Martin Fieber - He Who Returned

“By the way I am supposed to let you know from the rabbi that he expects both of us to be in the synagogue tomorrow.”

“Sounds like we’ve got a hard time ahead of us then.” Jesus had to laugh at this thought. However Joshua was struck by fear, which Jesus noticed right away.

“Joshua, don’t worry about it. It won’t be as bad as it perhaps looks right now. And don’t forget the Lord our God. He will help you in these coming times. Don’t let fear devour your soul.”

“By the way I wanted to thank you, Jesus. Ever since you gave me your carved figure my pain has gone away. Whatever you did, it was a miracle.”

“Joshua, I did not do anything. If anyone did anything, then it was our father in heaven. Thank him.” Jesus paused for a moment and turned his head to the side, as if listening to an invisible person. Then he continued. “I am going to rest some more now. My friend, I thank you for visiting me. It has mad me feel much better.”

“Maybe you will be feeling even better later on Jesus. If so, then come and join us for playing ‚Jacob and the Lord’. Everyone except the braggart Simeon will surely be pleased.” Joshua had hardly said those words when Jesus had already closed his eyes.

Joshua returned from the sleeping chambers on the way with which he was now familiar. The living areas seemed to be even larger those at his home. Miriam was in the courtyard backing bread. He greeted her, waved goodbye and went home, deep in thought.

Jesus remained awake for a few moments, for he was overjoyed that Joshua had visited him. Joshua was one of the few who accepted him the way he was. Since the celebration Jesus had noticed how he was stared at by the inhabitants of Nazareth, of whom some laughed behind his back and made derogatory remarks about his family. That is why he had not let himself be talked into playing with the other children so far. He had rather carved a flute in that time, which he now had within reach next to his bed. Just a few more adjustments and it would be finished. He would rather wander about alone with the flute in the next couple days. Truly alone, he hoped. He did not want to see another person except for his mother and Joshua. At the moment it was not easy to live. He noticed how his heavy thoughts were weighing down on him.

He thought of Bakenor, the Essene, his fatherly friend in Egypt. Yes, he would like to be there now. There he was respected. There one had spoken with him and prepared him for his great task. It had been so natural for him to ask Bakenor the questions that arose in his soul. Bakenor had told him much about the creation of the world and of peoples that lived on other planets. It was fascinating for him to learn all of this, for it seemed as if he had always known it already. Nothing was new for him, none of what the Egyptian spoke sounded incredible to him. These talks with Bakenor were so fulfilling that he even enjoyed the rather boring lessons about the content of the torah. On the one hand the torah was read to him in Hebrew back then, so that he already understood the language very well by now. And then Bakenor also read to him from the torah in Greek, which also led to him understanding this language and his ability to already speak it fairly well. Jesus recalled how Bakenor had once tired to convince him that ha had to learn much in his early years since he would not have as much time for it later on. Additionally, Bakenor instructed him on the divine laws, the universal rules of life. He instructed him that the earth was a large school for unwilling and backward spirits which lent themselves a body for the duration of their life here. The Essene had also explained to him that he would feel older than even the oldest humans he would meet. He would have to realize this as soon as possible. He was only to meet a few people with whom a soul connection and a deeper understanding would be possible.

Yes, one of them he had already found, here in this village. This made him feel better. The joy he felt chased away the heavy thoughts and made him very happy. He noticed that he was becoming tired, and this time was able to fall asleep peacefully.

∞

When Joshua noticed Jesus, Simeon was just searching for Rachel. Both of them were blindfolded. Once again the children were playing Simeon’s favorite game, who, if he played at all, always had to be the Lord.

“Jacob, where are you?” Simeon shouted across the square.

“Here“, Rachel replied with a gentle voice. Amos, the best friend of Simeon, usually tried to give Simeon secret hints on how to find Jacob as quickly as possible. But today he didn’t, for he had spied the newcomer. Jesus stepped up into the circle next to Joshua and watched the children play.

“Ah, our Messiah has come!”, Amos laughed mockingly. “Don’t you all want to fall on your knees before him?” Amos continued laughing until he got the support of Simeon who had taken of his blindfold.

“Yes, you are right Amos, it is the Messiah, our saviour who wants to free us from the Romans.”

“Amos, Simeon, be quiet“, Rachel interrupted them. “You are just full of yourselves again. Let him play if he wants to.”

“All right blue-eyes, then show us what you can do.” Simeon’s dark eyes flashed at Jesus. “I would suggest that our Messiah plays the Lord. He must know him well.” Simeon laughed.

Whenever Simeon laughed, his face took on the appearance of a rat due to his eyes being so close together. His pointy nose increased this effect.

“And I will play Jacob today, his honorable slave. “ Simeon made sheep sounds.

Many of the children screamed with merriment.

Simeon tied his blindfold around his eyes. “Scarface, don’t give the Messiah any hints. And Rachel, you friend of the blue-eyed one, secure him with the blindfold.

Amos gave her the blindfold.

Jesus, who had not said anything until then, knew that he had to restrain himself if he did not wish to evoke even more animosity from the children. “Rachel, thank you for your help.”

“Blue-eyes, don’t bother with your holy babble. Get started and look for me instead. Ready, set, go!” Simeon was in his element. He felt good when he could verbally attack others. Both of the children were about thirty feet apart, and each of them was rotated a few times to lose any sense of direction. Now the greatest game that had ever existed in Nazareth could begin.

“Jacob, where are you?”, Jesus called out in his calm manner.

“Here, oh my saviour“, Simeon aped Jesus.

Most of the children screamed with delight. Joshua and Rachel gave each other concerned looks, but said nothing.

“Here I am. Lord, my saviour, find me.” The hatefulness was increasing, however Jesus became calmer and calmer. He had closed his eyes.

But then Jesus always saw what he could not see with open eyes. He saw the contours of the children. They were very bright, and had different colors. Today he also saw other, dark entities standing among the children. He saw Simeon, standing opposite him.

He wanted to walk directly towards him when he suddenly heard a very insistent voice: “Do not find Simeon. Pretend to be completely clueless. Do not tell anyone that you are able to see even with a blindfold on.”

Jesus was surprised, for this voice did not come very often. And whenever it had, the situations had always been difficult ones. However this situation did not seem difficult, though it was uncomfortable. However Jesus did as the voice had recommended. He knew exactly that the mocking would increase in the next few moments, but he trusted his intuition.

“Jacob, where are you?” Jesus went in the wrong direction on purpose.

“Here, my Lord.” Simeon’s croaking was atrocious. Jesus turned around and went in his direction. After all he should not act too conspicuously. He spotted two very colorful harmonic contours outside in the circle. One of them had to be Rachel, whom he had taken into his heart from the first moment on. The other was probably Joshua.