“At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden,
and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid” (John
I am the gardener. My work is hard. Not long ago, my employer hired workers to carve a burial tomb in the rocky hillside here in the garden. Those workers trampled my plantings. It is only with the new growth of springtime that I have been able to cover up their damage.
The garden itself is just outside the walled city of
Perhaps I mention it because right now I am thinking of the Romans. They selected property just next to this garden to use as their killing field. They crucify there regularly. Even with the hedges I have planted to screen them from view, from certain parts of the garden I can still see the crosses. When I see them, I remember hearing the rabbi read from the Torah in synagogue something about everyone who hangs upon a tree is under God’s curse. That must be true, judging by what I have seen happen on that hill. They have ruined our neighborhood.
Three crosses have been there since mid-morning today. Some-times the criminals hang there several days. But this is a holy season and tomorrow is a special Sabbath. Even in an ordinary week our priests object to bodies being left there on the Sabbath, so I am sure they will have things cleared away by sundown.
Today’s executions may have something to do with disturbances that have kept our holy city uneasy for the past week. I have heard that even the high priest and most influential of the teachers of the law have been involved, so whatever it is must be really bad. They say someone is claiming to be King of the Jews and even the son of the Most High. I can see why this would cause trouble. My employer, Joseph of Arimathea, is not only wealthy, but is very wise and a member of the great Council. He understands all about it, I’m sure. I will stay inside my garden and it will have nothing to do with me here.
It’s only noontime. Is it growing dark?