Say Anything
Over a year ago I began working on a book idea. At about the same time I decided to doctoral work at Fuller. These two jewels were on top of my gigs as a local church pastor and professional children’s shuttle bus driver. All of this to say that in the battle for time…the book lost out. I see it daily on my computer…sitting there quietly. So, I’ve decided to just post pieces of it here on my blog.
A Couple of Disclaimers:
1) It’s unedited.
2) The point is to make you think!
———-
Chapter 1; Part 1 – Say Anything!
“Bolt it!” Jesus shouted.
Peter slammed the heavy wooden door. All at once ten men moved against one of their own. There was a struggle. They had him. The clamor of the Passover crowds outside easily hid the commotion in the upper room. The target fought back but there were too many of them; they came at him too fast…unexpectedly. He felt his whole body slam against the stone floor. Strangely and for what seemed no reason at all one of them, Andrew, grabbed an earthen pitcher of water and another, John, grabbed a melon sized dark cloth bag that usually held the groups money.
A short time earlier Peter had burst into this same dim stone room outside of Jerusalem to warn Jesus of a threat against them. This threat stung deep. Judas, one Jesus’ twelve most trusted followers, had offered Jesus up to the priests. He agreed to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, a small price to restore what the priests were losing from the conversion of the likes of Zacchaeus and Levi.
Peter, the leader of the disciples, had been tipped off to Judas’ plan. Incensed, he hurriedly pulled together Jesus, Andrew, James and John. They hotly debated what their next move should be. Should they run? Were there other traitors? Jesus in this moment saw two roads before him. He had resisted human sinfulness so long. He remembered the offer years earlier when the Accuser had tempted him. Would He now give in to his primal desires and let his humanity finally take control?
In the few moments of heated discussion a plan was hatched. The four men entered the room where the rest of the disciples gathered. Now even the traitor Judas was there. How much time did they have? John quietly worked the room giving the others the news. He told them what would happen next. They would grab Judas and find out what he knew. All that was needed was for them to keep the traitor hemmed in. Jesus would press him for information. “Above all, don’t panic. Don’t let him escape. ” John instructed them.
Sundown was approaching and it was time to recline for dinner. The noise in the streets grew louder as families began to trickle toward their homes to assemble for the evening meal. The food was prepared and the tables were set with herbs, charoset and matzo. The friends plus the traitor shuffled towards their seats as Andrew, James and John hung loosely behind. Jesus moved first. He stepped face to face with Judas. Peering into Judas’ nervous eyes, a rage never seen before surfaced. “Bolt it!” Jesus shouted. On queue the disciples jumped in and pinned a surprised kicking and screaming Judas to the floor.
“Over his head!” Peter screamed. John struggled to place the bag he had been holding over the head of Judas. The others moved him onto the room’s solid wooden table. They held him down to it – face up. Thomas lifted the end of the table that held Judas’ feet while Philip quickly placed a stone block under each table leg. Judas was tilted down. His feet were now higher than his head. The disciples’ hands clamped him down.
Judas could not see. Terror gripped him. He tried to process it all. “What would come next? Jesus had flipped. He was not the man who had taught love and forgiveness, healed the sick and fed the thousands. All of this raced through Judas’ mind.
He longed for the familiar voice but it didn’t come. The voice now fueled his terror. This was not the voice of the shepherd. The voice held a sharp tone that broke through the haze of disorientation.
“What is their plan? What are they going to try? Who else has betrayed me?” Jesus fired question after question. Judas didn’t know. His fear caused him to nearly hyperventilate. Gasping for air he shuttered, “I don’t know. I don’t know. Please master…I don’t know.”
“You’re lying! You must know.” Jesus screamed. Judas continued to struggle. If he could just get his legs free, maybe he could kick his way out and jump for the roof below the window at his back.
The punch in the ribs was a surprise. He gasped. A flash of pain blurred his thought as be felt the blow to his cheek just below the ear. He was surely bleeding. “We want to know what they plan to do. How many men are coming after me? Are the Romans coming with them?” Again Judas pleaded, “I don’t know. I don’t know. Please let me go. Please. Jesus.”
Jesus, frustrated from the lack of response grabbed the water from Andrew. He motioned to John who took the bag and pulled it tight to the face of Judas by squeezing it together in the back. The outline of his eyes, nose and mouth were now clearly visible below the black fabric. Judas, now afraid that he was about to be smothered, fought lack of air that his lungs seemed to be providing. His heart felt like it would explode. Jesus took the pitcher and holding it over the head of Judas spoke almost at a whisper. “I know you know. In a moment I believe you’ll tell me what I want to hear.”
Jesus then with an eerie coldness never seen before took the pitcher of water and began to pour it over the face of Judas. The pouring water was focused on Judas’ mouth. Judas resisted but in time it became clear that the water would keep coming. How would he breathe? Was it possible to drown this way?
His heartbeat accelerated even more. He struggled to breathe. The water seemed to be trickling down into his nose. “The air…the air where is it? Judas thought. “I am drowning! Is this how it will all end?” He writhed in fear and chilling moans somehow came from his body while the disciples continued to hold him.
From the faces of the disciples came wry smiles. Jesus was now finally stepping up and taking charge. Now He got it. He would respond to his enemies with the same tactics that they used or maybe even more extreme ones. Jesus looked at Judas. The rage within him grew. He surveyed the room and felt a sense of encouragement from the faces of his loyal disciples. He would beat the High Priests and the armies from Rome. It had begun in this upper room.
Jesus peered down at the struggling Judas and turned the pitcher up more. The water now cascaded down even more quickly. The horrible gurgling sound Judas was making increased. His back arched he tried to scream; there was not enough air. This was the end. He had made such a terrible mistake.
He was sorry; in this moment, he would say or do whatever they wanted. He just didn’t want to die, not like this. He wanted the drowning to end but he was powerless. He wanted the old Jesus back. He teetered on the verge of what felt like existence. “If they would just stop, “ He thought. I will say anything.”
Judas would not drown but every cell in his body believed that death was certain.
…
I’m sorry. I may have stepped out of bounds with you, but I hope you will give me a little grace just to make you think.
Let me be very very clear.
This story is ludicrous. I know that.
It never happened and from what I believe about the character of Jesus – it never could.
And that is the point. Jesus wouldn’t water board.
