Yeshua then crouched and ran his fingers in the water with an absent-mindedness that confused Shi’mon. And then, he spoke with an even more serious tone.
“This is my advice to you: when the time comes and you find yourself in dark times, remind yourself that the mission comes first. No matter what you feel, no matter what you want, remember, the mission comes first! And what is your mission?”
“To protect humanity at all cost,” Shi’mon responded.
“Good!” Yeshua said. “Now, I know you bear strong resentment towards Yehuda.”
At the mention of Yehuda, Shi’mon stiffened, and the veins in his temple popped out.
“He has done something terrible, master,” Shi’mon hissed with hatred.
“Well, whatever it is you think he has done,” Yeshua spoke calmly to defuse the situation, “he will do something a lot worse. If you think you hold any resentment towards him right now, you just wait until you see what he will do shortly.”
Shi’mon turned pale with shock. Did the master know what Yehuda was doing and just did not care, or did he choose not to know? He hoped it was the latter because if it were the former, then his faith in the master would be in peril.
“If only you knew, master,” Shi’mon sighed.
“I can tell you what I do know, brother,” Yeshua said. “How loyal would you say you are to me?” he asked.
“To the death, master!” Shi’mon replied without the slightest hesitation.
“And I believe you, brother,” Yeshua said. “However, I also know tomorrow after we eat the Passover meal together, you will deny me. And to remind you of what I have just told you, the rooster will crow after the third time you deny me!”
Shi’mon burst into fits of side-clutching laughter.
“Forgive me, Master,” he managed to speak amidst fits of laughter. “I never thought I would hear such madness from your lips.” He dabbed at his eyes as they welled up with tears of laughter. “I am glad tomorrow is only a few hours away. I will look at you in the face and remind you of this very moment!”
And Shi’mon laughed even harder. Yeshua smiled kindly at him, pleased to see that Shi’mon was having a great time, compared to his mood a few moments ago.
“Then I pray I am wrong,” Yeshua replied and stood.
Almost immediately, as if to cry for the master, droplets of rain fell from the skies as Master and apprentice chose to walk rather than teleport home.
***
“I would like to speak with the high priest!” said Yehuda to the guard at the entrance to the temple.
He was a cauldron of raging emotions. After a long talk with the master a few hours earlier, he had decided this was his best option.
“Do you not know what time of the year it is?” the guard asked impatiently.
“Yes, sir, I am aware,” Yehuda replied in kind.
Three years ago, he would not have dared to show such disrespect at a temple guard. But today, he would spit in the face of Caesar himself, if he had to.
“Then you must know, peasant,” the guard sneered at the word ‘peasant’, “that the high priest is very indisposed! Or perhaps your tongue is sharper than your brains?”
“It is a matter of utmost importance,” Yehuda tried hard to control his temper.
“Be gone now, peasant!” the guard ordered. “Do you not have a feast to prepare for?”
“Please do not make me do this,” Yehuda admonished.
The guard shot an incredulous look at Yehuda before he broke into a derisive laughter.
“And what is it you plan on doing, peasant?” the guard asked derisively.
Yehuda closed his eyes and tilted his head towards the ground. In his head, he wrestled with a few options. Option #1 was to turn around and walk away. But he needed that audience with the High Priest. Option #2 was to teleport straight into the temple and speak directly to the High Priest. But making such a grand entrance would not be met with warmth, for obvious reasons. Option #3 was to physically neutralize the guard and everyone else who got in his way. It would cause a ruckus and he might not have his audience with the High Priest. So, he made up his mind, lifted his head up and stared at the guard.
“Look into my eyes!” Yehuda commanded.
The sudden change in Yehuda’s tone made the guard do as he was commanded. Suddenly, the guard became very calm and relaxed. Going against the master’s warning not to use their abilities just yet, Yeshua hypnotized the guard. Desperate times warranted desperate measures.
“From now on you will do exactly as I say,” Yehuda commanded. “Your words will not be yours; they will be mine. Everything you think, say and do will be as I please.”
Yehuda breathed in deeply to calm his raging emotions, while the guard stared blankly ahead.
“Now, you will take me to the high priest!”
Nefiki, the high priest, sat in council with a few priests and temple officials but they were not discussing anything about the Passover.
“Some people call him a prophet,” one priest said.
“Others call him the Messiah, the son of Yahweh,” another added.
“But how can he be the Messiah and we are still under Roman rule?” asked another priest. “Where is his army? Where is his glory?”
“We all know, he is no Messiah, and he certainly is no son of Yahweh!”
“He is a blasphemer and a demon!”
“Then how else could he have been able to perform those great works of healing?”
There was nods of agreement across the board.
“We must accept the fact that he is gaining a strong following though.”
“And that is why, fellow brothers,” Nefiki finally spoke up, and everyone fell silent, “we must put this blasphemy and outrage to an end. This man, Yeshua, must be stopped!”
“And I may be able to assist you with that,” Yehuda’s voice startled everyone present in the room.
They had not heard him coming in.
“How did you get in here?” Nefiki asked. “Get out now before I summon the guards!”
“I would suggest you seize the opportunity while it is available,” Yehuda said, taking a few more steps into the room. “Like I said, I may be of assistance regarding this man, Yeshua!”
“You speak as if you know this blasphemer personally,” said one priest.
“I am one of his apprentices,” Yehuda replied. “My name is Yehuda, and I have walked with Yeshua, whom you seek, for three years now.”
“And how do we know we can trust you?” Nefiki asked, eyeing Yehuda suspiciously.
“You do not, High Priest,” Yehuda replied flatly.
There were murmurs across the room as the group weighed their options.
“Anyone who can betray his master is not to be trusted for any reason,” Nefiki argued.
“And who said this arrangement was going to be based on trust?” Yehuda rebutted.
“What is your gain from this betrayal?” Nefiki asked.
“That is no concern of yours,” Yehuda replied with impatience. “You focus on your end, and I will focus on mine. This is a one-time deal; you can either take it or leave it.”
There was another round of murmurs as the priests were deciding on whether to take this stranger up on his offer or not. Finally, Nefiki raised his right hand, and there was silence.
“Alright, stranger,” Nefiki finally said, “we will take your offer. What is your fee?”
“Forty pieces of silver!” Yehuda replied.
“Twenty!” Nefiki countered.
Yehuda turned around to walk away, but Nefiki’s new offer made him stop.
“Thirty! Thirty pieces of silver!” Nefiki said. “That is the most we can offer.”
Yehuda paused in mid-step and appeared to consider. He did not need any payment, but he had to make a strong case for this brood of vipers who called themselves priests.
“Tomorrow, after the Passover meal, I will meet you here and take you to him,” Yehuda replied without tur
ning around to face the priests. “When you have him in your custody, you can pay me then.”
Yehuda then turned around and faced them.
“And please, for your sake, do not double-cross me,” he warned before he turned around to walk away.
“And just what will you do, peasant?” the priest asked.
As soon as he asked the question, he screamed in pain and crashed to the floor in a fetal position. His stomach was in the most excruciating pain he had ever felt in his entire life.
“I assure you, priest,” Yehuda replied, continuing to walk away. “You DO NOT want to put me to the test!”
And Yehuda faded in the shadows of the temple.
***
The table was set, and the twelve apprentices were present, waiting for their master. Their Passover meal included a lamb shank (z’roa), bitter herbs (hazeret and maror), non-bitter herbs (karpas), eggs (beitzah), a mixture of nuts, apple and wine (haroset), amongst other food items. Each of these food types held certain symbolisms for the Jews. The apprentices chatted the evening away as they waited for the master. Yehuda and Shi’mon sat at opposite ends of the dinner table. For the sake of the feast, they had come to a temporary cease-fire. But Shi’mon had vowed to get answers from Yehuda for Yehuda’s atrocious acts, and Yehuda had responded with pure disrespect and spite.
The master walked in with his wife, Miryam of Magdala. She looked more radiant than normal. The apprentices did not know the master was going to bring her along and so they had reserved space for him alone. So, when Yeshua walked in with Miryam, they hurriedly made room for her as well. She sat at her husband’s right side. Some of the apprentices were disappointed and peeved when their master walked in with his wife because they had left their wives at home, thinking it would just be them and the master. Yeshua smiled at them before he began talking.
“My brothers,” Yeshua spoke in an even tone, “thank you all for accepting to eat this Passover with me. I am truly sorry for asking you to leave your families behind and please convey my sincere apologies and gratitude to them for being so understanding.”
“It is our honor, master,” Yochanan said.
“Speak for yourself, Yoch!” Nathanael joked. “You are neither a husband nor father.”
“And whose fault is that?” Yochanan asked, grinning.
“Do not worry about him, Nathanael,” Mattityahu said. “He would not understand. But we all know why he takes such long baths.”
“Ha ha ha!” Yochanan mocked as everyone else burst out laughing.
Miryam hid her face in her hands in embarrassment and tried to hide her giggling.
“Brothers, we have a lady in our midst,” Yeshua spoke between fits of laughter.
“Your problem, Master,” Mattityahu replied. “You brought her here, not us!”
A few moments later, after the laughter had subsided and Yochanan was not feeling too embarrassed anymore, the master resumed speaking.
“So, as I was saying,” Yeshua continued, ‘thank you all for coming to dine with me. I asked for us to have this Passover meal only amongst ourselves; amongst master and apprentices. And that is why I brought my wife, Miryam. She has been my apprentice all along.”
Every apprentice was genuinely surprised.
“She has, in fact, received the same amount of training you all have,” he continued. “So, I would like you to welcome her, not just as my wife, but as one of us. She is my wife, but Shi’mon is your leader, and as such, Shi’mon is also her leader.”
Shi’mon shot a death glance in Yehuda’s direction but Yehuda ignored him.
“You two better behave yourselves,” the master sent a telepathic message at both Shi’mon and Yehuda. “At least, for tonight, behave yourself!”
Both men seemed to relax for the moment.
“Just like each of you,” Yeshua continued, “Miryam has a mission and purpose. And when the time comes, you will understand. You all will understand the grand purpose.”
“I think I speak for all of us, master,” Shi’mon chimed in, “that we are honored to have Miryam as one of us. So, dear sister, welcome!”
Everyone welcomed Miryam and Miryam expressed her sincere gratitude.
“Good,” Yeshua said. “I can now share some wonderful news with you all now. Miryam is with child.”
But no one was paying attention to what he was saying anymore as everyone rejoiced over the great news. Some of the apprentices walked up and slapped the master on his back, and others kissed Miryam on the cheek. She was beaming with pride as she expressed her thanks for all the congratulatory messages she was getting. Yehuda did not move from his seat, and the fakeness of his smile could be seen from the Dimension of Oryon. Shi’mon kissed Miryam on the cheek, but it was just a facade to mask his fury.
“About time, master!” Nathanael exclaimed.
“Why do you say that, brother?” asked Yeshua, and chuckled at what he was expecting to hear.
A few of the apprentices tried to motion Nathanael not to speak, but they were too late.
“Well, master,” Nathanael’s throat suddenly felt parched as he tried to speak, “there was some worry among some of us that perhaps you were not able to… you know…” he trailed off. “I mean, after three years of marriage, you two still had no children. So, we were wondering if you were not doing your job or if, at all, you were unable to do your job.”
Nathaniel lowered his head in embarrassment.
“But then,” Tau’ma interjected, “you walked on water and even brought Lazarus back from the dead! So, we were baffled! If you could do all these things, then how come you two did not have children, after three years of marriage?”
Yeshua burst into laughter. Everyone was relieved the master did not take offense at their words.
“Brothers!” Yeshua managed to say after laughing so hard, “we did not have any children until now for a reason. But I assume your doubts have been cleared, right?”
“Oh, they sure have!” Nathanael said. “You see, Yoch!” he continued, turning his attention towards Yochanan. “Even Master is a busy man! I would suggest you take some lessons from him!” And there was another outburst of laughter.
“Let us begin with the feast, brothers!” Yeshua said.
They said prayers and began feasting. For a moment, there was nothing but idle chats, peace and sharing at the table. Yeshua observed them all. They still did not fully comprehend the task ahead. Yet, they followed him with unwavering faith. They were his brothers, and he was their brother. His heart sank because of what going to happen in a few hours.
“Brothers and wife, there is something I must also let you know,” Yeshua said.
A deathly silence swept across the room. Yeshua took a sip of wine from his cup and placed the cup on the table.
“This is my last meal with you in the flesh!” he said
Immediately, there was an outburst of shock. Miryam turned as pale as a ghost. Her husband had never made mention of anything like this before. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words could come out of her mouth.
“What do you mean, master?” Tau’ma asked.
The others joined in chorus. Only Yehuda and Shi’mon seemed oblivious to what was going on. Both men were too involved in a death-staring competition. Yeshua raised his hand, and his apprentices fell silent.
“Tonight, one of you will betray me,” he continued, and another ruckus broke out.
Once again, he raised his left hand, and once again silence spread throughout the room.
“As I was saying,” he continued, after taking another sip from his cup, “this is my last meal with you in this form. One of you will betray me. I will be arrested, tortured and killed. This is how it is meant to be. It will be a huge burden for this person to carry and, even though it may not be easy, I implore you all to not to judge him.”
“I cannot guarantee that, master,” Shi’mon countered.
“Then maybe this could be a test of your leadership, Shi’mon,” Yeshua rep
lied.
Shi’mon noticed that the master called him by his first name and recognized it was as close to a public reprimand as it could get.
“Yes, master,” Shi’mon replied not-so-confidently. “I will do my best!”
If looks could kill, Yehuda would have been chopped to pieces and dumped into Gehenna as Shi’mon glared at him.
“When I am gone,” Yeshua continued, “you will be in a state of fear and confusion. But take heart for I will only depart from you in this present form. For now, you must stay true to what I have taught you and most of all, stay true to one another. This is my final commandment to you all; that you love one another as I have loved you! You must be a beacon of light for the world. This is the birth of a new age, and the Cosmic Clock is winding down to a Great Reset. I would stay and walk with you some more, but alas, I must leave you in this form.”
Tears were already streaming down Miryam’s eyes, and the other apprentices were deeply saddened. Miryam lay on her husband’s chest as he spoke and sobbed silently. She was, after all, the apprentice whom Yeshua loved. He put a comforting arm around her shoulder. Even Shi’mon’s anger at Yehuda gave way to sympathy, and Yehuda’s heart was rent in twain. Yehuda considered changing his mind about betraying his master, but it would be at variance with his purpose. If he were to be vilified, hated, and despised for all eternity, then so be it! He would play his part in preserving humanity. He turned his attention towards Shi’mon and could still feel Shi’mon’s animosity for him. He turned his attention towards sobbing Miryam, with her head on the master’s chest. He turned his attention towards the master and saw the encouraging smile on his face. He closed his eyes, took in a deep breath and strengthened his resolve.
“Who will betray you tonight, master?” Yoch asked.
“I will not say his name,” Yeshua replied.
The apprentices eyed one another suspiciously without making any accusations.
“I hope for his sake,” Shi’mon spoke up, “that I never know who he is.” He then turned his attention towards Yehuda. “I just may make him pay.”
“I have no doubt that your pride will lead you straight to him,” Yehuda replied, leaning forward and looking straight in Shi’mon’s eyes. “And I also have no doubt that he would love to see you try!”
The Bright Eyes (The Soulless Ones Book 1) Page 21