Percy
Unlike the last few stints of my journey, I don't jump from time to time. For this last stretch, I'm here for the whole time. And surprisingly, I'm glad I am. At the wedding in Capa, I get to meet Mary again, Another of Jesus' followers, Mary of Magdala, and another few disciples that Jesus calls: Thomas, Thaddeus, and James. Since there are two James in the group, we decide to call the James that was there for the whole fishing thing Big James, since the guy's built like an NFL Linebacker. While we're there, Jesus performs what is evidentially his first public miracle.
Apparently in this culture, if the family had run out of wine it wouldn't be a scandal soon forgotten. They'd carry the shame of it for years. But Jesus' mother asked him to help, so he turned 12 jars of water into Wine. The master of the feast said it was the best wine he'd ever tasted, bringing great honor to the family.
After the wedding, we head back to Capernaum where Jesus asks a Tax Collector named Matthew to follow him with us. Simon was unhappy about it to put it mildly. Tax Collectors are hated even more than the Romans oppressing and occupying the land, because they're seen as traitors who boost themselves up by stepping on their brothers.
I find out Matthew in particular was Simon and Andrew's tax collector and almost cost them their boat, houses, and Simon's freedom. Simon had done wrong himself though, making a deal with the Preater to sell out the merchants and fisherman who were working on Shabbat, their day of rest, to avoid taxation. Simon wasn't able to go through with it though, and would have been arrested if that huge catch they got when they first met Jesus wasn't enough to settle his debts.
Every day we're together, I do my best to learn from Andrew and the others about the Culture and laws. There's 613 commandments they're supposed to follow. To me, that sounds insane. I could never remember that many, But Jesus says I don't need to. They'll tell me them as they're relevant, and other than that all the commandments could be summed up with the Ten Commandments, which I don't have too much trouble locking in my memory.
You shall have no gods before Yahweh.
You shall not make or worship Idols.
You shall not misuse the name of Yahweh or take it in vain.
Remember the Sabbath day and keep it Holy.
Honor your Father and Mother that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
You shall not Murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not Lie.
You shall not covet.
Jesus also says that pretty much all the commandments can be summed up with this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and Love your Neighbor as yourself.
On the way back to Capernaum from Capa, we ran into a man with Leprosy. His sister worked at the wedding and told him about Jesus, so he came to ask him to be healed. Leprosy is pretty rare in my time, but here it's a social death sentence. You're cast out from anything with people, not allowed near them. Jesus healed him on the spot. It was incredible.
While we're back in Capernaum, Crowds start to follow Jesus around. He starts preaching from Zebadee's house, and while we're there someone cuts a hole in the roof. It was a woman who we met on the way back from Capa to Capernaum. She was there when Jesus healed the Leper, and with the help of three other men she lowered her friend who had been paralyzed for years. Jesus healed him, and he was able to get up and walk. This caused a huge stir with the Pharisees, because Jesus also said his sins were forgiven, and they thought that was blasphemous.
We start heading to Jerusalem for some kind of tradition, and on the way Jesus invites Phillip, and Phillip's friend Nathaniel to Join us. Apparently Nathaniel was some kind of Architect. When I hear that It makes me miss Annabeth so much my chest hurts, same as whenever Simon talks about his wife Eden.
When we're in Jerusalem, Jesus heals another paralyzed man by this place called the Pool of Bethesda. Apparently he'd been paralyzed for 25 years. I start liking Jesus more and more every time he does something like this, not just because he's helping people, but because somehow every time he does it he pisses the Pharisees off. In his own words, 'Sometimes you need to rock the boat.' And I think that's fantastic, cause most of them seem like pompous, rich, and arrogant jerks who care more about the rules than actually helping people.
From Jerusalem, we head to Samaria. On the way, we meet a Zealot named Simon who apparently was the brother of the man Jesus healed at the pool. He walks away from the rest of the Zealots to follow Jesus with us.
When we get there, Jesus sends us ahead into the city for food, and when we come back we find he's revealed who he is to a woman he met at the well. She excitedly runs back to the city to tell everyone she can about him. The joy on her face in the brief moment I see her is pure and sweet.
We stay there for a while, Jesus teaching and healing the whole time. On the last day, he sends James and John to plow a field, and we bring food to the owners later that night. I notice a lot of the guys in our group are annoyed or frustrated That Jesus is being so kind to a Samaritan family. Evidentially Jews and Samaritans get along about as well as New Yorkers and New Jersians.
We find out after his kids have gone to bed that the Dad is injured because a year before, he had helped beat and rob and leave for dead a Jewish man who was traveling. When he took off on the horse, the horse threw him off and he permanently hurt his leg. He was just trying to get some money to be able to feed his family, but he's still carried the guilt of what he did to that man the whole time. Jesus tells him that he doesn't need to worry about the fate of the man he robbed, because someone else came along the road to help him. I faintly remember this story from listening to Jesse read it to Lassa during some of their Bible studies in the stables that I would sit in on to keep watch of them. Lassa called it The Good Samaritan.
After this we get ready for Jesus to deliver his biggest sermon yet. It's incredible, and full of teaching that seems backwards but makes sense all at the same time.
Love your Enemy. May not be in the exact context he was talking about, but it was Annabeth loving Luke that saved the world.
Blessed are the Poor in Spirit. I think of my mother, and despite us never having anything it seemed she was always kind beyond belief and gentle beyond understanding.
Blessed are the Meek. Blessed are the Peacemakers. Blessed are Those persecuted for righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of God. Turn the other cheek rather than eye for an eye. Generosity. Prayer. Fasting.
He says a lot more than just that. We're on the mountain for most of the day, and everyone is drinking in his words.
When we leave, we pick up who Jesus says will be the last to join our group. A guy named Judas. I don't know why, but his name sounds familiar and makes my skin crawl.
I'm with Jesus and his disciples for years. This is my longest stretch of the journey by far. But honestly, if it wasn't for wanting to get back to Annabeth, I'm not sure I'd want to leave. Being here, I finally have that peace I've been craving my whole life, and I didn't even realize how much. Just snippets of discontentment and wanting more. Now I have more, and I don't want to let it go.
I actually have fun with the other men in the group. They respect the fact that there are some things I just don't want to talk about, but they know I have a wife waiting for me to get home, They know I'm a warrior, and they know Jesus called me the same as them. That's all they really need to know. I do my best though to ask them plenty about their own lives.
I like practicing sword fighting with Simon, the one who used to be a Zealot, and we both teach some of the others who want to learn the basics of it. I learn of the old law and prophets from Andrew and Phillip mostly, and listen to Jesus as he instructs how people should live now. And He preaches peace, but I've learned not to let that fool me into thinking he's a pacifist. There was one time where we went to the temple and merchants were cheating people for sacrifices. I've never seen Jesus so angry. He got a look in his eyes that scared me more than any look my father's ever given me, and made a whip out of some cords and used it to drive them out of the temple, Saying You will not make my father's house into a den of robbers. The others remembered something in scripture, saying Zeal for your house will consume me. Apparently it was the fulfillment of another prophecy. Despite this happening, He's kind, humble, and doesn't discriminate based on anything. Everyone is equal in his sight. I can tell he loves each of us.
Growing up, Gabe was a world class Jerk. My dad was never there, and even when he claimed me I still didn't get to see him too often. Chiron tries, but he tries for me and a hundred other kids. Since I seem to do okay on my own he tends to focus on me more when it's about Training. Paul's great, but he's more focused on my mom than me. Which is fine, I'm glad he is, but I've never been able to really have a father in my life before. Now it feels like I finally do.
I see things that are impossible, maybe even for the gods themselves. Like Jesus raising a dead man named Lazarus from the grave, as well as a man named Jirus' little girl. I really do start to believe what Lassa told me, what I'm seeing be lived out. Jesus is what the Jews call The Messiah. The one who will save the world. When Simon declares this, Jesus changes his name to Peter, saying he'll be the rock he builds his church on.
But over time, I start to worry. I know what's coming. And I don't know how I can stand by and watch.
While the others are asleep, I go away from the camp and over to a tree and start working on some sword maneuvers, trying to calm down. I keep going until my arms are tired, and I'm covered in sweat, then I take a swig of water from a canteen.
I never thought I'd miss being a half-blood. But my powers were way more awesome than I ever gave them credit for now that I'm having to do without. I tire more quickly, and drinking water helps but doesn't freshen me up anymore. Thankfully, since I'm not facing monsters all the time, it's not as important. Still, I miss it. It's a part of me that's gone. I especially miss getting to wade into the ocean and just staying there by myself for hours. Not a luxury I get anymore.
"That tree must have offended you greatly to wreak havoc such as this upon it." I hear Jesus say as he walks up, coming over and sitting next to me. I don't say anything in response. "Tell me, Percy. What's bothering you?"
"Why do you ask when you already know?"
"Because I still want to hear it from you. That is why people pray, also. Not because God doesn't already know their wants and needs or that they're grateful, but because it strengthens their relationship with him." He explains. I sigh.
"I know the story. I've heard Lassa talk about it multiple times. I know what you're about to do. What I don't know is how I'm supposed to sit by and let it happen. You don't deserve it." I say. He chuckles.
"No I don't. And I'm dreading it myself. And why do you think you're not a halfblood on this journey? At the height of your power, you could take out the Roman Empire, Percy. You can't be allowed to interfere."
"Really?" I ask. He throws his head back and laughs.
"Absolutely. Not just anyone could battle the king of the titans. My father gave you that power for a reason, not the least of which being you choose not to abuse it."
"I'm not perfect." I mutter, thinking about Tartarus and blood bending Lassa that first day in the arena.
"No, you're not. That's not the point. You do however strive to stay in the light. That's what's important."
"You said you're dreading it. Why go through with it?"
"Only an insane person would look forward to a crucifixion and death. But I'll go through with it because I love you, Percy. You, Annabeth and Lassa as well as Peter, Andrew, James, John, and all the rest in our group and all the rest in the world, expanding from Adam and Eve until every soul at the end of time. This is the way my father provided for your salvation. So I will pay the price." He rises. "Get some sleep. We go into Jerusalem tomorrow."