Free Indeed; Chapter 3

 

Free Indeed; Chapter 3

© 2025 by Amber Wright

Date: AD 30

Place: Jerusalem & Galilee

Alexandros watched Joanna leave with her small bundle of things. If it had not been for her, he would be dead now. He should thank her—before he would see her no more.

Within a couple minutes, he had his own donkey saddled. Then he started after her. Already, she was a small figure upon the horizon. The donkey jolted beneath him as it trotted alongside the Sea of Galilee. He glanced over and saw men in a fishing boat. One man was standing up, speaking to a crowd that was gathering on the shore.

“Alexandros!” a girl’s voice startled him.

Alexandros jerked his eyes from the sea. He had caught up with Joanna and she was standing beside his donkey on the road. He smiled. “I see I caught up with you.”

She blinked and a look of fear came to her eyes. “Has the master changed his mind? Am I no longer free?”

“No, my father has not changed his mind. You are indeed free.” Alexandros smiled again and Joanna’s look of fear melted into a smile.

“Oh, I see.”

Alexandros cleared his throat. And it took him a moment to find the right tone to say the words that he had never used before. “I have come to thank you.”

“Thank me—for what?”

“For telling my father about—”

“The man who speaks upon that boat over there?” Joanna pointed to the sea almost excitedly. “You are welcome. Now, I must go to him. He knows a woman who can care for me—since I am young.”

Alexandros slid from his donkey. “Then I will let you ride. Your bundle must be heavy.”

“Thank you, Alexandros.” Joanna sounded grateful and climbed up on the donkey. Once seated in proper position, she placed her bundle onto her lap.

Then Alexandros took the reins of his donkey and began leading it to the crowd by the Sea of Galilee. Joanna looked pleased as she glanced around at everything. Inside, he smiled. Doing such a little thing—such as leading the donkey and letting Joanna ride instead of him—made him feel fulfilled. He was glad he had not died. And he was glad he had a chance to live again.

He heard the man from the boat speaking again. This time, the man was standing on the shore. “Please sit.”

Everyone began to sit on the grassy hillside. Alexandros hurriedly finished his walk by taking bigger steps and helping Joanna from the donkey; then, he tied the reins to a small tree. They walked into the circle of people crowded on top of the hill and sat down with the others. The man who had been speaking on the boat bowed his head.

After the man gave thanks, Alexandros opened his eyes. In the man’s hands was a small basket of food. The man began breaking the bread and fish…and then the amazing thing happened. The food began to multiply…and everyone began to eat.

“This food—how did it grow like that?” Alexandros asked Joanna in disbelief.

“If he can make you well, why can he not make food grow?”

Alexandros nodded numbly. He had witnessed his first miracle with his own eyes. God was still God—even then.

• • •

A year later, they were all in Jerusalem to celebrate one of the Jewish feasts. And once again, the Roman games and competitions were being held. In the middle of their walk through the city, Alexandros heard loud cheers and noticed that they were passing the arena.

“Two years ago,” he told the group almost proudly, “I won a footrace there.”

“You wish to go in there?” Jesus asked him, with eyebrows raised in question.

They stopped at the arena entrance, and Alexandros looked in. The footraces had just begun. Last year, the place looked inviting—but today, it seemed different.

“I don’t know,” he swallowed.

Where your heart is, there is your treasure. He remembered Jesus saying those words once. Was his heart into the arena—or with following Jesus? He knew he had to make his choice. But what would his decision be?

“Should I or…” His words halted slowly.

“The choice is yours, Alexandros.” Jesus told him. “Make your decision.”

Alexandros looked again into the arena entrance. Inside, the layers of seats were packed with people. The wild shouts within, that had once thrilled him, sounded empty now. Now that he had been filled with something greater, could he possibly go back to the old life he had lived?

He turned back around, hearing a loud commotion behind him. Jesus was still there, but he had stooped and was now writing on the ground. A few priests were there in a tight group, and before them was a woman.

Alexandros stared at them yet he did not hear them. In his mind, he was still whirling with decision. The last time he had entered the arena, he had nearly died. But God had saved his life when Jesus had touched him. Now, inside he felt different—good, clean, kind, right. As if waking up, his thoughts suddenly cleared. Now the priests were gone, and Jesus was speaking to the woman.

“Go,” Jesus told the woman who had her face downcast, “and sin no more.”

Alexandros blinked. Then he knew what his decision was. Jesus had made up his mind for him. It was simple to him now. He was full inside. He no longer needed the empty pleasures the Roman arena could give him. He was following Jesus and—to him—that was all that mattered now.

He felt the last shred of darkness break away from inside his heart. Then he took a step forward, and walked towards Jesus and the crowd that was gathering. He did not look back. His eyes were centered on something greater—and more wonderful.

Jesus was speaking again. “I am the light of the world...”

If the Son therefore shall make

you free, ye shall be free indeed.

John 8:36