Shiloh: the Man of Sorrows by Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Oct 18, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 41.

Shiloh: the Man of Sorrows

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Chapter XXXIII. The Miracle at Bethesda

ALL and graceful, with an air of martial dignity which was very noticeable, the stranger leaned carelessly upon one of the richly carved marble columns of the mansion of the ruler Machhor of Jericho.

"Thinkest thou that He who hath healed thee is the Messiah — the Shiloh of Israel?"

It was the voice of the stranger addressing Cleopas; but so soft and musical were the tones, that there was scarcely a shade of surprise in the face of Machhor, as he replied courteously:

"Who art thou, stranger? Surely thou shalt abide in mine house and find rest until thou goest on thy journey. But, I pray thee, who art thou?"

"My name is Crispus, and my birthplace, Rome. I have abode many years in Jerusalem, that I might be healed of mine infirmities; but later abode I in Capernaum."

"Verily the physicians of Jerusalem are greater than those of Rome; but of a truth, man, thou hast no infirmities. Surely thou art a jester!" exclaimed Zilpha, casting a glance of astonishment upon the manly figure. The closely cropped hair was tinged with gray, but the eyes had the brilliancy and the fire of youth. The fresh, round face was almost boyish in its contour.

"It ill becomes one to jest, whose heart is filled with gratitude, and from whose lips naught but praise to the Almighty should come forth," replied the stranger, glancing respectfully toward Zilpha, and seating himself beside Matthias.

"If thou wilt answer my first question, young man," he said, as Matthias lifted his brown eyes to meet the kindly glance of the stranger at his side, "if thou wilt answer my question, then will I tell this woman how I spent many long months in Jerusalem by the pool of Bethesda. But the question: Thinkest thou that He who hath healed this man whose right hand was withered, is the Messiah, the Shiloh of Jacob?"

"Verily, I do believe that this Man is the Christ!" cried Machhor, the ruler, earnestly. "And of a truth, I should be minded to follow Him whithersoever He goeth; — but how can I leave my so great possessions?" And the head of the ruler sank upon his breast.

"Surely, thou hast said, O Machhor," added Matthias, "He who healed the hand of this man is the Messiah."

"Amen!" exclaimed Cleopas, the old man, rapturously, lifting his right arm high above his head.

"And believest thou that this Jesus of Nazareth is He who was born King of the Jews, in Bethlehem of Judea, — He whom the father of Antipas sought to slay in His infancy, — He who once was thine infant Guest, O Cleopas, when thou wast a merchant in Bethlehem?" The words poured from the stranger's lips eagerly, anxiously, joyfully.

"Verily it is He!" exclaimed Cleopas and Matthias in one breath, while Zilpha and Machhor regarded their stranger guest wonderingly.

"There, now," continued he, "now are mine eyes opened to understand the mysteries of the Almighty. The holy Babe which hath escaped the sword of Herod at Bethlehem, is also this Man of Nazareth, the Shiloh of Israel, He who hath also healed me, Crispus, — the impotent man by the Pool of Bethesda."

"What!" exclaimed Matthias eagerly; "art thou indeed he whom I have often seen lying upon his mat beneath the porch, close by the Pool of Bethesda?"

"Thou sayest it, young man;" and the stranger sighed deeply, and for a moment bowed his head as if in earnest thought; then began his recital:

"My father was a Roman, but my mother an Israelite. I was a centurion of Herod the Great, from the time of my appointment until I became afflicted with the awful malady which soon rendered me helpless. Ye know that the life of a soldier is beset with evil, tho Jehovah forbid that I should make excuse for my sins, which are indeed black enough, — aye, so black that despair and anguish seized upon my poor soul many a time. No man gave me comfort, but every one declared as did the rabbis, that Jehovah afflicts no man except for his sins; and peradventure, if those sins be great, so must also the punishment of the body be great, for the sins of the soul."

"The Nazarene teacheth not that doctrine," interrupted Cleopas, "but the priests and rulers insisted that I was but receiving the just reward for my sins. 'Wouldest thou not lay hold of a sheep, O Shaphan,' said the Nazarene, 'even as thou hast often done among the cliffs and pits of Nazareth on the Sabbath day? And who shall say that a man is not better than a sheep?' But," concluded Cleopas, again assuming a listening attitude, "why should I interrupt thee? Continue thy speech, O Crispus."

"Mine infirmity came upon me when I was yet a young man," responded the stranger. "Perceiving that a life of folly was telling upon my strength, I had abandoned my dissipated habits some time before, but it was too late. The seeds of a fearful malady had been sown; and that which I had sown, I must also reap. Even when the scribes and Pharisees reproached me for my sins, I myself realized that there was, alas! too much truth in their words; and while they lost no opportunity of condemning me in my wretchedness, my own heart condemned me also."

"While my father and my mother lived, I abode with them in Jerusalem, continually trying the efficacy of the medicines of the physicians. After a few years, my parents died. By this time I had no recourse but the charity of the people. My one and only hope was the healing power of the waters of Bethesda. For this reason, I abode under the shadow of the porches almost continually, wrapped in my abba, and lying upon my mat. Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, dragged slowly by, until even this hope was almost abandoned. But as I saw some who entered the pool, retire, apparently healed, I continued to beg of the passers-by to assist me once more to reach the healing waters."

"Some pitied my agonies; others paused to look upon me curiously, even as they might regard the wild beasts of the hippodrome; still others jested and shot out the lip as they passed me by. But whether moved by compassion or by rude curiosity, all were alike unable to render me any aid. Even the priests, the ministers of the holy temple, reviled me, as one under the especial curse of Jehovah. The Roman soldiers were kinder to me than they, understanding, as they did, that I had also once been a soldier."

"One day during the last Passover, I was more discouraged and cast down than ever before. The sweet scent of the green clods of the valleys and hills, and of the fresh flowers of the early springtime, was in the air. I had crept very near to the brink of the pool, waiting, watching, almost breathlessly, for the moving of the waters, which I had learned to anticipate so anxiously. While my hot eyes were fixed upon the glassy surface of the pool, suddenly the waters began to tremble and quiver in the sunlight. With a cry of exultation, I strove to throw my paralyzed body over the brink, down the stony steps of the deep pool. But in spite of my feverish haste, I moved so slowly that even when I had almost accomplished my object, another man, younger and far stronger than I, pushed me roughly aside, and leaped into the waters!"

"The cry of exultation upon my parched lips gave place to a moan of despair. So many times I had suffered the same or a similar disappointment, that I said aloud: 'Now hath the Almighty forsaken me on account of mine iniquities!'"

Crispus paused, and once more bowed his head, as if overpowered by the memory of his past wretchedness.

"Every incident of that Sabbath day stamps itself upon my heart," he continued. "The far-off hills of Judea, bright with the yellow glory of the low-hanging sun, were sharply outlined against the purple sky. The spotted night-hawk already circled above the walls of the city and cried to her mate. I closed my eyes and lay back upon my mat, wishing only that the end might come, and come quickly, and wondering if it might not be possible to destroy myself. But of one thing I was sure, — I could not live until the waters were again troubled. Life had become intolerable; hope was dead. My sins pressed so heavily upon my soul that I groaned aloud."

"Suddenly I heard the rustle of a garment near me, and the echo of a soft footfall. I opened my eyes, startled and confused, to see a face, compassionate and gentle, bending over me."

"Wilt thou be made whole?"

"The voice was full of melody as the music of an harp. For an instant only, my heart thrilled with a ray of hope. Surely this Man was willing to help me to enter the pool. But the opportunity was gone. It was too late. The angel had troubled the waters and had departed, and I had seen that the man who had jostled me aside, had been the first to enter. Those thoughts rushed through my brain, and I replied:"

"Sir, I am friendless. No man pities my condition, and I am not able to enter the pool unaided. I have many times undertaken to do so, but another, who is not so helpless as I, steppeth in before me."

"While I addressed these words to Him, I wondered who the Man might be. O mine host! this Man seemeth not like unto any other of the sons of men. I had heard of a mighty Miracle-Worker who had done great cures in Judea and Galilee and in Jerusalem, but my own heart was so filled with bitterness and despair that I said: 'There may be good, but verily it is not for me; for my sins are visited upon me, and my soul despaireth of good. Thirty and eight years have I suffered from this mine infirmity,' I continued, scarcely daring to look up at the Man, who was standing by my side, for I had learned to dread the reproach of men."

"After a moment, as the Stranger had made no move to pass on His way, I looked up into His face. My eye caught His. Verily I was astonished and spellbound at the unspeakable sadness and majesty of His countenance. The eyes that looked into mine melted my soul. I loathed the sin which had bound me. Fixing upon me a look of unutterable compassion and love, again He spake, while He reached out His hand and touched my feverish brow caressingly with His cool fingers, even as a mother might caress her helpless babe:"

"Rise; take up thy bed and walk!"

"Immediately a thrill of divine power shot through my benumbed body, and a sense of great peace and of perfect health possessed me. I had not risen to my feet for almost two score years; but I questioned not the authority of the One who bade me. I leaped to my feet, folded the mat upon which I had so long lain, and placing it upon my shoulder, I sprang into the street."

"Whither goest thou, fellow?"

"I turned mine eyes in the direction of the voice, and beheld Caiaphas, the high priest, together with a company of scribes and rabbis, among whom was the scribe Jazer. But I feared him no longer; for I stood before him in the strength of perfect manhood. The face of Caiaphas wore a dark frown; but I at once addressed him, bearing witness joyfully to the astonishing miracle which had been wrought in my poor body. 'Thou knowest me well, O Caiaphas,' I said, 'seest thou not that I am healed?'"

"Wherefore carriest thou thy bed upon the Sabbath day, contrary to the law, — for behold, the sun hath not yet set!" demanded Caiaphas in a voice hoarse with rage, not heeding my question, and pointing with his left hand, about which circled the straps of the phylactery, toward the low-hanging sun.

"He who hath made me whole, bade me take up my bed, O Caiaphas," I replied.

"What man is that who said this unto thee?" demanded Jazer.

"Then of a truth I remembered with shame that I had not only forgotten to express my gratitude to the mighty One who had healed me, but I had also neglected to ask Him His name."

"I wist not who it is that hath made me whole," I stammered; but as they passed on, the scribe Jazer hissed spitefully: "It is the Nazarene. What shall we do, O Caiaphas?"

"At once I made my way toward the temple, my heart filled with praises to Jehovah. I had scarce dared to hope that I might once again see my Deliverer; but as I was passing the Golden Gate of the temple, I saw Him walking in Solomon's Porch. While I was opening my lips to address Him that I might thank Him, He spake unto me:"

"Sin no more!" He exclaimed, holding up His hand with a gesture of warning. "Behold, thou art made whole; sin no more, lest a worse thing befall thee!"

"Then I thought to bring Annas and Caiaphas that they also might see Him; for I said, 'Surely, this is the Messiah.' But I understood not the anger of the chief priests and scribes, neither understood I their hatred against the Man; for behold, O Machhor," concluded the narrator, "behold, these men sought His life, and I knew it not."

(To be continued)