Sealed with love
©copyright 2009 Frans Bezuidenhout
Distraught, walking toward Emmaus, Cleophas shielded his eyes scanning the Valley of Ayalon. “What contrast to Place of the Scull!” he said aloud. Drawn from thought, his friend slowed pace, asking: “What did you say?” Gesticulating, he replied: “In this Valley God showed His strength against Emorite armies ... also commanded time to halt ... why, then, did He allow Jesus to die?”
“God’s thoughts are not ours, Cleophas,” his friend ventured, thinking back when he sat listening, spellbound to his father’s favourite story— the time great stones fell from heaven onto the Valley, causing more deaths than by swords of Israelites. Drawing a deep breath, sound escaped with a sigh.
“God seems to have forgotten us,” Cleophas said with heavy heart, then, turning he noticed they were now three. “I felt so inadequate, unable to do anything,” feeling guilt rise. Standing a distance from the cross, hearing Jesus pray: “Father, forgive them … they know not what they are doing,” would be with him for the rest of his life.
“I’m not sure who to blame … our brethren or Romans,” his friend questioned. “Jesus did nothing, but good ... He did not deserve death.”
“When he fell the third time ... I almost cried out ... but when the guards ordered the man to help him ... I felt so relived,” Cleopas said with gloom.
Disillusioned, his friend asked: “What is to become of us, Cleophas,” but did not wait for an answer: “Oh, Cleophas, I’m sure he was flogged more than the allotted strokes ... he looked like death ... those thorns dug so deep into his flesh.” Tears filled his eyes.
“What are you talking about?” the man interrupted.
Miserable, Cleophas turned to the stranger: “You have been in and around Jerusalem these past days ... you must have heard angry cries of people; felt tremors of the earthquake, and you ... you do not know what happened! raising his voice in irritation. They have crucified our Jesus— that’s what they did!”
”To top it all, we heard this morning they found his grave empty ... one of the women saw him, and spoke to him, but we do not believe this … it is now three days since his death,” his friend added.
The stranger, with gentle rebuke, started explaining what was written in the Scriptures— beginning with Moses, then the writings of the prophets. He turned to Cleophas, saying: “Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things, and then enter into his glory?”
Cleophas had listened as the man spoke, feeling his heart warm toward him. He must be a learned man, he deliberated, noticing the turn-off to the village. As the man walked away, he caught up with him: “Our home is modest, but we would like to hear more … besides it is getting dark ... come ... stay the night with us,” he invited.
Shadows danced to flickering lamp light as they prepared supper; their guest watched in silence. When he reclined at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, carefully giving each a piece. Looking from the bread into the eyes of the man, they recognised Jesus— then, he vanished.
It was Cleophas who broke silence: “Did our hearts not warm when He spoke to us on the road, while opening the scriptures?” he exclaimed.
“Yes,” his friend said, “but at first I could not believe He did not know of the things that had happened, but when He clarified the prophecies, my heart leaped as he spoke with conviction of our Jesus ... as if He knew Him!”
“Let’s go immediately to Jerusalem,” he urged, taking the lantern. Moving toward his friend, he guided him swiftly to the door.
Fresh air had settled across the valley where drifting moon bathed its landscape silver; shadows darted as they hurried towards the city. Cleophas realised for the first time how his forefathers felt winning the Emorite armies. Jesus is alive … He has risen … even death cannot stop His glory, feeling his heart pound.
Tired, but elated, they reached the house. Cleophas knocked, trying to contain himself. As they closed the door, someone said: “The Lord has risen ... He appeared to Simon!” Feeling the hand of his friend urging him, he blurted: “We have also seen him!
The room soon filled. When he sat down to relate their experience, he noticed all eleven were there. Exhausted, Cleophas sat drained amidst hushed audience, then, Simon’s voice vibrated faith, love and hope as he prayed.
~~The End
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Adding your comment:
By the way, "a dark baked?" Perhaps you meant "a dog barked." 
I will be back after you have done a thorough editing. 
