Dragon Disciples: Resurrection

Chana is the protagonist in Dragon Disciples: Resurrection. In the first chapters we see that she is not the typical Samaritan woman as she struggles against the conventions of her world. In this scene she meets Yeshua and we see the development of her unconventional personality. Along with some of the people she has befriended.

Chapter Two: Sychar 31 AD

Several days later Chana sat at the small wooden table next to the bread oven. The smell of warm bread baking in the oven comforted her. All felt right when Imma baked bread, as opposed to Chana’s bread which usually ended up burnt. She scratched a stylus across the parchment as she tried to remember the scriptures Naftili quoted her last night. A sense of peace filled her when she wrote the scriptures. HaShem moved closer to her heart in those times of silence when she embraced His word. Writing the scriptures was that time of silence, her time with HaShem.

She glanced at the gate and watched a crowd of men rushing past the house toward Jacob’s Well. There loud chatter disrupted her peace. Chana rolled up the parchment and returned her writing tools to the cabinet in her sleeping room before hustling out to see what was happening.

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.

Available at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Disciples…/dp/B0CSYX6PN7