Jerusalem's Hope Read Online Free

inches of progress. Or they could attempt to turn and run before the wind, risking being capsized or swamped.
    Lives were lost every year on the lake in storms like this.
    Yet Yeshua didn’t act anxious for his friends. Matter-of-factly he said to the boys, “I must go to them. Walk with me toward the shore.”
    How could Yeshua provide any assistance to the endangered talmidim? Emet wondered. Was there another stronger vessel available somewhere?
    As they approached the highway that skirted the eastern shore, Yeshua gave a rucksack of barley loaves to Avel, Emet, and Ha-or Tov. “Avel, you are the shepherd of your brothers on this journey. Travel by the light of the moon. Go south. Along the way you’ll meet a man you’ve met before. He’ll lead you on a donkey over Jordan. After you cross the river, travel no farther with him. Go straight to Beth-lehem, to Migdal Eder, the Tower of the Flock. There find the shepherd Zadok. The lamb is the key to understanding Torah. Stay with Zadok till I arrive.”
    â€œWhy?” Emet asked.
    â€œKings, priests, and prophets have longed to know the secret this old shepherd keeps hidden in his heart.”
    â€œBut when will we see you again?” Emet’s heart began to pound; panic rose in his throat.
    â€œLook for the lamb.”
    What could Yeshua mean? Emet wondered. The fields were full of lambs this season of the year.
    â€œBut how can we prove you sent us?” Avel asked.
    Gathering the three boys once more in his embrace, Yeshua said, “Tell Zadok that Immanu’el sent you to him. Tell him Immanu’el is coming. Tell him that mourners are blessed, for they will be comforted. Don’t share this message with anyone else. It’s meant for Zadok alone. Be on your guard. There’s danger ahead. Wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing are traveling the same road you travel. . . . Now I must go.” Yeshua set his chin resolutely into the gale.
    Go? Emet wondered as he and his friends reluctantly parted from their Rabbi. We have this paved road to follow, but what about him? No boat can sail into this wind.
    Beams of moonlight carved an argent path across the water, creating a highway of burnished silver on the surface of the lake. Onto this thoroughfare of light Yeshua confidently stepped, striding out toward the center of the sea as if walking the broad avenue that connected Jerusalem’s Temple Mount with the western hill of the Holy City.
    Could it be? Avel stooped and dipped his fingers in the water. Cupping his hands he lifted the liquid to show Emet and Ha-or Tov.
    They watched Yeshua until he was out of sight. Ha-or Tov continued to report Yeshua’s steady progress long after he disappeared from Emet’s view. Then the three set out for Beth-lehem.

    The wind howled across the Sea of Galilee from west to east. The moon, like a sail unfurled, set its course into the teeth of the storm. It was still more than a week until Passover and already the hills of the Galil were dotted with campfires of pilgrims moving south to Jerusalem.
    Nakdimon ben Gurion, wrapped in his cloak, sheltered in the lee of a boulder. There was a voice in this cloudless tempest. It howled a warning in Nakdimon’s ears.
    Metatron! Metatron! Metatron!
    Was Yeshua of Nazareth the manifestation of Elohim ’s Presence? The Being who moved in and out of the Cloud of Unknowing that surrounded the omnipotent God’s throne? Disguised for His visit to earth, the one called the Angel of the Lord promised Abraham a son in his old age and made a blood covenant conveying a blessing on all the earth through Abraham.
    He had wrestled Jacob on the riverbank and named him Isra’el.
    He had spoken to Moses from the burning bush and led the children of Israel out of bondage through the sea and into the Promised Land.
    If Yeshua was that One, someday He would drop his mortal disguise. And then men, seeing the truth of who and what He was