1
Rabbi and Disciple
Yom Chamishi
Yochanan opened his eyes to another barely breaking morning anxious for prayer and dictation. His amanuensis, Polycarp, lay on the raised mat not far from him, positioned near the only door of the adobe. Yochanan set his feet on the cool dirt floor, stood gradually, stretched silently, and reached for his linen cloak and wood walking stick. His hand grasped the knobbed area at the top that was smooth and discolored from the oils of his right wrinkled palm. As he moved slowly and silently past his disciple he was again thankful for this dedicated scribe and realized that Polycarp was living up to his new name; he was becoming very fruitful indeed. âYahweh is gracious,â he whispered ever so slightly, as if it were a soft exhale directly from his soul, as he remembered the meaning of his own name.
The Fatherâs grace had certainly produced fruit with this pairing of an aging Rabbi and a young disciple scribe. Approaching the doorway, he noticed the worn gapped cedar boards of the front door and the tearing leather hinges that would soon need repair. He dismissed this readily because of more exciting thoughts. Today, instead of the cold pitch of the rooftop he wanted to feel the early barley all around him as he knelt to pray. The feeling of First Fruits was still lingered in the air, which brought a new excitement for everyone in the small Jewish enclave on the outskirts of Ephesus. He slipped on his worn sandals and crossed the threshold of the adobe. As he lumbered to the side of the nearby field closest to Jerusalem, he knelt in the dark fertile soil, looked up and began to pray.
Stirring with a sense of purpose Polycarp awoke and looked immediately toward his Rabbiâs mat while rising to his knees. Suspecting Yochanan had already left, he felt shadowed with aloneness even before he saw the empty mat. Turning to face Jerusalem, he recited his morning prayers. After taking some of the brittle branches that he had gathered last night, he stirred the remaining glowing ashes of the fire and set them on the embers. He lowered his large thin, cloaked frame to the rim of the charred fire pit and blew a long strong, focused breath toward the coals. Ash lifted into the dark air as the thin branches grew bright with the coals. He then lifted the nearby half-full water kettle to the hook at the top of the iron tripod that straddled the pit. He made careful preparation the night before, knowing Yochanan would want to get an early start with the new project. After laying out some black olives, honeycomb and challah, he threw a measure of barley in the small water kettle just as the door abruptly swung open and let in the morning sunlight.
Yochanan, silhouetted by the incoming dawn provided by the opening, entered the small adobe and greeted his scribe with a quick but meaningful embrace.
âShalom Saphar, I see you have breakfast ready, thank you.â Saphar was the Hebrew word for scribe and had become Polycarpâs nickname with the new project. Yochanan took from the prepared plate, gently broke off some of the challah, looked upward and chanted,
âBarukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, melekh haâolam, hamotzi lehem min haâaretz.â Polycarp responded,
âAmen.â The two enjoyed their breakfast in silence.
Finishing their meal, Polycarp said,
âI am anxious to get started Rabbi.â
âIâm glad for that Saphar, but first let us take a walk to the market and talk about how we are to go about this important project.â
Polycarp gathered the wooden plates, quickly rinsed them with the water in the basin across the room, and removed the kettle from the fire, which had burned down to a steady umber glow. Then, grasping the rusty iron latches of the four wooden window coverings, he let in the glowing sunshine by swinging each shutter open as wide as the creaking hinges would allow. The smell of the morning dew rushed the room. Yochanan grasped his surprisingly heavy staff and the two treaded down the now bustling dirt road toward the market.
2
The Project
Polycarp welcomed these times of walking and talking with Yochanan. There was a privileged formula during these strolls of Yochanan teaching, plus Polycarp absorbing, which equaled blessings for both.
âWe must continue to proclaim the good news of Messiah Saphar. The circulation of the account of Yocnanan Markos is a blessing. However, no matter how many produce accounts there will never be enough to contain all that our Master accomplished. I cannot escape the nudge, no, the compulsion of the Spirit, to lay out more than a historical string of amazing events over the years. Now, this we will do, however, there is an additional depth to our Masterâs accomplishments I wish to convey. He was, is, and ever will be the Son of Yahweh. As the Father gave us all that we see, so the Son gave us all that we could be. He provides a great spiritual opportunity to the sons of Yaakov as well as to all who believe.â
As they made their way through the fragrant market, Polycarp purchased a variety of fruit from the smiling vendors for lunch. He wanted to purchase a few more things for dinner but Yochanan cut the walk short of the typical time in order to prepare for the project. They both headed back to the adobe kicking up the morning dust with a slightly quickened pace.
âYou see Saphar, the Father and the Son created worlds for us to enjoy; this world and the next.â Yochanan turned toward his disciple while continuing the pace. âWhere do we see the Fatherâs creative work?â
âBâresheet of courseâ replied Polycarp.
âYes, and I wish to convey that the spiritually creative life of Messiah parallels the physically creative work of Adonai. It is this worldly, or better said, other worldly connection between the Father and the Son we will reveal. The six days of creation reveal important things about the Father. Similarly, six events of the Sons life provide this same revelation. This is how we will introduce our version of the greatest story of history.â
As they crossed the threshold of the adobe, Polycarp pulled the distressed but sturdy wood scribal desk and cross-legged chair from the wall and situated them in the corner of the living area. Yochanan handed him the parchm...