(AN: A few more jumps ahead and now its Sunday of Passover week! Oooh, we're so close to the end of this story! But there are still a few things left to be wrapped up in this long chapter. This one, for instance, I have saved up several parables together for this event to make it a bit longer. There's another sub-plot coming to an end and a surprise!)

(And Simeon's benediction is from Exodus [aka. the Torah]. This is still Passover, mind you. Don't sue me, Moses!)

(There's some language later on, nothing too iffy)


A Feast with Simeon and Lazarus

The first day of the week. Yom Rishon, by the ancient calendar of the Hebrews and the day of the Sun by pagan calendars. This also was first day of the Passover feast, the most ancient and venerated of all the feast-days and holidays of the people of Israel. It was instituted since the time of Moses, commemorating the protection of God from the Angel of Death, and the deliverance from the bondage of Egypt.

In Jericho, Joshua and his band of followers had spent much time among those who had accepted them. After their time had passed and they were eager to be on their way, they hit the open road once again. But they had not gone very far when a messenger appeared from the south, from Bethany. The servant ran towards the crowd, pushed his way through and knelt before Joshua.

"Rabbi," he said. "I am a servant of Your friend, Lazarus of Bethany."

"Oh no," Thomas complained. "Don't tell me he's dying again."

"My master is well," the servant said to Joshua. "He asks that You visit him in Bethany, and abide with him this evening. He has prepared a feast for the first day of the Passover and would have You dine with him."

Joshua smiled.

"Take us there." He replied.

The servant bowed and then proceeded to make his way towards Bethany, with Joshua and the disciples in tow.


Upon arrival in Bethany, they found the town filled with mirth rather than sorrow. The house of Lazarus was bustling with servants about, making preparations for the feast. The door of the house opened and out came Lazarus, alive and well, clad in his best clothes. He ran to Joshua and embraced Him, and then, as was the custom in this land, kissed Him twice upon the cheek.

"Shalom, Rabbi." he said. "I must thank You once again for healing me like You did."

Joshua nodded. All that Lazarus knew was that he had been very ill, and must have fallen asleep when Joshua healed him. He could still barely believe the sobs and cries that Martha and Miriam gave him afterward when they told him that he had been dead for four days and Joshua had risen him from the dead. It was just too good to be true.

From behind him came Simeon the Pharisee, an old friend of Lazarus' family, out of the house. Upon seeing Joshua, he raised his hand and announced "Shalom, Rabbi."

Lazarus led Joshua and the disciples into his house. Martha came from the kitchen for a brief moment, bowed before Joshua, thanked Him for saving Lazarus, and gave a small bit of money in a bag to Him. This He gave to the disciples, who gave it to Judah, who carried the bag. Martha then returned to the kitchen and Lazarus began offering seats to his guests. The head of the table, reserved for the master of the house, he gave to Joshua and sat humbly at His right hand. John took the left-hand seat, with Peter after him, then Andrew, Judah and Simeon the Zealot, James, Philip, Nathanael, Matthew and James Bar-Alphaeus with Thomas and Thaddaeus at the farthest end. Simeon the Pharisee was seated at Lazarus' right hand, with his accomplice Gamaliel at his side and several other guests down the table.

"Now that everyone's seated," Lazarus said. "Let us begin our feast with the announcement. Rabbi Simeon, will you do the honors?"

"It would be my pleasure." the Pharisee said, bowing to Lazarus. Rising up, he held out his hands and spoke to all assembled.

"'And HaShem spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying: 'This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying "In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, one lamb for each house. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep or the goats.

"'"And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening, between the ninth and the eleventh hour. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.

"'"Not raw, or sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: thus is the Passover of HaShem."

"'And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to HaShem throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever, both to thee and to thy sons.'"

John noticed that Joshua seemed to be looking not at Simeon but at His own hands, folded together in His lap. A look of sadness was upon His face.

"'And it shall come to pass,'" Simeon finished. "'That when ye be come into the land which HaShem will give you, according as He hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. And your children shall say unto you "What mean ye by this service?" That ye shall say, "It is the sacrifice of the Passover of HaShem, who passed over the houses of the Children of Israel in Egypt, when He smote the Egyptians and delivered our houses."'"

"Amen." all at the table replied, bowing their heads.

Lazarus then turned to Joshua.

"Rabbi," he said. "Since the food is not yet ready, would You like to say a few words as well?"

Joshua turned to Lazarus and nodded His head.

"When you are invited to a wedding," He said to them all. "Do not take the best seat of the house. For a greater one than you would come and shame you by having you move to the lowest room. But rather sit at the lowest seat, and should they ask you to come up, do so, for you will be honored by those there. For, as I have said before, whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

"Furthermore," Joshua continued. "When you make supper, do not call your rich friends and neighbors, or else they will come and invite you to come to their feasts as well. Instead, call the poor, the lame, the blind. They cannot recompense you; but you will be blessed, for you will be recompensed at the First Resurrection, that which is for the just."

"Amen." Those at the table said.

"Blessed is he that will eat bread in the Kingdom of God." Lazarus added.

"Speaking of feasting," Joshua said. There was some scattered laughter, for they thought He spoke of the lack of food upon the table. "I have another story to tell you all while we await dinner."

"Go ahead, Rabbi." Lazarus said.

"Once a man made a great banquet and all was in readiness." Joshua began. "He then told his servants to call those he had invited to come. But those who were invited made excuses: 'I have to oversee the tiling of some newly acquired land,' 'I must break some newly acquired oxen,' or 'I must spend this night with my newly-wed wife.' When the the master of the house heard this, he became angry and sent his servants out and gathered all the poor and destitute and they were invited. But when this was done, there was still room left over. So the master of the house told his servants to bring whoever they encountered in the streets to the supper, but not those who were invited."

"Rabbi," Simeon said. "I've been following Your mission much since I was cleansed. And, though I agree with much of what You say, I must needs address the heinous way in which You observe the Sabbath. I mean, You go around, healing people, on the Day of Rest."

"Have you not listened, Simeon?" Joshua asked sadly. "If your donkey fell into a pit on the Sabbath Day, wouldn't you pull it out?"

"That's not the point, Joshua..."

"The Sabbath was made for man, Simeon," Joshua replied. "Not man for the Sabbath. As the LORD God lives, so God is LORD of the Sabbath as well."

Simeon was about to say something, but then shook it off.

"Rabbi," Lazarus said. "Let me follow You."

"Whoever is not willing to forsake his mother, father, wife, children, brothers, sisters or his own life and comes asking for discipleship of Me, he cannot be My disciple." Joshua replied. "Likewise, whoever doesn't bear his own cross and comes after Me, he cannot be My disciple."

Upon seeing Lazarus' downcast face, He put His hand on his shoulder and continued.

"If you wanted to build a tower," Joshua said. "Wouldn't you first see if you had enough to finish the project first? If not, you would be mocked because you were foolish. Or, what king wouldn't first hold a war-council to determine strategy in a battle of ten thousand against twenty thousand? Or else the other would send an emissary, desiring peace. In like manner, whoever comes to follow Me, unwilling to forsake of himself, he cannot be My disciple."

Lazarus shook his head, satisfied with Joshua's response. Just then, Martha walked out and stood between Lazarus and Joshua.

"Martha, is the food almost ready?" Lazarus asked.

"It would be finished sooner if Miriam got off her ass and helped me!" Martha hissed, pointing to the corner of the room. There, huddled in the corner as if hiding, was Miriam, something concealed within her robe.

"Rabbi," Martha said, turning to Joshua. "Tell my lazy sister to get in the kitchen and help me. She's just sitting over there, sulking, making me to all the work!"

"You are worried about many things, Martha." Joshua said, shaking His head and smiling. "But there is one thing that is needful: Miriam has chosen that part, and it will not be taken away from her."

Martha returned into the kitchen, and the others drank the wine that had been offered them while they waited for the food.

"Rabbi," Lazarus spoke up. "My servant found You and Your disciples on the road to Jerusalem. Now..." He cast an eye at the white-and-blue-robed Pharisees at the other side of his table, then spoke in a lowered tone of voice.

"Now we both know that there have been some...disagreements between You and the Pharisees. Why would You return there?"

"Yes, I would like to know that as well," Simeon the Pharisee stated. "You've caused us nothing but trouble. Are You going back to cause more trouble?"

"I AM going to Jerusalem," He said to them all. "For the Son of Man will be betrayed by those closest to Him, and condemned to death by the Pharisees. Afterwards He will be given to the Gentiles, to be mocked, whipped and crucified, and at last, die. But on the third day, He will rise again."

Awkward silence followed between them all, and one of the Pharisees grumbled something about Joshua being insane. Death was never a good topic of conversation. Seeking to save the mood of the feast, a hand rose up from Andrew.

"Master," he said. "How shall we go about rebuking people?"

"In Your name." added Thomas, with a gesture across the table towards Joshua.

"If a brother sins against you, tell him about his fault." Joshua answered. "If he repents, you have gained a brother. But if he does not, give your case to two others, that a case may be established. But if your brother will not listen, take your appeal to the church. But if he will not hear them, he may be counted as one who rejects repentance. I tell you that where two or more are gathered together in My name, I AM with them, and whatever they ask, if My Father wills, it will be done."


Just then, the robed figure of Miriam walked out of the shadows slowly. From out of her robes she produced a bottle of ointment. When her eyes met His, she paused for a moment, fearing what He would say. When He simply sat there, she ran to His feet, fell down to her knees, removed Joshua's sandals, and began pouring the contents upon His feet. He did not even flinch, and a smile actually came on His face.

Judah, who sat between Andrew and Simeon the Zealot, sniffed the air, catching wind of the ointment. He got up from his seat and snatched the bottle out of Miriam's hands.

"Where did you get this?" he asked her. She cast her face to the floor, fearful of rebuke. Judah then turned to Joshua.

"Master," he said. "This was a great waste! This ointment is extremely rare! It could have been sold for three hundred shekels!"

But Joshua was neither angry nor rebuking: neither at Miriam nor Judah.

"Leave her be, Judah." He calmly replied. "She has done this for My burial, and it is a good thing."

"But that money could have been given to the poor!" Judah insisted. He realized that he had just come out with his desire for money and had to save face as best he could.

"You will always have the poor with you." Joshua said, just as calmly as before. "But I will not always be with you. I tell you that wherever the Gospel is preached in the world, this will be told of Miriam as a memorial for her."

A cry came from Miriam, and she threw her face over Joshua's feet, sobbing quietly into His feet. Judah, ashamed and humbled by this, slowly sat himself down. But his eyes were ever at the door. Miriam's eyes, however, were filled with tears. It seemed that this was where she often found herself: at Joshua's feet, with no hope for herself. A demon-possessed woman, a whore of ill-repute. And here He was, the Son of God, pure and blameless. If anyone had more of a right to condemn her for her sins, it was He.

But He didn't.

Her tears fell down upon His feet. She removed her covering, unbound her hair, grabbed the long, beautiful, dark locks and wiped the tears off Joshua's feet with her own hair. Once a spot was clean, she planted a small kiss on His feet.

Simeon, at Lazarus' right, shifted uneasily away from the head of the table and towards Gamaliel.

"What is it?" the younger Pharisee asked.

"Look at this," Simeon whispered with contempt, pointing at Miriam. "This shows that He has no regard for the Torah. No prophet would let a sinful wench like her come close to Him, much less do what she's doing."

"Rabbi," Joshua said to Simeon. "May I ask you a question?"

"Certainly, Joshua." the old Pharisee responded, shifting back to his seat.

"A certain man had two servants." Joshua said, as Miriam continued with His feet. "One owed him one hundred shekels, the other five. When the man learned that his servants could not pay him back, he flat-out forgave them both."

"Uh, is there a question in there?" Simeon asked.

"The question is this," Joshua continued. "Of the two servants, which one loved his master more?"

"The one who owed more money, I guess." Simeon replied with a shrug.

"Rightly judged." Joshua answered. He then looked down at Miriam and then again at Simeon.

"When I came into this house," He began. "You did not wash My feet in honor, but she has done so with the tears of repentance, and dried them with her hair. You did not salute Me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing My feet. Neither did you anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with sweet ointment. Though Miriam's sins be many, since she loved much, they are all forgiven her. But to those who love little, little will be forgiven them."

Simeon shifted uncomfortably away from Joshua's direction. The other Pharisees whispered hideous things about Him, the disciples looked in shock at this expression, and the other guests were more than aghast. This was highly improper.

Lazarus cleared his throat. "Do you have another parable to tell us, Rabbi?"

Joshua nodded His head. "Once there were two sons of a very rich man." He began. "The youngest son said to his father: 'Give me my inheritance now.' So the father divided all his lands and gave the inheritance to the youngest son. But the son went his way into a city and traded his inheritance for money, which he spent on riotous living. But ere long, all the money was gone and he was reduced to rags. Now at that same time, a famine tore the land apart and the boy was hungry. He could not buy food for himself, and eventually had to work for a pig-farmer. Now as he fed the pigs from day to day, he was so hungry that he was ready to eat the filthy slop he was feeding to the pigs, and still nobody would give him any food.

"Now after this had gone on for some time, he thought to himself: 'I am here starving to death, but even my father's servants eat better than this.' So he decided to go home and become a hired servant. Now he was still some ways off, when his father saw him. And when he did, he ran to him and embraced his dirty, ragged, prodigal son. But the son, in all humility said: 'Father, I have sinned against Heaven and you. Make me your servant, for I am unworthy to be called your son.' But the father would have none of it. 'My son who was dead is alive again!' he cried out in joy. 'Bring new clothes, give him shoes on his feet and rings on his fingers! Kill the fatted calf, for we shall have a feast tonight!'

"But the eldest son, who had been working in the field heard about this and became angry. When his father came out and asked him why he did not join them, the eldest son said: 'I have worked diligently for you for so many years, and I never broke any of your rules and you never even gave me a lamb to have a meal with my friends! But after slothfully and wrongly wasting your money, my younger brother returns and you throw a lavish festival for him!' 'Understand, my son,' the father said. 'You are always with me, and all that I have is yours. But it is good that we celebrate the return of your brother. He was dead but is alive, he was lost but is found.'"

Stirred by this story and by the knowledge that she had once been such a prodigal daughter, Miriam wept again, and wiped the tears off Joshua's feet with her hair. The hands of Matthew and Alphaeus also went up to their eyes, for they also felt the same way.

Simeon sighed, though with a little bit of anger in his voice. He knew that he had been the eldest son. He then turned away, muttering "Only HaShem can forgive sins!" and walked out the door. Judah looked after him and then followed on after through the door, throwing the ointment aside and shattering the bottle.

New tears came to Miriam's eyes. It had taken her all of the money she had to procure that, which was meant for Joshua's feet, and only a little was ever poured thereupon.

But Joshua lifted Miriam until she was at His eye level.

"Your sins are forgiven," Joshua said to her. "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."

But Miriam would not go. Within her something was lit: a hunger and thirst for righteousness. This appetite, therefore, could not be fulfilled unless she heard more. So she knelt at Joshua's side, just as every one of the other disciples had once done before their Master. Joshua, however, would not have her sit on the floor as a servant. He then turned to her and then looked at an empty seat, which had once belonged to Judah: He gestured with His hand that she should sit therein. Taking the hint, Miriam bowed again and sat down between Andrew and Simeon the Zealot.


Just then, Martha and the servants arrived from the kitchen with the food: the bitter herbs, the unleavened bread, the charoset and the roasted lamb. This was placed on the table and all the men were at last ready to eat. Lastly, Martha took her seat to eat with the other servants of the house. Miriam looked to her sister, then her brother. Joshua did not forbid her to leave, and so she prepared to eat, for the first time, at a table of men. Lazarus then looked over to Joshua.

"Would You care to bless the food?" he asked.

Joshua nodded and then prayed.

"Blessed art thou, O LORD our God, King of the Universe, who brings to us bread from the earth."

"Amen." came from those gathered about.

After this was done, they partook of the food and began eating. While they were eating, Joshua turned to Lazarus.

"I have another story to tell." He said.

Lazarus nodded, his mouth full of food.

"There once was a rich man who had a dishonest steward, accused of wasting the master's goods." Joshua began. "So the master called him to his presence and said: 'What is this that you have done? Show your account of your stewardship, for you are no longer steward.' But the dishonest steward thought to himself: 'What will I do? My master has taken my stewardship; I cannot beg without being shamed. I will, after being put out, be received again.' So the steward called those who were in the master's debt. Some had a debt of one hundred jars of oil, but he made it only fifty. Another had a debt of one hundred bags of wheat, but he made it only eighty. Now the master received him back to him again, for the unjust steward had done wisely. In this manner the children of this earth are wiser in their own eyes than the children of the Kingdom of Heaven.

"To show that you have fruits, make friends who do earthly business. When you fail, they will receive you into everlasting habitations. Whoever is faithful in little is faithful in large, and whoever is unjust in little is unjust in large. If you cannot be faithful in earthly business, how then can you be trusted with Heavenly business? If you are not faithful in keeping what is not yours, how can you be faithful in keeping what is your own?"

Gamaliel kept his place, for something kept him from leaving with Simeon.

"You who make yourselves just in the sight of men;" Joshua said, looking at him. "Know that your hearts are known by God. What is over-looked by men, God counts as great. And what is counted great by men, God counts as abomination.

"There was once a rich man," He began anew. "Who always went in bright clothing and had a perfect life. But his neighbor was a poor man named Lazarus, who was poor and begged at the gate of the rich man's palace. He was worse than Job, for he had no friends and his flesh was covered in sores and he could barely feed himself off the crumbs that fell from the table of the rich man, and his sores were constantly irritated by the tongues of the rich man's dogs.

"Now after a while they both died. The rich man was buried in a lavish sepulcher, but the poor man was tossed into a pit. Now when the Son of Man came forth, the two were resurrected. But it was seen in the sight of He that Lazarus was a true son of Abraham and so he was brought to Heaven, where he received rest in the arms of his father Abraham. As for the rich man, the Son of Man saw that he was wicked and cast him into Gehenna. Now the rich man's life had been long and full of evil, so he was not instantly consumed by the fire. But, fearing death, the rich man called out that Lazarus could give him a drop of cold water on his tongue.

"But Abraham said to the rich man: 'In your lifetime, you had good things and Lazarus had bad things. But now he must be comforted while you are tormented. But look, you have made a great gulf between you and myself and you cannot gain eternal life.' But the rich man asked something else of Abraham: 'In my life, I had five brothers. They would have listened to your words, why didn't you send Lazarus back from the dead then to minister to them? For I see that they also suffer with me!' But Abraham replied: 'They heard Moses and the prophets but didn't listen. Because they did not listen, not even one returned from the dead would have convinced them.'"

Gamaliel hung his head in shame, and then left as his master had done. Joshua shook His head.

"I tell you all," He said. "It is impossible that sin will not come, but woe to whoever causes sin!"

He then turned to Andrew.

"Be wary of this," Joshua said. "If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. But if he repents, forgive him. Even if he commits the same sin seven times against you and asks for forgiveness from you seven times, you should still forgive him every single time."

"Then we should only forgive each other seven times?" Peter asked.

"No, but seventy times seven." Joshua responded.

Matthew and Alphaeus began trying to make the calculations on their hands, but they both shook their heads in frustration.

"That's too many to count!" Alphaeus said.

Joshua smiled, seeing that they got the point.

"LORD," Thomas spoke up. "Increase our faith."

"If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could move mountains." Joshua replied. "Which one of you, having a servant working, tells him to go and eat when he is done? You rather say to prepare himself to serve yourself, and then he may eat. Does he thank the servant for what he did? No. Therefore, when you have done so much good, say 'We are unprofitable servants, for we have done what we had to do.'"

"Master," Simeon said. "Should we truly forgive everyone as much as You say we should?"

"Verily, Simeon." Joshua replied.

"Surely not the Romans!" Simeon almost shouted.

Joshua held up His hand and turned to Lazarus.

"I have one last parable to tell tonight." He said.

"Say on, Rabbi." Lazarus returned.

Joshua then turned to Simeon.

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a king," He began. "Who, while taking account of His servants, found that one owed Him ten thousand talents. When the servant was brought forward and explained that he could not repay, the King commanded that his wife, children and goods be sold to repay the debt. But the servant begged the LORD to have patience with him. Moved with pity, the King completely erased the servant's debt.

"But the servant went and found one of his underlings, who owed him five shekels. But when the underling couldn't pay, the servant took him by the neck and threatened him. The underling asked the servant to have patience with him, but the servant had the underling thrown into debtor's prison. Now when the King heard this, He was angry and had the underling freed and called for the servant. 'You asked Me to forgive your debt, and I did. You should have shown the same kind of mercy to your underling. How dare you do so wickedly!' The King then had the servant thrown into debtor's prison. In this way it is with My Father; if you forgive men their sins in your hearts, He will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins in your hearts, He will not forgive you."

Simeon nodded his head in realization, but said nothing else.

They continued eating their meal.


Outside, the night was already growing dark.

Simeon was far away, already on his way back to Jerusalem.

"Father, wait!" a voice called back.

The old man halted, and turned to see the young Judah walking after him.

"Ah, my son." he said. "Have you had enough of that Man's foolishness already?" He turned and continued on his way.

"I want an audience with the High Priest." Judah said.

"Oh?" Simeon asked. "What for, if I may inquire?"

"They want Joshua, right?" Judah asked. "I can give him to you."

Simeon halted, and slowly turned around.

"Why would you do that to Him?" he asked.

"I'm sick of His teachings on poverty," Judah said. "For three years I've been as poor as a damn shepherd. I miss having money in my hands. Even what little I can scrounge from their money-bag isn't enough. I don't care if it's impossible to go to His Kingdom of Heaven and be rich, you and the High Priest say He's a blasphemer. Well, if it means no more of His teachings on being content with poverty, I'm willing to help you."

Simeon walked a little closer.

"Give me the money, and I'll give you Joshua." Judah said. There was no quivering or fear in his voice.

Simeon approached his son and embraced him.

"You'll be a hero among our people, Judah." he said. He then removed him from his embrace and looked him in the eyes. "You're a man after my own heart, my son. I'm very proud of you."

Judah nodded in thanks. Simeon then turned aside and continued towards Jerusalem, but Judah hesitated.

"Judah, are you coming?" Simeon called out from before.

"Yes, father." Judah said, then followed after him.

After all, he thought, if He is the Messiah, God will save Him.

No He isn't, another thought reasoned. The Torah says the Messiah will rule forever, but Joshua has been saying He will die. He's an imposter, and you're doing a great service to your people.

"Yes," Judah said aloud to the night. "Money is the least they could do to thank me."


(Surprise surprise! Judah is the son of Simeon! After all, the Gospel of John said that Judah was the son of Simeon, but I decided to make his father be Simeon the Pharisee. Like my little twist?)

(For some reason, Gaga's lyrics from "Judas" came to mind while writing about Miriam of Magdala [anyone else think Judah from her video looks a little like Boromir from the Lord of the Rings movie?]. lol!)

(Once again I have refrained from explicit references to hell. You'll see why later)