And The Truth Shall Set You Free
by Nike


Marcus was waiting for his friend, Patrolucus by the shores of Patmus, Greece. He shivered in his clean but ragged clothes as he watched the waves retreat to the ocean and charge at the sandy shore, only to fall back again. Every dawn he and his friend would race along the sandy beach to practice for the oncoming Olympic Games to be held in Athens for every four years. They both hoped to be chosen to participate, for the winner is always treated as a hero in his country. That was the reason why they trained themselves hard. Suddenly he heard someone coming. It was his friend Patrolucus.
Patrolucus ran to meet Marcus. Unlike him, he was dressed in regal clothes that marked him as the governor's son.
"Marcus! Marcus! My father told me that only the nobles and freemen can join the games!" Patrolucus announced, rather haughtily. "Slaves like you cannot compete!"
Marcus felt stung by his friend's words. Unlike Patrolucus, he was only a slave. His anger got the better of him. "I may only be a slave, Patrolucus! But l can certainly beat you!" He heatedly exclaimed as he hit Patrolucus on the jaw with his fist.
Patrolucus fell down on the sandy shore. All at once, Marcus felt himself being grabbed roughly by two men. They were the guards of the governor. He had not noticed them watching him earlier. Marcus twisted and struggled but they held him check.
"Beating the governor's son, eh slave?" One of the guards sneered at his ear. "Don't you know the penalty for that especially for a runt like you?"
Marcus said nothing. He kept his mouth shut.
"To the governor's palace with you, then!" the other one shouted.
Minutes later, Marcus was carried to the governor's palace for questioning.
"I am surprised by your attitude, Marcus. I've treated you better than any other slave. Why did you hit my son?" the governor gently began.
Marcus fell silent at these words.
"Very well, from now on I will no longer be lenient to you just because you happen to be the friend of my son." the governor continued. "You will work at the salt mines like any other slave!"
The salt mines! Marcus knew that working in the salt mines was the cruelest punishment that anyone can give. Slaves are forced to work from dusk to dawn without rest at the dusty mine for salt. With a venomous look, he glared at the governor's son as the guards led them away.
Life was now hard for the poor young slave. Day on he lived inside a small hut with an old man who looked past his time. But Marcus noticed that the old man never complained and always prayed to some unknown god. One night after finishing his work in the mines, he decided to talk to the old man.
"Why do you allow yourself to be bullied by the soldiers?" Marcus asked the old man. "Can't you see that?"
The old man looked at Marcus, his eyes still shining with youth. "They may have enslaved me in the flesh but in spirit I am free."
"How can you say that?" Marcus asked in surprise. "You are a slave"
"By living and knowing in the truth, it has made me a free man."
"What is the truth?"
"God is the truth."
"God? Which god?"
"The God who loved us so much that He sent His only son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. He is the truth and the truth shall set you free"
From that moment on, Marcus started visiting the old man after working, sometimes bringing food that that he had saved from his meals, to know more about this Christ that the old man spoke of.
"Christ gave us, his disciples one last commandment before He rose back to heaven." the old man told Marcus one night.
"What is it?"
"Love one another as I have loved you."
One day Marcus was heading for the salt mines when he saw Patrolucus swimming at the sea. He remembered the incident with the governor's son that caused him his punishment.
"I hate you! I'll forever hate you as long as I live! " But he choked at his words as he remembered what the old man said to him the night before.
"Love your enemies."
Love Patrolucus? Marcus asked himself. I hate him! He was the reason why I now work like a dog. Then the words of the old man again flashed across his mind.
"God is love." the old man said, "He loved us so much that He gave us His only Son to die for us so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
As he looked back at the sea, Marcus noticed Patrolucus struggling in the water. He seemed to be in trouble.
"Help me! I can't move my ankles!" Patrolucus shouted for help. "Help me, please!"
Without wasting another moment, Marcus dived down to rescue his drowning friend.
"Don't struggle !" Marcus cried amidst the waves. "I'll get you out of here. Just hold on!"
Patrolucus didn't say a word. He clung to Marcus for dear life as swam back to the shore . But the waves kept pulling them back and Marcus was getting tired.
Oh God, Marcus silently prayed as he carried Patrolucus back to shore while the waves kept on towing him back to the sea. Help me get us back. Please just let us reach the shore. Marcus thought his lungs would burst---- he hadn't had enough time for a deep breath before diving under--- and a growing dizziness threatened him as he struggled with his precious load in the water. He had never tried to swim while supporting another person, but he had to get Patrolucus to shore as quickly as possible, keeping his head above water. Marcus struck out with one arm finding the right stroke, holding his friend with the other.
By the time he had regained his footing, Marcus saw a group of men running to meet him. He carried Patrolucus and gave him to the nearest of the men, not realizing how exhausted he was at the last moment. One of the men was beside him, and he looked up in surprise to see the captain of the guard helping him to the shore.
"Get him some help quickly." Marcus panted. "He's the governor's son!" He shouted just before he collapsed at his arms.
There were shouts all around the area. Marcus saw three men coming. It was the governor and his guards.
"Marcus, l am very grateful to you for saving my son's life." the governor began, "You had more than enough reason to let my boy drown, but instead you risked your life for his. Why?"
Marcus couldn't get the words out of his mouth. He was pretty stunned by the question. Should he tell them that it was the God of that old man in the slave hut that gave him the strength to save Patrolucus ? No ,not yet. There's still another time.
"I was wrong in judging you harshly." the governor continued. "In reward for saving my son's life, l give you your freedom, Marcus. You are free."
Free! Marcus could barely constrain his joy. Quickly, he ran towards the old man's hut to tell him of the news. He found the old man sitting outside, writing something on a white parchment.
The old man stopped writing and laid his old and weary eyes at Marcus. But as he did so, the old man dropped the parchment. Marcus picked up the paper and found that it was a letter .He looked at the signature. It read:


JOHN