Chapter 10

‘You thought it would be something out of the ordinary?’ asked Voldi.

‘Wouldn’t you,’ countered Ephraim, ‘considering how out of the ordinary Jesus was?…Well—he walked forward and took up the scroll containing the writing of the Prophet Esaias…I suppose you’ve heard of our famed Prophet Esaias?’ he interrupted himself to say.

‘No,’ admitted Voldi. ‘I have little knowledge of your great ones—since our Father Abraham.’ They both grinned.

‘Nearly as I can recall the words,’ continued Ephraim, ‘what Jesus read went something like this: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to release men in bondage and open the eyes of the blind. I am to raise up those who have been beaten down, and I am to announce that the Lord will make this a blessed year…” Then Jesus rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the Rabbi, and said, “This prophecy is now to be fulfilled.” Then he returned to his seat. All eyes were fixed on him. Even the Rabbi seemed bewildered, and it was some little time before he went on with the devotions…After the meeting, the congregation gathered about Jesus, as he came out, and asked him what he meant; and was someone coming—here—now—to Nazareth—to open the prison and free the slaves and give sight to the blind?’

‘It hadn’t occurred to any of you that Jesus might be referring to himself as the promised healer?’

‘No; you see, he had grown up with us. It was beyond our thought that one of our own neighbours might be gifted to do such things.’

‘What did Jesus say then?’

‘He declared that it was to be his mission to spread the good news. And the people were silent and unbelieving—and slanted their eyes at one another with sulky faces. One old man shouted crossly, “You think you are going to open the eyes of the blind—here—in Nazareth?”‘

‘I’ll wager they all listened to his reply!’ said Voldi.

‘They did indeed—and it made them angry. Jesus said, “Not here—not in Nazareth. A prophet has no value in his own community.” At that, the people drifted away, grumbling; many of them turning to scowl or laugh scornfully.’

‘And—after that—they mistreated him?’

‘No; he gave them no opportunity to mistreat him. He left Nazareth at once; not even tarrying to have dinner with his family. After the meeting at the Synagogue he wandered away—and he hasn’t been back.’

‘Perhaps,’ surmised Voldi, ‘if he is really doing great things for people elsewhere, the people of your town will beseech him to return.’

Ephraim shook his head and renewed his forge-fire.

‘No,’ he replied. ‘It wouldn’t be like Nazareth—to do that.’

‘Not even to have your blind ones see?’ asked Voldi.

‘No; not even to have our blind ones see!’ Ephraim was now resuming his interrupted work with diligence. Voldi felt that the interview was over, and rose to go. At the door he turned to say with a smile:

‘What will your fellow townsmen think of you for making a journey to see Jesus? Will they be annoyed?’

Ephraim tapped his anvil a couple of times, chuckling to himself.

‘They can’t be too much annoyed,’ he said. ‘I’m the only farrier in Nazareth. Perhaps if there were two, I shouldn’t risk my neighbours’ displeasure.’

Voldi bade him farewell and returned to the inhospitable inn. Shortly after midnight he was awakened by a violent thunderstorm followed by a heavy rainfall that continued throughout the night and until mid-forenoon of the next day. When finally it cleared, he set off at the best speed he could make on a slippery road, hoping to arrive in Bethsaida before darkness fell.