The Twelve

by D A Walmsley

  “It’s from the scriptures, thirty shekels is the price paid in compensation if someone accidentally killed a slave,” Jonathan whispers to him as he counts out thirty coins into a money bag and hands it over to Jude, who grabs it.

  “Fine, play your little game, just don’t get too comfy in that palace of yours. It will be mine soon enough.”

  The joke will be on them when Jesus refuses to be arrested and uses his power. Just wait, soon it will be me sitting in that chair.

  “My assistant will help you with the details,” says Annas laughing.

  In Jonathan’s office they go over what is expected. Jude needs to give them a time and place, preferably at night and away from the crowds. He can hear Annas and Caiaphas laughing as he makes his way back along the corridor and down into the Temple courts.

  He is too angry to go back to the house straight away, so he hides the money bag in his jacket and walks the shadowy streets until he has calmed down. If only Jesus had told him the plans for Passover, then he would have been able to give precise details there and then and the money would have been a lot more. He knows there is to be a meal, but Jesus has given the job of arranging it to Peter and John; no surprises there, teacher’s pets. All Jesus has needed him for is to sort out the cash. Rather than catch the bus back to the house, he decides to walk, calling in at a KFC on the way and getting himself a bargain bucket.

  Chapter 31

  “You know in some countries they have mint sauce with lamb.”

  “Really! Why would they have that?”

  “I don’t know, tradition I suppose.”

  John and Peter are at the Temple purchasing the Passover lamb. It’s the first time John has been to the Temple during Passover and now he knows why his parents have never wanted to stay in the city at this time of year. It can be quite claustrophobic, with all the people and animals and the smell is awful. It’s a lot easier at the Capernaum Temple, not as many people.

  “It would not be the place to come if you’re a veggie, would it?” says John as he pushes his way out, clutching the lamb that has been sacrificed, now wrapped in layers of brown paper.

  “Don’t drop it,” Peter yells at him.

  Why Jesus chose Peter to go with him, John will never know. Peter is the worst queuer in the world and he has never stopped complaining. People don’t really care how he would have organised it. Especially when he’d been standing in the wrong queue for twenty minutes. They both had questioned whether they’d be safe. Just because Jesus had avoided being arrested didn’t mean they’d be so lucky. That’s why he questions the choice of Peter? He’s not exactly suited for undercover work. His booming northern accent overpowers even the noisiest of animals; I mean the man stands out like a big hairy giant on a plate of figs. They are recognised by many people but thankfully the Temple guards leave them alone, although John saw many of them watching from a distance.

  As the lamb is too big to be roasted in a conventional oven, Jesus has organised a venue that includes a roasting pit. John and Peter have instructions for after they have purchased the lamb.

  They are to meet a man in the old part of the city. He will show them where to go. They don’t understand the need for so much secrecy, but didn’t argue. It has all the hallmarks of when Jude and Alphie had to pick up the colt, and they are a little apprehensive.

  They walk down the street towards the High Priests palace. As they pass the gated building John stops and looks through the gates into the courtyard. He wonders if that will be his home once Jesus starts his new kingdom. A couple of narrow streets later, they are at the corner where they are to meet their mystery contact.

  “This has got to be one of the strangest things we’ve ever done,” says John.

  They wait, Peter constantly checking his watch, until a man approaches.

  “This could be the guy!” says Peter.

  “It’s like we’re spies,” adds John.

  “Do you remember what we have to say?” asks Peter.

  “No, do you?”

  “Thought you were gonna write it down?”

  “I couldn’t find a pen! And I thought you’d remember it. It had something about my time or hour is come. Hang on while I ring Jesus,” says John.

  “Too late, I think this is the guy.”

  “If it isn’t we’re going to get arrested!”

  “Hi, er…The teacher says my hour has come…” says Peter, hesitating.

  “I must celebrate Passover with my team,” says John, remembering the last line.

  “Part of Jesus’ team are you? Thought I recognised you both, my place is just across the road,” says the man.

  They are led to a large white house, with steps on the outside going up to another level. A sign on the wall reads Bed and Breakfast. Proprietor Z. E. Marith. In a window there is a NO VACANCIES sign. The man, scruffy and unshaven, with a cigarette glued to his lip, gestures for them to follow him up the stairs.

  “Your boss has hired the upper room, you brought the cash?”

  “Yeah,” says John.

  The steps lead to a large room where a long table dominates the centre. On the left is what looks like the kitchen area and at the far end is a bar. There are also a couple of sofas and recliners next to an open fireplace.

  “This looks nice,” says John a little surprised.

  “You can put that over there in the kitchen,” the man points to the lamb.

  Peter takes out his wallet and the man produces an itemised bill.

  “I’ve organised everything your boss requested, anything else, just ask. I’ll be downstairs in the guest house all night. My wife is the cook, so she will have told your boss what time to expect the lamb to be ready, but you can come any time, he’s paying for it.”

  Peter looks at the bill and takes out the exact amount from his wallet, handing it to the man, who flicks through the notes before nodding and squeezing them into his top shirt

  pocket. John peers over at the bill. Wow, Jesus has even ordered plenty of drinks. He smiles, this is gonna be a great Passover.

  “Oh, yeah, one more thing. Could you do me a favour? The beer is downstairs round the back. You two look strong, do you think you could fetch them up for me?”

  “No problem,” says John.

  They fetch the beer before heading back to where they had parked the minibus, in a car park near the old city wall.

  * * *

  Later in the evening Andrew takes the bus keys from the hook in the kitchen and heads outside. “Hey Andrew, why don’t we order taxis so we can all have a drink,” says John, leaning on the kitchen worktop.

  “That’s a good idea,” says Thaddy entering the kitchen still towel drying his hair.

  “I’ll just have one glass with the meal, it’s fine.”

  “Your call Andrew, but I’m gonna enjoy myself tonight,” Thaddy says throwing the towel at John, who in turn throws it back at him.

  All three go and get in the minibus and wait for the others. It’s a long wait, Andrew has to hit the horn several times.

  When everybody is finally ready, they drive back up into the old city. The roads around the palace have restricted access and Andrew, much to the annoyance of everyone, has to turn back and go to the upper room a different way. John and Peter had been on foot before and had only remembered the way they had gone. Eventually they arrive, find a parking space, and all climb the stairs to the upper room.

  Even before Peter opened the door they can smell the aroma of roasting lamb. It is one of John’s favourite smells equal only to that of the sea air on a spring day. While the others charge in heading straight to the bar he goes over to the kitchen area. Mrs Marith is pouring juices over the lamb.

  “It smells fantastic.”

  Over at the bar Peter hands out the beer. James takes one, pulling the bottle cap off with his teeth.

  “There is a bottle opener on the bar!” Mrs Marith points out.

  “Doesn’t that hurt?” Philip asks James.

&n
bsp; James shakes his head while downing the bottle in one go and giving out a loud burp. Jesus thanks Mrs Marith as she leaves the room shaking her head.

  “Boss, you having one?” asks Peter.

  Jesus takes a couple of bottles of wine and begins to go round the table, filling each glass.

  “Lads before you start on those, I want to say a few words. Gather round.”

  “There is a reason for all the secrecy. I have really wanted to eat this Passover meal with you twelve tonight, before I suffer! I shall never eat it again until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”

  Jesus raises up a glass and has a drink, the lads all do the same.

  “Now follow me,” Jesus goes over to a ceremonial washing bowl, placed on a small table by the kitchen area and washes his hands. While he is drying them on a towel he gestures for them to do the same. Before they sit down for the meal, James goes back to the bar and gets another beer. John notices that this time he uses the bottle opener.

  The table has already been laid out with all the cutlery. Plates are piled high with unleavened bread, and several bowls of Charoseth - a paste/dipping sauce that is made with apples, dates, pomegranates and nuts. James is the last to sit down.

  “Want to hear a joke? There was this guy, he could play the piano really well, and composed his own music. One day he goes to this audition and…”

  Peter interrupts, “If this is the one you told at your Uncle Hagar’s funeral, then this is not the time.”

  “Er, yeah it is!”

  “Aw, come on Pete,” says Simon.

  “It’s vulgar,” says Peter.

  “I’ll tell you later,” whispers James to Simon.

  Once everybody is seated, Jesus brings over the lamb. He places it in the centre of the table and begins to carve.

  “Oh, that looks so good,” says James.

  Jesus serves Jude first and John is a bit jealous. At Passover it is said to be an honour when the host serves you first. When Jesus serves James, he looks down at the small piece of meat, looks back at Jesus, “and?”

  Jesus gives him another piece.

  “Thank you boss.”

  The lamb is perfectly cooked and melts in John’s mouth, oh heaven. He realises that for the first time today he can’t hear Peter’s voice. You can always tell good food, everybody goes quiet. For a while anyway.

  “Miles better than Mum’s,” James says in between mouthfuls, breaking the silence.

  John dips some bread into the sauce, umm, interesting, he’s not sure about this? Mum’s sauce is definitely better, this is more datey, than appley. Seeing James eyeing up more wine, he grabs it first. He knows that if it’s left by his brother it will soon be empty. He pours out a big glass full and does the same for Peter and Philip until it is finished. His brother is not very impressed and has to get another from the bar.

  Mrs Marith discreetly enters bringing in more bread and sauces. She places them on the table and takes away a couple of empty dishes. As she is leaving Thaddy stops her and asks if she will take a photo. They all gather round one side of the table as Thaddy shows her how to use the camera on his phone.

  “Smile everyone,” she says before taking the picture.

  She hands the phone back and leaves the room as the lads all devour the sauce and bread she has brought in. James gets up again and fetches a few more beers. They continue to eat and drink, laugh and joke.

  “Everything OK boss?” John notices that Jesus is looking sad.

  “One of you here in this room will betray me,” says Jesus.

  “No we won’t boss, don’t say stuff like that,” says Peter.

  “We wouldn’t betray you,” says John.

  Each one agrees, they are all upset at the suggestion.

  Matthew looks Jesus in the eye, “boss, you don’t mean me, do you?”

  Simon says the same. The rest see this and all follow suit, asking Jesus personally whether they will be the one.

  “The one who dips his bread in the bowl with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man will die as the Scriptures says he will, but how terrible for that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would have been better if that man had never been born!”

  “Surely teacher, you don’t mean me?” says Jude, dipping the bread into the bowl at the same time as Jesus.

  “So you say,” Jesus replies.

  John, who was really enjoying the evening, is disappointed. That’s a bit of a downer, Jesus sometimes makes no sense, they were having such a good time.

  “Why would he say something like that?” John asks Andrew.

  “I don’t know,” doesn’t seem to have ruined the mood though,” pointing to the others.

  James has thrown a bit of bread, first at Matthew then Simon. They both respond by flicking sauce back at him.

  “This is no time for a food fight,” says Peter sternly, “this is far too good to waste,” he adds, smiling.

  When John turns back to Jesus and Jude he catches the end of a conversation.

  “Go, do what you have to do quickly!” Jesus says to Jude.

  Immediately Jude gets up from the table and without saying goodbye to the others, leaves the room.

  Over the laughing and fooling around John watches Jude go over to the door, open it letting in the cool night air, and step out into the darkness.

  When Jude doesn’t return straight away, Philip, sitting next to John leans over.

  “Where did Jude go?”

  “No idea,” John shakes his head.

  “He may have gone downstairs for more dipping sauce, I like this better than Mum’s,” James suggests, “don’t tell her I said anything, but she uses way too many apples.”

  While they all are still eating, Jesus picks up some bread before it’s all gone and breaks it.

  “Take, eat; this is my body,” they pass it around the table, each taking a piece. Next he picks up a glass of wine.

  “Drink this all of you, for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I will not drink this wine again until the day when I drink it with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”

  “What’s happening?” Matthews asks as the bread, then wine are passed round. John doubts a collector would know this, having not been welcome in the synagogues. Simon and Alphie both lean closer to Nathaniel as he explains.

  “It’s a promise from God, like the ones he gave to Moses.”

  Matthew still looks puzzled.

  “It’s like a modern contract.”

  “Deep,” says Matthew.

  At the end of the meal, the lads are all full and even James has to turn down more lamb, though he does manage another beer. Jesus, Peter and Andrew start to clear the table while the others go to rest on the sofas. Thaddy shouts to Philip and Andrew in the kitchen.

  “A coffee wouldn’t go amiss.”

  “Hey, why don’t you give us a hand?”

  “Yeah, in a minute.”

  All that food and drink has made them tired, John could just go to sleep. He closes his eyes for what feels like a second.

  “Hey,” says Andrew, “come on, we’re off.”

  John opens his eyes, a little startled, “how long was I asleep?”

  “Only a minute” says Thomas, “Jesus wants to go somewhere quiet to pray.”

  “What about the washing up?” asks John.

  “Like you care about that,” says Andrew.

  They all pile out, down the stairs and into the minibus.

  “Where’s Jude?” Matthew asks Philip.

  “Not sure, I think Jesus has sent him on an errand.”

  Andrew drives out of the old city, following the outer wall until he gets to the east side. He stops in the car park of the Garden of Gethsemane. It is a quiet, serene place on the slopes of the Mount of Olives, high above Jerusalem, a place where people can escape the noise of the city. It’s a place Jesus regularly visits when he needs peace.

  Jesus, sitting in the front seat, ope
ns the door. As he is about to step out, he hesitates, turning to the lads.

  “Tonight you will all fall away from me, for it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”

  “What! Me, never! Even if all the others fall away from you I never will,” says Peter.

  “Oh, Peter,” says Jesus, “this very night before the rooster crows, you will have denied me three times.”

  “Even if I have to die with you I will never deny you.”

  “We’re a team, where you go we go,” says Simon.

  “Yeah, you taught us that boss, or me and Simon would have killed each other ages ago,” says Matthew.

  “We’ll do whatever its takes” says Alphie.

  “Count me in,” “me too”, “and me.” Eleven voices one by one speak up in support of Jesus.

  “Peter, James and John come with me, everybody else stay here until I have prayed.”

  Jesus and the three lads go into the garden. At the entrance Jesus becomes distressed.

  “My soul is so painful it almost crushes me, stay here and keep watch,” Peter, James and John sit on a bench.

  Jesus goes into the garden and kneels down beside a tree and begins to pray. The three can see how terribly he is suffering, they can hear parts of his prayers as he pleads with God to the point of crying. They feel helpless, just sitting there not knowing what to do.

  John is woken suddenly; he looks up to see Jesus standing next to the bench looking exhausted, drops of blood are running down his face. John nudges Peter, who in turn wakes James.

  “Are you asleep, could you not keep watch for one hour? Keep watching and praying that you do not come into temptation.”

  “Peter looks at his watch, “that was an hour, seems like five minutes.”

  “We’ll stay awake this time.”

  “Maybe I shouldn’t have drunk so much?”

  Jesus goes away to pray, and again when he returns he has to wake them up. Once again he asks them to keep watch and pray, but their eyes are heavy and they don’t know what to say.

  Jesus goes away for a third time.

  “Wake up…”

  They all wake up at the same time.