Stephanus - Chapter 5 - The Consequences

Akakios and his younger brother witnessed their family struggles following the loss of their father. Katherine's late husband was the only male offspring with his family's name, with all his siblings being female. Without brothers, no one was obliged to provide for their family in accordance to Mosaic law and Jewish practice. Personally, Katherine could not imagine herself with another man. Even in widowhood she felt as if she were violating their marriage covenant. So, their little family had to find their own way to survive.

In a strange way, the new challenges kept her preoccupied as she now bore the sole responsibility of raising her children. Katherine and her daughter Ophelia took on the yoke of providing for the family's needs, rising at daybreak to join the harvest laborers in the barley fields. They accepted work wherever, and whenever they could, even if it meant being unable to fulfill Jewish celebrations and tradition.

The night before had been “Passover”, which is followed by the “Feast of Unleavened Bread”, this is a week long celebration complete with restrictions on work. Before the Passover meal mother was required to eliminate all yeast from their household, and prepare the unleavened bread.

The changes brought new dangers: Ophelia was coming of age, attractive and easy to talk to. There was a young man in the fields who flattered her with attention, however, Katherine had some misgivings about him, and cautioned her daughter to be careful. Katherine continued to instruct her daughter in modesty, and would not leave the house with Ophelia until she was properly attired.

"What do you know about this boy?" she would ask her daughter

"Oh, he is very kind, and brings me water during the day!"

"Is he of our faith? Which synagogue does he attend?"

"Mother! Why all the questions? Don't you trust me?"

"My dear, do not be offended: have I ever wanted anything but the best for you?"

"I know, but I'm not a child, anymore. I know what I'm doing!"

"Of course you do, dear. But does that mean I should not be concerned? Should I stay uninvolved in your life?"

"Now, who is being offended?" Ophelia said suspiciously.

"I will pray to the Lord for your guidance." Mother concluded the conversation.

Oh, Alex! How I wish you were here by my side! Mother privately confessed to herself. Three children, and I am on my own! And the boys?! What are they up to while we are gone for the day? Her head spun!

An inner voice reminded her to be patient, and trust in Yahweh, knowing He was at her side at all times. I will turn all of my needs over to Yahweh, mother decidedly assured herself.

Stephanus anxiously looked forward to the day when he would be old enough to provide for these two loved ones and their family. But for now he had to settle for heartache from his father's loss and gratitude for the sacrifices of his family members.

He, and his brother, Akakios, continued to enjoy their youth. Mother plainly stated, "Far be it from me to deprive these young boys of their childhood, they will soon reach adulthood and have to slave like the rest of us!" However, it was still expected that they contribute to the family by being careful not to waste, reuse when they can, and preserve what they could. They, also, had to fulfill their daily chores, which now included providing their little family with water from the well in their neighborhood.

Aside from that, he and Akakios were left to their own devices, and one of their key “absence-of-father” by products was anger. They actively defied their late father’s final command to not seek revenge.

They were young boys, so they didn’t think of themselves as being able to do anything that really amounted to a lot. But, whenever the opportunity came along, they would deface a monument, steal from the market, or needlessly destroy something, as they indulged their hopelessness and anger. Careful not to get caught, but, almost wishing that they would.

That small interior voice told Stephanus, while they were caught up in this atmosphere, that he and his brother were pursuing a dangerous path. Reckless, selfish, indifferent and foolish.

While their father was alive, the family actively observed the laws of the Hellenistic Jewish practice, Stephanus spoke Greek, fluently, And studied under his Pharisee teacher at the synagogue, Saul, who came from Tarsus in eastern Cilicia. Saul was a man of small stature, but well spoken, intelligent, and sternly possessed of a fierce spirit.

Stephanus found him intriguing because Saul was not that much older than himself, but was so knowledgeable about scriptures! He knew the written word with no need to carry awkward scrolls. It was all in his head, in his character, and in his very being. He could be found in various synagogues engaging in discourse with virtually any scholar of the Torah, Ketuvim and Nevi'im. Conversation with Saul was challenging, and Stephanus liked to think.

But, now, things have changed.

When did it all begin? Some three years ago?….a man appeared on the temple mount, and could be found at synagogues throughout Galilee, Judea, and all around the Sea of Galilee where the entire Jewish people congregate to worship.

He was a wonderful speaker, captivating crowds with parables, just like the so many prophets of old, who spoke directly from the words of Yahweh. But He was no ordinary prophet, Even though he was but a mere child, Stephanus found it remarkable, that this Y'shua, was able to (literally) cast out demons, give sight to the blind, restore hearing to the deaf, heal the lame, and even bring those who appeared dead back to life! His parables were remarkable life stories which were not specifically directed to any one individual but, at the same time when the story was finished you felt as if he were talking directly to you!

In time, it became obvious that he was in opposition to the Pharisees, Sadducee's, and most members of the Sanhedrin, as well.

“If He had only been there when my father was alive,” Stephanus lamented, “things would have been different.”

This mysterious and wonderful man was referred to as “the carpenter’s son”, from Nazareth. But, that was not a compliment, the way people used it: he was regarded as nothing more than “a carpenter’s son” in the opinion of many, and that was not a position of prestige, wealth, or authority. “Just another man” in the smug opinion of many.

But Stephanus loved hearing him speak, and on those rare occasions when Stephanus was able to actually approach Y'shua, and be close to Him, Stephanus was always welcomed by this man from Nazareth. Unlike so many others in the city of Jerusalem, who believed children should be seen, but not heard, Y'shua would enjoy the children who came to him, even when it was obvious that he was exhausted from attending the crowds that were numerous and demanding,

He was so gentle (but powerful!), and Stephanus had never heard anyone who had such a command of Scripture! (Not even Saul!)

Stephanus had even heard Y'shua claim to be the fulfillment of the Logos, which he did not completely understand? How can Y'shua, a mere man, be the fulfillment of the Logos?

Stephanus believed he did have a simple explanation for this claim,….almost too simple, but this was the best he was able to come up with. If Y'shua claimed to be the fulfillment of the Logos, then the only way this could be possible would be if Y'shua was the Logos, and, if so, then he was Yahweh! Or, at the very least, the Son of Yahweh, which is what Y'shua further claimed to be!

This created a lot of controversy, and left everyone talking about him, He was on everybody’s lips! Then, what about Y'shua’s claim that you could destroy the temple and he would rebuild it in 3 days?  They had been working on the temple for over 40 years! This was not good, but it gives you a little picture of some of the issues people had with this self proclaimed Messiah.

This ‘carpenter’s son”, with His little band of twelve Apostles created division amongst families, neighborhoods, elders, priests, scribes, and all of Judea! In this divide there were those that loved him passionately, and on the other side, those that were threatened by his power to move the people.

Saul did not have kind words for Y'shua and his followers, and he became so agitated that Stephanus was afraid he would become violent when complaining about their growing numbers. People flocked around Y'shua to see his latest miracle, treating him more like an attraction for their amusement, or an anomaly, rather than one of the prophets, or a Messiah sent by Yahweh.

Was Saul envious of this 'mere' carpenter's son? Did he feel threatened?

Recently, just one week before Passover, people were welcoming him into Jerusalem as if he were a king! He had ridden through the Golden gate on the eastern wall of the city on a young colt while palm branches and cloaks were spread before him on the ground. People were shouting and chanting in unison “Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!”

It was a remarkable event, and we still talk about it, even though so many have now turned against him.

The whole scene had unified the Sanhedrin in opposition, and maybe that's why the tables had turned so quickly!