Today I want to introduce two secondary although not minor characters: Naftili, Chana’s younger brother and Yeshua.
We don’t see a lot of Naftili until the second half of the book because it isn’t his story. But when we do meet him, Tatsu, the dragon of Satan is trying to recruit Naftili to his cause. Naftili is a confused young man as he faces life after his sister is taken by the Romans, he meets and travels with Yeshua, hearing conflicting messages to what he has been taught his whole life as well as the disdain from the people that were once his comrades.
Yeshua is sprinkled throughout the book. We first encounter Him when Chana meets him at the well along with Photini, the woman Yeshua reveals Himself to. We see Him again when He heals the centurions servant and when He feeds the 5000. Throughout the story He gives Chana and later Naftili faith and hope that one day they will be freed of their trials.
Naftili:
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Naftili ran through the gate, excitement seeping off him and filling the courtyard. Chana set down her sewing as Abba followed Naftili at a more sedate pace.
“Good you are here. Isaac will be here soon, and dinner is almost ready,” Chana said as she rose from the stool.
“Chana you won’t believe what happened,” a breathless Naftili answered.
Chana scooped a cup of water from the bucket. “Sit and catch your breath.”
It was so like her brother getting excited about something and not be able to calm himself. As soon as his breathing slowed, Chana took the cup and said, “Now tell me what has you so excited.”
“Do you remember the man that came to the village yesterday and spoke in the synagogue.”
Chana nodded.? “How could I forget Yeshua? Photini and I…”
Abba scowled. “Don’t mention that harlot in this house.”
“Yes, Abba,” Chana said as she bowed her head. “Naftili, please continue.”
Naftili stood and paced around the courtyard, hands waving as he talked. “That man, Yeshua came to the sheep cave this morning. The other shepherds wanted Him to leave.”
“Why?” Chana asked. “Last evening the people welcomed Him and listened with rapt attention. Jacob even invited Him and His followers to share a meal.”
“Because He is a Jew,” Abba answered.
“What changed from last night?”
“I don’t know!” Naftili yelled. “What I do know is that He helped us—well He helped our ewe.”
“How did He help the ewe?” Chana asked.
“Let me finish.” Naftili took another sip of water and resumed his pacing. “The ewe was giving birth and having a hard time of it. Yeshua helped deliver the lambs, by calming the ewe and gently extricating each lamb. After all, three were delivered and trying to nurse, the ewe kept pushing the smallest one away. Somehow Yeshua convinced the ewe to care for all three. He picked up the smallest and put it next to the other lambs, looked the ewe in the eye and whispered something I couldn’t hear. The ewe nuzzled the little one and encouraged it to nurse.”
“But that never happens,” Chana said.
Abba shook his head. “In all my years, I’ve never seen the third lamb live.”
“But why would he help? We aren’t Jews.”
“I don’t know. All I do know is that when I needed help, He was there, and He helped,” Abba said as he got a drink of water.
Naftili stopped his pacing and put his hands on his hips. “Can I finish the story now?”
Abba nodded and Naftili resumed his tale. “As we walked home, we saw a crowd gathering by the lake. Yeshua was speaking. I asked Abba if we could listen for a little while.
“Abba said we could, but that we shouldn’t say anything to Jacob.” Naftili stopped and laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Chana said.
“Abba had just finished warning me when I pointed out that Torah Teacher Jacob stood at the edge of the crowd. Right in front of us.”
“Was he really there, listening to Yeshua?”
Abba nodded. “We didn’t need to keep anything from Jacob. So, we joined him and listened to the Jewish teacher.”
“Yes, and Jacob didn’t mind that we were there, either.”
“What did Yeshua say?” Chana asked, hardly able to contain her excitement. She remembered the peace and calm she of yesterday as she talked to Yeshua and wondered if Abba, Naftili, and Jacob felt the same.
“He talked about sharing and finishing our work. He said a lot about the harvest and the sower and the reaper and how they should harvest and rejoice together. And then there was talk about loving your neighbor no matter who they were. That surprised me after the way the shepherds wanted him to leave the cave this morning. Everything my teachers have taught me says that Samaritans were the only people of HaShem. Jews and Romans were to be avoided.”
“But how did you feel.”
“Chana, it was so exciting and confusing. The things he said didn’t agree with the things I’m learning in Torah school. I wanted to stay and hear more, but Abba said we had to come home for dinner. I hope I can find him tomorrow to hear more and ask him about the things he said,” Naftili said.
Abba finished washing his hands. “Naftili there will be no time tomorrow, besides I heard one of His followers saying that they were moving on tomorrow.”
“I need to go after Him. He needs to answer my questions.” Naftili pushed the door open.
Abba set a hand on his arm. “Naftili, you can’t go. He is probably long gone now. He is a Jew so you probably should not be trying to talk with Him.”
“But Abba, Jacob was there, and he wanted to question Yeshua,” Naftili said. “I think we should at least consider what Yeshua had to say.”
“We don’t have time for this, Imma has dinner ready. Tomorrow, I must go into the city to work on the palace building project. I will be gone for a few days so you will have to take our turn tending the flocks.”
“I can help Abba,” Chana said as she set a bowl of grapes on the table.
“Yes, that would be good, as long as Imma doesn’t need you,” Abba said. “Now let’s pray and eat.”
Yeshua:
The gate creaked as Chana swung it open and the dust from the group of men swirled at her feet and bled into the courtyard. Imma would be angry about the dust. Photini bustled behind the men.
“What is all the fuss? Where is everyone going?” Chana asked, as she closed the gate.
Photini stopped. “They are going to Jacob’s Well.”
Chana shook her head in disbelief. “Men are going to the well! Why are they going to the well?”
“There was a man, a Jew, His name was Yeshua, and He asked me for a drink of water,” Photini answered.
Chana stepped back, her hands flying to her chest. “Are you telling me that a Jew asked a Samaritan woman for water?”
Photini nodded. “And that’s not all. He told me the water from the well would not quench my thirst and if I drank of His water, I would never thirst again.”
Chana tilted her head to the side and pursed her lips. “What does that mean? I’ve drank the water from that well all my life.”
“I’m not completely sure what He meant either. But He told me so much more. He knew who I was, about all of my husbands.” She grasped Chana’s hands and leaned forward. “There was so much more. I think this Yeshua is the long-awaited Messiah.”
Chana looked at Photini’s hand resting on hers. At first, she wanted to pull away. This was crazy talk, even for Photini. How could this be? “The Messiah! How do you know? What did He say?”
“When I questioned Him, He told me so.”
“But…”
“Come on, come, and meet Him. There is something about Him, something that draws you to Him. He’s not like Torah teacher Jacob. When Yeshua talks, I want to hear more.” She started to run, dragging Chana with her. “You have to come meet Him.”
Chana glanced at the women staring at her as she ran past them. The disgusted looks on their faces made her lift her shoulders as she strode past.
As they neared the well the men were returning to the village. “What are you women doing here?” Chana hesitated, but Photini pulled her towards Yeshua, who still stood at the well. He smiled at the women as they approached.
“You came back.”
Photini nodded. “I wanted to hear more, and I brought a friend. This is Chana. She lives a little way out of town. She stopped me when I was passing so I brought her along.”
“Welcome, Chana. I am so happy you came,” Yeshua said.
Chana stared at the man. His medium height and build resembled her own and His olive skin was similar to the other men from the village. Dark brown hair and short beard framed His oval face. Despite His normal appearance, Chana felt drawn to the man, mesmerized by the comforting, peaceful luminosity that surrounded Him as He talked to her.
A voice in the back of her mind screamed, “He is a Jew! Stay away from Him.” She took a step away from Him and looked around for the source of the voices. Only the three of them stood there. Several other men stood off in the distance and appeared to be waiting for Yeshua, but they were talking amongst themselves. None of them even glanced in her direction.
A roar bellowed from the hills. Chana quaked as she looked for the source. She clutched her head and fell to her knees. Tears streamed from her eyes as pain assaulted her body.
She felt a hand on her head. The pain receded and the voices stilled. A soft hand grasped hers and helped her to stand. Photini stood beside her rubbing her shoulders. Yeshua held her hands.
“Chana, what is it? What happened?” Photini said.
“It was the voices again. And this time I understood them. Why would they tell me to stay away?”
“They are messengers from Satan, and they warn you about Me. I am from HaShem, and these messengers know one day He will destroy them,” Yeshua answered.
“The voices and the pain. They screamed ‘Stay away.’” She looked at Yeshua and pulled her hands from His. “You are a Jew. Why are you speaking to us? We are Samaritans and women. Your Torah teachers say that we will make you unclean.”
Yeshua dropped His hands to His side. He looked at Chana and Photini. “My sisters, you are all the same in HaShem’s eyes. My Abba loves all equally no matter who you are.”
Chana grasped her head again as the voice screamed, “He lies.” The sky darkened and the pain increased. Her whole body shook.
Yeshua stepped closer and relief from the pain washed over her. She wiped her tears with her veil and sighed. “Who is it? Why does he keep invading my thoughts?”
“It is one working for the Evil One. He wails and tries to find slaves to serve his evil purposes,” Yeshua said.
A calming warmth flowed through her veins. She gazed into His hazel-colored eyes. She only saw love and trust emanating from them, not the anger she felt from the people in the village. For a moment she thought of Isaac and what they shared. But what she saw and felt from Yeshua was so much more. She relaxed and let waves of love and grace flow over her.
“Trust Him. Love Him.” Another voice, gentler, softer flowed with the love and grace from Yeshua. She looked at Yeshua. He smiled a quieter, calmer smile. “My messengers are with you now. You need not fear the Evil One. They will soon be here to watch over you and your brother. HaShem has plans for you.”
Chana nodded.
“Master, you need to eat. Come we must find food,” one of Yeshua’s followers said as he came to stand beside Yeshua.
One of the men from the village rushed up the road towards them. “Teacher, you must come to my home. My wife has prepared a fine meal for you and your followers.”
Yeshua nodded and looked at Photini and Chana. “I must go now, but I will see you soon. Remember I am always with you.”
As He walked away Chana sighed as the waves of Yeshua’s power flowed over her.
