Johann Quisumbing

An Adventure Story of Yeshua bar Yosef by JQuisumbing

Matityah’s house was not exactly in the city. His and a dozen other houses of the same size were clustered together about a quarter of a mile Southwest of the city. It was mostly a gentile neighborhood with the exception of some undesirable Jews. His house happened to be the one adjacent to the gate.

Matityah and Yeshua spoke privately throughout most of the afternoon. At dusk, it was he that laid out the long dining table that was sitting at the open porch that overlooked the courtyard. He had servants who were indebted to him, but he earlier forgave them what they owed and sent them home with generous severance pay. From his pantry, he and some of the women brought to the table platters of bread, cheeses, assorted vegetables, berries, fruits and numerous dried fish. Just as it got dark, Shimon and Andraus brought in two roasted lambs and set it at the center of the table.

Yeshua was tearing some of the meat and placed it on his plate. “Such a feast, Matityah! Have you completely emptied your larder?”

Matityah was pouring wine into judas’ goblet, when he looked up to scrutinize the already over ladened table and said “I believe so. I need to empty it, for tomorrow I will no longer be in this house anymore!” He announced happily. There was clapping and laughing all around.

It was not long until the merriment attracted a number of neighbors and friends to drop by. And because they did not want to burden Matityah, they came with more food and drink to add to the table. All in all, Yeshua estimated that there were, including his companions, about three dozen or so people in this impromptu party. He closely observed the reaction of his followers being among those whom, in that very morning, would never have expected to be mingling with. But then, eating a bounty of good food and drinking good wine had its effect in bringing them together. Of course, there were some holdouts. Yeshua noticed that Sy the zealot, Taddai and Yehuda stood apart quietly near the courtyard gate. He will talk to them at a later date.

Meanwhile, many of Matityah’s associates came up to him expressing their gratitude.

“None of us ever expected that a rabbi would ever step foot into the home of any publican,” said one of Matityah’s associates.

A businessman was about to suggest that some of his disciples should pass around a collection plate about the crowd that came to listen to his teachings. But Yeshua had to excuse himself, for his attention was at a commotion by the courtyard gate. Sy was just outside trying to calm down a couple of angered Pharisees. Yehudah saw Yeshua approaching.

“These men came inquiring about why you are in this house, among sinners?”

“I see,” Yeshua said. “I will talk with them.” He walked out the gate, followed by Shimon and Matityah.

One of them, the one who was not angry, saw him approaching. In a pleading voice, he said, “Rabbi, this is not good! I have heard you speak with authority. I even witnessed you cast out an unclean spirit. Who else but one sent by God can do this? But then, you are here eating and drinking with tax collectors and gentiles. If the people see… I mean, our leaders…”

The other Pharisee angrily approached but Yeshua raised his hand up for silence before he could utter a rebuke.

“Answer me this,” Yeshua said, “who would you send the physician to? To the healthy or to the sick?”

“The sick!” They both answered.

“I am glad that you answered correctly. So, it should be easy for you who are teachers of the law to ascertain that I’m here to call sinners; not the righteous.”

“What is going on here?” It was Rabbi Amos, the Head Pharisee of Capernaum, accompanied by two of his assistants. Looking directly at the two Pharisees, he told them to return to the Synagogue straight away and complete their fasts. As soon as they left, he nodded his greetings to Yeshua and gestured to him if they could talk quietly by themselves. “They are still young,” he said apologetically. “One has promise, but the other… his father is in the Sanhedrin… Well, I need not say more.”

“Their gripes stem from their dissatisfaction of your followers not ritually fasting like themselves or like those who follow the Baptist some of whom were seen at the synagogue.”

“Would you expect the attendants of the bridegroom to fast while he is amongst them?” Yeshua asked lightly. “No, my friend, as long as the bridegroom is with them, it makes no sense for them to fast. However, one day, the bridegroom will be taken away, then they will put on sackcloth, sprinkle dust on their heads and fast.” 

“Rabbi, I too am a teacher of the law. But your teachings are not easy for me, I mean a man in my position, to swallow.”

“Then, brace yourself,” he chuckled a little. “Imagine, if you will, a man mending a tear on his garment with a patch of unshrunk cloth. What do you think would happen when that garment is plunged into water? The new patch would shrink, causing it to pull away and making the rip even worse.” Yeshua closely watched Rabbi Amos. He needed one more illustration.

“Why is it that new wine is placed in new wine skin? If new wine is placed in an old wine skin, then as it ferments, gases build up until the old wine skin, which would be dry and stiff, would break open and the wine would spill out.”

“I hear you. I hear you,” he said laughing a little. “I will contemplate some more on your parables.” Then, his face turned serious. “I must tell you that word about you had come down to me. This is the reason that I sought you out in this part of the city. As the synagogue official, I am afraid that I will not be able to stay neutral.”

“I know,” Yeshua said. “You do what you have to do. And fret not, for tomorrow, I will be out of your hair for a few weeks. I head out into the countryside going from village to village.”

TO BE CONTINUED

---

<PREV                                      NEXT>