A temple guard seeks to hear Jesus. It was the time of the festival, the Feast of Tabernacles, and we had heard that the teacher, Jesus, was present in Jerusalem. As an officer of the Temple Guard, I was to be ready, if the order came, to arrest him. In the middle of the week, however, I was pleased to hear that he was teaching. I knew that his message was shocking, indeed it was reported to be verging on blasphemy, but some of those people who had followed him and listened to him were deeply moved to the extent that their lives changed profoundly. It was this, rather than reports of miracles or strange teachings, which led me out one morning, after the water was carried in procession from the pool of Siloam and poured out as a libation to the Lord in the Temple, in hope of witnessing what was special about this teacher.
Another Authority
Jesus was supposedly unlearned, but he answered those who questioned him with a wisdom I have never heard from the chief priests and pharisees. When questioned, he made plain exactly where his authority came from. His teaching came from God. This teaching divided his hearers between those who were offended by it and those who were convinced by him. As the days passed, although – just as I feared – I was sent out with other officers to arrest him, I knew I was one of the latter. I believed. In what he said.
On the Last Day of the Festival
On the last day of the festival, I knew that my fate was bound up with this Teacher, and I would not be able to follow the directive that would lead to his death. As he spoke of the Living Water which would flow to those who believed in him, I saw in my mind’s eye the water of Siloam poured out beside the altar of sacrifice, and I believed that the long-awaited Christ stood before me.
Division
There were other people who stood in the crowd, gazing at the Lord, thirsting and drinking in his words. I could see the light reflected in their eyes. Was this not the moment in history we had all longed for? Nevertheless the hostility was also ferocious. How could the chief priests blame Jesus for this unrest when people were raising perverse objections to this teaching? Some were complaining that he could not be trusted because of his origins in Galilee, while others insisted that the promised Messiah must have Bethlehem, the city of David, as his birthplace. When they turned to us demanding we arrest him, I spoke up.
‘You have witnessed the authority this Teacher has, you have heard his wisdom. Do not doubt him and do not ask me to act against the Lord God. I will not arrest him.’
It was one thing to say this to a baying crowd. I knew that I would also have to repeat it to my masters. And so I did, with no doubts or fears in doing it. When the chief priests and Pharisees railed at me ‘Why did you not bring him?’ I replied, ‘No man ever spoke like this man!’
I am Lost
I knew my standing in their company was lost. They despised me as one of the ‘accursed,’ who were led astray by a false prophet. Their fury was palpable as they glared at me with eyes full of darkness.
It was Nicodemus who brought light into the assembly for a little while. I watched him plead, with the voice of reason,
‘Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?’
The light was immediately extinguished by their anger as they responded contemptuously,
‘Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.’
I am found
A certain darkness had fallen over the authorities. I still had a sense of hope though, as I looked back at Nicodemus. ‘Well, yes,’ I reflected, ‘In a way, I think you are from Galilee, and I think you have heard the message of Jesus before, Nicodemus. And now I am from Galilee too. I also am touched by Jesus’ words, by his person and his love for the Lord God.
No, we did not bring Jesus in under arrest on the last day of the festival, as expected, but in time he drew me in; into the community of his followers. Thanks be to God.
