouble her, Judas?’ he said, gently. ‘You have the poor with you always. Whenever you wish to serve them, you may do so. But you do not have me always! See how the heart of this woman is full of service? Death comes, my brothers, and when it comes I shall be anointed and ready because of this woman. She alone is capable of uniting me further with the God in me so that I may go to my death in the right way. That is why, whenever this day is spoken of, this woman will be remembered for having loved me more than the worth of this costly ointment!’
Judas looked around at the other disciples, flying daggers from his eyes, but found no support for his outburst, not even from Simon-Peter, who did not like Magdalena. And so it was Judas put a morsel in his mouth and let it go. But Lazarus-John saw how crowded was the air around him with dark shadows and he knew that in freedom Judas had chosen to hate.
55
THE PUPIL
It was the afternoon of the 12th of Nissan, a time when Pilgrims and natives of Jerusalem were accustomed to come to the temple to mingle happily in the Court of the Gentiles, to partake of its cool airs and to listen to the discourses of the rabbis. Today was a restful day for tomorrow throngs would gather here to purchase their paschal lambs. The next day they would return again for the slaying and the sacrifices, going home afterwards to make preparations for the Passover Feast.
Gamaliel was in the temple with Saul of Tarsus when Jesus and his disciples entered the court of the Gentiles through a porch.
Two days before Jesus had made a triumphant entry into Jerusalem and had been welcomed with ecstasy, hope and joy by a people well acquainted with his healings and miracles. Yesterday however, he had overturned the tables of the vendors and moneychangers in the temple, as he had done three years before, raising the ire of the Pharisees again. But the crowds continued, despite warnings against it, to throng to the temple each day to see Jesus when he came to teach.
These years he had followed Jesus’ doings and had grown more and more concerned for him. He had come today to see for himself what had become of his pupil and friend.
Saul, who was beside him now, had also been his pupil in those early days. Soon he would be chosen by members of the Sanhedrin for ordination into the office of Rabbi and Gamaliel could not prevent himself from pondering the parallels between the two men. However, among the similarities there were also great distinctions. Saul did not have the depth of feeling and understanding for the suffering of others that had been the guiding force of Jesus’ life. Saul might have a brilliant mind but it was full of stern impatience. He sensed that Saul’s restless heart could either be guided towards the channels of wisdom, love and devotion, or fired up by zeal into a blaze of wrath that was merciless in the judgement of others.
Now Gamaliel wondered how Saul would judge Jesus.
When Jesus began to speak the Pharisees entered the court enclosure. Having heard that he was returned to the Temple this day they had turned out in full force against him.
‘You have no authority to teach, son of a carpenter!’ said a scribe, ‘You are no scholar, you are no rabbi. Who has given you the right?’
From the sea of people one man called out, ‘His plumb lines and saws have given him the right!’
Laughter rang out in the Temple and was reflected from its walls causing a great din.
Jesus waited for quiet. ‘I will tell you by what authority I say these things,’ he said, serenely. ‘But only if you will answer me one question: Was the baptism of John inspired by a man or inspired by heaven?’
This threw the Pharisees and scribes into turmoil. Gamaliel knew the measure of his old pupil’s wisdom. The Pharisees would be reckoning that if they said that John’s baptism was from heaven, this in itself was an acknowledgement of Jesus’ authority, for John had baptised him and recognised his mission, then again if they said that John’s baptism was not inspired by heaven they would be disavowing John the Baptist, whom the people counted as a great prophet.
They shook their heads and shrugged their shoulders.
‘You don’t answer for fear of saying the wrong thing. You see how dishonest you are?’ Jesus said to them.
The people nodded and smiled to themselves, for they too had seen it.
‘For this reason I shall not discuss with you further by what authority I do these things!’