Some New Thoughts

It has taken me a couple of months to get caught up enough to post again. I wouldn't say that I'm completely caught up, just enough to add something else to the mix. As we approach Holy Week, I thought of this reflection that I wrote a few years ago. It is longer so I'm going to post the first part today and the next part tomorrow.

The Personal Journal of Maximillus
Centurion of the 3rd Legion

The first day of the fourth month in the 16th year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius

We returned today from patrolling the province. I tire of Idumea, or as the people of this land call it, Judea. In other places, the occupation has gone easier. (Why is it that I could not have received such an assignment?) In other lands, the people adopted our ways. They welcomed the stability that we brought – mainly because of the wealth that comes with it. They adapt to our religion and readily offer sacrifices to Caesar as a god.

But here – here there seems to be constant unrest, especially around their holy days. The Jews will only offer sacrifices to their God in honor of Caesar. They still dream of independence and believe their God will send a king as their savior from our rule.

The situation is especially tense now, perhaps it is best described as a tinderbox, as they prepare for another of their festivals – Passover is what I believe they call it. It is a celebration of their liberation from Egypt. It is only a dream that they could escape Caesar’s rule. Someone though is always ready to bring that dream to fruition.

As we returned to Jerusalem today, I witnessed such a group proclaiming that the savior of the Jews has come. There was a group of 50 – 75 people coming from Mt. Olivet following a man riding a donkey. They threw their cloaks on the road before him and as they drew closer I could hear them shout, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” I couldn’t believe what was before my eyes. Even when some of those called Pharisees saw us and tried to stop the other’s shouts of acclamation, they continued. “Blessed is the king…” He hardly looked the part of a king, dirty, dressed in little more than rags, riding a donkey across a carpet of more rags. He just looked silly on top of that donkey. I wonder if he was trying to mock the emperor’s triumphal entry into Rome?

When I was a boy, I watched as Caesar Tiberius triumphantly rode into Rome. There were thousands filling the streets and watching as he rode that great, black stallion into the city. And it was not across any dirty cloaks but on a carpet of blood red silk, edged in gold.

The small rag, tag bunch I witnessed today did not know how sad they looked. Nor did they know how sad they will be after Pilate is finished with them. I reported their treasonous act as soon as I reached the garrison house in the Antonia.

Pilate assured me that they would not go unpunished. I wonder if it will be decapitation, burning, or crucifixion?

A shrewd politician is that Pilate. I had understood Pilate to be “a man of very inflexible disposition, and very merciless as well as very obstinate” (Philo, Embassy). Crafty is the word that I would use. I must keep my eye on him for he seems to be going places.