Letters from Adina - #7

Letter VII. The Blind Man

Bartimaeus - The Blind Man

My Dear Father,

My trembling fingers scarcely hold the light reed with which I am about to write you concerning the wonderful things I have seen and heard, but they tremble only with joy.

Oh, my father, my dear, dear father, Messias has come! I have seen Him! I have heard His voice! He has truly come!

Oh, joy, joy! My eyes have beheld Him of whom Moses and the prophets did write! But I will tell you all, in order that you may believe as I believe, though you have seen Him not, I will give you an account of the events which have happened since my last letter was sent to you.

I will try to write plainly and clearly, and keep my bounding heart still and my hand calm, while I set down in order all that has taken place, that your understanding may judge of these things with that candour and wisdom which makes men see in you the wisest Israelite in the land of Egypt.

Rabbi Amos has also felt no little curiosity to hear John of Jordan, as he is called, whose fame has spread far and wide. At the request of Mary and myself he consented that we should accompany him.

The road from Jerusalem to Jericho had recently become unsafe, on account of the boldness of an insurrectionary chief called Barabbas, who a year ago rose up against the Romans ; but he was defeated, and his band dispersed into the mountains  south of the Sea of Sodom.

At last, driven by famine, he has taken to robbing caravans; and since the number of travelers has increased greatly between Jerusalem and Jordan, to hear John preach and be baptised of him, he has fallen upon large parties of them, and taken from them all their goods and money.

On this account Rabbi Amos accepted the courteous offer of escort made by the young centurion, who had been ordered by the Procurator, Pontius Pilate, to keep the road open between Jerusalem and Jericho ; for even Roman couriers have been stopped by this fearless robber, and some of them slain.

Just before we reached the Sheep Gate, by which we were to gain the Jericho road, we met a poor blind man leading a lamb, or rather being led by a tame lamb. He also had two pigeons in his bosom.

He was asked by Rabbi Amos, who knew him, whither he was going. He answered that he was going to the Temple to sacrifice them. "Nay," said Amos, with surprise, "thou wilt not sacrifice thy lamb, Bartimaeus!"

“I have promised them to God, Rabbi Amos, and I may not break my promise without sin.”’

“But thy lamb leadeth thee everywhere: It is eyes to thee. Thou canst not do without it.’’

“God will provide me another lamb,’’ he answered, his face beaming with hope.

“But thy doves? Thou earnest by them many a mite in a day, they are so well taught in cunning and pleasant tricks to please children. If thou wilt sacrifice, spare these so needful to thee, and here is money to buy doves and another lamb," answered my benevolent uncle.

"Hear what I have to say," answered Bartimaeus.

"My father became sick and was like to die, and I vowed a vow to God that if He would heal the old man, my father, I would sacrifice unto Him one of my doves.

The next day my mother, who has nourished my childhood and loved me, though I was born blind, with all her heart, was also taken sick. I then vowed my other pigeon.

The same night my little daughter, my little blind daughter, whose face I never saw, and who never saw her father's face, was sick nigh unto death. Then was it that I vowed all that remained to me, even the lamb of my bosom, whom I love next to my child!

My father, my mother, my child, are now restored, and in my joy I am on my way to the Temple, to offer these gifts of God to him.

It will be hard O Rabbi, but shall I not perform my vow? It will be hard to part with them, I shall miss them much, but God will not let blind Bartimaeus suffer, since He will see that, in offering his two little doves and his lamb, he bringeth all that he hath.”

With these words he went on, the lamb, obeying the string which he held, softly moving on before; while I could see tears trickle down the sightless eyes of the righteous son and pious father, as he kissed, and kissed again, the precious doves that lay in his bosom.

This little occurrence made me sad; yet I honored the resolute piety of this poor man, whose eyes, though they saw not men, seemed to see God and feel His presence.

There is still humble piety in the land, my dear father, and if we find it not among the proud and splendid priests, we must look for it in the hearts of the poor and humble, like Bartimaeus.

Once outside of the gates, the air blew fresh from the hills of olives, laden with fragrance.

We had hardly reached the place where the two roads meet, when we heard to the west the sound of the galloping of a large body of horse, and the next moment the young Roman Centurion came in sight, by the road from the Horse Gate, riding at the head of a troop of horse, whose martial appearance, with the ringing of their armor, and the melody of their bugles, made my blood leap; and I am sure, if I could have seen my eyes, I should have discovered in them a martial fire.

Aemilius looked like a Prince, and his burnished armor shone in the sun like armor of fire. At his side rode a youth, who bore the eagle of his band; but the Centurion himself carried in his hand only the badge of his rank, which was a vine-rod bound with rings of gold. He saluted us with that courtesy which distinguishes his every motion, and then dividing his troops into two bodies, half of whom trotting on ahead, led the van, and the other half, falling behind, served as a rear-guard.

He then gave the word to move forward. The Centurion himself rode either by the side of Rabbi Amos, or near our bridles, but he did not so far occupy himself with us as to forget his duty as captain, which he fulfilled with the utmost vigilance.

Farewell dear father; in my next letter I will resume my narrative of the events which have taken place since I left Jerusalem. May the God of our father Abraham be your defence and shield.

Your affectionate daughter,

Adina.

Next Letter

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.