This is a fictional letter I imagined from niece to uncle somewhere around the Mediterranean in the first century.
My dearest beloved Uncle John,
I write you in the love of God who is One, and our family who misses you greatly. At least, most of the family misses you. As you know, it has been four years since I have seen you. My mother (your beloved sister) tells me you are living across the Great Sea with the mother of the rabbi. But there are also horrible rumors you have been taken prisoner to a strange island of the Hellenists. If this rumor is true, who is taking care of Mariam?
I miss you immensely, but your last letter comforted me greatly.
First, I cannot tell you the fame (and infamy) it is to be known here in Jerusalem as your niece! Even though I am only 17 years old, the high priests in the streets still whisper behind my back as being “that crucified rabbi’s closest disciple’s only niece.” They talk about me quite a bit, even though all those events surrounding your Jesus happened several years ago.
They say you and your father were close to the high priest even up to that horrible night when they arrested him. You would think killing him would be enough! But no, these priests still speak poorly of you and Peter and of course the rabbi.
Their nasty words only got worse after that mysterious day here in Jerusalem for Shavuot several years ago. I was young then. But I still remember people from all over the world claiming they heard you speak in their own language. Now the people who were washed in that water-ritual tend to call you a “Sent-One’ or ‘Apostle’ or something. They are the nicest people I know in Jerusalem so I don’t know why everyone talks bad about them.
I just know you as my Uncle John. You are so dear to me, even though I cannot explain all these things happening in the city or in my heart. Writing you today is like putting a fever-dream to paper, not sure you’re even going to get this letter.
I do believe you that your friend Jesus rose from the dead. I know that you were there at his death. I even believe you that you saw him alive after he was put in that sealed tomb. You even tell me “He raised Himself from the grave.” Uncle John, I believe you.
And your closest disciples still tell me it’s time for my “soul to be washed in His blood.” But they seem to come around less often as I have been hesitant to join them…
Part of my hesitancy is because the temple high-priests still pull me aside on the streets here in Jerusalem and say, “You know, Hannah, that water-ritual thing is just witchcraft, magic from your dead rabbi. Your Uncle John left the temple to follow the crucified one’s heretical sect. Do you really think the presence of the Almighty abandoned the Temple full of all us priests and now remains with just a tiny group of shabby zealots? Do you think fanatics like your uncle are right and the whole chain-of-command of Israel is wrong? How could God be Almighty if He allowed that in the one world religion that Adonai founded?”
This all weighs on me tremendously. When I was a girl just a bit younger, it seems I had the courage to stand up to them. I would say things like: “My Uncle John saw things with his own eyes and I have seen them too!” But they keep reminding me I have to be obedient to God’s representatives, even if they tell me to do something wrong, even if they tell me to go against our holy Scriptures. Uncle John, I just cannot do that.
In fact, last week, I received an anonymous note stuck in the doorway of my mother’s place and it said this: “God only founded one religion, the religion of the Hebrews. Obedience to us is necessary to stay involved in the Temple. Do you really believe your mother’s brother who rejected us found some ‘way’ better than the Temple priests led by the Lord God Who is Only One?”
How do I answer this?
At the end of the day, I know you saw Jesus risen from the dead. I know God is calling me to follow what you call “the narrow way.” Despite all the trouble I have had, I think am ready to be washed and enter ‘the Way’ because I just can’t deny the miracles. I now believe it would be wrong to ignore that intense but gentle tug in prayer anymore.
Oh, and your disciples are always so kind but firm in showing me how Jesus fulfilled every book of our Holy Scriptures. I cannot deny this either, especially since I am studying so much, as you told me to do, dear Uncle.
But how do I answer all the priests of our religion? They do make a great point that your Savior said the Temple would be destroyed, and it’s not destroyed yet. And even tougher for me is when they say to me things like “Do you really think God would let all of our leaders go astray after God only founded that one religion of the Hebrews?”
I know salvation is not “a numbers-game,” but I very much feel torn between following your master and the word “obedience” used against me all the time here in Jerusalem and even when I stop outside the Temple for a moment of silent prayer. How do I answer them that the way of you so-called ‘Apostles’ feels so exclusive? Could God really side with a few as the leaders go so far astray?
Do you remember that time I was with you and my Mom and we met your rabbi Jesus? That was the time he held my cousin who was my age at the time (seven years old, I think?) Jesus embraced him and he said “Unless you change and become like little children…” You know, I only met him that one time, but it seems every word of his is burnt into my memory in fire and light.
Oh, I do love being around your friend Peter. I learn so much from him. Peter used to be loud and funny. Now he’s a bit quieter, but I still love to be in his presence. It feels like being in the presence of the master, honestly, who I only met once. Oddly, I even hunger for that sacrificial meal where you say the master still gives away his living body. I don’t understand any of that yet, but Peter assures me I will understand with a little more prayer and study.
Do you think there is a way I could stay obedient to the Sadducees, avoid your water-ritual and still be saved? I fear not. But it is love more than fear that guides me. I remember how you always write me that “love casts out all fear.” I especially remember your last letter to me where you reminded me that “the way of love is the narrow way of taking up your cross.”
It’s just so hard to be called “disobedient” if we really believe God only founded one world religion, that religion of our fathers Abraham and Isaac. Also, if Almighty God could let that ‘apostasy in the Temple’ (as you call it) happen once for those in the line of Abraham, could it not happen in your own line of those who you call these priests of the ‘new sacrifice’? Surely God would still leave a remnant of faithful priests then, too?
But the main reason I am ready to join you is because Mother Mariam came to me in a dream last week and told me it’s time to come home to her son. I will write about that dream in my next letter.
So, today, I want to let you know I am ready for what you call ‘immersion’ or ‘dunking’ or something like that. I want all my sins—which are so, so many at this point—to finally get washed away in the blood of the Savior.
My dearest uncle, you definitely suggest to me a narrow pathway, and I think I am ready to go there with you. But please help me with these questions I have on “the numbers-game” (so few keeping the faith of Abraham who even predicted your Christ) and our priests challenging me on obedience here on the streets of Jerusalem.
I know it’s time to make a decision, even if it means following your minority—and not the Temple majority—of that one true religion we know Adonai founded so many centuries ago.
I am now ready to believe it is your Christ, Isaiah’s own suffering servant, who has fulfilled it all. With your prayers, I believe I am ready to take up his cross—my cross—even if it means rejection from my family and the Temple like you have already endured. I love you and I pray for you.
Your niece forever,
Hannah
