Friday, March 15, 2019

Interview with a Servant Girl

Denial of St. Peter, Gerret van Honthort


Quiet Spirit: Hello. Today we have with us one who can tell us a bit about one of the events at the house of Caiaphas, the High Priest. Welcome! Would you like to give us your name and tell us a little bit about yourself?

Servant Girl: Thank you for asking me to visit your blog today. It is an honor to be here. My name is not important; it is long forgotten in history. I was a servant girl in the house of Caiaphas, the High Priest. His family chose me to be in their service when Caiaphas received his appointment from a Roman official. When I had been in service for 15 years, the Feast of Passover brought tensions to Jerusalem. The religious leaders brought that rabbi, Jesus, to Caiaphas to go on trial.

Q. S.: Did you have knowledge of who Jesus was? Had you ever heard Him teach?

S. G.: A few days before the night in question, I was returning from purchasing supplies for the household in preparation for the Seder meal. I came upon a large group of people as they listened to the Rabbi preach. I asked a woman in the crowd who that Rabbi was. She told me he was Jesus. Another man stood close to this Jesus. I asked who that man was. She told me the second man was Cephas, who also was called Peter.

Q. S.: What happened on that night?
S. G.: Some of the others who were in service built a fire in the yard. A lot of people who were in town for the feast began to arrive at the gate. Soldiers brought in this Jesus for Caiaphas to interview. When the crowd brought that man Jesus into the courtyard, one of his followers came with him. Later, I recognized someone among the people who had been allowed to come into the yard. My friend told me this man hesitated outside the gate, talking to another man. That first man entered the yard and said something to one of the senior servants who went to Caiaphas’ son-in-law, Annas, conversed with him and returned to that first man. The senior servant accompanied him to the gate and spoke to the one waiting on the other side. The second man entered the yard and headed to the fire to get warm. I stood right by him and realized he had been with the Galilean. I told him that he had been with the Nazarene, but he responded with anger as he denied it. Suddenly, a rooster crowed and this man standing by the fire broke down and started sobbing. He then bolted from the fire and into the crowd.

Q. S.: Is there anything else you remember happening that night?

S. G.: Later, those in service talked about the events of the evening. Two others had confronted this man with the fact that he had been with this rabbi. Each time, he became agitated and, when I spoke with him, he seemed to not be able to contain himself any longer.

Q. S.: Servant Girl, you have given us new insight into the events of that event at the high priest’s home. Thank you for stopping by.

S. G.: Thank you for inviting me.

4 comments:

  1. Such an interesting account of the story of Peter's denials, from the viewpoint of that servant girl. Thank you for giving us this perspective. It is always interesting to put ourselves into the place of those who were actually there witnessing these important events. You have a real talent for conducting such interviews!! You should have been a reporter! :)

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  2. Pam: Thank you very much for your thoughts. I actually portrayed the servant girl in a drama Easter Sunday. Your compliments made this (still sick) girl happy. Peace and blessings. PS. Tomorrow, our church finds out who our incoming pastor will be. Please pray for my friend, Ginny. She has to make the announcement and engender hope into the people.

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  3. Hi Quiet Spirit - These posts remind me so much of the productions put on by Sight and Sound in Lancaster County, PA. They try to get into the individuals' skin as well. Thanks, I'm really enjoying these interviews.

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    1. Susan: Thank you for your kind words. I enjoyed doing the research for these interviews. Peace and blessings.

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