The Samaritan 5 - A Journey and a Story

Azariah and Abigail are Samaritans, outcasts among the Jewish people of New Testament times.  But one day there comes a stranger to the well they use - and life will never be the same..  Written and produced by Colm Flanagan.

Produced by Commission Christian Radio

Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:09

Commission presents The Samaritan, a six-part drama by Colum Flanagan. Episode 5: A Journey and a Story.

SPEAKER_01 0:28

When I awoke early the morning after Jesus had visited my home, it felt well, strange. The everyday things I saw about me seemed to become less real. I had a small job to do in a street not far away, and after having breakfast, I went off, tools in hand. But somehow I just couldn't concentrate properly on stonework, and after an hour or so, pleading a headache, I went home. So I came away. It all seems well, like a kind of dream.

SPEAKER_00 1:01

I feel the same, Azariah.

SPEAKER_01 1:03

I never imagined I'd be going up to Jerusalem like this. It's about four days' journey from here. I think Jesus is planning to cross the lake and follow the road via Jericho. His follower, Simon Peter, has organized a boat so we don't have to go north round the tip of the lake. But all of this it's not how I expected my life to be.

SPEAKER_00 1:26

I'll miss you when you're away. While you were working, I went to the market. I didn't feel so alone there as I used to. People are being much more friendly to me now.

SPEAKER_01 1:36

Have you been telling anyone that we're getting married?

SPEAKER_00 1:38

No, not yet, so it can't be that. Jesus has changed other people's lives, as well as ours.

SPEAKER_01 1:45

Do you want to come with me to Jerusalem?

SPEAKER_00 1:48

No, Azariah. It's kind of you to think of that, but I think I'd rather stay here for now anyway. I can maybe talk to more people. Some of the things Jesus said to me need a lot of thought, but if I'm right, his followers will be a force for good in this world, and Sykar could do with that.

SPEAKER_01 2:07

I felt much better after having talked this over with Abigail. I went back to Elias' house and completed my work there. Then it was time to prepare for the next day's journey.

SPEAKER_06 2:18

So here you are, Azariah. On a boat on the lake.

SPEAKER_01 2:22

Have you done much sailing? None at all, Andrew. There's not a lot of work for a stonemason on a boat. I'm glad it's a good day. I believe you can get some pretty fierce wind and sea here in Galilee. Oh, you're right.

SPEAKER_06 2:36

We've had some very scary experiences on this lake. Some of them with Jesus. Yeah, there was one time when we were in the middle of a terrible storm, and Jesus appeared. Walking on the water. What? It's true. We were petrified with fear. Might have jumped out of the boat. That's exactly what Peter did. But not with fear. When we realized who it was, I called out and he said, Come over to me. So I found myself walking over the waves towards him. That must have been so amazing for you. Yes, it was. And as long as I kept my eyes on Jesus. But but but Peter got scared. I saw him beginning to look around at the waves and at the sky. And I began to sink. But suddenly, Jesus was there with us. In the boat. With Peter. But I learned that day to focus my eyes on Jesus. Without him we're nothing.

SPEAKER_01 3:40

And with him, nothing evil will happen. I'm beginning to see why you've all followed him. How long before we get to the other side? Oh, about an hour or so, Azariah.

SPEAKER_06 3:50

Then it's on the road again to Jerusalem for the feast.

SPEAKER_01 3:54

We travelled onwards, and after a few days, we're on the last leg of our journey, the road from Jericho to Jerusalem. It wind up into the hills above the river Jordan Valley, and this part of it had a bad reputation. But we were safe as a group. As we approached Jerusalem, Jesus was met by a group of men whom I took to be synagogue leaders of some sort, Pharisees, who were responsible for upholding the Jewish laws, and some scribes who were sort of legal adjuncts to this, very knowledgeable about the law. They had Jesus in their sights. Now they had a question. It seemed simple at first.

SPEAKER_06 4:36

Greetings, Rabbi Jesus. I trust you had a safe journey from Nazareth.

SPEAKER_05 4:41

Indeed, we have. My colleagues and I have heard much of your deeds and words, Rabbi. And you show great concern for those around you.

SPEAKER_06 4:49

You're very kind. And with that in mind, may I ask you a question? Of course. What must I do to have eternal life?

SPEAKER_07 4:59

Ooh. That's a big question. Let me ask you one in return. Naturally, we turn to the scriptures for guidance, do we not?

SPEAKER_06 5:08

Yes, yes, of course. They're our foundation.

SPEAKER_07 5:12

What do they say?

SPEAKER_06 5:13

How do you understand them? The scriptures say, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind. They also say, love your neighbors as yourself.

SPEAKER_07 5:25

You've answered your own question then. If you do this, you will have eternal life.

SPEAKER_05 5:31

But who are my neighbors? Friends, colleagues, the person who lives beside me? It's not as simple as it seems, surely, Rabbi.

SPEAKER_07 5:40

Let me tell you a story. A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. You know what that road is like, don't you? Yes. It's well known for robbers. Exactly. Well, robbers attacked this man. They stole everything he had. And then they beat him up badly. Then they left him bleeding on the road. He was half dead.

SPEAKER_01 6:04

When Jesus began the story, everyone fell silent. I was standing near, and he glanced at me with a little half-smile on his face as if to say, listen, Azariah, what was he getting at?

SPEAKER_07 6:19

Now, very soon afterwards, a temple priest came along. And as he turned the corner, he could see the man lying prostrate on the stones, blood oozing from his wounds. What do you think the priest did? Well, I I don't know. He walked on by the other side and left him.

SPEAKER_05 6:41

Why do you think he would have done that? He would have become unclean himself. Purity before the law is very important. A good decision, then?

SPEAKER_07 6:51

Again, a temple helper. A Levite came across this man, and he did the same thing. These people also have to obey the law. Well, maybe he did the right thing in the law's eyes. Then a third man came along. When he saw the man, he was filled with pity. He treated his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged him. Then, as he had a donkey with him, he put the man onto it and took him to an inn. There he looked after him, and the following morning he gave the innkeeper enough money to pay the man's keep and said he would find more if need be. Now, which of these three people was a real neighbour to the man who was beaten up and robbed?

SPEAKER_05 7:41

Well, obviously, the third man.

SPEAKER_07 7:44

Correct. And do you know that third man was a Samaritan? What? A Samaritan? Surely not. We hate them, and they hate us. You heard what I said. He was a Samaritan. Does that surprise you? I see it does. Is hate all you can have? Do you not think that Samaritans can also be truly neighbors to those in distress?

SPEAKER_05 8:11

He showed pity, that's true, I suppose. But what about the law?

SPEAKER_07 8:17

Work it out for yourself. You said the law included loving your neighbor. If you've ears to hear, listen to what I am saying.

SPEAKER_01 8:28

After a bit of confused muttering, the Pharisees left us. Jesus had struck at the heart of their prejudices. He was saying that God makes no distinction between Jew and Samaritan. And I suppose that means every nation and tribe. It all made sense to me now. This was Jesus stating that his teaching of true love for God would have much wider application to the whole world, not just to us little people. And so we came to the village where we were going to stay the night with the friends of Jesus. I decided to stay at a tavern in the place, and was surprised to find two other people there I hadn't been expecting. Demetrius, you're a long way from home.

SPEAKER_02 9:14

So are you, Azariah? And what brings you here? A Samaritan coming up to Jerusalem? I'm with Jesus and his followers.

SPEAKER_01 9:21

Are you indeed? Well, well. How did that happen? I'll tell you later. What brings you here? And if I'm right, it's Jairus with you, isn't it? You're one of the synagogue leaders in Capernaum.

SPEAKER_03 9:34

That's right, Azariah. But I also am a follower of Jesus. He brought my daughter back to life some time ago, and that's why Demetrius and I are here.

SPEAKER_01 9:43

For the Passover feast? Well, I know it's the custom of all good Jews to make their way to Jerusalem at this time, if at all possible.

SPEAKER_02 9:50

Well, yes, that would be correct, although. Oh, I think we can tell Azariah our other important reason, Jairus. He can keep a secret. All right, Demetrius. You tell him. Azariah, do you remember the time you saw the crowd in Nazareth trying to kill Jesus? Of course. I would hardly forget it. I was with Servius that day. Yes, he told me that. Well, after what happened, I decided to keep a close eye on Jesus from Nazareth. I asked some of my officials to find out where he was going, listening in the crowd to him speaking, you know, that sort of thing, because I had a feeling he might be in more danger from more powerful forces than a small synagogue crowd in Nazareth.

SPEAKER_03 10:34

Then he brought my daughter back to life, Azariah.

SPEAKER_01 10:37

Brought her to life? But only God could do that. Oh, I understand. The healing hands of the Messiah. And then there was your friend, my servant, Isaac. Yes, but I still don't see why you needed to watch him so closely.

SPEAKER_02 10:56

Well, because others were beginning to take an interest who wouldn't be so sympathetic to someone proclaiming himself the Messiah. I began to get whispers from the governor's office that they wanted information on him. I believe Herod had a hand in this as well. Herod, king of the Jews, as he calls himself, has always been scared of a true Messiah. He's an Edomite, not a Jew, and he suffers from a terrible chip on his shoulder as a result.

SPEAKER_03 11:24

Not only that, but I heard that Caiaphas was taking an interest in Jesus. Caiaphas? Your high priest? Exactly. Not a man I respect. He has little faith except keeping things quiet so the Romans don't have any reason to get involved in a tricky situation. Things could get out of hand, and riot isn't popular with the Romans.

SPEAKER_02 11:45

So, Angirus and I decided to join forces, so to speak, to watch Jesus, to try and head off the other watches and send soothing reports to our superiors.

SPEAKER_03 11:56

It's worked well up until now. But Jesus coming to Jerusalem at Passover, it's dangerous. It could end very badly. Pilate the governor and Caiaphas are both getting very jittery about what Jesus is doing. He raised a man called Lazarus from the dead. Another? Yes, but this time in full view of the scribes and Pharisees in this part of the country. We already have heard from a mutual friend in the Sanhedrin that Caiaphas has said that one man might need to die for the nation. Meaning Jesus. Precisely.

SPEAKER_02 12:31

So we're going to very discreetly sound out people in the Sanhedrin and in Pilate's household who may be favorable to Jesus. You might be surprised where followers of Jesus are. If we need you, will you help us?

SPEAKER_01 12:46

Well, I don't see what I could do, but but whatever you ask, I'll do. I owe a great debt to Jesus. As we all do, Azariah. As we all do. That night, as I lay awake in the darkness, I felt uneasy. Earlier I'd heard Jesus talking about death and sacrifice. I wasn't sure what he meant not being schooled in the Jewish scriptures, but it had sounded a bit ominous. I overheard one of the followers, Thomas, saying to Andrew, I told you we'd all have to die with him in Jerusalem. If Jesus was God, how could anyone kill him? But if he did die, then wouldn't that prove he was a false Messiah? Not God at all? So a liar or a madman with delusions. Either way, my life might go into a meaningless mess, and that was something I just didn't want to consider. I tried not to worry, I didn't really succeed. But maybe tomorrow would bring some better news. I finally fell asleep and dreamt of Abigail and Sycar all so far away now.

SPEAKER_04 14:17

In episode 5 of The Samaritan, Azariah was played by Mark Canny, Jesus was played by Mark Smith, Demetrius by John Lander, and Jaris by Stephen Looney, with other parts by members of the Commission radio drama team. The programme was written and produced by Colin Flanagan at Commission Studios in Belfast, Northern Ireland.