Final Confrontation (11 page)

“And suppose He refuses your generous offer?” Kara purred. “Suppose the Son of God will not take a bribe?”

Lucifer looked at Kara with darkened eyes.

“Then the stakes become much higher.”

“Quite a stir our young evangelist is causing,” said Kara, as they observed John baptizing a woman in the Jordan. Along the shores there were many others who were either waiting to be baptized, or who had already been baptized by John. “As if the water can wash away the crimes of humanity,” he sneered.

Kara was among a group of angels who had been assigned to keep watch on John’s activities. Now that Jesus had been presented, it was obvious there would be a shift in priority. John still represented a threat as long as he continued to encourage repentance among the people. But the larger threat was his willingness to decrease among the people and allow Jesus to increase.

“It’s so indecent of him,” barked Tinius. “Most men would become jealous of their successor. But this John is bent on handing authority over to Him—even willingly!”

“It is astounding,” agreed Pellecus, who with Rugio and Berenius made up the group who would lead the effort for the destruction of both Jesus and John. “John is unfortunately a rarity among humans—a man of true albeit ridiculous conviction.”

“We’ll see how conviction measures up against persecution,” said Kara, looking at the group of ever-present priests and Pharisees who had been sent by the Temple.

“True, Kara,” said Lucifer, who had joined the group after placing Rugio and a complement of angels to watch Jesus. The others looked back upon Lucifer, who was gazing at the arriving holy men. “The priests of this land represent possibly the greatest weapon we can manage against the Most High—the religious fervency of selfish men.”

A shout of praise went up from the crowd as another person was baptized. Lucifer looked at John with scorn, and then scanned over to the priests. An angel, one of Kara’s most competent agents, stood among them.

“I see Berenius is keeping our sanctified friends interested,” he said.

“Yes,” said Kara. “Berenius has become quite accomplished at…shall we say… stirring the pot a bit.” He smiled. “He will definitely keep things quite interesting.”

“However it is done, we must destroy both these men,” said Tinius, who was eager to see John dispatched. He was fearful of these native religious movements that inspired men to seek the Living God. “The crowds have been increasing.”

“Don’t worry my nervous friend,” said Lucifer. “We will eliminate both of these threats—beginning with John. Perhaps when Jesus sees His vaunted herald brought down He will realize His efforts are futile.”

“As you said, my prince, the key will be finding humans willing to destroy them for us,” said Pellecus. “And in that regard the religious authorities in this rotten nation will become useful accomplices…as always.”

“Agreed,” said Lucifer, looking once more at the priests. “For now we’ll content ourselves with watching from a distance to allow the poison to set in. Observe.”

Lucifer gave a signal to Berenius, who nodded and moved over to the leader of the group of priests standing nearby.

“Just a little something I arranged with Berenius,” said Lucifer, as Kara and the others watched, perplexed. Kara felt a tinge of hurt that Lucifer had conspired with Berenius without his consultation.

Berenius began to speak into the mind of Zairus, a delegate from the Sanhedrin. The man looked at the others and then moved closer to the river bank. John looked at the man, splendid in his black priestly garb, who obviously was about to address him.

“You there, Baptist!” he shouted. “My name is Zairus. I have been sent, along with this delegation, to inquire as to your purposes here. What might I report?”

John looked up at the man who addressed him. The crowd had fallen quiet and only the sound of the river could be heard. One of Zairus’ fellow priests, Aziah, joined him on the side of the river.

“Do you think you are Elijah or something?” Aziah asked with a sarcastic tone. “That is what some have said.” He indicated the throng mingling on the river bank. “Who are you to be baptizing these poor people and telling them to repent?”

John looked at the men.

“I am simply a voice crying in the wilderness and saying to the world, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord!’ I speak the very words Isaiah did.”

“I see. So you are the prophet!” exclaimed Zairus, hoping to obtain some sort of ridiculous confession from John that he might trap him.

“I am not the prophet, nor Elijah.”

Zairus spoke loudly so that all could hear him.

“Then why are you baptizing?” Zairus asked. “Why are you telling these people they must repent, as if you had the authority of an Elijah or a prophet?”

“I baptize only with water, Zairus,” said John, motioning for the next person to come and be baptized. “But there is One coming Whom you do not know. He will come after me and is preferred before me. And He will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire!”

He baptized a young man, who walked back, soaked, to his family on the shore. There was no shout of joy among the crowd this time. John looked back at Zairus and pointed to the priests. “You come here to judge my ministry, you who claim the priesthood. You are a generation of vipers! You think because you have Abraham all is well. I tell you that if God so chose He could make sons of Abraham out of the rocks that are around here!”

Zairus looked at Aziah.

“Need we hear more?” he whispered. “The man is a religious maniac.”

Zairus nodded to John and walked away. The priests followed him, leaving the area. John called out after them.

“You must bring forth true fruits of repentance if you truly wish to escape the coming wrath of the Lord!”

Berenius looked back at Lucifer and Kara. They nodded to him to continue and he followed the men back to their escort.

“As I said, these priests will prove our greatest weapon,” said Lucifer. “The very people that the Most High has set apart shall in the end bring about the destruction of John the baptizer. Let John have his moment. In the end it is Jesus with whom we must contend. Recall that John has already agreed that he must decrease while the Christ increases. Perhaps we can help him in his descent.”

“And Jesus?” asked Kara delicately.

“Leave Jesus to me,” smiled Lucifer.

“Here He comes now.”

The two angels watched as the lone figure sat under a scant amount of shade provided by a rocky outcrop. The reddish desert in southern Judea was desolate and uninviting, and even the slightest bit of shelter was better than none. He looked tired, hungry and dirty. He also looked resolute, and began to pray.

“Can we help Him now?” asked Bakka, an aide to Serus who was assigned personally to minister to Jesus.

Gabriel looked at the angel.

“Not yet,” he answered. “His time is not yet. He has fasted 40 days in this desert—we shall be able to serve Him soon enough. But not yet.”

Bakka was puzzled. Why could he not bring refreshment to his Master? Why must they watch Him in the withering heat of day and the cold nights without comforting Him? He looked at the archangel in confusion.

“I don’t understand.”

“Perhaps I can help you, Bakka,” answered a voice.

“Well,” said Gabriel, looking at Lucifer, who appeared as a desert holy man in the Edomite fashion. “I was wondering when you would come.”

“Thank you, Gabriel,” he said. “It has been quite a while since we last spoke. I believe it was at Bethlehem.”

“What are you doing here,” snorted Bakka.

“Didn’t you tell him?” asked Lucifer in mock astonishment. “I’m surprised. The war must be going better for me than I realized if Heaven is withholding such basic information.”

“Tell me what?” asked Bakka, looking at Gabriel.

Before Gabriel could answer Lucifer continued.

“Why, my right of accusation, of course,” Lucifer said. “Surely the Academy has taught you such things?” He gave Gabriel a smirk. “The Academy has certainly fallen on hard times since we vacated the Kingdom. Pellecus will be delighted.”

Bakka was still waiting for an answer.

“As prince of this world I have the right to tempt and bring accusation of every human,” Lucifer said proudly. “This includes Jesus.”

“You would tempt your Lord?” asked Bakka, horrified at such a thing.

“How innocent is the Host,” Lucifer said. “I don’t intend to tempt Jesus the God, you silly angel. I intend to tempt Jesus the Man. I am something of an authority in that regard.”

“And we are to allow this?” asked Bakka defensively. He looked to Gabriel for some show of support. “Surely not!”

“It is his right,” said Gabriel. “He has a measure of authority on this fallen planet. But it is both short in limit and short in life.” He turned to Lucifer. “It is the Spirit of the Lord who leads Him to be tempted. Get on with it, Lucifer!”

Lucifer bowed his head low.

“As you command, archangel,” he said, looking over at Jesus, who was still in prayer. “And when this exhausted, hungry Man Jesus succumbs to what I offer, the war will be finally decided.”

“Try with all your might, Lucifer,” scoffed Bakka. “Jesus might be a human but He is still full of the Lord’s Spirit and full of the Lord’s Word!”

“True, Bakka,” mused Lucifer smiling at Gabriel “The Lord’s Spirit and I have long parted company. But I am quite acquainted with His Word.”