Final Confrontation (32 page)

Crispin nodded at Michael.

“True, Michael,” he said. “But there is an even greater answer to a creature asking ‘Why?’ of his Creator.”

“And what is that answer, good teacher?” asked Gabriel, taking the bait.

“Simple,” said Crispin smiling in a sly way. “The answer is…Because!”

“Remove the stone!”

The astonished crowd stared in disbelief. Martha looked around at the others then stepped out and approached Jesus, who stood in front of the tomb. She took Him aside and whispered to him.

“My Lord, I know you loved Him,” she said. “And he loved You. But do not do this thing. It will be offensive. He has been dead four days!”

Jesus looked at her with compassion.

“Martha, I once told you your sister was looking for something glorious while you were busy with the distractions of this world. Again I tell you: If you only believe, you will see the glory of the Father.”

She looked into His eyes and stepped back. Turning to the crowd she ordered, “Do as He says. Open the tomb!”

“Here it comes,” said Nathan. “Be ready!”

Nathan’s angels prepared to hold the tomb door in place. Rugio also joined them in the effort, determined not to allow the seal to break.

“No! No!” commanded Lucifer from where he stood.” Rugio! Allow the seal to be broken! Give them all a glimpse of their rotting friend!” He turned to Kara and Pellecus. “Perhaps the odor of their recently departed friend will convince them that the fragrance of life Jesus offers them is not as sweet as He has preached!”

The angels moved away from the entrance as the men of the community broke the seal and rolled the large, flat stone away. Everyone watched Jesus, curious as to what He would next do. Would He actually go into the tomb? Wouldn’t that violate the Law by exposing Him to a dead body? Jesus looked up to heaven and began praying aloud:

“Father, I thank You that You have heard My words. I know You always hear My words, but I wanted these people standing here to hear My words as well. I want them to hear Me call You ‘Father,’ so they might also believe!”

“HE IS GOING TO RAISE HIM!” shrieked Lucifer.

“Rugio! Nathan! Hold Lazarus! Get on him. Jesus intends to raise him!”

In a flurry of orders, Lucifer commanded his angels to move into the tomb and hold back the power that was to oppose them. Rugio and Nathan entered the tomb, followed by hundreds of demons. They surrounded the body of Lazarus, whose burial linens were still fresh and tightly wrapped around his body.

“LAZARUS”

Upon the booming voice of Jesus, the demons were rocked as if shaken by an invisible earthquake. They held fast to Lazarus, determined not to allow him to respond.

Rugio and Nathan stood by his head, holding it down with all their might.

“LAZARUS!”

The place shook again, this time more violently, tossing several demons around the tomb. But they would not relent and came to order immediately. Rugio barked orders at them: “Hold him! We still have him!”

“COME FORTH!”

Upon these words a tidal wave of power, like circles of light crashed through the cordon of demons, scattering them throughout the tomb. Rugio and Nathan noticed that the eyes under the linens were beaming lights, and that a brilliant glow could be seen piercing the linens and lighting up the tomb.

Outside the tomb the people gasped in astonishment as the darkness lit up in a brilliant white light. Some fell to the ground in fear. Mary and Martha held on to each other. They watched as Jesus said once more:

“COME FORTH!”

Rugio and Nathan could no longer contain the power that was surging around them and the body suddenly began to move and sat upright. Rugio cursed at Lazarus, but was powerless as he and the other demons watched the man, who a second ago was dead and rotting, sit up and slide his feet onto the ground.

“Here he comes!” someone called out.

The people could not believe what they were seeing: a man dressed in burial linens slowly coming out of the tomb. Mary and Martha ran to their brother. Jesus ordered that the bandages be removed.

“It really is Lazarus,” said another, as the face was uncovered. The people crowded around, praising God and celebrating the return of their friend. Mary and Martha could only embrace their brother, who didn’t seem to remember much at all.

“Glory to God!” someone cried from the crowd.

“Welcome back!” said another.

Lazarus looked up, dazed and confused.

“Welcome back?” he asked. “Have I been gone?”

The crowd burst out in laughter and tears.

Lucifer watched the demons scattering in defeat. He looked at his commanders. All of them were silent. Finally Rugio managed to join the group and explained that the power was so compelling it was impossible to contain.

“Then how can we ever stop the power that Jesus possesses?” asked Kara.

Lucifer watched as Jesus and the crowd escorted Lazarus back to his home. He looked at the bandages which once imprisoned the body of Lazarus lying on the ground. He picked up a single piece of linen and held it in his hand.

“Jesus has the power to heal the sick,” he said, tearing off a strip of bandage.

“He can make blind men see, the deaf hear.”

He ripped the linen once more.

“He can dispossess our spirits from humans, and teaches a message of love and Kingdom. And He can raise the dead!” he ripped off a final piece, leaving a single strand in his hand, which he held up in illustration.

“These funeral bandages represented death’s hold on Lazarus, and now he is free. It occurs to me we have played this the wrong way all along.”

“How so?” asked Pellecus. “What are you suggesting?”

“I am suggesting that perhaps this burial cloth was on the wrong man all along. I am suggesting that once we remove the Healer, the sick will perish. I am suggesting that once we remove the Deliverer, our angels need not fear being cast out. I am suggesting that once we remove the Teacher, the Kingdom will have no voice.”

He dropped the linen to the ground.

“I am suggesting it is time for another burial,” Lucifer said, a reddish tinge in his eyes. “But this time a more permanent one!”

“What are we accomplishing, meeting like this?” a Pharisee named Bazael asked. “Here is this Man Jesus performing many miraculous signs. It makes us look like fools to oppose Him. And yet, if we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation!”

“It always comes down to Rome with you, Bazael,” snapped Zichri. “We will survive Rome just as we have survived the Greeks, Persians and Babylonians. But we will
not
survive the destruction of our faith!”

Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, stood up and spoke. “My brothers. We cannot argue among ourselves. But Zichri is correct. I have tried to remain aloof from this matter. But now it is becoming increasingly dangerous to us all.”