Saturday, March 22
Leah
Jerusalem, early in the week before Passover
Early that morning, Daniel and Leah left the inn where they and their family were staying during the festival week. The streets were already beginning to fill with shopgoers and pilgrims as they made their way across the city toward the Temple.
A large crowd had already gathered at Solomon’s Porch. “They’re waiting to hear that young rabbi from Galilee, I expect,” said Daniel. “We’ll go right past them.”
“But he’s a wonderful teacher,” said Leah, “and he’s a great healer. You heard what old Ezra said about him. I’d like to listen to what he says.”
“I’m going to the men’s court to pray. You need to go to the women’s meeting place.”
“Look! There’s a group of women waiting here. Some of them are pilgrims like us. I will be quite safe with them.”
“I don’t like the idea, but there are plenty of Temple guards around, so I suppose it’s alright. I’ll meet you here after morning prayers.”
As Daniel went into the Temple, Leah joined the waiting women, who greeted her and welcomed her into their group like an old friend. As they waited they chatted about their children, families and even what they would serve at the Passover supper. For all of them, it was their first feast away from home. Each had brought some kind of ingredient to remind them of former family gatherings. Selene from Crete had brought sweet gourds from the family field.
Leah said, “I brought only a tiny thing to add – the radishes from my kitchen garden. They’re very small but very spicy. I slice them very thin and serve them in salted water. My gran says the salt water represents the tears the Israelites shed in Egypt. I didn’t bring many radishes, but I’d be happy to share.”
While the new friends were chatting, another newcomer joined the group. Tall she was and past her first youth. She approached them cautiously and spoke with a low, gentle voice: “Will the Teacher come to speak to us today?” she asked.
“I hope so,” Selene responded. “I’ve been waiting for him since sunup.
“You’ll be glad you did when you hear his words.”
“You’ve heard him then?”
“Yes. We talked together. He spent two days in my village and taught us many things.”
“You talked with him? Impossible! Men don’t speak with women. You’re making that up.”
“No. He was sitting by the well when I came to draw water. He asked for a drink of water and then we talked. He knew more about me than I knew about myself. He opened my eyes to all the errors of my past life. He made me desire to do better. Since that day I have changed the way I live and how I deal with others. His message brought tears to my eyes – tears of regret, tears of repentance, tears of joy at receiving forgiveness. I owe my life to him. I know he is the Messiah. That is why I came here this morning. I know he is in danger and wish to share this danger and his Passover.”
Leah wept. “You’ve touched my heart. More than ever I wish to hear his words.”
“Be quiet, girls,” hissed one woman. “Someone is climbing onto the speaker’s platform. Listen to him!”
Guy Johnson