The Gospel of Ariel: Volume II

XXI

Meanwhile, since His denouncements in the Temple, the authorities had been searching for the best means to silence my brother. Judas had been ill at ease since then. In a dream, he claimed to have seen my brother in Eden, that which is heaven, where my brother said to him,

"Judas, it shall soon come to pass that the Son of Man shall be betrayed by man into the hands of men to be put to death. You are to betray me."

Not yet resolved, Judas answered my brother,

"Not I, master, surely. You are a rebel, yes, but you have not yet caused harm. I love you still. Do not ask this of me."

And my brother answered him,

"Whether by your will or not, dear one, it will come to pass, for it is God's will. You are His instrument."

Mortified, Judas asked,

But, my master, if you are His son, why should He wish death upon His own child?"

My brother asked, in turn,

"Shall he again bring death upon the whole world? Do we not send a goat into the desert for the sins of the people? Do we not slaughter another? Both are chosen by lot. I Am the Chosen One. Goats always bear twins. I am as two, man and God. I was cast into the desert, my humanity laid bear. Soon, I will be sacrificed, that my divinity be made known, and that the world shall be spared. I was born in the Temple to atone for the sins of the world. In betraying me, my friend, you are as much a savior as I am. You will not do so out of malice, but rather great need. Remember all that has passed between us, remember all I have taught you, remember me, and remember it is written:

"Hold on to my instruction as choice silver."

Judas awoke, not knowing what this meant. He only knew his wife and children were destitute, and that, if his master proceeded to anger the authorities further, revolt was imminent. He appealed to Caiaphas. When he had told him all, the High priest presented him with thirty pieces of silver, instructing Judas to tell him my brother's whereabouts. Judas did not know, as my brother did not tell his disciples where he had gone. But he had heard that I was in the Capital, and would return that night. Caiaphas, thanked him, kissed him, and sent him on his way. Judas repaid in kind and went. Caiaphas was not idle. He made his way to the port of Galilee and lay in wait till dusk. And when he saw me, he burned with passion. Though this was not his plan, he knew what he must do. He spoke to me as a grandfather would, saying, in Hebrew

"Hail, Lioness. Where are you going?"

To which I replied, ill at ease, in the same tongue

"Where I will."

And he said to me,

"You have come a long way, and it will soon be dark. Come, my child, let me take you home. I should sorely grieve if some brigand were to harm you."

But I stood firm and answered,

"I will find my own way."

And Caiaphas grabbed me and took me by force. I fought with all the strength within me for my honor as I dove contends with a hawk, or a fledgling with a serpent, and it was only after much struggle that he succeeded. I screamed and was never quiet throughout the whole ordeal.

"What have you done? You will suffer for this! I am not alone, whether here or in Rome! You will pay!"

And he said to me

"Where is your brother, you pagan whore!"

And I answered him,

"Where God has sent him. I am a Jew, and I was chaste till you defiled me! God knows I am! You call yourself a Jew, and profess to love the one God above all others, yet many a pagan has kept his commandments, while you have recited the Laws of Moses day in and day out, and follow none of them. You worship the idol of wealth before God. You dishonor your father and mother, for you tarnish their names with your filth, since we are all known by both our parents' names. You commit atrocities in His name. You steal, you kill, you bear false witness and cheat others, and now you have raped a virgin and become an adulterer and have coveted what you do not have. Doubtless I am not the first. Many covet what they do not have, for it is human nature. Covet God's love, then, for you have none, and His love is great enough that he loves even a spineless cobra such as you. Yet you alone covet what you have because you fear to lose it. High priest though you are, you pander to Rome.. You shall not rape the maiden that is the Empire, for she is far more violent than I. But you forget who rules Heaven. I tell you this, and God let it be, your venom will not save you, for a headless serpent has none, however potent it may have been!"