That first Palm Sunday...(In a Bubble of Time)

Chapter 61: Jerusalem

 And the Zealots congregated in a secret room, above the bakery; they had been there a week, waiting, watching.

Jesus had ridden into Jerusalem on a donkey, which had puzzled them - a horse was better suited for war, surely - but no matter, the people’s shouts of welcome had the ring of triumph.

The Zealots had listened in glee as Jesus had defeated the Pharisees at their own game of words. They knew what he meant when he declared for all to hear, “As for these things which you see, the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.”  They had looked around to see if the Romans had guessed, but none had advanced to arrest him. And Abner and his friends returned to their Safe House to sharpen their swords and to string their bows.

They waited for Jesus’ command to attack.

Bartimaeus was the new beggar from Jericho. He had joined them barely three days ago.

“Do you believe what they are saying of Jesus?”  one of his friends was asking.

“It would depend on who you had been listening to,”Elkanah replied.

“He is a prophet,” said another.

“The leaders say he is a trouble-maker.”

“But the people follow him.”

“Some say he is Elijah the prophet.”

“Who does?” Elkanah asked.

“They that follow him around.”

“They should know, I suppose.”

“Why do the Pharisees call him a trouble-maker, then?  They should be the first to identify a prophet, but they don’t believe in him. So he must be a fake.”

“The Pharisees would call anyone who didn’t think the way they do, a trouble maker. As for identifying a prophet, I doubt if they could even identify the Messiah if He were to come amongst us!”

This was greeted by hearty laughter. The bond among them was forged by their poverty and their profession.

“I heard there was quite a crowd at the procession.”

“Tell us about it.”  That procession had the whole city in an uproar.It had shaken Jerusalem.Even the most impassive, neutral bystander had an opinion on it, and the city was unevenly divided."“The procession.  Aah…  It started in Bethpage, we were all coming from Jericho;. I thought Jesus would go directly to Jerusalem, but he stopped here. Most of us had gone off in search of food,” Bartimaeus was saying,

“But not you” observed Elkanah.

“No, not I.  I stuck to Jesus. I wanted to follow him anywhere he went, and I wasn’t the only one. Anyway, he instructed his disciples to bring him a colt, a donkey colt; and he got on it. Believe me – was I surprised.”

“But why should you be?” Elkanah asked. “Maybe the man was tired.”

“Well, I was not the only one who was surprised, let me tell you,” Bartimaeus wagged a bony finger at him. “Jesus had never accepted a ride if his disciples had had to walk. He’d rather walk too.”

“How would you know?  You’ve only been around him for a few days.”

“Five days to be precise, but who’s counting?  Anyway I heard Mistress Mary talking to her companion about it; that’s how I know. Just because I have my sight back doesn’t mean I have lost my hearing you know.”

“Who is Mistress Mary?”

“Where have you men been?  Don’t you know anything?  You really should keep up with current events. The most important man in Israel’s history is here with us and you know next to nothing about him.”  Then seeing Elkanah’s face darken, he quickly changed track. “Mistress Mary is Jesus’ mother.”

“His mother!  What is she doing here?”

“Well,” Bartimaeus  was bursting with superior knowledge, “First of all, it is the time of the Feast, you know, secondly,… er… she was telling Mistress Joanna, her companion, that this would be Jesus’ last journey to Jerusalem and so she  wanted to be with him.”

“What does she mean – Jesus’ last trip? Where is he going after the Feast?”

“Maybe he is going far away, maybe even to Rome.,”  one of the beggars piped in, “I don’t blame him. What with the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Herodians and whoever else who feels like it at the moment, snapping at his heels, criticizing him at every turn…. I would leave too if I were him.”

“Did he say where he was going?” Elkanah felt a strange sadness.

“Well,” Bartimaeus scratched at his beard, “He said he was going back to his father.”

“Where is his father?”

“I don’t know, he wasn’t there at the procession. Now, do you or don’t you want to hear about that procession?  Then stop interrupting me with so many questions.

“The people cut down palm branches and waved them shouting ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!’, and the children ran on beside the donkey, and people even lay their outer garments out on the road for the donkey to walk on!

“Some of us ran slightly ahead of Jesus, shouting out that Jesus was coming, and what a crowd came!

“Then Jesus went to the Temple and you know the rest.” Bartimaeus concluded.

“Just like Judas Maccabees.”  Elkanah muttered.

“Judas who?”  Bartimaeus asked.

“Never mind; it was a story my mother used to tell us - Judas saved Israel from the Greek yoke of conquest.”

“I’m sure Jesus has come to save us from the Roman yoke of conquest” one of the beggars said.

“Do you think so?” Elkanah was interested.

“Sure! Jesus performed all those miracles, remember?  It was to prove his power.” The beggar said, nodding his head in conviction.

“Where is his army then?  He has only twelve disciples.” Elkanah was silent. He didn’t know what to think. “They are going to kill him.”

All eyes turned to Elkanah. Silence.

“Who?  Who is going to kill him?!” Bartimaeus caught hold of Elkanah in his agitation, shaking him for an answer.

“The Pharisees. I overheard them talking the day after the Money Changer’s incident.”

“What did they say?” Bartimaeus’ voice was tight.

“That they’d arrest him before this week was over.”

“What are they planning to do to him?”

“Crucify him.”  Elkanah looked down, unable to face the stunned looks on his comrades’ faces.

“Why didn’t you tell someone?”

“They said they’d do the same thing to anyone who tried to help Jesus.”

“Today is the fifth day,” Bartimaeus spoke into the shocked quiet. “Tomorrow will be the last day before the Passover; it will either be today or tomorrow, that he is arrested. We must warn him!”

“If he really is meant to be the next king of Israel, surely God would not allow his servant to be taken.” One of them said.

“And if he wasn’t, and is arrested, then….”

“You can sit and debate over it,” Bartimaeus rose to his feet. “I am going to look for Jesus. I must give him at least a chance to escape.”  He ran down the steps.