The Stranger of Galilee

Chapter 12 - Knowledge of Good and Evil

Claudia awoke to a beautiful view of the sun rising over Mount Gerizim. There were a final few stars visible in the dusky, pink sky, their light only mere flickers as the clouds sailed westward.
               For a moment Claudia was reminded of that frightful evening in the Garden of Gethsemane, just three days ago, when Lucius had told her to remain while he went to fend off a fellow soldier. He had killed him. Claudia was fairly certain of it. After the sounds she had heard, and the silence that followed the fight...
               She sat up on her blanket on the ground and gulped. Lucius had taken a life. Did he feel guilty about it, as he did with Jesus? Or was he accustomed to killing fellow men now, and the only death he had a distaste for was the Son of God's?
               No, that was too harsh. Lucius was a good soldier: loyal, intelligent and just. And yet, he had left Claudia in a house of strangers while she slept...
               A few of those 'strangers' were gathered around a cooking pot nearby, the prettiest of which was stirring the porridge, prepared for the people to begin waking.
               A few of the children journeying with the camp came running over to Claudia when they saw her sit up. She greeted each of them by name, then stood up to stretch out her aching bones. Her foot felt a little better than it had when they left Bethany two mornings ago, though the physician amongst them told her it would be another two weeks before it was healed. So, she continued to replace the bandage with shreds of her silk dress each night, and no matter how much she protested it with Joshua, she rode a camel each day of the journey.

Yesterday Claudia had been anxious to get to Galilee as quickly as possible, but after the preaching and fellowship that she had heard throughout the day, and during the evening meal as well, she was beginning to see the adventure as more of a holiday than a trek through the wilderness! The children had especially taken a liking to her. They asked her hundreds of questions about life in a palace, Rome, the Latin language, and what the governor was like.
               Claudia's answers always seemed to disappoint them, when she spoke about the isolation, the lack of freedom and the vanity of it all, but that pleased their mothers, who should not have liked Claudia to fill their children's minds with wild tales and envy. However, when she was alone with the women they often asked the very same questions! And for all Claudia's negative answers, both the women and children kept on asking.
               The women were not entirely dreamy-eyed, however. Like the men, they most delighted to speak of Jesus, recite verses from memory, pray together, and sing. Oh, how beautifully they all sang! And after only two full days of walking together (stopping the first night near Antripatris, and the second just west of Mount Gerizim), their company had grown from forty to almost a hundred! It seemed that every stranger they passed forsook their destination to join their company as well. How could they resist, when this jumble of Christ followers was having so much fun?
               With every addition Claudia's zeal grew, along with her fear that any one of the newcomers might betray her to the Romans. But God had kept her thus far, and she trusted him to continue.

The children which had gathered around Claudia were now tugging at her woollen dress in elation.
'Claudia, Claudia!' a small, long-haired girl exclaimed, 'We are going to the River Jordan! Will you come?'
'Oh please come, Claudia! Lazarus says he cannot, but we must not go alone.'
'Where are your parents?' Claudia inquired of them. They all answered at once so Claudia stilled them, and directed the question at the small girl. 'Rebekah, where are your parents?'
'They are going with Joshua to the town. But they said we cannot go with them, so...'
               Rebekah's voice faded as Claudia straightened up and looked over at Joshua. He was standing beside the black man and Lazarus, having a hushed yet stern discussion. The child was still speaking when Claudia muttered, 'Children, wait here for me,' and walked over to the three men.
               They paused when she approached, and Claudia blushed, knowing she had no place interrupting their conversation. But if they were considering visiting the notorious, dangerous Samaritan city nearby, then their situation must have been more dire than she realised.
               'Please forgive my intrusion, men,' Claudia said quickly, 'but, the children have told me where you are going. Yesterday you said it was too dangerous, yet now you desire to go into Shechem. May I ask, are your intentions to trade for supplies?'
               The men raised their eyebrows, and nodded. Joshua said,
'Dear child, do not concern yourself -'
'Oh, but I am concerned.' Claudia said. 'I am concerned that you will not accept my help.'
               When the three of them looked surprised again, Claudia continued, 'You have all been immeasurably kind to me, and I am glad for the chance to repay such generosity. So...' Claudia removed the golden clasp from her hair, the rings from her ears and fingers, and the necklace from around her neck. The men stared all the while, speechless. '...Here.'
               Claudia pressed the weighty jewels into Joshua's wrinkled hand. 'Buy all that we need, and a camel for yourself, good man.'
               Claudia looked up at them expectantly, but when they said nothing she lowered her eyebrows. 'What is wrong?'
'Er, Claudia,' Lazarus started, but he was interrupted by her quotation of Jesus' words:
''Do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again, and your reward shall be great'.'
'While an important teaching, Claudia,' Joshua said, 'we cannot accept such a gift. Such possessions are...' he gulped and looked at the others, 'too great for us to bear.'
'Oh.' Claudia lowered her head.
               She understood: the Hebrews would not carry Roman, sin-tainted possessions. Perhaps she may as well have offered them the thirty shekels of silver Judas had received from the priests! Both were evidently blood-money in their eyes.
               'I see.'
'We will not forget the generosity of your offer.' Lazarus assured her. 'God bless you, sister.'
'Thank you.' Claudia forced a smile. Joshua put the jewellery back into her hand. Then she bid them blessings for their journey, bowed her head, and walked away.
               She rejoined the children with red cheeks and a faint heart. How insulting her offer must have been! And yet, as the children surrounded her, their faces so innocent and pure, she knew she could not allow her new family to toil, and go without, for the remaining half of their journey. They needed food, medicines, and materials: supplies they could not afford.
               Contaminated or not, her earthly treasures held no value to her anymore. In fact, she would have felt much lighter without them! And if selling them could ease Joshua's worries...
               'Claudia, will you come to the river? Please, please!'
'No.' Claudia told the children. 'I should have loved to, only, there is something important I must do.'
               Disappointed, the children muttered begrudging goodbyes before rushing off in search of Mary.