A Family From Bethany (part 3)

Lazarus' condition became progressively worse as the day wore on. His fever rose, and by nightfall he was delirious. Martha and Mary knew their only hope lay with Jesus' healing power.

Samuel had left in mid-afternoon to search for Jesus somewhere in the Jordan River valley. He went down to Jericho, truly down. The 12 miles route from Bethany to Jericho dropped 4,000 feet in altitude, winding through arid rocky outcroppings. There were no villages, only one building, an inn halfway along the route. The only people aside from the innkeeper and his family were robbers who frequented the desolate area, preying on travelers.

Usually travelers on the route waited until morning to travel in the security of a large group. Samuel had decided to run the risk of setting out alone. Lazarus' condition was too critical to wait until morning. He gave a sigh of relief and a prayer of praise to God when he came within sight of the green Jericho oasis.

The sun was just beginning to set behind the high precipices on the western side of the valley. In Jericho's main square Samuel found some travelers who had arrived from the north, coming from Galilee along the Jordan River road. They were from Capernaum where Jesus had lived for the past three years. Not only did they know him. They had seen him that very morning about 18 miles back. He and his disciples were camped out across the Jordan River. It was a safe place, since the jurisdiction of both Pontius Pilate and the Jewish High Priest ended at the river. That didn't stop the people from coming, however. The travelers told Samuel there must have been at least 300 people there, some who obviously had gone out seeking a healing while others were being baptized as Jesus' disciples. The site would be easy to find.

Samuel thanked the travelers for their help. Just a few blocks from the square, he knocked on the door of a familiar house.

"Samuel, Shalom, my friend! What brings you to Jericho at such an hour?" Eleazar welcomed his friend with a hug. His wife Esther poured some water over Samuel's dusty hands and feet and anointed his forehead with a pleasant scented oil. The two men sat down on some mats while Esther brought some wheat cakes, goat cheese and fresh fruit along with a flask of wine. Eleazar had grown up in Bethany and had attended synagogue school along with Samuel. While they ate and drank, Samuel told Eleazar about Lazarus' accident and how vital it was to find Jesus as soon as possible.

"Look, my friend. I, too, remember Lazarus with great affection. If, as the travelers said, the encampment is easy to find, let us set out together tonight. The Jordan road is safe, and we can return here with Jesus before the Sabbath begins at sunset. Then, after the Sabbath rest, you can be in Bethany with Jesus on Sunday."

Eleazar's words made sense. They decided to rest up for a couple hours before setting out, but Samuel just tossed and turned. His concern for Lazarus would not allow him to sleep until he had found Jesus. It was around midnight when they stepped out on the deserted streets of Jericho. The date palms and flowers lent their perfumed scent to the crisp night air, and the stars sparkled clearly.

Once outside the city and the nourishing waters of the oasis, the desert took over for four treeless miles until they reached the Jordan where the road turned north to follow the river. They walked on in silence, feeling vulnerable to the unknown in the enveloping darkness while entrusting themselves and their friend Lazarus to the Lord with every step. A light haze was just beginning to show above the valley wall to the east when they saw what appeared in the light of a few lamps to be a camp near the river a little ways ahead of them. (to be continued)