The Zealot

              I woke up feeling wary and looked out my window. There was a group of Roman soldiers walking by. I felt a flash of anger when I saw them, just like usual. I had a strong urge to get my sword from under my bed and join with the other zealots of the city in a mad riot of attacking any Roman we could get our hands on. But the glorious vision passed, and I got on with my day.

            Walking down the street I thought about the crazy rule of the Romans. Those idolatrous pagans had no right to rule over God’s chosen people! It was so maddening. I lived every day waiting for the moment when the other zealots and I could rise up and go to war. We would fight until we had freedom! Until then, my life felt like it had no purpose.

            I stopped to retie my sandal. As I did so, a man with his wife and children drove by on camelback. Amid the noise of the street, I heard him say to his kids, “We’re going to the wilderness to be baptized…” I couldn’t figure out why those words had been so clear in my ears, or why I wanted to go with them. Before I knew what I was doing, I ran after them calling, “Please, which way are you going?”

            “We’re going to see John the Baptist,” he said slowly. He was obviously unsure of what my response to that would be.

            “Can I come with you?” I asked, still not really sure what I was doing and feeling out of character.

            The man looked extremely relieved that I wasn’t cursing him. “Sure,” he said smiling. I rented a camel from a stand that, coincidentally, was right next to where we were standing.

            I rode behind the family quietly, not wanting to disturb them. I still wasn’t sure why I was going to the wilderness to see a guy that had grown up the son of a priest but wore camel’s hair and ate locusts and honey. I also wasn’t sure why I couldn’t turn back.

            Eventually, we made it to the Jordan River. I stood on the riverbank watching people be baptized. I watched as John pushed people’s heads under the water one by one. Then, a man waded out to where the Baptist was. A look of awe crossed John’s face. He said something to the man. Then, still stunned, he baptized him. As soon as he came out of the water, something amazing happened. There was a booming voice coming out of the sky saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

            I wondered if I had been imagining it. Everything in my mind told me I was going crazy, that I should just turn around and go make a sacrifice at the temple for even coming down here in the first place. But my heart told me something different. I had to follow this man. Maybe there was an answer other than war. Maybe there was something bigger. I didn’t know what, but I was going to find out.
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