“Yes, of course,” said Kara. “I immediately stripped Lucien of that principality and gave it to Korah. At least Korah faced the Christ even if he was beaten by Him.”
“In the meantime we have lost that region,” snapped Lucifer. “The man who was delivered is busily telling the world about the Man Jesus and how He helped him. We must act quickly in this matter.”
“Don’t worry, my prince,” assured Kara. “It begins tonight when we settle the books with John. Once he is gone, the whole rotten movement will begin falling apart from within.”
Lucifer smiled. He was looking forward to John’s death.
“And how do you know John will die?” he asked. “Why should Herod kill a man he fears?”
“Because the only thing greater than Herod’s fear is Herod’s pride,” said Kara. “And Berenius is about to prove that point now.”
CHAPTER 11
“I want the head of John the Baptizer.”
Herodias looked across the banquet hall and nodded at the musicians, who began playing a tune that was strange to Herod. He turned to Herodias, his eyes becoming bleary from the wine.
“My lord, I have a special birthday surprise for you,” she said.
Herod smiled at her and stood to announce that Herodias was about to present to him a special gift. When he sat down all the people toasted him and awaited the presentation.
“What is that music…Greek?” he muttered to Herodias.
“No, sire,” she purred. “Something more exotic…something from Mesopotamia. A Babylonian dance. And performed by my daughter!”
Herod looked up, surprised to see Herodias’ daughter enter the room in an exquisite Babylonian dress from the neo-empire days. He smiled and toasted her with his goblet. The girl danced through the hall, always keeping her eyes on the king. Herod watched her in stupefied satisfaction until the dance was finally over.
The room burst into applause for the wonderful dance and then the party guests were treated to a marvelous flaming dessert from Egypt. Herod thanked the girl, who bowed before the king and then sat next to her mother.
Kara was watching as Berenius moved in between Herodias and the king. She hugged her daughter for her performance. The girl, about 15, was quite beautiful and many men in the room found her very attractive. She nodded to the guests who looked her way and were toasting or otherwise complimenting her.
Herodias looked at Herod with a sensual gaze. He looked back at her and smiled.
“What is it, my pet?” he asked her.
“My daughter wanted nothing more than to bless the king on his birthday,” she said. “I do hope you were pleased, my love.”
“Of course,” Herod answered. “She was exceptional.”
“She loves her great king,” Herodias continued. “I wonder if perhaps the king should not grant her a gift as well. How noble that would be. Think of the stories these men of prestige would take back to their nations—of the magnificence and generosity of Herod the tetrarch!”
“A gift?” Herod asked.
“But what gift could Herod give that his great presence has not already satisfied?” she asked. “It could be no ordinary gift. What might a child want that a king could give her?”
Berenius moved in and began to whisper into Herod’s mind.
“If the child was given the choice in the matter, you would look like both a great king and a great father to Herodias’ daughter…”
“Perhaps we should let the child choose,” offered Herod.
“But from what, my lord?” asked Herodias, glancing at her daughter next to her.
“What does it matter? What can a child wish for? Give her anything…grant her half your kingdom! The gesture will be noble and the child will choose something childish…”
“Hmm…” Herod considered aloud.
“And you shall have made the greatest gesture any king has ever made…”
Herod stood, somewhat shakily, and the crowd immediately became quiet. Herodias signaled the musicians to stop playing as well.
“In as much as my wife’s daughter gave me such joy on my birthday,” he began, I have decided to give her a gift in return.” He wagged his finger. “But not just any gift! Oh no. I will give the daughter of Herodias anything she wants…even up to half my kingdom!”
Gasps filled the room as Herodias smiled to herself and then feigned a great shock as if overwhelmed by the gesture. She turned to Herod with great humility.
“Great king,” she said. “You are making this offer before all of these great men? Such an important vow?”
Herod relished the moment.
“Of course, my wife,” he answered. “I vow this before every person in this room! Up to half my kingdom!”
Herodias and her daughter whispered back and forth for a moment. Berenius, still in between the two looked over at Kara, beaming. The guests awaited the announcement.
“Well child, what shall it be?” Herod asked, filling his cup once more. “A palace? A stable of horses? A magnificent barge like Cleopatra once had?”
“No, sire” she said. “I want the head of John the Baptist.”
Herod blinked vacantly a couple of times and set down his goblet.
“You want the head of John?”
He glared at Herodias, who only smiled back.
“Yes,” she said. “I want it now. On a platter.”
Herod began to stammer.
“This your doing,” he said angrily to Herodias.
“Remember your vow,” she said pointedly.
Herod looked about him. All eyes were upon him awaiting his decision. How could he possibly back down in front of all of these men—his royal peers and embassies from other nations. How could he back down in front of the Roman officials? Perhaps they would read such a thing as a sign of weakness. He looked at his chief aide and nodded. The aide bowed and left the room.
Lucifer, Kara and Berenius watched as the man took two guards with him and went down into the room where John was being held. John seemed to know what was to happen to him as they unshackled him.
“Is it time?” John asked weakly.
“Get on your knees,” they ordered. “And look that way.”
John began praying, grateful his imprisonment was over and thankful he had fulfilled his mission. He had ushered in the Messiah; now he could leave the world knowing Israel would one day be redeemed. He got down on both knees and held his head up, continuing to pray. He smiled even as the guard unsheathed his weapon. The sword came swiftly.
When it was over, the guards did as they were instructed and brought the head into the banquet hall. Herodias inspected the bloody basket and then nodded for the guards to take it away. She sat next to the king, who had determined to spend the next several days getting thoroughly drunk.
Standing next to John’s body, Kara and Berenius congratulated each other. Lucifer joined the brief celebration as well, before turning to the next task.
“And now for Jesus,” he said. “This should shake Him. With John out of the way, we must find a way to destroy Jesus. Your use of Herodias has further inspired my hope for finding someone close to Jesus who might be of use to us.”
“But who?” asked Berenius. “I have been studying these men. They all seem solidly behind Him.”
“Keep watching, Berenius,” said Lucifer. “We must find a way in. It’s difficult to be sure. The people love Him.”
“Why shouldn’t they?” sneered Kara. “He recently fed some five thosand of them with a few fragments of food. He is buying their loyalty.”
“So I heard,” said Lucifer. “But remember, Kara. Loyalty that can be bought easily can be sold just as easily. Perhaps we can buy it back.”
“Do you really believe one of His own will betray Him?” asked Kara.
“I know something about men,” said Lucifer. “I also know something about betrayal!”
Chronicles of the Host
Hard Words at Capernaum
Upon hearing of his cous
in’s death, Jesus returned to Galilee to the city of Capernaum, where His ministry seemed to have centered itself. Capernaum was located near the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. It stood on the major road between Damascus in Syria, pointing southward throughout central Israel and beyond. The Host watched as many miracles occurred in or near the city, including numerous healings: Peter’s mother-in-law, the centurion’s servant, a paralyzed man and the casting out of demons. We also witnessed the miraculous feeding of the four thosand from only seven loaves of bread and a few fish!
And yet, it was also at Capernaum that the ministry of Jesus reached a critical point, as His teaching became less focused on the Kingdom of Heaven and more focused on His grim destiny—of blood and death—and many began falling away…
32 A.D.
“Capernaum again?” grumbled Thomas. “These people don’t even like us!”
The disciples had recently come from Tiberias, where they had fed great numbers of people. Now those same people had followed them to Capernaum. It would be another long day for the disciples.
“Look at them,” said Judas scornfully. “All they want is food.”
“You are not a Galilean,” said Andrew. “These people need hope.”
“They may need hope,” said Judas, who was tugging at his oar, “but it is bread they will get!”
Peter had heard enough. He joined the conversation and spoke to Judas.
“When Jesus broke the bread and fed all of those people with seven fish and two loaves of bread, He gave them more than food, Judas. He gave them hope. That was our task in Tiberias. And that shall be our task here in Capernaum.”
Judas simply looked up at the big fisherman but didn’t answer. Peter was too hot-blooded to engage in an intelligent dialogue. Besides, Judas had already determined that Jesus’ popularity would soon see Him proclaimed King. He had already refused a crown once. He dare not continue to refuse. Once Jesus was made king, then perhaps He could attain a truly important position and be rid of the rest of them.
Many people flocked to Jesus after they disembarked. He spent the day healing and ministering as always. His disciples accompanied Him as well, teaching of the greatness of Jesus and telling the people He was a Man of God. That evening, as the group sat around a room that had been offered to them, Jesus began to speak.
“Tomorrow, it is time to begin a new teaching,” He said.
The disciples looked at each other. Perhaps He was finally going to proclaim Himself King of this Kingdom He had been talking about for so long. Or perhaps there was some other wonderful revelation He would make.
“It will be a difficult teaching for many. Many will fall away because of it. But this must be so that the Son of Man might fulfill the purposes for which He has come.”
That evening the disciples went to sleep wondering what the next day would bring. Judas was particularly interested, hoping that finally this popular movement would become an uprising that would sweep them all into authority with Jesus as their king!
“There they come,” said Judas. “Just as I said”
The men scanned the lake and could see sails headed into Capernaum. Many had already arrived from Tiberias and elsewhere, having enjoyed Jesus’ miraculous tour in their region. Jesus joined the men and saw the growing numbers of people. He led them to the synagogue. One of the men, a leader in the Tiberias community approached Jesus.
“Rabbi, when did You get here?” he asked.
Jesus looked at the man, all decked out in his official garb and answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for Me, because I have fed so many people with the loaves—that’s all you are interested in.”
He raised His voice so those around could hear.
“Do not work for food that spoils and only satisfies for a short time, but work for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”
And so they all began to seat themselves in an open area in front of the synagogue. The disciples, as usual, seated themselves near their Master. Simon the Zealot, ever on guard, stationed himself on a bit of high ground to watch for any possible attempts on Jesus’ life.
When they had settled down, the people began to ask him questions, as was the custom by now. “What work does God ask us to do?”
“That is a very important question,” Jesus said. “The work of God is this: you must believe in the One He has sent.” And then with great passion, “You must believe.”
One of the men from Capernaum, who had been prompted by a local Pharisee, stood and asked, “But what miraculous sign will You give that we may see it and believe You? What will You do? Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from Heaven to eat.’”
“Listen to me! It is not Moses who has given you the bread from Heaven. It was the Lord. But more importantly, My Father gives you the true bread from Heaven. This is the bread of God who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
Several Pharisees who were listening began to talk among themselves heatedly. The disciples near them kept an eye on them in case they might have any design on Jesus. Then another man came and asked Jesus: “Sir, from now on give us this bread.”
“That what I am telling you! I am the Bread of Life,” Jesus said. “He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen Me and still you do not believe.”
Clouds of holy angels had begun to arrive in large numbers around Capernaum—something important was stirring. Berenius and many unholy angels also were there to witness this critical moment.
“He is rather harsh today, isn’t He?” Berenius remarked to his aide.
“Not really,” said the aide. “He is always rebuking the people for their disbelief.”
“Something different is happening today,” said Berenius, surmising the gathering of the Host. “Something is stirring. Something out of the ordinary. We’d best keep our mind on the game—and on the disciples.”
“All those the Father gives Me will come to Me,” Jesus continued. “And whoever comes to Me I will never drive away—they shall be accepted.” He stood and began pacing as He spoke. “Do you think I have come down from Heaven to speak My own words and to do My own will? No! I have come down from Heaven not to do My will but to do the will of Him who sent Me. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all He has given me, but raise them up at the last day. Listen to Me—My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
The Jews in the crowd could be heard decrying this teaching. They began to call out to the people, “Is this not Jesus, the Son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can He now say, ‘I came down from Heaven.’ He is deluded!”
Jesus walked over to where the Jews had gathered. They stood with defiant stances, proud in the robes of their office.
“Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus said. “I assure you no one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. Again I tell you all—I am the Bread of Life!”
He turned from the Jews and back to the crowd.
“Your forefathers ate manna in the desert, as the man mentioned a moment ago. Yet they died and were buried in the desert. But here is the bread that comes down from Heaven, which a man may eat and not die. Moses’ bread was temporary. But I am the Living Bread that came down from Heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
“What?” cried one of the Pharisees. “How can You dare to say such a thing?”
Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat? This is an abomination!”
“I’ll tell you something more,” continued Jesus, looking directly at the pharisees. “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His b
lood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink.”
Many in the crowd looked at each other in confusion. Even some of the disciples were alarmed. One person from somewhere in the back shouted he was hungry right now. A few began to leave, deciding to come back later when He was ready to give them some real food. The Jews encouraged the departures.
“Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him,” Jesus continued. “Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.”
He turned back to the Jewish teachers and priests, who were still grouped near Him refuting Him even as He spoke: “This is the bread that came down from Heaven.” He said to them. “Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.”
Later that evening, after the crowds had dispersed, the twelve disciples, as well as others who had decided to follow, had a moment to themselves. Still reeling from the day’s teaching, they asked themselves exactly what it was Jesus was saying. Judas seemed particularly hard hit by it all. He was beginning to think perhaps Jesus was deluded. How could such a Man lead a Kingdom?
Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? Here is an even harder teaching.”
He stood and indicated the place where they were.
“This world, this flesh—it counts for nothing. Human kingdoms and power—it is all nothing. It is the Spirit that gives life. And the words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life…”
He looked at the group.
“And still there are some of you who do not believe.”
The men looked about, surprised at such a declaration. Those who knew they believed were particularly astonished. Those who had been doubtful were uneasy. Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him. “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has enabled him,” He said.
Final Confrontation Page 15