Johann Quisumbing

An Adventure Story of Yeshua bar Yosef by JQuisumbing

Yeshua was telling a story to a group of laughing children. He was sitting on the steps that led up to the courtyard of the Synagogue. A crowd of grown ups was watching, more than likely, they hoped to witness an extraordinary healing. The city was buzzing with chatter of a mystery healing here and another healing there.

He took a panning glance at the two dozen or so pairs of eyes intently focused on him, but the set that most interested him was not among them. The face he sought was at the opposite side of the market square, inside a blockhouse with one window and one door, both with iron grills on them. By itself, the building seemed indistinguishable except that this structure was flanked by two bored soldiers who were definitely on guard duty. No doubt, a set of curious eyes had been peering at him within the shadows of the inside. 

Then a horse driven box wagon came to a stop in front of the blockhouse. It was built with thick planks with slit windows on all four sides and a thick reinforced door on the right side. It was the district’s tax wagon guarded by six revenue guards. The heavy door swung open and two foreigners jumped out and proceeded into the blockhouse. Not long after, they came back out, one of whom was carrying a locked chest. They quickly jumped back into the wagon. It rolled out with its escorts. Then, the blockhouse’s door opened again and out came a man who was dressed in an opulent robe and a turban, of all things. Yeshua almost broke out in laughter. He was somewhat medium height though it was not easy to tell from his headgear. He did have a long beard which was showing signs of graying. That was unusual since Yeshua knew he was only six years older than him but yet looked much like he was in his fifties. As soon as he locked the door, he stepped out onto the square. The guards then took station next to he. He was fidgeting with something in his bag, but Yeshua noticed his eyes stray over to him for just a moment, then he moved off with his escorts. 

Yeshua smiled. “Soon, but not just yet.” He watched him go down the main avenue for a block then turned left to another street that went to the wealthiest residence sector. He said again, “Not just yet.”

---

“Master, what will happen in Jerusalem?” asked Taddai. The other followers voiced the same.

“Besides us celebrating the Passover together for the first time, I am not really sure,” Yeshua said lightly.

“Forgive me for asking, Master, but why… ah…” Taddai hesitated.

“He wants to ask why you are not sure, Lord,” Sy cut in.

“Ah, of course. Gather around.” Yeshua gestured to a young man standing by Philippos. “Ia, you are the newest amongst us. Sit by me.” The rest of the men, twenty of them, sat down on the floor while Yeshua sat on a bench. He saw Mariam, Shoshannah and two other women at the back. “Shimon, please make room for the women to sit across from me. Things must be said for all of you to hear.”

He waited as they settled down.

“Nethanel, you, as well as Philippos, had more learning than the rest here. Tell them of the son of man.” 

“Well, Rabbi, the Prophet Daniel saw in a vision of one like a son of man, who came before the Ancient of Days,” Nethanel said. “And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”¹

The men were nodding their heads and smiling with approval. Sy himself was beaming.

“Daniel spoke of things that are yet to come. But he is not the one that comes to mind.”

Philippos snapped his finger. “Then, it has to be Ezekiel,” he said.  

“And what about him?”

“Throughout his writings, the Lord Adonai had repeatedly referred to him as ‘son of man’,”² said Philippos.

“And what do you infer from this?”

“Of course, I think I see. ‘Son of man.’ It was a title given only to Ezekiel, except that he was not ‘The Son of Man’ of Daniel’s writings,” Nethanel said, looking to him for encouragement. Seeing the smile and a nod, he went on, “So, the question to ask is, why did the Lord bestow the title, son of man, on him? And then, more importantly, Rabbi, what is your point in leading us to this?”

“Ezekiel is a shadow of things that are still to come.”³ 

“Master, what do you mean?” asked Shimon.

“He is an example or a model per say of how I will conduct myself to achieve my Father’s goal. And no, I am not going to start drawing a map of Jerusalem on a brick and laying before it for over a year; nor am I going to burn dung as fuel.”⁴ The last comment triggered some light laughter.  “My whole point is that I will be like Ezekiel, both man and one sent from above. And all the things I do and say will not be of my will but of Him who sent me.⁵ You will see me do and say things that may seem out of the ordinary. Prepare yourselves and be not surprised.”

Yeshua stood up as well as everyone else. “Tomorrow, we leave for Jerusalem,” Yeshua said, then he gave them a knowing smile. “Things are going to be quite interesting from here on end.”

---

Footnotes: [1] Daniel 7:13,14; [2] God called Ezekiel repeatedly as the ‘son of man.’ This address to the prophet was used exactly about 93 times within the entire book; [3] Colossians 2:17; [4] Ezekiel 4; [5] John 6:38; 12:49

Author’s Note: Chapter 5 of this story covers that part of Jesus’ biblical timeline from after He changed water into wine until He clears the Temple of greedy hawkers.

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