Killing a Messiah

by Adam Winn

  “Very good,” said Caiaphas. “I must thank Aaron for his excellent work in this regard. Jesus or no Jesus, knowledge is power, and thus it is the key to the peace and security of the city. Hopefully these informants will help bring about the results we are paying them so well for.”

  Their conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door. As if on cue, Eleazar’s uncle Aaron appeared. He and Caiaphas exchanged kisses on the cheek. “Were your ears burning, Brother?” Caiaphas asked. Aaron looked confused. “We were just talking about you, and Eleazar was passing along your update on our informants. Well done, indeed!”

  “Thank you, Brother,” said Aaron. “But I have important news that cannot wait! The Roman commander has arrested three people for the recent ambush and murder of five Roman soldiers.”

  This was stunning news. “Who was arrested, and when?” Caiaphas asked urgently.

  “Only two hours ago,” Aaron answered. “They arrested a man named Joseph, the son of a local tavern owner. They also arrested a Simeon, who was at the tavern at the time of the arrest and tried to escape. The soldiers took this as a sign of his guilt and arrested him too. The third man was Joseph’s cousin, a man named Samuel, who had accused Roman soldiers of raping his sister. His kinship with Joseph and his strong motive for retribution were the primary reasons for his arrest.”

  Eleazar saw concern on his father’s face. “Surely there were more men involved in the death of these five Roman soldiers. Are more arrests expected?”

  “At this time there are certainly suspects, men close to these three, but the others cannot be found,” Aaron answered. “The Romans are hopeful that they can extract the names of the other men from those now held in prison.” The thought of these men being tortured for information was clearly troubling to Caiaphas, and Eleazar sensed his father was concerned whether they had arrested the right men.

  “How did you come to this information so quickly?” Caiaphas asked.

  “The Roman commander himself sent me a message informing me of these arrests and thanking me for my assistance. The information that led to the arrests came from one of our informants. The commander also said to pass along his thanks to you for your wisdom regarding how to proceed with the investigation. He recognizes that his original plan for harsh and widespread interrogation would have likely driven the assailants into hiding, while your advice of a subtle and quieter investigation has produced great fruit.”

  Caiaphas nodded thoughtfully. “Well, if these men are indeed guilty, I am thankful we were able to assist in their arrest. However, I am concerned about how these arrests might affect the Passover. No doubt they will only add to current tensions.”

  Eleazar broke the silence he had maintained since his uncle’s entrance. “I understand your concern regarding rising tensions, Father, but I wonder if these events might be helpful as you seek to persuade Pilate not to arrest the prophet Jesus. He was reluctant to instruct the Roman commander to take a light hand in the investigation of the murders, but now your advice has proven prudent. Perhaps this might induce Pilate to consider your advice regarding Jesus?”

  The look on his father’s face made it clear that this idea had not yet occurred to him, which gave Eleazar a degree of pleasure. After a thoughtful pause, Caiaphas replied, “Perhaps you have identified a means of leverage, Son. But one must be careful in applying pressure to a Roman governor.” As usual, his father was not generous with acknowledgment of Eleazar’s own wisdom. The earlier praise of Joanna was likely enough for one day. All the same, Eleazar took pleasure in the knowledge that he too could take a chisel to his father’s pride.

  CALEB

  A few weeks had passed since his recruitment as an informant, and the shop was again buzzing with customers. The influx began just two days after Caleb had met with Aaron, before he had even delivered any information. On the second day after the meeting, a wealthy merchant had come in and placed a large order for oil lamps—and, shockingly, paid half of the cost up front. The next day, a small but expensive order came in from a prominent priest. In just two days Caleb had made almost as much as he had made in the past year!

  With this dramatic change in fortune, he noticed a change in his mood and attitude as well. His anxiety had all but disappeared, and with it his fear, anger, and despair. He found himself smiling often, even engaging customers with what might border on charm and wit—nothing like his father, of course, but he was displaying a sociability that was surprising to even himself. He actually felt happy for the first time since his father had passed away.

  But he was keenly aware that this newfound success did not come without a cost. He knew that he needed to be useful, to pay attention to the conversations of the people around him and gather information that would be useful to his new benefactor. Just days after being recruited he began to frequent popular taverns—reputable ones, of course. He paid attention to the political climate of the room and listened for any bit of information he might be able to pass on. Perhaps most noteworthy was the talk about the popular Galilean prophet, Jesus, and his possible visit to Jerusalem for the Passover. There was much excited speculation about his potential messianic ambitions. Apparently, the prophet himself was quite circumspect with any sort of messianic identification, but the things he did and taught had convinced many he was indeed God’s anointed one. Caleb felt this sort of information was somewhat beneficial, though it was not specific enough to be particularly valuable.

  For more valuable information he was going to need a different strategy, and his cousin Judah might just be the answer. Fortunately, Judah came by the shop just three days after Caleb’s meeting with Aaron. As always, Judah spoke of the evils of Rome and the need for the people of Jerusalem to rise up against them. This time, Caleb gave subtle indications that he might be more open to Judah’s way of thinking than he had been in the past. He didn’t want to come on too strong, but he wanted his cousin to sense there might be an opening.

  Judah did press that opening three days later on his second visit to the shop. Before he left, he told Caleb he recognized a potential change of heart and wondered if he might be more favorable to the cause of liberty for Jerusalem. Without seeming too eager, Caleb admitted that he might be. “Give me time to think more about this,” he told Judah, who left with more hope than he ever had in the past.

  It was almost a week later when Judah came by the shop a third time, seeking to gauge the temperature of his cousin’s interest. This time Caleb moved a step further, saying he was intrigued but didn’t know what he should or could do. As he already knew, his cousin was ready to help; on the spot he invited him to a secret dinner! Things were going better than Caleb could have hoped. The dinner would be the following evening, and there would be many there that he already knew. It would be held in the home of Solomon, a prominent Pharisee. Caleb knew both the home and its owner well; Solomon was one of his father’s closest friends, and Caleb had dined in his home many times. To Judah’s great delight, Caleb accepted the invitation.

  When Caleb arrived the next evening, a familiar slave greeted him. To Caleb’s surprise, the slave led him past the dining area and down into the basement, a large room that was used as scriptorium. It was well lit with torches and a table was set up with foods of a wide variety, including loaves of fresh bread, dates, grapes, figs, and dried fish. In addition to this bounty, it was clear there would be no shortage of wine.

  A number of guests had already arrived, and Caleb recognized many of them. There was Simeon, a childhood friend of both Caleb and Judah, but he was always much closer to Judah. Simeon’s face still bore the vicious scars and deformation from his beating by a Roman soldier. There was also Joseph and his cousin Samuel, again childhood friends with whom Caleb had not remained close. Samuel was Judah’s best friend, and from the time they were children everyone had recognized their special bond. The rape of Samuel’s sister by a Roman soldier, just months ago, had hurt Judah deeply. He couldn’t speak of it without tears, and Caleb had hear
d him speak countless times of exacting justice for this great evil. Over the next half-hour the rest of the guests arrived, numbering a total of twelve. Solomon was not among them, and Caleb never saw him that night.

  Over the course of the meal, it became clear to Caleb that nine of these men had been a part of this group for some time, while three, including himself, were newcomers. It was also clear that this meeting was social in nature. They made no plans and discussed no strategies. There was much talk about the hatred of the Romans, the need to drive them from the city, the growing anger of the people that was bound to break out soon in violence, and potential catalysts for just such a popular action. There was some talk of the popular Galilean prophet, Jesus. One had it on good authority that he was making his way to Jerusalem for the Passover, which was only weeks away. Some saw this as a great opportunity to find an ally in the fight against Rome, while others were skeptical that this prophet’s aims aligned with their own. Judah claimed that whether he was an ally or not, his presence alone would create the potential for chaos. “A popular prophet, dead or alive, can move a people to act,” he said. They only needed to be prepared for whichever way the wind might blow. It was decided that when he arrived, he would need to be monitored. One suggested the possibility of meeting with him and discussing his intentions or their common goals. All agreed this was a good plan.

  Caleb thought the discussion surrounding Jesus was interesting and might be useful to pass along. But when the discussion turned to the recent ambush of five Roman soldiers, he thought he had truly struck gold. Joseph raised his glass and toasted to the first strike in the war against Roman oppression—the five Roman soldiers that fell to Jewish patriots. This led to a roar of cheers, which Caleb joined. Most of those present believed this victory demonstrated that devout and faithful men with a well-made plan could overcome the vaunted Roman soldiers. While no guest claimed to have participated in the ambush, Caleb perceived a sort of pride in the discussion that seemed strange for those who were not actually a part of it. Additionally, the guests exchanged glances that suggested they knew more about this attack then they were letting on. It was almost as if these men were both distancing themselves from the event and taking credit for it at the same time. Something was going on that Caleb couldn’t fully perceive.

  Clarity finally came from a comment made by Joseph. Someone pointed out the carelessness that came from Roman arrogance, and said that a vigilant people could use such carelessness to their advantage. Joseph then said loudly, “True words, my friends, and to think this recent attack began with drunk Roman soldiers talking too loudly in a tavern!”

  Again, a roar of cheers erupted. Again Caleb joined in while his mind quickly connected the dots. Joseph’s mother owned a tavern, and he worked there with her. No doubt he was the one who overheard these soldiers. And if he was the source of the news, then he had to have passed it on to those who executed the attack. And then, as if Caleb’s eyes had opened for the first time, the whole truth hit him: all of them had been a part of the attack! He looked at Judah, who was quietly smiling around at his friends. It was then that Caleb knew his cousin was not only involved, but he was also their leader.

  Caleb’s mind reeled as he was walking home that night. He had always known that Judah was zealous for the future glory of his people, but he had never dreamed his zeal would lead him to this level of action. The night’s revelations were truly alarming. The question now was what he would do. Surely his benefactor would want to know everything: the names of those at the dinner, who hosted it, their assessment of Jesus and plans to engage him, and especially their role in the deaths of five Roman soldiers. Caleb knew he could not pass along all this information. He would not directly betray his kin and friends—he had told Aaron as much. He must filter all he had learned. He could offer information that was useful, but nothing that would lead to the arrest of Judah or his coconspirators —all of whom were Judah’s friends.

  He spent most of a sleepless night thinking about what he would report. By sunrise he felt he had reached at a good compromise, though he would present it as the totality of what he had gathered. That morning he switched the order of two pots on display in his front window, the agreed-upon signal that he had information to pass on. Today would be the first time he met with his contact for this purpose.

  Shortly after he gave the signal, his contact entered the shop. He asked for a specific prearranged item, which Caleb said he had in stock. He then invited the man to come to the back of the shop to look over his inventory. When they were alone in the back of the shop, Caleb quickly gave his report. The talk of the prophet Jesus was growing in the city, and with it excitement over his coming. There was talk that members of a secret resistance movement were interested in meeting with this Jesus when he arrived, and that they hoped to find allies in him and his followers. Finally, he had heard from a reliable source that the attack on five Roman soldiers originated from information gained from drunken Roman soldiers talking too loudly in a tavern. His contact pressed him for more information about the attack, but Caleb said this was all he knew. He promised he would try to track down more information if he could. Thankfully, his contact seemed satisfied. He then pulled a piece of pottery off the shelf and walked to the front of the store with Caleb. He paid for the pottery, thanked Caleb for his service, and left the shop.

  Caleb was surprised at how easy it was. The interaction was simple, had drawn no attention, and had not required him to betray anyone close to him. His contact had pressed a bit, but not excessively, and Caleb felt confident that the contact believed his claim that he had told him all he knew. If this was all his new role as an informant asked of him, he was pleased to do it. The reward was indeed well worth it, and the fact that his efforts were ultimately serving the goal of the peace of the city gave him pride in what he had done. Perhaps God had indeed answered his sister’s prayers and shown favor on their house.

  Four days after he had passed on information to his contact, Caleb was still planning his next move. Would his cousin have another meeting soon? He was due for another visit, and Caleb could then inquire about how he might become more involved in the movement.

  A sharp knock at the shop’s back door interrupted Caleb’s thoughts. He opened it and was surprised to see his cousin staring up at him from the alleyway. Judah’s eyes looked wild and full of panic!

  Before Caleb could speak, Judah pushed him aside and shut the door behind him. He then closed the door to the front of the shop. “What is going on, Cousin?” Caleb asked. “Why are you so upset?” Judah was pacing back and forth, his hands grabbing his long curly hair.

  “They have arrested Joseph and Simeon, and . . .” For a moment Judah lost his words, his face heartbroken. Finally he uttered the painful words, “and Samuel too.” With these words a guttural sob came from his cousin as he fell to his knees.

  Caleb placed a hand on his shoulder. “Calm down; it will be all right. When did this happen?”

  In anger, Judah slapped Caleb’s hand away, “All right? It will be all right? How could it be all right? They have arrested them for killing Roman soldiers, Caleb! They will be crucified for this!”

  Caleb stepped back, holding up his hands. “I am sorry, Cousin! You are right; this is a horrible thing. But what do you mean they were arrested for killing Roman soldiers? What are you talking about?” Caleb knew he must not reveal what he had deduced at the dinner with Judah and his friends.

  “Are you so dense, Caleb? It was us, those you ate dinner with last week. We ambushed and killed those Roman soldiers! I thought you guessed this already?”

  Caleb tried to look bewildered. “No! I had not realized! I thought we were celebrating the successful work of others. You were involved in the attack? And Joseph and Samuel too?”

  Judah looked back at him, tears still in his eyes. Regaining his composure, he said in a much calmer voice, “No, I am sorry, Cousin. Perhaps it was not that obvious. I had told them not to take credit for the am
bush—I was not sure you would be ready for that. Now you know the truth.”

  “This is shocking news to me, Judah!” Caleb lied. “What can I do to help?”

  Judah looked down, shaking his head. “I don’t know. I just don’t know what to do. It is all my fault. And what of the others? Will they be arrested next? No doubt they will do what they can to pry the rest of our names out of those they have arrested.”

  Caleb saw that Judah’s concern was entirely for his friends, though he too was surely in great danger.

  “How did this happen, Cousin? How did they know?” Judah’s voice was filled with desperation.

  Looking into his confused face, Caleb lied again: “I don’t know. Who would have known outside of those involved? Would any of your company betray you?”

  Judah shook his head. “No one knew but those involved, and not one would have betrayed our cause—I trust them all with my life.” Then Judah asked, “You didn’t tell anyone of our dinner, did you? Or of what we discussed?”

  Caleb shook his head firmly. “No, Cousin. As you asked, I told no one. But was I the only one at the dinner who was not a part of your company?” Caleb asked, already knowing the answer.

  “No,” Judah said, “there were two others that were joining us for the first time, just like you.”

  “Do you trust them?” asked Caleb. “Could they have betrayed you?”

  A perplexed look came over Judah’s face. “Perhaps it is possible. But I can’t imagine it. And now that I think of it, what could they have said? No one claimed to be involved in killing the soldiers—no one could have left with anything more than suspicions. You didn’t even know! Would someone have reported on suspicion alone?”

  “It is possible,” Caleb said, praying his efforts to redirect suspicion would work. “And no doubt Rome would arrest on that suspicion alone.”