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Legend Of The Thirteenth Disciple

In the wonderful movie, “The Fourth Wiseman,” the story of Christ is told through the eyes of a man who is always delayed when-ever he seeks to find the location of his Savior. Though it is a leg-end—and we know that the Bible does not specify the exact num-ber of wisemen—it brings a great hope and joy to the viewer.

So it is with Henry Nau’s Legend Of The Thirteenth Disciple. Justinian, a battle-scarred centurion, is or-dered by Imperial Rome to moni-tor the movements of a certain man named Jesus. Along the way he is adopted by Ius, a young orphan boy who volunteers to be his servant. Together they follow Jesus and His disciples, witnessing a series of events unparalleled in all of human his-tory. In the process, their own lives are transformed in the most miraculous way imaginable.

Come along with Justinian and Ius as they journey through Legend Of The Thirteenth Disciple.

Legend Of The Thirteenth Disciple

Copyright © 2011 by Henry F. Nau

Published by Dancing Pen Books

www.dancingpenbooks.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any

means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author, except as provided by

USA copyright law.

First Kindle Edition: October 2011

Legend Of The Thirteenth Disciple

Henry F. Nau

DedicationDedicated to the memory of Helena Karolina Bertha Hempfing, who at an early age began telling the story of Jesus Christ in India and Africa.

AcknowledgmentI wish to thank Norma Richard-Nau for her interest, helpfulness and dedication in making Legend of the Thirteenth Disciple come to life.

Henry F. Nau

ForewardWhat is a legend? Simply put, a legend is a story usually based on some significant historic event. Some of the legend usually is very true. Other portions may or may not be true. Finally, some portions are untrue and run rampant in the imagination of many.

This legend fills in many of the vacancies in the life of Jesus of Naza-reth. No portion of this legend, in any way, destroys or weakens the stories about Jesus Christ. There is no inconsistency in any portion of this legend and what we believe to be true in the Gospels of the New Testament.

Interestingly, much of the legend is based on observations by the Copts since the time that the Queen of Sheba, with a large entourage, and at the invitation of King Solomon, visited Jerusalem while the inspiring Jewish Temple was being built.

Many are certain that an ambassadorial relationship existed between the courts of King Solomon and the court of the Queen of Sheba. The story of St. Philip and the eunuch who wished to be baptized would make you believe that such a relationship existed well into the time of Jesus’ ministry.

Another peculiar relationship was that between the Copts and Pon-tius Pilate and his wife, Claudia. Religious days of remembrance and honor are offered to them by the Copts. Who did they know? What did they see that others did not?

The writer sat down with a few Coptic priests in Khartoum, Asmara, and Gura while spending a few days in those places en route to de-livering F-5A’s to India. To be sure, there were other eyes and ears that observed and heard of the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.

Legend Of The Thirteenth Disciple

This legend tells some of what these eyes saw and ears heard. You must, however, discover the truth of these sightings and words your-

self. It should be an agonizingly wonderful feeling as you sift through the short happenings of this legend.

The Legend Begins

I

The Boy In The Street

In the Gospel of St. Mark, the apostle writes in the 14th Chapter, Verse 51: “There was a young man following him who was covered by nothing but a linen cloth. As they seized him, he left the cloth behind and ran off naked.” It was at the time of the betrayal of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. A crowd with clubs and swords had been sent by the chief priests, scribes, and elders to arrest Jesus in the Gar-den of Gethsemane. There was some fighting and words. Someone grabbed the boy in the linen sheet, but he managed to get away.

Who was this lad? What was he doing there? Where did he go after he fled naked in the night? His name was Ius (pronounced Yus). He was thirteen years old and a servant of Justinian, a member of the Roman Garrison under the command of Valerius—second in com-mand to Pontius Pilate.

Justinian, now a captain in the Roman Garrison assigned to keep the peace in Palestine, had many years of often brutal military service. When Tiberius’ nephew, Germanicus Caesar, waged a successful war in Germany, defeating Arminius and recovering the standards of Varus’ Legions, Justinian fought bravely and his reputation grew

Legend Of The Thirteenth Disciple

among Roman Legionnaires. He was, however, wounded twice, with deep cuts in his shoulder, arms, and face.

He returned to Rome to heal his wounds and regain his strength. At age thirty, he was a seasoned Roman veteran. While in Rome, he wandered around the seven hills, swam in the Tiber when it grew warm, and waited for a new assignment. And it came. He was to report to the Roman Garrison in Jerusalem, under the command of Pontius Pilate’s second in command—Valerius.

Soon after Justinian arrived at the Legion Garrison in Jerusalem, Valerius pointed out what his special assignment would be. He re-minded Justinian that it was incumbent on Pilate to keep the peace in that part of Israel, no matter the cost. It was Justinian’s job to keep an eye on any or all sorts of actions that might lead to disturbances, insurrections, or rebellions, etc. Justinian was to have at his beck and call whatever Roman strength there was in terms of Legionnaires that might be necessary to quell any disturbance.

“Incidentally,” he said, “keep your eye on one, Jesus, who has a group of people with him and who sometimes is able to gather huge crowds about him when he speaks.”

Justinian understood the assignment. Anything untoward would be reported to Valerius and ultimately to Pontius Pilate.

II

Justinian Meets Ius

Walking through the Garrison yard, a young lad, around age ten, came up to Justinian.

“Hello.” he said, “You are new here.”

Justinian sized up the lad. He had an earnest look about him and seemed a little nervous.

Justinian admitted that he was new in Jerusalem, but that he had been in “military service” almost ten years. But, what did the young man really want?

Justinian asked, “What is your name?”

“I am Ius. I’d like to be your servant. I’m good with horses, clothes, cleanup, just anything.”

Justinian liked his demeanor. He told Ius that his horse was in the first stall by the gate, that he liked him to be fed straw and grain twice a day, and that when he wasn’t out with the horse, he needed someone to take the horse for a walk and maybe even ride him a bit.

Legend Of The Thirteenth Disciple

He also mentioned, “I like to have all the metal on my clothes shined each day and my short sword sharpened.”

Ius said, “I can do it. You’ll be pleased with me, and I work only for you.”

Through further conversation, he surmised that Ius was an illegiti-mate child of a Roman officer and a Jewish mother. Ius was like an orphan who seemed to need someone, not just a job.

As the days passed, the two were drawn together, like father and son. Although Ius slept on the hay in the stable, Justinian made a bed for him in his own room. He told Ius to bathe daily, dress neatly, and be polite at all times, especially to the guards at the Garrison Gate and to the women cooks in the kitchen.

Meanwhile, Justinian had already located Jesus. He heard stories of miracles that Jesus was alleged to have performed. He heard that Je-sus had restored to life the dead daughter of a synagogue leader. He also heard that this Jesus had cured a lady who had hemorrhaged for twelve years. Then again, the word was out that some blind people had received their sight.

“Just stories, unbelievable,” thought Justinian. But when he heard that many people, perhaps thousands, had gathered to hear Jesus, he got on his horse and rode rapidly to that place near the lakeshore. Once there, he removed his helmet and sat on a stone on the lake-shore where he was likely to hear what was said.

He heard Jesus tell stories. They were clear, simple, and the crowds loved it. He talked about seeds and weeds, and when it grew dark he had his disciples distribute food and fish. Justinian ate some, thought it to be very good, and also helped some of the disciples clean up. He had no idea where the food had come from. “But, where did it come from?” he wondered.

So Justinian made it a point to be present where the crowds followed Jesus. Once in a while he even took Ius along on the horse. It would be, it seemed to him, less intimidating if he brought a youth along. He always stood by, with helmet off, and tried to hear what Jesus had

Legend Of The Thirteenth Disciple

to say. Often Jesus said nothing, but people claimed they were healed of all sorts of afflictions by simply touching him.

Once he heard Jesus say that he had to go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly at the hands of the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and ultimately be put to death. His disciples wouldn’t hear of it.

Justinian loved the story that Jesus told about the dangers of riches. After all, the only money that Justinian had was military pay. He could never be considered rich. So, when Jesus talked about it under a tree, he sat nearby and listened.

You shall not kill.You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.You shall not bear false witness.Honor your father and motherLove your neighbor as yourself.

Nothing seditious here. The “You shall not kill,” got to Justinian. Had he not killed dozens in the wars in Germany?

“If you seek perfection, give all you have to the poor and come follow me.”

And Justinian heard him say that if you do give up your home, broth-ers, and sisters, you will inherit eternal life.

“Eternal life?” That was a new one for Justinian. Could someone live eternally? None of his Roman Gods or Emperor Gods could even talk of such things. Jupiter, Juno, Mars, Vesta, Apollo promised no such thing no matter what you did.

“Does this make sense?” he asked Ius.

Ius was unsure how to answer the question. So far he was just a young lad along for the ride.

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