An Easter Disciple: The Chronicle of Quintus, the Roman KnightSanford, Arthur Benton
Religion
An Easter Disciple: The Chronicle of Quintus, the Roman Knight
Sanford, Arthur Benton
Easter stories
How often have men missed the sight of great historic occurrences,
in their attention to the routine of life! So it was that Quintus
did not witness the tragic events of that Passover week on which
human destiny was to turn. To Tyre on the Great Sea he had gone,
to arrange for the landing of a new quota of troops from
Brundisium. The commander at Scopus had chosen him for the
responsible mission, in token of his especial fitness. The
compliment was pleasing. But in his absence he was ever thinking
of the promise made by the Teacher in Solomon's Porch, that the
sheep who followed him should have eternal life.
Astir was all Jerusalem, when the knight returned to Scopus. It
was on the morning after the Lord's resurrection. That Roman
centurion who had been at Calvary reviewed for Quintus the fateful
happenings. With pomp reminding of a Roman triumph the Christ had
entered David's city; after four days Iscariot had betrayed him
with a kiss; for blasphemy Pilatus, the procurator, had sentenced
him to the cross; they had put on him a scarlet robe in mockery;
they had hung him between two robbers on the hill of Golgotha; a
brutal soldier now at Scopus had won by lot his seamless robe, and
was jauntily displaying it as a trophy; an uncanny darkness had
covered the Judaean sky; the soldier Longinus had pierced the
sufferer's side; they had buried the dead Christ in the garden tomb
of the Arimathaean Joseph. Monumental events were these--all new
to Quintus, but destined to be written indelibly in the calendars
of Christendom.
"More than this," continues the centurion, "an amazing rumor is now
abroad in the city that yesterday the dead Christus awoke from his
sleep and has been five times seen by his amazed disciples. When I
beheld him yield up the ghost, I hailed his death as that of a
devout man, but little did I think that he was a God and would
return from the tomb. The report says he has now come back. On
swift wing the rumor has flown through Jerusalem and even into
Pilate's palace."
Down from the heights of Scopus the hurrying feet of Quintus carry
him to Jerusalem. Doubts and wonderings and half-beliefs fill his
mind. What if by any shadow of possibility the prediction of the
strange Teacher has been fulfilled, that he should return from the
dead on the third day? Finding his way to Joseph's garden, Quintus
stands by an empty sepulcher. There is a group of wondering
visitors near, and among them is one whose inviting face leads
Quintus to accost him. Not frightened by the sword and armor of
the Roman knight, but assured by his candid look, the other answers
in the Aramaic which both can speak:
"Johannes is my name. Till three years ago I was a fisherman, up
on the waters of Gennesaret. Since then I have been a disciple of
this Man from Galilee. In his company I have heard surprising
words and have felt a heavenly influence. He was no ordinary
Teacher. He was indeed from above."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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