LITMIR.BIZ

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Jamin glanced at Adas’s bandaged hand. “You did that to yourself, didn’t you?” Adas nodded, but made no comment.

      “In the fifth book of Moses,” Malchus said, “God tells us to bind a sign on the hand to remember His commands. Centurion, you have bound a sign on your hand. What happened to make you do this?”

      “I knew I executed an innocent man. Then, when I saw him today, I knew who he was, even though I told myself it was impossible. Yeshua didn’t just look at me; he looked into me. I don’t think I’ll ever be the same. At least, I hope not. But there’s so much more I want to know.”

      “We all have much to learn,” said Malchus. “I have much to think about. For now, we will get you back to the Antonia, but first, tell us what happened this morning?”

      Jamin held a palm up. “Wait, tell me something about Friday. After you and the other soldier argued, Yeshua said something. I couldn’t hear. You looked shocked.”

      “He said, ‘Forgive them, Father, they do not know what they are doing.’ I still can’t believe it.”

      “Tell us what you saw today,” said Malchus. “Was it an angel?”

      Adas told them what happened over the three days. He included how the silk merchant at the crucifixions accused him of murder. “To execute an innocent man is murder.”

      “It had to be done, Adas.” Jamin remembered the skeletal man and shuddered. “You were an important part of God’s plan, but the question is what are you going to do about it? Are you going to ruin your life with guilt or accept Yeshua’s forgiveness?”

      “Jamin is right,” Cleopas agreed. “I was wrong to judge you. But now you have a choice. You can stay mired in guilt, which will make you useless to God, or you can become a better man. Learn Yeshua’s teachings and live by his example.”

      “Who would teach me? Yeshua forgave me, but will his followers?”

      “Do you think we never asked Yeshua for forgiveness?” said Jamin. “Every one of us has failed in some way. No one is without blame.”

      “I spied on Yeshua for Caiaphas,” Malchus admitted. “I took part in his arrest. When we got to Gethsemane, I stepped in to arrest him and one of his disciples sliced off my ear with a sword. Yeshua put his hand over the wound and the pain was gone. I reached up and felt—my ear. It felt perfectly normal. I tried to tell myself I had imagined the whole thing, but my blood-stained clothes said otherwise. To instantly heal such an injury is not possible. That’s when I lost all doubt. I was there to arrest him, but he looked at me with forgiveness. Yeshua is the Word, the Way, and the Truth.”

      Adas asked, “You said you have questions, Jamin.”

      Malchus held up a hand. “I have been selfish, wanting my questions answered and forgetting your situation. You must get back to the garrison, but you’re in no condition to walk that far, even with our help. Is there a friend you can trust?”

      “Yes, Decurion Cassius Sabinus Quintus.”

      “Does he ride a big, dark, bay horse?” Adas nodded. “I’ll go get him.”

      “Listen, if Cassius hesitates, tell him, I promised I would check on Tigula, his mastiff. He’s not eating well. Draco is the name of his horse.”

      “Good to know. I will be back shortly.” He patted Jamin’s shoulder. “Now it’s your turn.” He strode out the door and was gone.

      “What do you need to know, Jamin?”

      “I could not hear what Yeshua and Demas talked about for so long.”

      “Yeshua explained why he had to die. He also talked about the completion of the prophecies. Demas didn’t understand at first, but then he did.” Adas told Jamin about the other thief’s comments and how Demas rebuked him. “Then your brother asked Yeshua to remember him when he came into his kingdom. And Yeshua said, ‘Today you will be with Me in Paradise.’ I could see Demas believed him, even though I was astonished at the statement. After the earthquake, Demas could barely speak, but he said to me, ‘Tell my brother, because I took up this cross, I go to be with God. Tell Jamin I will wait for him there.’ He also spoke of Yeshua. He said, ‘He is more than righteous. He is the Son of God.’”

      Jamin dropped his head in his hands. Adas looked at Cleopas with concern, but he gestured everything was all right. Jamin raised his head. “Thank you! You have given my life back to me. My brother is alive with God.”

      “There’s more. Demas felt no pain before he died.”

      “How do you know?”

      “Just before Octavean broke his legs, Demas suddenly relaxed. He said something I will never forget. He said, ‘You make the clouds Your chariot, You walk on the wings of the wind.’ Was he talking about God?”

      “Yes, it is from the Book of Psalms. Demas said Yeshua promised to be with him when he was crucified. We didn’t know he meant that literally.”

      Adas asked, “Why did Yeshua say, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani!’ as if God had abandoned him?”

      “He was quoting from the 22nd Psalm. It prophesized how he would be rejected, put to death, and would live again.”

      “I want to read this Book of Psalms. You say Yeshua is the final sacrifice, but why did he have to die in such a brutal way?”

      “Because it is the law, and Yeshua fulfilled the law and the words of the prophets. Hundreds of years ago, Isaiah precisely described Yeshua’s earthly life in the 53rd section of his prophecies. Even his execution fulfilled prophesies. You refused to break his legs. It is fulfillment of prophecy for none of the Messiah’s bones to be broken the same as the lamb we prepare for Passover. You fulfilled prophecy when you gave Yeshua wine vinegar when he said, ‘I thirst.’ You need to meet Peter and John. They can teach you HaDerech, the Way.”

      “If I live long enough. My men were very confident when they tried to kill me.”

      “How will you deal with them?” Jamin asked. “Will you have them executed?”

      “Of course! They also took bribes and abandoned their post. This kind of behavior cannot be permitted; otherwise, there would be complete chaos.”

      “You’re right,” Cleopas said, “There has to be order and consequences. Laws exist for the good of the people. Yet, I believe God will deal with those soldiers in his own way.”

      “By Roman law their execution is required. What else can I do?”

      Jamin shrugged. “We don’t have all the answers, Adas. But did you not provide strong wine for Demas and the other thief? Did you not provide for the burial of the thief? He was a mere stranger to you and a criminal.”

      “It was a matter of decency, that’s all.”

      Cleopas frowned. “I have misjudged you, Adas. I apologize.”

      “No apology needed, Cleopas. You helped save my life.”

      “Malchus should be back by now,” said Jamin as he opened the door and checked the height of the moon. “He’s been gone nearly an hour.”

      “You have endangered yourselves for my sake long enough.”

      “Adas, you should not go back to the Antonia alone, especially unarmed,” exclaimed Jamin. “Hopefully, we will meet Malchus coming back with your friend.”

      “You don’t need to go with me. I don’t want anyone at the garrison to know you’re involved. I feel bad enough involving Malchus.”

      “We’re going with you,” declared Jamin.

      “Can you stop us?” asked Cleopas.

      “No wonder you two got the best of Hektor and Falto. Come on then.” They helped him put his armor on. Together, they stepped out into the night.

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