Final Confrontation

by D. Brian Shafer

  “Master!” he shouted. “We found that even the devils themselves were subject to the authority of Your name!”

  Upon those words, Lucifer and the others looked sharply at Jesus. The crowd hushed itself to hear what response the Lord might give, for they, too, had experienced authority over demons in the name of Jesus. Taking a moment, Jesus looked first at the sky, then over at Lucifer, where he stood on the brow of the hill, overlooking the assembly. Lucifer remained stoic as Jesus spoke.

  “I saw Satan fall from Heaven,” he said. “He fell like lightning.”

  Lucifer’s anger began rising within as the brow took on the purplish hue of his manifesting aura. Jesus turned back to the crowd.

  “And indeed I have given you power to tread on such creatures—serpents and scorpions, all of them!” He looked into the eyes of Joshua, who had spoken a moment before. “I have given you all power over the enemy! Nothing shall harm you.”

  The crowd howled in delight at this prospect, creating an unnerving sensation among the demons gathered around the area. Jesus held His hands up to silence them.

  “But,” He continued, “don’t think that this is the main thing. Far from it. Do not rejoice over the fact that devils are subject to you through the authority of My name. Rather, rejoice that your names shall be written in Heaven!”

  As He left the area, He turned to Peter and the others, telling them, “The things you are hearing and seeing are the very things the prophets longed to hear and see. You are quite blessed!”

  The woman pushed her way through the crowd. As people saw her they moved quickly to one side. Her infirmity had plagued her for 18 years, and she had spent her entire life’s savings on doctors and cures—still she was crippled and marked as a woman who had brought this curse upon herself which made her an outcast of society.

  The spirit of infirmity causing the disease had intended that the woman be dead by now. Drachus, the demon attaching himself to the woman nearly 20 years earlier, clearly wanted her dead. But she had fought and fought with a determination unlike most humans. Now she wanted to appear before this Holy Man who was moving through her region. Perhaps He might be able to help.

  Drachus attempted to frighten her into staying home that day. He had thrown every doubt into her mind that he could muster; he even had inflamed the condition today to force her home. But on she walked, in pain and doubled over at her middle, seeking out the Man Jesus. Drachus continued speaking to her mind, even as she plodded on toward the commotion of the crowd ahead.

  “This Man has no interest in you…”

  “These people are tired of seeing you; tired of this sickness…”

  “Why don’t you go back home and pray? The Lord is more likely to answer the prayers of a woman seeking Him than one searching out some trickster…”

  “Here she comes!” someone shouted. “Make way for the sinner!”

  The people moved away from her quickly as she began catching up to the crowd had enveloped Jesus. She made a pitiful figure, repulsive to people, almost monstrous as she hobbled along doubled over in pain. To them, it was obvious she had committed some horrible sin that placed her in this predicament. She had long ago searched her heart to see what she might have done. But now she ignored their catcalls. As she neared Jesus, Drachus felt the uncomfortable sensation of the Lord’s holiness as she got closer. He panicked.

  “Get home now! Before you make a fool of yourself!”

  The woman would have none of it. There! She caught a glimpse of the Man everyone was trying to reach. She had heard of the woman with the issue of blood whom Jesus had healed when she touched His garment! If only she might get to Him….even touch Him…even reach out and…

  Before she could actually touch Him, Jesus turned to the woman. Their eyes met and the woman felt something she had not felt in a long time: hope. Drachus, on the other hand, felt paralyzed with fear.

  Jesus reached out to her and laid hands upon her. He then spoke to her, saying. “Woman, your infirmity has been loosened. You are freed from this sickness!”

  Upon those words, Drachus was compelled to leave and did so, silently giving up the woman he had plagued for so long. He vanished immediately in search of his next victim whom he intended to kill more quickly.

  The woman began to straighten up. The crowd gasped with amazement as she stood straight for the first time in 18 years and began rejoicing and glorifying the Lord. The crowd began moving in, congratulating her and excitedly recounting the episode among themselves.

  “How is it that you healed this woman on the Sabbath?” came a voice.

  Jesus turned to see the local ruler of the synagogue standing next to two priests. With them, and unseen by them, were several religious spirits who were fanning the flame of their indignation. They were smirking at Jesus, safe in their assignment among these men whose hearts were hard. The ruler spoke loudly to the people.

  “Do you see what this Man has done?” he began. “God has given six days out of the week for such things to be done. This Man healed this woman on the Sabbath! Why could He not have waited until another day? You are a law-breaker!”

  “And you are a hypocrite!” Jesus answered. “You are upset with Me for delivering this woman, who has been in the grip of Satan for all these years? You yourselves will take care of the needs of your animals on the Sabbath! Isn’t it more important to take care of the needs of a human being?”

  The ruler had no answer for Jesus. The people were nodding in agreement with the words spoken, talking among themselves. And the woman who had been healed was weeping with great joy. The ruler looked at the priests and then motioned for them to leave. They had been shamed and melted away. The spirits accompanying them cursed Jesus as they left. And all of the people rejoiced.

  “Here He comes,” said Jerzeel.

  The delegation of Pharisees waited for Jesus to come nearby. Peter looked ahead and saw them standing, motioning for Jesus to come to them. He growled at the others, “Get ready.” But Jesus walked over to them, blessing a child as He went.

  These were a group of Pharisees who were sympathetic to Jesus. They had spoken with Nicodemus and believed the words Jesus spoke. As Jesus neared them, they coaxed Him into the side door of a small building. Jesus indicated that all was well and told the disciples to wait for Him outside.

  When He entered the room, the Pharisees were at first silent, making sure the room was sealed and there was no one else around. Finally, a young priest spoke up.

  “Master, we heard You were coming to this region and that You might possibly be going to Jerusalem,” he said.

  Jesus nodded. He drank some fresh water offered to Him by another priest.

  “We wanted to warn You,” the man continued. He looked about as if he was going to be pounced upon at any moment by some secret agency. “The Herodians are plotting against you. Herod himself has heard of You.”

  “It is dangerous here and in Jerusalem,” said another. “Herod will surely try to have You killed—just as he did Your cousin John.”

  Jesus looked kindly at the men, gratified at their compassion for Him. He realized the great risk they took in speaking with Him, let alone warning Him. He thanked them. He then added: “Do not worry about Herod.”

  He stood with a smile and a twinkle in His eye and said, “You go and tell that fox, Herod, I will continue My ministry just as it is—healing people and casting out devils. I’ll be doing this today and tomorrow and on the third day I will be perfected!”

  The priests understood His resolve and it saddened them. They knew He intended to continue on to the Holy City. Jesus walked over and looked out a small window that faced toward Jerusalem. He turned back to them.

  “You know, it is not fitting that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.” Looking back out the window He lamented, “Oh Jerusalem! Jerusalem! The city that kills the prophets and stones the very people sent to help you! How I would have loved to gather you up like a mother hen gathers her chicks! But in
stead you shall become a place of desolation and shall not receive Me until the day you are shouting, ‘Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord’!”

  “Oh, Jerusalem! Jerusalem!”

  Jesus could hear the mocking of hundreds of devils screeching the very words He had just spoken to the priests. He looked up and, through the dark cloud of foul spirits, could see the innumerable Host overhead, like a shield of light above. He smiled at the thoroughness of His Father and the loyalty of the angels.

  “Jerusalem…!”

  Suddenly a dazzling light swooped in from the north and began breaking up the demons, scattering them in all directions. It was Michael, who, with several hundred angels, moved in and totally confounded the demons who had been sent there by Kara to taunt the Lord in this hour of decision.

  As the dark cloud of wicked angels lifted, Jesus continued on His journey, resolute in His determination to travel on to Jerusalem. He gathered the disciples around Him and said, “Let’s continue doing the work of the Kingdom while it is still light. For soon it shall be dark, when no man can work.”

  Great multitudes of people followed Jesus outside of the small cities and villages where He and the disciples were preaching. Many of the people came because they were ill; others were curious to see a miracle performed; still others were hungry and hoping to be fed. Jesus understood these things and made it clear that following Him meant more than receiving a day’s meal or a healing of an illness. He began speaking to them as they seated themselves.

  “Listen to Me! You come to Me and say that you want to be My disciple. But have you considered the cost as these men have?” He indicated the disciples. “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple. And if you are unwilling to carry your cross and follow Me you cannot be My disciple.”

  “I think I could learn to hate my wife!” someone yelled from the back. Several of the men around him began laughing. As Jesus continued speaking He pointed at a watch tower nearby.

  “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will you not first sit down and estimate the cost to see whether or not you have the resources to complete it? Otherwise you’ll lay the foundation and then run out of money and be ridiculed for having begun something you were unable to complete. In the same way, any of you who does not count the cost cannot be My disciple.”

  Jesus saw a group of Pharisees listening to His words. They were muttering that this was a bunch of sinners and tax collectors—the same sort of people He broke bread with. Jesus only shook His head at them and continued.

  “Suppose one of you shepherds has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. What would you do? Let it go? Or go after it? Would you not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until you find it? And after you found it wouldn’t you rejoice with your neighbors that the lost sheep was found?” He looked directly at the Pharisees and said, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

  “The sickness must be fatal and it must be quick,” Rugio instructed. “I know how you like these things to linger, but this is a case that calls for a decisive illness.”

  The spirit of infirmity, Brusial by name, whose specialty was breathing disorders, nodded that he understood. He followed along with Rugio until they came to a small city far below them. Circling it, they lighted on the roof of a larger house on the outskirts.

  “This is Bethany,” he said. “And this is the house of Lazarus.”

  Brusial looked pleased.

  “I don’t need all of them sick, you understand,” Rugio continued. “Someone must remain to be a witness to Jesus’ inability to save the life of His dear friend. This is quite an important assignment.”

  They entered the house. Lazarus was seated with Mary and Martha. They were in the same room Jesus had occupied only a few weeks earlier. Rugio walked over to Lazarus and, taking out his sword, lifted it over the man’s head and then cut through. Lazarus immediately lurched forward and began to cough violently. His sisters rushed to his side as he finally regained control.

  “Not sure what brought that on,” he said. “I’m alright. No fuss now.”

  Rugio smirked at the man, speaking to him.

  “Lazarus, you fool! You don’t even know what is about to be brought upon you.” He turned to the spirit of infirmity. “Tonight you will strike a blow both at both faith and friendship!”

  “Thank you Master,” said the man.

  He was holding his now-well daughter of six, who was instantly healed by Jesus from a very high fever.

  “Do not thank Me,” said Jesus. “Thank your Father in heaven!”

  The crowds had been pouring out of Jerusalem for weeks now. The disciples, exhausted as usual, maintained a close watch over their Lord and tried to help as many people as they could. Jesus sat down for a moment in the shade. The crowds continued pressing in, although the disciples managed to put some space between them and their Lord.

  “Jesus!”

  “Who is that?” asked Jesus, turning to the direction of the voice.

  “One of many calling You,” said Peter, wiping his sweaty brow.

  “Jesus! Please! I have a message from Bethany!”

  Jesus ordered Peter to let the man through. It was a young man Jesus recognized from his time in Bethany. He was the son of a local priest there. The boy ran to Jesus and fell to his knees.

  “Good master, the man You loved in Bethany—Your friend who is brother to Mary and Martha—is sick. Very sick. They are asking that You come immediately and help him. They said You are their friend.”

  “Don’t worry, boy,” said Jesus, putting a hand on the young man’s shoulder. “This isn’t a sickness of death. This is a sickness that will give glory to the Lord and to the Son of God!”

  Peter was standing off to the side and could not make out what the boy was saying. He turned to Thomas who shrugged that he couldn’t understand it, either. Jesus nodded at the boy and stood, motioning for His disciples to gather around Him.

  “We will stay here for two more days,” He said. “Tell the others to make the necessary preparations.”

  The boy could hardly believe his ears. He had just told Jesus that Lazarus needed Him urgently. Instead of responding immediately, Jesus was going to remain where He was for two more days. He started to leave, thinking about what he would say to Mary and Martha. Jesus stopped him as he left.

  “Remember what I have told you,” He said. “And be encouraged. This is not a sickness unto death.”

  The boy nodded that he understood. Suddenly his face lit up. So that was why He was waiting. Lazarus wouldn’t die after all! He could tell the sisters that Jesus was delayed because He knew Lazarus would be alright until He got there. He thanked Jesus, and headed back down the road toward Bethany.

  When the two days of ministry in that region were complete, Jesus brought the men together. They wondered where they should go next. Back to Galilee perhaps? Down to Jerusalem? They hushed their speculation as Jesus began to speak.

  “We will be returning back to the countryside of Judea.”

  The men were surprised. Peter was visibly disappointed and Judas grunted a noise of disgust at the prospect of returning back to the little towns in that region. He was anxious to get to Jerusalem. They questioned Jesus’ decision.

  “My Lord, the Jews have already tried to stone You there,” said Matthew. “If we return there they shall surely kill You.”

  The others joined in a chorus of protests, trying to dissuade Jesus from returning to the hinterland of Judea. He looked at them with great compassion.

  “We must return to Bethany.”

  The men looked at each other.

  “Our friend, Lazarus, is sleeping and I must return there and awaken him.”

  Peter scratched his head and spoke
out, saying, “Lord, if the man is asleep, why wake him? He has been ill. Let him sleep.”

  Several of the disciples agreed with Peter.

  “You don’t understand,” said Jesus pointedly. “Lazarus is dead. I’m glad we were not in Bethany before this so that you may believe what will soon happen there. Come. Let’s go to him.”

  The group ambled off, picking up their things and heading northward once more toward Bethany. In the rear of the group, Thomas was speaking to the others. “Ah well. Let’s go with Him that we might also die with Him!”

  The house seemed so empty now. Having been filled just a few days earlier with friends and neighbors from Bethany who were comforting Mary and Martha, the mourners had all but left, leaving only two friends. The women had thanked the people, recounting numerous times how Lazarus had struggled for breath until he could no longer take in any more air, and how he died before their friend Jesus could arrive.

  “I appreciate their concern for us,” said Martha to Mary, when they were alone in the kitchen… “But I will be glad to have the house back to ourselves.”

  Mary nodded in agreement.

  “I cannot believe our brother has been dead these four days,” she said. “Just four days ago he was alive. And now…”

  She began weeping.

  “If only Jesus had come in time,” Martha said, holding her sister close. “Then perhaps our brother would have lived.”

  At that moment somebody began pounding on the door. Martha, exhausted as she was, did not want to receive company right now. She opened the door to find the boy she had sent to find Jesus, standing there excitedly.

  “He’s coming,” he said, pointing his finger. “Jesus is coming up the road!”

  Martha rushed in and grabbed her scarf and ran down to meet Jesus. Mary stayed behind and thanked the boy for his hard work. She invited him in for some of the food left by the mourners. The two remaining guests motioned for him to come and join them.