ZACHYS TREASURE

CHAPTER 1
Yes! This guys cute, rich, young enough, a go-getter, sleek, savvy, dappy, sharp and
smart. Not particularly popular but what does he care. Hes got it made. After all, wasnt he in
cahoots with those that matter? I mean when you have what this guy has, youve got it made...
Or so youd think or want everyone to think.
True, Zachy was not a tall man, but he worked out regularly in his home gym so he was
in pretty good shape. And with his wealth and position and the Chief Tax Officer for the region,
he had married one of the most beautiful ladies in the city. He was envied by his peers although
he had several other playmates at his beck and call whenever he felt like it.
He had two wonderful sons and one adorable daughter using common parlance, that
is. He more than anyone else knew they were not quite that fantastic. An addition to his growing
worries was what they were. Yes, most people would envy Zachy judging from the outside which
he tried his damnest to keep up with. But not if they knew the gravity of his situation and just
how desperate he was becoming, they would have a quick rethink
The fact was that Smart Zachs got problems nobody else but he knows about starting
with a serious guilty conscience piled on a mountain-high inferiority complex, kneaded with a
good dose of fear. The reasons were pretty obvious.
The source of his wealth for example, is a public secret a well-known secret that has
robbed him completely of anything called friendship, multiplied his inferiority complex tenfold,
and annihilated his peace, if he ever had any such thing. But they didnt know the half of the
secret of his wealth. Oh, no. that was the mother of all secrets. And the day it stopped being that
would be the end of him! There was so much more to it than anyone could ever imagine.
Nevertheless, Zachy defiantly strutted down the cobbled street this beautiful spring
morning, pretending he had no care in the world, but - and here comes one of the many big
BUTs in Zachys life he did have many cares. How on earth did I get here? he wondered
silently, squinting at the morning sun.
He had a good suspicion about the genesis of the whole thing. Wasnt it the day he
decided to adopt everyone for himself as his lifes guiding principle? Or was it the one of
survival of the fittest that soon superseded that one?
So far as Zachy was concerned then, this was a natural evolution. I needed to do what
had to be done to survive. But why did that word keep popping up so often this days? it was
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ZACHYS TREASURE
ironic that that was about all he had to show for his pains after so many years! In spite of his
wealth and position, he was just barely surviving.
Come to think of it, he wondered yet again to himself, is this even what one call
surviving? If this is surviving, then I think Id rather not survive anymore. How he wished he had
a chance to go back and start all over again. One would have thought that all the money he had
made since then would have made him happier and surer of himself; would have compensated
adequately for his abnormal physical starue and soothed his guilty conscience. But Zachy
knows better today.
The nightmare - the same one every night was agonizing. The fingers of dead men,
women and children, pointing at him and shouting Murderer! Murderer! Over and over again.
Every single night! It was unbearable.
But I have never killed anyone in my life, he reflected, so why this recurring dream? And most
importantly, why do I feel so guilty about it?
If they had shouted Traitor! Traitor! Zachy could have dealt with that. Somewhere along
the line he had come up with his own warped logic to counter that now overused accusation of
his compatriots. If he was a traitor, then so were they, and doubly so. If these fingers had called
him traitor, then he would not feel so terrified and would simply have called them traitor right
back!
Imagine a Jew, reporting a fellow Jew, their own brother, to a Roman! Some of them
tried that at first, forgetting that the Romans were actually the ones behind his selection, and
that someone had to do the job. If while he was about it, he decided to butter his own bread a
little, why should they feel so aggrieved about that? Most of their religious leaders did just that,
and all they did was smile and give even more! So why not Zachy? Besides, he could bet his
last drachma that most of them would do exactly what he was doing if they had the opportunity
he had. Nothing as detestable as a sanctimonious hypocrite, was Zachys furious mumble.
Well, at least they now knew better than to complain to the same government officials
who gave him in the authority to do the job in the first place. Moreover, Zachy always made sure
those who got him the position got their share of the loot and he kept them happy in other
ways too! Many were the daughters of his people who were being kept in a style they were not
accustomed to because of him! And their families benefited indirectly too although they only
seemed to hate him even more for the favour!

ZACHYS TREASURE
In any case, everyone knew better than to report him to the officials anymore. They
always paid up nice and quiet most of the time now. Of course some still pleaded and tried to
cajole him to relent, but Zachy never yielded to all that. He didnt give damn if, as he suspected,
that made them have him even more. Zachys annoyance was soon replaced by that feeling of
unexpected remorse that crept up on him unawares more and more often these days. This was
probably because Zachy really did give a damn.
There was time a very long time ago but maybe he had better not think of those
days now. They were in the past, and it was much too late in his life to think about that. The
bottom-line was that the wealth he had been able to amass had transformed itself into an
albatross around his neck. Its weight was pressing on him much more than he could bear. He
felt shorter than ever before in his life in spite of the fact that fought it furiously by always
applying his own peculiar logic in an attempt to reduce the pressure. One of the strongest was
linked to his pet hate although you wouldnt know it when they got together to do business.
Well as they say, business is business. No point getting all emotional about it.
If their religious leaders who skin them alive can get away with it, so can I, Zachy
sniggered silently to himself. Let them hate me as much as they like. At least he was not
pretending to be holier than thou like those nasty Pharisees!
Why are these people so dumb? he wondered. I guess the Good Book did not refer to them as
sheep for nothing. Sheep, after all, were dumb. Zachy would have been much more liberal with
some of those he handled if they would only be a bit more reasonable. But they were often so,
so proud even in their poverty. They never bothered to hide their disgust of him except of
course when they were in truly dire straits and then they would snivel and beg like the beggars
that they were which would make Zachy feel even irritated.
He sometimes day-dreamed about what could have been if he had not chosen to flee to
the city where he believed things were happening. A very short while after arriving in the city,
he had been forced to compromise every single ideal, value, and ethical standard he ever knew
or had ever been taught. Worse still, he had also compromised many along his way to
becoming the Chief of the League. And all he had to show for it today was this constant fear,
this feeling of impending doom, threats on his life, sleepless nights, nightmares, a nagging wife,
and wayward children. What a choice!
This thought made him reflect on what used to be. Had he not rebelled against the
oppression and stayed in the village to farm his family land, he probably would have married his
childhood sweetheart. Then he would have remained close to his beloved God-fearing parents,
and raised simple obedient children peacefully in a close, loving, community. There, he would
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ZACHYS TREASURE
have had fresh organic food to eat, fresh air to breathe, and joy, peace and laughter all around
him especially during community events
Hey, cool it! he spoke quickly to himself. Now he was beginning to romanticize village
life, when he knew very well that this was not necessarily so pleasant, either. Was it not the
oppression, poverty and hardship in his village that had gotten him where he was today? Had
the sick oppressors disappeared from the village? The only valid reason for any nostalgia for
village life was his devoted and God-fearing mother. Otherwise, corruption in the village was just
as bad as in the city. The only difference was that they manifested in slightly different ways.

ZACHYS TREASURE
CHAPTER 2
Zachy now recalled how bitter he had been back then and still is against the greedy
oppressors of the people who used either power and/position to compel his people to bear an
increasingly greater burden than they could bear, and thus fall deeper and deeper into
bondage.
The administrative authorities demanded too much from the poor communities,
supposedly to implement projects for the good of the people when they were in fact diverting
the funds for their own personal use. At least the ruling power did not use the name of any god
to rob the people. Rather, they declared a law and used human agents to enforce its application,
steering clear of religion. Furthermore, to a large extent, they abided by the laws they made,
and welcomed and treated anyone that was ready to work with them very well. That was Pax
Romana for you!
On their part however, the religious authorities, appointed mostly contrary to tradition by
that cunning fox Herod, manipulated the people shamelessly in order to control them and
defraud them of their hard-earned but scarce income. Oh yes! Zachy had almost always seen
through them all. It was in fact because he first noticed this trend at a very young age among
the religious authorities of all places, that his bitterness against them was so deep-seated and
fierce.
Meanwhile in contrast to the hatred that his people had for the Romans and even Jews
they called liked to call collaborators, the religious leaders still had such great and loyal
followership from people they treated worse than their cattle! Well, Zachy wasnt standing for
that and he had taken action.
At that time, he had considered himself an activist, a radical, a rebel, and no apologies to
anyone. He had strongly believed that, with a few more Jews like him, power would change
hands in no time at all. He had started by trying Johnnys approach. But all that sitting down to
read the Book and memorizing it was moving much too slow for him. There was the here and
now, and there was the soon coming Liberator. But after thousands of years, who knew if he
was even ever coming. With the persuasion of another group, he had soon imbibed and started
applying the principle of doing what you need to do to get where you want to get.
But, yes, another big but, the problem was that he was beginning to realize more and
more that in the process of making it and freeing himself from the oppressors, he himself had
become just like them!!!

ZACHYS TREASURE
Zachys mind now drifted to what he now considered to be the perfect analogy of what had bad
been his undoing sin.
Sin was like this terrible plague that springs up from time to time in some parts of the world. All
that you needed to get infected was to be physically close to a person infected when it starts
manifesting, and you would catch it! And there was no need for any particular intimacy at that!
Just simple close like caring for the person was enough as even the sweat of the sick person
was infectious. And the victim sure produces many different kinds of fluid from the orifices of the
body during the last stages so the possibility of being infected only continued to grow as the
disease attacks all the tissues of the infected person.
It was so bad because the internal organs of the victim would start rotting and melting,
oozing out of all body orifices. Even the brain, it would seem, was not spared as some kind of
dementia could set in towards the end! But the worst part of it all was that the corpse of the
victim was even deadlier than the living victim and ends up infecting even a greater number if
care was not taken to quickly burn it along with everything it had touched!
There was no known cure for it, and the only people who had a good chance of escaping
or surviving an infection were care-givers who had access to the special clothing required for
protection, infected persons who surrendered themselves to the authorities and received
appropriate care right from the early stages, and people whose blood group naturally produced
antibodies to fight the disease. But even this group could infect others who have no such
protection if they did not adopt a high level of hygiene by burning up whatever they used or
touched!
Yes that was how bad sin was, only to the soul and spirit of man. Zachy knew about sin
and knew he was a carrier. He knew how much harm it had done to him and many others who
had come in contact with him. The effect may not be physically perceived immediately, but oh,
the sin-carrier knew what was happening alright, if he was lucky enough to have a mother like
his. But even then, the worst part of it was that just like this terrifying disease, sin also affected
the brain. The reasoning becomes warped in its desperation to escape the consequences of
what he is carrying
There was the true story of a big man that was infected, and who, instead of
surrendering to the caregivers in his country, figured he could do better for himself by evading
the restrictions put on him by his own country and escaping to another country where he
believed he could get it. The man had been so desperate to survive that he could not reason
right. It did not occur to him that the energy he spent travelling could further deplete his ability to
resist the effects of the disease and suck out his last resistance.
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ZACHYS TREASURE
Worse still, on arrival, instead of quickly declaring his status and receiving the assistance
he had taken so much trouble to seek, he lied for days before the truth became was
discovered and by then it was too late for him. He is remembered with a lot of hatred as the
man who brought death into a country where he had hoped to reap life!
The saddest part was that in not giving a damn about what could happen to others in his
desperation to live, not only did he sign his own death warrant, but he also spread death
around. That was exactly what sin did to the sinner. Any sinner who sought life without
surrendering to the prescribed protection was hurting himself most of all, and other around him.
Only, sin was a slower killer than this terrible virus, and if what he had read in the Holy Book
was correct, the consequences of sin lasted beyond your lifetime... like forever!
Zachy shivered. He had been doing a lot of that of recent. Sin sure was a terrible thing,
and more and more, Zachy recognized himself in that man who only cared about number one,
only to end up signing his own death warrant! And going by all he had been experiencing
recently, the physical death was sure fast catching up with him. That analogy was so perfect that
Zachy could hardly bear to look himself in the mirror these days. He had corrupted everything
that came near him just because he wanted to take care of numero uno. If only he could go
back and start all over again... But, did he really want to? This was the constant source of
confusion in his life.
He had felt he had the legitimate right to do what it takes to free himself from all the
oppression around him. However, after many waters had passed the bridge, and with all the
wealth he had amassed over the years, he still did not feel free. In fact, he felt more trapped
than ever before. Maybe Johnnys idea was better after all. Maybe he should have stuck with
Johnny. Johnny seemed to have one of the protection needed to survive the virus attack.
What exactly was it, Zachy pondered. He needed that protection, and right there and then.

ZACHYS TREASURE
CHAPTER 3
What did Johnny have that Zachy did not have? Johnny was a Jew, and so was Zachy.
Johnnys parents were one of the few sincere worshippers of the only True God of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob, and so were Zachys parents. True Jewish blood of the Chose people ran in
Zachys veins just like Johnny. In fact they both grew up reciting the Torah together in the same
village. And they both loved justice and righteousness
At this Zachy hesitated.
But I still love justice and righteousness, he thought to himself. I do! I do! I do!, he
insisted vehemently to himself. Then a voice asked him:
Really? Then why go tell your people you love so much about justice and righteousness
like Johnny does.
But I cant do that! Zachy exclaimed in shock at the mere suggestion.
And why not?, asked the voice.
Theyll laugh at me!
And why will they do that if they dont laugh at Johnny?, asked the voice again.
Because they wont believe me!
And why wont they believe you?, taunted the voice again. Your pedigree is as good as
Johnnys, after all
Because.
Zachys thoughts drifted at this point. He knew very well why they would not believe him.
He himself had violated every law of justice and righteousness and had force many of his
people to do so. He might love justice, but he certainly wasnt practicing it anymore like Johnny
did;
Was that the catch then? Johnny wondered. It was not enough to love justice and
righteousness. You had to practice it too. But that was impossible! Who practiced justice and
righteousness today? Nobody! Then the troublesome voice came with its arguments again.
Really? Did you not just say your parents and Johnnys were sincere worshippers? They
practice righteousness and taught you to do so as well!
But that was in the past generation! Life is much tougher now. You have to do what you
have to do to survive!
Yeah, like the infected man who signed his own death warrant in his desperation to
survive?

ZACHYS TREASURE
Johnny stood stock still. There it was again! Signing my own death warrant! But what do
I do? He screamed to himself. I want to live! I want to practice justice and righteousness but I
just cant! Its impossible today!
Johnnys of your generation, said the voice, and he practices justice and righteousness.
What does he tell the people who come to him to do?
Zachys mind went to Johnny. So they were different where it most mattered, after all. So
that was the secret behind Johnnys protection against the sin virus? He practiced
righteousness and justice. He practiced what he believed in without fear of any man religious
leader or political authority. He served and worshipped only God and had absolute faith in Him
to defend him and provide for him. But wasnt there something special about Johnny? Perhaps
that was why he could do that? Was Johnny not like those who had been born with natural
resistance to the sin-virus?
Zachy now recalled the story surrounding Johnnys birth. A miracle from God, they said.
The only son of very elderly parents. Actually any fool could see that Johnnys birth could have
been nothing but a miracle. Johnny was definitely not adopted. That was clear. You could see
his resemblance to both parents clearly. Even the way he spoke. The old folks, Lizzie and
Zachar were his biological parents all right. And going by Lizzies age today, and the fact that
Johnny was only in his early thirties, yes, Johnny was a miracle baby. Something like Isaac had
been for Abraham and Sarah, and the kind that Israel had not seen for generations. Word has it
that an angel actually appeared to Zachar to announce Johnnys birth while he was going about
his business in the House of God.
Yes there had always been something special about Johnny although in retrospect,
Zachy realized that Johnny, as a youth, had been a simple everyday guy like the rest of them,
participating in their pranks. Many others would have exploited that story about his birth to the
fullest, whether true or false. Some have even been known to set up shop to skin the people
alive, turning themselves into some sort of seer, soothsayer or anything that would work to their
advantage. All the frauds needed to do to make it big was to settle, as the local parlance puts
it, with the religious leaders. But not Johnny. Never Johnny. Perhaps it was in order to resist that
temptation that he had chosen to withdraw completely from society at the point he and Zachy
finally parted ways.
Today, Johnny was loved because he was not making money off the people. Johnny was
accepted because he was telling them the truth. And people were now flocking to Johnny almost
as much as they flocked to the synagogues. But Johnny was still not asking them for anything
but to repent.
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ZACHYS TREASURE
Aha! That was the answer to the question the voice asked him. Repent was always the
theme of Johnnys preaching to anybody and everybody. Repentance he wondered if that
would do it.
Zachy had good reason to believe Johnnys teachings. There was something that made
him stand out not the least of which was the fact that what he preached was very clear in the
Good Book. His time swotting and delving and digging had paid off after all. Zachy was not
ignorant of the content of that book in spite of what people may think. He had excelled after all,
during his Bar Mitzpah. He was a Jewish as the best of them, and even more so than that
Herod. But he had dropped off when he realized that his and Johnnys views about taking over
power were poles apart.
Another thing that made Zachy to now give a lot of credence to Johnnys teachings was
his consistent devotion to serving God since his youth and the fact that he had successfully
separated himself from the traditional leadership, thus preserving his credibility with the people.
No Pharisee was going to be able to put one over Johnny, no sir! Zachy recalled that his
knowledge of the Scriptures had been monumental when they were youths, studying together.
Who would have thought that kind, simple, direct Johnny would have turned out as he
did? Fiery and bold and unkempt. Zachy almost burst out laughing at this point as he recalled
the sight of him at River Jordan a while back. He wondered how people could even imagine for
a moment that he could be the expected Messiah! That one was supposed to come riding a
white horse to do battle with the oppressors of his people, and to free them once and for all.
Johnny sure did not look like a warrior king in his clothing of animal skin and rugged, famished
looks. And in all fairness to him, from what Zachy had heard, he kept insisting that he was not
the expected Messiah, but that the Messiah would soon be revealed.
Oh, Yes! Johnny had changed drastically and he loved the way he simplified true and
godly religion down in practical terms when he spoke to the people:
You brood of snakes! He had once said so very boldly. Who warned you to flee Gods coming
judgement? Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins, and turned to
God.
And many had lapped it all up too, going by the numbers that went to him for the ritual
cleansing. Guess some of us dont fool ourselves about who we really are. It occurred to Zachy
that perhaps things would have been different if he had stuck with Johnny and his calm integrity
and sensible approach to things. Well, all that is now in the past. It was too late now.

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ZACHYS TREASURE
But of course the religious leaders did not like his preaching and he could just imagine
the reasons for the hostility. One, Johnny drew crowds. For the religious leaders, this translated
into loss of influence and control. Two, Johnnys teaching drew a following, and for the religious
leaders, this might spell unpredictability and possible rebellion. Three, Johnnys teaching
transformed lives positively, and for the religious leaders, this suggested ineffectiveness of their
teaching and loss of credibility. N doubt they would have loved to do something about it, but
they dared not touch him. If they did, there would be an uproar among the people and what they
feared would come upon them. Furthermore, the Romans would accuse them of not being able
to control their people by the powers that be.
The great contrast in their situations today suddenly dawned on Zach. The common
people now loved Johnny about as much as they hated him Zachy. As for the religious leaders,
they remained constant in hating them both even if they dared not touch either of them, Johnny,
because they feared the common people, and Zachy, because they feared the Romans
authorities! Obviously, hate was one thing these religious leaders knew about!
However, Zachy had to admit, while Johnny was free, bold and fierce, he, Zachy, was
scared unhappy and constrained. And it was ironic that while Zachy admired Johnny
exceedingly without his knowledge, Johnny rebuked the likes of Zachy without knowing he was
now one of them! Johnnys counsel to tax collectors was pretty damning.
Show your honesty. Make sure you collect no more taxes than the Roman government
requires you to, he had declared to the tax collectors who went for the baptism, and asked him
how to live a life of true repentance. As if they needed to be told what was right. As if they didnt
know.
Zachy had had to hide himself that day for fear that Johnny might recognize him and
rebuke him publicly for compromising on the radical stance for justice he had once taken when
they were youths. Zachy did not need to go to Johnny to know what the right thing to do was.
Johnny would never understand why he had chosen not to do the right thing, and could not
afford to do the right thing now. Obviously, in spite of his gaunt, craggy looks, his terrible clothes
and tough lifestyle, which were all clear proof of his limited means, Johnny was as free as a bird
unlike Zachy
Lucky Johnny, thought Zachy. Since he admired Johnny so much, would Zachy change
places with Johnny if he had the chance? He was not so sureHowever, he was at least sure
of one thing: the decision he had taken some years back had not been the right one. He could
have been as free as Johnny today if he had gone with him to his place of retreat.

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12

ZACHYS TREASURE
CHAPTER 4
As for the religious establishment, Zachy had had it with them. The priests were feeding
fat on the hard labour of ordinary folks like his parents, breaking every one of the laws they
themselves established, and making excuses for doing so by using complicated, contorted and
distorted theological arguments. They were manipulative and controlling in their effort to keep
the people in line and contain any rebellion among them. But they also were not free, as they
had to kowtow to the Herods and Roman officials to keep their position. Meanwhile, they
showed no mercy at all to the people they liked to call their flock when it came to applying the
so-called disciplinary measures, fines, and sanctions instituted by their religion
Zachys father was a shepherd and he grew up in a farm, so he knew no shepherd
would treat his flock the way these men treated the human beings they liked to call their flock.
Shepherds, for example, knew the names and characteristics of each lamb in their flock. They
knew which one was likely to fall into a ditch, which one was likely to lag behind and why, which
one seemed more tired than usual, which one was pregnant and needed extra care, and so on
and so forth. Always alert, they stepped in promptly to avert any mishap or disaster, chiding,
encouraging, smacking back into line, soothing and generally caring for their flock according to
the need of each one. ,
Those pompous cheats, unlike a true shepherd, did not even recognize the face of most
of their disciples. They are so busy looking for new adherents to expand the treasury they rob,
to have time to attend to the need of their vast flock. Zachy wondered why the people found it so
easy to rebel against the righteous leaders, while they tolerated the wicked ones. The history of
the Jews proved this over and over again.
Of course as a Jew, and nobody could change that, Zachy made sure he continued to
pay his tithes regularly, just to curry their favour, and it worked like a dream. And he still
attended Sabbath services regularly a habit he preferred to keep to take the hounds off his
tracks. But his Jewishness stopped right there. All that fasting and daily prayer times and sevenday cleansing rituals puliiiz!!!
Zachy had never been able to understand how the people could tolerate those kind of
leaders. Why even a dog would run away from a wicked owner! Something was definitely wrong
with the human nature. It would seem most human beings were intrinsically masochists, liking
what hurt them most. Maybe they got what they deserved after all, and who gives a damn
But Zachy gave a damn. Zachy cared about his people much more than he himself
would admit. But him they now hated, and there was no going back for him now. What a mess!
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ZACHYS TREASURE
Zacky had cared when the son of that widow from whom he had collected an extra six
drachmas died from his sickness. He had cared when the mother bluntly refused any help from
him. He had cared when those traders, including the men, had stared at him with tears in their
eyes, not daring to say a word in protest when he told them the new amount he would be
collecting from them.
He cared that the only friends he now had were either heartless opportunists like him,
who call themselves tax collectors, or insincere sycophants like he had been before he got
where he was today. The leeches would eat off his table and laughed at his every joke, only to
insult and plot against him behind his back. They, it was, who leaked many of his secrets to his
enemies, he knew. And identifying the culprit was always an impossible task because they were
so good at the game. But rather than have no friends at all, Zachy preferred to keep the fake
hangers-on, hoping that one day he would be able to filter them through to determine which
ones really loved him, and which ones to get rid of.
But then again, one had to be fair, thought Zachy, whose fundamental love for truth was
still deeply ingrained in him. He had to admit to himself that before he joined the League of
Publicans as a young man and became wealthy, he had done exactly the same thing they were
now doing He too had fed fat on the fares provided by his benefactor, who happened to be his
wifes stupid uncle, and had laughed at his every silly joke. He had followed him about like his
shadow, bowing and scraping, just waiting to learn the secret. He did learn it eventually, even to
the extent of becoming the Chief in his region to his own undoing.
When you look at it again, perhaps those accusing fingers were right in calling him a
murderer after all! The extra amount he extorted from his people was probably needed to care
for their loved ones in one way or the other, just like in the widows case. Why hadnt he ever
seen it that way before? How many of the people he over-taxed did he know like he knew the
widow? Perhaps many more of them had lost relatives like the widow because they did not have
enough money to care for them and nurse them back to health. Those fingers might have a
point after all.
But there was no going back now for him. He had gone much too far. Zachy couldnt
afford to show mercy; that was clear enough. Penetrating the tight circle of publicans was no
joke. He still trembled today whenever he thought about the initiation process as well as the
oath of allegiance he had had to take. He would bet his last drachma that it was no different
from the one that the religious leaders he so much hated swore to in secret. And yet, the mean
old rascals would not even allow him marry any of their daughters, simply because he was a

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publican As if he would not take better care of her than they did of their insipid, terrorized,
oppressed wives. Johnny was spot-on alright! Generation of vipers is exactly what they are!
So, cleansing rituals were no longer part of Zachys life as if all those ostentatious
long-drawn out prayer recitations and rituals made them any cleaner. As for the special
clothing, the self-promoting publicity strategies and enormous phylacteries of those Pharisees,
may they get so heavy on them someday soon, that they stumble and tumble face-down rolling
in the hot sand into their graves. As vicious as this thought was, it only made Zachy giggle to
himself. Yes! Zachy hated them that much. Generation of vipers!!
Looks like their nemesis had finally caught up with them, reflected Zachy. First, there
was Johnny denouncing them boldly and publicly, and now another preacher of righteousness
who was said to be even more powerful than Johnny, had ticked them off, well and proper
without mincing words and in public too! He grinned at the thought of their faces when the
now famous seven woes had been declared on them in no uncertain terms.
What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees, Hypocrites! For
you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in peoples faces. You wont go in yourselves, and
you dont let others enter either.
They certainly had it coming if the Torahs delivery of the words of the God of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob are true. Furthermore, hypocrite was a perfect description of their behaviour.
They knew how to put up an act better than the professional actors although they were
fast to condemn and denigrate the profession at every opportunity. It was more fun watching
them perform than going to the theatre to watch the professionals. Zachy would applaud them
heartily if they didnt annoy him so much. May their sorrow come quickly! Then a thought
occurred to Zachy, and he trembled.

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ZACHYS TREASURE
CHAPTER 5
Thank God the new preacher of righteousness had not said the same of tax collectors.
He even dined with them from time to time, and taught them from the scriptures with great
authority. Some publicans had even been drastically transformed inot his most devoted
followers as a result. And this was the most amazing thing. Zachy would love to meet this
teacher.
When he had taken the oath of the publican, Zachy had been warned about the
consequences of divulging the secret, and the obligatory nature of collecting more than was
authorized to remain in favour. He knew of the consequences of disregarding this warning on
the lives of some who had made the mistake of taking it lightly. Why, some had even been
known to have paid for their negligence with their lives.
That was what so amazing about the transformation of some of his colleagues in the
league. Of course they had lost a lot of money in doing so, but they didnt seem to care. Why,
even one of them was said to be in the inner circle of this new teacher. Now he reflected on the
change in his former colleague. That was a more drastic change than even Johnnys. Imagine
Levi, now a member of the inner circle of the Preacher of Righteousness!! Zachy used to know
him pretty well. A mean son of the devil in those days
Talking of which, Zachy could remember the ferocious fight among the tax collectors for
the accounts that Levi had left behind when he quit to join this Jehoshua full time. Zachy had
lost out on that one in spite of all his cunning maneuvers to corner the loot. His escape without
consequences and the powerful change in him was something Zachy could still not get over.
From the worst sin-virus carrier to the well protected healer! Those who now following this new
Teacher had defied the League terms and conditions, and gotten away with it! Maybe this new
preacher would be a better bet than even Johnny, thought Zachy. It suggested that there was
hope for sin-virus bearers as opposed to being born with the natural resistance like Johnny.
And how the Pharisees had hated that transformation! As the song says, really contrary
people, those guys. Imagine! They had hated Levi the tax collector when he was a mean son of
Lucifer, and they seem to hate him much more now he had changed into a loving, righteous,
God-fearing man! In fact, word had it, they hated the person who influenced his life so positively
most of all. That was just like them. You just can never satisfy them. Finding fault was their forte.
And how they enjoyed adding one more unattainable rule at every opportunity only waiting to
gloat and sermonize when you couldnt meet up, while pretending to have scaled the ladder

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ZACHYS TREASURE
themselves, although it was common knowledge that they never even bother to give it a try.
Mean and arrogant in the inside, although impeccable on the outside...
Zachy thought back to the history of his people. The origin of these Pharisees was truly
impeccable. They were the ones who had stood up to the Greek empires attempt to do away
with the Jews true worship of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Such a shame that
somewhere along the line, after gaining recognition by the people and attaining important
positions in the religious community, they had gradually forgotten about the need to apply their
knowledge of true worship to themselves, because they were too busy looking over other
peoples shoulders to ensure they were applying it. How dangerous it was to forget that the
word was first and foremost for you before any other person! Now the preacher has made it very
clear that only woe is what awaits such a person!
As all this went through Zachys mind, something suddenly struck him. If this Jehoshua
had declared woe to the Pharisees, then would the woe not also be applicable to him and his
likes as well? Had he too not become like the Pharisees? Did he not also proffer arguments he
knew were lies to justify the extra tax he imposed on the poor folks. So even if this new
preacher had not called woe upon him, Zachy knew he deserved it too.
Fearing the directions of his thoughts, Zachy disciplined himself to reflect rather on the
propaganda used by tax collectors: To some extent the Pax Romana was working fine. At least
they allowed his people to keep to their traditions and religions, unlike the Greeks. And they did
maintain a certain level of governance and justice, didnt they? And money was required to keep
law and order, among other things. Were they not the conquerors for now? And they made no
apologies to anyone for winning fair and square. So far as he was concerned, collaborating with
the Romans had some merit, no matter what anybody said.
I bet some of these folks who hate me so much sometimes wished they could be in my place.
Zachys candid nature however quickly qualified this thought - he was sure many would have a
rethink if they knew the price he had to pay to get where he was. Pagan sacrifices of all kinds
that cannot be mentioned in public, and which he still had to continue servicing.
But does all that justify overtaxing the people just to line my pocket? And the fact that it flows out
as fast as it comes in just keep up appearances and meet up with the rituals does not help
either? So after all my criticism, radicalism, rebellion and rejection of my religious traditions, I
end up having no choice but to do exactly what the Pharisees I criticize so much do, only worse
still, in a pagan setting!

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ZACHYS TREASURE
How ironic! And what a vicious cycle. I detested them and withdrew from their authority, only to
get caught up with another group which has now turned me right back into one of them! From
frying pan into fire, as they say. And I have to keep doing what they do to remain part of the new
group which I fear! Going back would spell misery and death for me. How did those ones who
are now followers of the new Teacher escape the horrific consequences of withdrawing from the
League? Zachy knew the terrible things that happened to two or three who had attempted to
withdraw from the League in the past. But these ones had escaped!
He wondered again what the Preacher was teaching those who had met him from the
scriptures that made them change so drastically. He imagined how wonderful it would be like to
sit at table with this Jehoshua someday. Perhaps if a little more money exchanged hands,
something can be arranged...
Zachys thoughts kept going back to the enigma represented by the new Preacher. How
come he did not declare woe on the publicans as well when they all knew very well they
deserved it? Come to think of it, mused Zachy, maybe we are a bit better than these Pharisees?
After all, we do not pretend to care for the flock, although I really do. We do not aspire to lead
them and have them recognize or appreciate us in any way. We simply squeeze money off them
and leave them too free to do their thing. Could this be why this Galilean teacher has treated us
with calves gloves?
Or perhaps he is only ok with the ones he has dined with and if he met me in particular,
he would say woe unto me as well, given the opportunity. In any case heres another thing I am
sure about: this Jehoshua of Nazareth, if he is as honest and fair and bold as they say, will not
be saying blessed is Zacky to me. So the big question is, would he be saying woe is Zacky?
Oh, God!!! he sighed, I wonder if he has anything to say about anyone in between these
two extremes? Turning back the hands of time might just do it for me if that was possible,
thought Zacky but then again do I really want to go back to that? So far, three options down.
He would not like to go Johnnys way. He was not sure he would like to start all over again if he
had the chance, and he did not want to continue down the road as he was treading. What to
do?, he wondered.

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ZACHYS TREASURE
CHAPTER 6
At one time, soon after he left the village, Zachy had very briefly entertained the thought
of teaming up with Johnny although he had quickly jettisoned that idea. What was good for the
goose may be good for the gander, but what was good for Johnny was definitely not good for
Zachy. Imagine locust and honey as a daily meal! Manna was one thing, but insects like locust,
or honey from bees as a permanent diet were simply not for Zacky. Even if people claim it these
healthy food, Zachy didnt think they meant it for a daily diet. In any case, he was not about to
prove them right, so he had quickly gone his own way to do his own thing.
And then there were Johnnys clothes animal hide!!! No way! Johnny was one crazy
guy, never mind if he was a miracle baby on not. Zachy was not for all that.there must be at
least a minimum of comfort to be able to achieve ones aim in life.
Zachy thought of the poverty in the village and wondered once again how his mum was
coping. Now had finally made a lot of money, his only surviving parent neednt suffer any more
hardship... but his mum was still suffering, even as she kept on singing that same old song
about repentance. How far has a lifetime of repentance taken them?
He had known for a very long time that he did not want to go their way, and planned
assiduously to depart from that way, and succeeded too. But how about now that he had seen
the other side of the mountain, as the childrens nursery rhyme suggests, and discovered firsthand how empty and deceptive it was?
What made it worse was the fact that his parents never accepted any financial help from
him. He still couldnt understand that, try as he would. After all Hanny had done exactly the
same thing and his parents had loved him for it. They had accepted every gift he had showered
on them, the big house he built for them in the village, and they had become very important
people in the village... While his parents had refused everything he had offered them, preferring
to remain poor.
Meanwhile, it has given the whole village yet another reason to hate him even more.
They were now cursing him for neglecting his parents, unaware that they were the ones that
had refused his help. So today, contrary to the blessings pronounced on the Israelites in the
book of Deuteronomy in the Pentateuch, Blessed will you be in the city and blessed in the
field, Zachy was hated in the city and hated in the village; hated by strangers and hated by his
people. He could feel the weight of this hatred pressing down on him all day long and all night
long.

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Till today, his parents still enjoyed the respect and love of the people in spite of their
material poverty - even more than Hannys parents who were now considered accomplices in
crime with their son, although strategically respected. But what did he have to show apart from
his money which was not even really his? Even his Gentile wife neither loved nor respected
him, and why should this be a surprise to him, after all, she had been nothing but a negotiation
package towards his making the League. His money hadnt taken him very far, had it?
As much as he would have loved to pray for himself as well, Zachy was convinced this
was yet another of the many options that would not work for him. He knew without any iota of
doubt that God would not listen to him, talk much less of answering his prayer. Not after he had
gone so far away from him as to embrace what he knew He hated or would He? His mother
had always claimed He would, but He thanked God every day that his kind, loving, gentle
mum was still praying for him. Strange how much comfort he derived from that fact. That his
mother still loved him and prayed for him constantly was one of the rare things he could be sure
of in his miserable life ... even if she continued to reject any part in his ill-gotten wealth.
Imagine! Zachy pondered anew. Unheard of! A beloved mother refusing to accept her
loving sons freely offered gift. It simply broke Zachys heart. As he reflected on this, his
emotions rapidly swung between rage and sorrow, confusion and respect for his mothers
stance. He would have loved to visit her more often to share his dreams and fears, but the
hatred he could feel exuding from the people in the community whenever he forayed into their
midst was simply too much for him to handle. Nothing would pacify them. Not his many gifts and
bright smiles. Nothing. So he kept away from his only source of comfort and hope.
The village setting simply suffocated him whereas the city had many distractions to take
ones mind off ones woes. There! He had said it himself, although unconsciously. He needed no
Jehoshua to tell him he had woes in front, behind and all around him. He knew it himself. It was
terrifying to think that, going by what Jehoshua said, more was still coming!
Zachy recalled all the arguments he had used in his attempt to persuade his mother to
accept his gifts and some financial help. He had argued that the extras he collected was his
right: that if he did not do so he would not be able to make ends meet; that he worked very hard
at it: that business was business and should be separated from religion. And her reply was
always a quotation of the book of proverbs in the scriptures:
It is better to have little fear of the Lord, that to have great treasure with turmoil, she
would say.

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At other times, her words would go something like the Lord hates cheating, but he
delights in honesty or The Lord demands fairness in every business deal.
His own arguments against this often bordered on why his mother, if that be the case,
would continue to submit herself to the leadership of those greedy men whom she herself knew
were corrupt and wicked and yet refuse his own. And her reply was wise not to say the least.
Zachy, they must give account before the Lord for all they have done with the responsibilities
He has given them. I pray that they may have a good report on Judgement Day, for their
position is even more delicate than mine or yours. Be not many teachers, the good Book says.
Why do you think it says so? Because those who teach Gods Words will be judged with a
higher yardstick.
But you, as my son, are however my immediate responsibility, not them. On Judgement Day, I
must give account for you before the Lord who gave you to me to raise on His behalf. If I fail to
teach you the Truth or correct you, then I would be guilty before Him. In the same way that I
would be if I fail to intercede on your behalf while I am still alive.
She would thereafter point out that religion was one thing and faith was another. Religion
might be under the control of man, but her faith in God is what sustains her because she knows
personally that He is the Ever Faithful, the Ever Merciful, the Holy and True. Then she would
ask Zachy if food was ever lacking on the table when he was a child, though they had little, the
answer to which was a resounding No. The next question would be to enquire if in spite of
their poverty, he did not enjoy peace, joy and perfect health from childhood till when he left the
village. And the only answer he had to that question was Yes.
The conclusion would then come That is because I serve the Yes and Amen and I will
continue to trust and serve Him. After which she would burst into her favourite song:
Repent, Zachy, please repent, and the Lord will give you peace, and heal you in your spirit,
soul and body an dyou will have peace. As your mother and a servant of the Most High God, I
am convinced that your ulcer and chronic headaches and nightmares are linked to your lack of
the peace that passes all understanding. Think back Zachy. When did all this start? Although
you had a small stature, you had always enjoyed excellent health until when you got involved in
this sinful lifestyle. I brought you up to excel Zachy, but not this way. This is not the right way.
Please repent and come back to the Lord.
As if it was that easy. She only said that because she didnt know the half of it she
knew nothing about the League and the things he had done to get to the Chiefs position
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Things she could not imagine in her wildest nightmare! She did not know how far he had gone
from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. If she did, she probably would not love him
anymore.
This was why he kept a distance from his mother who was a very perspicacious woman.
Come to think of it, he would be surprised if the village gossips had not yet given her a hint
about his current position if they knew the half of it, that is. Zachy could not bear the thought of
his mother knowing all those details about him. His simple, gentle, soft-spoken and loving
mother He wished he had listened more to her before embarking on his perilous adventure.
Zachy had always known his mother was smart and often right about many things. Her
arguments were always as sound as her counsel although he would never admit it to her face.
He was a man, and no Jewish man would ever admit that a woman, and an elderly one at that,
had things in a better perspective than himself. Imagine! She had always known something he
had failed to recognize. Some of her other exhortations now came to mind a lot these days:
There is a path before each person that seems right, she would say, but it ends in
death. How right she had been. He wished he could do what she had been counselling him to
do for ages - repent.
It suddenly struck Zachy that his mother had been saying to him for years, what Johnny
was now teaching the people, and what the voice had drawn his attention to! Johnny too has
been harping on the same thing since he emerged from his isolated retreat hideout, transformed
into a fiery teacher of Gods Word.
I wonder if that is where my mum got this foolish idea? But not likely, since she didnt move
around much these days. As unkind as it may sound, this was another thing Zachy was thankful
for. If she could still move around as before, Zachy was sure she would have visited him
regularly in the city to see how he and his family were doing. And in so doing, she would have
been able to discover the depth of his depravity first-hand. He couldnt bear that!
Once again, Zachys thought drifted to the issue of repentance. Lucky folks who could
repent.

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CHAPTER 7
There was a rumour flying around that Herod had issues with Johnny because he had
told him right to his face, and in public, that he had no right to take his brothers wife, and that he
was out to get him for that. Word has it that Herod was not the first big man Johnny had cut
down to size with the word of God. Everyone knew that preachers like that had not been seen in
Israel for a very long time now. Johnny was no doubt in the caliber of the old time prophets
whom God defended vigorously when they were mistreated. Herod had better be careful the
way he handled Johnny or he might risk bringing down the wrath of God upon himself.
He had gotten so big for his boots lately. He seemed to have quickly forgotten that the
only reason he got to that position was because he had joined the Roman cult. Although even
Zachy had to admit that his strategy to curry the favour of the Jews was masterly indeed.
Completing the work on the Temple at great cost - and no skin off his back either, since he taxed
the Jews heavily to raise the funds to do so would please most of his sworn enemies.
Zachy, alias Smart Zac knew a lot of top secrets. Thank God that this Herod was not as
violent as his father. The lust for power had no limits, it would seem. But how foolish can men
be? , wondered Zachy. The once so-called great Herod was now dead and gone. He, who had
wiped out all two year old children and below in Bethlehem some three decades earlier, simply
because he feared that the Anointed King who would bring an end to his own dynasty had been
born. All that power and oppression could not save him from the fate of all men. Some
sycophants still tried to persuade people it was just a malicious rumour being spread by the
opposition, but Zachy knew it was true.
Yes, Zachy knew a lot of things and even though his people hated him, at least he was
popular among members of his League, and he knew why. He was better at ferreting useful
information from high places, about high places, to use against highly placed persons if
necessary. That was how he got to be Chief Publican and he needed to continue to do so not
only to protect himself, but also to be able to control some strategic officials of the realm
although a little financial settlement also sometimes came in handy. What fun they had had
laughing over the different strategies he had come up with to get some of those eminent
personalities to pipe down, when they wanted to impose some new rules on Publicans, he
smiled to himself now.
The smile on Zachys face quickly faded as he reflected on this. He wondered, and not
for the first time, if he was really popular, even among his peers He suspected that even his socalled friends were in fact very jealous of him. Was that not why Nicky spread that rumour about
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him a few months back? And if he had not narrowly escaped the ambush laid by Jerub the other
day, where would he be today?
Zachys mind went again to his mother. He was convinced her prayers had something to
do with all the unbelievably narrow escapes he had enjoyed so far. But they were getting much
too frequent and much too close each day that passes by. If their traps didnt get him someday
soon, reflected Zachy, then the ulcer or chronic headache would. The drugs were not helping
anymore without the alcohol, and the alcohol worsened his ulcer! Story of my life! One step
forward, two steps backwards.
Zachy reflected again about the radical things people were saying about the new
Preacher. He seemed to have heard somewhere that some claimed he was the Anointed King.
Wishful thinking obviously, since every Jew, man, woman, boy, girl, was looking forward to the
promised Deliverer. And another big joke, as the idea of the Love preacher leading a revolt
against the greatest and fiercest army the world had ever known was even more ridiculous than
that of Johnny doing so! He wondered where this rumour originated from since all the Preacher
taught about was forgiveness and humility and mercy, and the love of God for man and the
need for man to love God.
Zachy could certainly do with some loving in his life, although he was convinced that this
preacher could not know much about real life. Probably floating in cloud nine like Johnny.
There was a smirk on Johnnys face as he imagined what would happen if he should get
up today and offer his sick neighbour a soup or porridge. His neighbour would either throw it
right back at his face, or faint and die from shock. Then they would say he was the cause of the
death. Culpable homicide because he wanted the mans property hich wouldnt be too far form
the truth as Zachy had made the man an offer to purchase his property, although the man had
rejected it. But it would be even much worse if they ever discovered that Zachy had been
sleeping with the mans teenage daughter for a while now.
Stupid girl, he reflected. Greedy as hell. There would be hell to pay if his wife ever found out
about the affair. Well maybe not so bad. He would just bold-face it by accusing her of sleeping
with one of his friends. Stalemate. Anyway, so much for loving your neighbour in this jungle
where fear prevailed, cheating was the order of the day, and survival of the fittest held sway.
They said this new prophet, Jehoshua, was much more approachable and authoritative
than even those spiritual snobs called Pharisees. Something about him fascinated Zachy. He
was different; his teachings were different. How Zachy would have loved to invite him someday
for dinner as he heard some others of his colleagues had done. If he really said the things they
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said he said, then it would be a lot of fun to hear him speak directly. He gave hope and
represented change, and Zachy needed both desperately.
Come to me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my
yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble at heart, and you will find rest for your
souls
Creative and compelling! Fancy, a prophet that spoke like a poet although word has it
that he was in the carpentry trade before he went into full time preaching. And he must have
done well in the trade too because no one was paying him anything, or making any financial
contributions to his Ministry to enable him do what he has been called to do. In contrast to many
other itinerant preachers around, he seemed to be taking care of many of his followers.
Moreover, going by what Zachy had heard, it was obvious the guy was not only very
knowledgeable but also very smart.
When taken up on the issue of taxes, for example, his reply had been
Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.
Everyone had been amazed, not least the religious leaders who had been, trying to trap him
with the question. Had he said, pay your taxes they would have been accused of being a
collaborator and friend of tax collectors. Then the followers would have been discouraged an
perhaps stopped listening to his teachings. And if he had said Dont pay taxes, then they would
have accused him of being a rebel, and demanded he be arrested!
They really thought they had him in a tight corner with that one, but he had slipped right
through their fingers! and not for the first time going by the different accounts that had reached
Zachy. Furthermore, he had used the forum not only to teach, but also to rebuke the corrupt
religious leaders. By first asking whose image was stamped on the coin, he was actually
reminding tall the listeners that man was created in Gods image, and God should therefore be
the only object of their worship. At the same time, he was rebuking the corrupt leaders for
worshiping money, and indirectly, Caesar. He could use any topic like an expert to speak about
God. His teachings were often presented in such a down to earth manner, using simple day-today illustrations.
Zachy suddenly recalled some of the more frightening teaching and activities of the man.
For example, all those things he had heard he said about the Day of Judgement and hell being
the final destiny of sinners. There was also the casting out of demons from people, rebuking the
devil Two extremes. Love one minute, hell, demons and judgement in the other. However,
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frightening or not, Zachy noted that many people still followed him to hear more. The examples
or illustrations he he had heard he used to buttress his teachings were always very graphic.
Zachy shivered.

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CHAPTER 8
If I were to die today, where would I go?, Zachy wondered, once again, as he had done ever so
often in recent times.
Zachy knew he would not be going into the Kingdom of God. Again, he needed no one to
tell him he had done terrible, terrible things in his life. No God of his mother or father would want
him nearby, talk much less of the God of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, or that of
the many dedicated and bold prophets he had learnt about since his childhood. If Paradise
existed as described in the Book of the Law, Zachy had no doubt he would not be entering
there. So where would he go after death? Since it was either heaven or hell, it looked like Zachy
was going the way of those pompous priests and Pharisees he so much hated.
What a fate! He groaned. The concept of hell couldnt be worse than that! Zachy didnt want to
go there. He did not want to have to rub shoulders with those hypocrites. But could that place be
worse than what he was going through now? Sickness, fear, confusion, sorrow.
Hell comes in different shapes, forms and sizes, Zachy concluded. But then perhaps the
ultimate hell wouldnt be so bad after all. They say the fire there is a thousand times worse than
the furnace Nebuchadnezzar threw Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into. That fire killed
even the men who threw the three boys into the fire. Surely a fire of that intensity would destroy
everything in sight in a matter of seconds! Zachy pondered this seriously for a minute or two. No
god was going to spring him the way the God of Jacob sprung those three. Horrific fate! He
shivered again then tried to weave a joke into the thought as he always did when he was scared
about something.
Hey, look at the bright side! He forced himself to laugh. If that was the case, then It means I
wont have to rub shoulders for too long with those hypocrites whom I am sure would also be
there with me. The fire would go woosh, and that would be the end of it.
Maybe he should consider ending it all. At least then he would have some peaceAs he
reflected on this option, a voice recited a verse into Zachys heart:
And those who worship me will go out; they will see the dead bodies of all those who rebelled
against me. For the worms that devour them will never die, and the fire that burns them will
never go out.
Zacky started, stumbled and almost lost his balance. There it was again! Why did that
voice keep haunting him wherever he went? Was he now beginning to hallucinate? As if the
nightmares were not enough, he was now hearing the voice repeating those terrible things in his
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waking moments! Was there no place to hide? To get some peace? O, for some peace!
screamed Zachy silently
Zachy found himself mulling over the words all over again. What did they mean? Why on
earth would the worms not die in that terrible fire? And burning forever?!!! Unimaginable horror!
Everybody knew that Gehenna, the refuse dump of the city, eventually burnt up the maggots
and any other thing that came close into ashes eventually. So this forever thing simply makes
no sense Everybody knew that fire would automatically kill maggots. But a fire that keeps
burning? And worms that keep devouring for ever and ever?! After a few minutes of deep
reflection, Zachy tried to trivialize the thought.
This must be the ultimate rocket science, he joked to himself, and I sure am no scientist. Money,
I know about. Counting, no problem. Weaning it of people, Im good at. But science, especially
the rocket type, simply freezes me to death!
The last word brought him back to reality with shock. For once, Zachys joke did not achieve its
purpose. This one, he had to think through. No avoiding it.
After a few more minutes, Zachy recognized that he now had to contend with a bigger question
mark than any other he had had to face before... Perhaps even the biggest so far. Maybe the
idea of suicide was not such a good one after all. Not being sure of what happens after death
makes it a dangerous option to embrace.
Oh God! Zachys silent scream forced itself out of his mouth. This is terrible! I cannot go
forward; I cannot go backwards; I cannot even end it all. What shall I do? God, if you truly exist
and if you are as merciful and kind as my mother says, please help me. I am completely at a
loss about what to do with my life. I am confused, frustrated and depressed. In fact everything
that is bad has fallen on me!
Right at that moment, Zacky saw his best friends streaming into the Temple. That
probably meant it was time for the afternoon prayer. He stood for a while watching them,
wondering why his attention had been caught so suddenly and so effectively by the sight. Then,
he suddenly felt a strong compulsion to enter and take time pray to this God of his mother. He
hesitated for a moment or two. He had just creamed out his recurrent silent wail of distress, and
it was a striking coincidence that it happened to be prayer time., and here he was right beside a
prayer place. He could not help feeling this was a sign a personal call to prayer?!
The thought embarrassed him somewhat. He, smart Zachy, called to prayer No, drawn
to prayer, compelled to prayer but by whom? Was he expected to be able to pry in the midst
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of people who despised him and did not attempt to hide it? At a place he had disdained for so
long? At the busiest hour of his working day?
He could just imagine their reactions if he should walk inside the assembly hall. And
what if any of his colleagues should see him walking in? He would never be able to live it down a perfect pun to describe what would happen to him should the men and their religious leaders
might trample over him literally and squeeze his miserable life out of him in their attempt to rush
out of the prayer place at the sight of a terrible sinner like him entering the same place! Then he
wouldnt have to face his colleagues, would he?
He stood there for a while struggling between the weight of his fears, and the powerful
compulsion to enter and pray. People passed by him, pushing against him and staring at him
strangely. He did not notice any of it. The urge was too strong for him to resist.

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CHAPTER 9
Suddenly a defiant thought took over and penetrated him deeply. All Jewish men were
expected pray several times a day. He was the one who had opted not to observe the prayer
times anymore since he became a tax collector, because of the hatred he felt whenever he
joined them was often palpable. Nevertheless, he had paid his fair share for the construction of
the building after all never mind if it was ill-gotten. There were some who didnt give a
drachma but milked every drop of money that came in, and still sat in Moses seat in the same
building. Therefore, reasoned Zachy, he had as much, if not more right to enter the hall to pray
to day or any old time he felt like it.
Yes! He interjected vehemently. Today, Zachy was going in to pray. He would enter to do
what the Temple was meant for prayer. Did the scriptures not say Gods House was meant for
prayers but had been turned into a den of robbers? The fact that what was predicted so long
ago was now happening in his own time amazed Zachy. If this God knew this was going to
happen all the way back then, then perhaps all Zachys fury and anger over their behavior had
been wasted emotions, as they changed nothing at all. God Himself must be able to see them
all and was certainly powerful enough to deal with them in his own good time.
Why hadnt Zach seen things this way all that time when he was still a firm practitioner f
the faith? Young blood, he presumed. Young blood that could have been used vigorously
pursuing the interests of God like Johnny. I should simply have concentrated on personally
obeying God instead of allowing those wicked religious leaders to rile me so much that I
eventually had to get out of the system only to end up in another just as vicious.
Well, today, Zachy too would enter the temple to pray at prayer time. He was not going in
there to impress anyone. The compulsion to pray was just too much for Zachy. He flowed with it.
He was desperate to check out this God that his mother always talked about and called the Yes
and Amen. The only way he knew about communicating with Him was through prayer. Prayer
was the only way mortal man could speak to an immortal God. Perhaps He would show mercy
and answer his prayer. Who cares what anybody else thinks, he whispered to himself angrily as
he strode confidently into the hall.
As Zachy entered, a group of Sadducees sitting facing the congregation stared at him
with a glassy look in their eyes. Zachy stared right back as he continued to a corner of the
prayer space. Today he meant business with God and he would allow no one to distract him.
The situation was desperate as he knew something was going to get him soon if things did not
change fast. The list of dire possibilities scrolled before him again - insomnia, ulcer, chronic
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headache, enemies after his life, enemies feed at his table, enemies all around him and the
list goes on. Zachy knew he had exhausted all other avenues of escape, and now that he had
suddenly realized he did not know his fate after death, this prayer matter was crucial. The
thought of Where the fire never goes out; where their worms never die was unbearable. Zachy
shivered again as he headed for a corner of the hall, by this time, head drooping by this time.
By this time Zach got to the corner he considered to be the perfect place, he suddenly realized
his thoughts had protected him from the embarrassment of staring eyes. People like him were
not known to attend normal meetings very often, talk much less of attending prayer session
during the day, when they should be busy collecting taxes.
Head bowed, Zachy started praying. Where the words came from he did not know. But
he started by thanking Fod for the sepcail attention he received by compelling him so strongly to
come in and pray. He promised he would make it a regular part of his life form now on. Then he
thanked him for protecting him form the embarrassment of staring eyes, which might have
discouraged him form entering. Before he kne what was happeneing, the words just kept
bursting out from his heart into words.
No, he was not shouting. He could not keep up with the speed with which the thought
were transforming into words. He might be a witty person ordinarily, but this was not about how
witty he was. Shouting would have distracted his concentration He was whispering.
whispering like the voice that had been reciting to him for some time now, what he now knew
were scripture passages to him. He was not quoting the psalms. Of course he had been taught
them form childhood. He knew them well. But no single psalm he could remember said perfectly
what he wanted to say right now. So he let his heart have its way he spoke simply, as if to one
standing there before him. He told God of his sorrow, his pain, his confusion, his need
Before he knew it, tears started flowing down his face. Zachy wailed to the God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Oh, God! he wailed, I am a sinner. Will you not have mercy? Please forgive me. My mother
says you are Yes and Amen. You will answer the prayer of repentance made by any sinner, no
matter how bad he has been. I am one of the worst sinners alive God. But today I pray the
prayer of repentance with all my heart. The repentance my mother preaches to me all the time;
the repentance Johnny preaches; the repentance Jehoshua and his followers are still preaching
today.
I ask for your forgiveness today with all my heart. I rebelled against you in my anger against
men. I went my own way instead of going your own way. I looked up to men instead of looking
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up to you. How foolish I was! Now I am tired and confused, and without direction and it is
nobody elses fault but mine. I am burdened day and night by the consequences of my evil
deeds. Death knocks at my door day and night and I fear that will seal my eternal damnation.
And I am now so, so afraid, Lord God. I cannot continue this way. I want to start again. God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, I am tired of the life I am living. It has brought all terrible the things
in the world into my life. Indeed the love of money is the root of all evil. In loving it, I have
sacrificed all the ideal of my youth. Instead of using the money I make to help my poor people, I
am robbing them of it. How low I have fallen! And even in keeping it all for myself, I cannot enjoy
it for I have no peace. Will you not forgive me, Lord God, and give me another chance? Are you
not the Yes and Amen my mother assures me will answer me? Help me o Lord!
Zacky wept and wept as he had never done before in his life. He was unaware of
everyone around him. He was unaware of time passing. Finally, when he had become hoarse
and could speak no more, Zachy kept silent and just waited, listening for what he did not
know. And that was when he heard the voice, whisper:
Hush, child, I have heard your hearts cry and you are forgiven. Everything will be fine, youll
see. Just stay focused on me.
It sounded like a mother comforting and reassuring a broken child. Only it was a The
Voice. Zachy could swear it was the same one that had talked about fires that burn forever, and
worms not dying. Now it was saying all Zachy had ever wanted to hear. He drowned in the calm
transmitted by the words. A great peace settled in his body, soul and spirit. He remained there
silently for a long time, relieved and joyful. He didnt want to move away from that place of
peace and he didnt know he was being watched by somebody
When he felt he had absorbed all there was of Gods answer to his prayers, he finally
started to get up from his knees. He raised his head and looked up, and his eyes were drawn
like a magnet deep into the eyes of a thirtyish year old man who was also looking him straight in
the eyes. After the initial shock resulting from the power in those eyes, Zachy found himself
once again absorbing an unexplainable power. Then the eyes smiled at him as if he was a long
lost friend and turned away.
Smile? Can eyes smile? Well these ones did and Zachy could not explain it. If he was
going mad, then madness was a wonderful feeling of joy and peace. He embraced it with all in
him. Zachy felt a deep sense of loss when the eyes turned away.. He could have stood in that
place just drowning in those eyes for the rest of his life. He was sure nothing would trouble him

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if he had that opportunity. He watched the man leave with about four other men who looked like
fishermen. Zachy stood a while thinking but finally had to move as well.

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ZACHYS TREASURE
CHAPTER 10
As he did so, he wondered to himself: Who was that? How could compassion speak so
clearly and loudly just by a look? That was no ordinary man. In retrospect, Zachy wondered if he
should have run after him to ask him who he was, but it was too late for that already. The man
was gone. Nevertheless, hope surged in him.
I believe I have just experienced the Yes and Amen my mother often talked about, he thought.
Suddenly I have such peace and hope for the future! Imagine!! A sinner like me prayed, and He
answered! This is awesome!!
Zachy wiped his face as best he could and now looked around him. Most of the priests
and religious leaders had already left. People said their timing was most perfect where prayer
time was concerned, although they were more likely to arrive late and stay late for other
religious ceremonies because they wanted to be sure that everyone saw them. Well Zachy was
glad that they kept to time today. Seeing them after such a joyful moment might have turned out
to be an anticlimax. But now his head was still in the clouds and he just loved it. A song he had
known as a youth surged into his mind. No it was not really a religious song . Rather it was a
love song, but it said everything he wanted to say right now. Strange that it should come into his
mind now, since he had never thought about the words much although he had always liked the
melody. Zachy tried humming it a bit, and then boldly moved into the words, adapting it slightly
to his own feelings.
Such a feelings coming over me.
There is wonder in most everything I see.
Not a cloud in the skies, got the sun in my eyes,
And I wont be surprised if its a dream.
Everything I want the world to be,
Is now coming true especially for me.
And the reason is clear, its because you are here,
Youre the only hope of heaven that I know.
Im on the top of the world,
Looking down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love I have found, ever since you looked my way
You have put me on the top of the world!

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ZACHYS TREASURE
Zachy was not faking it to make it anymore as he stepped confidently out of the temple
with a spring in his steps. Somehow he knew the Yes and Amen had heard him. His will would
be done in Zachys life as it had been done in the life of the widows son. He had finally found
love and life. He continued the song as he bounced along, grinning happily. People stared at
him strangely, but he merely smiled at them without missing a beat or word of the song.
Zachy did not even realize when his thoughts shifted from his miseries to the faithinspiring testimonies he had been hearing so frequently of recent about what this Jehoshua guy
has been doing in different places in the region. And they say did never asks for anya seedsowing or donation to ministry unlike many other supposed healers around! Nor did his
miracles favour any particular group, rich or poor, male or female, young or old. No particular
rituals or ceremonies were involved. Simple, straight-forward, unplanned, unrehearsed, unstrategized. All they targeted was the need and all that was required was the contact or link! And
the testimonies just kept coming, especially since that scary experience he had personally
witnessed with the widows son, which he would have preferred to forget or at best, ignore!
Could this recurrence of what Zachy liked to refer to as externally-imposed testimonies
reaching him over and over again whether he wanted to hear them or not, also be a sign?
Then it suddenly hit Zachy even harder that even beyond testimonies, he himself had
been a direct witness of one of the most spectacular! His mind now highly sensitized, he now
reexamined the details of that occurrence in a less prejudiced light
He recalled how bad he had felt when Joel, the widows son, had died. It was just a few
days after he had extorted the extra tax from his mother. He still recalled how the woman had
appealed to him insistently to relent, explaining that she needed money to buy herbs to treat her
ailing son. But Zachy could not afford to be merciful. The issue was not whether the people had
needs. Who better than tax collectors who assessed their income regularly to know that the
issue was not, and had never been whether they needed more?
The point was that if he had shown mercy to one, then he would be expected to show
mercy to another, and then another, and before he knew it he would have become popular as a
soft touch and his business would be ruined. The reason he had felt so bad was because the
widow was one of the most tolerant among his accounts. She was always polite and even
gentle.
To salve his conscience when he heard that the widows son had died, he had visited her
the same day and offered her money for the burial. However, the woman had refused it, telling
him that she didnt need it now and advising him rather to repent of his sins. Not only had this

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been the first time the woam had spoken sharply to him, but it had also reminded him of his
mother.
Very irritated, Zachy had stared at the body of the dead son for a long while in deep,
sincere sorrow, and gone his way, more upset than before he came. He personally knew that
Joel was the only relative left to her and that she loved him dearly, and Zachy could relate with
this deeply. He knew his mother loved him very much too, even in spite of his bad ways, and
imagined the pain it would cost her to look down at his own dead body. But it also had more
significance for him
He knew the widows son had a very close relationship with his mother and was the one
providing and caring for her. Now more than ever, he recognized this as a great privilege which
should have lengthened his life rather that cutting it short. After all, every Jewish child knew that
honouring ones parents was the first law attached to a promise, one of which was long life!
He now recalled his mothers response to his most manipulative argument that she was
helping to curtail his days by refusing to accept his help:
My son, I know you love me and honour me, and would give me half of your wealth if I asked
for it. But money is not the only way to honour your parents. I do not need your money to enjoy
the most previous gifts of God. The best way you can honour me is to give all that ill-gotten
wealth to those who truly need it most, and follow my God, as he desires of you.
As for enjoying long life, I pray for you every day and I trust my God, the Yes and Amen to
show mercy by protecting you until you come to your senses, and to save your soul when you
cry out to Him in true repentance. Do not worry about the length of your life. God is the only One
who has control over that. He will not take it until He has given you enough opportunities to
repent. However, responding on time is solely in your own hands. Meanwhile, all I can do is to
continue to ask the One who has control over everything to continue to watch over you.
Zachy had chosen to believe his mothers words because, as usual, it soothed his soul. But
looking down at Joels dead body had struck deadly fear in him Why had God not honoured
His promise of long life to a parent-honouring son like Joel? He wondered what his own
chances were. He, who was now avoiding his mother who had rightfully rejected his help
because of the questionable source of his wealth. The comfort he had derived from his mothers
words had been greatly shaken.
When, a few hours later, the rumour had started Zachy had waved it off, irritated. He had
hissed furiously, still struggling with his depressed thoughts. God save him from those fanatics!
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ZACHYS TREASURE
Why were they all so eager to share the supposed testimonies with him these days? He just
wanted to be left alone! A dead boy he had seen with his own eyes, raised from the dead!
Really! That proves that all the other testimonies were all lies. Pity! Although he would have
been the last to admit it, the testimonies had buoyed up his spirit somewhat. But now his hopes
were completely dashed, even as his thoughts became more morbid.
As he passed by the widows house later that day, he had heard singing, as expected,
coming from inside, only Zachy stopped in his tracks. This was not the mourners dirge you
would have expected after a burial, but songs of praise. Even if he had not recognized the song,
being one of his personal favourite when he was still a faithful practitioner, the rhythm and
melody would have made it clear to any ordinary person that they were songs of rejoicing. And
beyond that, they were even playing instruments, laughing, and dancing!
As true as it was that one was to praise God for all things and at all times, and though he
was aware that the people who followed the new Teacher sometimes behaved strangely,
nobody, but nobody mourned a young mans death in that manner! This was too much for him to
swallow. If he hadnt heard the rumour about the young man coming back to life, he might have
shrugged and walked on. But having seen what he had, and having heard the rumour, he just
had to check out exactly what was going on in there.
Zachy had peeped into the courtyard and gaped in shock. Indeed, as the sound filtering
into the streets suggested, men and women, young and old, could be seen, some playing
drums, trumpets and other instruments, while another group danced like crazy. But the look on
their faces were not that of crazy people. They looked euphoric!
As it was Zachy, mouth still agape, frowned in confusion, he saw the widow emerging
from the midst of the rejoicing throng, looking ecstatic! She was definitely not the same weeping
women he had seen earlier in the day. It was as if ten years had been removed from her age!
She saw him then and beckoned to him with a happy smile.
Come in and rejoice with us Zachy the Publican! You see, I really did not need your money.
The Lord Jehoshua has raised my son from the dead!
Another shock for Zach. This time from the horses mouth. And to think of a fervent Jew
like her inviting a Publican like him into her house... and especially one that had deprived her of
the money she needed to care for her now dead son, and whose help she had soundly rejected
only a few hours earlier! Something strange is definitely going on. This is crazy, he thought.

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CHAPTER 11
Ordinarily, Zachy knew better than to honour any such invitation. The meanest of them
could poison you if you were not careful or you could simply just disappear, never to be heard
of again. That was how much they hated tax collectors. But this was worth the risk. He just had
tocheck out what really was going on himself. So, mentally pushing away his usual caution
what harm could come to him in the house of a poor widow and her poorer friends, he walked
slowly towards the inner part of the house. One crazy widow who had just lost her son was a
very different matter from twenty crazy people of different ages dancing and singing merrily in
the house of this same widow. This one he had to see
And Zachy had seen, as soon as he had stepped into the house, to his endless shock
The dead youth, looking healthier than ever before, was standing in the middle of the dancing
circle, grinning happily at him!
Was this some kind of trick? Was he hallucinating again? Mouth now wide open, eyes
almost popping out of their sockets in shock, neck stuck out as if straining to see more clearly,
Zachy froze in place. Silence reigned. Somewhere in the deep recesses of his mind, Zachy
could understand why they had stopped their singing and dancing. They too must have been
battling with the shock of the presence of a publican in their midst.
This scene also froze for a about minute before the chattering started around him again.
Zachy shook his head vigorously like a wet dog struggling to get rid of the water on his body,
and some of the childrens tittering could be heard - their response to his strange reaction. The
adults were a bit more delicate although, as Zachy was later informed, they had found it just as
funny. No change in the apparition before him although Joels expression changed to register
concern.
Zachy tried again. He rubbed his hands over his face as if to wipe away a disagreeable
picture, then looked again, mouth still agape. Still no change. Zachy then looked around at the
other faces in great confusion, as if asking: Could ghosts look so real? Zachy knew a dead body
when he saw one and what he had seen earlier had been a lifeless young man Who or what
was this in front of him? And why was he the only one that seemed bothered by his presence?
The young man stretched out his had toward Zachy with a smile, getting ready to speak, and
Zachy had slumped down in a faint...
He had come to, struggling like a mad man to ward off the many hands stretched
towards him, shouting. It was bad enough when just the one set of hands of the apparition
stretched towards him. Now there were so many. Those hands! Not pointing this time, but
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stretched. He was not yet ready to go to the land of the dead where their worms never die!. He
continued to struggle, screaming I am not ready yet! I dont want to go to hell! Get away from
me! Get away from me!!
In his shock, Zachy had mistaken the hands stretched out to assist him for the hands he
had so often seen in his nightmares. He had thought he was already in hell, and they were now
ready to attack him in revenge. It had taken quite a while to revive and calm Zachy down and
when he finally came round, was reassured that he was not in hell as he had cried out in his
panic.
After a while had studied their faces closely and was comforted by the fact that there
was no animosity reflected on any of the faces, but rather concern. Then he looked round again,
thankful that he was still among the living. Then his eyes had met those of the widows son, and
he went rigid again, only calming down after several minutes.
This time, Zachy took his time to study Joel very closely all over again and finally asked
for some water. Someone had stretched out their hands to him with a glass containing some
liquid and he gulped it down quickly like someone who had just survived a desert trip without
water. After drinking deeply from the cheap wine, Zachy wiped his mouth and, still staring hard
at Joel, tried to speak but nothing came out at the first few attempts. Finally, he put the cup
down and managed to stutter, pointing to the once dead boy:
Who what. dont understand Then the testimony came in bits and pieces One voice
said:
Its alright. We understand your shock. This kind of miracle has not happened since the days of
the great prophets. The Anointed One has finally arrived.
Then Zachy had turned his head towards another voice which was saying:
The Prophet called the Jehoshua of Nazareth saw Mamas pain and brought her son back to
life. Our Deliverer is here with us. His mother can tell you better, although I was right there
beside her when it occurred.
Yet another voice said:
Dont be afraid. Just listen to what Mama has to say. It will change your life for good.
Finally he had managed to stutter a complete sentences: But I saw his dead body! He was
dead!

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So did we. He has been brought back to life someone replied. Then every head had turned
towards Joels mother at this point and Zachy hear her speak. Zachy listened real hard.
On our way to bury him, the widow started, Jehoshua the Anointed One met us. I was
weeping terribly. My sons death spelled complete disaster for me. I would rather I had died in
his place. He was still so young and vibrant! Besides, with a dead husband and now a dead
son, - she had looked lovingly at her living son at this point - we all know how the rumours
would start that I was a witch; that I had killed them myself; that I was cursed; that I had a
deep, dark, secret sin, and many other things that people often say in such circumstances. And
we all know what that implied: no one would hire me and I would not be able to earn a living. In
fact, I had decided to take my own life after the burial.
As I lifted up my eyes to wail again, His eyes met mine, something I still cannot explain
happened to me. I stopped wailing and simply stared at Him. It was as if He had read the story
of my life in that one single glance. He came up to me saying kindly,
Stop crying lady. Everythings going to be alright.
Somehow I believed what he said, and before I could respond in any way, he walked up to the
pall bearers and touched the coffin, stopping their advance, looked down on my son for a few
seconds, then he spoke to him!!!
Get up, young man! he said firmly.
Immediately, my son got up and as he descended from the pall, asking the people around why
he was on a pall and what was going on! By this time, I was on my knees thanking the Messiah
as I held tightly to my son.
Joels mother started laughing again to herself as if she still couldnt believe what happened,
and looked at her son lovingly. She was obviously enjoying sharing the account.
Meanwhile, Zachy picked up the cup again to take another sip of the wine, reflecting on
what he had just heard. He was the kind of guy that needed to check out every little detail so he
could find the loophole. There had to be a catch. Doubt first, believe never was another of his
slogans. In other words, dont believe anything they tell you. But this was more than what he
was being told. This what about what he had seen! Then he heard the mam continue her
testimony.
All the mourners around me reacted differently. Some ran away at first. Others stood frozen in
place. Yet others looked back and forth at each others faces as if to ask; Is this really
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ZACHYS TREASURE
happening? I was the only one shouting out praises, as I hugged Joel to me. Soon, what had
happened sank in with some and they joined me in praising God. But would you believe the silly
boy did not even thank the Master?!! He did not even realize he had been raised from the dead
at first! It took a while for him to absorb the implications of being borne on a pall in the middle of
the street. However, by that time, the Master had left. I still cant understand how he managed
to get away so easily from our midst so fast.
In any case, to cut a long story short, here I am and here is my son, alive and well. I am now a
firm believer that the Power of God is on the Anointed One. I thank God that my son and all the
other people who witnessed the miracle and who are rejoicing with me today also now believe.
There was a pause before she said; Now I have shared it with you as well Publican Zachy,
what do you intend to do about it? Your decision about the Anointed One, Jehoshua of Nazareth
will determine your eternal destiny. Sir, you must repent and follow the Messiah.
Once again, Zachy had remembered his mothers words as he stared at the previously
dancing group now gone silent around him, waiting for his response. The eloquent Zachy who
could spin a yarn to get what he wanted, could only stare. Finally, he managed to mumble
something unintelligible, ending up with a brusque I have to go now. I am late. Thanks. You
could hear a pin drop as Zachy got up from where he had been sitting. He was brushing his now
rumpled clothing as he stumbled out of the room.
In his mind, Zachy was screaming: A dead man brought back to life?!! I am going crazy!
I saw that boy dead with my own eyes! It cant be true. I saw the dead body! As he stumbled on
home, Zachy could hear the singing starting again and he shook his head wildly. Zachy had not
been able to rejoice with them because he had been too scared and confused...
All the way to his house that day, he had thought about it, only to get home for his wife to
accost him with the same story. He had quickly made for his room, when his wife accosted him
with the same story, pretending not to believe because then, he would have had to admit things
he was not yet sure he could afford to admit. He would rather continue to be perceived as his
usual tough and cynical self. He could only hope the story of his fainting would not spread along
with the story of the miracle but he had known it was true. He had seen the dead Joel, and he
had seen the living Joel. It was true.

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ZACHYS TREASURE
CHAPTER 13
However as the days went by, Zachy had persuaded himself not to dwell on what he
could not explain. He had had time to consider several possible scientific explanations for the
supposed resurrection, and finally persuaded to dismiss it as an unexplainable scientific oddity
rather than a supernatural manifestation of Gods Power through Jehoshua. Things like that
were simply not possible, and it had gradually taken less and less importance in Zachys
preoccupations. He had finally managed to bury the whole event in the deep recesses of his
mind until now.
As his mind drifted again to Joels miraculous resurrection now, his faith burst forth again
in full force. He had reason to believe. He had witnessed it, and now he had experienced his
own. It was cheering to know deep in his heart that God had been present all along, and that all
the miracles being performed by Jehoshua were done by His Power. Zachys joy was unbridled
as he contemplated the fact that these were not ordinary times, and that there was a reason
miracles were happening so frequently now and why God had used them to draw Zachy to
repentance
Although his first instinct after his wonderful experience of divine forgiveness was to rush
home to his mother to tell her, there was still one more important thing he felt he needed to do
before that. He was now more desperate than ever to meet this Jehosua, this Preacher of
Righteousness who teaches that if you believe in him you will enter the Kingdom of God and
enjoy eternal life. It may sound crazy, but a man who can raise the dead, can do anything. Was
that not part of the prophecies mentioned about the expected Anointed One in the Holy Book?
Zachy believed, after all, he had many good reasons to do so. Now he knew he had a promising
future ahead of him.
He briefly recalled his awkward attempts to arrange an encounter with the Preacher after
Joels miraculous resurrection. He had even gone as far as bribing one or two of the Pharisees
to organize a meeting! Of course he had called it donation or sowing a seed, but all parties
concerned knew what it really meant. As could only be expected, the corrupt frauds had taken
his money and of course they had not been able to arrange a meeting. Zachy now knew why
they couldnt ever have delivered on their promise
This Jehoshua was neither in their group nor under their control at all!! There were even
rumours they were trying to kill him! Typical. He knew they loved lies and wickedness so there
was no way they could love truth and kindness. The two were poles apart as far as light was
from darkness as far as goodness was from evil. Why hadnt Zachy thought of that before he
came up with the idea of the donation. It should have been obvious, and he could have saved
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himself some money and time to the bargain. Suddenly he could see more clearly. Looks like he
had been blind before. Now Zachy could see. He smiled to himself happily at the thought.
Now he was going to change tactics. He had been approaching the wrong people in his
desire to see this Jehoshua the Messiah. The religious establishment could not help. Only those
who truly followed Jesus could, and they were not necessarily part of the established religious
system. The only person he could think of was the widow and her son. He was going to get
close to them to see how they could help him.

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CHAPTER 14
Zachy got home that day, still very upbeat. His wife could see something was up and tied
to badger him to disclose why he was so unusually elated. Since he didnt quite know how to
explain the experience, Zachy avoided her questions and went early to bed.
His sleep that night was the most peaceful he had had in a long while. No nightmares.
He woke up in the morning, and the headache was gone. He felt so good his mind did toeven
consider the thought of using drugs or alcohol to survive the rest of the day. He felt sure that his
ulcer too had gone but well, that still needed to be verified to be proclaimed. Could it be that he
had experienced a healing miracle, just like that? From one day to another he had been
transformed from a troubled, depressed, guilty man to one full of the peace and joy of theLord
just because of a sincere prayer of repentance? Impossible! Or was it? After all, was he, Zachy,
not the living proof that it was possible?
Zachys agenda for that day had nothing to do with collecting tax. He was swallowing his
pride; he was taking the bull by the horns; he was going visiting with the widow and her son.
When he got to Mamas house, he hesitated for a moment before knocking on the door. As soon
as she opened the door and saw him, she welcomed him with a happy smile.
Ive been expecting your visit she said simply. Zachy looked at her in askance but she simply
murmured Never mind. Please come right in. She then called out Joel! He is here as the Lord
said.
Zachy looked up quickly again to ask her what she meant, but she just waved the question
away. By this time Joel too had come into the room to sit beside Zachy. However, before he
could say anything, the widow said:
Can we pray first?
Zachy was the last person to have any objections to prayer which had done him so
much good so heads bowed, mam thanked God for fulfilling His promises and bringing Zachy to
their home, this time as a friend. She asked for His Wisdom and Presence as they discussed.
Zachy did not waste his breth questioning them about how they knew he would be coming that
particular day. Instead, he too tried to be as direct as Mama had been.
I want to meet this Jehoshua. Can you help me please? Mama looked at him fixedly for a
moment, then asked him why he wanted to meet Jesus. Before Zachy knew it, he had poured
out his heart to her and her son. That sealed the deal. Mama and he son would let him have all
the information they received on where the Teacher would be going next. However, she pointed
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out, meeting him personally is in the hands of God. All they could do was back Zachy up in
prayers about it. His response to that obviously delighted Mama;
If God took the trouble to prepare you for my visit today, then I am sure your prayers rm will be
good enough to arrange my meeting with Jehoshua. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for
receiving me so warmly. I know I do not deserve it. May the Lord reward you for your kindness.
At that Mama and Joel looked at each other with a smile, then turned to Zachy a while.
Shalom they both said in unison.
Shalom Zachy replied happily with a smile as he departed. He felt like he belonged.
Furthermore, rather than the shock, mockery or suspicion he had expected, he had been
received joyfully. Since that day, Zachy had strategically attached himself to Joel. In spite of the
wide gap in age and social status, and the disapproval of the community, they got on well and
became close friends. Cultivating the young man proved much more rewarding than Zachy had
expected as Joel was not only fast to volunteer information about the Preachers whereabouts,
but also on other miracles he performed.
Among others, he had told him about the healing of the ten lepers, and about the healing
of Simon the leper. However, Zachy had soon become very discouraged because it seemed as
if that every attempt he made to be present where Jehoshua was teaching was blocked by
someone or something at the last minute. And even when he did manage to make it there, he
would discover that he had just missed him!
This recurrence had become exceedingly alarming for Zachy. It wasnt even as if this
Jehoshua only ministered in synagogues and the Temple. Why, he ministered by the sea of
Jordan, by the Sea of Galilee, even in the villages of the Samaritans! And yet Zachy had not
been able to get to see him! Even outcasts like the ten lepers managed to see him and receive
what they desired most. And in Simons case, a Pharisee and a leper! - a combination of the
worst there was, a group even the Teacher had declared woe on. But even he had had his
audience with Jehoshua while he, Zachy, one of the richest publican around, after eating all that
humble pie, and even getting good information, could somehow not meet him!
Zachy needed cheering up and encouragement this particular day. So what else but to
head for the house of the person who always had cheery news for him. Maybe Joel could
explain what was happening to him. He hoped he would be well received as usual. With the
frequency of his visits of recent, he was beginning to feel he might be infringing on their privacy

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although they never showed any resentment whenever he called on them, in spite of the hostile
looks on the faces of their neighbours.
When the widow opened the door to his timid knock and saw him, she smiled and
immediately called out to her son to attend to Zachy. By the time Zachy had finished explaining
to his friend what had been happening to him, he was reminded of the circumstances
surrounding his first visit and exhorted to be patient. This indeed reassured Zachy that nothing
could stop him from meeting the Teacher. Joel then prayed with him taking authority over all the
obstacles blocking Zachys way to meeting the Teacher! It took great assurance to do that and
Zachy realized that this was the kind of prayer he needed most at this time to sum up courage
to leave the League and never look back again!
Before he left, Joel regaled Zachy with the account of yet another undeniable miracle
had been performed by Jehoshua the Meshiach. Now a fervent follower of the Teacher, Joel had
witnessed it personally. The well-known blind man who always sat at the Temple Gate had
received his sight through the ministration of the Meshiach! A man born blind from birth and
condemned to a life of begging. A Jew without a profession, dependent on others for a living. A
terrible fate indeed. What excitement for the beneficiary! What hope for the witnesses! What
thankfulness among the Jews - or so you would think. Because nobody reckoned with the hardhearted religious leaders who held power and authority in the temple!
Zachy and Joels delighted laugher spliced every stage of Joels account. It would seem
that the priests and religious leaders were not particularly happy that a man born blind from birth
had been healed on a Sabbath day under their watch!
Initially, they had looked on coldly as the multitude carrying the blind man on their
shoulders danced around the temple, singing praises to God. That was the first thing they had a
problem with. According to them decorum had to be maintained when coming into the presence
of God.
Obviously, they knew better than the psalmist who composed the song: I will enter into
His gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter into His courts with praise! Joel laughed
aloud. Definitely, those guys have lost it completely. He continued.
By the time they had managed to browbeat the multitude into silence, and had heard
their reason for rejoicing, they had become even more furious. One of them shouted:
You people are so impressionable. You let anyone fool you with false miracles! Where have
you heard of a man born blind receiving his sight? Even in the time of the great prophets, did
you ever hear of any such occurrence? Keep quiet and stop talking nonsense!

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At this, the man who had received his sight stepped forward and requested to speak.
Not knowing who he was, they had allowed him to speak. The man gave a detailed account of
how he was born blind and had never seen before, and how every witness standing there knew
this to be a fact. Before he could finish, one of the leaders spoke up:
If you were truly blind, how can you recognize these people standing here, you fake? Very
pleased with his smartness, he looked smugly at his colleagues with a smile, as if expecting
them to cheer. A few obliged, patting him on the back; however, their smugness was short-lived
as the blind man responded calmly:
Sir, I was blind, not deaf or dumb. My auditory powers are powerfully honed to compensate for
my lack of sight. For example, I recognize you by your voice. Only this morning, you fixed an
appointment right at the entrance of this building with a certain person whose name I would be
glad to mention if you insist.
Laugher burst out, this time from the opposite camp, and the leader concerned was
livid. It was true he had fixed a discrete appointment for the evening with a certain young lady
by the gate this morning. And he had only dared to do so around the premises because there
was only a blind man sitting by the gate close to hear him!
As he stared angrily at the man, who now had a smirk on his face, the others realized
something had gone wrong, and that constituted a serious threat to their power and authority.
One of them, obviously to save face burst out laughing. When all eyes turned to him, he
declared loudly:
So I take it you people have come again with the nonsense stories about Jehoshua, the
carpenters son, performing miracles all over the place. A man possessed by demons has
become your champion. We only see this kind of thing in Jewry.
Another man from the opposing camp stepped out from the crowd protesting angrily.
Shut up! shouted one of the Pharisees. How dare you speak up when a priest is talking? It is
not permitted for you to do so. There is no proof that the man who claims to have been given
back his sight is probably an actor pretending to have been healed. We will soon get to the
bottom of it
As someone else stepped forward from the crowd and started to argue again, one of
the leaders quickly interrupted him, however speaking in a more placating manner:
Ok, calm down everyone, he said. You all know it is our duty to verify any such miracle. That
is all we are trying to do, and it is for your own sake. You can all go outside now. Just leave us
with the man directly concerned and several witnesses to the event, as the law demands, once
we have checked out the facts, we will get back to you.
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Now having control back in their hands, the leaders moved them into a more private
place.
So what happened after that? asked Zachy with a wide grin smile face. He really liked
this.
Oh, they asked the man again how he had received his sight and he obliged them all over
again.
A man called Jehoshua made clay out of his spittle and applied it on my eyes. He then told me
to go wash in the pool of Siloam. I did exactly what he told me to do, and received my sight.
Amazing faith! Zachy burst out. Just by a word from the Teacher and off he went!
Zachy doubted very much if he would have obeyed if he had been the one. He
suspected he would have been more like Naaman, the great Syrian warrior whom Elisha had
sent to River Jordan to bathe seven times in order to be cleansed of his leprosy. He had felt
insulted to have been sent to a River his people considered very insignificant and unhygienic.
Probably thought the prophet was just trying to humiliate him in revenge for his people being
under their domination.
Joels voice jarred him back to the present: The next question came from yet another
leader.
Ok where is this Jehoshua now? another leader asked.
I keep telling you I dont know, answered the man. I couldnt even recognize him if I saw him
again, as we parted ways before I fully received my sight. He went his way after applying the
clay and telling me what to do, and I naturally headed straight for the Pool of Siloam as
instructed!
Such works are not permitted on the Sabbath day! shouted one of the Pharisees. That
Jehoshua is a sinner! He is not of God
The once blind man kept quiet for a moment, deep in thought, giving one of the
Pharisees, called Nicodemus, the opportunity to caution the other leaders.
Lets be careful here, brothers. How can you call a man who can perform such miracles a
sinner? I dont quite agree with you on that.
An argument over this immediately ensued among the leaders and when they realized
that it was not going to be resolved easily, yet another one turned again to the once blind man
and asked:
So what do you have to say about the person who healed you?

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This change in the line of questioning by the Pharisees must have seemed very strange
to the excited man, but stranger still was their attempt to cast aspersions on the reputation of
the person who had been the greatest source of blessing in his life. Nevertheless, the blind man
had no doubt that the Healer had the power of God on him, and obviously some of the leaders
agreed and said so.
Firmly and calmly, in striking contrast to the dissention among of the leaders, the man He is a
prophet as of old sent by God.
They again tried to intimidate him, like the savvy lawyers that most of them were, in the
expectation that he would back down and deny what had happened or how it had happened.
They probably hoped to seize this opportunity to make nonsense of all the other miracles
performed by Jehoshua, but the neither the man, nor the witnesses would back down.
At this point, they demanded to see the mans parents to confirm that the man had
actually been born blind.
Imagine calling the parents of a 38 year old man supported by so many adult witnesses
to come and confirm if he had born blind! commented the widows son. How hardened can you
get?
Well, the parents soon arrived, looking very scared as they entered the private room.
Their heads moved in consternation from their son who was looking upset, to the stern
countenance of the leaders. They did not need anyone to inform them that this was no time to
rejoice.
Is this your son? demanded one of the leaders brusquely..
Yes replied the parents of the man. From the awe in their expression as they stared at their
son, it was clear that all they had wanted to do was to run to him and hug him in joy. However
the hard faces before them kept them rooted to the floor.
Well, was he born blind? asked another leader
From the day I delivered him in to this world answered the mother promptly and feelingly. I
believe many of the people in here and outside know him very well, as he is always seated at
the temple gate, begging for alms.
Well, if that is the case, how come he can see now? asked another leader.
The parents looked at each other, then turned to look at the leader who asked the
question, and finally looked at their son, this time apologetically.

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Please sir, I am sure our son will be able to explain all the details to you better than we ever
could. He is 38 years old and only his sight was affected, not his reasoning. He is an adult.
Please ask him.
Zachys comment here was The poor parents! They knew the repercussions of being
too eager to associate with the miracle. Excommunication! Then what?
Well then they had no choice but to admit that this was a true miracle from God and
they told the man to give God the praise and not Jehoshua since he was a sinner.
Somewhat cheekily the mans reply was: Sinner or not, all I know is that I have been healed by
this man.
Then the quizzing started all over again: How did you meet him? Where where you?
What exactly did he do to you? Did he touch your eyes with his hands? And so on and so
forth.
Well it would seem that the man had had it with them, and his way of pointing out just
how ridiculous he thought they were was very subtle but effective:
Please may I know exactly why are you asking all these questions? Perhaps I misunderstand
the reason for your interest? Could it be that you too are interested in becoming his disciples as
I am?
Zachy and Joel both laughed out loud at this point. He didnt need to be told that the
leaders must have been as mad as hell on hearing that. He knew them too well. But apparently
this did the trick.
While some in the crowd sniggered at this, some of the leaders started raining insults on
the man before finally pronouncing their sentence on him for not being submissive enough excommunication from the assembly for life.
Of course it made no difference to the man since he had never entered the temple
before, anyway, reflected Zachy as he made his way home later that day. He knew very well
how the religious leaders think. Being born blind, as far as the religious leaders were concerned,
was a sign of sinfulness on the part of the man or his parents so they probably would have been
discouraged him from entering anyway. Besides a blind man coming in to worship would disrupt
their very tidy order of worship, and we couldnt have that could we? Keeping to the order of
service would be more important to the leaders, than helping a blind man worship God.
So all a blind man could do was sit at the gate where the people passed every day.
Many ordinary people gave alms to such needy people, but rarely did the leaders, except on
special days they arranged to make a show of their piousness, during which loud trumpets were
blown to announce to the world that they were giving stuff away to the poor. Otherwise, the few
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that did recognize the existence of a blind man at the gate would, for whatever reason, whisper
Corban as they passed, without giving him anything As if the few drachmas they could have
dropped on his plate would affect any so-called Corban they had made. But everyone knew
that they were lying anyway. They claimed corban to get away from giving anybody anything,
and granted same liberally to the rich religious men who wanted to shirk their responsibilities
towards the poor.

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NEW CHAPTER
A couple of days later, Zachy became an indirect witness to yet another miracle of
healing of a blind man.
He was walking down a long avenue when he noticed in the distance, a man standing in
the middle of a crowd of people rejoicing around him. The man would turning around slowly in a
semi-circle, first in one direction and then in the other, looking into the different faces in the
crowd with a strange expression of wonder in his eyes. Since he also had a wide grin on his
face, as he did this and did not seem to be tired of repeating the movement. Occasionally, he
would stretch out and touch the robe of someone in the crowd before repeating the movement
all over again. Zachy could not hold back his curiosity and stopped to look more closely.
It looked like a very weird dance, although the melody of the songs that would burst out
occasionally from the crowd were not in rhythm with the mans repeated semi-circular
movements. Al the while he did this, the crowd would laugh out gaily and raise an applause.
Then the man would move on a little, stop and stare upward, this time, at the trees and the sky
for a while in wonder, touch the leaves on them and study them very closely as if he his life
depended on whatever he saw on them. Then he would move on again.
Then he stopped to stare at a baby in the mothers arms, his head swinging from mother
to child several times. They stopped for a while to stare at her robe, and then swung to the robe
of a man standing not far from her. He seemed to be comparing the clothing. Someone would
say something each time he finished his examination, after which he would nod happily and
move on, accompanied by laughter or applause once again.
Zachy finally found the right description for the mans behavior he was behaving like a
very frisky puppy that had been left out of his cage for the first time in its life...
This strange behaviour continued as they approached Zachy who now stood still, a little
scared, but much too curious to move. If the man was not violent, and the crowd looked so
happy, then not much harm could come to him if he took a closer look at what was going on. As
the crowd advance again, this man was the one who now burst into a song in a pleasing, hearty
baritone:
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the works thy hand hath made.
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, my Saviour Lord to Thee.
How great Thou art, how great thou art.
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Then sings my soul, my Saviour Lord to Thee.
How great Thou art, how great Thou art.

Naturally every one of the rejoicing crowd joined him.

Since this had been one of Zachys favourite songs when he was still attending
assembly smetings regularly, he too soon too had joined them in singing it aloud, smiling happily
as the man advanced closer to where he was. That was when the man saw Zachy and stopped
as if in shock.
He stared, mouth agape, at Zachy for a long while and when the crowd noticed that the
man was no longer singing, they too sopped, and the song gradually fizzled out.
Zachy, who was now close to the man to see the mans features, also stopped in
confusion at the way the man was staring at him. Initially, he was not particularly bothered as he
was used to people checking out his zappy dressing whenever he passed. He liked it that way.
It sure compensated for his lack of height, and this particular man semed to have a special case
for chcking things out close-up.
It was not until the crowd burst into laughter again that he felt rather uncomfortable, as
they obviously knew something he did not. He would have tried to bluff his way out if he had not
become very, very self-conscious as the man continued to stare at him as if he was a strange
specimen on a laboratory table. By the time the crowds laughter died down, Zachy had become
very furious indeed. He had just opened his mouth to give them a piece of his mind when
something arrested him. The man looked very familiar, only
Now it was Zachys turn to behave strange. He pointed at the man and looked around at
the milling crowd stuttering: Is this not I mean, does the blind man .? I mean
This only made the crowd burst out into laughter all over again. Finally, someone in the
crowd shouted:
Yes indeed. It is Timeaus Junior, the well-known beggar that sit by the assembly gate. He has
been healed! He can now see! Jesus the Master healed him!
Zachy did not faint this time, but he stuttered for a while before a wide grin split his face
like the sun emerging from beneath a cloud.
Yes! he screamed. Hes for real! This does it completely for me! Not once, not twice, not
thrice! I am a believer!. He immediately started doing his own jig at this point, which made the
crowd resume their laughter.

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He then rushed towards Timeaus Junior and embraced him with all his strength, almost
managing to lift him up. He had been laughing a lot these days. He hadnt had so much fun in
years. He joined the crowd as they resumed their singing and dancing around the man moving
forward together like a lively stream of water. Now convinced that that there was a way of out of
the shackles of the League and the dire consequences that accompanied withdrawal, he was
more desperate than ever to meet Jehoshua the Meshiach.
I will never give up, he said to himself as he moved forward with the crowd. The Yes and Amen
will grant me this too. I know I will see Him someday and all my fears will be a thing of the past.
As he bounced along, full of hope, singing, dancing and laughing with the crowd as if he had no
care in the world.
After a while of this, he left the milling crowd, the constitution of which kept changing as
some dropped out and other replaced them. Someone would soon replace him. This joyful
procession may just last till the end of the day. As he went his way, Zachys thoughts changed
into a prayer:
Help Lord! he shouted almost forgetting where he was. God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
the God of my fathers. I know you exist and that you know all things. How can the dead be
raised and the blind see, if you were not in it? You are working through this Jesus in a way we
have never known in our history. I have felt your forgiveness and your touch, but there is still this
one little, but seeming big thing still bothering me. Please guide me to this Jesus who is doing
your work on earth today. I know you are with Him and that when I meet Him, I meet You.
Nothing I am or have is more important than this to me now. I beg you to help me find this
Jesus.
All of a sudden Zacchaeus was brought back to his surrounding by a great rumble. He
was so startled that for a moment he had thought it was the sound of Gods judgement about to
fall on him. He looked back to where the noise was coming from, and once again, saw yet
another crowd moving towards him.
Ooph!! sighed Zachy. He laughed to himself uncomfortably, still shaken. The timing of that
rumble reminded him of the previous coincidences! What was it all about anyway?
He had to be careful whom to ask. These people hated tax collectors. The first man he
asked just stared at him angrily and moved out of the way of the crowd quickly. Another spit at
him and moved away. Finally an old woman answered his question:
It is the Son of David, the one called the Jesus. He is visiting our part of the city today.
As the crowd descended on him, someone pulled Zachy out of the way, murmuring
Better get out of the way before you are crushed by the crowd.
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Zacchaeus angrily shook the mans hand off. He could not see a thing because of his
height. The taller people surrounding him had blocked him from even seeing a thing! He had to
strategize quickly, and that was his forte.
He glanced up,looking for what exactly, he did not know. The he saw a tree slightly
ahead of the crowd, and that got his attention. He ran crazily towards it, jumped and hooked his
arms around to the lowest branch to propel himself upwards. He grasped the next branch and
hung on to it as if for dear life, then propelled himself upward again, hanging on to the next
branch, and then the next one, until he was high enough to have a vantage view of the crowd.
Good thing I keep in shape, he thought, puffing heavily.
Forgotten was his zappy dressing; forgotten was his lofty image; forgotten was the chip
on his shoulder. He was desperate to see if indeed it was the Jesus he had heard so much
about. He strained to see the advancing crowd. But all he saw was an ordinary-looking man in
the midst of the people, striding forward purposefully. Zachy couldnt see anything distinctive
about him. He wasnt dressed like any of the big prophets or teachers of the law, nor was he
dressed like John the Baptist. Rather, he was dressed like any other man, looked like any other
man. Nothing to make him stand out as Gods Anointed who performed such wonderful
miracles. Nevertheless, there was something about him Zacchaeus couldnt explain...
Could this be the Jesus they have been talking about? Zachy wondered. Taking a closer
look, something struck Zacchaeus. But something looks familiar about this man. Have I seen
him before? I think I know this man! Where could I have seen him before? Why does he look so
familiar?
As the crowd made their advance, they moved around the tree, some to one side, some
to the other. Soon the man in the middle whom Zacchaeus was staring at suddenly looked up,
and caught his eyes.
Then Zacchaeus knew. It was the man whose eyes he had met after praying the prayer
of repentance that day. The man whose eyes had spoken love, and forgiveness and peace to hi
spirit, body and soul, in spite of knowing what a sinner he was.
And as on the other occasion, Zachy could not shift his eyes away from those of the
man. And he saw and felt all those things he had seem earlier in them, only even stronger. He
could feel power and authority exuding from him now. But not in a self-conscious, contrived
manner as you would expect.
Then the man smiled and Zaccchaeus was so carried away by the wonder of him that he
almost missed the sound of The Voice calling to him by name!!!
Zacchaeus, come on down. I need a place to stay the night and that will be at your house.
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ZACHYS TREASURE
Zachy did not need a second invitation. He did not bother to ask how he knew his name. He
quickly scampered down with the same speed that he had scampered up the tree and kept
repeating:
Gladly Lord. Thank you Lord over and over again. Bowing and bowing again, too excited, too
relieved to do anything else. This God truly answers prayers. He is indeed the Yes and Amen.
And this man before him could be nothing but His Son, the Anointed that He had promised
years ago. Zacchaeus prayer had been answered far beyond his expectations. All he had asked
was to meet him. And God had granted his a special audience with Him. He would pass the
night in his house!! His house!!!
The possibility of becoming his friend, a member of his inner circle, filled Zaccheaeus
heart. With a God like this, there are no limits to what one can become! His mother has said it to
him many times before, and she had been proved right once again! God answered sincere, pure
and acceptable prayers over and beyond what one asks! This was too much for Zachy. Not only
would this special Peace be his, now he would also have a new beginning, a new purpose, a
new joy.
As Zachy thought over all this even as he bowed and thanked Jesus, he suddenly
became aware of some murmuring around him.
Of all people, someone muttered aloud angrily. This mean publican who has robbed us silly?
How could he choose to stay in his house?
Fast thinker that he was, Zachy had no plans of letting this opportunity slip by him.
Before the murmurings increased and Jesus heard and changed his mind, Zacchaeus quickly
shouted out loud to drown the murmuring:
Lord! Right here and now, I promise to give half of my possessions to the poor. And I will pay
back anyone I have cheated four times the amount I cheated him of!
There was a hush in the crowd at this. Some people covered their open mouth in shock.
Others stared as if struck by lightning. Theyes of other narrowed in distrust. Zacchaeus only
stared hopefully at Jesus. He was ready to do much more than that if necessary. Whatever it
takes, he thought. This opportunity must not, cannot, will not pass me by.
Jesus looked again into Zacchaeus eyes. He smiled again tenderly at him, stretched
forth his hand to pat him on the back, and said:
Today, salvation had come into your house. You also are a son of Abraham. You are also
among those I have come to look for. You got lost but now I have found you. Come, let us go.
Zacchaeus ran ahead, clearing the path for Jesus, leading him to his house.

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POSTFACE
I chose to do a Postface (although the word might not exist) for this novella rather than a
Foreword, because I am hoping that you will only discover the character on which this novella is
based at the end. However if you were so smart as to discover the story was about Zacchaeus
mentioned in Luke 19:8 before you got to the end, kudos to you. And if you are the type of
person who tends to check out the whole package before delving into it like I sometimes do,
then perhaps you knew whom the story was about right from the start. And if that is the case,
then I hope you wondered for a long time what exactly I was getting at and that you got it
towards the end.
The inspiration for this book was from the message of a pastor at a Businessmens Fellowship
meeting in Cote dIvoire some years back. I was struck by the pastors remark that the
illustrations of a man climbing a ladder to get to the top of a tree gave the wrong impression
about Zacchaeus emotional state when he climbed the sycamore tree to see Jesus. According
to him, Zacchaeus, the CHIEF of publicans, although short in stature, must have been pretty
desperate to see Jesus to have decided to climb the tree the way he did. This was what led to
my wondering what could have made him so desperate. It struck me that identifying Jesus
physically was part of that desperation. And this in turn led me to feeling that may suggest that
there had been an earlier encounter where, like the blind man who could not identify Jesus,
although he knew he was the one who healed him, Zacchaeus too might have met Jesus
without being able to identify him.
But over and beyond that, I tried to imagine what could have made Zacchaues so desperate.
This was how I came up with this work of fiction, which, I would quickly like to add again
specifically or the attention of great Bible scholars who may stumble across this novella one
day, is not necessarily faithful to geographical locations, characters etc. This also means that
you may find loopholes in the web I have attempted to weave.
Please forgive me for any lapses. My hope and prayer is that you who already have a personal
relationship with Jesus, would be encouraged to stay strong in Him, knowing that he will never
forsake you. And as for you who have not yet had a personal encounter with Him, but are in a
desperate situation right now like Zaccheaus did, let me assure you Jesus is REAL and ALIVE
and ready to save you too. Call on Him. He rejects no one.

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TEACHING POINTS
1. Zacchaeus meaning? The Aramaic meaning is Pure; the Hebrew means Clean, Pure, and
the Greek derivation of the name is Zakkay. So the use of the short form, Zachy is not too far
fetched. What comments would you have about Zachy and the meaning of his name. How
about yours? What would you like to claim? How far from it have you lived up to date?
2. Apart from the fact that he had to climb a tree to see Jesus, would you say there was any
other reason the Bible tells us about the height of Zacchaeus?
3. What other biblical characters were described physically? Moses, David, Absalom, Esther
why do you suppose this was done? In view of this, what importance do you feel God gives to
physical appearance?
4. Is there any physical description of Jesus in the Bible? The only reference to Jesuss
appearance in Isaiah 53 suggests there was nothing to recommend his looks during His
suffering?? What do you think accounts for the presentation of Jesus as a tall, fit, good looking
man as we see in pictures and films today? Shroud of Turin in Christian History There is no
consensus yet on exactly how the image was created, and it is believed by some to be the
burial shroud of Jesus of Nazareth, despite radiocarbon dating placing its origins in the Medieval
period i.e. 13

th

to 15

th

Century, around 1500 years after Christ!!! The good looking man

probably form the assumption that Christ, as son of God, full of faith must have developed
optimally physically, and must have looked compassionate and kind and attractive.
4. Since we worship a risen Christ with a resurrected body, how should we imagine him today?
Revelations description which is not physical but spiritual.
5. A tall young lady, the daughter of an almost 7ft tall pastor once came back from a Chrsitian
youth session slightly amused and perhaps annoyed because their teacher mentioned a
(scientific?) theory that tall people tended to be proud, while short ones tended to be
aggressive. Do you agree with this? How tall are you? Has your height affected you personally
in any way? Comments from Google: The association of temperament with physical
characteristics is a more difficult problem, however. Stereotypes such as "dumb blonde," "fickle
red head," and maxims such as "fat and merry, lean and sad" reveal the general acceptance of
an association between physical characteristics and psychologic traits in our culture. Of
course, most of these stereotypes are false, even statistically, but they are reinforced in our
minds by those occasional chance instances in which the physical and psychologic traits are
seen in the same person (see Chapter 14 regarding superstitious responses).
6. Was Zacchy right to feel the way he did before he left the village? Have you felt or do you feel
that way about anybody or institution? Sibling rivalry/jealousy? A brother who had exactly the
same opportunity as a sister calling her bourgoise because he felt she had advantages; A

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sister accusing her sister in anger of behaving like a queen for no good reason. Are you right to
have felt that way? If so how did you react? Was it positive or negative in the sight of God?
7. Is there any comparison between the repercussions of negative response in Zachys life and
yours? If so would you like to change things like Zachy? In the light of Gods Word, how do you
think you can do that?
8. Can you relate with the fact that Zachy was a member of a cult of some sort? Have you been
or a you a member of a street gang, secret cult, professional mafia or any such group. Do you
share any of Zachys repulsion, regret and fear? Do you want to get out of it? How can you get
out of it going by Zachys experience?
9. Why do you think Zachy volunteered to give so much away in exchange for hosting Jesus?
How strongly do you feel about associating with Christ?

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My conversion testimony
Quite simple really. I knew and loved Jesus for many years from reading the Bible over and over
again after I was delivered from smoking just by praying in His name many years back. I loved
His great wisdom when He asked the Pharisees to show Him the picture on the coin and ended
by declaring Give unto Caesar what is Caesar, and to God, what is Gods. What wisdom, what
courage. You just cant trap this guy. Hes too smart to be had!
Then there was His great self-control towards such injustice (even then what struck me most was
that the prostitutes male counterpart was not dragged forward as well). Such injustice and
meanness towards one defenseless, socially-disadvantaged woman. I would have let them had a
piece of my mind! But Jesus was in control and merely let them have a Peace of his mind!):
He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone. And none of the accusers, schemers, could
stand the heat just because of a few words from him. Then such great compassion towards the
woman: Hath no man condemned thee? Neither do I. Go thy way and sin no more. Yes so I
was already in love with Jesus. He was cool. Wise and smart. The kind of man I could look up to
and live happily ever after with!
So this Saviour, blood shed thing rather spoiled things for me. Why dont they just let things be.
After all, does the idea of being a Christian not preclude all this bloody imageries and stuff?
Bet some people just liked complicating things. Today, some Bible passages still make me
wonder how I had such difficulty believing for so long. You see, since the day I was delivered of
smoking 7 years back by getting on my knees, all by my little old self, and praying to God
through Jesus for help and receiving an answer, I had read the Bible in excitement from Genesis
to Revelations several times over, yet without really seeing those passages that so clearly explain
how Jesus is the Saviour!!
For me then, it was pretty clear; This was a VERY GOOD man, in fact the PERFECT man, and
by my estimation, the full and COMPLETE embodiment of all previous prophets in the Bible (I
believed in some odd form of reincarnation then). That was good enough for me, and why dont
they just let things be instead of always talking about sacrifice and blood? Wicked men killed
Him, period. And now He is with God. Case closed!
I was also quite, quite upset with Jesus. I had no doubt whatsoever that He was in Heaven with
God. That is where good men go. I believed that implicitly as it makes simple sense. But why on
earth did this good man had to spoil everything by shouting at the end: My God, my God, why
hast thou forsaken me?!! It would have been great comfort if that part of the Bible had ended
with a voice responding, I have not forsaken you. Or they could have done me a great favour
by just leaving that cry out. Didnt make sense. Why tell me the story of such a great guy and get
me hooked on him, only to leave me frustrated at the end with that cry!
I was quite upset with Him for that for years? Could He have been abandoned by God? And pray,
why? I refused to accept that possibility, yet did not know what to make of that cry.

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How grateful I am that today I know the conclusion of the matter. Psalm 22, which was the
passage He was actually reciting aloud makes it clear that He had indeed been abandoned, since
He was actually carrying MY sin and YOURS on that cross. And since sin cannot enter Heaven
because God is too holy to behold sin, (.) there was no way He could have entered Heaven
in that state. So He went to hell. Yes. He did. With MY sins and YOURS. And that was how he
saved you and I for without blood there is no remission of sins (.). That was how my sins
and yours were nailed to the cross with Him in death that is how my sins and yours were
cancelled once and for all. That is why you can have salvation today. That is how you have the
possibility of entering heaven today.
What do I mean? You see, He was not abandoned in hell. You know why? It because, as Jesus
Himself declared while on earth, The Gates of hell CANNOT prevail against Gods Power, the
Power of the Creator of Heaven and Earth and all that is in them. The Power that Jesus Himself
demonstrated while on earth.
So He did leave that Hell, and to reassure us all that He had left hell and therefore overcame
death, He showed Himself over a period of 40 days to those He had prepared to share the Good
News with you and I. During that period He declared All power has been given to me in heaven
and on earth. And they did spread the Good News. And that is why you and I are still talking
about it today.
Today, I know He went to hell for me and you and led captivity captive. Today, I know that that
cry that so upset me was in fact the cry that reconciled me to God. That Today, I know He was
abandoned He sits at the right hand of God the Father interceding for me. Alleluia!

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