The Publius Report On Rome Today — Part 2

The chase had a lot of Romans watching

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Tullia ran near Publius, knowing that she would be seen on national Roman TV. What she needed to say to Publius was too important to be said far away. ‘‘You’re doing good, Publius; just keep riffing to our watchers like you know how to do.”

“You got it, boss lady.”

Tullia cracked a slight smile before returning to spectator mode. Publius returned his eyes towards the chase. His vision immediately recognized the leader of the Roman soldiers against Jesus.

“It appears, folks, that the leader of the Roman soldiers is attempting to speak to Jesus. Let’s hope that Jesus can hear him with all that noise out there.’’

The leading Roman commander, Servius the Centurion, was the closest to Jesus and his donkey. He had been disgusted about the assignment ever since he was ordered by higher-ups to capture Jesus, thanks to many complaints from the Sanhedrin council.

A man with an exemplary reputation in battle, he felt that this assignment was a waste of time and his talents. Every second he spent chasing Jesus made him more frustrated and itching to yell at him.

‘‘Pull over!’’ yelled Servius.

‘‘Can’t do that, Mr. Soldier. My mission must continue.’’ Jesus replied in his usual calm tone, still looking forward to freedom from his chasers.

‘‘Pull over…now! Servius yelled with more fire in his tone.

‘‘Sorry, soldier, I can’t get caught.’’

An irate Servius stared at the closest soldier near him. The soldier was fifteen years younger than the grizzled Centurion, still had a fresh face, and hadn’t been hardened from Roman campaigns yet.

‘‘You, get ready to use your rope.’’

‘‘Yes, Centurio, I’ll be ready.’’

The supporting soldier pulled out a long rope and began swinging it around in the air, like a future cowboy, preparing to release it on Jesus.

‘‘When I say now, you release it at Jesus, understood?’’

‘‘Understood, Centurio.’’

‘‘Good.’’

The young soldier kept swinging with his long golden rope until he heard the word now from Servius. ‘‘Now! Let it fly!’’

The young soldier flung the rope towards Jesus’s direction. The rope hung in the air for a minute until it landed on the ground, missing Jesus by a thread.

‘‘Oh no, the Roman soldier missed his shot at capturing Jesus!’’ yelled Publius back at Rome Today. ‘‘His aim missed the mark with that throw. But the Roman soldiers aren’t giving up. The Sanhedrin group, on the other hand, looks like they’re worn out from the chase.

Jesus is still free from his captors. Many Romans, who were on top of various ancient buildings and on the ground, were cheering for Jesus to either escape from the thirsty group or to be caught by them.

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‘‘Go, Jesus, go!’’

‘‘That Blasphemer, I hope they catch him and teach him a lesson he’ll never forget!’’

‘‘You’re my hero, J!’’

Jesus could help but smile at the good and bad reactions towards him. He just… counted it all joy.

Meanwhile, outside of downtown Rome, Jesus’s eleven disciples, along with his mother, Mary, and Mary Magdalene, were watching the intense chase on their brown wooden TV in a small grey house twenty minutes away from where the action was taking place.

‘‘You think he’ll make it?’’ asked a worried Andrew, who was walking back and forth near Simon Peter.

‘‘He’ll make it. I know he will,’’ answered Simon Peter, who was seated with his eyes glued to the TV on a dark blue couch along with Mary and Mary Magdalene.

‘‘He’s not gonna make it! He’s not gonna make it!’’ said a nervous Thomas, who was also strolling back and forth, wondering if he should run far away from everyone there.

‘‘Father God, please don’t let them catch my baby,’’ uttered a worried Mary.

Mary Magdalene patted Mary’s back softly before speaking to her. ‘‘They won’t catch him. He’ll escape their presence.’’

Mary Magdalene’s words gave Mary the reassurance she desperately needed.

Back in Rome Today, Publius and Tullia’s eyes were glued to the screen. Publius had forgotten that he was on the air until Aulus, who was watching him near his office, did a fake cough to wake Publius out of his hypnosis.

Publius turned his head right at Aulus, who leaned his head towards the middle camera. Publius immediately got the message and returned to reporting.

‘‘Sorry, folks, I got carried away by this chase, as I’m sure all of you watching at home did as well.

‘‘Hadrian. Hadrian, you there? Are you still following Jesus, the Roman soldiers, and the Sanhedrin?’’

‘‘Not anymore, Publius! My legs are shot from all this riding and running. I couldn’t keep up anymore. I think the Sanhedrin group is in the same boat with me. I see them near me, rubbing their legs hard.’’

‘‘Ahhh, Charlie Horse, it hurts, it hurts!’’ shouted one of the Sanhedrin.

‘‘Okay, Hadrian. You did well today, come on back to the station,’’ said Publius.

Alright, folks, so Jesus is still on the move. He got some decent distance away from his chasers.

He has many supporters rooting for him to get away.

Publius saw what was ahead of Jesus and his donkey and felt concern for him.

Folks, Jesus might be in trouble here. There is a dead end ahead of him, a stone wall that looks like it’s made out of hard steel. That’s gonna be impossible to overcome.

I hate to say it, but this might be it for him.

‘‘We got him! He don’t have anywhere else to go,’’ said a delighted Servius.

Jesus noticed the stone wall ahead of him. He then stared at his donkey, who had put in a lot of running from the Roman soldiers and the Sanhedrin.

‘‘Okay, little buddy, it’s time to fly.’’

Jesus used his power steadily to lift him and the donkey in the air. Servius and his men were shocked by what they were seeing.

They weren’t the only ones who were stunned by the act: Publius, Tullia, Aulus, and everyone who was watching the chase on their TV screens were shocked as well.

Jesus kept rising in the air with his donkey. His angel wings arose from his back, causing viewers to be even more stunned by the scene.

‘‘What…are..those?’’ the young Roman soldier beside Servius asked.

‘‘My grandparents talked about them. I believe they’re called wings,’’ answered Servius.

Servius and his men just watched in awe as Jesus and his donkey flew over the stone wall and finally got away from them.

‘‘I…knew this was a silly assignment,’’ thought Servius.

‘‘And he did it! Jesus and his donkey get away from their chasers! He did it! He’s the greatest!’’ yelled Publius.

Everyone in Rome who was cheering for Jesus to escape roared with joy. Most of the people in Rome cheered for a few minutes before Aulus had to reel everyone in, including Publius.

‘‘Alright, get back to your professional voice; we’re still on air, " commanded Aulus.

‘‘Right…right. The Son of God has successfully escaped from the Romans and the Sanhedrin. That was the most excitement we'd had… since yesterday. We thanked everyone who stayed with us during that exciting chase.

I’m Publius. We’ll see you all next week at the same time… at noon.’’

The three cameras in front of Publius were turned off.

‘‘Good job, Publius, you’re getting more comfortable at this job,’’ said Tullia.

‘‘Thanks! This job ain’t so bad, once my energy gets pumping, that is.’’

Jesus and the donkey were close to the house where his disciples, his mother, and Mary Madlene were. The donkey was relieved that he stopped running twenty minutes ago. His legs felt fresh again from the slow walking he was allowed to do.

Jesus saw the house a house away from them.

‘‘We’re here, my little friend.’’

Jesus knocked three times on the gray door. He waited patiently until someone opened the door. He saw a surprised, then overjoyed Andrew stand before him. ‘‘Master, you made it!’’

‘‘Yes…Andrew…thanks to God’s grace, we’re here.’’

‘‘Amen. Please, come in!’’

Jesus and the donkey came in and were embraced by the other disciples.

‘‘Master!’’ they all said one by one.

Jesus hugged them all before making his way over to Mary Magdalene. He hugged Mary Magdalene and then gave her two kisses on her left and right cheek.

He then made his way over to his relieved mother.

Jesus and his mother hugged each other tightly. He kissed her on the forehead. When the two ended their hug, Mary smacked him on the shoulder.

‘‘Owww, mother, what was that for?’’

‘‘Oh… don’t get cute. You know good well what that was for. Just be glad that I didn’t give you a couple more smacks for scaring me like that.’’

‘‘Yes, mother.’’

‘‘And you’re gonna stay out of Rome for a long time too. Understood?

‘‘Yes, mother. Understood.’’

‘‘That goes for you too, little donkey.’’ Mary pointed at him.

The donkey uttered a noise to let Mary know that he understood too.

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The end.