Final Confrontation (40 page)

“Lucifer, how dare you show yourself here?” he said.

“Just collecting on what is due me,” Lucifer said. “Now move aside.”

“You shall not pass through this place, Lucifer,” said Michael, his sword beginning to glow an icy-blue.

“Indeed?” he countered. “You had better confer with your brother archangel.”

Michael looked up to see Gabriel, who had just appeared. Michael was happy to see Gabriel, until he read his face.

“You see, Michael,” there is one in there who is begging for me to come in,” Lucifer said. “So stand aside.”

“What does this mean, Gabriel?” asked Michael.

Gabriel was in despair. Looking at his old friend, he said, “It means you must allow Lucifer in.”

“What?” asked Michael, incredulously. “We cannot simply…”

“Lucifer has the right,” said Gabriel. “It has been given to him by the Most High. We are not to interfere this night.”

Lucifer smiled at Michael.

“Well, well. It looks as if my star is rising once more,” he said. “And once I have finished with Jesus, you shall see it permanently in place back in the heavens where it belongs—and off this wretched planet. Now out of my way.”

Michael watched as Lucifer moved past him and entered the home. He looked at Gabriel, who could not bear to look back at the archangel. Other angels were arriving, all sensing something extraordinary hung in the balance.

“We are not to interfere at all?” Michael pleaded.

Gabriel only shook his head.

Jesus saw Lucifer enter the room and stand behind Judas. Lucifer, though feeling his strength, dared not look Jesus directly in the eyes, at first. Instead, he stood next to Judas, making sure of his resolve to follow through on the betrayal.

Jesus looked at Lucifer, who for the first time felt compelled to look at Jesus.

“What you are about to do,” He said to Lucifer. “Do quickly.”

Lucifer sneered at Jesus.

“Judas is only the first to turn,” he said. “I have also set my mind upon Peter. He, too, shall betray You in the end. As will the rest. And then Your dream of kingship will die with You!”

Judas got up and looking back only once, left the room. The others thought Jesus had sent him for more money from the treasury. Lucifer lingered for a moment and then, nodding his head at Jesus, vanished.

“Take this bread and eat it,” said Jesus. “It has been blessed. It is My body.”

The men took the bread and ate. Peter looked at his brother Andrew, wondering what this was all about. But they had come to expect such extraordinary behavior with Jesus, and ate it with the other men.

“Now drink from this cup,” Jesus said. “It is the cup of remembrance. It is My blood…”

“Blood?” the men wondered. Though some recalled Jesus’ words over a year ago when He said they should eat His body and drink His blood.

“It is the blood of the New Covenant that has been shed for the remission of sins for many,” Jesus continued. “As often as you drink of this cup, do it in remembrance of Me and what this New Covenant means.”

Peter offered the cup to Jesus, who refused at that point.

“No Peter,” he said. “I shall not drink of this cup again until I drink it new with all of you in My Father’s Kingdom. Now, before we leave here, I have one more task I wish to do…”

“You’re certain He shall be at Gethsemane?” the officer asked.

“Yes, of course,” said Judas, looking around nervously. “That was the plan. He will be there and I shall direct you to Him.”

Judas had met the arresting officer and his men at the prearranged location. Together they had mapped out the plan to overtake Jesus. It would happen after the Passover feast in a garden called Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. Caiaphas liked the plan—it was quick and it would happen in a remote place. Judas could see a priest standing in the shadows but could not discern who it was.

“How shall we know which man is Jesus?” the officer asked.

“The man that I greet with a kiss will be Jesus,” said Judas. “And then your master can do with Him as he wishes.”

As Judas turned to leave, the bag of silver under his robe banged noisily against a pot which stood nearby. He felt the bag—filled with coins—and wondered if perhaps he should have asked for more. He then hurried off into the night.

The officer turned to the priest.

“He seems quite willing,” he mused.

“And useful,” said Zichri, removing the robe covering his head.

Jesus stood after washing the feet of every disciple. All of them were amazed at His humility, and had been quite uncomfortable watching the Man they loved do such a menial task. And yet He had taught them an example of serving one another. His robe was wet in front from the washing.

“One more thing before we depart from here,” Jesus said, gathering His things. “All of you will scatter tonight because of Me. But do not fear. I promise after I am risen I shall see you all again in Galilee.”

“Enough Lord!” Peter exclaimed. “I will never leave. Though the rest of these flee Your side, I shall always be with You—even to the end! I will never deny You!”

Jesus put a hand on Peter’s shoulder.

“Dear Peter,” He said. “Do you know Satan has targeted you so he might sift you like wheat? But I have prayed for you that your faith will not fail you. Yet, I promise you, before the rooster crows you will deny Me three times.”

Pontias Pilate looked over the balcony of the Antonia Fortress where he had arrived only a few hours earlier. He preferred the coastal city of Caesarea, but found it prudent to be present during these troublesome Jewish religious festivals. He also found it prudent to bring the three thousand soldiers stationed with him at Caesarea and to position them in and around the city to ensure the peace.

Gazing at the Temple, he could only wonder at the minds of such men who could build a magnificent complex such as this, dedicating it to an invisible god. Still, as long as they kept their nonsense to themselves, he could live with their zealous faith. Besides, the emperor was counting on him to keep this rebellious nation subdued, and religion might prove his greatest ally.

Pilate, a man in his forties, owed his appointment as procurator to Sejanus, the real power behind the emperor in Rome. He was a merciless man, not at all above demonstrating Rome’s hold on the Jews. At one point he caused a riot when he placed images of Tiberias in the city. In addition, he had also ordered the massacre of several Galileans who had revolted due to his placing of offensive symbols in the region.

Tiberias was not pleased with these events, and ordered Pilate henceforth to keep the peace—at all costs. Thus he was predisposed this Passover night to allow the Jews to worship their god and to leave them alone—so long as they worshiped quietly.

From inside the palace he could hear his wife, Claudia, tossing and turning in her sleep. At one point he had gone in to see to her. Now her servant was headed to the room with a hot liquid to help her sleep. Poor Claudia. She dreamed of being a great lady in Rome. Instead she was consigned to this backwater of the empire. Still, it was a ladder that could be climbed—even from Judea.

“Governor,” came a voice. “The report.”

Pilate put his wine down and took the daily briefing from his aide. The report always updated him on the most recent arrests, executions or other occurrences in the city which was under Roman authority. Pilate read the document.

“Who is this Jesus?” he asked curiously, as he read.

“Just another religionist,” said the aide. “A Galilean who entered the city for the Passover like the others. He seems to hold the people in some sort of spell.”

“Seems there was a disturbance of some sort reported by the priests in the Temple,” Pilate continued.

The aide laughed.

“There is always some sort of disturbance in the Temple, Excellency. Especially during one of these holy days.”

Pilate thought for a moment. As he did, he could hear his wife moaning in her sleep. The aide glanced in the direction of the hallway. Pilate folded the document and handed it to his secretary, standing nearby.

“Nevertheless, double the guard around the Temple gates and make sure of the watchmen,” he said. “And send for my physician. My wife seems to be ill.”

“I have many things to say to you,” Jesus said. “But you cannot bear them right now. I will tell you I am about to leave you. And where I am going you cannot go. But when the Holy Spirit comes—He will guide you in all truth. So do not be troubled. In the Father’s house there is much room. I am going so I can make a place for you. Then I will return for you.”

“We believe you, Master,” said Andrew. “We believe in all You have told us.”

“Do you?” asked Jesus. He looked over the faces in the room that flickered in the dim light of the oil lamps. Then His eyes dropped to the center of the table. “The hour has come. The prince of this world has been judged. You all say You believe me. Yet I assure you, that you will soon scatter and leave Me alone—except that I can never be alone for the Father is always with Me.”

The disciples stared at each other in consternation. They thought again of Jesus’ words about a betrayer among them. Was this what He meant? Jesus pulled His cloak up around His neck.