Final Confrontation (45 page)

Zichri and the other priests awaited the final word from Pilate. The crowd had grown quiet. Lucifer and his angels waited on one side of the court, while Michael and his angels waited on the other.

“This reminds me of when we were in Eden,” observed Kara. “Waiting for Eve to take the bait from the serpent.”

“True,” said Pellecus. “Only this time the bait is the Lord Himself!”

“It won’t be long, my brothers,” said Lucifer, as Pilate prepared to speak. “Then we shall have a taste of real freedom!”

“Let Him be crucified!” said Pilate.

THUD!

The sound of the cross dropping into the ground behind Jesus followed by His agonized scream was a macabre backdrop to the unfolding drama. The Romans in charge of the execution took Jesus’ arms and bound them to the crossbeam on which He lay. They offered Him wine mixed with vinegar to diminish the intensity of the pain, but He refused.

Looking at the crowds of people who had followed Him up the pathway, He could distinguish some of His family, including His mother, Mary. Above and unseen by them, He could also see thousands of unholy angels, covering the sky like a swarm of locusts, jeering and celebrating the death of the Lord.

CLING!

A streak of pain shot up Jesus’ arm, unlike any He had ever experienced. It moved through His whole body like fire and he cried out in pain.

CLING!

CLING!

CLING!

He looked to His left and saw the hammer raised to nail the other arm into place.

CLING!

CLING!

CLING!

The Romans, professionals all, went about their business routine deftly, hardly speaking to one another. They knew their job. And they were doing it well. They lifted Jesus up with ropes, and positioned Him above the hole where they would stake the cross. Just as they were about to let it drop, an officer stopped them.

“Hold on there,” he said. “Pilate ordered this placed above His head.”

He handed the soldier a placard, inscribed in Hebrew, Greek and Latin:

JESUS OF NAZARETH

KING OF THE JEWS

Then with a violent thud that shook Him to His very core in agonizing pain, the cross dropped into the ground and was positioned upright. Jesus hung there for a moment in shock, trying to collect His thoughts. Nearby were scores of people weeping and watching. Several of the high priest’s men were also watching.

CLING!

CLING!

CLING!

The crowd gasped at the horror of the scene as the Romans fastened His feet to the cross with one more heavy iron nail, completing their duty. Jesus cried out once more as the weight of His body was forced upon the nails through His feet.

The Romans’ gruesome work was finished—now they simply had to wait for Him to die. Jesus’ struggle was just beginning as He strained to live.

Kara and Pellecus watched Jesus squirming on the cross, trying to position Himself for just a tiny relief of the pressure on His torn body. But His muscles would soon give way and the full weight of His body was again forced upon His feet in wrenching pain. Kara noted the priests moving up to the cross.

Berenius had moved in with them and created a spirit of cruel mockery which they were now exhibiting with relish.

“Well Jesus,” said Achish. “You promised You would send legions of angels down upon us!”

“Yes,” said another. “And what about destroying the Temple in three days!”

“You saved others,” Achish said, indicating some of the crowd. “Yet You cannot save yourself?”

“Enough!” admonished Zichri. “We are priests, not butchers. Achish, you will stay here until it is over. The rest of us need to return to the Temple.” He walked over to Achish, pulling him aside. “Remember, He must be dead before the Sabbath. Pay them if you must, but see to it.”

He glanced down at the iron bar used to break the legs of the prisoners in order to hasten their deaths.

“Father, forgive them!”

Zichri turned to look at Jesus.

“Did He say something?” he asked Achish.

“Father they do not understand what they do.”

“As you say,” said Achish uneasily. “I will see He is dead before Sabbath!”

“Jesus.”

Jesus turned His head to the right. He saw the man condemned to die next to Him watching Him with interest and wonder.

“All these people, these priests,” he marveled. “You must be the One they say You are.”

Jesus said nothing.

“Please take me with You into Your Kingdom.”

Jesus opened His dry, blistered mouth and spoke to the man, “I promise you today, that you shall be with me in paradise.”

“My Lord! My Lord! Why have You forsaken Me?”

Michael and Crispin stood on the hill watching Jesus die. They had been asking themselves this very same question. The jeering demons and Lucifer’s proud leadership had begun to enrage Michael. He was ready to fight—yet he was compelled to hold his peace.

“What good can come of all this?” despaired Michael. “It will only serve to encourage Lucifer in his efforts.”

“Michael, I cannot answer you,” said Crispin. “Except to say these are things God’s own prophets wanted to look into and were forbidden. If He withheld such things from His prophets, do you think He would reveal them to mere angels?”

“Then we are to wait upon the Lord’s command to rescue Him?” asked Michael.

“Yes,” said Crispin. “Should it come. But remember, Michael, the Lord said He would die. This is exactly what He is doing.”

“But I thought that was a story—a fable to teach men,” said Michael. “I did not think the Man, Jesus would truly die.”

“You must trust the Most High,” said Crispin. “Though Jesus die the Seed can never die. The Seed can never die…”

By three in the afternoon, darkness began to descend. The Romans were becoming increasingly nervous as people told them about Jesus, and what a crime this act was against God. Achish studied the darkening sky. Perhaps a storm was brewing? It was all very odd.

Lucifer peered into the black sky. He could sense death closing in on Jesus. He ordered his angels to encircle the cross as close as they could so they could witness the death of the dream.