33-Scribes-Lawyers-A

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

Scribes and Lawyers
COSMIC CHAOS

BC 4
Jerusalem, Judea

�� Turtullus is a winner.� He has been top of his class all through synagogue school.� Now, studying for the priesthood, he is on top of that too.

�� "Hey, Turtullus!"

�� "Hey, brother.� Did you hear the big news?" he continues

�� The two students of Moses' Law now walk side by side on their way to their first class of the day. [1]

�� "I guess not, Obadiah.� What's happening?"

�� "Our illustrious Doctor of Law was called over to the palace yesterday." [2]

�� "By the big man himself?"

�� "Yup!� King Herod.� And was he ever mad!"

�� "Before or after Doctor Jeremiah got there?"

�� "Both.� King Herod is his old usual self.� 'Hey, you up in the tree?� You trying to take my nation from me?'� 'How about you rat, scurrying along my floor?' " [3]��� The teenaged would-be scholars laugh.� It is none of their concern.� But they put on a straight face as they enter their classroom. [4]

�� Doctor Jeremiah picks up where he left off the day before.� "Now remember a descendant of our second king, David, will rise to power some day and take our country away from the foreign rulers, take over the world, and...." [5]

�� Obadiah cannot take the suspense any longer.� "Sir!" he interrupts, raising his hand.� "Sir!"

�� "Yes, Obadiah.� What is it?"

�� "I understand King Herod sent for you yesterday.� What was it about?" [6]

�� "Nothing, Obadiah.� Now, as I was saying....."

�� "But Doctor Jeremiah, something's going on.� What is it?"

�� "Nothing that concerns you, Obadiah.� Now then...."

�� "I heard it had something to do with the descendant of King David who will be our country's Deliverer some day.� Did he ask what his name was?"

�� "No, he didn't, Obadiah.� If you must know, he asked where he would be born."

�� "Everyone knows that, sir.� Bethlehem, here in Judea.� It was prophesied centuries ago.� So, was there someone suspicious born there?� Is that what all the commotion was about?" [7]

�� "That is all I'm saying about it, Obadiah.� Now we must get back to our lesson."

�� "But, Doctor Jeremiah...."

�� "That's all the interruptions I will tolerate for one day, Obadiah.� The subject is closed."

�� Obadiah and Turtullus look at each other and shrug.� But Turtullus is glad Obadiah finally shut up.� How is he going to be valedictorian if the professor gets sidetracked and can't cover everything on the final exam?

�� "Well, he sure had a chip on his shoulder today, Turtullus," Obadiah complains out in the hall after class.

�� "I must agree that you're right.� Do you think...."

�� "....that descendant of David was finally born?� Could be, my boy.� Could be.� He was due to be born two years ago.� Any prophecy scholar knows that.� Wonder why no one ever said anything about it? [8]

�� "Maybe they're trying to protect the baby, if that's indeed what happened." [9]

�� "King Herod doesn't protect anyone but himself.� It's suspicious.� No one ever talks about it.� Really suspicious."

�� "Hey, do you have a synagogue assigned to you yet?"� Obadiah can change the subject practically mid-sentence.

�� "No.� I'm going to the world headquarters of Judaism right here in the city.� I'll be working with the archives." [10]

�� "So, is that what your valedictorian speech is going to be on?"

�� "No.� I've memorized one whole book of the Bible.� I'm going to honor God by repeating it word for word."

BC 1�
{JESUS IS TWO YEARS OLD AND IN HIDING IN EGYPT.} [11]

�� "So, how are things going, being in charge of the archives, Turtullus?"

�� "Fine, thank you."��

�� "Turtullus, how would you like to be transferred to a synagogue?� It would be a good experience for you."

�� "Away from the seminary and the world headquarters?� I don't know, sir."

�� "We'd like you to try it.� You've done your job well in the Temple archives all these years.� You've always had superb performance evaluations."

�� "But, I just got that promotion."

�� "So, it's been a good experience.� Now you're ready to move on up that ladder of success, so to speak."

�� "Well, a synagogue of my own....� It would be nice, but not challenging enough I'm afraid."

�� "What we've got in mind for you is a synagogue not very far from Jerusalem.� Been there a hundred years, but it's been stifling lately.� Knowing you, you'll get it back on its feet."

�� "Well, that might be a challenge after all."

�� "By the way, it is close enough to Jerusalem that you will be able to continue your studies here at the Temple."

AD 7�
Somewhere in mid-Judea
{JESUS IS NOW 5 YEARS OLD AND RECENTLY MOVED BACK
TO NAZARETH, GALILEE, HIS PARENTS' HOME TOWN.} [12]

�� "Gentlemen, may I present to you Doctor of Law Turtullus."

�� Priest Turtullus is now Doctor Turtullus.� He is proud.� Many from his synagogue are in the audience.� They are proud too.� Even his professors were impressed with him.

�� "This is the day I have been looking forward to a long time.� Sometimes I thought I'd never reach it.� Thanks for coming to help me celebrate, Obadiah."

�� "So now you're going to teach your own class at the Temple.� I need to sit in the back and harass you with questions just to break you in good," Obadiah teases.

�� The two old friends walk across the Temple grounds as they had so many times as students some years ago.

�� "Remember Doctor Jeremiah?� Do you ever run into him?"

�� "Yes.� He is still here.� Would you like me to take you to see him?"

�� Obadiah laughs.� "First I need to think of a good theological question to ask him."

�� "You mean an unanswerable question.� I can see right through you."

�� "Hmmmm.� I think I'll ask him at what point in ceremonial cleansing are you actually considered clean.� That should get him going."

�� "I doubt you will do that, my friend.� He is more unshakable than ever.� By the way, how is your synagogue doing?"

�� "Sepphoris was burned last year, as you know.� While King Herod is rebuilding it, the congregation has moved to my home.� I want to stay with these people."

�� "You're that happy with them, Obadiah?"

�� "They're very progressive and educated.� I can get as deep into the scriptures with them as I want.� They have spoiled me!� I think Doctor Jeremiah would enjoy visiting my congregation."

�� "He will be retiring soon.� I will be taking over more of his classes.� He has one student that is building quite a reputation.� He's from up in your direction.� Actually, he's from the magnificent city of Tarsus in Syria.� His name is Saul." [13]

AD 15�
JESUS IS NOW 12 YEARS OLD.� HE IS AT THE TEMPLE FOR THE FIRST
TIME. THE JEWISH THEOLOGIANS THERE ARE IMPRESSED WITH HIM. [14]

�� "And so, my dear friends, you must give, give, give!"

�� Tertullus has developed a real following.� He has become so well respected, many people now call him rabbi.� Rabbi means master teacher.�

�� Further, he has tripled synagogue attendance.� Now he is talking the elders into buying some property over by the city gate.� It will be much larger - one of the finest in the country.� Columns of marble, gold filigree, the works.

�� "For the sake of the lost, you must give!� For the sake of the sick and dying, you must give!� For the sake of God's work on earth, you must give!� God will be glorified with this new building!� You will be glorified!"

�� Rabbi Turtullus is seated in his throne-like chair on the podium.� An elder is speaking.

�� "Welcome everyone.� Although we have the contribution box at the back for regular tithing, we know you wanted to give over and above so that we can build bigger and better for the glory of God.� So now, we will have a scripture reading while everyone reverently stands and walks to the front where we have a box for the building fund.� May you give your donation prayerfully and liberally.� God will bless you in return."

�� It is a long scripture reading from the Law of Moses.� It spells tithing as laid out in the Law of Moses along with other references to donations for vows, donations for thanksgiving, donations for unintentional sins, donations for intentional sins, and so on. [15]

�� Now and then Rabbi Tertullus stands, raises his arms toward heaven and declares, "God is speaking to your heart.� Let him!� Let him!� Yes, God!� We hear you, God!"

March AD 29
JESUS IS NOW 20 YEARS OLD AND IS STILL DEVELOPING HIMSELF
QUIETLY FOR THE MISSION AHEAD. HE, TOO, HEARS GOD. [16]

�� "Turtullus!� What are you up to these days?"

�� "Obadiah?� Is that you, Obadiah?"

�� "You haven't forgotten your old friend after all.� How are the wife and children?"

�� "Fine.� When did you get into town, Obadiah?� How long are you staying?"

�� "I got here Monday and will leave tomorrow.� You know that man who has been infiltrating the synagogues?"

�� "You mean Jesus of Nazareth up in Galilee by all those Gentiles and pagans?"

�� "Yes.� Up where I live.� He is trouble.� You know that."

�� "Yes, some of my synagogue members went up north to hear him.� Now they're back spreading his heresy.� He'll have to be stopped, you know.� Someone must stop him."

�� "Well, that is why I am here.� I want you to go up there to examine his doctrine."

�� "You want me to go up there?� Still trying to tell people what to do, are you?"

�� "I am now a junior member of the Sanhedrin, praise be to God." [17]

�� "Really?� I wonder why I didn't hear anything about it."

�� "Maybe you're too busy to get back to Jerusalem as much as you used to before you built such a show-place synagogue ~ even though you live much closer than I do."

�� "Have you met my former student, Saul, yet?� He was just appointed to the Sanhedrin too.� The youngest member they've ever had.� He's a fire ball."� Tertullus grins.� "You're going to have your hands full keeping him under control." [18]

�� "I was appointed just a couple of months ago," Obadiah continues, frustrated that most men are not admitted to the ruling body for many years like he was.� "They said they could use my brashness to counteract this menace.� You know, Jesus." [19]

�� "So you want me to go up north, hear that Jesus personally, and report to the Sanhedrin."

�� "Not just hear him.� We want you to confront him.� There might be a promotion in it for you."

�� "A promotion?" Turtullus responds almost resentfully.� Leave his little kingdom?� He will never speak of it aloud.

�� "Yes, I need a good man to head this inquiry, and it looks like that Jesus isn't going to be stopped easily.� It could take a couple years.� We might need you to move back here."

�� Tertullus softens.� "Like old times."� What he does not say aloud is that he will have to give up his prominent position, the one he has worked so long and hard for.

�� "Yes, it'll be great to be together again."

March AD 29�
Capernaum, Galilee
JESUS IS NOW 32 YEARS OLD, AND TWO YEARS INTO A RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT THAT
WILL TURN THE KINGDOM AND JUDAISM UPSIDE DOWN TO BECOME ITS FOUNDATION.

�� Two weeks later, Tertullus arrives at the city of Jesus' headquarters and checks in at the hostel.

�� "Oh, Scribe Tertullus, your room is already paid for."

�� "Already paid for?" he repeats.

�� "Yes.� The Sanhedrin paid for it."

�� Tertullus takes his extra clothing and scrolls ~ the scripture scrolls he never travels without ~ to his room, then returns to the inn for dinner.� Walking in, he is surprised to see a gray-haired gentleman seated over to one side.� He approaches the elderly man.

�� "Doctor Jeremiah?� Is that you?"

�� He looks up and stands.� "Well, well.� Turtullus!"

�� "How are you, sir?� What brings you out here?"

�� "Same thing as you.� I specifically requested you.� I was always impressed with you.� With your ability to read something once and remember it word for word, you will be of great help to us in defeating this menace to our national religion."

�� They recline on the cushions provided at the table and wait for dinner to be served.

�� "You've got a quick mind, Tertullus.� You can pick this man apart."

�� "When will we confront him?"

�� "He goes out and preaches every day.� Always has a crowd around him.� We'll go down toward the docks.� He'll be somewhere between here and there."

�� The next morning, the two Bible scholars head out to find Jesus.� Doctor Jeremiah was right.� They find him in an outdoor market.

�� "Come on.� Let's embarrass this man so bad, he'll be the laughing stock of the town."

�� Tertullus is surprised at this side of his old professor.� Maybe he's getting eccentric in his old age.

�� They approach the crowd and watch.

�� "Ah, ha!" Tertullus says to his old teacher.� "It didn't take us long.� Look at that!� Look what his friends are doing?"

�� "Uh, sir!� Jesus, sir!" Doctor Jeremiah calls out.� "Your friends just bought some food from that vendor, and they've already started eating it.� Where was their prayer?� We didn't hear any prayers being said.� And hand washing.� They did not wash their hands!" [20]

�� Jesus looks over at the two well-dressed men dressed in such a way that everyone knows they are important scholars.� He seems unimpressed and turns to talk to his friends.

�� "Hey, there, Jesus!� Did you hear me?� If you're so religious and all, why haven't you taught them the sacred traditions of the Temple?" [21]

�� Doctor Jeremiah is really a spitfire.� Tertullus is getting a real kick out of the whole thing.

�� "The prophet Isaiah was right," Jesus finally responds, "when he referred to people like you.� You talk like you're so holy in public, but you're just hypocrites."

�� "Now wait a minute there, Jesus!� Who do you think you're talking to?" Tertullus interjects in defense of his former teacher of the law.

�� Jesus pays no attention.� "You act like you're really following God when you're not.� You use religion as an excuse to get important positions.� Whenever there's a commandment of God you don't like, you excuse yourself by saying God didn't really mean that." [22]

�� "See here, young man," Doctor Jeremiah interjects, trying to regain control of the situation.� "We just saw your men flaunting their rejection of Temple tradition."

�� "What makes you the judge of everyone's religion?� You take any of God's actual laws that you don't like, and change them around so they're not at all what God said at all.� For instance, God said to support your elderly parents.� Anyone who doesn't must be executed.� But in your greed, you tell people they should give their parents' support money to the rabbis instead." [23]

�� Doctor Jeremiah has been cornered.� Deep down he knows Jesus is right.� But never will he admit it.� Not to Jesus, not to himself.� He begins a retreat.� He'll regroup and come back later.� "Let's get out of here, Tertullus.� There's no reasoning with this heretic."

�� At the hostel that night, Turtullus recalls a class event from his old school days.

�� "Doctor, do you remember that day you were summoned by King Herod to tell him where the new king would be born who would destroy our enemy nations?"

�� The old man gets noticeably agitated.� He doesn't answer.

�� "There are always a lot of babies born.� Some were killed that night.� We don't know if there were any survivors.� Now I've got to get some sleep." [24]

October AD 29
Jerusalem, Judea

�� Scribe Tertullus is back at the Temple, world headquarters of the Jewish religion.� He likes the excitement of being where decisions are made.� He has been put in charge of stamping out heresy movements.� His quick mind makes him a natural for it.� He has memorized more of the Sanhedrin's amendments to the Law of Moses than most people ever do in a lifetime.

�� A message arrives.

�� "Greetings, Scribe Tertullus, in the name of God, from Scribe Obadiah.� Jesus is at it again.� He is headed in your direction.� We're losing too many synagogue members.� We cannot make budget."

�� Tertullus packs up and heads out once more to find the menace Jesus, the heretic Jesus.

Somewhere in Judea

�� It does not take much for Scribe Tertullus to find Jesus.� Large crowds actually follow him around everywhere he goes.� Just look for a crowd.� He'll be at the center of it.

�� He locates Jesus at a caravan stopover.� Jesus has been talking too long.� It's time to play an Obadiah on him and put him in his place.

�� "Uh, Jesus, sir.� I have a question,"he calls out.� Everyone in the audience turns to see who dares interrupt their hero.

�� Jesus stops what he's been saying and acknowledges the well-dressed theological gentleman toward the back of the crowd.� "What is your question?"

�� Now for the test.� Jesus will never pass this test.� He never went to the Temple for studies.� He never became a scribe or a doctor of law.� He could not possibly know all the religious laws like Scribe Tertullus does.

�� "Being the great religious scholar that you are," Tertullus mocks, "what must I do to live forever?"

�� Not yet ready to be drawn in, Jesus answers his question with a question.� "What do God's laws cover?� I'd like your opinion."

�� "I have a two-fold answer for you, sir," Tertullus announces in his best orator voice.� "You must love God with all your strength and emotions and spirit and intelligence.� And you must love your neighbor as much as you do yourself."� He is now feeling rather smug.� Jesus cannot top that.� He is smarter than Jesus.

�� "Very good.� If you do this, you will indeed live forever," Jesus responds with a compliment.

�� Not wanting to lose his momentum, Tertullus fires another question at him.� A loaded question.� Jesus will not able to handle this one.� It means choosing sides.� There will be some angry people in the crowd as soon as Jesus gives his answer - if he dare.

�� "So, Jesus, would you kindly inform me who my neighbor is?"� Aha!� Now he's got him. [25]�� "A man was traveling between Jerusalem and Jericho," Jesus begins.� "He was out in the hills away from all towns when he became victim of one of those bands of robbers.� They not only robbed him of his possessions and the clothing on his back, but the beat him nearly to death."

�� "Okay, I got you.� Go ahead."� Tertullus reminds himself of Obadiah.� But it is working.� He is about to rattle Jesus.

�� "Well, a priest saw the man.� But do you know what?� He did not even slow down.� But luckily a little while later a Levite from the Temple saw the half-dead man.� But he refused to stop for him too."

�� Scribe Tertullus begins to squirm.� His eyes close to a slant.� This Jesus has gone from preaching to meddling.

�� "Then a pagan Samaritan saw the man beside the road and stopped.� He had some ointment with him, so tended his wounds the best he could.� Then he put the bloody man on his donkey and carefully took him to the next town.� There he found a hostel and checked the man in.

�� "'This man is still unconscious, and he didn't have anything of value on him, of course.� But here are two silver coins.� I to get to an important business deal, but I'll stop back by in a couple days.� If he's still unconscious, I'll give you some more money.' " [26]

�� Jesus now moves in for the intellectual kill.� The spiritual kill too.� "So now, my friend, which one of these men was neighborly to the man robbed and left for dead?"

�� Jesus has turned the tables.� It was not fair.� Tertullus had asked who his neighbor was.� Instead, Jesus has described three people claiming to be neighborly.�

�� There is silence in the crowd.� Tertullus must say something.� He clears his throat.� "Well, the one who helped him."� He cannot say out loud that it was the pagan who helped him.� He was just the man.�

�� "Then you do the kind of things this pagan did."

�� Suddenly he looks at the sun to determine the time as though missing an appointment of his own, and slinks out of the crowd.� Tertullus has lost again.� He is not used to losing.� He has never lost to anyone before in his life. [27]

�� Back at his hostel, he confers with Doctor Jeremiah.� "That Jesus is a hard one to crack.� He's devious."

�� "In other words, Turtullus, you lost another argument with him."

�� "Just a temporary setback.� I'll be ready for him next time.� Give me a few more days.� And pray for me.� God needs me to get this man under control and rescue the disaster he is bringing on our religion."

�� "Yes, indeed, I will.� Indeed, I will."

�� Jesus has moved on to another town nearby.� Tertullus will find out where Jesus is going to synagogue tomorrow and go there too.

�� "Brothers and sisters.� It is our esteemed pleasure..."

�� Scribe Tertullus straightens his robe ready to be acknowledged as a special visitor to the congregation.�

�� "...to recognize in our audience today..."

�� He smiles and begins to rise out of his seat.

�� "...Jesus of Nazareth."

�� Tertullus quickly coughs and tugs at the back of his suitcoat as though straightening it, then sits back down, humiliated, red faced, angry.

�� "Jesus, where are you?� Oh, there you are in the back.� Come on up.� We'd like you to say a few words."

�� The room fills with anticipation as the congregation carefully watches Jesus walk forward.� They had been wanting a chance to hear Jesus.� He speaks only a few moments, then returns to the back of the building.� An hour later, the service is about to come to a close.� Someone eases up to the front and whispers to the rabbi.

�� "Uh, and I have just been informed," he announces, "that Scribe Turtullus, a representative from the Temple, is with us today.� Where are you?� Will you please stand?� We are sorry we don't have any time left, but maybe next time you are in town you can say a few words to our assembly."

Winter AD 29
Jerusalem, Judea

�� "Sir, Doctor Jeremiah has sent for you."� Tertullus is at the Temple.� He has been promoted.� He is now Lawyer Tertullus, defender of the Law of Moses.

�� "Well, uh...."

�� "You must come immediately."

�� "Well, I have a meeting shortly, but can come afterwards."

�� "No, sir.� You must come right now.� The physician is with him now.� He is running out of time."

�� "I'll cancel my meeting and leave immediately."

�� Within the hour Turtullus enters his old professor's home and goes to his sick bed.

�� "Hello there, rabbi.� What's going on?"

�� "Something inside of me is very wrong.� I had a terrible pain in my chest and collapsed.� "The physician said it could happen again any time and be gone just like that."

�� "Not you, sir" the middle-aged theologian objects with a nervous smile.

�� "Close the door.� There's something I've got to tell you."

�� "Sure.� Anything."

�� "You know that day when King Herod called me to the palace when you were a student?"� He coughs slightly and waits.

�� "Yes, I remember."

�� "It's been over thirty years.� In fact, I'd say that baby would now be about the age of Jesus of Nazareth."

�� "What are you saying, sir?� Do they have you on opium?"

�� The old scholar pulls himself up slightly with his elbow.� "Listen to me, son.� I did some checking after we met with him up north."

�� He lies back onto his pillow and continues.� "One of that young man's ancestors is King David.� And that Jesus was born in the city of David ~ Bethlehem." [28]

�� Turtullus knows he does not want to hear this.� He stands and walks over to the window.� He looks blindly out over a dark alley then goes back to his dying professor's bedside.�

�� "He could be the one."

�� "The one?� The Deliverer?� The eternal king?"

�� "Yes, he could be.� I didn't want to believe it.� But, a man on his death bed admits a lot of things to himself he never did before."

�� "But he's tearing down all the Temple laws.� He's destroying our country, not delivering it."

�� "All I am saying is watch him.� He could be the one.� But I wouldn't tell anyone for now.� It might be dangerous for you.� Now I'm tired.� Leave me."

April AD 30

�� A knock at the door.� It is a messenger from Obadiah.� "Report to the Temple immediately.� He's here right now!"

�� "Jesus?� How dare he show himself in our Temple!� Why doesn't he go back up north where he belongs?"

�� Lawyer Tertullus, interrupted from reading his scriptures ~ it is the Sabbath ~ he absentmindedly rolls up the scroll and takes it with him.

�� It does not take him long to arrive at the Temple.� He finds Obadiah on the second-floor Sanhedrin complex.� The two gray-templed friends descend the stairs, wend their way though the corridors.� As they open the door to the great courtyard, they hear the now easily recognized voice calling out to a crowd.�

�� The two old friends push their way through the crowd so they can face him down, this enemy of the Jews.� Once in front of him, Obadiah folds his arms across his chest in a show of power.� Turtullus forms a smirk in support.

�� Jesus spots Obadiah, Tertullus and the other scribes and lawyers, faces them squarely and stares them down.� He is already in control.� He has a riddle for them.� Are they good at riddles?�

�� "How can the Deliverer be King David's descendant?� After all, we know that David wrote this psalm:� 'God said to my Lord, sit by me until I disarm your enemies.'� If David calls him Lord, how can he be David's descendant?" [29]

�� Jesus always makes people think.� But the people had figured out this answer long ago.� They knew that the Deliverer would be one hundred percent God and one hundred percent man, for he would be God in a human body.� Common people don't have a problem with this.� People who try to make themselves gods do. [30]

�� "But don't follow the theologians themselves," Jesus continues.� "They talk one thing and live another.� They just want you to think they're holy by all the scriptures they know." [31]

�� Tertullus' expression quickly passes from smirking to scowling.

�� "Rather than feed you God's laws tastefully like a heavenly feast," Jesus continues, "They toss all those laws onto a yoke and throw it on your backs whether or not you like it.� they sit and gloat whenever one of you sins according to what they call sin.� then they get up and pray superficial prayers for the poor wandering flock, while they are even worse sinners."

�� Jesus isn't through.� "They also make you feel inferior to them by sitting at the head table for synagogue feasts, and parading in last just before synagogue services start so everyone will see them."

�� Jesus is just jealous, of course.� Everyone surely knows that.� He wants to be head of the religion and no one will let him.

�� "And how they love to wear those sacred boxes on their arms and heads and holy tassels on their long flowing robes, and to be called Holiness and Reverend Rabbi, even though God is the only holy and reverend one." [32]

�� How dare he!� Jesus goes too far.� If he doesn't like their religion, why doesn't he just leave?� Why does he have to keep coming around trying to change things? [33]

�� Jesus is not through.� He pushes.� And pushes.� He wants the hypocrites among the priesthood to be exposed.� They will eventually expose themselves.� That is why he pushes.

�� z'Remember, these religious scholars are learners just like you, for god is the only true teacher.� Don't let them tell you what to do with your life, for only God has that right.� Don't call any of them Father, because God is the only true father." [34]

�� Lawyer Tertullus has had enough.� He pushes his way back through the crowd, leaving Obadiah behind to face the enemy alone.� He makes his way across the courtyard, outs the gate and down the street.�

�� He is angry.� He is not used to being upstaged.� This upstart Jesus is brilliant, and Turtullus is being forced to admit it.�

�� He kicks at a piece of broken pottery in the street, misses, and stubs his toe.� Angrier than ever, he throws the scripture scroll still clutched in his hand, at the side of a building.� He arrives at his destination and bangs on the gate.� It is opened for him, but he angrily forces his way in, bumping into the doorkeeper.

�� He is early for the dinner.� His host, Doctor Gamaliel, has not arrived from the Temple yet.� Eventually the host and others guests arrive.� Tertullus is relieved to be back among his own kind.

�� Still one guest lingers.� He is the guest of honor.� Doctor Gamaliel is not telling who he is.� When he arrives, most of them want to walk out, but Doctor Gamaliel is their senior and a highly respected member of the Sanhedrin.� He and most of the other religious elite are forced to endure Jesus' incessant preaching and meddling.

�� There is one, however, who does get up in disgust and leave.� He is the young Saul who got himself appointed to the Sanhedrin. �He walks out.� Such brashness.� Only one person there knows Saul for what he is and can become.� Jesus will appear to him some day after he dies, and Saul will change sides.

�� Most are relieved when the dinner is done and hastily excuse themselves.� On his way home, Tertullus struggles with the impossible.

�� "He can't be!� He is not the Deliverer!� He's all wrong!� He'll destroy us!� He'll destroy our religion!� He'll destroy me....unless....I destroy....him.

JESUS IS NOW 33 YEARS OLD.� IN A WEEK OBADIAH WILL VOTE WITH THE SANHEDRIN TO ELIMINATE JESUS FOR THE SAKE OF HIS JEWISH RELIGION.� THEY'LL TURN HIM OVER TO THE FOREIGN RULERS TO ASSASSINATE HIM UNDER THE GUISE OF BEING CRIMINALLY EXECUTED.� TURTULLUS WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE JESUS MOVEMENT.� TURTULLUS WILL LOSE.

LIFE APPLICATION

1.�� There is a book called a concordance, an index to every word in the Bible.� It may be purchased from any bookstore, or seen in many public libraries.� Choose any religious topic you hear opposing views on, and look that up for yourself.

2.�� Most denominations can be traced to the protestant movement which in turn came out of Catholicism.� Catholics trace their ordinations to the pope which means most protestant denominations trace their ordinations back to the pope.� Look up ordination in your concordance.� What office was ordained in the New Testament?

3. If you read the Bible and compare worship in it with today's worship, you will find more resemblance to elaborate Old Testament worship under the Law of Moses than to simple New Testament worship under the apostles.� James 2:10 says that if we keep part of the Law of Moses, we must keep it all.� Jesus nailed this Old Testament law to the cross (see Colossians 2:14).� Another word for testament is covenant.� Hebrews 8:7-13 says, "For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant [testament], no place would have been sought for another....By calling this covenant [testament] 'new' he has made the first one obsolete, and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear."� Scan the book of Leviticus in the Old Testament.� These are all part of the Law of Moses.� Would you like to keep all those rules?

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