James: Hey, guys, better get to
sleep early, ’cuz tomorrow you’ve got to rise at dawn!
Peter: Oh, my feet! Long journeys
like this are never my cup of tea!
Mary: Why don’t you stay a couple
of days more? There’s room in the inn, especially now that people are
beginning to return to their towns.
Peter: No, Mary, we’ve got to
go back to Galilee. D’ya know why? Because we’ve already run out of
money. We haven’t even got a copper coin.
Mary: Bah, that’s no problem.
My brother Lazarus has grown fond of you. If you can’t pay now, you
can do so later, on your next trip here. You’re coming back, aren’t
you?
We were gathering the trinkets and things we bought during the
feast of the Passover in Jerusalem while saying goodbye to Martha and
Mary. It was already night when Lazarus, the innkeeper, came back, running....
Lazarus: Pshh! Is anyone of you
carrying hot items back north?
Peter: Hot items? Are you crazy?
They’re very strict in the customs nowadays. Why do you ask?
Lazarus: Because you’ve got a visitor.
A bigwig. One of the seventy magistrates from Sanhedrin... He’s there
outside, with a couple of bodyguards, and he’s asking about you. I thought
you were carrying smuggled goods.
Mary: If they do, then they conceal
them very well. They’re not Galileans for nothing!
Lazarus: Go upstairs, guys, somebody’s
got to go and face them...!
James: Then I’ll go and ask them.
Will you come with me, John?
My brother James and I went to see who was looking for us. There
at the door of the Beautiful Palm was a tall man, with a long white
beard, waiting for us. He was wrapped in an elegant purple cloak, and
was accompanied by two Ethiopians with shaven heads and daggers at the
waist.
James: Let’s see now, what can
we do for you, Sir?
Nicodemus: I’d like to speak with
your leader.
James: With our leader? Here no
one is a leader of anyone. We’re a group of friends...
Nicodemus: I’m referring to this guy
named Jesus of Nazareth. The man who accomplishes “things.”
James: What “things?” Please make
yourself clear.
Nicodemus: I came not to talk to you
but him. Please call him.
James and I went back to the inn....
Jesus: He wants to speak with
me? What does he want?
James: I don’t like the looks
of him. He’s an important Pharisee, you know. It’s rather strange that
he should come here at this time... There must be something else....
Mary: Don’t
be long, Jesus. You haven’t finished your story yet.....!
Jesus went out to the garden where the mysterious visitor was
waiting for him.....
Nicodemus: Damn, finally I find you,
Nazarene! I’d like to have a word with you, alone...
Jesus: That’s alright. If you’re looking for hot items, then you’re
wasting your time. The only thing I’m taking from Jerusalem is a hanky
for my mom, because here they’re very cheap.
Nicodemus: No, nothing of that sort, young
man. Let me explain. Hey, you two, wait for me over there...
The two Ethiopians distanced themselves about a stone’s throw...
Nicodemus: There must be some place here where
we can talk...
Jesus: We’ll be fine under that palm tree. Let’s go!
From the kitchen stove, we saw Jesus heading for a corner of
the garden. The clouds moved swiftly in the sky, pushed by the night
winds moaning amid the trees...
Jesus: What is it?...
Nicodemus: My name is Nicodemus, Jesus. I’m
a magistrate in the Supreme Court of Justice. My father was the illustrious
Jechonias, the senior treasurer of the temple.
Jesus: What does an important man like you want from me?
Nicodemus: I know you’re quite puzzled by my
visit, although you already have an idea as to why I’m here.
Jesus: I must have very little imagination, because, frankly speaking,
I have no idea what you want from me.
Nicodemus: I don’t need anything from you.
As a matter of fact, I’m here to help you.
Jesus: To help me?
Nicodemus: Let’s say it will be a mutual cooperation.
A mutual benefit, do you understand?
Jesus: I don’t get it. Please make yourself clear.
Nicodemus: Jesus, I know a lot about you...
Look, what you did in the Bethesda pool has already spread throughout
the city... Yeah... C’mon, don’t put on that face. I’ve heard about
the paralytic you made to walk, just like that... I have also heard
about similar things that happened in Galilee: a madman, a leper....
they even say that you brought a dead girl back to life at the height
of the wake. These rumors have gone as far as the Sanhedrin...
Jesus: Uff, how fast news spreads in this country, huh?
Nicodemus: As you can see, I have been following
you. And I congratulate you, Jesus.
Jesus: I still don’t understand where you came from and what you want
from me....
Nicodemus: Oh, c’mon, don’t deny it.
Tricks must be performed well, for them to become tricks, I know that...
Don’t tell me those were miracles... you don’t have the face of a saint...
That’s okay, that’s okay. You don’t trust me, I understand. But let’s
get to the point. After all, I don’t really mind whether they are tricks
of yours or God’s miracles... or if it’s the devil who’s behind all
this... It doesn’t really matter. The people can’t distinguish one from
the other. They have been suffering enough and they need something to
entertain them. You’re a master in amusing the people... In other words,
I have a business proposition, Jesus of Nazareth. We can be partners
and we share the profit equally... Or if you want, I can give you a
fixed rate, say for example... 50 dinars. Is it too small?... Yeah,
I know, but.... how about 75.... Some more?... I think that’s too much
for a peasant, since after all, you’ll just spend the money drinking
in the pubs. Anyway, I have found you to be a nice guy, I can raise
it to l00 dinars... and the deal is closed. Now, let me explain what
I want you to do.... Hey, what are you laughing at?
Jesus: Nothing. I just find it
funny...
Nicodemus: Yeah, I know. You Galileans
are known for your cunning. Fine. I think l00 dinars is a salary good
enough for a magician... but, that’s okay, name your price. How much
do you want?... Believe me, man, more than anyone else, I’m very much
interested in your craft.
Jesus: Yeah, I see that, but...
I don’t think I’m the right man for you, Nicodemus....
Nicodemus: How’s that?..... Why? I
can give much money, you know that, and I mean it.
Jesus: No, it’s not that.
Nicodemus: Then, why?
Jesus: Well, it’s because... you’re
very old.
Nicodemus: That’s it, precisely, young
man. They say that the devil is wise because he’s old, and not because
he’s the devil. With my experience and with your ability, we can go
very far.
Jesus: No, Nicodemus. I must tell
you that I need young blood.
Nicodemus: Well, I may be old, and
that’s true, but... my health isn’t that bad. I’m still quite strong....
Jesus: Nicodemus: I need children.
Nicodemus: Children? C’mon, Jesus,
leave the children alone in school and let’s talk about serious things.
Jesus: I’m serious, Nicodemus.
I need children. If you want to get involved in this matter, then, you
would have to... to be born again. That’s right, be a child again...
Nicodemus: They told me you joke a
lot, Nazarene. Well, since you know a lot of tricks, maybe you can put
me back in my mother’s womb, that I may be born again... Anyway, let’s
get back to our deal. As I was saying, this has something to do.....
Jesus: You’ve gotten old amassing
a lot of wealth, Nicodemus. Your heart has grown calloused and you’ve
become hard of hearing. That’s why you don’t understand. That’s why
you don’t hear the wind blowing.
Nicodemus: Hey, I may be old but I’m
not deaf. Of course I hear the wind. But I don’t understand a word of
yours. What are you trying to tell me?... Aren’t you interested in making
money?... Is that it?... Oh, you young people are hopeless cases...
You sing the same tune. Of course, money becomes the least of your worries,
after all: “Daddy is just behind us!” ...Then, when the fruit becomes
ripe, you realize that with money, you can buy almost anything in this
life... However, if you are not ambitious at all, then, I’ll keep my
money. That’ll be the worse for you.
Jesus: No, don’t keep your money.
I didn’t tell you to.
Nicodemus: Ah, you smart guy, I knew
you would take in the hook. I knew you would be interested in my proposition...
Look, we could start with a presentation in a theater... or in the hippodrome,
where we can take in more people... or... well, what’s the matter with
you? ...Are you shocked, or something?
Jesus: Nicodemus, don’t you hear
the wind?... It brings in the moanings of the suffering people, those
who die calling the Lord for justice to prevail on earth. How can you
keep your money and be so deaf to the wailings of the wind?.... Listen...
It’s like a woman crying while giving birth... She’s bringing to light
a new human, one who lives not for money but for others, because he
or she would rather give than receive.
Nicodemus: Now I don’t understand
a thing you said.
Jesus: Of course, because if you
want to understand, then you’ll have to choose.
Nicodemus: Choose what?
Jesus: You can’t serve two masters
at the same time. Choose between God and money. If you choose God, you
will hear the wailing of the wind and it will bring you some place that
you haven’t imagined in your whole life. If you stick to your money,
you’ll be all alone by yourself.
Nicodemus: Really, I don’t understand
a thing you’re saying.
Jesus: You ought to know. You’re
a learned man, with so many titles to boast of, can’t you understand
what’s going on? The people are claiming their right. We want to be
free like the wind. We want to be happy. We want to live.
Nicodemus: Jesus of Nazareth, now
I know what you are: a dreamer! But this world you’re dreaming of will
never come!
Jesus: It has already come, Nicodemus.
God so loves the world that he has already done it. The Kingdom of God
has already begun!
Nicodemus: Get down from your pedestal,
young man, and be more realistic... Take this advice from an old man.
In the first place think of yourself, and in the second place, too.
Then, think of the deluge to come. Things are as they are and they will
always be so.
Jesus: No, Nicodemus. Things can
change, in fact, they are already changing. In Galilee, we have seen
very poor people sharing what little they have with others. You wanted
to see miracles, didn’t you? Well, get down from your master’s chair
and go to our barrio. I assure you, Nicodemus, you’ll learn how to make
the greatest miracle of all, that of sharing what one has.
Nicodemus: Of course, you’re a crazy
man. There’s no doubt about it. But knowing you speak....
Jesus: Look up, Nicodemus... don’t
you see it?
The full moon of the month of Nisan was as round as a coin, and
spread its immaculately white light over the garden of the inn...
Jesus: Look at it... it’s as bright
as your money. But, do you know what Moses did in the desert? He took
the bronze coins and created
a
serpent to stand in the middle of the camping site. Those who looked
at the serpent were cured from the snake bites... The snake from the
money has bitten you, Nicodemus, and you’ve got the poison inside you....
If you want to be cured...
Nicodemus remained silent, as he stared at the moon... The handful
of coins he had in his pocket became as heavy as a bundle. He felt he
was older and wearier than before, as if his life had not been more
than water flowing through his hands...
Nicodemus: Do you think there’s still...
hope... for old men like me?
Jesus: Of course, there is. Water
cleanses and the spirit is renewed... if you wish...
The wind continued to blow among the trees. It came from very
far, dragging along the words of Jesus coming from afar, toward the
far away mountains. When Nicodemus left the inn on his way to Jerusalem,
the wind kept him company on his return journey.