A Jewish rebel discovers that disappearing with Barabbas’ lover to follow Jesus is even more perilous than defying the Romans
One brother, murdered. The other, diseased and banished. His betrothal, broken. A struggling father, laboring to keep the family orchard afloat. Roman imperialists, expecting more oil to be squeezed out of every olive. Worst of all – his God, unwilling to recognize Jared’s talents. Does God even care that Jared exists?
Sometimes, a man needs to light his own path.
Jared joins a group of rebels led by the powerful Barabbas. Under their mentorship, Jared grows in stature but drifts farther from God. And farther from the teachings of Abba, a distant memory in sleepy Bethany.
When Barabbas sends Jared on an urgent mission, a shocking encounter with the man from Nazareth alters the trajectory of Jared’s life. Jared knows this man is the true Messiah. He longs to follow Jesus’ instructions to leave the rebels behind.
But Jared knows too much. Branding Jared a traitor, the cabal will not allow him to simply walk away. And haunting Jared is the memory of his forbidden love. He knows he must return. For her.
Excerpts
“Time!” Caeso called from above. “Come now, or we can hang you next to him tomorrow.”
“Go,” Ilai said. “Tell Abba how much I love him.”
Jared didn’t budge. “I’m not leaving without a name.”
“Jared, I’m telling you, they’re listening to our every word. Even if I had a name, I wouldn’t tell you.”
“Leper! Your brother has leprosy?”
“Why else would he join a leper colony?”
Tiberius let another fist fly, right to the solar plexus. The blow put Jared on the ground, curled in a ball.
“Your insolence is troublesome,” the interrogator said with a toe to the ribs. “Your claims must be verified. Tiberius will escort you to Bethany. Your story better check out.”
“He’s lying,” Caeso said. “His brother’s not in a leper colony. His brother’s being nailed to the cross as we speak.”
Barabbas touched Jared’s arm. “We know where your father lives. We’ll check on him. And we’ll purchase his olive oil directly. I guarantee we’ll pay a fair price. More than fair.”
Jared searched Barabbas’ eyes and understood. They knew where his father lived. Both a promise and a threat.
Decision time. He’d have one chance. One chance to take out the Roman. One chance to prove himself to Barabbas.
One chance to lose his nerve, back out, and return to his hopeless life.
Samuel added another log to the fire. “Turns out The Baptizer angered Herodias more than anyone. She convinced Antipas to get rid of the idiot.”
“Rule number three,” Jared said, throwing a bone in the fire. “Never trust a woman.”
Zamir laughed heartily. The others simply smiled.
Layla reached out, her soft hand lingering on his arm. “Come over to the tent with me.”
His face warmed, and it wasn’t from the fire. “Right now? Aren’t you sharing the tent with the other women?”
“I just want to change your bandage, Silly.”
“Oh.”
She laughed. “What’d you think I was asking for?”
“Nothing.”
Jared’s faced burned even hotter as he stood and tried to ignore the grins of the men around the fire.
Barabbas continued. “The women will judge the overall winners. If you challenge a weaker opponent, they’ll score you accordingly. As your leader, I’ll kick things off. I challenge Wolf Pup!”
Jared’s head dropped. You gotta be joking.
Jared bolted from the tent, believing Barabbas would take his advice. In which case, he’d just lost Layla for good.
Jared snorted. “Oh, even better. We’re just going to break into Herod’s palace, navigate to the Praetorium, overpower the guards, and escape with three bloody prisoners who’ve had the skin whipped off their backs? And we’re going to pull this off tonight? The execution happens tomorrow, you know.”
Ebed smiled. “No. We rescue them tomorrow. Outside, just before they hammer the nails in.”
“I know how you feel—”
“You do not know how I feel.” The old harsh Barabbas tone returned. “You could never understand what it’s like to see a man, claiming to be the Messiah, the Son of God, literally hanging on a cross in your place!”
Silence, other than the groaning of Eitan and Zamir.
The centurion stood first, his head bare, his helmet still rattling among the rocks where it had fallen. Slowly he stretched out his hand toward the purple foot of Jesus. Inches away, he wavered and dropped his arm.
The centurion gaped at the still figure of the Christ. The Healer. The Messiah. “Surely, this man was the Son of God!”
Bone and Ebed stared at each other. Did they believe him? Or would they call his bluff?
The door smashed open, and Barabbas filled the frame.
Bluff called.