The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ (2 page)

He was right to do so. When Herod realised that the astrologers were not going to come back, he flew into a rage and ordered that every child in Bethlehem and the neighbourhood under two years of age should be killed at once.

One of the children of the right age was John, the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth. As soon as they heard of Herod's plan, Elizabeth took him up into the mountains looking for somewhere to hide. But she was old and could not walk very far, and in her despair she cried out, 'Oh mountain of God, shelter a mother and her child!'

At once the mountain opened and offered her a cave in which to shelter.

So she and the child were safe, but Zacharias was in trouble. Herod knew that he had recently fathered a child, and sent for him.

'Where is your child? Where have you hidden him?'

'I am a busy priest, Your Majesty! I spend all my time about the business of the temple! Looking after children is women's work. I don't know where my son can be.'

'I warn you - tell the truth! I can spill your blood if I want to.'

'If you shed my blood, I shall be a martyr to the Lord,' said Zacharias, and that came true, because he was killed there and then.

Meanwhile, Joseph and Mary were deciding what to call their sons. The firstborn was to be named Jesus, but what to call the other, Mary's secret favourite? In the end they gave him a common name, but in view of what the shepherds had said, Mary always called him Christ, which is Greek for Messiah. Jesus was a strong and cheerful baby, but Christ was often ill, and Mary worried about him, and gave him the warmest blankets, and let him suck honey from her fingertip to stop him crying.

Not long after they had arrived in Egypt, Joseph heard that King Herod had died. It was safe to go back to Palestine, and so they set off back to Joseph's home in Nazareth in Galilee. There the children grew up.

And as time passed there came more children to join them, more brothers, and sisters too. Mary loved all her children, but not equally. The little Christ seemed to her to need special care. Where Jesus and the other children were boisterous and played loudly together, getting into mischief, stealing fruit, shouting out rude names and running away, picking fights, throwing stones, daubing mud on house walls, catching sparrows, Christ clung to his mother's skirts and spent hours in reading and prayer.

One day Mary went to the house of a neighbour who was a dyer. Jesus and Christ both came with her, and while she was talking to the dyer, with Christ close by her side, Jesus went into the workshop. He looked at all the vessels containing different coloured dyes, and dipped a finger in each one, and then wiped them on the pile of cloths waiting to be dyed. Then he thought that the dyer would notice and be angry with him, so he bundled up the entire pile and thrust it all into the vessel containing a black dye.

He went back to the room where his mother was talking to the dyer, and Christ saw him and said, 'Mama, Jesus has done something wrong.'

Jesus had his hands behind him. 'Show me your hands,' said Mary.

He brought his hands around to show. They were coloured black, red, yellow, purple and blue.

'What have you been doing?' she said.

Alarmed, the dyer ran into his workshop. Bulging out of the top of the vessel with the black dye was an untidy heap of cloth, besmeared and stained with black, and with other colours as well.

'Oh no! Look what this brat has done!' he cried. 'All this cloth - it'll cost me a fortune!'

'Jesus, you bad boy!' said Mary. 'Look, you've destroyed all this man's work! We'll have to pay for it. How can we do that?'

'But I thought I was helping,' said Jesus.

'Mama,' said Christ, 'I can make it all better.'

And he took a corner of cloth, and said to the dyer:

'What colour is this one supposed to be, sir?'

'Red,' said the dyer.

And the child pulled it out of the vessel, and it was red all over. Then he pulled out each of the remaining cloths, asking the dyer what colour it should be, and so they were: each piece was perfectly dyed just as the customer had ordered it.

The dyer marvelled, and Mary embraced the child Christ and kissed him again and again, filled with joy at the goodness of the little fellow.

Another time Jesus was playing beside the ford across a brook, and he made some little sparrows out of mud and set them all up in a row. A pious Jew who was passing saw what he was doing and went to tell Joseph.

'Your son has broken the sabbath!' he said. 'Do you know what he's doing down by the ford? You should control your children!'

Joseph hurried to see what Jesus was doing. Christ had heard the man shouting, and followed close behind Joseph. Other people were following too, having heard the commotion. They got there just as Jesus made the twelfth sparrow.

'Jesus!' Joseph said. 'Stop that at once. You know this is the sabbath.'

They were going to punish Jesus, but Christ clapped his hands, and at once the sparrows came alive and flew away. The people were amazed. 'I didn't want my brother to get into trouble,' Christ explained. 'He's a good boy really.'

And all the adults were filled with admiration. The little boy was so modest and thoughtful, not a bit like his brother. But the children of the town preferred Jesus.

When the twins were twelve years old, Joseph and Mary took them to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. They travelled down in a company of other families, and there were many adults to keep an eye on the children. After the festival, when they were gathering everyone together to leave, Mary made sure that Christ was with her, and said to him:

'Where is Jesus? I can't see him anywhere.'

'I think he's with the family of Zachaeus,' said Christ. 'He was playing with Simon and Jude. He told me he was going to travel home with them.'

So they set off, and Mary and Joseph thought no more about him, imagining him safe with the other family. But when it was time for the evening meal, Mary sent Christ to Zachaeus's family to call Jesus, and he came back excited and anxious.

'He's not with them! He told me he was going to play with them, but he never did! They haven't seen him anywhere!'

Mary and Joseph searched among their relatives and friends, and asked every group of travellers if they had seen Jesus, but none of them knew where he was. This one said they had last seen him playing outside the temple, that one said they had heard him say he was going to the marketplace, another said they were sure he was with Thomas, or Saul, or Jacob. In the end Joseph and Mary had to accept that he had been left behind, and they packed their things away and turned back towards Jerusalem. Christ rode on the donkey, because Mary was worried that he might be tired.

They searched through the city for three days, but Jesus was nowhere to be found. Finally Christ said, 'Mama, should we go to the temple and pray for him?'

Since they had looked everywhere else, they thought they would try that. And as soon as they entered the temple grounds, they heard a commotion.

'That'll be him,' said Joseph.

Sure enough, it was. The priests had found Jesus daubing his name on the wall with clay, and were deciding how to punish him.

'It's only clay!' he was saying, brushing the dirt off his hands. 'As soon as it rains, it'll come off again! I wouldn't dream of damaging the temple. I was writing my name there in the hope that God would see it and remember me.'

'Blasphemer!' said a priest.

And he would have struck Jesus, but Christ stepped forward and spoke.

'Please, sir,' he said, 'my brother is not a blasphemer. He was writing his name in clay so as to express the words of Job, “Remember that you fashioned me like clay; and will you turn me to dust again?” '

'That may be,' said another, 'but he knows full well he's done wrong. Look - he's tried to wash his hands and conceal the evidence.'

'Well, of course he has,' said Christ. 'He has done it to fulfil the words of Jeremiah, “Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before you.”'

'But to run away from your family!' Mary said to Jesus. 'We've been terrified! Anything could have happened to you. But you're so selfish, you don't know what it means to think of others. Your family means nothing to you!'

Jesus hung his head. But Christ said:

'No, Mama, I'm sure he means well. And this too was foretold. He's done this so that the psalm can come true, “I have borne reproach, and shame has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my kindred, an alien to my mother's children.”'

The priests and teachers of the temple were amazed at the knowledge of the little Christ, and praised his learning and quickness of mind. Since he had pleaded so well, they allowed Jesus to go unpunished.

But on the way back to Nazareth, Joseph said privately to Jesus, 'What were you thinking of, to upset your mother like that? You know how tender-hearted she is. She was worried sick about you.'

'And you, Father, were you worried?'

'I was worried for her, and I was worried for you.'

'You didn't need to worry for me. I was safe enough.'

Joseph said no more.

Time went past, and the two boys grew to manhood. Jesus learned the trade of carpentry, and Christ spent all his time in the synagogue, reading the scriptures and discussing their meanings with the teachers. Jesus took no notice of Christ, but for his part, Christ was always forbearing, and keen to display a friendly interest in his brother's work.

'We need carpenters,' he would say earnestly. 'It's a fine trade. Jesus is coming on very well. He will be able to marry one day soon, I'm sure. He deserves a good wife and a home.'

By this time the man John, the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth, had begun a campaign of preaching in the country around the Jordan, impressing the people with his teaching about the need for repentance and with his promise of the forgiveness of sins. There were many wandering preachers in Galilee and the surrounding districts at that time; some were good men, some were wicked charlatans, and some were simply mad. John was unusual in his simplicity and directness. He had spent some time in the wilderness, and dressed roughly and ate little. He invented the rite of baptism to symbolise the washing-away of sin, and many came to listen to him and to be baptised.

Among the people who came to listen to him were some Sadducees and Pharisees. These were two rival groups among the Jewish teachers. They disagreed with one another about many matters of doctrine, but each was important and influential.

John, however, treated them with scorn.

'You brood of vipers! Running away from the anger to come, are you? You'd do better to start doing some good in the world, better to start bearing some fruit. The axe is already lying at the root of the trees. Watch out, because it will cut down every tree that doesn't bear good fruit, and they will be thrown on the fire.'

'But what should we do to be good?' people asked him.

'If you have two coats, give one to someone who has none. If you have more food than you need, share it with someone who is hungry.'

Even some tax-collectors came for baptism. Tax-collectors were hated by the people, because everyone resented paying money to the occupying forces of Rome. But John didn't turn them away.

'What must we do, teacher?' said the tax-collectors.

'Take in exactly as much tax as you should, and not a penny more.'

Some soldiers came to him too.

'Will you baptise us? Tell us what we must do to be good!'

'Be content with your regular wages, and don't extort money from anyone with threats or false accusations.'

John became famous in the countryside for the vigour of his words as well as for the ceremony of baptism. He had recently said something that was widely spoken about:

'I baptise you with water, but there's someone else coming who is much more powerful than I am. I'm not worthy to untie his sandals for him. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He's going to sort the wheat from the chaff; he's got his winnowing-fork in his hand already; the grain will be safe in the granary, but the chaff will burn with a fire that never goes out.'

Word of his teaching came to Nazareth, and Jesus was curious to go and listen to him. He set off for the Jordan, where he heard that John was preaching. Christ went as well, but the two brothers travelled separately. When they reached the river bank they joined the crowd waiting to be immersed in the water, and watched as the people went down one by one to join the Baptist where he stood waist-deep, wearing the rough camel-hair cloak that was his only garment.

When it was Jesus's turn, John held up his hand in refusal.

'It should be you who baptise me,' he said.

Christ, watching from the bank as he waited for his turn, heard his words with astonishment.

'No,' replied Jesus, 'I've come to you. Just do it in the proper way.'

So John held him, and plunged him under the water and lifted him up again.

At that moment Christ saw a dove fly above them and settle in a tree. It might have been an omen. Christ wondered what it might mean, and imagined what a voice might say if it spoke from heaven and told him.

After the baptism Jesus and Christ listened to the preaching of John, and it made a great impression on them both. In fact, Jesus was so impressed by the personality and the words of the Baptist that he decided to give up his trade of carpentry and go into the wilderness as John had done, and see if he too could hear the words of God. So he went off on his own into the desert, wandering from place to place, eating little and sleeping on the rough ground.

Meanwhile Christ went home to Nazareth, and told Mary about the baptism, and told her about the dove, too.

'It flew right over my head, Mother. And I thought I heard a voice speaking from heaven. It was the voice of God, and it was speaking to me - I'm sure of it.'

'Of course it was, darling! It was your special baptism.'

'Do you think I should go and tell Jesus?'

'If you want to, dear. If you think he'll listen.'

So he set off, and forty days after Jesus had gone into the wilderness, Christ found him kneeling in a dry river bed and praying. He watched and waited, thinking of what to say, and when Jesus stopped and lay down in the shade of a rock, Christ came and spoke to him.

'Jesus, have you heard the word of God yet?'

'Why do you want to know?'

'Because something happened when you were being baptised. I saw the heavens open above you, and a dove come down and hovered above your head, and a voice said, “This is my beloved son”.'

Jesus said nothing. Christ said:

'Don't you believe me?'

'No. Of course not.'

'It's plain that God has chosen you for something special. Look what the Baptist himself said to you.'

'He was mistaken.'

'No, I'm sure he wasn't. You're popular, people like you, they listen to what you say. You're a good man. You're passionate and impulsive, and those are fine qualities, of course they are, as long as they're regulated by custom and authority. You could have a lot of influence. It would be a shame not to use it for good. The Baptist would agree with me, I know.'

'Go away.'

'I know what it is, you're tired and hungry after all this time in the desert. If you're the son of God, as I heard the voice say, you could command these stones to become loaves of bread, and they'd have to, and then you could eat as much as you wanted.'

'Oh, you think so? I know the scriptures, you scoundrel. “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Had you forgotten that? Or did you think I had?'

'Of course I don't think you've forgotten your lessons,' said Christ. 'You were as clever as anyone in the class. But consider what good you could do if you could feed the hungry! If they ask for food, you could give them a stone and it would become bread! Think of the starving, think of the misery of famine, think of the bitterness of poverty and the dread of a poor harvest! And you need food just as the poor do. If you're to do the work that God obviously wants you to do, you can't do it hungry.'

'It didn't occur to you to bring me a loaf yourself, I notice. That would have been more use than a sermon.'

'There's bodily food, and there's spiritual food--' began Christ, but Jesus threw a stone at him, and he retreated a little way.

Presently he spoke again.

'Jesus, don't be angry with me. Just hear me out. I know you want to do good, I know you want to help people. I know you want to do the will of God. But you must consider the effect you could have - the effect on ordinary people, simple people, ignorant people. They can be led to the good, but they need signs and wonders. They need miracles. Fine words convince the mind, but miracles speak directly to the heart and then to the soul. Don't despise the very means that God has placed in our nature. If a simple person sees stones changed into bread, or sees sick people healed, this makes an impression on him that could change his life. He'll believe every word you say from then on. He'll follow you to the ends of the earth.'

'You think the word of God can be conveyed by conjuring tricks?'

'That's a harsh way of putting it. Miracles have always been part of God's way of convincing his people. Think of Moses leading his people through the Red Sea. Think of Elijah reviving the widow's son. Think of the poor woman whose creditors were demanding payment, and Elisha telling her to pour her one jar of oil into several empty ones, and they were all filled, so she could sell them and pay her debts. By showing people miracles like this, we bring them face to face with the infinite power of God's goodness, and we do it with vivid immediacy, so their simple hearts see and understand and believe at once.'

'You keep saying “we”,' said Jesus. 'Are you one of these miracle-workers, then?'

'Not just me alone, but you and me together!'

'Never.'

'But think of what an effect it would have if someone were to go to the top of the temple, say, and to step off into the air, full of faith that God would do what it says in the psalms, and send his angels to catch him. “He has commanded his angels to guard you wherever you go, and they will hold you in their arms so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” Just imagine--'

'Is that all you've learned from the scriptures? To put on a sensational show for the credulous? You'd do better to forget about that and attend to the real meaning of things. Remember what the scripture says: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” '

'What is the real meaning of things, then?'

'God loves us like a father, and his Kingdom is coming soon.'

Christ came a little closer.

'But that's exactly what we can demonstrate with miracles,' he said. 'And the Kingdom is a test for us, I'm sure: we must help to bring it about. Of course, God could lift a finger and it would happen at once. But think how much better it would be if the way were prepared by men like the Baptist, men like you - think of the advantages if there were a body of believers, a structure, an organisation already in place. I can see it so clearly, Jesus! I can see the whole world united in this Kingdom of the faithful - think of that! Groups of families worshipping together with a priest in every village and town, an association of local groups under the direction and guidance of a wise elder in the region, the regional leaders all answering to the authority of one supreme director, a kind of regent of God on earth! And there would be councils of learned men to discuss and agree on the details of ritual and worship, and even more importantly, to rule on the intricacies of faith, to declare what was to be believed and what was to be shunned. I can see the princes of the nations - I can see Caesar himself having to bow down before this body, and offer obeisance to God's own Kingdom in place here in the world. And I can see the laws and the proclamations issuing from the centre to the furthest edges of the world. I can see the good rewarded and the wicked punished. I can see missionaries going out bearing the word of God to the darkest and most ignorant lands, and bringing every living man and woman and child into the great family of God - yes, Gentiles as well as Jews. I can see all doubt vanquished, I can see all dissent swept away, I can see the shining faces of the faithful gazing up in adoration on every side. I can see the majesty and the splendour of the great temples, the courts, the palaces devoted to the glory of God, and I can see this whole wonderful creation lasting for generation after generation and for thousand years after thousand years! Isn't this a vision worth marvelling at, Jesus? Isn't this something to work for with every drop of blood in our bodies? Won't you join me in this? Won't you be a part of this most wonderful work and help bring the Kingdom of God to earth?'

Jesus looked at his brother.

'You phantom,' he said, 'you shadow of a man. Every drop of blood in our bodies? You have no blood to speak of; it would be my blood that you'd offer up to this vision of yours. What you describe sounds like the work of Satan. God will bring about his Kingdom in his own way, and when he chooses. Do you think your mighty organisation would even recognise the Kingdom if it arrived? Fool! The Kingdom of God would come into these magnificent courts and palaces like a poor traveller with dust on his feet. The guards would spot him at once, ask for his papers, beat him, throw him out into the street. “Be on your way,” they'd say, “you have no business here.” '

'I'm sorry you see it like that,' said Christ. 'But I wish you'd let me persuade you otherwise. It's exactly that passion, that impeccable moral sense, that purity of yours that would be so useful. I know we'll get some things wrong to start with. Won't you come and help get them right? There's no one alive who could guide us better than you. Isn't it better to compromise a little, to come inside and improve something, than to stay on the outside and offer nothing but criticism?'

'One day someone will say those words to you, and your belly will convulse with sickness and shame. Now leave me alone. Worship God - that's the only task you need to think about.'

Christ left Jesus in the wilderness, and went home to Nazareth.