Letters from Adina - #18

Letter XVIII. An Act of Homage.

Several of the Priests, headed by Annas, began crying with threatening words.

My Dear Father,

In my last letter, I informed you that Rabbi Amos had invited Jesus to sojourn with us during the Passover. John, the cousin of Mary, conveyed to Him the invitation of my uncle, and He graciously accepted it, and came hither yesterday; after He had quitted the Temple, from which He had with such commanding power driven’ forth the merchants and money-changers.  

We were expecting Him, when I heard the rumor flying along the streets, “The Prophet comes! the Prophet comes!’’

On hearing these words uttered by hundreds of voices of men and children, I hastened to the house-top, from whence I could behold the street to the foot of the Temple.

I looked down upon a sea of heads. The multitude came rolling onward, like a mighty river - as I have seen the dark Nile flow when it pours its freshening floods along its banks.

Mary stood by my side. We tried to single out, amid the advancing throng, the form of Him around whom undulated the sea of heads, and whose progress gave occasion to so mighty a stir. But all was so wildly confused through the waving of palm branches that we could behold nothing clearly.

While I was straining my gaze to make out the form of the Prophet, Mary touched me, and bade me look towards the opposite side. As I did so, I beheld Amilius Tullius, the young Roman Centurion, of whom I have before spoken, now prefect of Pilate’s Legion, advancing at the head of about two hundred horsemen, at full spur, to meet and turn back the advancing throng of people.

As he came opposite the house, he looked up, and seeing us upon the parapet, waved his gleaming sword, saluting us, and was dashing past when Mary cried out -

‘‘Noble sir, there is no insurrection, as some of the people have doubtless told thee: this vast crowd moving hitherward is but an escort to the Prophet of Nazareth, who cometh to be my father’s guest.”

“l have orders from Pilate to arrest him, lady, as a disturber of the peace of the city,’’ replied the centurion, who had drawn rein, and paused to speak with Mary.

“Shall a prophet suffer because his mighty deeds draw crowds after his footsteps, noble Roman? If thy troops advance, there will be a tumult with the people. If thou wilt withdraw them a little, thou wilt see that when the Prophet crosses my father’s threshold, the crowd will immediately go away in peace.”

The prefect replied not, but seemed to look at me, expecting me to speak, which seeing, I earnestly entreated him to do the Prophet no violence.

“For thy wishes’ sake, lady, I will here halt my troop, the more so as I see that the people are unarmed.”

The centurion then gave orders to his horsemen they should draw up in line opposite the house. The multitude now came near; but many of those in advance, seeing the Roman horse, stopped or fell into the rear, so that I beheld Jesus appear in front, walking at an even pace, with John at his side; Rabbi Amos was also with Him.

As He came nigh, the people, for fear of the long Roman spears, kept back, and He advanced, almost alone. I saw John point out to Him our house. The Prophet looked up and gazed upon it an instant.

I saw his features plainly. His countenance was not that of a young man, but one past the middle age of life, though He is but thirty years old.

His hair was mingled with gray, and in His finely- shaped, oval face deep lines were carved, evidences of care and sorrow. His flowing beard fell upon His breast.

His eyes, appeared to be fixed upon us both for an instant, with a look of benignity and peace.

As he drew near where the Roman prefect sat upon his horse, the Prophet inclined his head slightly, but with a perfect courtesy, to the young chief, who bent low to his saddle-bow in acknowledgment, as if to a monarch.

We were both surprised, as well as gratified, at this act of homage from the Roman centurion to our Prophet, and I thought more kindly than ever of Aemilius.  

Passing the troop of horse, John and Rabbi Amos conducted Jesus to our door; but before they reached it, there was a loud cry from several harsh voices calling on the Roman, to arrest Him.

On looking from whence these shouts came, I found that they proceeded from several of the priests, headed by Annas, who were passing forward through the crowd, crying with threatening words—  

“We call upon you, O Prefect, to arrest this man! Shame on thee, Rabbi Amos! Hast thou also believed in the imposter? We charge this Galilean, O Roman, with having made sedition. He has taken possession of the Temple, and, unless you see to it, he will take the citadel out of your hands.  If you arrest him not, upon your head be the consequences that may befall the city and the people.”

“I see nothing to fear from this man, O ye Jews,’’ answered Aemilius. ‘‘He is unarmed, and without soldiers. Stand back; keep to your Temple. It is from your outcries all the confusion comes! Back to your altars! If commotions arise in the city, Pilate will demand the cause of you. All the rest of the people are peaceable, save only yourselves.”

“We will carry our complaint before the Procurator,’’ cried Annas, who was the chief speaker; and, followed by a large company of angry priests and Levites, with staves in their hands, he took his way towards the palace of the Roman governor.

I looked thankfully upon Aemilius, who had so fearlessly taken part with the Prophet.

The multitude now began to give way, as the Roman horse moved slowly up the street, and Jesus being received into the house by Mary, who descended to open the door, peace was soon in a measure restored; though at one time a large concourse of persons, whose money-tables had been cast down, came to complain of their losses, and would have attacked the house but for Rabbi Amos, who went forth and courteously addressed them, showing them that if they had sold and bought in the Temple, contrary to the law, and if Jesus alone had driven them forth, He must be a prophet, for only a prophet could make a thousand men flee before Him;

‘‘And if He be a prophet, my friends,” continued the Rabbi, “He has acted by command of God; and take heed, lest in avenging yourselves, ye be found fighting against the Lord of the Temple!”

In the meanwhile, Jesus was taken into the inner hall, and water being brought, Rabbi Amos himself removed His sandals, and washed His feet; while Mary, to do Him all honor, dried them with a rich veil, which she had just worked in preparation of her coming marriage with her cousin John.

It was at this moment I entered the hall. Desirous as I had been to behold and speak with the Prophet, now that I beheld Him face to face, I shrank back in awe. He raised his eyes, and beholding me, said -

‘‘Daughter, come thou also, and bid me welcome with these dear friends; for I know thou believest in me, and desirest that thy father also should believe. Be patient, and hope; for thou shall yet behold him whom thou lovest, become my disciple!’’

As He thus spake, He extended to me His hand, upon which I let fall tears of joy like rain. l perceived that He knew my heart and thoughts, and felt assured that His words would prove true.

Yes, dear father, you also will believe, as we all believe! You also are to acknowledge Him as the Christ.

Such, my dear father, are the increasing testimonies Jesus brings, by miracles, as well as by words, that He is indeed Messias.

The God of our fathers keep you in health.

Your loving daughter, Adina

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LADY DONNA PROGRAM

The new Lady Donna Immersion in Spirituality, Academics and Citizenship @ the "I AM" School will study abridged excerpts of the Letters from Adina taken from Reverend Ingraham's original edited version of 'The Prince of the House of David', published by Cassell & Co. Ltd (1903), that reveal remarkable insights into the Living Etheric Record left by Beloved Jesus's Ministry in the Holy Land.