A Story of God and All of Us Young Reade - By Roma Downey Page 0,38

thinking through a new plan. "We must arrest him quietly at night. Before Passover. What was the name of that friend of his?"

"Judas," Malchus answers.

"Yes, Judas. Bring him here. Discreetly."

Malchus nods and makes a hasty exit.

The following evening Jesus and his disciples pray together, asking that God bless their meal and their fellowship. The unleavened bread in front of them is hot from the oven, and its fresh-baked smell fills the room. After the prayer, the disciples relax, reclining on cushions. But before they can eat, Jesus stuns them with devastating news. This is their last meal together.

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Jesus tears off a piece of bread. "This is my body," he tells them all. "Take of it and eat."

John has tears streaming down his cheeks, but he understands. He opens his mouth, and Jesus places a morsel of the bread on his tongue.

Then Jesus raises a cup of wine. "This is my blood. I will shed my blood so that your sins may be forgiven."

Bread and wine pass from hand to hand around the room. "Remember me by doing this. Soon I will go to be with the Father, but when you eat my bread and drink from my cup, you proclaim my glory, and I am with you always.

"But now I must tell you," Jesus says, as the disciples pay close attention,

"one of you here in this room will betray me."

The wine is passed to Judas. He struggles to keep his composure, his eyes now riveted on Jesus.

"Who is it?" asks John. "Which one of us would do such a thing?"

Jesus tears off a piece of bread and passes it. "Whoever eats this will betray me."

All the disciples stare, transfixed, as the piece of bread is passed to Judas.

"It's not I," Judas protests, holding the bread in his hand but not eating.

"Surely, I would never betray you, Lord."

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Jesus' eyes stay fixed on Judas. Looking straight back at him, Judas takes the bread. He eats it and shudders.

The disciples are all staring at him with a look of pure horror.

"Do it quickly," Jesus commands Judas.

Terrified, Judas scrambles to his feet and makes for the door. A disgusted Peter chases after him, not sure whether he will beat Judas to within an inch of his life or merely follow to make sure that Judas does not carry out this betrayal.

But Jesus calls Peter back. "Peter, leave him. You will all fall away. Even you, Peter."

"Never, Lord. I am loyal. I would never betray you."

"Peter," Jesus tells him, "before the cock crows at dawn, you will have denied knowing me three times."

Before Peter can protest, Jesus rises to his feet. "Come. Let us all leave."

Caiaphas stands tall in his palace with an anxious Nicodemus. The high priest is in a calm and deliberate mood, while Nicodemus is deeply troubled by what is about to happen. The law says that a man must be tried in the light of day, yet Caiaphas clearly wants to condemn Jesus this very night.

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"Judas is bringing him to us before dawn," says Caiaphas.

"But the law does not allow it," insists Nicodemus. "A trial must be held in daylight!"

"And does our law allow riots? Does our law invite Romans to spill Jewish blood? You were there. You heard what Pontius Pilate said."

Judas bursts into the room.

"Where is he?" Caiaphas asks.

"I don't know." Caiaphas fixes a stare on Judas, who admits, "But I do know where he is going."

Caiaphas points to Malchus. "Lead my servant to him."

The garden of Gethsemane is deserted except for Jesus and his disciples.

He has spent the last hour in fervent prayer, but the disciples are curled up on the ground, fast asleep.

"The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. Wake up," Jesus demands after observing them for a moment. He needs them to bear witness. "Stay awake.

The hour is at hand."

Jesus leaves them, walking slowly back up the hill, once again to be alone with his Father. He knows that

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Judas is almost here, leading a group of men who will arrest him by force. To endure what is about to take place, Jesus needs strength. As he arrives atop the hill, he immediately falls to his knees in prayer, presses his forehead into the dusty ground, clasps his hands together, and prays: "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me. Yet not my will, but yours be done." He is beset by confusion because he is both human and divine. He is racked with human fear of the great pain he will soon