Final Confrontation (39 page)

Over the past few days, angels of both camps, wicked and holy, had begun descending upon Kidron. They all understood that a great contest ensued, although none clearly understood its meaning. Lucifer and several of his angels stood near the place where Jesus was now speaking. Holy angels were also present in greater numbers.

“Why does He not simply get to the point,” fumed Kara. “He is always speaking to these fools in terms that humans cannot possibly grasp!”

Lucifer turned to Kara, whose smug face belied his own ignorance of the matter.

“And suppose you teach us what this all means,” said Lucifer. “I had no idea you were so wise.”

“The Man is going to die,” said Kara defensively. Rugio and Pellecus enjoyed his discomfort. “I am simply wondering why He doesn’t say so!”

“He has told them often enough,” said Pellecus.

“I, for one, would like to be there when He takes His last breath,” snarled Rugio.

“You will, Rugio,” said Lucifer. “You will.”

Jesus looked past the men, in the direction of Lucifer. Their eyes locked and Jesus continued speaking.

“Now is the judgment of this world upon us,” He said, looking squarely at Lucifer. “And now the prince of this world shall be cast out.”

The words had a paralyzing effect upon Lucifer, momentarily. He continued looking at Jesus, not so much in defiance but as an animal who has been mesmerized by a predator. He shook it off.

“We’ll see who casts out whom,” Lucifer managed.

Pellecus and Kara nodded eagerly. Rugio remained impassive.

“I leave you with this,” Jesus continued. “For just a little while longer the Light will be with you. Walk therefore in the Light and become children of Light by believing.”

He then left the area. Many people called after Him and some attempted to follow. But He managed to elude them all, and hid from the people for the remainder of the day. The Greeks thanked Philip for bringing Jesus to them and went back to the place they were staying for the Passover.

As the disciples walked back to the home of Simon the leper, where Jesus was staying, they saw a pilgrim. He was a man coming to the Passover. With him was his young son, who was holding a little spring lamb. Philip looked at the boy, remembering the time his own father had taken their lamb to be offered in sacrifice to the Lord. How difficult it was—but what a lesson about the price of sin.

Philip nudged Andrew as the father and son walked by.

“The lamb to the slaughter,” he whispered. “Remember those days?”

Andrew nodded, remembering his own childhood when they were given a lamb to offer on Passover. He caught up with Jesus and recounted the conversation he had just had with Philip.

“Many a lamb will give its life in Israel in two days, eh Master?”

Jesus said nothing.

Andrew looked back and then, with a strange expression on his face, asked:

“Where is Judas?”

Judas had slowly dropped back from the others and was now half-way to the city. He had an appointment to keep with the high priest. As he walked, he wrestled with himself over the whole idea. Clearly Jesus was steering them all to disaster and had to be stopped. But should he betray Him? Or should he simply walk away? He stopped at the edge of the slope of the Mount of Olives leading gently down the Kidron Valley.

“What should I do?” he agonized aloud.

“What indeed?” said Lucifer, who had followed him.

Judas sat on the edge of a hill, looking over the twilight of Jerusalem. He could still make out the magnificent Temple, as well as parts of the Antonia fortress. Somewhere in that massive building sat Caiaphas and others who were interested in meeting him. Should he keep the date or not?

“Jesus has made a fool of you all,”
hissed Lucifer, who had seated himself next to Judas. A few holy angels watched from a distance, but as Judas’ will had become increasingly accommodating toward Lucifer, they could not interfere. Lucifer ignored them and continued speaking to Judas’ mind.

“He has betrayed the cause that originally brought you to Him.”

Judas thought back to the early days of the ministry when Jesus had promised a Kingdom! Now all He offered was hardship and the prospects of being seen as a common criminal, a heretic or both.

“You could be a great man in Herod’s eyes…”

Judas didn’t care for the priests. He disliked dealing with them. But perhaps they could promote him to Herod as the man who helped put an end to a rabble-rouser. It was worth investigating. Of course he didn’t
have
to make the deal tonight. He was just going to talk to them.

“Judas, it is not you who is the betrayer…it is Jesus…”

“Jesus,” he whispered. “Why? Why did You lead us to this point?”

“You must lead them back, Judas…you must save your people…you must take the step to end this nightmare once and for all…”

He looked defiantly at the Temple below.

“It will cost you, Caiaphas!” he said. “And much more than the thirty pieces of silver I bargained for!”

Lucifer smiled as he felt Judas’ will slipping into complete resolution. He took his hands and grabbed Judas by the skull and spoke the words,

“Now Judas…do what is in your heart to do…”

Judas stood as if on command and, taking one look back toward the direction of Bethany, turned and headed down the mountain toward Jerusalem. Lucifer smiled as he felt murder enter into the heart of Judas at last.

“Master, the Passover lamb is slain,” said Peter. “But where shall we prepare it?”

Jesus looked at Peter, carrying the freshly killed and cleaned lamb in a bundle. He called John over to where they stood.

“Both of you shall go into the city,” Jesus told them. “Once you are there a man carrying a pitcher of water shall meet you and take you to a house. Tell the owner that your Master has need of his house for the Passover. He will then show you to a room that will be ready to receive us. That is where you shall make preparations.”

Peter looked at John and the two turned to leave.

The other disciples sat about anxiously. This Passover promised to be especially eventful, given all the recent tension in the city. Simon the Zealot carried a sword just in case. He planned to tuck it under his robes to use if the need arose. As Peter walked by with John, he saw the sword.

“And what are you planning to use that for?” Peter asked good humouredly. “The lamb is already slain.”

“This?” said Simon. “This is for Roman lambs.”

Peter took the sword from him.

“You have no need for this,” he said. “Your hot-headedness will only get us all in trouble. I’ll keep it for you until after the Passover.”

Peter then tucked the sword under his own robe.

“Zealots!” he said.

Everyone laughed.

“One of you shall betray Me tonight.”

The conversation stopped. Dead silence.

“What was that, Master?” asked Peter.

“One of you shall betray Me this very night.”

“Betray You?” asked Peter astonished. “But who? Is it I?”

Others followed Peter’s lead, asking who it was and then the lingering refrain, “Is it I?”

Lucifer saw the many angels surrounding the house in Jerusalem where Jesus was, at that very moment, announcing His betrayal. Several angels saw him and sounded an alarm. Michael himself was standing at the door of the house.