Chapter 11

‘Sir,’ said Simon, in a deep voice, ‘this is Jesus—of Nazareth.’

On any other occasion, Jairus would have had at least a nod and a smile for the man who had so graciously introduced his friend, but there was something about the Nazarene that demanded his full attention. So—this was the Carpenter! Well, it was easy to see why the people were following him about. He was not an ordinary man. Jairus advanced toward him—and bowed respectfully.

‘You and your friends are welcome to my house, sir,’ he said.

There was another crash of thunder and Jairus glanced up apprehensively.

‘May I suggest, sir,’ he urged, ‘that you step back from underneath this dome? We are not safe here!’

‘You need have no fear, Jairus,’ said Jesus quietly.

‘But that roof is dangerous!’ insisted Jairus.

‘Perhaps,’ said Jesus; ‘but not for me, nor for you while you are beside me. My time has not yet come.’

Jairus, rarely at a loss for an appropriate word, couldn’t think of a suitable thing to say. He found himself held by the Carpenter’s reassuring eyes: strange, searching eyes they were, that asked, without impudence, what manner of man you were, as if they had a right to know. There was another savage blast of thunder, but this time Jairus did not look up. Apparently divining his host’s relief, Jesus smiled, glanced aloft, and nodded his head. And Jairus smiled too, but shook his head a little, as if to say that something was going on here that he couldn’t understand.

Now the face of the Carpenter sobered. He turned about and walked slowly toward the tall windows facing the highway, the others following him. Simon indicated his two young friends, who had not been presented. ‘James and John, sir,’ he said. ‘Brothers. Fishermen.’ Jairus nodded to them absently. He was thinking of the men from Jerusalem who were waiting, probably with some impatience, to interrogate this mysterious Nazarene. Perhaps they were sitting with their heads together, organizing pedantic queries that no untutored carpenter could be expected to understand; hopeful of showing the fellow up as an ignoramus…Well—he might surprise them!

Jairus joined the men at the window. Out along the roadside a great crowd stood huddled and hunched under the cypress and olive trees in the drenching rain. Simon, towering beside Jesus, turned to Jairus and murmured apologetically, ‘He entreated them not to follow him here, sir.’

‘Are these people friends of yours?’ asked Jairus, moving to Jesus’ side.

Jesus nodded his head and continued to gaze compassionately at the multitude. Then, as if talking to himself, he said, ‘They are sheep—without a shepherd.’

‘Well,’ said Jairus, ‘we can’t have them out there in this storm!’ He turned to the Big Fisherman. ‘Bid them come in!’