Johann Quisumbing

An Adventure Story of Yeshua bar Yosef by JQuisumbing

Ioanna looked haggard. There were signs of more crying and as soon as she saw Yeshua, she fell on her knees and bowed low before him.

“Oh Rabbi, we found you, at last,” Ioanna sobbed. “My heart has been shattered.”

Yeshua’s mother and Mariam helped Ioanna sit on a cushion. Yeshua went down on one knee before her. Placing his hand on her trembling hands, he said as a matter of fact, “Your husband…” 

She nodded, then she buried her face on his mother’s shoulder sobbing uncontrollably.

“He was… drunk again and… I, ah… found him with her! I had returned to Tiberius one day earlier. He was not expecting me to arrive early. When I set my eyes on them, in our room… in our bed! I… I just had to leave.”

Yeshua stayed quiet and let her talk. She ranted about how she gave him the best years of her life. When he decided that he wanted no children, she gave no argument. When he decided to leave their home in Hebron to become Antipas’ chamberlain, she followed with no complaints. Then, she calmed down a little. “But the fault is not totally his,” Ioanna said quietly. “I allowed it to happen. I saw the change in him. As he rose in prestige, Antipas wanted him to attend every party to a point that Chuza would return in to our bedchamber mostly drunk and smelling of perfume. We have not shared a bed for a very long time.”

She looked up into his eyes and asked, “Rabbi, what option is there for me? The law gives men options for divorce, but I don’t know what… Roman women can… Oh, I don’t know what to do!”

“Tell me when you first met him. Ioanna,” Yeshua said gently.

She sighed, then she had that distant look in her eyes. “I was fifteen… and I was enjoying myself on a swing looking out at a bay watching seabirds diving into the water for fish. My father was a Jewish magistrate in Brundisium.” Ioanna noticed his mother looking at Mariam questioningly. “It is at the bottom end of Italy.”

“I first saw Chuza talking to my father as they were strolling in the garden. He had just arrived from Jerusalem and was to live with us as he completed his education. He was very handsome and quite charming…”

She recalled the times when they would stroll together clasping each other’s hands. He would regale her with the tales of his travels and adventures, while she dreamt of what their futures will be like together. It was not long after that her father noticed they were getting close. He approved the match. As Jews living in a foreign country, tradition was often forgone. They were married months later in accordance with Roman law. 

“We were so happy. Then my father’s duties brought us to Rome where we eventually met Herodias who was still married to Herod Archelaus whom the emperor granted the governorship of all of Judea. It was she that convinced Chuza to move to Jerusalem and become her Chamberlain. At first, I thought that it was a great opportunity for my husband. So, I encouraged him to take the position.” Then, Ioanna broke out sobbing. “It is all my fault, Lord!” 

Yeshua saw that she was close. “Ioanna, let it all out. Complete your story.”

TO BE CONTINUED

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