Stephanus - Chapter 10 - The Three Crosses

Stephanus  – Chapter 10 - The Three Crosses

At times Katherine felt utterly alone in Alexandros's absence. She humbly accepted his death, trusting
he was now closer to Yahweh. She told herself her grief was normal—anyone would mourn a husband
so dearly loved—yet deep down she knew there was more to it.
She took consolation in her children: they were so much like their father. But worry gnawed at her. As a
couple, she and Alex had been a force molding the children in faith and family tradition. She had
confidence in what they had built. Each child carried a firm foundation for life's trials. But life is brutal
and unpredictable.
Keep the faith, She reminder herself daily. Yahweh is faithful and will not abandon you.
But it was not easy.
What are the boys doing when Ophelia and I labor in the fields?
What temptations do they face? I know they don’t sit around the house all day! And then there was
Ophelia. I have to keep a close eye on her, that young laborer that works along side us seems to be up
to something….he tries far too hard to impress her! And what do we even know about this boy?

Her thoughts shattered as Ophelia broke the silence.
“Mother, Hakes wants me to join him and his family for their Sabbath gathering” it was more statement
than request.
“I'm not comfortable with that.” Katherine replied. “What do we know about this boy?”
“Mother, don’t treat me like a child!” Ophelia flared.
“But you are a child” mother shot back, then instantly regretted it. “I’m so sorry, - that just slipped out.
I know you are growing up, but I am struggling to let go. It is my duty to be sure you are safe, we don’t
have your father, so I must be cautious.” Katherine tried to reason with her daughter.
“But I will be with his family!” Ophelia protested.
“What family? Who are these people?” Katherine pressed. She had seen the hunger in this young man's
eyes. Her instincts were rarely wrong.
“Now, where are you going?” she called out to Ophelia as she stormed off.
“What do you care?” Ophelia hurled back at her.
Even as she fled, Ophelia recognized the love in her mother's eyes. Yet she had been so flattered by
Hakes's attention that she could think of nothing else.

Back in the Second Quarter, it finally happened: Naomi's greatest fears had become reality. Her
philandering husband, Menemah had slipped out early the previous evening, but had yet to return the
following day? Worry coiled tight in her chest.
He often vanished into the night—Yahweh only knew to where. He never answered her questions, and
she had learned long ago when to stop asking. Early in their marriage he had struck her for pressing too
hard. Still, they had enjoyed many tender moments, and she has never considered leaving him. Where
would I go? I have no interest in his brothers, they are crude and offensive. She found it strange that
siblings could be so different?
As she peered down the dusty street she spotted two figures approaching. Roman soldiers. Fear gripped
her heart! They paused at her gate, and turned in.
“What is it?” she called voice trembling,
“You are all alone.” The taller one announced.
“You poor defenseless woman!” the shorter one sneered. “We can help you..... but for a little bit of your
time.” Sinister in his voice.
“You stay away from me!” Naomi screamed seizing a fire poker. The shorter soldier's hand went to his
hip for his dagger.
“What’s going on in there?” a voice shouted from the street.
“Is that you?” the woman cried.
“It is your neighbor, Joshua.” came the reply. “Are you okay?” he asked.
The soldiers froze. “We had better get back to the square.” the taller one muttered. “The second trial is
soon to begin.”
Relief flooded Naomi as Joshua and several field hands entered the door. The soldiers pushed their way
past them.
“You are back early.“she said, lowering the poker.”What happened?”
“Our foreman sent us home with full wages” they explained. “Something is happening in the Praetorium
courtyard.”
“The soldiers mentioned something about a second trial?" Naomi said. "What are they talking about?”
The men shook their heads no.
“I am so thankful you came! Naomi whispered. "Have any of you seen Menemah? He did not come
home last night?”
"Sorry, we've been in the fields."
The soldiers first words echoed in her mind. You are all alone. But what did they mean? Their minds
had been clearly elsewhere—up to no good!
The field hands dispersed, leaving Naomi to continue the vigil for her husband.
“Where can he be?” she complained aloud.
“Who?” a familiar voice asked.
“Oh, Katherine!” Naomi turned, “you are early, to! Where is Ophelia? She’s always with you?”
“They sent us home." Katherine said. "The city is buzzing about 'The Trial'. Everyone has flocked to
the courtyard. She hesitated, then added. "Naomi, have you seen Ophelia? Or the boys? We argued and
she ran off."
Naomi shook her head, her eyes fixed on the street. “I guess that makes two of us looking for a family
member. Menemah didn't return from last night, either!”
“Oh, my dear!” Katherine said softly, “You poor thing, I know exactly how you are feeling.”
“I don’t know what’s happening?” Naomi sobbed, “Has he left me because I have been barren? I know
he wanted to have a son, badly.....”
“There, there, now” Katherine soothed, wrapping her arm around her. “I’m sure there is a perfectly
reasonable explanation for this, let's not assume the worst, yet."

Then, practical as ever, Katherine said. "Here's what we will do. You help me find Ophelia and the
boys, and we will help you find Menemah. Everyone's at the courtyard—let’s start there.”
Naomi nodded, grabbed her robe and the two women headed towards the Praetorium courtyard in the
Upper City.
I hope this doesn't have anything to do with the arrest of Y'shua last night. Katherine worried to herself.

"I know a shortcut" Katherine said turning into a narrow alley. They stopped short. At the far end lay a dark heap.

A body? Naomi clutched Katherine's arm. "Maybe another way...."
"No, we can't ignore this." Katherine said firmly. "If someone needs help, we can't leave them."
Step by cautious step, dread mounting, they advanced deeper into the alley. The shape resolved to be a
man—sprawled on the cobblestone, blood crusted on his mouth.
Naomi's scream shattered the silence. "Menemah!"
She fell beside him, cradling his head. His eyes stared blankly. Katherine knelt, searching for any
flicker of life. None.
"What happened?" Naomi wailed. "Who would do this?"
Katherine gently rolled the body. A dagger wound gaped just above his groin. Her breath caught.

"Naomi....those two soldiers that came to your house earlier today, can you describe them?
"Yes, a tall one who seemed to be in charge. And a smaller one—there was something vicious about
him. Like staring into the eyes of a demon. When I raised the fire poker, his hand went straight to the
dagger at his belt."
Katherine gripped Naomi's wrist. "I know them. They patrol the Second Quarter. Those are the same
soldiers who murdered Alexandros. Menemah has the same wound."

Naomi doubled over, sobbing.
"I'm so sorry." Katherine whispered. "When they came to your house, what did they say?"
"That I was all 'alone'. That they wanted 'a little bit of my time'.
They barged right in. If Joshua hadn't come...."
Katherine's voice hardened. "They must have found Menemah drunk last night, killed him, then came
looking for you. His clothes reek of wine."
Naomi nodded through tears. "What do we do?"
We can't move him alone. We need a cart and some neighbors. Are you able to keep looking for my
children?'
Naomi removed her robe and covered Menemah's body, a final act of love. "Yes." she whispered. "Let's
go."
Guilt gnawed at them both as they left the alley, but Katherine's fear for her own children burned hotter
than ever.

Nearing the Praetorium, the roar of the crowd swelled. Chants echoed off the stone walls.
"Can you make out the words?" Katherine asked
"Not yet." Naomi replied,
Closer now, the shouts became clearer. "Let his blood be upon us and our children!"
Katherine's stomach twisted.
They pushed into the packed courtyard. Many faces were strangers—Passover visitors lingering in
Jerusalem. The High Priests and Scribes whipped the crowd into a frenzy: "Crucify him! Crucify
him!!"
Pontius Pilate stood on the Bema. He had the soldiers bring forth Y'shua. "Behold the man!"

Katherine gasped with the crowd. This was not the Y'shua she remembered. His body was covered in
wounds, and his face was swollen almost beyond recognition. It was as if every sin of mankind had
been carved into his flesh.
The mob roared louder. "Crucify him! Crucify him! You are no friend of Caesars'! "
Pilate raised his hand in surrender. A wagon rumbled in, bearing a rough-hewn cross. Soldiers removed
Y'shua's shackles and forced the beam onto his torn shoulders. The death march to Golgotha began.
As Y'shua staggered past, his one unswollen eye fixed on Naomi.
Katherine dazed, barely heard Naomi's quiet question. "Do you see anyone?"
She scanned the crowd. "No. No one."
With everything happening in Jerusalem today, where are my children? Katherine had no relief from
her worry.

The soldiers prodded Y'shua down the street, Katherine and Naomi, having arrived just as sentence was
passed, stood near the front of the forming procession.
Again, Y'shua looked at Naomi. Not with pain or self-pity, but with profound sympathy—as if he knew
she has lost Menemah.
Naomi's heart steadied. She was not alone.

Katherine observed all of this, and marveled at Y'shua who was making disciples even on the way to
his own death.