A New Day

A NEW DAY

Chapter-1:


Judah got up from bed by the summoning call of his wife. His wife Rahael was busy cooking breakfast at the fireplace in the corner of their hut, and even though it was already daybreak Judah hadn't got out of the bed, hence she called out for him. Usually he gets up quite early, and goes out and takes his flock of sheep out to graze, and starts his daily routine bound work. But today he was too tired as he was back from his short trip to the city where he had gone to sell wool, which he does once a year when his sheep are sheared.

It was during a period which is around two thousand years back in time. They were living in a small village, which is part of present day Israel.

Judah is a farmer and also a shepherd. He earns a living by selling the produce of his land which includes few vegetables which he cultivated, and also some fruits like figs and dates. Also, he owned some flocks of sheep, and some cows and goats. His wife goes around the village selling cows' and goats' milk. She also makes butter at home which she sells. Occasionally when his sheep are sheared once a year, Judah takes the wool to the city to sell. Though living on meagre wages, and are quite poor, they lead a happy and satisfied life except for one grievance which they have, which is ever burning like an ember in their hearts, since their youngest son was born.

They have three sons and two daughters aged fourteen, twelve, seven, ten, and eight. Adrian aged fourteen, Thomas aged twelve, Maria aged ten, Sarah aged eight and David aged seven. Their youngest child - seven year old David is the reason of their greatest sorrow, as he was born blind. 

Unlike his all other children David often sits at home, and plays alone with some toys he has. While all his siblings could play around, go out and take the sheep out to graze and help Judah and Rahael with their work, David is always confined to the walls of their hut. He mostly sits idle, all alone there, and couldn't go out and play with his siblings or have friends. His blindness is a great pain and sorrow for his parents.


That morning, Judah went out to his field to water his crops, which was near to his hut, while his wife went out to sell milk and butter. His eldest son Adrian and both daughters Maria and Sarah accompanied Rahael to assist her as she went around the neighbourhood selling the dairy products, while his son Thomas stayed at home to be with David.

Both Judah and Rahael had instructed the children that one of them should always be around to be with David, and never to leave him alone in the house.

Judah started his day’s work of watering his crops and then had some new saplings to be planted, and he soon begun his work by digging the ground with a shovel.  

While Judah was busy with his work in his field, he was startled to hear a blood curdling scream, followed by a frantic cry. It was the sound of his little son David. He instantly dropped his shovel and ran towards his house.
As he neared his house, he saw Thomas in great panic and trying to rush into their hut holding a stick, and David was still screaming from inside the house. When Thomas saw Judah he cried out, "Abba,.. snake..."

Instantly Judah snatched the stick from Thomas' hand and darted into the house, and he saw the snake near David. He thrashed the serpent to pulp. Soon he came out with the dead slithering creature hanging at the end of the stick, and he threw it into the bush nearby. He again went inside, to have a look at David. He went to David's side, with Thomas also beside him, took him up in his arms, and tried to console him.


While holding David in his arms, David was still crying and moaning, as he was too much frightened and said "it's paining", pointing to his right leg. As Judah looked down, to his great horror, he found on his right leg, two bright red dots on his skin, filled with blood, and the skin around it bulged a bit - the awful mark of a snake bite. Thomas also stood there petrified.

Immediately Judah rushed out of the house holding David in his arms, and ran towards the doctor in their village. He told Thomas to go over and inform Rahael.


The village doctor had just started his day, and Judah rushed to him carrying his son in his arms, crying and pleading to have a look at him.

The country doctor was an aged man in his fifties, with thick long grey beard, and was wearing a turban. Judah quickly explained him the situation and he examined the bruise for a moment. Then he immediately went inside and brought a bottle with some thick liquid. He also brought out a small grinding stone on which he placed some herbs and crushed them and grinded and soon prepared a paste. He applied it over the wound and also dipped a cloth in the liquid from the bottle and wrapped it around the wound. He consoled them, by telling that David would be fine soon, and they needn’t have to worry. The snake was not that venomous. 

By that time Rahael came running there with the children beside her (as Thomas had met her and told the news). She anxiously came in, and took David in her arms and wept a bit.

The doctor repeated not to worry seeing the anguish on Rahael's face and consoled her. Finally, they thanked him, and they all walked back home together. 




Judah and Rahael were both very upset and disappointed with what had happened to David that day. Their worry about him grew all the more with the unfortunate incident that happened.

Had David been able to see like others he would have seen the snake when Thomas screamed and alerted him, and would not have got bitten. (Thomas was with David, when he suddenly spotted the snake in their hut, and instantly he cried out in panic. After alerting David and not knowing what needs to be done, Thomas had went out to fetch a stick and the snake had bitten him at that time.)

This made them even more depressed.


After reaching home, Rahael prepared some food and gave it to David as he was very exhausted, and frightened.

They were all sitting inside their hut, not feeling like going out to continue the day's work. Rahael sat in the midst of them with David leaning on her lap as she fed him from an earthen bowl she was holding. 


Judah sat with their other children - Adrian, Thomas, Maria and Sarah around him, on the floor, a bit far off.

They were very much relieved and happy that David was safe. 


Judah was in deep thought, pondering over something in his mind. Then after a long silence and after contemplating a lot in his mind, he finally spoke up. In a breaking voice, he began, "Well,... why don't we take him to Jerusalem... or Galilee...?"


Rahael shot an immediate curious glance at him and so did all other children. Quickly Adrian asked, "What to do in Jerusalem or Galilee...?"


Judah replied, in a low voice, a bit hesitant and not really sure if what he was saying was the right thing, "Well, when I had gone up to Jerusalem, to sell wool, I heard lot of people speak about a man there, who seems to be a great teacher and a prophet. He teaches the people, and hundreds gather to listen to His words..."

They were all looking intently at Judah curiously, and he continued, 

"People also say that He has divine powers and is the son of GOD. He has given sight to the blind, made the deaf hear, and the dumb speak, has healed lepers, and has cured people with various illness and has even brought back many from the dead"...

"He is very famous there, and hordes of people gather just to get a glimpse of Him...”

“They say He is from a town nearby called Nazareth, and hence is also known as 'the Nazarene'...”

“I forgot His name,... which a man mentioned..."

"Well,... let me try to recollect..."

"I believe, it is Joshua, or Yeshua...or Jesus I suppose...."

They all stared at him listening carefully, and without uttering a word.


After a brief silence, Rahael spoke up. In a soft voice she began to repeat what he just said, summarising what Judah had just spoken, "A man named Jesus from Nazareth a teacher and a prophet, who people claim to possess divine powers, and has healed the ailments of people. Now I guess, you want to take our son David all the way to Jerusalem or Galilee searching for Jesus to see if He can open his eyes ?"

Judah who had his eyes fixed fully on Rahael as she spoke, nodded his head in acknowledgement, and faintly uttered "Yes". He also looked at all his children sitting around, and they all had confused looks on their faces and they exchanged doubtful glances.


He remarked just to be more convincing, “There are many who come to Jesus with their blindness, and when they are touched by Him, their eyes are opened and are filled with light."



Rahael in utter disbelief exclaimed blatantly, "I don't think it is sensible to take our little boy all the way to Jerusalem. He is blind and will have lot of difficulty in travelling, and also are you sure to find this man Jesus there, after you take all the pains in travelling so far?

What if you don't find him anywhere there in Jerusalem as people had told you?”

“Also, do you believe He can give sight to our boy ?" she added adamantly.

She wasn't infact convinced by his story of Jesus from Nazareth, a man with divine powers. It seemed to her to be of some sort of a cooked-up tale which someone had told Judah to fool him, when he went to the city, and he was so silly enough to believe this blindly. 


Rahael mostly stays in the village with her children and looks after the household, and has never been anywhere outside their tiny village. So whenever Judah returns home after his short travels to nearby towns and narrates his several experiences and tells lot of tales he had heard from people, she questions him quite a lot and would seldom believe or be convinced of any strange experience he had been through, or anything unusual he narrates. Therefore, even now, she is not fully convinced by what he had told about Jesus of Nazareth.

Though Judah himself had some inner doubts, yet he believed it was just worth a try from the elaborate descriptions he had heard about Jesus from the people he met. 


During the following days, several times Judah tried to persuade Rahael, and each time he approached her, she would come up with one or the other question and he would be left speechless.



Chapter-2:

One fine morning, while Judah was out milking their cow, Rahael slowly walked upto him to collect the pitcher of milk, and to hand him another empty pitcher. He didn't realize that she was right behind him, as he was quite busy with his work. She came behind him and immediately spoke up, breaking the silence. He was startled and turned his head around repulsively. She giggled on seeing him a bit frightened and, gently began, "Well, I think it is worth to give a try..."

"What?", Judah asked instantly.

"Well, we can really think of taking our little David to Jerusalem to Jesus. If He can give sight to our son, then..."

She stopped short, and by that time Judah lifted himself up, and stood up. He gazed at her intently, with a big grin etched on his face and uttered merrily,  "At least now,... you..." 

But didn't complete his words, but instead continued smiling gladly.


Well, after few days, Judah and David in fact set out for their trip to Jerusalem. 


During the days before their journey to Jerusalem, Rahael was busy preparing lots of good dishes and savouries which David liked, and she fed him a lot. Moreover, she prepared food to be carried during their journey, and also packed some fruits, nuts, honey, milk and butter. 


Finally, on the day of their trip they all woke up very early in the morning. Rahael bathed David, and put new dress on him, and packed the best clothes he had, for the journey.


The other children were also too affectionate to David, and as he was blind they all had more concern for him. His eldest brothers Adrian and Thomas gifted him with some best utensils they used, to be carried for the journey. Adrian gave him his wooden plate on which he used to have food, while Thomas gave an exquisite cup made of bison's horn. Their little daughter Sarah, (his elder sister) gave him her wooden toy doll.


Finally, after having their breakfast, it was time for them to leave. Judah stepped out of their hut. Rahael who was still holding David in her arms hugged him, pressed him close to her. She kissed him, and bend a bit and all the other children too gave David their kisses and Rahael handed him to Judah.

Judah while holding David in his arms, put forth his hand around Rahael for a hug. Also he bend down a bit, to say good bye and gave warm hugs and kisses to his other children. Rahael told Judah to take good care of David during their journey, and to give him adequate food, and to check his needs quite often. 

They gave a tearful adieu to both of them.

Judah left the hut holding David in his right arm, with a huge jute bag over his left shoulder, and also a long staff in his left hand. He walked away briskly, was very much moved at his heart by the tearful adieu from his dear ones.

Judah had to walk for almost two hours holding David, to reach a small township from where they got into a bullock cart. They travelled for few hours and reached a desert where they got down. They had to cross the desert. The path ahead lay too sandy and windy, with plenty of sand dunes all the way till the horizon with strong and hot breeze.

On the way David was asking too many questions on where they were, and how the places looked like, and Judah was very much patient enough to describe all those to him.


The next part of their journey had to be right through the desert which stretched for many miles. He preferred not to walk across the desert, as the journey would be arduous in the hot arid desert with the scorching sun overhead, and David may be too much exhausted. Hence, he checked with many merchants there, and finally got a camel arranged from a merchant but had to shell out  quite a sum money for this. 

They had to wait for some time there, and in the meantime, Judah opened his bag and pulled out some eatables which he shared with David. They also drank some milk they had carried.


During their journey Judah kept narrating the sights, and events, and how the places looked like and the life of people around etc, and also explained to him where they were heading to, and what they would be doing and so on. Each time Judah narrates, David happily, and smilingly nods his head in acknowledgement.  

After waiting for quite a while there, the merchant finally came with his steward and a huge camel. Judah and David mounted the camel, and it was for the very first time in their lives they were on top of a camel.

The camel walked effortlessly over the sandy terrain in the hot sun. David was enjoying the camel ride. He sat in front of Judah and was facing him, while Judah had his hands firmly gripped on his shoulder. The steward who guided them across the desert sat in front of David, with his back against them.


As they travelled across the desert on the camel, David appeared to be very happy with his ever smiling face, and inquisitive expression, very curious about the world around him, and too much excited and happy, with lots of hope. Judah kept staring at him for a while and the innocent look on his face, and the curiosity, and inquisitiveness in his expressions, and his constant gesture of nodding his head with every minute detail he heard, all made Judah too much moved at heart. He wept a bit within himself seeing the plight of his son and the innocent look on his face. 


As David kept on asking too many queries he finally replied to him,


"Don't worry David, on your way back, you will be seeing all these things which I'm describing. As I had told your mother earlier, there are many who come to Jesus with their blindness, and when they are touched by Him, their eyes are opened and are filled with light"


After travelling for a long while, they finally reached a small town. It was a bit late and after nightfall, and hence they decided to spend the night there.

Judah paid for the camel ride, and thanked him, and went around checking for inns or houses where people would let wearied travellers spend a night.


At last he found a good inn, where he got a nice and cosy room. He went into the room with David and got settled down there. David was also very much tired, though Judah had given him utmost care, and used to occasionally ask him if he was hungry or thirsty and used to give adequate food and drink. 

Though tired and exhausted David was still in high spirits, and too much excited. They sat together on the bed for some time. While sitting on Judah's lap, he talked relentlessly to Judah recollecting the day's events and the places he had been through, the places and objects around which he could visualize through Judah's narrations, and the experiences he had during the day. After spending lot of time talking, David finally fell asleep in Judah's arms and he made him lie down on the bed. Judah too went to sleep after a while.


The next morning, quite early that day they set out again for the rest of their journey. 

They had met some merchants in the inn, who were also heading to Jerusalem for their trade, and agreed to take them along with them. So that morning, after a light bath and after having a light breakfast of fruits, butter and honey which they had carried, they got into the horse driven wagon of those merchants who were taking their goods (pottery, and earthen wares etc) and set out to Jerusalem. The wagon belonged to two merchants selling pottery. They were two middle aged brothers, one a stout man, and the other a thin one, and each one took turns to drive the horses, while the other sat in the wagon with the pottery. The wagon was covered at the top, and hence was ideal to travel in the hot blaze of the sun.

They sat amidst the pottery and David kept touching and knocking on each type of pots and jars all around them, and was intrigued and amused by the different echoing sound he heard.  Meanwhile Judah intermittently tried to have a chat with the guy.

Even during the second day of their travel David was still all the more excited and joyful, with lots of hope.


After travelling for three to four hours, they finally reached Jerusalem, and the merchants dropped them at a small corner of the town where there was a huge warehouse where different types of earthen wares were stored.

Judah got down from the horse wagon, holding David firmly in his arms, and he thanked them, and handed a small cloth bag of coins. The stout man greedily grabbed the bag, with a triumphant smile. 

They have indeed managed to reach their destination to which they were travelling for so long. Now Judah had to seek where to find Jesus.


They left there, and then walked ahead to the main town square to enquire about Jesus. Judah walked ahead with David in his right arm, and also the jute bag over his other shoulder which has become quite weightless after they have had the eatables they had carried.

They walked along a straight path, met some passers-by hurriedly walking down the way, and Judah wanted to enquire with them, but they seemed to be in a great hurry and took no notice of him, and quickly went past him.


David asked him where they will be going next, and Judah responded that he was looking for someone to whom he could enquire, on where to find Jesus. They went through a stone paved path with vendors on either sides selling fruits, breads, and earthen wares, and enquired with them, but they brushed him off, one of them blatantly staring at him, while others waving their hands, beckoning him to go away, and dismissing him off murmuring that they didn't know whom he was enquiring. He felt a tone of hostility from them, and was taken aback, but presumed their strange demeanour to be because he might seem to be a foreigner in this land.

Judah still walked ahead with David, up the stony path. The place seemed to be a bit deserted, and a pall of gloom overlooked the city. The sky was overcast.



Chapter-3:

As he went further, he heard lot of commotion and noise of people and then saw a huge crowd of people facing a street ahead. The din of the agitated crowd and shouts were reverberating all around. Judah moved ahead, and David on hearing the noise asked what was happening, and Judah responded, "I think there might be some festival happening here; and there might be some procession or something, and people might be crowding to witness that".

He walked further, and reached the crowd and beckoned an old lady from the crowd and asked her, "Where can I find Jesus?" 


She shot a quick glance at him, as if he had asked something weird, and then she turned aside. He touched another old man on his shoulders, and asked the same question. 


He turned around and looked at him as if he had committed an offense, and asked him in a stern and adamant tone, "Are you one of his disciple ?"

Few people standing around, also turned around and were staring at him, with an offending and hostile glance but he quickly shot back, "No, I have come from a far off place to see Jesus, for my son", and made a gesture pointing to his blind son he was holding, and looked around at the people in utter confusion.


A woman from the crowd turned to Judah immediately, and exclaimed, "He is the one now being taken to be crucified !!!"


Judah almost froze in horror to hear this, and looked at her in shock as if struck by a thunderbolt. His heart sank, and in a stammering tone, still trying to maintain his composure, asked, "But, Why? What sin did HE commit?" still shell shocked on what he had just heard.


But they turned and looked ahead, and instinctively, Judah too looked ahead, still in shock and dismay and could see the crowd on either sides of the path. At a far distance, like a speck he could see the top portion of a cross which was being carried by Jesus, but couldn't see much due to the crowd thronging around.

As the day dawned, the shocking news that Jesus was arrested and was being taken to be crucified had spread across the entire town like wildfire. People were all shocked to hear this as He was seen as a great prophet and leader, and many believed that He was the son of God by witnessing the miracles He had performed, and by His valuable teaching. Hundreds had gathered to witness this. 


David was intently listening to all these conversations, but uttered not a single word. 


Judah shot a quick look at David, and saw that David was calm. David couldn't understand what crucifixion meant, or what was happening there, but could perceive that something was wrong.


Judah was very much taken aback, and shocked on hearing this. This was something he had never expected. All the hopes he had, drained out from him all of a sudden, and left him totally dejected and disappointed.


Out of despair and not knowing what to do next, he tried to push himself into the agitated crowd at least just to get a glimpse of Jesus when he passes by, but wading through the agitated and pressing crowd, was too tough than he had thought.

He tried to push himself into the crowd with David in his arms, but he couldn't.

He lifted himself up by standing on his toes and also jumped multiple times to get a glimpse, but could only catch a short glimpse of Jesus at a far distance carrying the heavy cross on His shoulders and walking up the path. He jumped couple of times to see. 


David sensed the agony of Judah and how desperate he was and hence was repeatedly telling not to take further efforts, but Judah gave no heed to his words. He remarked in a frantic tone, "Don't worry, dear", even amidst his utter despair and disappointment.

At a short distance he saw some gap in the crowd where some ladies were standing, and at once he darted to that area, and pushed himself through the crowd, as the people around shouted and cursed him. He emerged out at the other end, on to the path, and traced few steps backwards and kept himself close to the edge of the crowd.

Judah stood at the edge of the stony path, with the agitated crowd gathered all around. Right ahead and down the path, he could see Jesus limping up the path towards where they stood, with the heavy wooden cross on his back, and Roman soldiers walked on His either sides with long whips in their hands. They whipped Him whenever he slowed down.


David was hearing such loud noises, and the din of such a huge crowd for the very first time in his life, and was a bit tensed and scared. Yet he spoke not even a single word, but tried to grasp what all was happening around.


In a short while, Jesus approached near the spot where Judah stood. That is when he caught a good glimpse of Jesus, about whom he had heard from many, and was seeking to find. Jesus appeared to be very much wearied and exhausted, he could see the deep wounds on His head, but the rest of the body was covered by the tunic he wore. Judah was still under the shock of the news of His crucifixion, disappointed and dejected as all the hopes he had were now gone up in the air.

When Jesus reached a spot almost right in front of Judah, He tripped and fell down to the ground. A soldier beside Him took out his leash and whipped Him twice and shouted "Get up", and He scrambled up and tried to get back on His feet. Judah stood there gazing at Him, in despair, and also with pity and sympathy for Jesus and the suffering He is going through.

As Jesus tried to get back on His feet with the heavy wooden cross, He quickly glanced around at the people crowded around, and shot a quick but steady gaze at Judah and David, but continued to be steady on His feet and to walk ahead. 

Judah at first felt as if Jesus had a quick glance at someone familiar standing beside him, whom He recognized from the crowd, but soon stood riveted when he suddenly perceived that His eyes were fixed on him for a moment. 


Then as Jesus was about to walk ahead with the cross, He again turned His head a bit, with a steady stare, looked straight at Judah, and immediately closed both His eyelids gently, and with a light nod of His head, as a gesture of some acknowledgement, and quickly took further footsteps, as the angry soldier whipped Him again.

Judah was a little confused for a moment but continued to stare at Jesus as He walked ahead and up the path, and went past them, with the soldiers following Him. He looked at David who was sitting silently in his arms, and the innocent look on his face really made Judah very much moved.
In dismay, he pushed himself out through the crowd and came out to the road he had reached earlier.


He looked at David, and in a poignant tone uttered, "David, it seems we can't reach up to Jesus...." And tried to speak more, but fell short of words, and couldn't utter anything else. He had a compassionate and apologetic look on his face as well as was in despair and disappointment.


David, rather in a cheerful note, remarked, "That's fine Abba. Even if we couldn't meet Jesus, it is fine. We could come to Jerusalem together. I had never gone anywhere outside our village. Moreover, so far in my life I was blind and it doesn't matter much to continue with this blindness".


At these innocent words of David, suddenly Judah’s heart melted a bit and instantly he burst into tears and wept a bit, tears rolled down his cheeks, but he tried to wipe away his tears, and gently wiped David's forehead with his palm.


The crowd was behind him, and straight ahead lay the path by which he had arrived that morning while to his side was another path which lay deserted and is parallel to the one behind him, and seemed to be leading to where Jesus was being taken. He stood there for a moment there, not knowing what to do next. He was disappointed to go back without fulfilling the purpose for which he had come all the way to Jerusalem, and how disappointed his wife and children would feel when they get back home. He stood there contemplating which path to be taken, whether to go back by the way he came or to take the path which seemed to be leading to where Jesus was being taken.

He looked at David for a moment and then, immediately decided to go ahead and see what is going to happen to Jesus.


He walked slowly, through the deserted stone paved path, holding David tightly and without uttering anything, and completely lost in thoughts. David too was very much calm and composed.


After walking a long way, he reached the foot of a small hill called Golgotha, and saw the soldiers atop that hill and people crowded in groups all along the hill side. He stood at a distance just to witness what was going to happen next. 



Chapter-4:

On top of the hill, the soldiers had the cross unmounted from Jesus's back, and it was lying on the ground. Jesus was standing beside them, His garments taken away, and He was looking down at the people gathered there. He looked very much exhausted and lethargic and seemed to have had been through lot of torture at the hands of the merciless Romans, by the bruises on His forehead and body. There were two other convicts also there standing beside Jesus to be crucified.

There were many who were watching this from a far distance. 

After few moments ticked by, one of the soldiers came near Jesus with a hammer and nails clutched in his hand, and put forward his right hand, and grasped Jesus's wrist firmly, and pulled Him closer.

The soldier forced Him to go down on the ground and made him lie flat on top of the wooden cross, and stretched His hands.

His hands were stretched wide on the cross – the hands which moulded the universe, the hands which were placed on the blind, lame, deaf and dump, the hands which touched many lepers, the hands which touched many sinners...


The soldier kept a nail vertical on His wrist, and with a heavy blow of the hammer had it banged, and the nail was driven through his soft hand into the wood. Another soldier hit a nail on His other hand.

Then both His feet were placed one over the other, and a soldier pierced a nail there too.


Then using ropes, they pulled the cross up to make it stand erect. As the cross was pulled up, Jesus too who was clinging on the cross came up, facing the huge crowd gathered. With a shudder the cross stood erect as the bottom part of the cross fell into a small pit dug in the ground to hold the cross. 


Judah who was standing on the hill slope got to see how crucifixion is like. He had never witnessed anyone being crucified.


Jesus was clinging on the cross in great pain and agony, and Judah felt very pity for Him.


The excruciating pain when nails are pierced into the skin got intensified when the cross was made to stand erect. Jesus was upon the cross with His body stretched wide, and at the same time, He was being pulled down by the force of gravity. He was suspended on the cross only by three nails, and the pain at the points where nails are driven was unbearable.


Judah could perceive the horrific plight and the pain Jesus was going through and really was very sympathetic, but could only empathize with Him.


Two other convicts were also crucified in similar way, and they were on either sides of Jesus.


Many people standing around, were moaning and lamenting for what has happened to Jesus who was a great prophet, and teacher and many had believed Him to be the Son of GOD. Yet such a plight awaited Him.

People were discussing in hushed tones among themselves, but no one dared to raise their voice out of fear of the Romans. 

Judah saw that a person whom the people around called as Pilate, bring a ladder and had it kept against Jesus' cross, climbed on it and nailed a tablet with the inscription of the offense. It stated "Jesus of Nazareth - the King of the Jews". Someone rebuked him to correct it to "Jesus of Nazareth who claimed to be the King of the Jews", but he responded "What I have written, I have written !"

Judah also saw Jesus speaking to the convicts crucified on His either sides but couldn't make out what they were talking.


Soon Jesus cried out that He was thirsty, and a soldier brought a spear with a sponge at the end dipped in hyssop and held it to Jesus, He tasted a bit but didn't drink further due to the bitter taste.

After a while Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "My God, My God why have you forsaken me..." And uttered his final word "It's accomplished" and immediately let off His spirit, His head leaned to one side, and in an instant He was dead.


The centurion who was standing beside Jesus and witnessing this in astonishment, took out his spear and pierced His side, to confirm if He was dead as he had never expected Him to let go of His spirit on His own. Blood and water started oozing out of the wound on His side where he pierced.


Quite soon, the ground started shaking and tremors were felt all over the place, and people were panic stricken and everyone ran helter-skelter. There was great pandemonium. Suddenly darkness crept over the entire land, and it looked as if it was nightfall.


Meanwhile, in the synagogue, the high priest was standing at the center and he was scared by witnessing the tables and lamps shaking. Tremors were felt all over there and the surroundings had turned dark. As he stood there frightened and perplexed, he heard a loud tearing sound, and turned his head to look at the holy curtain which was drawn before the altar. With a big ripping sound the curtain ripped at the top, in the centre, and was torn from top to bottom. 


Judah too was very much scared and confused by what was happening around and was all the more worried about David. David could sense that something was amiss. To David's persistent queries Judah casually responded few words, without elaborating much, thinking not to worry him much. 


It was pitch dark all around and people fled from there panic stricken, fearing something worse may happen. Judah was left alone with David, on the hill slope near the cross.

Judah explained to David that Jesus was crucified and He died on the cross just few minutes back and was immediately followed by the earthquake and sun turning dark. 

Judah decided to stay where they were and not to run.

He spoke to David, " Please be calm dear, and do not worry much. We'll soon be going home".  


He also mentioned, "David, if we try to flee this place, without knowing the way in the dark, we could get lost. Moreover, tremors are felt everywhere around, and hence if we get into some alley in the dark, and if there are some severe aftershocks and tremors again, and if any building there collapses, then we would get ourselves buried in the rubble. So, it's better that we stay back here itself for a while until some ray of light is seen."

David understood the situation quite well and nodded his head.

Judah walked further down and sat down near a rock, with David in his lap. It was still very dark. David was very much worried, and afraid and asked, 

"Abba, where are we now?", 

"When can we go home?", 

"Do you see anything now?"


Judah replied in hushed tone to all his queries, 

"We are still waiting here", 

"When light dawns we will start to home", 

"No dear, it's still dark and I don't see anything".


After a while David asked the very same questions multiple times out of anxiety and fear, and Judah gave more or less the same responses and tried to console him.

They sat there together, and as they were too much exhausted they took a short nap, and dozed off for a long time. They were startled by the sound of some footsteps nearby and then awoke. It was still dark.

David also woke up and tried to recollect where they were. Still very much worried, David repeated the same questions. Judah responded the same way in muffled tone and he was also very much tired and drowsy. 


Immediately Judah caught notice of a faint ray of light, far off, near the horizon, and slowly light started sweeping into the dark sky.

He suddenly remarked to David, "Yes, dear now I do see the light".

David too exclaimed in joy, "Abba, I too see the light".

Being too much tired and drowsy, Judah didn't hear the words properly, as he was stupefied, but immediately he sat upright, astonished and astounded. 


He immediately took David up in his arms and looked at him, dumbfounded. He stared at his eyes and in an instant his heart leapt with joy. He couldn't really believe what he was seeing, and for a moment thought he was in a dream and still asleep.


David in sheer joy and happiness whispered again, "Abba, I can see now" still unable to believe, and also realizing how magnificent it is to be able to see around, as he hadn't seen anything in his life before. 


David's eyes were filled with tears and he was with mixed emotions. He almost wept with happiness.


Judah almost shouted out in joy and couldn't still believe that David had miraculously received eyesight.

It was for the first time David was seeing Judah, and he cried out, "Abba, now I'm seeing you for the first time, and you are the first person I'm seeing in my life", and tears started rolling down his cheeks.


Judah too cried, out of happiness and ecstasy, and tears filled his eyes. He hugged him close to his heart. They both had never felt so much of happiness ever before.


Then, Judah got up from where he sat, turned around, and he saw the silhouette of the three crosses against the sky. He quickly walked up towards the center and stood in the middle facing Jesus's cross. They stood in front of the cross and Judah stared at Jesus's body for a while and so did David. They uttered not a word but kept staring. 

Judah had heard lot about Jesus, and could only catch a glimpse of Him when He walked past,... could never speak or touch Him... but felt as if being touched.


Then after staying there for a while, lost in thoughts, and being filled with mixed emotions of joy, astonishment, bewilderment, gratitude and love, Judah finally turned around and walked downhill with David, to travel back to their town.


They had to travel a lot and they were too much thrilled and happy to get back home soon to see their loved ones and to narrate their experiences.


It seemed like a new day and light dawned after a spell of darkness, eradicating the blindness and they were filled with light.

Written by,

Suveen Jacob Abraham.

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