Johann Quisumbing

An Adventure Story of Yeshua bar Yosef by JQuisumbing

Yehudah-ish-Kerioth was truly a ‘city boy’. Camping in the open was somewhat challenging for him. On his first night with them, he was fidgety while lying on the ground and frequently jumping up whenever a wild jackal howled nearby. His inexperience in the wilderness was painfully obvious for when he joined them, he was not clothed for a long journey. His tunic, his robe and even his sandals were more meant for city life. He had no bag and except for a kippah,¹ he had no head cover to protect him from the sun. About five miles from Jericho, the sole of one of his sandals finally ripped apart. Yeshua used his leather sash to wrap his sore foot.

“That should last you until Jericho,” he said, patting his shoulder as he got up. 

When they were a mile from the city, he said, “Yehudah, you and Andraus go into the city and purchase a sturdy pair of foot wear. Andraus, you go and find out the whereabouts of my cousin. We’ll camp by the river.”

Two hours later, Yeshua was concluding his lessons with the women when Shimon poked his head into the tent.

“Master, runners are coming in from the city.”

Yeshua slowly raised his head as if he was listening to a distant sound. 

“Master, what is wrong?” asked Mariam.

Yeshua stood up and stepped out of the tent. In the distance, he could see three men running.

“It is Andraus,” Yeshua said. “And he brings news!” Then Yeshua turned and walked toward a nearby knoll. When he got to the top, his eyes focused on the distant horizon. He was gazing towards the south-east where he could just make out the hazy mountain range, a region once known as the ancient kingdom of Moab. 

“Master, master!” It was Andraus’ desperate voice. “Herod arrested Yohanen!” he said almost in tears. “We must save him!”

“Calm down, brother,” said Shimon. “Tell us what happened.”

Andraus was bawling and unable to speak. 

“We were approached by one of the Baptist’s followers who recognized Andraus,” Yehudah said. He described how the Baptist was at the north where the great lake poured into the Jordan preaching his message for repentance. Then he heard that Herodias, Antipas’ wife, and her entourage were travelling to the lake side city of Tiberius. By the great river, he openly criticized her immoral marriage to Antipas, being first married to his brother. Herod had heard what had happened. He sent his Syrian mercenaries, Roman trained, to arrest the Baptist. They held him in Tiberias until after the Passover. 

“So, where are they holding him?” demanded Yohanen, brother of Yakob.

“They are holding him there!” Yeshua, still staring south east, lifted his hand, pointing. “He is in Macherus.”

“Master, I will get everyone to break up camp.”

“Yes, Andraus, you do that, but…” Yeshua turned around to face them, “…we are not going south.”

“B-b- but… what about Yoh… that is, your cousin?”

Yeshua approached Andraus and sympathetically placed his hand on his shoulder

“Fret not, Andraus. Trust in my Father in Heaven. Go! Get everybody ready to go.” Turning to Shimon, he said, “Shimon, you take Yehudah with you and acquire a wagon for the women to ride in.” 

“Where do we go, Master?”

He looked again toward the distant mountain fortress to where his cousin was held in chains. Then, he turned south and said in a solemn voice, “To the north, we must go to the lands of Zebulun and of Naphtali, once humbled by my Father. To the way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan; to Galilee of the Gentiles where a multitude, living in darkness will see a great light. To them… those who are in the land of the shadow of death, a great light will dawn.” ²

Footnotes: [1] Jewish skull cap; [2] Isaiah 9:1-2

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