 | XV. Julian, or Scenes in Judea |  |
15. XV.
It is many days, my mother, since I last
wrote. Strange events and unlooked for have
happened in the mean time to keep me silent,
and attentive only to what was taking place
immediately around us. In the midst of our
enterprises we have been suddenly arrested by
the appearance of another prophet, if prophet
he be, on the banks of the Jordan! Where
there was but one, there are now two; where
there was but John, there are now John and
Jesus, for that is the name of him who has now
joined him. All the region round about us is
in a ferment of curiosity and hope, and so distracted
are men's minds, that Herod, and all we
who are joined with him, pause at once in our
movements. Every arm must hang lifeless
until what has now occurred shall receive its
interpretation.
The account of these things was first received
thus.
It became necessary for me, in obedience to
letters received from Herod, to depart for Tiberias,
— as being cooler, — he chiefly resides.
Ziba, having completed our preparations, was
awaiting me at the Portico overlooking the Jordan.
As I stood conversing with Judith, unwilling
to depart while that pleasure could be
prolonged, choosing also that the twilight
should deepen farther into the evening shade
ere I betook myself to the public ways, Onias,
who had been some days absent at Machærus,
suddenly arrived. He had plainly ridden fast
and far, the foam rolled from the animal from
which he sprang, and he himself seemed disturbed.
When he had, as always, affectionately
saluted us, he asked, “whither I was bound?”
I said, “to Tiberias.”
“Since what has happened,” he replied, “at
Bethabara, it can be of no service.”
We asked, “of what do you speak? we have
heard nothing.”
“That is strange,” replied Onias. “Beth-Harem
I found stirred throughout. I marvel
that Shammai and Zadok have not already been
here. What I speak of,” continued Onias, “is
of the appearance of another prophet, or of the
Messiah himself, on the banks of the Jordan, at
Bethabara.”
We expressed our astonishment, and besought
him to relate all he had learned.
“He came yesterday,” resumed Onias, “to
John to receive with others his baptism. I had
not yet arrived there. But thus I was told by
those who were there. It was about the ninth
hour of the day when, as John was baptizing
in the stream, his kinsman, Jesus from Nazareth,
came, among others, asking to be baptized also.
They said that as John saw him approaching,
he paused and looked steadfastly upon him with
such sort of reverence in his eyes, as if he had
beheld a person greatly exalted above himself,
— yea, even as if he had seen an angel from
Heaven, — and that at first he refused to baptize
him, as being himself the inferior teacher,
which did not fail to fill John's disciples with
the most extreme astonishment, and not less
all who stood near; for that John is a prophet
sent of God, his followers do not doubt, but
boast themselves continually of his authority,
and do not scruple to say, as they believe, that
he will in the event prove himself the Christ.”
“That we continually hear,” I said.
“But what immediately happened,” resumed
thy brother, “filled all who were present with
greater wonder still. For they affirm that,
when John's unwillingness was overcome by
the earnest request or command of Jesus,
and they had gone into the river, and while
the Baptist poured on the water of purification,
the brightness of the day, as if from
the opened heavens, and at the same time a
voice, not as the voice of a man, declaring
him the Son of God. This heavenly sign was
but for a moment, and was then withdrawn.
The multitude were filled with both fear and
amazement, and when it had passed, could hardly
say whether what they had witnessed were
a reality or a dream. But while they questioned
among themselves, Jesus disappeared from
the midst of them, and has not since been
found.”
“This is wonderful, my father, indeed,” said
Judith. “It surely seems as if God were now
visiting us. The long silence seems broken.
First John, and now another. Surely, my father,
you will give heed to this.”
“I have not denied, my child, to John the
praise of a righteous man. I have denied him
as the Christ only. He is truly a man of God.
What hath now happened in Bethabara, fills
me, Judith, not less than thyself, with astonishment,
and with hope also. Doubt not that I
shall wait to know what this vision may mean.
My trust is even in God, that he will yet appear
for his people, and how he shall appear,
by what signs and by what mediator, whether
angel or man, our ignorance cannot say. Whoever
will I receive. Jesus may be he.”
As Onias said these things there was the
sound of approaching steps and voices, and in a
moment Shammai, Zadok, with others of the
synagogue, joined us. They were rejoiced to
find Onias at home.
“Now,” said Shammai, “let us know the
truth, for thou hast been in Bethabara, and, as
we hear in Beth-Harem, wast present at the
baptism. We have come from the city for this
end, to hear thy report and bear it back to the
city.”
They were sorry, and greatly surprised to
learn that Onias had not himself been present.
“Thus it is,” said Zadok, “we know not
what nor whom to believe. So of the appearance
itself, may we well doubt if aught were
seen beyond the light of a hot sun passing out
from behind a cloud, or heard, beyond the rushing
of the wind among the trees. The story
by this time at Jerusalem speaks, I will warrant,
of the Heavens being on fire, and of legions of
angels descending.”
“Nay, nay, Zadok,” said Onias, “not so.
Though I saw not myself, I know those of
Bethabara, who were present and witnessed the
appearance. It was as hath been reported to
you, if an honest man is to be believed, (and
he saw with his own eyes and heard with his
own ears. They, indeed, who stood remote on
the banks, and were not among such as knew
what was taking place, but were attentive to
other things, said that they heard only a noise,
as of thunder, and saw only a light, as of the
lightning. But they only are to be credited
who stood by.”
“But what,” said Zadok, “hath become of
the new prophet?”
“While the people,” replied Onias, “were
talking with each other, overwhelmed with astonishment
and fear, he was seen to depart by
many who were near him towards the mountains,
none hindering or following, or so much
as asking whither he would go.”
“Well,” said Shammai, “these are strange
things. But what is strange oft vanishes when
more is heard and known.”
“And sometimes grows,” said Judith, “to
what is stranger still.”
“Yes, daughter,” he replied, “you say true;
so that patient waiting for the full event is the
part of the wise. But,” continued the Ruler,
turning to Onias, “whence came this Jesus? —
you have told us whither he is gone, — for in
Beth-Harem some say one thing, and some
another. One affirms he is from Judea near
others that he is from Bethlehem, — and others
from Galilee.”
“The last are right,” answered Onias, “he
is of Galilee.”
“He were better from some other part of the
land,” said Shammai, “for his own sake.”
“He is not only from Galilee,” continued
Onias, “but from Nazareth in Galilee.”
“Ha, ha,” laughed Zadok, “prosperity await
him! A prophet from Nazareth! when a just
man shall be found among the Sadducees, a
holy man among the Essenes, or an honest man
among the publicans, then may a prophet come
from among the Nazarenes. They are truly
the progeny of swine.”
“It will at least,” said Shammai, “take
more than a day to win hearers and believers.”
“That may be,” said Judith; “yet if he
should perchance overcome such prejudgments,
it would then be so much the more in his favor.”
“Perchance! perchance!” cried Zadok,
“that was a good word, maiden, to put in.
There is little danger of such victory.”
“Well,” said Judith, “with Shammai we
will wait and see.”
“Yes, child,” answered Zadok, “we will
wait; and wait we shall, till Jordan runs backwards
come out of Galilee.”
“Do not some affirm,” said Judith, “that he
is of Bethlehem? Perchance, Zadok, he may
yet be found to be of Judea.”
“Yea, daughter, perchance.”
“The rumor concerning the origin at Bethlehem
comes,” said Onias, “doubtless from
this, that he was born there at what time his
parents were gone up to the enrolment in the
days of Quirinius; for this Jesus, — unless indeed
all be false, — is he who was hailed King
of the Jews by the Magians of Arabia, in the
reign of Herod the Great; of whose strange
birth all Israel heard, but afterward heard no
more.”
“We all remember the tale,” said Shammai,
“to have been told to us, and some of us, Zadok,
can remember through our own hearing.”
“I number, Shammai, but forty years, and
know nothing thereof.”
“But where,” asked Shammai, “has this
youth concealed himself during the years since
the time of his birth?”
“As I learned at Bethabara,” Onias replied,
“he hath dwelt in Nazareth, save that at the
feasts he hath ever gone up to Jerusalem, carefully
observing the Law. But this is affirmed
also, that he is of the family and lineage of
David.”
“That,” said Shammai, will place him above
John in his hopes of a ready reception, for John
could not claim as much. Yet we hear that
the disciples of John contend, that the voice
pointed to their master as the Son of God,
rather than Jesus; the name of neither having
been pronounced.”
“So,” replied Onias, “it happened; for although
John said at the first of himself, that he
was but the herald of one greater, and so declares
to this day, his followers scruple not to
believe and to declare that he is himself that
greater. And this notwithstanding also the
plainness with which the Baptist hath announced
Jesus as a Prophet above all, even He
who should come.”
Said Zadok, “Verily Onias, thy words seem
like one who is ready to believe these things
himself. Hast thou too been baptized in Jordan?”
“Jest not, Zadok,” replied thy brother,
“with things that may be of God. The times
are full of dread. I am, as thou well knowest,
as you all know, firmly bound to Herod; but
Herod is not God, nor hath God spoken as yet
by him. Wherever and whenever I shall hear,
or believe I hear the voice of God, and behold
the signs that shall show his presence and
power, there shall I be to listen and obey. In
of God. He is not the hope of Israel, though
the spirit of God may rest upon him. But
what can we yet say of Jesus? If the eyes
and ears of men have not been blinded or deceived
by the powers of darkness, then hath
the God of our nation spoken. The multitudes
of Bethabara doubt not that he has. The
heavenly signs were not to be mistaken, they
affirm. Yet, as I judge, we know not enough
in this either to affirm or deny. The power of
invisible spirits, and of the angels who fell we
know not. It may be a delusion of Satan.
Let us wait to see more. We must know him
and hear him. It must reasonably give pause
to us and to all, that Jesus has already withdrawn
from sight, plunging immediately into
the secret places of the mountain deserts. But,
Zadok, while it may be that God hath indeed
descended among us, and has at length
revisited his people by the prophet whom
long since he promised, it becometh all his
children to bow in reverence and wait his
will.”
Zadok, far from being moved by what Onias
had said with his air of deep sincerity, was
evidently laboring, while he spoke, to suppress
his scorn and contempt. His eye, the while,
was fired with the inward passion, and his lip
but Shammai interposed; —
“Onias, Zadok, is right; and such should be
our teaching at the synagogue. The prophets
have foreshown, that Messiah shall in these
days reveal himself, but they have not said
with what form he shall come, with what signs
he shall be announced, nor how attended. The
thoughts and ways of Jehovah are not as ours.
When he appeared of old to his servant, he
was not in the fire, nor in the whirlwind, but
in the small voice. So if we would be prudent
shall we say it may be now. The people
look for one coming in the pomp and circumstance
of a Prince, so that every eye shall confess
him as there, or there, or here; but perchance
they misjudge the trappings of a true Prince. A
Prince and King he certainly will be; he who
is to come is truly to be the deliverer of Israel;
but where shall be the hiding of his power,
and what the instruments he shall use, and
what the raiment he shall wear, and the ensigns
of his dignity, who may dare to say?”
“The Ruler hath spoken what is right,”
cried many voices of those who were crowded
around, intently listening. “Let us wait and
see,” exclaimed others. “If Jesus is the Son
of David, we shall soon behold him on his
throne; that will show him.”
“And if he is Beelzebub's minister, as he
seemeth, by this seeking the desert places, we
shall see him no more; he hath already gone
back to his master;” cried Zadok's shrieking
voice.
With these words and other discourse which
followed, Shammai, Zadok, and those who had
accompanied them, took leave and departed to
the city.
Thus, my mother, are we, as I have said,
already arrested in our affairs. As the thoughts
of all are swallowed up by the strangeness of
these events, and are not to be diverted from
them, we are compelled to give way and remain
inactive — so far we are determined in our
course by the events and circumstances themselves.
Obeying, therefore, the counsel of
Onias, and the necessity of things also, I went
not to Tiberias, but despatched Ziba instead
bearing letters to Herod.
I send this, my mother, at the moment I
have written it, that you may receive early
knowledge of the wonderful things that have
happened.
| XV. Julian, or Scenes in Judea | |