by Adam Winn
Again he found it hard to pay attention to what the prophet was saying, as his mind was replaying his conversation with Judah. Did he come on too strong? Was he too aggressive? Would another approach have worked?
His thoughts were interrupted by a hand on his shoulder and a voice in his ear. “Don’t turn around,” the voice said. “Just listen. I will meet your friends. Be at the southernmost gate on the western wall in one hour.”
Caleb felt a surge of energy go through him, but he did not turn around. He said nothing. A few minutes later, he saw Judah return to his previous position. He had a sack of bread that he began to pass out to Jesus’ followers. For the next hour Judah acted like nothing had happened, and he never once looked Caleb’s way.
When the time came, Caleb made his way to just inside the gate, where he waited and watched for Judah. Again a voice almost in his ear said, “Inside the gate.” As he turned to see the disciple Judah behind him, he began pushing Caleb into the gateway. Once they were inside, Judah moved Caleb up against one of the walls. He quickly looked around and said, “I must meet your friends soon. I cannot be gone long.”
“You can meet them now,” Caleb said. “They are waiting for us. Follow me.”
They exited the gate back into the temple courtyard. Judah’s eyes searched diligently for any who might be following them. They moved north along the western wall until they reached a place in the porticoes where there was a series of storage rooms. Caleb led Judah to the third door and knocked three times. The door opened slowly. Caleb said, “You will find my friends inside.” As he watched Judah disappear through the door, a flood of relief washed over him. If all went well with the priests, and he was hopeful it would, his cousin would be safe. The guilt that Caleb had been trying to deny for weeks started to ease.
ELEAZAR
The plan was for Eleazar to wait in the storage room from nine until noon. If the informant did not make contact with Jesus’ disciple by the end of that time, he would relay a signal and they would then reassess their plan. With noon approaching, Eleazar was fearing the worst. But not long before the hour, he heard three knocks on the storage room door, the signal that the disciple had arrived.
Eleazar and a temple guard were the only ones in the room. The guard opened the door, and a short man with a scraggly beard entered. He bore the mole on his cheek, just as Aaron had said he would. Surely this was the right man. The guard searched him for weapons and found none, though the man did carry a leather pouch filled with silver and bronze coins.
The man looked nervously around the room. “Be at ease,” said Eleazar. “You are safe here and we are free to talk. Thank you for coming to see me.”
“I don’t have much time. What is it you want from me?”
“I understand you are close to the prophet from Galilee, the teacher Jesus. Is that so?”
“You know it is,” the man said gruffly. “Can we skip the pleasantries and get down to why I am here?”
“Of course,” said Eleazar. “Before we begin, may I have your name?”
“I am Judah, son of Simeon,” the man said. “And what is your name, priest?” He uttered these last words with pure derision. They took Eleazar by surprise, as he was not wearing his priestly vestments.
“Don’t look so surprised,” the man said. “You may not be wearing your robes here, but I have seen you in the courtyard, watching us from afar. It is my business to pay attention to what is going on. I am no fool.”
“Clearly you are not,” said Eleazar. “But I am afraid my name is of little consequence. If you are truly interested, you are a resourceful man; I am sure you can figure it out on your own.”
Judah raised his hands, indicating he didn’t care to know Eleazar’s name.
“Then let’s get to the reason you are here. We desire to know where you and your master stay each night.”
“That is it, is it? Why do you want to know that? If you want to arrest him, he is right outside. Just say the word and you can take him.”
“The reason we want this information is no concern of yours,” Eleazar said. “Will you tell us what we want to know or not?”
“I know why you want this information,” sneered the man. “You are a coward. You are all cowards. You are too afraid to arrest him in public. You fear the people. Nothing could be more obvious.”
Eleazar tried to maintain his composure. “I repeat: our reason for wanting this information is of no concern to you.”
The man laughed mockingly. “Have it your way, priest. Keep your secret.”
“Do you know where this man stays each night or not?” asked Eleazar, trying to keep his cool.
“Yes, I know where he has stayed, and I know every place he plans to stay while he is here for the Passover. I am the one who has made all the arrangements. But the real question is, what are you willing to give me for this information? Obviously, I will not give it freely. You are asking me to betray a friend, are you not?”
Now it was Eleazar’s turn to laugh. “A friend, you say? If this man was truly your friend, I don’t imagine you would even be here.”
Anger flashed across the man’s face. “What he is to me is of no concern to you, and neither is why I am here!”
Eleazar remained calm. “It makes no difference to me. You no doubt have your reasons. What they are, I do not care. What I want is the information. What do you demand from us in exchange?”
Eleazar knew the man was going to give him the information. That was clear when he first entered the room. Only the question of price remained—and Eleazar was willing to give far more than this man realized.
“I will need money,” he said.
“Of course,” replied Eleazar.
“Thirty drachmas,” Judah said.
Eleazar almost laughed, but managed to reveal nothing but a slight smile. He would have given five hundred.
“That price is agreeable to us.”
“You misunderstand,” Judah said. “I am not asking for a mere thirty drachmas. I have family in the city: a mother in failing health, a younger sister, and a younger brother. I have tried to care for them, but it looks like my resources will soon be running out. I want them moved into an apartment, one they can live in indefinitely. And I want you to give them a monthly allowance of thirty drachmas a month, indefinitely. I will take the first thirty today.”
This was certainly a greater ask, but it was well within the amount Eleazar was able to grant. “You are a shrewd man, indeed. But I will grant your demands. Your family will be cared for according to your request.”
The man nodded. “There is one more thing that I demand,” he said.
“Name it,” replied Eleazar.
“You can only take Jesus,” he said. “None of his followers can be harmed. If you cut off the head, the snake will die. Once he is dead, they will be no threat to you. I can assure you of that.”
Eleazar paused. Pilate had already decided to arrest Jesus alone, and thus this request was easy to grant. But Eleazar wanted the man to feel as if he was successfully negotiating. “That is a significant request, but our primary interest is Jesus. We will grant your request—his followers will not be touched. Do we have an agreement?”
“Yes, I agree to these terms,” Judah said. “But I warn you, if you go back on your word in any regard, you will regret it. I know people who can find you, find your wife, and find your children. If you deny me what you have promised, no one in your family will be safe.”
This threat took Eleazar by surprise, though he did not think it bore teeth. “There is no need for threats,” said Eleazar. “We will keep our word to you, I assure you. But if threats are to be made, realize we are trusting you as well. If it becomes clear that your master is aware of our arrangement or if your information proves false, you and your family will suffer, as will all your friends who are loyal to Jesus. I assure you that we have power as well—perhaps even more than you.” With these words, a sinister smile crossed Eleazar’s face.
“Then I guess the treacherous must agree to trust each other,” Judah said sardonically.
“Indeed,” said Eleazar.
Eleazar found out Jesus’ location for the following four nights. Apparently, his plan was to leave the city on Sunday after the festival. But even more interesting was the fact that the following evening Jesus and his closest followers would gather at the garden of Gethsemane on the west face of the Mount of Olives, across the Kidron Valley from the temple. In an act of good faith, Judah offered to lead Eleazar to the gathering point in the garden the following night. It would be his only opportunity to help them directly, as after the dinner that night he was supposed to prepare Jesus’ lodging for the night while Jesus and the others met in the garden. Instead of making those preparations, he could meet the party that would arrest Jesus. Eleazar was uncertain if his father would want to take the man up on this offer, but he thought it an intriguing possibility.
Eleazar had thirty drachmas counted out for Judah and received the location of his family within the city. It was in a notoriously poor and particularly undesirable area. He promised Judah that they would have a new apartment within the week in a much better part of the city. He assured him again that they would be well cared for.
Judah turned to leave, but before he reached the door he turned around to face Eleazar. “You might not care why I would betray this man, a man who I assure you has been my friend and more. You might think ill of me for doing so, but I assure you it brings me no joy.” He paused and seemed to be holding back tears. “It truly breaks my heart. I can only say that things I once believed this man would do, I now know he will not. Even so, I would die for him if it was only my life on the line. But I have a family that I must think of. I can’t give my life as a martyr when it would mean giving up theirs as well. I can only take solace in my belief that the fate you envision for this man is the same fate he envisions for himself.”
With this, he departed.
ELEAZAR
In the twenty-four hours since his conversation with the traitor Judah, the plan first cast by his father had taken its final shape. They would arrest Jesus while he and his disciples were in the garden at Gethsemane. It would be far more private than doing it in someone’s home, and they wouldn’t need to worry about neighbors who might spread word of the arrest.
While Eleazar was leading the arrest, his father and uncles would organize the great council. Because the Pharisaic families had refused their support, they were given only short notice of the meeting to prevent word from leaking either to the prophet himself or to others who would sabotage their plans. The priestly families who were loyal to Caiaphas had been committed to the plan from the beginning and were expecting the meeting. Annas himself had met privately with Caiaphas and had pledged his support. Thus, despite Pharisaic opposition, Caiaphas would have all the support he needed to convict Jesus. All who promised to find the prophet guilty also pledged to demand his execution from Pilate the following day. The governor would draw a significant crowd of protesters indeed.
Plans were also in place to spread the narrative of Jesus’ public trial throughout the city. Informants would witness the trial and then, in high-traffic areas of the city, report what had taken place. If all went well, Jesus would be executed by crucifixion the following morning. Given the early hour of the execution, the people’s preoccupation with festal preparations, and the narrative of Roman innocence in the matter, there was hope that the prophet’s death would not lead to a violent reprisal.
The afternoon passed slowly as Eleazar and the head of the temple guard went over the plan for arresting Jesus. While far less trained in combat than Roman soldiers, these guards were well armed and could surely hold their own against Jesus and his followers. Eleazar had chosen fifty guards to compose the arresting party; from what he had heard, only fifteen to twenty men would likely be accompanying the prophet. The plan was to divide the guard into two groups and surround Jesus and his followers from opposite sides. This should cut off any attempted escape. Eleazar made it clear that they must allow the prophet to surrender peacefully. “You will not initiate any assault against this man or his followers,” he said. “But make no mistake. Should they choose to resist, resistance will be met with steel!” Secretly, Eleazar hoped there would be resistance and a chance for greater glory.
As evening approached, Eleazar took a light supper and then met his men under the northern porticos of the Temple Mount. There they were to meet Judah, who would lead them to Jesus’ location in the Gethsemane garden on the Mount of Olives. After they had been waiting for some time, Judah arrived, looking nervous and agitated. “I left Jesus over an hour ago,” he told Eleazar. “The dinner should be over, and they should be in the garden.”
“Where have you been the last hour?” Eleazar asked suspiciously.
“I don’t see how that is your business,” snapped Judah, a response that surprised the present guards. “But if you must know, I was visiting my family. I gave them money and told them they might not see me for a while, but that all their needs would be met.” He gave Eleazar a cold and knowing stare. Eleazar nodded his head—those arrangements had already been set in motion.
Eleazar addressed the company. “It is time to depart. Remember, we approach by cover of darkness. No lamps or torches. The moonlight will be enough to guide us. We are counting on the element of surprise. When we are close enough, I will light a torch, which will be the signal for you to do the same. We will then surround the prophet and his followers and call for his peaceful surrender. If he does not surrender, we take him—but we take him alive.”
The leaders of the company nodded. There they divided the company, with one group exiting the north side of the city through the Antonia fortress and Eleazar leading another group through the southern exit of the Temple Mount. They avoided exiting from the Beautiful Gate, as they feared such an exit may be visible to any on the Mount of Olives. They would flank Jesus and his followers from the north and the south to prevent any escape.
Eleazar’s company made its way slowly in the darkness. The Gethsemane garden was at the foot of the mount. It was known for its many olive trees and large olive press that produced a great amount of oil for the region. Judah had told him that Jesus and his followers would be praying in the center of the garden, just north of the olive press. They entered the grove from the south, going quietly and slowly. As they approached the center, they heard voices. Judah waved them forward. As they inched closer, they saw an opening in the trees. In the opening there were about twenty men. Some were standing in prayer, but others appeared to be asleep. A small fire gave off a bit of light.
They drew closer and waited. Eleazar wanted to make sure the other company had time to reach the opposite line of trees from the north. After a short while, he lit his torch, which drew the attention of some of the men in the clearing. But it was also seen by the other company, who had successfully taken their position across from Eleazar. Quickly the flaming torches formed a circle and closed in around the men in the clearing.
There was panic among Jesus’ followers. One or two fled, escaping to the east where there was still a small opening. Others scrambled to grab weapons from their packs: swords, daggers, and even an ax. One man armed with a sword attacked a temple guard, striking a blow to the helmet. Disoriented, the guard fell to the ground, blood coming from his head. It appeared they would not be able to avoid a fight, and a surge of energy rushed through Eleazar’s body.
But then, out of the chaos, a loud voice yelled, “Enough! Put your weapons down!” The followers of Jesus recognized the voice of their master, though his words seemed to shock them. Slowly they lowered their weapons and moved toward him. He stepped forward and asked, “Who is leading this group?”
Eleazar stepped out of the tree line. “I, Eleazar son of Caiaphas the high priest, am leading them. I act with his authority. I am here to arrest Jesus the Galilean for the high crime of treason and disturbance of the peace of the cit
y of Jerusalem.”
“I am the man you seek,” Jesus said. “I see you have brought a friend of mine. Judah, I had wondered what had kept you so long.” Sorrow marked these last words.
Judah stepped out from the others. His presence with the temple guard brought a look of horror and shock to the faces of his former friends.
Eleazar again spoke up. “Our purpose is a peaceful arrest, but should you resist you will be shown no mercy. You are outnumbered and outarmed.” It seemed clear to Eleazar that between the instruction of their master and the size of the force they faced, the fight had gone out of Jesus’ followers. He seized on this and said, “We are only interested in your master; the rest of you may leave and will not be followed.” At this they looked at each other and at their master, uncertain of what to do. In silence, one laid down his sword and walked quickly away from the group and past the guards. That was the first domino to fall. The others fell soon thereafter, each one moving hurriedly away once they passed the line of guards. In a matter of minutes, only the prophet remained.
“I will not resist you,” he said. “But I find it odd you come to arrest me at night, when I have been preaching openly each day in the temple.” He gave a subtle smile.
“Bind him!” Eleazar commanded, and two guards rushed forward to secure his hands with rope. “Take him to the home of the high priest. The council is gathering there.”
As they were departing, Eleazar saw no sign of Judah. At what point the traitor had disappeared, he did not know. He would never see the man again.
The return trip to the city and to Eleazar’s home was quick and uneventful. As they passed through the temple courtyard on the way, he dismissed much of the temple guard, taking only four with him.
When they reached the house of the high priest, they entered a large room where the council had gathered. Normally this gathering would have taken place on the Temple Mount in the Hall of Hewn Stones, but the late hour and the urgent nature of the meeting forced an alternate plan. The council was made up of seventy-one men, respected elders of the Jewish people—priests, leading Pharisees, and a number of scribes. The majority had come to the meeting. The room was crowded and buzzing with conversation and activity when Eleazar arrived. As planned, Jesus was to remain outside until Caiaphas could address the council. Eleazar caught his father’s eye and signaled that all had gone well—the council’s business could proceed. Caiaphas returned a knowing nod.