Onnua and Zaccheus and Eunice and Amos have met Jesus. Now He turns His face to Jerusalem, Passover, and the final work He must do for our salvation. As these two families prepare to celebrate Passover; how is Jesus' influence mirrored in their celebrations? Onnua and Zaccheus believe Jesus is the Messiah. Amos does not believe; but his family is searching for answers. However Amos' Uncle Caiaphas believes Jesus is a threat to the people and the peace. If Caiaphas makes sure Jesus dies, that will be the end of it. Won't it?

Passover Promises

A Sequel To PromisesBy Susan A. Perkins

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2011 Susan A. Perkins
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4678-7409-0

Chapter One

How happy they had all been as they approached the big city just six days ago. Even her mother-in-law, Mara, usually so reserved, was bubbling with enthusiasm. They would be staying with Caiaphas, Annas and their families. Mara enjoyed being with the other women and although their homes were as strict about the law, they had a more animated meal time. And the Passover feast was always a celebration.

As usual the crowds were already streaming into a city that was overcrowded to begin with. Everyone came to be with family. As they were settling in everyone remarked about how grown up all the children were. The question of Bartemaus taking a bride was raised more than once and caused him to blush. He looked a lot like his father, people said. Eunice thought that he acted more like herself. Clovese and Silas tended to look more like their mother. Eunice was still petit, with flowing dark hair. Her hair was a little gray at the temples, bespeaking her nearly thirty-five years. Her lines were not from work, for she lived a relatively work-free life, but rather from the stress of living in her father-in-law's very strict home. She had learned over the years to say less and less and put up with more and more. All the children endured the kissing from aunts and the good-natured sense of family togetherness that flowed naturally from this side of the family.

And The Prophet was a topic of conversation among the adults: "Who does He think He is?" And among the children: "Have you seen Him? Have you heard Him speak?"

Actually, the adults were upset about what had happened while on the way into the city. Their passage had been delayed because this man, Yeshua, had decided to make a grand entrance into Jerusalem just as they were arriving. The crowds, many of whom had heard him speak on the hillsides outside of town, were excited about His arrival for the Passover. Zebulon and Amos had been disgusted by the show of homage the people displayed for this man. Many were being blasphemous by calling out "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord." Clovese was excited when she saw children waving palm branches and had wanted to join them. Amos had forbidden it. Zebulon had stepped forward and demanded of The Prophet that He rebuke His disciples and these people. Yeshua had replied that if He silenced the people the stones would cry out. At that point, Zebulon began to hate this man in his heart.

The Jerusalem kin had already chosen a lamb without blemish and, as was the custom, it was living in the home that became more crowded when Zebulon's family of seven arrived. Clovese, Eunice and Amos' youngest child and only daughter, had adopted the lamb immediately and named it Buckwheat. Father Amos warned her not to get too attached to the animal and to remember that it was to be their sacrificial lamb for the feast. Clovese's cousin Becca thought it a splendid name and called the lamb Buckwheat also.

At dinner that evening, which Mara and Eunice had helped prepare, the discussion revolved around an incident in the temple. Bartemaus and Silas, who were older and, as Eunice said, harder to keep track of, had sneaked away when they entered the city. Now they told what they had seen. Yeshua had ridden the donkey He was on to the Temple. When He had gotten off, He had wept and then said that the enemies would destroy the Temple. "I think," said Bartemaus, "that He said the Temple would be destroyed because, '... you did not recognize the time of your visitation'. What do you suppose that meant?"

"But the best part," put in Silas, "was when he started turning over the tables of the money changers. Coins rolling everywhere and beggars diving for them and He with this righteous look crying out, 'My house shall be called a house of Prayer'." Silas was making the sounds and using a big voice like The Prophet.

"Sit down, Young Man!" intoned Zebulon.

"Well, it was the best part," said Silas contritely sitting back down.

"We found Great Uncle Caiaphas then and came home with him," finished Bartemaus.

The adults had grown oddly quiet concerning this discourse. It was finally Annas who spoke. He was Caiaphas' father-in-law. He was considered the head of the household because of his great age and wisdom. "I fear that we must watch carefully what develops concerning this Teacher. The people like Him. The people are not always right about where they put their loyalty. Yet this man speaks with authority. Bartemaus asks what is meant by 'our visitation'. It would seem the Man believes Himself to be more than a man." Annas sighed a deep sigh and shook his head. "Perhaps he will go the way of many other would-be Messiahs. Perhaps not. But the Roman government has been in our land for many years. It would not be wise to oppose them. They could easily crush us."

"But would the Lord allow that?" It was Mara's small voice asking the question.

Zebulon eyed her as he always did when she said something out of line. But it was Caiaphas who answered her question. "The chief priests throughout the centuries have had the awesome responsibility of conveying God's will to the people. It is through the office I hold that sacrifice is made to God on behalf of the people. The Romans have not terminated our Temple business. I believe that they know as long as we are able to function as a people we are less likely to rebel. Our ancestors were under the whip in Egypt. We could not offer sacrifice to God in a heathen place. The Roman's allow us the sacrifice. The Pharisees have helped us to see the law as it helps the people to moderate their lives in a Godly way. All of these things are well and good. But we must tread carefully so that the delicate balance we have established is not tipped. And in life, and during Passover especially, we have learned that the lamb must die to protect the people."

Clovese, whose arm was around Buckwheat, clutched the lamb closer. She wanted to protest but knew that she must not speak during the adult conversation.

"Sometimes it is expedient for one man to die, a man like the Zealot Barabbas perhaps, so that the Romans do not slaughter all the people," finished Caiaphas.

"So, Brother," spoke Zebulon, "you believe that if we throw the Romans a bone occasionally they will leave the rest of us alone?"

Annas answered, "We live in troubled times. But it is always sound policy to keep the rulers happy, either making bricks or paying taxes."

Silas blurted out suddenly, "But Yeshua says that ..."

Bartemaus gave him a look but Zebulon silenced him, "We will speak no more of this man who speaks of God and eats with sinners." He was referring to the day that Yeshua had the noon meal with their hated neighbor Zaccheus, the tax collector. So the conversation was over, all but the silent one that passed between the brothers Silas and Bartemaus.

* * *

On the second day of the week, Bartemaus asked if there was any marketing that he could do for his mother, grandmother and aunt to help their preparations for the Passover. They were all pleased that he had volunteered to do this and prepared a list. While the women discussed exactly what they needed, Eunice looked at her eldest child. He was no longer a child. He was the age Amos, his father, had been when he sought and won Eunice's hand in marriage. He was tall and handsome and strong. And she knew how the girl's in Jericho looked at him. She had looked at Amos the same way. But she tried to believe that he was more like her in spirit. She had certainly tried to teach him to be more spontaneous and to catch the joy of unexpected moments. Silas was tall too, but he had her cheek bones and coloring.

As the women finished the list for Bartemaus, Silas came and realized that his brother was being allowed to leave. Silas suspected that in reality Bartemaus just wanted an excuse to get out of the house. So Silas said, "I'll go with him," and Bartemaus shot him a dark look, "to help carry the items."

Bartemaus protested, "I can get everything we need without your help."

But Eunice, suspecting the real reason Bartemaus wanted to go out, said, "Take Silas with you. And stay out of mischief." Then she thought to herself, as much mischief as Onnua and I stayed out of. And then she thought again of her dear childhood friend and how wonderful it had been that day to be welcomed again in her home after all those years. Those had been lonely years when Amos had forbidden her to even speak to Onnua, the wife of Zaccheus the tax collector. And then there had been the terrible fight. Eunice had disobeyed him and gone to visit her friend. Her reasoning had been, if The Teacher has no objection to being in their home, neither do I.

When Bartemaus and Silas finally got out of the house with the list and the coins to pay for the items, Bartemaus moved quickly down the street in an attempt to lose Silas. But since Silas was only a year younger and they were both strong teenagers, he kept right with his brother as they passed hurriedly through the crowded streets.

At first Bartemaus thought about just giving the list and money to his brother and going off on his own mission but he knew that Silas would simply follow him. Then he had a better thought. He began stopping at each of the shops and open air markets and selecting the things that the women had requested. And he gave each in turn to Silas saying that if he wanted to come along to help, that was what he would do, help. When Silas's arms were about as full as they could be, he said, "Now take these things back to the house and I will get the last item on the list." And he turned and was lost in the crowd. Bartemaus knew that Silas could not follow as fast with all the packages and would have to return home.

Once Bartemaus was alone he began looking for Yeshua. He wanted to hear him speak; he wanted to know why the men of his family feared Him. He wanted to know if this man was the one they expected and if He was 'the visitation'. He thought he would try the Temple and if He was not found there, Bartemaus would follow the largest crowd.

Bartemaus found both Yeshua and the largest crowd at the Temple. He was seated at the base of one of the massive pillars that rose above them supporting the edifice of the dwelling place of The Lord. The crowd had gathered and was sitting about on the steps of the mighty building. Bartemaus got as close as he could to the Man who was speaking to His disciples and the multitude.

"The Pharisees and the scribes that hold themselves up as your rulers have seated themselves in the chair of Moses. What they tell you, you must observe in all things. But do not do as they do. They will put heavy loads on you that they are not willing to carry. And what deeds they do perform they do to be seen by you. Do they not make their phylacteries wide and wear them both on their foreheads and on their forearms? Do they not strut about in them and pray on the street corners?" At this point He did a very funny imitation of a Pharisee strutting about. The crowd laughed for they recognized some of the men in their community by his mimicry. He stopped their laughter by continuing, "They want your respect. They want to be called Rabbi and Father. I warn you, your Father is He who is in Heaven!"

Bartemaus saw Zebulon and Caiaphas and Annas, along with some of the other leaders of Israel, come from the doors of the Temple as Yeshua was mocking the way they strode about haughtily. Yeshua had seen them too for now He turned to them, and pointing at them, began in a loud and forceful voice, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who make long prayers in public and secretly take the homes of widows."

At these words Annas became angry for just this week it had been necessary to foreclose on a widow. After all, she had not paid on time! So what if she was now forced to beg in the street, business was business. But how could this man know of that?

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these things you should have done!"

A small, wiry man that Bartemaus knew to be a judge folded his arms across his chest and glowered at Yeshua. The wiry man knew that he had made a serious trespass of the law by accepting bribe money in a certain court case. But this same man was also very careful concerning tithing. The letter of the law must be followed. He had even tithed the bribe. Now the unjustly accused man was in prison and his family without a provider. But the accuser, who had bribed him, was his own cousin! Certainly Yeshua did not know these things ... or did He? His thoughts were brought back to the present by Yeshua speaking again.

"You are the blind trying to lead! You strain out a gnat and swallow a camel. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you wash the outside of the cup," and here He pantomimed washing His hands and face in an exaggerated fashion, "but inside you are full of robbery and self indulgence."

Two of the men standing behind Zebulon looked at one another. They had been involved in a scheme that had made them both lots of denarii and which they both knew was less than upright. Yet both were very strict about the laws concerning cleansing. At first their glances had been puzzled, and then they glared at each other with accusing stares. Which of them had told The Teacher about their doings? Did this Man have spies? How could He know so much?

"You try to appear outwardly righteous to men. Woe to you, scribes andPharisees,hypocrites!Youarewhitedsepulcherswhichappearbeautiful on the outside, but which inside are filled with dead men's bones and uncleanness." Bartemaus thought about all the tombs they had seen on the hillsides coming into Jerusalem. They had been whitewashed for the occasion of Passover. Bartemaus knew that the tombs were white-washed to prevent people from using them as shelters. "You are full of hypocrisy!" And he pointed at the brothers Caiaphas and Zebulon. "If you had been living in the days of our fathers, you would have been partners with them that shed the blood of the prophets. As it is, you are sons of those that murdered the prophets." Looking at all of them He laid on them the final blow, "You serpents, you brood of vipers, how shall you escape the sentence of hell? God is sending you prophets that you will scourge, crucify and kill."

Zebulon and Caiaphas exchanged glances. How was it possible that this man saw into their hearts? They had not openly talked of what they were thinking. All of their conversation had skirted the issue of what to do with this man. Ancient Annas motioned for all of the men to go back into the Temple. They all followed, each pondering the words of Yeshua where He had seen their own evil. Their discussion, following this condemnation of themselves by Yeshua, lasted most of the rest of the day. Although they all had an opinion, none of the Pharisees spoke to one another about how Yeshua's words had pricked their own consciences. But they were all collectively angry at His public attack on them. All were angry that is but Nicodemus. He called them to think about what they were doing and saying. But his was only one voice among the many.

Later as Bartemaus walked home he was filled with the words this Man had spoken. So much of what he had seen over the years and silently questioned had been the topic of this discourse: men who said one thing and acted another. They all gave the appearance of righteousness over hearts of stone. He did not understand it all, but he was hungry to hear more.

Chapter Two

About twenty miles northeast of Jerusalem, was the village of Jericho. In the home next to the house normally inhabited by Zebulon and his family, lived Onnua and Zaccheus, the tax gatherer. The week before Passover had been a hectic one for Zaccheus, his wife Onnua, and their household. Ever since Yeshua, The Prophet, had come to lunch things had been changing in this household.

Zaccheus had arranged to buy a much smaller home for his extended family. That family included Onnua's Grandmother, Bernice, who lived with them, and their two servants, Mydia and Hiram, who had been with Zaccheus for years. Hiram and Mydia had a daughter named Kezia. The old cat, Cricket, was still with them, but no one was sure for how much longer, as he was positively ancient. There were two other servants who had been asked to stay through the moving process. Zaccheus was arranging for these two servants to have other positions so they would not be without work once Zaccheus and his family were settled in their new home. Moving would begin after Passover, as soon as the larger home was sold. It had been Zaccheus' home since he, his mother and Mydia had moved to Jericho over twenty years ago.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Passover Promisesby Susan A. Perkins Copyright © 2011 by Susan A. Perkins. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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