lement pushed his way down Mercury Street through the jostling Roman crowd. Normally, the crowds and narrow streets did not bother him, but today . . .
At length he came to a three-story, ramshackle insula -- a tenement house. Demetrius had lived on the second floor -- Clement hoped he was still there. His ship was due to embark for Judea in the morning. Perhaps he had already taken his belongings aboard. Perhaps he had already left . . . Clement ran up the steps.
He hadn't been here to visit for over six months, but the door was still a familiar sight to him. Countless pleasant hours of fellowship and conversation had been spent here. Demetrius had been a good friend before the circumcision party had gotten to him. Clement knocked, and almost gasped with relief when the familiar voice answered. "Come in."
Clement pushed open the door and stepped inside the one-room apartment. Demetrius was sitting on the edge of the cot, and looked up without surprise.
"I've been expecting you," he said.
Clement nodded. "I wanted to say farewell."
"Is that all? No threats? No more letters of excommunication?"
Clement did not answer directly. "A letter was read at assembly today."
Demetrius did not answer for a moment. It was obvious that he was torn. Clement stood calmly, but within he was praying furiously.
Finally, Demetrius, spoke. "What did he say this time? More dire warnings?"
Clement nodded again. "Yes." He said no more. Demetrius was intelligent -- and a little proud -- and Clement had resolved to volunteer as little as possible.
"What did he say about the Holy City?"
"He said that raging fire was to consume the adversaries . . ."
"Adversaries!" Demetrius exploded. "Rome is the adversary! Rome is under the judgment of God!"
"That is true. But Jerusalem first. Remember what Messias said. Not one stone . . ."
Demetrius waved his hand. They had been over this ground before.
"Did he say anything about the Holy Sacrifices?"
"Yes. He said that the blood of beasts cannot wash away our sins. If they ever succeeded, they would then cease."
Demetrius looked miserable -- but still stubborn for all that.
"So why did God require them then? Has your teacher thrown
out the Law yet?"
Clement replied mildly. "You know better than that. This letter that was read today was soaked in the Law. And you know that the Scriptures say that sacrifices and burnt offerings He did not require, but a contrite heart."
Demetrius was shaking his head. "When Messias was born, sacrifices were offered. He worshipped in this Temple you despise. He cared for it -- He cleansed it."
Clement was silent. After a moment, Demetrius spoke again. "I suppose he has heard that we were going back. Did he speak of us?"
This was why Clement had come, but he simply said, "Yes, he spoke of you."
"What did he say?" Demetrius was looking at the floor.
Clement was praying that he would not forget what he had been rehearsing in his mind all the way over. The letter had said it so well . . .
"This age is passing away. The first covenant is obsolete -- it is growing old and ready to vanish away. Those of you who have tasted the powers of the coming age, if you go back to Judea, will never return here. The way back will be closed to you because you have trampled the blood of Messias underfoot. His blood was shed, once for all, and you will have returned to Jerusalem to slaughter brute beasts -- over, and over, and over again."
Clement could see that his words were hitting Demetrius like a weapon. He thought of the double-edged sword in the letter.
"Go on," Demetrius said. He was still looking at the floor.
"He said that those who go back are like those who perished in the wilderness under Moses. Those who trust Messias to the end of the age are like Joshua and Caleb -- conquerors of Canaan."
Demetrius was deeply bothered, and Clement remembered that whenever he became bothered he would become cynical. "That's a new one!"
"He said that we believers enter God's rest, and that we should take great care lest we find ourselves fallen short of it. The vultures do not distinguish a carcase in the wilderness or outside Jerusalem."
Demetrius was unsettled enough not to care whether he appeared so. After a moment he spoke again, this time much more quietly.
"Have you heard the rumors in the street today?"
Clement shook his head. "No. I've been at assembly."
"Judea may already be in revolt. The chatter is that Nero will send Vespasian."
Clement had tears in his eyes. "Please stay. Please come back to us."
Demetrius looked up. He was thinking.
