It
was dawn of Friday when they arrested Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane.
Jerusalem was still asleep, oblivious of what had happened. As a major
precaution, the soldiers, with drawn swords and a few lighted torches,
surrounded the walls of the city along the valley of Gehenna and entered
through the gate of the Essenes. Nearby was the palace of the high priest,
Caiphas…
Commandant: Lock up the prisoner, guard the two entrances and let
no one set foot in the patio without my permission. Is that understood?
Mary, Jesus’ mother, Magdalene, James and the rest of the group hurriedly
left Mark’s house, passing through the dark and deserted streets toward
the palace of Caiphas, desirous to find out what was happening. It was
a few hours before daybreak.
Magdalene: Look, the lights are on…
James: The bastards haven’t slept all night…
Mary: Oh, James, for God’s sake, what are these swine up to?
James: Don’t worry, Mary. They won’t harm your son. Jesus is
innocent.
Magdalene: Not them. The judges of Israel are more rotten than week-old
fish.
In a short while, Peter and I joined them….
John: Hey gang, we’re here…!
James: Shh!… Don’t yell… Any news? Have you seen Judas?
Peter: Of course. The Iscariot’s crazy, saying it’s the plan
of the movement, that they were going to mobilize the whole city, but,
as you can see, not even the cocks are up tonight… They made a fool
out of him…
Magdalene: A fool? He’s an informer! He’d better not be here or
I’ll pull out his tongue!
James: Shh!… Not so loud, Magdalene. We can’t afford to attract
attention. Everyone is being watched…
Tall and massive walls surrounded the palace of Caiphas. It was a luxurious
building with several domes and a wide indoor patio where palm trees
grew. Outside, along the walls, a number of soldiers with lances and
clubs kept watch…. While the magistrates of the Sanhedrin, warned of
the urgency of the situation, kept coming to the tribunal hall, Jesus
was brought to the neighboring palace of Annas, the High Priest’s father-in-law….
Annas: So this is the peasant who stinks, the famous Jesus of
Nazareth!… How could our men have missed him with this reeking smell
of his!
The old and powerful Annas was standing; the smirk on his face reflected
his sense of security. A group of priests from the hierarchy of Jerusalem
surrounded him. Some even covered their noses despisingly when the soldiers
pushed Jesus to the center of the elegant hall…
Annas: Good work, young men. Now, you may leave and wait outside.
Leave him to us…. We have to interrogate this Nazarene before we pass
our judgment…
The soldiers left the patio. Jesus, with hands tied behind his back,
stared at the old priest who was dressed like a prince in tunic with
a black scarf and a double gold ring on his finger….
Annas: Well, well, first, tell us what happened last Sunday
in the Temple. What did you do in the courtyard?… What was it you said
about us, the leaders of Israel?
Jesus: Nothing that you don’t already know. There was nothing
I said in secret. Why don’t you ask those who were present that day.
Aziel: Worthless dog! How dare you talk to his excellency that
way!… Take this!
One of the servants of Annas slapped Jesus. Without turning the other
cheek, Jesus replied:
Jesus: As far as I know, I haven’t done anything wrong. If that
is so, what right have you to hit me?
Aziel: You insolent man! Do you want me to slap you again…?
Annas: Stop it, Aziel…. I’m amused to hear his replies….
Annas began to walk from one side to another, while touching his beard.
One of the lamps in the hall reflected his elongated shadow on the floor
of shining marble….
Annas: You know what? Because of the trouble in the Temple,
I lost a number of cows and lots of sheep…. Poor creatures, I wonder
where they are now… But this game has cost you a lot… Now, you lose
much more than I… They say that he who laughs last, laughs best.
Jesus: Whoever said it is right.
Annas: Oh yeah? How easily you give in, Nazarene! You surprise
me.
Jesus: What amazes me is the fact that you have been a high
priest for ten years and still you’re not aware that it’s always God
who has the last laugh. The Scriptures say so.
Annas: What do you know about Scriptures when you can’t even
write!… Oh, these cheats in our country!… Fortunately there are still
judges in Israel… Yes, my friend, we’re going to judge you… What? You’re
not afraid?… You, who claim to be a prophet, can you foretell our judgment?
Jesus: It’s already given.
Annas: You don’t say. And what could it be?… Guilty?… or innocent?
Jesus: Guilty.
Annas: You hate yourself that much, prophet?
Jesus: I know you too well, Annas. You and your cohorts. But
it doesn’t matter: to be guilty before you is to be innocent in the
eyes of God.
Annas: What do you know about God’s judgment, charlatan?
Jesus: What you never wanted to know: that God feels ill before
priests like you who make a trade out of religion, enriching themselves
by taking advantage of the good faith of the people.
Aziel: How dare you! Your excellency, let’s have his tongue
cut off!
Annas: Leave him be, Aziel… These are the tantrums of a cornered
enemy… Words, after all, are like feathers: they are blown by the wind…
they are nothing.
Jesus: You’re wrong, Annas. God’s wind will soon blow and level
with you, your house and all of you who claim to be the servants of
God, when in fact, you serve the kings and masters of this world. You,
shepherds who indulge in self-gratification, who remain silent when
the wolves attack the flock, and kill the sheep! Later, in your dens
you are joined by the murderers of the sheep to share the food and drinks
you prepare for them. You even embrace them in front of everyone, in
the open, without any feeling of remorse! Mercenary shepherds who have
fattened yourselves at the expense of your sheep! This is what you have
done as a preparation of the day of reckoning!
Annas: That’s enough, damn you! Shut up!… So they are right.
After all, you do have seven demons inside!
With an irritated gesture, Annas approached Jesus and spat in his face…
Annas: May you burn in hell, son of a bitch!
Behind him, his supporters rushed toward Jesus and began to beat him
and insult him… Meanwhile, in the street, the women and we waited impatiently,
not knowing what was happening inside the palace...
Peter: Are we just going to stay here and watch, with our arms
folded? Damn, we’ve got to do something.
Magdalene: That’s what I was saying a while ago, Peter, but we’re
scared.
Mary: So what can we do, Magdalene?
Peter: Hey, John, do you think this servant friend of yours
is inside? Well, why don’t we call him and sneak into the patio?
James: What for, Peter?
Peter: To find out what’s happening. If we have to create a
scandal, then let it be. This can’t go on like this. By hook or by crook,
they’ve got to free the Moreno!
Magdalene: That’s the way to talk, bum. I’m with you.
Peter: Let’s go, John.
John: Okay, Peter, let’s go. But watch your tongue. Everyone
is all ears inside and….
Peter: Better. Let them hear what I say. That’s what I want:
let them hear me! Let’s go!
John: Psss… Hey, buddy, he and I know a certain Bruno who works
here as a servant… He’s expecting us, you know, and…
Soldier: Well, let him wait. We have orders not to allow anybody
in. Do you think I’m stupid enough not to know that you’re one of those
seen with the Galilean? You too!
Peter: Bah, take it easy, buddy… Cheer up, man… Look, with this
denarius you can go get yourself some wine, will ya?
Peter slipped the money into the soldier’s hands and he left the door
for us to go inside…
Peter: See how we must deal with these people, John? If you
seem inferior to them, they kick you in the ass. Come, let’s find out
where Jesus is….
The palace troops of the high priest had built bonfires in the middle
of the patio. They were playing dice near the fire to warm themselves
and to kill boredom over a long night watch….
Soldier: Five and three! It’s all mine!… Hey, you’re getting my
money!
Another
Soldier: You’re
cheating, baldy!
Soldier: Cheating? The Nazarene has brought me luck! Didn’t they
say he performs miracles? Here’s the proof, five and three!
Soldier: It’s a miracle if he comes out alive from the hall of
Annas! They’re beating him to death! I wouldn’t like to be in his shoes!
Soldier: Not even in those of his cohorts! Do you know what they
told me? They’re going to raid a group from Capernaum who was with the
Nazarene… Poor souls, they don’t know what’s waiting for them…! C’mon,
c’mon, enough of this talk, but let’s have more money…. Cast the dice!
Peter and I, wrapped in our blankets, were beside the fire and we heard
everything…
A
Woman: Hey, you two, who are you…? What’re you doing here, huh?....
Say, you big nose, I’m talking to you…
Peter: What’s wrong with me, woman?
Woman: You’re Galilean, aren’t you? I can tell even from afar.
Peter: And so? Is it a crime to come from the north?
Woman: Maybe you’re a friend of the Nazarene. Don’t deny it.
Peter: What’re you talking about?… Go away and leave me in peace…
Woman: Yeah, your face looks familiar… I’ve seen you with the
prophet.
Peter: What nonsense are you saying. Never in my life have I
seen this guy!
Woman: Hey guys, come back…!
Peter and I remained squatting, without moving at all. The woman kept
on calling the guards…
Woman: Here, here, come over here, guys!
Peter: Shut up, dammit!… I didn’t bother you… what do you want?
Woman: You’re a spy of that man.
Peter: I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.
Woman: Tell that to the marines! Hey, guards, come over here
and take a look at this man. He seems suspicious…
With a lighted torch, they drew close to Peter to see him better…
Soldier: Dammit, he was the one who cut off the ear of my cousin
Malcolm! Grab him!
Peter tried to stand and escape, but a group of soldiers surrounded
him at once.
Soldier: So, this is the man who injured Malcolm…? Ha!… Let’s
see if you can be as brave here as you were in the garden…
One of the soldiers drew his sword and approached Peter.
Peter: Wait a minute, friend... I’m not the one you think I
am… it’s a mistake… Aghh!
The soldier was cornering Peter at the point of his sword until Peter
was driven to the wall of the patio. The rest formed a circle for their
own amusement…
Soldier: An ear for an ear, as they say!… But I’ll cut off your
two ears to make it even…
Peter: Please, I… I know nothing about this… I…
The soldier passed the tip of his sword on his forehead, his face, and
his ears….
Soldier: It tickles doesn’t it? How about this?!
…And he thrust the tip of the sword under his chin. Peter became white
as flour….
All: Stick him, stick him!!
Peter: No… no… I don’t know anything… I don’t know that man,
nor was I ever with him… I don’t…
Soldier: See how brave he is… See if his underwear is wet… Damn
you, Galilean, what are you doing here?… Speak up!
Peter: I… I…
Soldier: Let him go, man. Don’t stain your hands with the blood
of a chicken!
Another
Soldier: To cut
off a woman’s head brings bad luck!
Then the soldier sheathed his sword, grabbed Peter by the nape, and
dragged him toward the palace gate and kicked him out.
Soldier: Get away from here and I never want to see your face
again, bastard!
I was able to slip through the other gate. I ran, and turned to the
corner where I found Peter lying among the stones, face down. He was
covering his face with his hands… When Magdalene and the rest asked
what had happened, Peter cried bitterly… It was still dark, but the
first cocks were already announcing the start of a new day….