I, Criminal

Abigail Henderson

Description

In the time of Christ, a loving family of mixed backgrounds fights prejudice, but also danger in Jerusalem while clinging to their faith and dedication to each other.

Take a step back in time, and follow the journey of a culturally and religiously mixed family. They live in Galilee at the time of Christ. This clan is made up of those born Jewish and those who have converted to the faith. Sadly, not all people living nearby looked favorably on such a union.



Despite outside and inner judgments, this family inherits land to work. They tithe and struggle to make ends meet but continue loving each other. They also love God, His Law, and their Passover trips to Jerusalem.



Prejudice continues, and crisis hits the family. Some leave farming and turn to fishing in the Sea of Galilee. Far away, Rome is in charge, ruling as a nation without mercy. When the spiritual landscape of Israel and Samaria is changed, Jerusalem becomes a city of danger and intrigue. Yet, faith is spawned on even the darkest of days.

Sujets

• Religious
• El legado
• Jesús de Nazaret
• Jesus
• Prisoner
• Passover
• Inheritance
• Galilee
• Cross
• Pessa'h
• Fiction
• Jésus de Nazareth

Informations

• Publié par: WestBow Press
• Date de parution: 10 mars 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781664289796
• Langue: English

Extrait

I, CRIMINAL
Rare Faith Series
 
 
 
 
ABIGAIL HENDERSON
 
 
 
 

 
Copyright © 2023 Abigail Henderson.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
 
WestBow Press
A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.westbowpress.com
844-714-3454
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
Interior Image Credit: Megan Taylor
 
Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
 
ISBN: 978-1-6642-8980-2 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-8981-9 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-8979-6 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2023900891
 
WestBow Press rev. date: 03/03/2023
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1A Storm
Chapter 2Miriam and Salome
Chapter 3The Year of Rest
Chapter 4Sowing
Chapter 5A Birth
Chapter 6Asher Sings
Chapter 7Back to Jerusalem
Chapter 8Growing Up
Chapter 9Asher
Chapter 10Good News
Chapter 11Reaping and Bartering
Chapter 12Return to Jerusalem
Chapter 13Becoming Fishermen
Chapter 14Samaritan Cousins
Chapter 15Target Practice
Chapter 16John the Baptist
Chapter 17Fishers of Men
Chapter 18The Woman at the Well
Chapter 19The Ministry of Jesus
Chapter 20The Question of Authority
Chapter 21Sea of Miracles
Chapter 22Meal of Miracles
Chapter 23Good Samaritans
Chapter 24Palm Branches
Chapter 25A Theft in the Market
Chapter 26Taking What Is Ours
Chapter 27Cellmates
Chapter 28The Start of It
Chapter 29Breaking Through
Chapter 30Surprise
Chapter 31Trials
Chapter 32Crucify
Chapter 33It Is Finished
Chapter 34Caleb’s Ascent
Epilogue
Family trees
Reference Books Used
Citations
About the Author
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I want to thank our son Rob for the tremendous gift of The Harmony of the Four Gospels by Orville E. Daniel. This story line could not have been written without it. I want to thank my husband Kenton for being the first to read the entire book. Our daughter Angie was next. Your encouragement was so valuable. Editing of the second edition is by Kenton and myself and WestBow Press editorial staff. The suggestion for chapters 30 and 31 were given by Adam Hu (adamhuartist.com). Megan Taylor of taylored-co.com was vital for the graphic design and cover photography. Inspiration that helped fill my soul was the song “Redeemer” by Nicole C. Mullen, 2000. I want to thank Kenton for your ongoing enthusiasm and your ever-needed support and patience. This came to completion in its entirety with your help. Above all, I thank my Redeemer and Saviour Jesus Christ. This is purposed for Your g lory.
 
In ancient Israel, there was a dialect of the Hebrew language that was distinct to Galilee. This dialect made Galileans recognizable to others. To state it briefly, they “dropped their ‘aitches.’” 1 Of course, their dialect would have sounded different from anything we hear today in English. Nevertheless, the Galileans in this book drop the letter “h” in an attempt to simulate their historical dialect. Scriptures will still be intact.
Because this is biblical fiction, I ask that you look carefully at the placement of quotations. It is important to distinguish where the fictional depiction of a person ends and where the facts of scripture begin. Events and dialogue recorded from the Bible will be shown in italics with the citation at the end of the quote. My hope is that you will be challenged and that your faith will grow as you read these events involving Jesus and the true words He spoke. My hope is even more so that you will come to know Him better and love Him more.
I consulted reference books as I described life at the time of Christ, starting around AD 24 or CE. Since I do not quote these books literally, I refer to them as general resources. I greatly appreciate the help provided by these authors.
I appreciate even more the tireless help of my husband and the patient support and love of my family and friends.
Blessings to readers and your loved ones,
Abigail Henderson
October 29, 2022
CHAPTER 1 A Storm
F our-year-old Caleb clung to his older brother Jonathan for dear life as the boat tossed violently in the waves. The two men steering struggled to row against the wind. As water crashed against the side and splashed into Caleb’s eyes, he began to cry. Asher, his father, stopped rowing and held his youngest son tight with one arm while bracing himself against the gunwale with the other. He directed his eldest son, Joseph, to take his place at the oars.
“’Old on, everyone! The waves are getting bigger!” yelled Uncle Malachi.
Just then, water slammed into the side of the boat, knocking Malachi down. Dazed, he instinctively grabbed the oars to turn the front of the boat into the waves and keep it from tipping over. “We’ll just ’ave to ride it out. I ’ave been through worse than this!” he yelled, trying to reassure the other four passengers.
Joseph, who was new to rowing, fought against the wind and waves. He had never been through a storm like this and worked hard to hide his fear from the others. Asher looked proudly at his eldest son as another large wave lifted the front of the boat high into the air. After the vessel passed over the crest, the bow crashed into the next wave. Water rushed in, and Caleb would have been washed over the side if Asher were not holding him tightly.
That was the last of the big waves. Joseph was getting the hang of rowing. He worked with Malachi to keep the boat straight. Fifteen minutes later, the wind had passed, and all that remained was a light rain.
Jonathan patted Caleb’s back a bit then said, “Get ready to play.” He laughed and scooped up water with his oar to splash everyone. Uncle Malachi and Father joined in. Caleb let out a sigh of relief as he launched his own small splash. He enjoyed switching from fear to fun.
Asher began scooping rainwater out of the boat with a bucket. There were two more buckets, picked up by Uncle Malachi and Joseph. After ten minutes, Joseph handed his bucket to Jonathan. Caleb pulled on Father’s robe, asking for his bucket. Asher passed it to him, and soon the boat was empty.
Malachi was a fisherman by trade, and his older brother and nephews often joined him on the water when they were not too busy tending their wheat fields. Watching them, Malachi quietly looked forward to the day his two-year-old son Noah could join them too. He also could not wait to meet his and his wife Sarah’s second-born, who would arrive in months. Sarah followed Malachi’s lead in love and temperament. She was good to Salome, Asher’s wife, and the boys. Malachi loved to joke with all of them and wrestle with the boys and Asher. On occasion, he caught Asher off guard, and both men were soon laughing.
Asher and Malachi’s families thrived in Tiberias, on the western coast of the Sea of Galilee. Salome was a content proselyte Jew— a Gentile who had converted to the faith. She was learning the Hebrew language and culture as well as the Word of God. Not all Jews looked favorably on such a union, but Asher and Salome were happy. Their children learned and spoke Aramaic and some Hebrew at home. Later they would learn a workable amount of Greek since Galilee had tradesmen from multiple areas. Salome was the best Aramaic teacher, hailing from Sychar in Samaria.
Salome was proud of her youngest son, Caleb, as he was learning the work that kept the family going. Often Asher would send Caleb out to the wheat field to help his brothers when Salome needed rest. He was taught to follow them carefully.
“Josuf, Jona’dan! Wait for me!” Caleb called out as he watched them water wheat stalks in midsummer. “’Ow do you do dat?”
“Watch carefully, Caleb. The watering pail has a spout ’ere,” Joseph said, tipping his pail from the bar across his shoulders. “Let the water fall out of the pail as slowly as you can.”
“I’m ’fraid to do it myself,” Caleb answered.
Joseph became impatient, but Jonathan whispered, “’E is new at it, Joseph.”
Caleb leaned into Jonathan, letting three teardrops fall.
CHAPTER 2 Miriam and Salome
A fter the men returned to the sea the following day, Salome set out to try, once again, to make friends with her sister-in-law, Miriam.
“Greetings, Miriam,” Salome called in a pleasant voice. “I came to ’elp you with washing.”
Salome loved Asher’s younger sister, sixteen, despite her unkind and even cold manner. “’Ow would you know it is wash day?” Miriam asked with not a little hostility.
“Because I often wash clothes on the same day. But I will delay until