The Twelve

by D A Walmsley

  He is just about to speak again when Theo and Benjamin turn up. They try to get his attention.

  “You must excuse me, real men have arrived.”

  Jonathan apologises to the High Priest, ends the call and runs after his boss.

  All afternoon and evening, Annas has had to watch, unable to do anything. Then a chance, the procession has come right up to the Temple itself.

  Reluctantly Annas agrees to stay in his office and Jonathan puts the TV back on. He wishes he hadn’t for again the Galilean has slipped out of his grasp.

  “Where is Jesus? Where did he go?” ask reporters.

  In all the confusion the crowd has lost sight of him.

  “He just disappeared” says an onlooker.

  “He is nowhere to be found,” says another.

  The camera crews, reporters and everyone in the massive crowds have lost him. The TV crews are suggesting that he must still be in the Temple; as they aren’t allowed to film in there, they can only guess at his whereabouts.

  Annas is equally bemused, where has he gone? One by one guards report back and say the same. “He has vanished.”

  “Not again!” yells Annas.

  Theo and Benjamin are summoned back for a briefing.

  “We had a visual of him standing on the Temple steps, I’m sure you know that from the TV pictures. We were all set, ready for the moment he stepped inside. He never did.”

  Annas waves them away, turning to look out of the window.

  As both men start to leave Benjamin pauses. “Sir, I think I’d better tell you now, that I used to be mates with one of Jesus’ team. He was one of my drinking friends when I worked up in Capernaum years ago.”

  “Thank you for your honesty,” says Annas.

  Benjamin leaves and Annas again looks out upon the City, as an idea begins taking shape. Interesting, this information could be useful.

  “Get Benjamin back in here,” he shouts to Jonathan. Maybe it’s time Benjamin got reacquainted with this old friend.

  Chapter 28

  “We were there, we had the whole city on our side, I… I don’t get it!”

  To a man, the twelve were stunned by Jesus’ actions once he’d entered Jerusalem. It had felt like the whole world was with them. They were on their way to the centre of power and no-one, not even the Union army would have been able to stop them. It was the best day of their lives, the cheering, the singing, the adulation. It was a history fulfilling prophecy - it was the taste of destiny. The one thing they weren’t expecting, was to get to the Temple and then go home; if they can call living on the road home. Jesus had said that they would all understand soon enough, and that it is all God’s plan. But the smell of success, the wealth, the riches, the new kingdom were all within touching distance. First, they were confused, why were they leaving the Temple as soon as they’d arrived? Was Jesus going to perform another miracle? Then came the realisation. He just wanted to leave - that was it!

  The twelve handled disappointment in different ways. Simon, Thaddy and Jude were angry, they opened a case of beers, drank and shouted their feelings away. Andrew, Philip and Nathaniel, opened a couple of bottles of wine and talked it over, trying to figure out Jesus’ reasons behind the sudden withdrawal. James and John sulked, they became annoying, well, more than annoying. They put on a DVD and watched Star Wars, with the volume high, refusing to turn it down. Alphie and Thomas found quiet corners, popped on headphones and listened to music, both trying to hide their disappointment. Matthew borrowed the minibus and got away from everyone. And Peter went outside, away from the noise and rang Ruth - he wanted to hear her voice. He told her everything. Peter has known Jesus for, oh, it will be nearly two years now and it feels like they’ve been travelling around the country forever. Just when he thinks, yeah I understand, Jesus does something like… yesterday. Maybe the events of the previous week, Lazarus and talk of the new kingdom, has clouded their minds. Jesus had withdrawn and was staying on the other side of the village, at the hospitality of a couple he had once healed. He knew what the twelve were feeling, that was obvious. But sometimes it would be so much easier if he just came straight out and told them his plan, if he had one.

  The next morning, the twelve are woken by the owner of a house where their makeshift beds are scattered around another temporary home. It was a good gesture of hers to let them all crash while she had stayed with friends. Now she has come to regain her property and let them know their presence is requested for lunch - at the home of Simon the healed leper, whom their boss has stayed with. So with their eyes bloodshot from too much drink and not enough sleep, they pack up their bags and slowly and reluctantly make their way through the village, leaving behind them the wreckage of a once spotless house.

  Many people from the village are also invited to the meal, which is going to be some kind of stew by the appetising smell greeting them. The night had been a long one and the morning was fast turning into the afternoon when the lads arrived.

  “Morning boss,” says Peter.

  Peter hadn’t hit the booze like some of them, and was the only one to wake up early. This morning when he woke, he turned to kiss Ruth, forgetting where he was for a second. Oh how he missed her. At the start of the tour it was fun, getting away from all the monotony of daily life - all he’d ever done was fish. He was a fisherman, then husband, then father in that order. He hadn’t fished in months, and this morning he missed Ruth, the kids and fishing. When he got up, seeing all the others still asleep, he’d gone for a walk around the village. It was a nice place, great location, peaceful and quiet, yet only a few miles from the city. As he walked, he couldn’t help but notice how large and exclusive the houses were. They’ve certainly met some well off people lately. He had talked over yesterday’s events with Ruth. She wanted to visit but with the children at school it wasn’t possible at the moment. Ruth had seen the events unfolding on the news and when Jesus had disappeared she had been worried. Once Peter rang, it had calmed her. They talked, but he wouldn’t say exactly how he felt, explaining instead how the others were dealing with it all. He could tell she knew he was troubled because when she had asked if he’d eaten he’d responded, “he wasn’t hungry.”

  On the walk to the house, Jude and Thaddy try and persuade Peter to ask Jesus about what happened yesterday. They wondered if Jesus had just got cold feet, if the enormity of it all had overwhelmed him.

  “Does everyone feel the same?” Peter asks.

  They nod. He too feels that way, but he also knows that the boss does things differently. Peter decides they shouldn’t question their boss’s judgement and tells them that if they believed Jesus to be The Christ before yesterday, then surely he must be today.

  “Put up or shut up! If you want to ask stupid questions, you can do it yourselves,” he tells them.

  No one asks!

  They had become so focused on the events of yesterday that they’d lost sight of all the other things Jesus has done. They have become desperate for the new kingdom. He knew it and he guessed, deep down, so did they.

  “There’s nothing like a lamb stew to wipe away all those sad faces,” says their host’s wife, fetching out a large serving bowl of hot stew.

  Peter, his appetite restored, is the first to help himself.

  “Who let him go first? Save enough for everybody else,” says James.

  “Oh, there’s plenty to go round,” says the woman.

  Peter takes another scoop.

  Soon everybody is tucking into their lunch and slowly a more jovial atmosphere starts to emerge among the twelve.

  “Hey, James!” says Matthew. “That driver’s seat in the minibus is still not right, you gonna fix it before we move on?”

  “Why don’t you fix it, you’re good with cars?” says James.

  “Only expensive ones, like Mercedes.” adds John.

  “Which you bought with my taxes,” says James, with a smile.

  “Your taxes?” laughs Peter, “after all the damage you caused
, you didn’t earn enough to pay taxes!”

  More guests arrive, one of whom is Mary, Lazarus’ sister. She is carrying a small gift box. Mary, seeing Jesus, heads straight over to where he is sitting, relaxing after the meal. She opens the box. Inside is a small but extremely rare bottle of perfume. The bottle is by Fabergé and the contents are made from the oil of nard, a herb found in the foothills of the Himalayas. The only way to open it is by breaking the top, and thereby rendering the bottle, with a potential value of thousands of Euro’s, worthless.

  Mary tries to crack open the bottle.

  “Boss, don’t let her, that thing must be worth thousands!” says Jude.

  The twelve and the other guests all agree, some even hovering next to Mary in an attempt to take the bottle from her.

  “This bottle could be sold and we could give the money to the poor,” says Jude.

  “Yeah,” says Philip and John.

  James agrees. “You could sell it on eBay.”

  “You don’t sell antiques on eBay? It should go to Sotheby’s in London,” says another guest.

  It’s to no avail, Mary breaks the bottle and pours the perfumed oil over Jesus’ head.

  “Why are you bothering Mary. This is a good thing she has done. You will always have the poor, but you will not always have me,” says Jesus.

  “Phew, it stinks! I can smell it from over here,” James waves his hand trying to get rid of the smell.

  “Whenever this gospel is preached around the world, what she has done will be told in her memory,” says Jesus.

  James is about to say something else, but he sees Peter glare and for once he doesn’t.

  One of the people to arrive at the same time as Mary does not enter the house, preferring to stand by the door.

  Peter notices how uncomfortable the man seems and has kept an eye on him as Mary anointed Jesus with the oil. He catches Andrew’s eye, and gestures to to door. Andrew nods back in recognition. “Can we help you?” Peter asks the man.

  “I have a message for your boss.”

  “Well, we are part of his team, you can tell us and we will decide if the boss needs troubling.”

  “I must speak to Jesus alone.”

  “Who sent you?” Peter snaps, a little indignant.

  “Council member Nicodemus, one of the Chief Priests. I must speak with your teacher alone, you understand.”

  Reluctantly Peter agrees and has a quiet word in Jesus’ ear about the messenger.

  The house is too busy for a private conversation, so Jesus talks to the man outside, away from the house. Peter and Andrew stay by the door, watching, but are unable to hear any of the conversation. Both are convinced that the message is to warn Jesus that he is in danger. Here in a quiet village, with only a handful of followers, is the perfect place for an ambush. Simon wanders over, he has sensed something is wrong. He looks out at Jesus, who is showing no signs of stress and appears relaxed. When the conversation is over the man says goodbye and Jesus returns to the house and three very nervous men in its doorway.

  “Well boss! Are we in danger?” asks Peter.

  Jesus pats Peter on the shoulder, “We are fine, come, I believe there are cakes that need eating.”

  “Boss,” says Peter. “Please tell us, what is happening! One minute we are being treated like kings, the next, here we are, afraid of being arrested.”

  “Are we safe here?” asks Simon.

  Simon speaks rather too loudly, with the result that everyone in the room stops what they are doing and fixes their eyes on Jesus, waiting for his reply; even James and John, who are attempting to super glue the lid back on the Fabergé bottle.

  Jesus looks around the room at the worried, confused and anxious faces. He sighs.

  “Nicodemus has sent good news.”

  “Good news, as in we can pick out a room in the palace, or that there isn’t an army coming for us today?” says Thaddy.

  “People are asking for me in the Temple, so that is where I will be teaching for the next few days.”

  “That’s not good news boss, that’s a trap,” worries Thomas.

  “It is fine, Tom. Nicodemus is right when he says I will be safe for a while,” Jesus replies.

  Well, Peter didn’t see that one coming, that’s the last place he thought they would go. “So, when do we leave?” he asks.

  “Actually, you all look tired, why don’t you have a few days off, do what you want, it’s up to you.”

  “What and leave you alone, no chance,” says Peter.

  “I promise you Peter, nothing will happen, I will be fine.”

  “This is another test, isn’t it?”

  “No John, it’s not a test.”

  The twelve start to plan their free time. What should they do? Where could they go?

  Chapter 29

  The minibus stops at Jerusalem coach station and Peter and Jude get out. For Peter, there wasn’t a decision to be made, he’s going on the first coach to Galilee. A few days with the family is just what he needs. Jude too has decided to take a trip, though he is keeping the destination to himself. Matthew suspects he is going to meet a girl, Sarah maybe, but there have been so many others it could be any one of them!

  Andrew turns round to the rest of them. “Anyone else getting out here?”

  “No Andy, straight to Zeb’s place now,” says Nathaniel.

  The rest of the twelve had talked about a trip to the coast but in the end they chose to stay together at James and Johns’ family home in the city. Jesus had taken up Zeb’s invitation to use the house whenever he is in the area. When the others find out, they want to go along too. James and John didn’t mind, so long as they didn’t have to cook, or take the blame for any breakages.

  Matthew wonders why he doesn’t want to go north and maybe check his house is still standing, it’s a while since he last went home. He thinks about Rebecca, wonders if she’s found someone new? His thoughts are interrupted by Simon.

  “Yo, Matt,” says Simon, “check out the view!”

  This is a cue for all the lads to peer out of the windows. A group of five young girls, probably students, are standing at a bus stop.

  James in the front passenger seat, winds his window down, “hey girls.”

  “Get lost,” is the response of one of the girls.

  They drive on, James winds the window back up, his ego a little bruised. “Huh, charming.”

  “You really, have no luck with girls do you?” says Philip.

  James shrugs.

  “James pulling a good looking girl, now that would be a miracle!” says John.

  John whispers to Jesus, asking if that joke is OK. “Wasn’t meant to be you know, bad taste, eh boss.”

  Jesus nearly smiles, so John’s probably alright.

  They arrive at the house and dump their bags. Jesus wants to go straight to the Temple. They are still not happy about it, but what can they do? Simon and Matthew, weapons at the ready just in case, insist they at least escort him. Philip, Nathaniel, and John are also here to help, although when John realises that because of the crowds they’d have to go on foot, is less keen. The others take the minibus and go shopping.

  Crowds start to engulf Jesus and the lads as they make their way through the narrow streets and up into the old city. Some people just want to touch him, others to take photos.

  “Peter would hate this,” says Simon, as they push through the crowds.

  “It’s him, teacher, show us a miracle,” someone cries.

  A bead of sweat rolls down Matthew’s face and he feels nervous. The last time they were here on the steps it could have been the greatest day of his life, today could be his last if he’s not vigilant. He feels a thousand eyes burning into him as they push and shove just to get into the Temple. Once inside it is less intense, but is still very crowded. Straight away, the lads notice they have been spotted by the Temple guards. Jesus doesn’t seem concerned and makes his way towards an outer court. Once Jesus begins teaching a calm comes ov
er Matthew. He feels safe, comfortable; well for now anyway.

  * * *

  Later that evening, Matthew is sitting at a table in a bar near the Temple. He is drinking a pint of Goldstar and watching out for his old friend. He can understand why Benjamin wanted to meet here, it sells cheap beer, has live football on a big screen and the barmaids are young and pretty. He sees his friend walk in and beckons him over.

  “Long time,” says Benjamin before waving over a barmaid, “Evening sweetheart, my usual, and two large single malt whiskies, no ice.”

  He sits down opposite Matthew. “Thanks for meeting me here, we couldn’t really catch up in the Temple, with it being so busy and my workplace. This is kinda my second home anyway, well away from the missus, if you know what I mean.”

  Matthew smiles, “Javan Benjamin, ex-marine, part-time bouncer, full-time drinker - now a Temple guard.”

  “Matthew Levi, The Collector, meanest son of a bitch on the planet - now a trainee Rabbi!”

  The barmaid brings over the drinks, placing them on the table. Benjamin slides one of the whiskies over to Matthew.

  “Cheers,” says Matthew before taking a sip.

  Benjamin downs his in one. “Cheers. I can’t believe what I’m seeing, since when do you drink lager?”

  “Times change.”

  “They do, I hear they took the business when you quit to follow your man Jesus.”

  Matthew nods in agreement.

  “You still driving that Merc? oh beautiful car!”

  Matthew shakes his head.

  “Wow, I can’t believe it. So the rumours are true, when you lost the business, you lost everything. Oh man, that sucks.”

  Matthew just shrugs.

  “Oh, you must be desperate for your man to be the real deal!”

  “Oh, he’s the real deal alright!”

  “Come on, Collector, your man’s a fraud. If he was the real deal, wouldn’t my bosses know about it?”

  “The name Lazarus ring any bells? I was there, I could smell the rotting corpse, hey, I know death, right. I saw him come out of that tomb, alive. Is this why I’m here, your bosses sent you did they?” Matthew finishes off the whisky.