by Tim Hawken
“Thank you, Mary.” Jesus smiled down at her.
“Thank you, Lord,” she said, and began walking up ahead.
The procession moved forward once more. Judas walked in between the group, having quiet conversations, as we wound through the rock and sand strewn landscape. Flies buzzed about the sweating group, along with an air of excitement. I was able to put names to each of the people as we progressed. Peter was a large solitary man, with a constantly angry look on his face. Matthew was silent and contemplative. John and James both wore blue robes and walked together, smiling as they spoke of the glory of God and the coming Passover feast.
As we approached Jerusalem, the trees rising out of the dry soil become slightly greener. Ahead were a woman and young child of around ten years old resting in the shade. The child jumped up and ran over to us.
“Who are you?” he asked innocently, looking up at Jesus on his donkey.
“He is the Lord Jesus and the messiah of mankind.” Peter scowled at the urchin.
“Peter, please,” Jesus said quietly. He looked down at the boy and threw him a loaf of bread from a bag which hung at his side. “I am a friend,” he said to the child. “If it’s alright with your mother, you run ahead and tell the people at the gates of the city that Jesus of Nazareth comes in peace with his flock. I will give you a fish to eat with that bread if you do it well.”
The boy looked over to his mother who nodded eagerly. With the bread in his hands, he sprinted off towards the walls of the city at top speed, yelling the news.
“Jesus is here. Jesus of Nazareth is bringing some sheep to the city. Make way.”
Smiling, Jesus urged his mount onward.
As we entered the gates of the city, a small crowd had gathered to watch. Peter pushed up ahead of the group and called to them.
“Welcome the Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, messiah of the people!”
The crowd called and cheered a warm reception. Two women came forth and laid a blanket down in his path. Others in the throng threw down small olive branches as a welcome before him. He waved as our group continued through the people, into the city streets. A lady approached the group with a bundle in her arms. Paul went to step in front of her, but Jesus motioned to let her through. She came to stand beneath Jesus.
“I have heard you can perform miracles,” she said, holding out a crying baby. “My son is sick, can you heal him?”
Jesus jumped down from his mount to stand next to the woman. He looked down at the child in her arms and reached out to touch it on the head. He closed his eyes for a few moments, and his hand shuddered slightly. The baby’s cries quieted down.
“His fever will break tonight,” Jesus said, opening his eyes again to look at the woman. “Take him home now and give thanks to our Lord God in Heaven.”
“Bless you.” She nodded her gratitude and scurried off into the crowd.
The young boy who had gone ahead of us caught up to the group. Puffing, he still clutched his loaf of bread.
“Mister Jesus, Mister Jesus,” he called. “Can I have my fish now?”
“But you already have your fish,” said Jesus with a smile, pointing to the child’s hands.
The boy looked down to see a large carp, flipping alive in his fists. In shock he dropped it to the dirt. The crowd around us all gasped in astonishment and began talking furiously amongst themselves. Jesus bent down and picked up the fish, which was now slowly gasping in his hands. He handed it to the boy.
“Take this home to your family,” he said. “They have fresh bread on the table.”
Jesus turned and continued through the buzzing masses, leading the donkey behind him.
“Let us now go to temple, to give thanks,” he said, and pushed up the street, leaving the people in wonder behind him as the Apostles followed closely.
The streets were packed full of people as we neared the large temple. Worshipers were pouring in and out of the archways, which led inside the large grounds. We passed through into the courtyard. Rather than praying pilgrims preparing for Passover inside, there were tables set up for trade. Livestock was gathered into reeking pens in the middle of the space. Booths were set up for changing money around the more shaded edges. Our party came to an abrupt halt. I could hear each of the Apostles voicing their disgust at the state of the temple. Jesus was furiously untying the rope from around his donkey’s neck, and began winding it with a piece of leather from his belt into a cord. Anger burned in his eyes and his normally serene demeanor became wilder with each of his hurried movements. He was looking around, shaking his head as he bound the rope and leather together. I heard John whisper into James’ ear behind me.
“What is he doing? I’ve never seen him like this.”
After tying off the ends of his lash, Jesus walked quickly over to the closest stall, where money was changing hands. He kicked the table roughly. Coins clattered to the ground and the man who sat behind the table fell backwards onto the ground. Jesus swiftly kicked him in the ribs before pressing his foot down onto the man’s neck. People all around stopped what they were doing to see what the commotion was about. Jesus unfurled the rope in his hand and whipped the man in the face with it. He cried out in pain and some other men to the side began to step in.
“Stop!” Jesus yelled loudly. Everyone fell silent to behold this furious man who held a whip in his hands. “This is Herod’s Temple, is it not? This is a place of worship, not a place of commerce. You are all sinners by letting this revolting act of blasphemy take place within the walls of my Father’s house! It is written: my house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves! Do you not love God? If you do not, then you should fear him!”
Once again, Jesus unleashed the whip down onto the man’s face before running into the middle of the courtyard and ripping down the pen which held in the livestock. Whipping the backs of cows and sheep he sent them bleating, running out toward the exit. Pandemonium broke as the animals stampeded out of the temple, knocking over tables and booths as they went. One cow crashed through a stack of birdcages which held a flock of doves. As the cages fell to the ground, they opened and the doves went cooing into the sky. Some of the people scurried out of the way, while others scratched on the ground in a bid to gather up the scattered coins that lay in the dirt. Above the din of confusion, Jesus’ hoarse voice continued to rant.
“Leave this place, you thieves! You rob my Father of his glory. Do not come back until you wish to praise him. In his name, I put an embargo upon all trade in this place. When you return, return to a place of sanctity and peace!”
Incredibly, the people listened to his command. While the dust that had been roused up still hung in the air, everyone filed out of the courtyard until there were no animals or customers left. Just a few hawkers hurriedly packed up their wares so they could escape before the man with the whip attacked them as well. Jesus and the Apostles were the only ones left when a priest came storming out of the church into the yard. His robes flew behind him.
“What are you doing?” he yelled. “How dare you disrupt our prayers?”
“How dare you let this sacred place fall into the darkness of trade?” Jesus roared back, holding his whip high in the air.
The priest stopped in his tracks, face red, spluttering with indignity. “What right do you have to make judgment on what happens in my temple?”
“Your temple?” Jesus yelled, stepping forward. John and James quickly moved in to hold him back. “This is the temple of God!” Jesus fumed. “Are you claiming divinity?”
The priest looked like he had been slapped in the face. “You would insult a Rabbi so?”
“I would insult an old man who knows nothing of the true word of the Lord! You will burn in Hell!”
“This is outrageous!” the Rabbi said, turning from red to purple. “High Priest Caiaphas will hear about this!” He then turned and marched back into the church.
As the Rabbi disappeared inside, Jesus threw his weapon to the gr
ound.
“Let us leave this soiled place and find somewhere else to pray,” he said.
The Apostles all followed Jesus out of the courtyard in stunned silence, back into the crowded streets of Jerusalem.
We continued to roam the city as Jesus talked to the people, preached upon steps, prayed, and attended to the sick where he saw them. The entire time, his Apostles simply walked behind, listening when he spoke. Upon nightfall, the group gathered inside some simple lodgings to rest for the night and eat.
While Judas was alone, rolling down his blankets for the night in a quiet corner, there was a light knock at the door.
“Judas?”
I turned to see Jesus enter the room; Judas straightened stiffly before turning to greet Jesus with a smile.
“It was an interesting day today,” he said, as he hugged Jesus and kissed him on the cheek.
“Yes it was,” Jesus agreed, shaking his head and looking to the ground. “I’m sorry I let my temper get the better of me, Judas.”
“You cannot always be meek and mild. Even God is wrathful, mere men cannot hope to escape anger.”
“They should try,” Jesus said. “But I have not come to justify my actions, Judas. I have come to seek a word.”
“Ah yes,” Judas said. “The favor I may not like. You know I would lay my life down for you if you asked me to, my Lord.”
“I know. But would you lay down my life, if I asked?”
“What?” Judas said. “I would never do anything to harm you!”
Jesus nodded slowly, still looking at his feet.
“I know you wouldn’t, Judas. You are my closest and dearest friend. You, who understand my teaching of God better than all others. You, who realize the potential that lies within all of God’s children to be divine. What I am asking is something that I know will hurt you a great deal, but I will ask it anyway. I have foreseen that this is needed to deliver all of mankind from their sins.”
Judas stood silent and waited.
“In two days from now, after the feast of Passover, I need you to give me up for arrest to the authorities.”
“You wish for me to betray you?” Judas asked, aghast.
“There is no betrayal if I know it is happening,” Jesus said to him, finally raising his eyes from the ground to meet those of Judas. “Tomorrow I will speak out against the established church in public. It will enflame great resentment from those in power, not because it is challenging to them, but because they know the truth of their hypocrisy and will seek to hide it. They will charge me for treason and for heresy.”
“Impossible!” Judas whispered fiercely, looking out the door to make sure nobody overheard. “You would never speak out against God! But if you are arrested and found guilty of such a charge, you will be crucified. The crimes you speak of carry the penalty of death!”
“I know,” Jesus pressed. “But it will be a death of the body, not my divine spirit. It will mean the rebirth of the glory of God in this world. People do not understand simple words, they understand sacrifice, and there is no bigger sacrifice than martyrdom. It will arouse the passion of God within the populace once more. You can see this is needed. The biggest temple in this holy city was trading animals today! Is that my Father’s will? No! He must be worshipped above all else.” Jesus looked Judas deep in the eye. “Above all else, Judas! Above my life, above your pride. You must do this for the good of man. Will you?”
“What about my soul?” Judas asked. “Will God in Heaven forgive me this betrayal?”
“He has already forgiven you,” Jesus said, putting a hand on Judas’ shoulder. “You will become the apostle cursed by all others. It is possible for you to reach the Kingdom of Heaven, but you will grieve a great deal. This is God’s will, my friend. Will you do what I can ask no other to do?”
A tear slid down Judas’ cheek as he nodded. “Yes my Lord, I will do as you ask.”
“Thank you,” Jesus said softly, the words barely passing his lips. “Now rest. It will be another eventful day tomorrow. Sleep well.” He turned and walked quietly from the room.
Judas slumped down onto his blanket and began to weep softly. As his tears fell, the enormity of the conversation welled up in me.
Jesus was orchestrating his own death. Judas had not truly betrayed him as The Bible taught, he was asked to give up Jesus to the Romans. It made sense; without the crucifixion there could be no resurrection and therefore no Christianity. Jesus was pushing himself onto the cross to unite the world under a new religion. As Judas wept, I stared into space, wondering what other surprises were in store in the coming days.
******
The courtyard of the Temple of Herod had been cleared. There were no longer animals or moneychangers. It had been transformed once again into an area for preaching. Jesus had come back with his Apostles and set up an area in the most shaded part of the yard. Many had gathered to hear him speak, as word of his miracles and teachings had circulated throughout Jerusalem. The courtyard virtually hummed with religious fervor. Men stood shoulder to shoulder throughout the yard, arching onto their tiptoes to get a glimpse of the so-called Messiah.
“The Kingdom of Heaven is great, and we all seek for our spirits to go there,” Jesus said, from an elevated step above the crowd, his back to the western wall of the temple. “You must praise God and worship him, forsaking all others. You should treat your fellow man with love, respect and kindness. We have all heard of the rewards of Heaven, but I am now here to tell you of a different place. A place you will go, should you not heed my Father’s word.” There was a murmur through the crowd. What was this? They had only heard of one afterlife, that of Sheol.
“The charlatans inside this house would not tell you of this place,” Jesus preached, “because they are not the real prophets of God. But I am here to reveal to you that if you are evil you will be cast down into burning pits of brimstone and sulphur. You will writhe in agony, and weep, gnashing your teeth in pain. God has given these pits a name. They are called Hell and all of the sinners of this earth who have rejected God will dwell there for all of eternity.”
“What can we do to avoid this Hell you speak of?” a man yelled from the crowd.
“Observe always the commandments that Moses handed down from Mount Sinai,” Jesus answered. “In this there can be no compromise. For those here who may have sinned, do not fear; you still have a chance at redemption. We are all flawed, for we are human. If you have not lived a pure and holy life until now, you can still reach the Kingdom of God. Admit your wrongs. If truthfully in your heart you are sorry and promise to never be led into temptation again, then God will forgive you! God loves each of you present, without exception.”
Again there was a ripple of approval from the crowd. From the back, there came a shout. A group of people were pushing through, yelling and shoving people out of the way. It was the Chief Priest of the Temple who had clashed with Jesus the previous day. With him were six elders, all bristling with anger.
“By what authority are you saying these things?” the priest challenged loudly. “And who gave you this authority?”
Jesus looked down and replied evenly, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John's baptism—where did it come from? Was it from Heaven, or from men?”
The priest looked to the elders around him, puzzled. He was about to open his mouth, when Jesus cut in.
“You are hypocrites. All of you! Look at you old men, full of self-importance. You clothe yourselves in ostentatious robes and encourage people to call you Rabbi! You take the place of honor at people’s banquets, when you have no honor yourselves!”
The priest began to open his mouth again, but Jesus yelled loudly over the top of the crowd.
“You say you teach about God, but you do not love God, you love the power which your position gives you. You do not enter the Kingdom of Heaven in your prayers, nor do you let others enter. You preach a dead religion, thus m
aking those converted to your word twice as much the sons of Hell! You covet the gold of the altar more than the meaning it represents!”
“You’re breaking the law!” one of the elders shouted from beside the priest.
“You speak about law!” Jesus replied. “But you do not practice the most important laws: justice, mercy and faithfulness to God! You obey the tiniest of laws, such as the tithing of spices, but this is not the real meat of what God commands! You appear clean because you have bathed, but you are dirty within. Everyone here can smell the stench of your greed. Your mask of righteousness hides an ugly secret of ungodly thoughts and feelings. You are like whitewashed tombs, beautiful on the outside, but full of dead men’s bones!”
A burst of shouts of approval went up from the gathered people. The priest and his companions began to shrink at the words of Jesus.
“You say you have a high regard for the dead prophets of old and claim you would never persecute and murder prophets. In fact, you are cut from the same cloth as the persecutors and murderers! You too have murderous blood in your veins, you who would challenge me, who speaks the true word of God Almighty!”
The people around voiced their approval of Jesus’ vehement speech. Someone from the crowd threw a small rock, which struck the priest on the side of the head. He fell down, and was picked up by his friends.
“You have not heard the last of this, you blasphemer!” the priest yelled, blood trickling from his temple into his beard. His friends steadied him on his feet and ushered him out from amongst the turbulent mass of followers, back toward the shelter of the inside of the temple.
“Go back to your house of woe!” Jesus yelled after him. “While the real word of God is delivered at its doorstep!”
A shout of approval went up from the crowd as the group of men retreated through a doorway into the temple proper. As they moved inside, Judas stirred next to me, inching backward from where Jesus stood toward where the priest and his followers had withdrawn. With all attention focused on Jesus, who had begun preaching once more, we slipped unnoticed through into the cool exterior of the shadowy temple. A few priests shuffled about, not paying us any attention, while others sat immersed in reading scrolls. I could see the Chief Priest sitting on a wooden bench next to the main alter, being tended to by another man, who was wiping the blood from where the rock had struck. The priest was fuming with rage, his chest heaving with deep breaths. Judas made his way unobtrusively over to the two men.