Jenkins The Chosen: Upon This Rock

a novel based on Season 4 of the critically acclaimed TV series
1. Auflage 2024
ISBN: 978-1-4245-6772-0
Verlag: BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 352 Seiten

From the fate of John the Baptist to Jesus' profound teaching on inexhaustible forgiveness, in this fourth installment of The Chosen series, we grieve with Jesus' followers at an unspeakable loss, traverse with them 'the extra mile,' face down the Pharisees, and witness an impossible miracle.   As religious leaders conspire to put an end to His ministry, His renown, and His very life, Jesus' followers wonder at His ominous parables and pronouncements.   Beyond retelling the familiar accounts, Upon This Rock sees Simon become Peter and takes us to the innermost thoughts of the major players in the greatest story ever told. Based on the acclaimed TV series The Chosen, the life of Jesus gets a fresh, new telling in this novel series from New York Times bestselling author Jerry B. Jenkins.  

JERRY JENKINS-whose son Dallas is the creator of The Chosen TV series-has written more than 200 books with sales of more than 73 million copies, including 21 New York Times bestsellers. He is known for biblical fiction, end-times fiction (the Left Behind series), and many other genres. Jerry assisted Billy Graham with his memoirs and has written numerous biographies of Hall of Fame professional athletes. He's a member of the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame and serves as chair of the Creative Writing major at Colorado Christian University. He and his wife, Dianna, have three grown sons.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Jenkins, Jerry B.

Leseproben

Chapter 10

THE DEED

Zechariah’s courtyard, 31 years prior

Fifteen friends and family gather outside as Elizabeth holds her baby. Her mute husband, the priest, stands beside her.

A rabbi says, “Blessed are You, Adonai our God, ruler of the universe, Who has sanctified us through Your and has commanded us to bring our sons into the covenant of Abraham our father.”

Those gathered, all but Zechariah, say in unison, “May this little one grow to be great!”

Machaerus Palace dungeon, execution chamber hallway, dawn

Guards flank John the Baptizer, his face covered by a black hood. His hands are bound behind him, his feet shackled.

Zechariah’s courtyard, 31 years prior

The rabbi says, “God of all our ancestors, sustain this child. Let him be known among the people, and in these parts, as Zechariah, son of Zechariah and Elizabeth.”

“No, Rabbi,” Elizabeth says. “Per God’s command, his name will be John.”

Execution chamber

A heavy wooden door opens to a circular room with stone walls and arched windows facing east. John is hauled in and the hood yanked off his head. He faces the chopping block but betrays neither surprise nor fear.

Outside Capernaum

Jesus has been praying all night alone. He pokes the final embers of a fire, not to reignite it but to simply rearrange the coals. His heart is heavy.

Execution chamber

Guards place John’s head on the block, his cheek on the stone. He notices they work casually as if preparing a meal. One polishes a gleaming platter.

“That is a nice plate,” John says. “Silver?”

“Only the finest,” the guard says. “Intended for a royal banquet, requested by King Herod himself.”

John chuckles, then laughs aloud.

“Why are you laughing?” a guard says.

“It’s funny. I’ve never been to a banquet. But I’m on my way to one.”

“What do you mean?”

“Never mind. You wouldn’t get it.”

A guard with a quill and parchment says, “Are those your final words?”

John chuckles again.

The guard shrugs and murmurs as he writes, “‘You wouldn’t get it.’”

Rural Galilee

Joanna’s carriage races north. She leans out and settles back inside. “Just a few more miles,” she tells herself, and continues praying.

Zechariah’s courtyard, 31 years prior

“Elizabeth,” the rabbi says, “none of your relatives are called John.” He turns to Zechariah. “What is this about? Is she doing this because of what happened to you?”

Outside Capernaum

Jesus hears someone behind him and turns. “Jesus the Nazarene,” Avner, one of his cousin’s disciples, says.

Jesus rises. “Shalom! To what do I owe the—”

The look on Avner’s face stops him. Pain.

Zechariah’s courtyard, 31 years prior

Zechariah writes on his tablet, “His name is John.” His eyes widen and he makes a guttural sound. “Ahh! Blessed are You—” he begins haltingly. Then, “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe.”

Everyone reacts as Zechariah reaches for the baby and Elizabeth smiles and touches her husband’s cheek as she hands John over.

Execution chamber

The executioner sets the platter on the floor below John’s head, then takes his position as the guard with the parchment says, “John, son of Zechariah and Elizabeth of Judea, you are on this day, by order of his majesty King Herod Antipas …”

John hears but doesn’t hear as he imagines a scene. In the golden rays of morning light he sees a lamb in a clearing, grazing, wiggling an ear.

He feels a tear on his cheek and cracks a smile. “Thank you,” he whispers.

Rural Galilee

Joanna’s carriage thunders toward Capernaum, horse hooves pounding the earth.

Execution chamber

The executioner hefts the heavy axe high and brings it down with all his might.

Outside Capernaum

Jesus rips his tunic at the neck and drops to his knees, slowly doubling over and pressing his forehead to the earth near the dying embers and ash.

Outside Simon’s house, Capernaum

Simon emerges to find Matthew, Little James, Thaddeus, and Nathanael gathered. “What’s the morning report?” he says.

“The ones with news aren’t here yet,” Nathanael says.

“Which may be a good indication,” Matthew says. “Perhaps there are details to work out.”

“Or,” Nathanael says, “they got rejected yesterday and drank away their disappointment at The Hammer.”

“Sleeping it off?” James says. “I hope not.”

Thaddeus leaps to his feet. “There they are!”

Simon shouts, “What’s this I see? That doesn’t look like a man carrying an empty cart!”

Big James, John, and Thomas approach. James raises the cart to show it’s light and empty. “We got the account!” John says. “They bought every last jar!”

“Hah!” Simon chortles, moving in to hug John. “Your old man comes through!”

“It was Adonai alone,” James says.

John looks knowingly at Thomas. “Abba wasn’t the only one trying to close a deal yesterday.”

Thomas nods toward Mary Magdalene, Ramah, and Tamar approaching. “You can ask her,” he says.

“Ah, yes,” Nathanael says. “I’m curious about the little songbirds.”

“Lovebirds, you mean,” Little James says.

“What? It’s songbirds. It’s always songbirds.”

Thaddeus shakes his head at James. “Let it go.”

“Well,” Simon says, “out with it. How’d it go?”

Thomas and Ramah look at each other with pursed smiles, and eventually Ramah nods.

They all cheer. Thaddeus hugs Thomas. Matthew shouts, “Mazel tov!”

Little James looks to the sky. “Blessed are You Who causes the couple to rejoice, one with another.”

Mary looks overcome. “So it’s really going to happen?!”

“Well,” Thomas says, “there are a couple more steps we have to take care of. One of which, John, involves you.”

“Absolutely!” John says. “Just don’t ask me to sew the chuppah.”

Matthew shakes Thomas’s hand and catches himself. Over Thomas’s shoulder, he sees Joanna’s carriage at the far end of the street.

Zechariah’s courtyard, 31 years prior

Zechariah holds baby John before him, staring into his face. With deep passion he recites, “‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David.’”

Capernaum street

While everyone else is hugging and congratulating Thomas and Ramah, Matthew squints, watching Joanna in her hooded robe, apparently checking house numbers against a piece of paper.

Mary Magdalene notices Joanna, and joy drains from her face. Joanna has arrived at Andrew’s door. She pounds and shouts his name, now attracting everyone’s attention. They stop the rejoicing and stare, all seeming to fear what this means.

Zechariah’s courtyard, 31 years prior

Zechariah continues his recitation: “‘As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hands of all who hate us.’”

Andrew’s house

“Andrew! Are you home?!”

He opens the door. “Joanna?”

Her lips quiver and he slowly comprehends. “No, no, no!”

Judas appears behind him and Andrew buries his face in the man’s chest, sobbing.

“Are you Philip?” Joanna says.

“I’m Judas. Philip is away.”

Andrew pulls back and tells Joanna, “I will tell Philip.”

Zechariah’s courtyard, 31 years prior

“‘To show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath that He swore to our father Abraham.’”

Capernaum street

Mary Magdalene comprehends what’s going on at Andrew’s and starts down the street toward them. Simon runs past her, clearly overcome with compassion for his brother. One by one the others join them. Simon kneels before Andrew and gathers him to his chest.

Mary and Tamar try to comfort Joanna, but she says, “I’m fine. It’s not my—I’m not the one who—”

“We should have known this day would come,” Andrew says. “We should have been prepared.”

“We were,” John says. He stares at the ground and mumbles, “He was sent to prepare the way, and he did. He was not the Messiah, but he came to bear witness that he would be here soon.”

“We have to find Jesus and tell him,” Andrew says.

“I’ll go with...