Summer 30 A.D. – Tiberius – At the Bath House

After his father’s death, Judas’ farm had been duly sold. This had prevented him from pursuing farming as a career. But ironically, the new city of Tiberius being built by the Romans had given him his future livelihood. His mother had remarried within a year, and her new husband was a skilled stonemason. After the brutal slaying he had witnessed, he had no time left for the God as preached by the Rabbi. The young boy had given up his studies within weeks of the killing. Judas had quickly become a full time apprentice to his mother’s husband. Although he had never forgotten his father, his stepfather always showed him much kindness and support.

The last twenty years had been busy and productive ones. The new city of Tiberius had grown rapidly, largely thanks to the availability of a considerable amount of slave labour. Judas and his stepfather had specialised in the building of bathhouses. This had proved lucrative, as the hot springs of the new city had made such amenities very popular.

Early one morning, Judas was supervising the unloading of a new supply of stone. A small crowd had gathered by the entrance to the partially built wall that was to house their latest establishment. They were standing in a semi circle, and Judas could see that there was a man in front of the group to whom the people were directing their gaze. He started to speak and the crowd gathered closely around him.

Judas was used to seeing peripatetic teachers in the city. The population was cosmopolitan and speakers were always guaranteed an interested crowd. But something intrigued him about this man, so he stopped work and strolled casually towards the huddled group.

The craftsman listened intently as the man spoke. The words weaved a reverential story of a beautiful, eternal spirit that could exist within any soul. The preacher described himself as a messenger from that world, who was here to reveal its secrets. And to show any who would listen, how to reach salvation. The next two hours flew by. As the talking came to an end, the tall teacher withdrew from the crowd and made his way out of the city towards the shore of the lake. He was followed by a small band of close followers.

Judas decided then and there, that he wanted to be in that intimate circle and he hurried after them.

That night he returned home to his house in the city to tell his mother of his new mission in life. As he walked carefully through the regular streets, past the carpenters’ shops and the houses of the fishermen, he debated how to inform her. Judas’ mother’s second husband had been very good to him. And he would find it difficult to quickly replace Judas’ skills. But he had made his decision and was determined to stick to it.

He was glad that he had never taken a wife for himself. So he had no need to worry about supporting a family. Any money he would receive as an itinerant student and preacher would be considerably less than the fees earned by a skilled craftsman. And he would need to spend much time away from home. It would be difficult enough to speak to his mother and stepfather, let alone a wife and family.