THE JEWISH CARPENTER 2 : RESSURECTION

That day had devastated me. After that day I had hollowed myself into oblivion. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t know what I was doing and I didn’t want to become the best carpenter in Jerusalem. In fact I didn’t want to be a carpenter at all. I didn’t want to place my hand on another tool.
People all over town were talking about Jesus. About what he had done and about what had happened. There were heated debates happening at every corner. Some believed that he was the messiah. But others still believed that he was nothing but a farce, claimed to be the king of the Jews.
I didn’t believe either of them. I didn’t know what to believe in.
It had been three days since Jesus was crucified and to tell you the truth, I really miss him. I wish I had a chance to speak to him.
I wished, I really wished.
On the third day morning, when I was sleeping in my hut, I heard people screaming out loud outside.
I was startled by the noise and went out to see what it was. There were people outside having heated talks about Jesus. I overheard some people saying that the body of Jesus was stolen from him tomb.
I didn’t like what I heard. I didn’t like it one bit. After killing him, now they want to steal his corpse.
Just then I saw a man running down the hill. I remember seeing him with Jesus.
He came running down panting and said, ‘he has risen!’
‘Simon, what are you talking about?’ asked one person standing by.
‘I’m not joking people. I saw an angel by the tomb and he told me that Jesus rose from the dead.’
‘He’s gone crazy’, said another one in the crowd and everyone started walking away.
People didn’t believe him.
I didn’t leave. I wanted to know more. I didn’t have clue what was happening but I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to believe him.
He looked at me, as there were hardly any around.
I knew where the tomb was. I ran as fast as I could to the tomb where Jesus was buried.
It was true. There was no one in the tomb. The big stone was moved away to the side.


That night I went to sleep in the workshop. Sleep wasn’t coming to me for the past two-three days. My mind was running through many thoughts. No matter how much ever I thought I couldn’t understand what was going on.
As I wandered into stretched thoughts, I was startled by a noise. Someone knocked on the workshop door. I wondered who could be at this time. I got up to open the door. I saw a man standing outside.
‘Hello son! I am a traveler. I am feeling very hungry. Would you have anything to eat?’ he asked.
I couldn’t see his face clearly as it was quiet dark outside.
‘I don’t know. I will have to check.’
‘Please come in.’ I said.
The man came and sat at a corner of the workshop.
I went inside our home and found some bread. I also picked up a jar of water for him. I went in back to the workshop with a lamp and gave the food to him.
He was very happy to see some food and starting eating. I put the lamp and sat opposite to him.
He seemed to be very hungry, as he didn’t take much time to eat. Before I could sit down he had finished eating.
In the dim light of the oil lamp I saw his face.
I couldn’t believe my eyes at what I had seen. I just couldn’t believe it.
It was Jesus.
He looked at me and asked, ‘why are you staring at me like that?’
I couldn’t speak a word.
He continued, ‘do you know who I am?’
And he patiently waited for me to answer.
‘Yes! You are Jesus, aren’t you?’ I said.
He smiled.
‘Are you scared?’ he asked.
‘No!’ I answered, even though I was.
‘You don’t need to be scared of me, son. You don’t need to be scared of anything, anymore.’

‘Who are you? I asked.
‘What do you think I am?’
‘People saw that you are the messiah’, I said. ‘Some others say that you are not’.
‘What do you think I am?’ he asked again.
‘I don’t know’. I replied.
He looked at me.
‘I am your friend’ he said. ‘You don’t have to be scared about anything’.
The moment he said that, all my fear vanished into thin air. A smile crept up my lips.
He smiled back.
‘I have to go now. But before I go I have something to give you.’ He said.
‘I want you to share this with your family and all your friends. This is precious. This is something that would be really tough to find when you grow up. Share it with others my son’. And he embraced me.
I received his gift.
And as he walked off into the dark, I stood there by the door watching him walk away into darkness. I didn’t know if he would come back or not. But he definitely would remain.
I closed the workshop door and went back to the corner where my bed was. I would get some good sleep now. I was happy.
And also I think its time to tell you who I am.
I am none other than, you!
And the gift Jesus gave me was love.