Johann Quisumbing

An Adventure Story of Yeshua bar Yosef by JQuisumbing

Yeshua was just coming to the gates of the city when he spotted Andraus and Yoyanen waiting for him. He had spent the night on a hill North of the city. He was gratified that he could retreat from the crowd, from time to time, find an isolated place and spend quality time with his Father in Heaven.

“Master, Levi went to the counting house by the fishmonger’s station on the lake,” Andraus said.

“It’s the place where he and his colleagues would collect from the fishmongers and tally their profits,” Yohanen said, somewhat distastefully. “Shimon and the rest are waiting for us there.”

Yeshua contemplated going around the city rather than through it to avoid attracting attention. So, they walked along the perimeter of the city wall until they reached the shoreline of the Galilean lake. But he was recognized and it didn’t take long for a crowd to gather and follow, in the hope of witnessing something spectacular.

They found Shimon and the others among waiting fishermen just outside the fishmonger’s building. Shimon pointed to a long semi–open structure of six columns supporting a flat roof. Under it, richly dressed men were busy conducting their business in their respective booths. Levi was sitting behind a table laden with several stacked coins, writing this day’s accounting on his tablet. The guards who stood lazily under the eaves, became alert when they saw an approaching crowd. Some of the tax collectors also looked nervously at the assembly, thinking that this was some kind of protest. A couple of them hastily shoveled their coins into two baskets.

One of the guards commanded the people not to come any closer. The people stopped whispering to each other. A number of them were wondering why the Healer came to this hated place. A few of them hoped that he would call down fire upon them. Yeshua alone took a couple of steps forward.

“Levi bar Alpheas,” Yeshua called out loud.

Levi, who was so engrossed and unaware of what was happening, looked up startled. He then saw Yeshua and his eyes went very wide.

“Come Levi, follow me.” Yeshua turned around and started to walk away through the crowd. As they parted to let him through, he could hear bustling behind him.

“Levi, where are you going?” someone yelled. “Your profits… you left all your coins!”

As Yeshua was walking on the pebbled beach, passing a number of anchored boats, he heard crunching footsteps beside him. He didn’t have to look at who it was.

“I think I will call you, Matityah. Yes yes! Matityah is a good name for you.”

“Rabbi… I am most overwhelmed. I don’t understand what is happening to me. I should be scared, but I am not.” 

“It is quite simple, Matityah. You had a choice and you chose to follow me,” Jesus said mirthfully.

“Lord, where are we going?”

“To your house, of course. You and I have a lot to talk about.”

TO BE CONTINUED

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