Ishia and His Teacher

(Yerushalayim—8 a.m.) “In the Name of Our Lord, I tell you that He has risen; He is alive!” exclaimed Cephas to the rest of the apostles. “Have you seen Him?” asked Nathanael Bar-Ptolemais. “Have you spoken with Him?” “No, but I know that He is alive, I tell you!” answered Cephas. “We have heard the same story from the women; but they saw bright angels shining like a star,” cried Andros. “How come you didn’t see the angels? You are like the women, believing in fancy tales, full of emotions and wishful thinking.” “What about this sindon, with the imprint of his face and body from all the blood He lost, is this wishful thinking?” exclaimed Yehohanan. “It was neatly folded on the stone altar that held His sacred body!” “Someone could have stolen His body,” said his brother, Yakov Bar-Zebedeus. “And would the abductor have taken his time to fold His shroud so neatly?” insisted Yehohanan. “No, my brother, He was not abducted. He has risen just like He told us. You have forgotten that He told us He would rise on the third day. Well, today is the third day!” “How could the two of you be so sure?” asked Thomas Didymus. “Why can’t you believe, Thomas? Why do you always doubt?” retorted Yehohanan. “He was crucified and a Roman soldier pierced His heart!” exclaimed Thomas. “And once your heart is pierced you are dead forever!” “What about Eleazar?” asked Cephas. “I don’t know what happened with Eleazar or with my master’s daughter!” said Thomas sadly. “If only I could see Him and touch His wounds; then, I would believe that He has risen.” Suddenly, in the poorly lit and bolted room a gentle voice whispered, “Peace be with all of you.” “Who opened the door for this stranger?” cried out Cephas. “Who let this stranger in?” panicked Thomas. “The San-hedrin is looking for us!” “Thomas, Thomas, you have such little faith,” said the clean shaven man. He pulled His robe, showing the gash where the lance had pierced His heart. “Come Thomas; place your fingers inside my wound so that you may also believe that I am alive.” Thomas fell down on his knees, crying like a baby. He then got up and gently embraced His Lord, whispering, “Forgive me, Lord. I am not worthy to be one of your apostles.” “Now you believe, Thomas, because you have seen me. Blessed are the ones who will believe in me without ever seeing me.” He continued speaking to them for a while. He told them to meet Him at Bet-ha’Arava on the following Shabbat morning. He would soon leave the earth to be with His Father. As everyone questioned each other, He inconspicuously disappeared. As they looked for Him while the door had remained bolted they finally realized the divinity of Ishia of Nazerat.