19-NoblemanCenturion1-A

And We Thought We Knew You:
Soul Journey With the Real Jesus

Vol. II: Dream Maker

Nobleman & Centurion
POWER MEETS POWER

May AD 27
Tiberius, Galilee [1]

�� "Hey, you can't catch me!" 10-year-old Asher challenges.

�� "That's what you think!" shouts his friend, Claudius.

�� Asher takes off down a marble corridor of Herod's brand new palace, followed close behind by his friend.� Asher makes the mistake of turning to see how far behind that Claudius is and runs right into a man just exiting a room.

�� "Oh!� Uh, hi there, Father!� Fancy meeting you here!"

�� Chuza looks down in disapproval.�

�� "Asher, how many times have I told you not to run in the hall?"

�� Herod has not completed his move from his palace in Sepphoris to his new palace in his brand new city named after the new Caesar.� So Chuza has allowed his son and to come to work with him.� Some of the others have done the same. [2]

�� The boys both know this question does not require an answer.� Instead, an apology is in order, along with a promise to never do it again, and quick retreat.

�� "My dad is more powerful than your dad!" Claudius announced to rebuild the momentum.� "Nuh-Uh," Asher responds half heartedly and completely out of character with his normally robust self.

�� The boys comply with their elder and run ~ rather they walk ~ outside of the palace.� Both their fathers work for the government.� No one likes them.� No one trusts them.� They don't care.� They have money and power.� That's all that counts.�

�� "So, what do we do now?"� No reply.

�� "Asher?� What do we do now?"� Still no reply.

�� Claudius looks at his friend.� "Man, you're really red.� Let's go get a drink and cool down."

�� Asher shuffles along behind his friend, but lags further and further back.

�� "Come on, Asher.� There's water over where the garden is being put in."

�� Instead, Asher sits down on the ground where he is.

�� "What's wrong?� You're redder than you were a minute ago.� What's wrong with you?" He fights off a terrible panic.

�� "Ohhhh.� I don't feel very well."

�� "Stay here.� Don't go away."

�� Claudius takes off running back into Herod's palace looking for Asher's father.� Luckily, he is standing in the hall talking to someone near where they left him.

�� "Sir!� Come fast!"

�� "Now, boys," Chuza replies only half glancing in the boy's direction, "I told you to stay outside."

�� "But it's Asher!� There's something awfully wrong!� Please, come fast!"

�� Chuza and the other man both look at Claudius with puzzlement.� They realize the boy is not kidding.�

�� The two men follow the boy, running along behind him.

�� "Asher!" the father shouts as he sees his son lying on the grass face up, with his knees pulled up toward his chest.

�� He runs to his son while the other man and the boy stand to one side.

�� "Asher?� Asher?"

�� "Oh, Dad.� I feel awful.� Can I go home?� I hurt bad.� I didn't mean to sneak that other piece of fig cake, Dad."

�� Chuza picks up his son in his strong arms.� The other man responds.� "That chariot over there.� Whose is it?" he shouts, spotting a chariot with a horse still hitched to it.

�� "I'll find out.� But you go ahead and take it.� I'll let the owner know.� Here's my cloak for him to lie on.� It will help absorb the rocky bumps in the road."

�� Within minutes, Chuza is hurrying the chariot outside the palace grounds, past the grand theater and brand new houses, out through the majestic city gate and east toward home.� Normally impressed with all the grandeur, he notices none of it.� All that is important is his son.� He covers the ten miles in almost half his normal time.

Capernaum, Galilee [3]

�� In a few minutes Chuza arrives at his home.� Simultaneous with calling for a doorman, he lifts Asher from the bed of the chariot and carries him through the now opened gates of his mansion.

�� "We're home!"

�� "Well, what do we have here?" Joanna replies half jokingly. [4]

�� Asher opens his eyes weakly and makes a half effort to smile.

�� "Too much of Mother's good raisin cakes.� That's what we have here."

�� The parents smile and put their son to bed.� Both smile.� Both hide inner anxiety.

�� Joanna is hesitant to leaves the room.

�� "Come on now.� All he needs is a little rest while his system digests of some of that food." Chuza is also trying to convince himself to stay calm.

�� They leave the room to have their own dinner, and listen for their son to call as they talk softly.

�� "Remember that wedding last March down in Cana?" Joanna asks.

�� "No, I don't really recall."

�� "You know.� The one that the man attended and supposedly made wine instantly out of just water."

�� "Oh, that one.� You didn't really believe that, did you, Joanna?� Just a trick to keep the guests entertained."

�� "I don't know....Phoebe really believed it happened."

�� "Well, I'd have to see it to believe it.� It can't be done."

�� "He's been making speeches lately ~ that man.� He's telling people the new kingdom of God is coming soon."

�� "I've seen upstarts come and go.� He'll go, just like the rest of them."

�� "I heard that he was in Jerusalem last week for Passover at the Temple and he...."� Joanna snickers, then goes on.� "He got mad and threw all the money on the ground in the courtyard where the Temple priests had arranged selling animals to use as sacrifices."

�� That gets Chuza's attention.� "Well, he's got guts.� I must say that for him.� What did you say his name was?"

�� "Jesus.� But I don't know which Jesus." [5]

�� "Oh," he replies back in his half-listening mode.� "Did you hear Asher just now?"

�� The concerned mother and father go to Asher's room.� The shadows are long as evening approaches.

�� "He doesn't look good, Chuza."� Joanna feels his face.

�� "He's burning up!�Get a physician!" she urges.

�� "Let him be for the night," the physician explains calmly.� "Looks like simple indigestion.� If he's not better in the morning, bring him to me.� In the mean time, get him to sip some vinegar wine occasionally."

�� Joanna gets Asher to sit up long enough to sip some wine out of a spoon.�

�� Mother and father sit by a bedside.� In a little while, they light a small candle and set it on a table in a corner of the room.� Asher doesn't open his eyes any more.� Asher just sleeps.� Mother and Father begin to worry.� It's not like Asher. [6]

�� "How late is it?"

�� "Not midnight yet."

�� "Why don't you go out for a while to get some fresh air?� I'll stay here."

�� Chuza gets up stiffly from the chair he'd taken into his son's room earlier, walks outside and goes over to his neighbor's house.� He does not mention his son.

�� "I heard that hermit, John the Baptizer, is growing in popularity down in Judea.� People seem to believe that he's actually getting them ready for the new kingdom of God.� In fact, he finally gave the future king's name.� He is Jesus."

�� "That's nice," Chuza replies, obviously not completely in the conversation.�

�� His neighbor knows something is bothering him, but does not push to know what it is.� Chuza's entitled to his privacy.

�� "I don't think the Temple is taking him very seriously, though I did hear he made some kind of commotion in it last week.� What about the palace?"

�� "Herod's heard of him," Chuza replies almost absent-mindedly.� "But he doesn't pay any attention to him.� Well, I've got to get back home.� I just wanted to get out a few minutes."

�� Chuza returns home and sits down in the courtyard.� Asher's birthday is coming up soon.� He was born on one of these balmy spring mornings.� Chuza thinks he'll get him a good ball.� He saw some good-quality leather ones in the market the other day.

�� "Chuza, I'm a little tired.� I'd like to go to bed awhile."

�� "Certainly, Joanna.� I'll sit with Asher now."

�� As he enters the room, Joanna is holding her hand on Asher's head.� "He's so hot," she whispers.

�� Chuza, the government official.� Chuza, the power person.� Chuza, a personal friend and confidant of Herod Antipas, son of King Herod the Great and tetrarch of all of Galilee.� Walking into his son's room.� Looking down at a slight figure with ruffled hair.� Chuza, with power over so many things.� But right now feeling utterly powerless.

�� So innocent looking.� Normally so full of fun.� What was that last joke he played on you?� Oh, yes.� He told you he accidentally hit your new chariot with a bat he was playing with.� Were you fit to be tied or what?� He made you think, didn't he?� You weren't even worried if your son was okay.� Just worried about your hotsy-totsy chariot.� Children teach a lot.

�� As the night progresses, he thinks.� His son is so small.� What will he look like when he grows up.� Of course, he will grow up.� Looks a lot like his grandfather.� Talks like him sometimes, too.� His grandfather would be so proud of him if he'd lived.

�� "How late is it?" Joanna whispers returning to the room.

�� "It will be dawn soon."

�� Chuza asks as he rouses himself and leans over to touch his son's hand.� Asher is not doing well.� Asher still has a fever.� He is getting hotter and hotter.� Joanna puts her hand on Asher's forehead, then her cheek next to his cheek, as though trying to give him some of her own strength.

�� "I'm not waiting until that physician's up," Chuza announces.� I'll have a horse hitched to the chariot in a few minutes.� Wrap him up and bring him down quickly.

�� Two frightened parents.� A feverish little boy.� The pride of their life.� Three people in a gold-gilded chariot wending their way out onto the main road.� In ten minutes they're at the physician's home.�

�� "Open up!"� He's pounding on the door.� "Let us in!� My son!� He's getting worse!� This is Chuza!� Let us in!"

�� A light appears in a window, for dawn lingers.� Soon, the gate latch rattles and the gate opened.

�� Chuza rushes in with his son in his arms and Joanna right behind him.� To his surprise he sees other sick people in the physician's courtyard under a canopy.� Sick people.� Dying people perhaps.� Oh, these poor families.

�� Quickly a place on the ground with several mats on it is created.� Chuza lays his son on it.

�� "He will be down as soon as he is finished dressing."

�� Mother and father sit by their son.� By the time the physician arrives by their side, the sun has created a gold morning glow.� He looks at the little boy and feels his burning head.� He lifts up his clothing and presses on him abdomen.�

�� "Did you give him the vinegar wine like I said?"

�� "Yes, he took a little.� But it's getting hard to waken him."

�� "It's not indigestion.� I don't know what's causing it.� But we'll find out.� I'm a pretty good physician, you know.� Your boy will be just fine.� Just as soon as I figure out what's wrong."

�� But they don't find out what is wrong.� And Asher's temperature soars.

�� Joanna is crying.� Chuza is trying not to.� He does anyway.� Asher is not crying.� Asher is not doing anything.� Asher seems to be dying.

�� "Oh my God!� Help us!" The hearts of Chuza� and Joanna rupture in entreaties upon the heavens.� "God, do you hear us?� Please hear us!"

�� Someone does hear.� He has been down south in Jerusalem.� He's been rushing through the country as fast as he can.� Walked for three days.� Stayed two nights in pagan territory to meet the first emergency.� There's one more.� He's rushing again.� Walking again.� Rushing to Asher.

�� He hears you, Chuza and Joanna.� He hears you right now as he hurries through city gates to the south and walks into the morning from Samaria.� He's getting closer and closer to you.� He's rushing to you.� He'll be on time.� He really will.� Keep praying.� Your prayers give him strength.� He needs your strength right now, so he can give you his strength.� He's getting closer all the time.

�� "Oh God.� Hear my petition," Chuza prays.� "People come to me all day with petitions.� I come to you now with the most important petition of my life.� Save our Asher.� Don't let him die.� Please don't let our little boy die.� Please, God!"

�� Chuza pounds his fist on the bedside table.� Then on the wall.� Joanna goes over to him and rests her head on his shoulder.� He puts his arm around her.� They stand there limp and helpless.�

�� Jesus still rushes.� He's in Cana now.� He will contact the people from the wedding, and Nathaniel's family too.� They'll spread the word.� Jesus can't come to you, Chuza and Joanne.� You have to go to Jesus.

�� Chuza, not a man to sit and watch defeat overtake him, rises to his feet.� "Joanna, I'll be back.� I'd don't know when, but I'll be back. �And our son will live!"

�� Chuza finds his horse which had been unhitched by the physician's servant and tied up.� He re-hitches it to his chariot and climbs on.� He heads for the mayor's house.� The mayor knows everyone, and was certainly in Jerusalem last week for Passover as all good Jewish men were. [7]

�� Luckily the mayor is still at home.� He has been a long-time friend of Chuza and invites him in.

�� "Were you in Jerusalem last week?"

�� He nods yes.

�� "Did you see him?� Did you see that Jesus fellow?"

�� "How could I miss him?� You should have seen the way he threw those traders out of the Temple grounds.� The priests should have done it a long time ago."

�� "Would you recognize him if you saw him again?"

�� "Sure.� I met him about a month ago right here in town.� He's thinking seriously of moving here from Nazareth." [8]

�� "Is he here now?"

�� "Not that I know of.� Ask around at the market.� They're setting up their booths by now.� Maybe someone saw him during the last few days."

�� Chuza thanks his friend and returns to his chariot.� He does not say why he is so interested in Jesus.� The mayor thinks maybe he's checking him out for Herod.�

�� He's back in his chariot.� And in prayer.� Intense prayer.� Prayer from a man of power to Almighty Power himself.� Submission.� Submission as a lowly servant.

�� Quickly he makes his way to the city market and approaches the first merchant.

�� "Have you seen Jesus?"

�� "Jesus who?"

�� "The Jesus who caused all the stir in Jerusalem last week. �The Jesus that John the Baptizer is telling people about."

�� "He means the Jesus who says he's going to be king of the new kingdom of God."

�� "Yes, that Jesus."

�� "Is he that much of a threat?"

�� "I heard he performed a miracle in Cana recently.� I need him to perform a miracle for me."

�� "Come on, sir.� Miracles don't happen."

�� Chuza has no time or inclination to argue.� So he goes to the next merchant.

�� "Jesus.� Have you seen him?� Do you know where I might find him?"

�� "Have you heard of Jesus?� Do you know where he might be?"

�� "Anybody here know Jesus?"

�� Booth after booth, Chuza works his way down the market.� Sometimes he must wait until early customers take care of business to get everyone's attention.

�� Asher lies still limp and helpless.� Asher has not eaten since yesterday.� Neither have his parents.� More herbs tried.� Still nothing.� Everyone is puzzled.� The physician's servants continue to work at keeping his fever under control until they can find a cause and a cure.

�� "I was in Nain yesterday.� When the word spread, the whole town went out to meet him."

�� Finally.� The answer he has been looking for.� "Thank you, sir.� Thank you."� Chuza rushes back toward his chariot.�

�� "I doubt he's there now, though!" the man shouts.� Chuza stops and turns around.� "I heard he's headed for Cana next." [9]

�� The nobleman turns back in the direction of his chariot and breaks into a run.� It is now mid-morning.

�� "You won't have any trouble finding him if he's there!" the peddler shouts after him.� "Just look for a crowd!"

�� Chuza boards his chariot and whips his horse into a run.� Right there in the city street.� The narrow city street.� He prays people will get out of his way.� He must hurry.� Time is running out.� Running out for his son.� Running out for him and Joanna.

�� Out the city gate.� Panting, snorting, galloping.� The chariot bouncing, sometimes almost out of control.� But the experienced driver keeps it under control and prays for a miracle. [10]

Cana, Galilee [11]

�� "Hold on, son!" he shouts to his son far away, cracking his whip over the heads of his horse.� "God, help me!� Help him!� God!"

�� Dodging other travelers on the road.� Wheels jolting over the rocks, and hubs straining to keep them from falling apart.

�� In a few minutes he sees Cana ahead of him.� At the city gate he stops and questions one of the guards.

�� "I am Chuza, administrator of Herod's palace, " he announces authoritatively.� There is no doubt he is who he claims to be; his clothing alone confirms his obvious importance.� "Is Jesus here in town?"

�� Obediently, one of the guards gives him directions to the city square. [12]

�� Chuza hurries his chariot through the main street and shortly sees a crowd.� That has to be him.� It must be him.� He stops his chariot and jumps out. [13]

�� "Sir, is Jesus here?"

�� "Yes.� he's up there.� But you'll never make it through this crowd of people.� They'll never let you."

�� "Sir!� Jesus!� Jesus!"

�� But Jesus is busy talking.� Probably preaching.� Chuza can hear a lot of what he is saying.� It catches his attention.� Amazing words.� But they do not catch all his attention.� How can they when his son is obviously dying?

�� Still Jesus talks.� The crowd is thick.� Chuza grows impatient.� He can wait no longer.� He gets back in his chariot and slowly but impatiently forces his way through the crowd.� Imported robe.� Ruby ring.� Eyes red and swollen.� Helpless.� "Sir!� Jesus!" [14]

�� Jesus stop speaking and looks toward the commotion in the crowd.�

�� "Please, sir!"

�� Chuza stops his chariot, gets out, and walks the last few steps to Jesus.� He stands there, nearly twice Jesus' age.� And much more ornately dressed.� Yet it is sir.� It is every sign of respect he can muster.

�� "Please, come to Capernaum," he begs.� "To my home.� To my son.� He'll die without you.� The physicians do not know what is wrong.� They can't treat him.� Please, come, sir Jesus.� If you make him well, then I will know for sure you are to be the king of the new kingdom of God."

�� Is Chuza a traitor to Herod?� Will he lose his important job now that he is acknowledged that this strange Jesus will probably usurp his throne?�

�� The crowd stands there wondering what Jesus will say.� They shake their heads in doubt.� Changing water into wine is one thing.� Changing the course of human nature, interfering with death, that's another thing.� Can't be done.� Besides, he's Roman, or at least he dresses like he is.� He's obviously with the enemy occupation government. [15]

�� Jesus looks at the crowd and then Chuza.� "If you don't see signs and wonders, you won't believe anything I say, will you?" [16]

�� Yes, it's time for more proof.� Proof he's from God.� Proof he created them and can fix them when things go wrong.

�� No time to get into a philosophic discussion.� Time is almost no more for young Asher.

�� "Sir, please come to my home before my boy dies." [17]

�� Jesus stands there staring into the eyes of the father.� The government father.� The enemy father.� His heart aches for him.� He knows Asher has only a few moments left to live.� The father begs with every tear drop escaping from his eyes.� He begs silently.� He waits.� He no longer looks regal.� He no longer looks dignified.� He no longer looks powerful.� In his self-admitted weakness, he stands before Jesus.

�� y"Go on back home.� Your son is alive and well." [18]

�� That's it?� He's alive and well?� That's all it takes?� A word from another city?� You don't even have to be there with him?

�� Chuza knows power.� Chuza recognizes power.� Right now he knows and recognizes it in Jesus.� He needs no other assurance.� He knows.

�� "Thank you, Jesus.� Thank you.� A thousand times, thank you."

�� His voice is calmer now.� His bearing more relaxed.� He's done his part.� Somehow he is confident Jesus did his part.� A man who can change the elements of nature can surely alter someone's body.� Chuza is certain of that.� No doubts.� Certain.

�� He turns, pulls on his horse's reins, manipulates the chariot around, and walks calmly back through the crowd.� The crowd mumbles.� Some are saying it's just another hoax.� Others inquire where the man is from, though they're already convinced he is a spy from Herod.� They'd like to follow him home just to see if anything really happened.

�� No longer is Chuza rushing.� No longer is Chuza frantic.� Calmly he makes his way through the streets.� He notices an inn.� He did not realize how tired he was.� He has not eaten or slept in two days.� It is mid-afternoon.� He rents a room, takes a few bites of food, and collapses in sleep.� Peaceful sleep.� He knows his son has been healed.� He knows.

�� The next morning he wakes at daybreak.� He is fresh.� Is he assured.� He now wants to see his healthy son.� He dresses, has his horse hitched to the chariot, and leaves through the city gate.� As he does, his calm reassurance changes to excitement.� He urges his horse into a gallop, albeit not the frantic uncontrolled gallop of the previous day, and hurries back home and to his young son. [19]

�� In a few minutes he sees ahead of him a couple of men approaching.� He thinks he recognizes them.� Indeed, as they draw closer, he realizes they are his servants.

�� They pull over to the side of the road.� His servants are beaming.� Chuza already knows why.�

�� "How is my son?� How is Asher?"

�� "He's alive!� Alive and well!� In fact, he played all yesterday afternoon!� Everyone, including the physician, is amazed."

�� "What time did he get well?" Chuza replies, convinced he already knows the answer.

�� "His fever broke yesterday right after lunch.� It was like a miracle."

�� "It was a miracle!� He did it!� Jesus did it!� Joanna was right." [20]

Capernaum, Galilee

�� The servants turn around and follow Chuza back to Capernaum.� He arrives home, and there he sees his little Asher throwing a ball up in the air and catching it.

�� "Hi, Dad!� Where have you been?"

�� "Oh Asher!� Asher!"� Chuza literally dives at his little boy, and gives him a bear hug that won't quit.

�� "Hey, cut it out!� You're squeezing my guts out."

�� Chuza can't help it.� His joy is overpowering.� Joanna stands back and watches as father and son bond.� Somewhere between heaven and earth, another Father and Son bond too.� Back in Cana, Jesus smiles.

�� Things go back to normal.� Asher and Claudius playing together, going to school together, getting into silly squabbles together.� Asher playing with his new real-leather ball.�

�� Normal except for one thing.� Chuza, with his wife Joanna, calls his household servants together and explains what has happened.� "He's going to be our next king," he announces.� I know partly by the wisdom he speaks, and partly by his miracle.� No one could do miracles unless he was approved by God. [21]

�� His entire household believes.� But they are afraid for Chuza. If Herod found out, he'd be executed as a traitor.

When Jesus finally does make his home in Capernaum, the young family goes to hear him whenever possible.� Chuza makes sure they have those opportunities. [22]

�� Eventually Joanna begins traveling with several other women to help with the women in the crowds and to help financially. [23]

�� Chuza also tells people in Herod's employ as well as his household about Jesus.� Among them is a centurion.

(continue next page)

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws