Jerusalem’s Brothers: Second in the Brothers Series

© 2013, 3014 by Ronald Hera. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 07/03/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4918-0372-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-0371-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-0370-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013913743

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Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Thanks to

Lydia Baxter and my daughter,

Chris Hicks, for helping me to edit this book

After the crucifixion and resurrection,

the followers of Jesus are without a leader and nervous. Those who truly believe are eager to carry on, but they cannot see a

clear way to do so.

Chapter 1

Early in the morning, Enoch peeked out of the wooden door of his brother’s pottery shop and checked for any Roman soldiers or temple guards. He slipped through the narrow opening, hugged the rough wall as he moved into the street and hastily climbed the hill toward the temple. The streets were already crowded by Jewish pilgrims from all over the world moving toward the temple to celebrate. He blended into the crowd. Once at the corner of the temple, he made a sharp left and headed toward the west end of town.

As Enoch came to the outskirts of town, he slipped into an alley and checked again for any other curious pedestrians. Then he knocked at the only door in the alley. Two knocks, a pause and then three more taps. The door cracked open, and Stephen identified Enoch and then let him in.

Once inside, Enoch moved in among the crowd of nearly a hundred disciples, found Cleopas and settled in next to his good friend. The single window was covered with a black cloak, and a lone flickering candle lit the room as the men sat cross-legged and quietly conversed. You’re late, was the only greeting from Cleopas. Stephen let a few more in and then locked the door.

Peter stood in the center of the room by the candle and began to speak softly as he shifted his weight from one leg to another. Men, we are all in danger. I hear reports of the temple guards destroying the businesses of our brothers in Christ. The Romans are more than happy to join in the destruction, and it is getting more frequent and more violent. I have no advice except to keep a low profile and not to return violence with violence. Our Lord would not have such a thing.

The men nodded in agreement, and Nicolas, a basket shop owner in a tattered cloak, spoke up. My business is ruined. I believe I need to move on to another smaller town that has no temple guards. My only chance for a livelihood is to leave Jerusalem.

Peter responded, Jesus asked us to stay in Jerusalem. We must do as he says. It is hard, I know, but our Lord knows our hardship. He would not have given us this instruction without purpose.

As Peter paused, a sound like a brisk breeze filled the room.

Peter listened intently. Unsure of its source, the disciples turned from their downcast gaze at the lone candle in the room to the locked door, expecting to find it open somehow. The candle flickered and died. Then the room became bright from an orb of light gleaming overhead. No one spoke as tiny lights separated and became tongues of flame.

The disciples ducked as the flames slowly settled over each of their heads. The first to whisper was John. Quiet everyone. We must not be heard. Andrew, check the door!

It’s locked, John. Andrew moved, and the fire followed him. What’s going on?

Keep still. Perhaps we will soon know, whispered John.

The others kept their heads low until they realized that the fire was not hot. Some even began to reach for the flames, but thought better of the idea.

Each disciple began to feel strength enter his body, not fear, but strength. Then John rose and helped Mary to her feet. One-by-one the group rose to their feet. The room was bright, and each could see confidence in the face of his fellow disciples.

Peter spoke again. Fellow believers, this is why we were told to stay here in Jerusalem! God has given us a gift we do not fully understand, but I, for one, am emboldened to speak the Good News to Jerusalem, Judea and the ends of the earth! Praise God!

Each disciple raised his open hand and shouted, AMEN!

The flames began to swirl above their heads and reunited in a ball of fire. It hovered for a moment and then disappeared.

No longer were the followers afraid of Romans hearing them, and they began to speak to each other, some in Aramaic, others Greek and still others Hebrew. Yet each man could be understood by all. Andrew reached for the door and opened it. The men and women followers filed out into the hot, moist morning air, unsure of exactly where they were going, but sure of their purpose.

It was fifty days after the seventh Sabbath and the Feast of Weeks. Jews from Media, Greece, Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia and Asia were outside in the streets, having brought their sacrifices. They were immediately drawn to the exiting disciples because they each heard them in their own language. Confusion reigned for a few moments, and one of the passers-by joked, They have had too much wine!

Peter moved from the narrow alley into a larger intersection and stood on a wooden table used by a merchant to sell fruits and vegetables.

Peter stood in front of the group of disciples and addressed the crowd, "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel;

‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

‘I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.

‘The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Men of Israel listen to this; Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

Peter went on speaking to the Jews, and they listened intently. When Peter finished with the words, Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. The people were cut to the heart.

Those listening begged the apostles, Brothers, what shall we do?

Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call¹

Peter pleaded with them saying, Save yourselves!

By this time, the crowd grew very large and some of the men were there with their wives and children. That day thousands of believers were added. After their celebration in the temple, many returned to their villages the next day, taking with them the good news given to them by Peter.

As John and Mary walked back to John’s home, Mary looked up at John and said, John, this is the completion of my son’s ministry. It is up to the rest of you now. You will know what to do and what to say. Don’t worry about me. I will go back to my room now.

Mary, I can’t let you go alone. I made a promise, and I intend to fill it to completion. I will help you back to our place and see that you are safely in bed.

Mary acquiesced, and the two began the short trip home. Once there, John lit the lamp and Mary headed to her small room while John squatted on the floor to think.

The sense of urgency was irresistible. He knew he had to reach out to the unbelievers just as Jesus had instructed, but Mary was frail and a responsibility he could not ignore. Conflicted, he prayed as he had never prayed before, Oh God, please help me to fulfill my duty to Mary and to you. I am torn between reaching out to as many Jews as possible, even to the ends of the earth. But I must keep my promise to Jesus. Help me. Somehow his prayers seemed different now. They had power and John had a new trust. He knew this would be settled, but he wasn’t quite sure how. It felt odd to John.

Mary took a deep breath as she settled down on her straw mat. More relaxed than ever before, she rolled onto her left side and remembered how her son had assured her of safety through all sorts of difficulty, and he was so right. Since Jesus’ resurrection, John not only provided for her, but protected her from the Jewish attacks on the followers and from public ridicule. James too seemed to understand his mother’s need, but only after he had talked to the resurrected Jesus. She prayed for all her children coming to a full understanding of their brother’s calling… her last prayer.

Morning brought shock and distress to John. Mary did not awaken. She lay on her mat quietly and without breath. John knew Mary was safely in God’s hands, but he already missed her quiet confidence and soft voice. John walked next door to the home of his fellow disciple, Philip. The two of them covered Mary with John’s robe, and Philip headed out to find John’s mother. John stayed with Mary.

John’s mother came to the house with another believer, and the two women gently lifted Mary from the mat and carried her out. John never knew where Mary was buried. Believers who died had their graves robbed and desecrated by ardent Jews who denied Jesus as the Messiah. It was always best to keep secrets from the Jews; a sad reality. John hoped that Mary would be honored some day as the great woman she was.

John and Philip walked to the temple to be cleansed according to Jewish custom, since touching the dead was an unclean act. The temple was crowded, and people seemed to be gathered in one place as someone spoke. Curious, John peeked around to see who was talking so compellingly. It was Enoch, the fisherman from Galilee who lived with Simeon, his brother, the potter!

The crowd was unsettled and more angry than curious. They wanted nothing of what Enoch offered. John slipped back to Philip. We need to get Enoch out of here before they kill him. I believe he is in for a stoning!

Philip moved to the front of the crowd. He was older and larger than either Enoch or John. He walked up to Enoch and stood by his side as Enoch continued to present the good news of Jesus the Messiah. Philip leaned over and whispered into Enoch’s left ear. Wrap it up Enoch. They are stiff necked and not hearing you. You are trapped here if you don’t move toward the gate. Enoch kept speaking with even more energy as Philip literally dragged him toward the gate. Enoch’s need to speak was irrepressible. Once outside, John and Philip walked him further from the temple, and the crowd did not follow, but instead, the Jews argued among themselves. Apparently some had indeed listened with an open heart.

If I only save one, Enoch exclaimed. If only one!

John and Philip understood completely. Perhaps you have planted the seed. God will bring the harvest. We don’t want to lose you, Enoch, John said with sincere concern. They would kill us all if they could.

They walked only a short distance when they saw Marcus, the centurion in charge of the city, with a handful of troops headed toward the temple. The Romans had no patience with the Jews and their religious outbursts. It seemed to Marcus that they were breaking up some sort of ruckus every day.

Once safely in Philip’s house, the three disciples sat dejectedly on the dirt floor; Enoch was frustrated with the other two almost as much as with the Jews in the temple. John was still not cleansed. Philip knew there had to be a better way of handling unbelievers. The Jews just would not let them speak! The feeling of empowerment was there, but the situation was growing more dangerous by the hour.

Chapter 2

Marcus and his crack troops approached the temple, and the temple guards met them at the gate. You had better quiet these people or we will do it, Marcus challenged the guards.

Finally the temple guards had no choice but to enter the fight inside the temple. They separated the arguing factions and pushed them around to make the point that they needed to be quiet. The Jews reluctantly withdrew; most of them going through the gate in loathing that the others wouldn’t see it their way.

Marcus looked the temple guard commander in the eyes and said, Keep this up and you will be replaced by Roman guards. You have to keep the peace! The governor is angry enough as it is. Marcus turned and ordered his troops to gather and march back to the barracks. It was late afternoon and Jerusalem was generally quiet at night. Romans patrolled the streets and enforced an unofficial curfew. Those on the streets were randomly hustled off to jail for the night.

Marcus pulled off his helmet and threw it aside as he entered the door to his small apartment. His Jewish servant, Aaron, helped him off with his breastplate and sandals, careful not to speak in case his master was in a foul mood. Most of the time, he really could not tell. Marcus was a gruff man with an unpredictable temper.

You have a message from Pilate on your desk. The messenger said it was not urgent, but I figure if it’s from Pilate, it is important.

Good thinking, Aaron, Marcus responded with a frown.

Marcus opened the folded note and read.

Marcus,

I have been called back to Rome. They are upset with my poor handling of the Jews and want me replaced. I am not sure how long it will be before my replacement arrives, but I thought you should know. You have served me well. I will put in a good word for you, but as you know, politics trump everything in Rome.

I am calling for Octavian to come from the north, and he will be visiting to talk to you about the Zealots in Galilee. They are reappearing in even greater numbers and are headed south to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is becoming more dangerous every day. We will need to do something to show these Jewish idiots that rebellion is treasonous and will not be tolerated.

I have talked to the Sanhedrin, and they believe that the followers of Jesus are to blame, but that is not our experience. I believe it is the Sanhedrin itself. I need your ideas on this when Octavian shows up. I will have him contact you when he gets into town, and then the two of you are to report to me.

Pontius Pilate

Governor

Marcus tossed the note down and looked at Aaron. I should run you through just for being a Jew, he said. Then he smiled.

What is it, sir?

Pilate is leaving, and Rome thinks he has handled the Jews poorly. What do you think?

Aaron scratched his head. Not for me to say. It is for Rome to say.

Aaron, you are wise beyond your brothers.

Aaron smiled and did not say any more. He knew when a conversation should end. Marcus was a good master and had treated him well, but Aaron knew if Pilate was replaced, Marcus would be replaced too. It was the Roman way. Clean house and start over.

Marcus said, Octavian is coming from Galilee and will be here to see us in the next few days. Find Anthony for me. I think he is downstairs. I need to talk to him.

Aaron turned and headed downstairs, nearly tripping down the steps as he rushed to find Anthony. Once downstairs, he asked, Has anyone seen Anthony? No one responded. Aaron had a