Chapter 11

‘That’s what they are going to discuss today,’ replied Jairus. ‘They can’t apprehend him as a disturber of the peace. If he has disturbed the peace by preaching to these big crowds, it is the business of the provincial police to arrest him. I had a talk with Antipas about this, a few days before he left. He had sent several of his men out into the country to see what the Carpenter was trying to do, and they reported that nothing seditious had been said. The Tetrarch seemed satisfied that the fellow was doing no harm with his admonitions to the people that they should try to be contented—and live at peace with all men.’

‘Surely the Rabbis can’t object to that,’ reflected Adiel. ‘Perhaps they have been disturbed by all these tales of miracles.’ She grew suddenly serious, searching her husband’s eyes. ‘You don’t think there can be any truth in these stories, do you, Jairus? All the people on our estate are talking of nothing else! I’ve never known our house-servants to be so excited about anything!’

‘Well,’ drawled Jairus, ‘you know how servants are. They dote on such yarns. It’s quite beyond belief that the Carpenter is really healing diseases. Have any of our people told you that they themselves have been cured of anything?’

‘No, but they are convinced that the man has done some very remarkable things.’ Rising, Adiel held up Jairus’s exquisitely quilted robe. Hoisting himself out of bed, he slipped his arms into it and ambled off toward the spacious bath, pausing in the doorway to remark, ‘I think it’s rather undignified for these pundits from Jerusalem to be making a big thing of this. If they pay no attention to the man, he will soon dispose of himself—and the people will forget all about him and he can go back to his carpenter-shop. I’m ashamed to be serving as host to this foolish business, Adiel.’

She loitered in the corridor for him, and when presently he rejoined her, Adiel tucked her hand under his arm and said, with some hesitation, ‘I wish you would have a talk with a few of our farmers; old Simeon, for one. You can trust him to tell the truth. He claims that he actually saw this Jesus give sight to a man who had been born blind!’

‘Pouf!’ scoffed Jairus good-naturedly. ‘Don’t be silly! There’s some sensible explanation for these tales. You may be sure of that!’

They strolled toward the breakfast-room. It was on the east side of the villa, adjoining the large dining-room, and was usually flooded with sunshine. On fine summer days the servants rolled back the central panels of the roof, made of tightly woven goat-hair, and the family breakfasted under the blue sky. It was closed today and the room was dreary. Even the beautifully crafted mosaics on the walls were dingy and lifeless.