Andrew
and Peter, James and I, Philip, Nathanael and Jesus were baptized by
the prophet, John. We felt we were ready for the coming of the Liberator
of Israel. We had to return to our province. I remember that night,
the last that we spent along the bend of Betabara, when we were all
gathered in a tent to say our farewell...
Peter: This jug is for Philip,
who hasn’t had a bath for three years!
Philip: And mine goes for Nata
who, after that plunge into the water is now beginning to grow hair!
See for yourselves, folks, how this is happening to a bald man, thanks
to the waters of the River Jordan!
Nathanael: Leave me in peace, Philip.
Don’t be such a bore...
James: Seriously now, fellows,
didn’t you notice how the prophet John, was behaving?... He was restless,
going to and fro like a bloodhound smelling his prey, but knew not where
to catch him...
John: That’s right. The prophet
was behaving strangely since yesterday. His eyes are fixed on something
that is to come that we are not yet aware of....
James: Not – something but somebody.
They heard him say that the Messiah is closely following us...
Nathanael: He’s always said that,
and yet, not even a shadow appears.
Philip: Couldn’t he be the Messiah
himself? Come on, tell me, who in this country possesses more guts than
the baptizer, to reveal what is true? I think John is the man!
Peter: I don’t think so. He must
be somebody stronger than John. He hasn’t spoken yet, but when he does,
even the gods will tremble!
John: The only quiet person here
is the Nazarene. Hey, Jesus, what’s the matter with you? Move closer,
man....
Jesus: I gotta make an errand
for a townmate who’s right now waiting for me.... I’ll be back soon....
Philip: Don’t be long. The skinny
Andrew has just left to get some wine...
The townmate whom Jesus wanted to see that night was the prophet
John. Jesus knew where he was sleeping: inside a hollow rock whose tip
touched the river. He went to talk to him...
Baptist: That’s how it is, Jesus.
We are distant cousins. My mother always remembered your mother with
great affection and the time she spent with her in Ain Karem, before
I was born… boy, how time flies! Later, I left home to enter the monastery
and heard nothing about them. While in the monastery, I was informed
of the death of my father, Zechariah. He was never in favor of my entering
the monastery. Of course, he was a priest and you know, the priests
of the temple of Jerusalem were archenemies of the Essenes in the desert.
Jesus: How is your mother Elizabeth?
Baptist: She died the following
year. Uncle Joseph and Aunt Mary were there for the funeral. You must
have been a little boy then.
Jesus: O yeah. I remember I was
left alone in our house in Nazareth. Upon their return, there was trouble
in Sepphoris. The city got burned, and so many were crucified... It
was terrible.
Baptist: That was the time your
father, Uncle Joseph, died, wasn’t it?
Jesus: No, that was a few years
later. In Sepphoris there was always trouble, and since we lived very
near... they punished him for having helped those who had escaped. They
beat him up so that... well, he didn’t last long. Such a crime.
Baptist: Yes, these Romans are ruthless...
They are to be feared...
Jesus: But you are not afraid
of them. You can shout at their face anytime.
Baptist: But should I fear them?
What can they get from me? Nothing. I have nothing to lose. I have neither
money, nor a home, nor a family. I left nothing behind. Look, the only
thing that they can take away from me is my voice. But I’ve already
said what I wanted to say.... Now, we better talk about yourself. Tell
me about your life. What do you do? Rather, what do you want to do?
Jesus: That’s why I wanted to
talk to you, John. I need your help. I’m confused.
Baptist: So you do not know what
to do. You have this feeling that God is hovering above your head like
a mosquito but doesn’t tell you what to do. Is that it?
Jesus: Yes, sort of. I’ve been
restless for several months now. As I see you now, I say to myself:
Hell, this John’s really hittin’ the nail on the head. He opens the
eyes of the people; he helps them... He really does something... On
the other hand, what am I doing?
Baptist: Very well. You wanna work?
Stay with me. You can assist me when I baptize people. As you’ve seen,
there’s work for two, even for three hundred. Every day more and more
caravans come, and I end up losing my voice because I talk and shout
a lot. I tell you, I’m tired. Stay with me, Jesus. I think you got what
it takes to be a preacher, is that right?
Jesus: I, become a preacher? No
way. I’m just gonna stay in Nazareth with my tools and my bricks. I’m
not good at talkin’ to people.
Baptist: Moses stammered; and Jeremiah
was a little boy when God called them. They said exactly the same thing
as you did. I also trembled when I opened my mouth for the first time...
Now, it doesn’t really matter whether I face a thousand or ten thousand
people. Come on, man, make up your mind. Stay with me, the two of us
will manage.
Jesus: But.... I have a lot work
in Nazareth.... and I....
Baptist: That’s alright. You don’t
wanna be a preacher because you’re scared of the people. Then go to
the monastery. I spent more than ten years there. Do you see those rocks
over there... and those mountains?... Behind them is the Dead Sea. The
fishes that are carried away by the current from the Jordan die as they
reach the salty waters. It is a place where there are no animals, nor
trees... There you will find the monastery, away from the world but
closer to God.
Jesus: And who said that in order
to be close to God, one should stay away from the world?
Baptist: That’s what the monks of
the desert have been saying. That’s why they’ve hidden themselves in
the monastery.
Jesus: That’s why you left; you
wanted to be with the people.
Baptist: Yes, you’re right. God
and the people are right here inside me. I don’t have to get rid of
one to accommodate the other.
Jesus: So don’t talk to me about
monks and solitude. I don’t wanna stay away from the people. I love
to have friends, I like parties, and I love life. Isn’t God in all of
these, in joy and happiness?
Baptist: I believe so, Jesus.
Jesus: So?
Baptist: And so, what else are you
looking for? Get married, raise a family of ten children and who knows,
one of them might be the Messiah. Then, you may live the rest of your
life in peace.
Jesus: Right, that is what my
mother always tells me, I don’t know, I’m really confused.
Baptist: You don’t wanna join the
monks in the desert. Neither do you wanna live a normal life like the
majority of the people, nor wish to stay with me, as there is much work
to do...What is it that you want?... Fight? Then, join the guerrilla
movement of the zealots. These groups are well organized in Galilee.
Jesus: I... don’t know. With the
way things are, and knowing how powerful the Romans are, don’t you think
it’s crazy to fight them? Is it really worth the bloodshed? Tell me.
Baptist: I see your point. I also
ask myself the same questions...
Jesus: So?
Baptist: So you’re not joining the
zealots, either.
Jesus: Help me, John, I’m confused.
I don’t wanna be stingy with God. But He shouldn’t be stingy with me
either. What does He want from me?
Baptist: Then, do what those who
searched for the Lord have done: Go to the desert; go to the sandy mountain
alone and there, between the heaven and the earth, shout to the Lord.
He will respond to you.
Jesus: You can also hear other
voices in the desert, not only God’s, but the voice of temptation.
Baptist: Yes, but the Spirit, who
is more powerful, will be upon you and.... Jesus, who are you?
Jesus: What is it, John?
Baptist: Nothing, excuse me. For
a moment, I thought.... Are you really the Nazarene whom I baptized
this morning?
Jesus: Why, of course.... What’s
the matter with you, John?
Baptist: Nothing,
forget it... At times, I spend the whole night imagining how the Messiah
would look like... Is he gonna be blond? Is he gonna have black hair?
Is he gonna have a thick or thin beard? How is he gonna look at me?
I have been waiting for him for a long time. At times, I feel he’s not
coming anymore. I’m gonna die without seeing him.
Jesus: Don’t say that, John. You’re
tired, that’s all. Well, I’m going back to my companions in the tent.
I’ll heed your advice. Tomorrow I’m gonna go to the desert... Am I gonna
see you again, someday?
Baptist: I hope so. Say “hello”
to your Mom. Good luck, Jesus… Have courage.
Jesus: Thank you, John. Goodbye!
Jesus got back to our tent a little late. We were all gathered
laughing, playing dice, and most of all, we were pouring wine into our
mouths....
John: At last you’re back!....
Come on, Jesus, tell us some good jokes...
Philip: We were celebrating the
coming of the Messiah... Hik!!
and
here you come at the right moment... Hik!... You must be our Messiah!...
Hik!
Jesus: How many liters of wine
are needed to get such a big head drunk, Philip?
Peter: Well, if I were the Messiah...
I’d squeeze all the Romans into a net, including their capes and shields,
tie them up and throw them in the middle of the lake for the fishes
to feast on them....
James: You’re too good for nothing
to become the Messiah, Peter. But if I were to become the Messiah, I’d
transfer the capital to our province, and with the help of five hundred
elephants, I’d pull out the Temple of Jerusalem, and likewise sow in
Galilee. I’d be better off there than here in the south.
Peter: Hey,
Jesus, what would you do if you were the Messiah?... Do you
hear me? What would you do if you were the Messiah?...
Jesus: Knock it off, Peter. Stop
kidding..
Peter: But I’m serious, Jesus....
Each one of us can be the Messiah. And why not? John says he is among
us. He may be the bald one, or that skinny man or.... it could be you,
Jesus. This is the Lord’s thing. If He says: “....this” then he is.
If God says: “that,” then that is it. Any one can be the Messiah. You
might even be the Liberator of Israel, Jesus!....
John: Hurray! Tomorrow I can
go back to Galilee and dance with the plainest looking dame... tra,
la, la, la..
Nathanael: Let’s have a toast, for
tomorrow I’m gonna go back to my shop... Jesus, my dear brother, I’m
so happy...
James: Hey, Jesus, we’ve decided
to go back to Galilee tomorrow.
Jesus: That’s wonderful. I’m going
back a little later.
John: You’re not coming with
us tomorrow?
Jesus: No, first I gotta go to
Jericho....
Peter: In that case, I’m going
with you to Jericho and we will join these scoundrels on the road...
Jesus: No, Peter... I mean...
I’m not really going to Jericho, but to the desert.
Peter: To the desert? What for?
Do you intend to go there alone?
Jesus: Yes.
Peter: Are you out of your mind?
Jesus: Well, yes, a little.
Philip: I drink to this hick who
is a little crazy, and for all the silly men gathered here!
To tell you the truth, since we had too much wine in our heads,
I can hardly remember what else transpired that night, our last in Betabara.