Of Such Is the Kingdom Part III—The Early Church and the Roman Empire

Claressa was a bit confused. She went to the meeting because she had promised Manaheem. She half expected to see a house full of half crazed zealots. When they arrived, they were met at the door by Mary of Magdala who smiled and said, “Yes, may I help you?”

“We were invited,” offered Manaheem, “by a big brawny man named Barabbas.”

“Of course, of course. Do come in.”

The home of John Mark was small but crowed with families of believers. At first she was a little intimidated to be there among so many strangers, but Manaheem assured her there was nothing to worry about. They introduced themselves to several of the people sitting in front and took a seat toward the center of the room. Then, still perusing the people, Claressa noticed, toward the back, the big brawny man who had invited them sitting there with a woman and some children. She poked Manaheem. “Isn’t that the man who invited us?”

“It is indeed.” Manaheem waved to Barabbas.

Upon seeing the couple, Barabbas told the children to stay put and he and Deborah walked over to them.

“I’m so glad you could make it. This is my Wife, Deborah. Deborah, say hello to Manaheem and his lady friend.”

“My name is Claressa,” she volunteered.

“So,” asked Deborah, “Are you both followers of the master, or did you come just to see what’s going on?”

“I am a devout follower of Jesus” offered Manaheem, “ever since that day I knelt by His cross and watched Him die.”

“I ran into Manaheem when I went back to see the man who was dying for me” offered Barabbas.”

“That’s right” agreed Manaheem. “It was you who convinced me to go back and kneel there myself. For that I will be forever grateful.”

“I’m glad, but it must have been the Lord who had us to meet there.”

Deborah was taking all of this in, but then she turned to Claressa. “And what about you?”

“I’m not sure about any of this” Claressa ventured. “Manaheem seems so sure and I thought I would come and see what’s going on for myself.”

“Well you’re certainly welcome. Perhaps the master will appear again tonight.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it” scoffed another man in the corner.

“Why, Thomas, why is it so hard for you to believe?”

“I think you must all be delusional” said the rather stout fellow in reply. Anyway, as I told you before, I won’t believe till I put my finger in the nail holes and thrust my hand in the wound in his side.”

Claressa didn’t know what to think. Perhaps this man’s skepticism was called for. After all, dead men don’t rise. Then the two men to whom he had appeared on the road to Emmaus again recited their tale of how he was made known to them in breaking of the bread. But Thomas just frowned and   said, “Aw, you must have been dreaming!” Claressa thought perhaps that was what it was—a dream.