Journey to the Well: A Novel (36 page)
Read Journey to the Well: A Novel Online
Authors: Diana Wallis Taylor
He did not seem surprised, but nodded his head as if the answer was expected and he was pleased with her. “You have said well, for you have had five husbands . . . and this man that you have now is not your husband. In that you have said the truth.”
How could he know these things? She had never seen him in the town of Shechem. A Jewish rabbi alone in Shechem would be noticed! There was only one way he could know these things about her.
“Sir . . . I believe that you are a prophet!” She must turn this conversation or incriminate herself. She looked up at Gerizim. “Our fathers worshiped in this mountain; and you Jews say that Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.”
He chuckled, as though he knew what she was doing and then his face became earnest.
“Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you shall neither in this mountain, nor even yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.”
She was confused and it must have shown in her face.
“You worship what you do not know,” he said softly. “We worship what we do know, for salvation is of the Jews.”
The rebuke was kind, but he spoke with that same authority. Slowly she sat down on the well to hear the rest of his words.
“The hour has come and now is at hand when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeks such as these to worship Him. God is a spirit; and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”
Suddenly Marah remembered the rabbi whom Reuben had told Simon about when he had first come to Shechem, a man with a ragged following. A man who performed miracles and healed the sick. Was he that man? She looked at him again, not even considering that at the moment she was talking with a strange man alone . . . and a Jew. There was love, not the love of the body, but love of the soul that radiated from his eyes. He seemed to know her very life, and yet she saw no condemnation in his voice or his manner. Who was he? Was he that Jesus of Nazareth? Cautiously she began . . .
“I know that the Messiah comes which is called Christ. When He comes, He will tell us all things.” She held her breath.
The rabbi smiled and there was glory on his face as he spoke softly, “I that speak to you . . . am He.” He reached out his hand to her and there in the stillness came recognition: the face in her dream, the stranger who had brought peace to her heart over the years. This was the one that spoke to her in the pain of childbirth and death. His was the voice that had told her she would not die. Joy filled her being as understanding came. She knew who He was. Love poured through her very being. She felt cleansed, and as she slowly looked into His face, the words echoed in her soul, “You are forgiven of your sins.”
At that moment, she heard voices and looked around to see a small group of men approaching. She looked fearfully back at the rabbi, but He seemed to know them. These men were with Him. They must be his disciples. They carried bundles—food, no doubt, purchased in Shechem. Their faces showed concern and puzzlement as they looked from their master to Marah, yet none stepped forward to ask why He was speaking to a Samaritan woman. They did not even question her, yet waited patiently, respectfully.
The rabbi looked at her, and suddenly thoughts filled her mind. She knew what she must do. The water jar was forgotten, and she nodded, as if He had spoken to her aloud. She hesitated a moment, looking at all of them, and then began to run back down the path toward Shechem.
As she entered the gate of the town, she went to the center of the marketplace. The merchants had opened their stalls and people milled about. They turned to look at her. The woman who had avoided all of them for so long stood in the marketplace with tears streaming down her face and joy radiating from her soul.
With her hand, she entreated all of them, “Come! See a man who told me all that I have ever done! I have met Him at the well of Jacob. Could this be the Christ? Come . . . come and see!”
The men began to lay down the things in their hands, and as if moved by a power beyond themselves, they followed her. As she went down the street, she called to them from shop to shop. “Come, see the Messiah. Come and see the Christ. He is at the well of Jacob. He has told me everything I have done in my life. Come!”
As sheep follow the shepherd, they poured out from Shechem and hurried after her as she laughed and gestured with her hand to follow. She could hear the voices murmuring, “Is this the woman we have known all our lives? What change was this? What has happened to her?” With curiosity they resolved to see this man she spoke about.
The rabbi stood on the hill by the well and, with a smile, watched them approach. As the group of men in the white garments of the Samarim approached, they heard Him cry out to His disciples, “Lift up your eyes and look upon the fields, for they are white and ready to harvest!”
One of the elders of Shechem, Zebulun, approached Him respectfully. “This woman testifies that You know all her life. Something has happened to her and we would hear more of Your words. Come. Stay in Shechem and teach us. We would hear what God has to say to us.” He spread his hands out toward the disciples who stood cautiously in the face of the larger group of Samaritans. “Come, all of you. You are welcome.”
The rabbi seemed hardly to be able to contain His pleasure and nodded to Zebulun and the other Samaritans.
“I will come.” He beckoned to His disciples.
Zebulun paused, “How are you called, Rabbi?”
“I am Jesus. Jesus of Nazareth.”
And they headed toward Shechem.
47
N
o one had ever spoken the words that this man spoke. His words held hope and life. Marah listened, and the heaviness that had bowed her spirit was gone. She felt cleansed of all that had passed before . . . as though God were giving her another chance.
o one had ever spoken the words that this man spoke. His words held hope and life. Marah listened, and the heaviness that had bowed her spirit was gone. She felt cleansed of all that had passed before . . . as though God were giving her another chance.
He was indeed the Jesus whom Reuben had spoken of, and the people of Shechem marveled at the miracles as He healed the sick and crippled. They flocked to Him.
Jesus told them that if they turned from their sins and cried out for forgiveness, if they believed that He, Jesus, was the Messiah, they could ask forgiveness of their sins in His name and they would be forgiven. Hundreds came to hear Him speak as He stood on the steps of the synagogue. He shared their reverence for the Pentateuch. He opened the Holy Scriptures to them as they had never understood them.
Marah sat nearby, unconcerned about who was near her. The sin that bound her had been lifted. She was forgiven. He had given her hope when all hope appeared to be gone. For hours, she and the people of Shechem took in His words as He taught them. Litters with the crippled and sick were carried and placed before Him. The ears of the deaf were opened and the lame got up and walked. He healed them all and the people lifted their hands in praise to God.
As Marah listened, she longed for Ahmal and Caleb to be there with her to hear these wondrous words. If only her son could know what this Jesus, the Messiah, had done for her.
All of Shechem came to hear Jesus speak. Shiva the carpenter stood near her and spoke earnestly. “Now I believe, not because of what you told us, but because we have heard Him for ourselves. Now we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”
Other townspeople standing nearby nodded their heads in agreement.
Hannah stood on the other side of Marah with Simon and little Jacob. Hannah had seen the change in Marah’s countenance at once and knew a miracle had happened. They had rejoiced with her and gladly listened to the wonderful teaching of Jesus. They had accepted Him as their Messiah also. Marah glanced down at Jacob’s twisted foot. It had been assumed that it would straighten out as he got older, yet as the boy grew, the foot seemed to turn in even more. Jacob had developed a rolling walk to compensate for the foot. Sometimes the other children teased him, and Marah knew it pained Hannah and Simon. She looked at the foot and lifted her eyes to meet Hannah’s. Then she turned and looked toward Jesus. Hannah nodded slowly. She gathered her son in her arms and, before Simon could speak, carried him to Jesus. She knelt down and gently placed her son in front of the Messiah. Her eyes beseeched Him to have mercy on her . . . and Jacob.
Jesus looked at Hannah with love in His eyes, knowing this gentle woman had always been ready to help anyone who was in need. Now she came to Him with a need she could not meet. He smiled at her as she waited expectantly before Him. Jesus smiled at Jacob, who met His gaze with the trust of a child. Jesus reached out and took hold of Jacob’s foot. He bowed His head for a brief moment, and then as the people watched, the foot began to turn slowly in His hands. The leg straightened out and the foot turned into its correct position.
Jacob stared at his foot and his eyes were alight with wonder. At Jesus’s urging, he stood slowly and began to take a few steps. Then he ran around his mother and jumped for joy. Tears streamed down the faces of all those who were near enough to see. Jesus laughed out loud as Jacob ran back and forth in front of Him, crying, “Look, look at my foot! It is fixed! Mama . . . Jesus fixed it!”
Hannah watched her son and turned to Jesus. She tried to speak, but no words came. His eyes told her no words were necessary. He had heard her heart.
All that day, the people scarcely moved, even to get food. Mothers tended to small children, yet even the children were silent and attentive in the presence of this man of God. He had gathered them around Him and one even sat on His lap as He spoke to the people. He taught the Scriptures, opening their understanding, and even the high priest and the shammash nodded their heads. He spoke the truth. They had listened reluctantly at first, their faces betraying skepticism. Then, as He spoke with that voice of authority, as one learned in the Law, they nodded their heads to the elders standing by. This man was a gifted teacher. They marveled that one who had not had years of learning spoke with such knowledge. They watched the miracles He performed and agreed aloud that indeed this man was the Christ, the Messiah. Only the Messiah could do the things this man had done. Such power radiated from Jesus that those in Shechem who were known to be involved in sorcery hung back on the fringes of the crowd. One man finally came boldly before Jesus and laid the tools of his sorcery at the Master’s feet. He got down on his knees and bowed his head. He was set free that very hour, and he went from the presence of Jesus, rejoicing. The articles of his past occupation were burned.
Marah now walked through Shechem with her head held high. Those who had avoided her spoke kindly, for they too had found hope and change in the words of Jesus.
“Marah, please, forgive me for my unkindness . . .” Leah looked beseechingly at Marah with tears running down her cheeks. “I have learned that in the eyes of God we have all committed sin. I have asked forgiveness of God . . . now I ask yours.” Leah bowed her head humbly. “I did not step forth to help you when you needed help. I have been a selfish woman.”
Embracing the woman whose sharp tongue had caused so much pain, Marah said softly, “As He has forgiven me, I also forgive you, Leah. We will serve Him together.”
Leah looked at her, her face radiant. “Yes, we shall serve Him together.” They embraced again and Leah went her way. She was only one of the neighboring women who came to share their love and acceptance. It was as if they suddenly saw her in a new light.
When evening came, the people reluctantly went to their homes. Jesus and His disciples were offered places to stay for the night for the people recognized that they were weary and needed to rest. With the promise of more teaching the next day, they departed, each to their own place.
Marah considered all that had happened to her. She knew she wanted to stay in Shechem, no matter what the consequences. The God Who Sees had shown her His mercy. She would know what His will was in time. Kneeling by her bed, she prayed with all her might for Ahmal’s return and the return of her son. She prayed fervently for Reuben to stay away, for she feared his return. She would face whatever needed to be faced with Ahmal . . . should God bring him back to her.
Surely if God had forgiven her, would He not help her still? Peace and strength flowed through her. The God Who Sees had brought her this far. He would protect her from Reuben.
48
W
ith a start, Marah awoke and realized that someone was knocking on her door. Who could it be? Had Reuben returned? He would not just knock on the door. With her hand on her heart, she approached the door cautiously.
ith a start, Marah awoke and realized that someone was knocking on her door. Who could it be? Had Reuben returned? He would not just knock on the door. With her hand on her heart, she approached the door cautiously.
“Who is there?”
“I seek the home of the merchant Ahmal. It is a matter of grave importance.”
It was not Reuben. She breathed a sigh of relief.
“He is not here . . . at this time.”
“Are you his wife? Please, I would speak with you. It will only take a moment.”
She hesitated and breathed a quick prayer. An inner voice told her to open the door. She opened it a short way and peered out. An older man, well dressed, stood before her. She looked at his face and realized he was no threat to her person.
“I am Shamir, a merchant like your husband.”
She bade him enter and offered him a small cup of wine and some fruit. He partook out of courtesy, noting the shabby surroundings with a glance. Then he began a strange tale, and she listened with rapt attention.
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