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A well-cloaked Thaddaeus walks on his way to join Jesus and the apostles for their Passover meal. A display of hammers catches his eye, reminding him of his trade as a stonemason. He smiles as his mind takes him back to the day he met the Lord Jesus while at work over 3 years ago.
Thaddaeus, at a construction site, is making final adjustments to a block of stone with a hammer and chisel. Hefting the block, he lays it neatly in an open space on a low wall, and then begins applying mortar with a trowel to secure it. He stops when he hears unexpected singing nearby. The song lyrics are from Psalm 39: "O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days.... Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath."
"Joab?" Thaddaeus calls out, walking around the corner of the structure being built to investigate. He sees a carpenter working on a plank extending from the structure, but does not recognize him. Thaddaeus asks the man, "Where is Joab?" The carpenter replies, "Oh, Shalom. I don't know, other than that the foreman told me he wouldn't be here today and so I should handle the ramp. Hope he's all right." "Yeah, me too," says Thaddaeus. "It would have surprised me if you were him. Joab can't carry a tune." The carpenter laughs, saying, "It's not really my specialty either." Thaddaeus tells him Joab is so bad at singing, he has to mouth along to the songs in synagogue so he doesn't ruin it for everyone else.
The new man says, "Sounds like a very considerate carpenter. I'm Jesus, by the way." Thaddaeus tells him his name and that he is a stonemason. Jesus, playing dumb, says, "Oh, that's what you were doing over there with the rock cutting, the stacking, and the mortar. I had no idea." Thaddaeus laughs and says, "Okay. It's beautiful work you're doing there. You can see where Joab's work ends and yours begins. Your cedar planks are lined up straighter." Jesus remarks, "You're kind, but tell me, did this Joab eat your lunch too? He can't sing, he lays crooked cedar planks: He sounds quite terrible." "No, he's fine," says Thaddaeus.
Jesus looks up at the sun and observes, "Speaking of lunch, it's about that time. Are you going to take a break?" When Thaddaeus says he is, Jesus asks if he can join him. As they sit eating together, Jesus asks if he lives in Bethsaida, the construction site. Thaddaeus says, "No, I live in Capernaum. While working on this job, I've just been camping." Jesus says, "Me, too." "You also live in Capernaum?" Thaddaeus asks. Jesus clarifies: "Just the camping part. I was born in Bethlehem in Judea. I lived in Egypt for awhile, but I spent most of My life in ... Nazareth. I'll hold for the joke." Thaddaeus chuckles and says, "No, I don't like to make fun of where people are from." "Really?" asks Jesus. "Plus," adds Thaddaeus, "who gets to say they lived in Egypt? To me, that cancels out the Nazareth thing." Jesus moans, "Oh, there it is!"
Thaddaeus laughs and then gets serious: "But Egypt: That's a stonemason's wonderland. All the architecture." Jesus comments, "Some of it will last: The wonders of Egypt. Some of it will still be there thousands of years from now, but that's mostly the exception." Taken aback by that assertion, Thaddaeus replies in a tentative voice, "I don't follow." Jesus tells him, "Think of the ruins of Jericho, King Solomon's temple, the lost cities of Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar. Even the finest stonemasonry and the sturdiest cedar planks eventually relent under the assault of weather, war, or time itself."
Pointing to the structure he and Thaddaeus are working on, Jesus says, "This latrine? Sorry, what was the polite thing they told us to call it?" Thaddaeus answers, "A public amenity." Jesus continues, "This very fine public amenity we're building? In a few thousand years, no one will even know it existed." Thaddaeus adds soberly, "Or that we existed?" Jesus says, "Well ... I'm also a rabbi, by the way. We are a pair of men building a privy in a small town in northern Galilee, in a tiny country under the occupation of the enormously powerful Roman Empire. But what if I told you I have something else in mind for My life, and yours?"
Thaddaues says doubtfully, "Like what?" "Something that will last," says Jesus. "A Kingdom not built by hands. A fortress stronger than stone. Would you want to join Me in helping to build that?" Thaddaeus, looking flummoxed, says, "I don't understand what You're saying. You don't have the means to own land or a home, yet You're offering to hire me for my services?" "Not the ones you're using today," answers Jesus. "Then what?" asks Thaddaeus. "I'm not good at anything else." "That's what you think," says Jesus quietly. "That's what I know," asserts Thaddaeus firmly. "Forgive my boldness, but I'm a little uncomfortable."
Jesus asks gently, "Why is that?" "Because You don't know me," answers Thad. "Yes, I do," says Jesus. "We just met a half hour ago!" protests Thad. "Join Me," invites Jesus. "In doing what?" asks Thad. "I told you: Building a new Kingdom," Jesus reiterates. "Just the two of us?" Thad inquires. "No, but I have to start somewhere," Jesus explains, "and where better than here? And with who better than you?" Thaddaeus scoffs, "You could definitely do a lot better than me." He gets up, saying he's going back to work and then to collect his wages.
Jesus also rises and tells Thaddaeus, "Leave with Me tonight. Final offer." "You haven't made an offer," counters Thaddaeus. "A new Kingdom. Eternal value," says Jesus. "What's the pay?" asks Thaddaeus. "There is no pay, at least not in the earthly sense," Jesus answers. "I'm a rabbi, and I'm asking you to follow Me."
Thaddaeus turns from Him and says, "It was nice meeting you."
Jesus tells him, "You'll be part of changing the world. Become part of a family not of relatives, but of blood bonds just the same."
As Jesus speaks, we see scenes of what will take place in Thaddaeus's life as an apostle of Christ. Thaddaeus turns and faces Jesus. The more Jesus tells him, the more he is obviously moved by what Jesus is saying, increasingly convinced every word is true. Jesus continues, "You will spend your days with some of the most
"Interesting,
"Unfettered,
"Funny,
"Driven,
"Brave,
"Nurturing,
"Smart,
"Strong,
"Passionate,
"Fiery,
"Loyal,
"Loving,
"Imperfect people to ever walk the earth.
"You will see
"And do things you cannot imagine.
"You'll be adored,
"Hated,
"Needed,
"Lost,
"And found. You will live everywhere and nowhere.
 |
| Living and traveling nomadically for 3 years. |
"You will lose friends.
"You will lose all your friends. And your own life. You will go to the ends of the earth, and yet be part of the beginning of the greatest movement on earth.
"People will say that you were a fool, that I was a fool, and that it was all a lie. They will call us heretics, liars, and frauds.
"Others will celebrate and venerate your memory, calling you a saint.
"But none of that is the point. The point is that you will have said yes to the world's no. That you hoped against hope and believed against belief. That you surrendered everything and held fast to the very end. Will you follow Me?"
Thaddaeus is weeping silently by the time Jesus finishes speaking to him that first day. Now, 3 years later, he walks confidently in Jerusalem after sundown to join the Lord Jesus Christ and the rest of His apostles for what will prove to be their Last Supper on earth together.
He is the last apostle to arrive. The others make it clear they were waiting for him. Nathanael quips, "Thad, we were told to take an ambiguous and evasive route, not the longest one possible." Thaddaeus explains, "I was the last one to leave." Jesus left before him, but still has not arrived.
Thomas, seated next to Big James, says to James, "John has seated himself on Jesus's right hand. Don't you want to be at his left?" James says humbly, "No, I'm good. I'm happy to sit next to you." Everyone is now seated in their designated spots as they wait for Jesus. Andrew asks, "Are we ready for this?" Peter says yes. Big James says no. Matthew asks, "Ready for what?" Thomas asks, "Can we define ready?" Matthew asks if it matters whether they're ready or not. Philip, always the encourager, says kindly, "Matthew, you've changed. Who cares if we're ready?" Thomas says, "It would be nice to know what we're talking about here." Judas asks, "What's the prevailing theory?" Just then, Jesus is led into the room. The apostles all rise.
Hours later, after their Passover seder and Last Supper together (depicted in reverse order at the beginning of Episodes 1-7), Jesus and His closest disciples finish their time in the Upper Room of the house they were led to by singing a hymn based on Psalm 118: "The stone the builders have rejected has become the cornerstone. This is what the Lord has done, marvelous before our eyes." Mark, the young man of the house who was instrumental in Jesus and the apostles coming there, is listening to them sing as he lies in bed below the Upper Room. He smiles as he drifts to sleep, thrilled at the privilege of hosting the Messiah Himself and His followers.
When the song concludes, Jesus says, "My friends, it is time." As the men walk out, the creaking of the floor boards awakens Mark. He sits up and suddenly decides to follow them. Not wanting to take time to get dressed, he keeps on his lightweight sleep tunic and grabs a thin bed sheet to wrap around his lean frame as meager protection from the night chill.
Peter grabs the 2 swords that Simon "Zee," the former Zealot, presented earlier during the meal that Jesus said would be enough (Luke 22:38). He takes one and hands the other to Big James. Zee asks, "Don't you think I should keep one of those?" Peter asks, "Aren't you basically a weapon in human form?" Zee accepts that reasoning and moves out.
Peter hangs back to talk privately with John, whom he instructed to ask Jesus during the meal which one of the apostles would betray Him (which is recorded in John 13:21-30). John answers, "He said the betrayer was the man He would share bread with, and that man was Judas." Peter asks, "He said it was Judas?" "Not by name," John tells him. "Just the bread thing. He also said you would deny Him 3 times." "Before the rooster crows," recalls Peter. "That had to be a metaphor too, right?" says John. Mystified, they drop the matter and leave to join the others.
Jesus and His apostles are on their way to the garden at Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives nearby (Matthew 26:36-49). When they reach the walled entrance, Jesus addresses them: "All of you, sit there while I go in here and pray. Peter, James, John, please come with Me into the olive grove." As those four enter, the others find a spot to wait together outside the wall.
Pontius Pilate is pacing inside his governor's quarters at the Antonia Fortress. Atticus, the Roman cohort, enters, saying, "You wanted to see me, governor?" Pilate answers, "No, but I have to: Is it true you've been recruiting street thugs to provoke the crowds and turn them against Jesus?" Atticus mildly pretends to be offended at the lack of trust Pilate's spying on him reveals, but soon commends "young Pontius" for being wary. Pilate replies, "Just Pontius, not young. This job has aged me. I feel very uneasy about Jesus. It's plaguing every area of my life. Why are you working with these unsophisticated malcontents from the north? Executing 3 criminals isn't enough?" Atticus tells him, "You need a bigger win. No one likes Zealots and criminals on either side: Jews and Romans alike are happy to see them go." Pilate, upset, says, "You didn't answer my question about these stupid thugs you've got running around spreading rumors and poison, ruining what could otherwise be a perfectly peaceful Jewish holiday!" "We both know it's not going to be that," states Atticus. "Whichever way it goes down, your only job is to win definitively. However dirty you have to play to get there, make Rome look like the good guy." Pilate counters, "Arresting Jesus would do the opposite." Atticus explains, "Look, the man Kafni and his thugs, they're chaos. Their bitterness and resentment are pliable. They don't even realize their anger is actually rooted in their own shortcomings. It can be weaponized and wielded." "Yes," says Pilate, "back at us!" Atticus concedes, "Sure, sometimes it can be projected onto Rome, and maybe we deserve it. They have lost a lot at our hands, but when that proves to be unfruitful—as it always will—they can just as quickly redirect that anger onto their neighbors, religious authorities, and now onto Jesus." "Am I supposed to take that as good news?" asks Pilate, "Yes," says Atticus, "because in this case, the people aren't going to listen. Sensible people will see them for who they really are and reject them. All the while, you remain in a powerful position to keep the peace, to keep the money flowing, and ?" Pilate reluctantly finishes the thought: "Make Rome the good guys."  |
| "Make Rome the good guy." |
The governor shakes his head and says, "For a spy, you've haven't been paying very close attention to the events of the past week: Jesus is singular. His very presence in this city heralds a kind of momentous reckoning I don't fully understand, but I know I don't like how it makes me feel inside." "Good," says Atticus. "You recognize the gravity of the situation. You're right: There is a reckoning that's coming, and when the votes are tallied, you may very well be the tiebreaker, which gives you a chance to solidify Rome's position while letting the Jews be the chaotic ones." |
Pontius Pilate senses a momentous reckoning is coming.
|
Atticus rises and tells Pilate, "You were wrong about me earlier: Close but wrong. You're right, I'm not loyal to you, but I'm not loyal to Emperor Tiberius either or anyone else but her." He fingers his SPQR ring and gestures at the Roman decor of the room." "Her?" inquires Pilate. "Mother Rome. For this week at least, don't let anyone distract you from her. No one," urges Atticus. Before leaving, he tells Pilate, "Please do give Claudia my best. Haven't seen her in awhile." His tone of voice makes it clear he knows all about the rumors surrounding her dreams.  |
| Atticus worships Rome. |
While Pilate pours himself a drink, Claudia comes out of the bedroom, inquiring about passing on those best regards. Her husband replies, "I thought you were asleep, darling." She tells him, "You know I haven't slept in days." He says in a flat voice, "One would never know. You look great." Claudia sits down and asks him, "Why didn't you tell Atticus the real reason for your feelings toward Jesus?" "You heard all that?" "You weren't quiet." Pilate reminds her, "I told him it was plaguing every area of my life, and that includes our marriage by implication." She reminds him, "I told you I wanted to leave." He counters, "I can't look weak. Especially now."
Claudia says, "He told you to win definitively, but you're setting youself up to lose." Pilate, looking miserable, says, "So you don't trust me either?" "You really want me to answer that?" Claudia states coldly. At his wits' end, PIlate wimpers, "You just need to sleep, darling. Please go back to bed." She tells him, "If you knew what I see when I let myself fall asleep, you'd stay awake all night too." "What things do you see? Tell me." Claudia rises and answers ominously, "The way things are going, Pontius, I don't have to tell you because soon, you'll see for yourself." Before leaving the room, she takes the goblet from his hand and drinks from it. In the crowded Sanhedrin chamber, angry voices protest. President Shimon tells Caiaphas directly, "This is absurd and intolerable! You have no right to convene this body at night, and on a high holy day at that!" Rabbi Gedera, of the same priestly Sadducean sect as Caiaphas, counters, "There are exceptions permitted in the event of a national emergency." Rabbi Yussif objects, "One prophet is not a national emergency. Rome is not sacking the temple or burning Jerusalem down. And what if Jesus actually is the Christ?" Gedera states, "There is no prophecy that says the Christ comes from Galilee." Rabbi Zebediah points out, "The Scriptures say the Messiah comes from the offspring of David, from Bethlehem" (Micah 5:2), not realizing that is where Jesus was born. Caiaphas compounds their ignorance by asserting, "Discredited lineage is the least of His crimes." Shimon calls out, "Is there no other sane person with tenure here who will speak up against this madness?" Caiaphas shouts, "You're outnumbered! You don't have a quorum. Sit down. We are finished here until the temple guard brings Him in." Just then doors open loudly and a voice roars out, "We are not finished here!" Caiaphas states calmly, "Rabban Nicodemus, I see your health has returned. How good of you to join us." Nicodemus slowly strides in with his cane, demanding to know the meaning of this unlawful assembly. Caiaphas says, "Well, take a seat. We'll fill you in. We've got so much to tell you." "No," says Nicodemus firmly. "I have much to tell you." Malchus, chief servant of the high priest, is pacing nervously at Caiaphas's house. When he rushes to answer pounding at the door, he finds Judas there and tells him, "You almost missed our deadline. We agreed on 24 hours." Judas tells him, "I have the location. I can take you to Him now." Malchus says to the young woman standing nearby: "Tova, send our courier to the Sanhedrin, and tell Caiaphas we are on our way to arrest Jesus now." Malchus tells Judas to follow him and leads him to a large group of soldiers and others standing by. "One more important detail," says Malchus. Since not everyone there would recognize Jesus, especially at night, he wants to know how Judas will point Him out without escalating tension. Inside the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus walks slowly with His closest disciples when suddenly He stumbles and doubles over, panting. John says, "Master?" Jesus, looking up, replies in a low voice, "John, I'm so sad. My soul is filled with sorrow, even to the point of death." "To the point of death?" repeats Peter. "Should we get a doctor?" asks James. "No," Jesus answers. "You just said You're on the verge of dying from sorrow," observes James. "Not from sorrow," the Lord says before collapsing again. Peter says he's getting a doctor. Jesus again says no and stands up straight. He looks up to heaven and informs them, "The Great Physician Himself will minister to Me." Jesus tells them, "Just stay here. Keep watch. Be near Me. That's all." "We will," says James as Jesus goes further into the garden to pray. "Stay awake," the Lord says to them before He leaves. "Make sure no one can see or hear Me. Do you understand? I'll come back in a little while." As Jesus walks, He se through the garden, He sees a large rock and kneels before it, saying, "This is it, Father. This is the place." In shuddered sobs He prays, "My Father in heaven, hallowed is Your name. The time has come, Father. I'm here. I'm ... ready." Bowing deeply He confesses, "I don't think I can do this, Father. Please ... the sorrow. Make Me stronger than I am, Father." He grabs the rock and sobs, His hands clasping in prayer. His head rises when He hears the sound of wood being chopped. As He walks toward the sound, He sees an old man lopping off a limb from a tree to add to a wood pile. A boy's voice calls out, Abba? The old man says, "I'll be right there, Isaac," leaning against a tree in obvious grief. Jesus realizes that man is the patriarch Abraham from a pivotal moment in his life as recorded in Genesis 22.
Abraham picks up the bundle of wood and walks slowly with it. When Isaac sees him he says, "I can carry that for you, Abba. You can strap it to my back. You're too old to carry it all the way up the mountain." Abraham jokes, "I'll pretend you didn't say that!" Isaac chuckles and says, "I'm just trying to help." "All right. I'm old, if you say so. Let's go," says Abraham when the bundle is secured. "Abba," asks Isaac, "You have the fire, and I have the wood, but where is the lamb?" Abraham answers with quiet confidence, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." Jesus, watching from a distance, says softly, "He doesn't go through with it, young Isaac. We spared you. It was a test. Jesus prays, "Abba, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me. All things are possible for You. Please, could there be another way? You spared Isaac. Let this pass from Me. Make a way, Father. If You are willing, remove this cup from Me." Now kneeling He says, "But not My will, but Yours be done," perhaps at that moment recalling the reason Isaac was spared 2,000 years ago was because Jesus would soon serve as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world."
Jesus prays, "My Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done. Not Mine. I trust You, Abba." He repeats His trust and smiles. Walking back to where He left Simon Peter, James, and John, He is disappointed to find them sleeping. Sighing, He says Simon's name loud enough in that quiet spot to rouse all three of them to their feet. Jesus asks him, "You couldn't watch with Me for one hour?" Peter says, "I'm sorry: I just dozed off for a second." Jesus then addresses them all: "Do you remember how I taught you to pray?" "Of course," answers James. "And lead us not into ... ?" Jesus asks, and they all answer, "Temptation." Jesus tells them, "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. I know your spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak." Peter says, "No, it was just a moment." Grabbing his sword, he says, "We'll keep watch." Jesus says sympathetically, "I know you want to be prepared for anything." "We are," asserts John. "But then there is the reality of the body," Jesus continues to explain. "I have warned you hardship is coming. Stay alert and pray." He leaves them again to do what He just advised. James slaps at his own cheeks in an attempt to stay awake, but stops when Peter raises up a hand. Jesus repeats, "Your will be done," and then rises, walking into the fog. When he feels a crunch under His feet, He stoops to investigate and suddenly is surrounded by light. Jesus finds Himself in a desert valley full of dry bones (Ezekiel 37). There is no place to walk without bones under foot, but He slowly walks forward on the winding path before Him, his breath coming in shudders as He surveys this silent valley of death. Before Him, waiting ahead, is someone He recognizes: the prophet Ezekiel, who uniquely is called son of man in Scripture almost as often as Jesus is, but only Jesus is called the Son of Man. Ezekiel looks at Jesus and smiles. Jesus approaches him and asks, "Tell me, son of man, can these bones live?" Ezekiel responds, "O Lord, only You know." Jesus, perhaps contemplating they will live only because He will fulfill His mission as the Son of Man, begins weeping softly, resting a hand on Ezekiel's shoulder for support. Ezekiel places his hand on Christ's shoulder. The Lord then bows His head, which Ezekiel gently cradles with his arm. The prophet kisses His cheek and comforts Him as He mourns. Raising his head, which prompts Jesus to raise His, Ezekiel looks with a solemn expression into Jesus's eyes and nods His head. Jesus, strengthened, smiles in appreciation. Back in Gethsemane, Peter, James, and John have fallen asleep again. As Jesus approaches them, He at first looks disappointed, but then is given a vision of them in their sleeping forms as young boys. He looks up to heaven, looks at His boys with sad but tender understanding (Psalm 103:8-14), and leaves them sleeping.
Walking slowly through the garden, Jesus returns to the comforting large rock and kneels, praying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me, yet not My will but Yours be done. Not My will, but Yours be done." Weeping again, He says, "Father, please. Not My will, but Your will be done. Jesus is sobbing now and sweating profusely, His hands tightly clenched in prayer.
Suddenly He feels a comforting hand on His head. He looks up and sees a beloved face: that of Joseph, the long-deceased earthly father who adopted Him. Jesus falls into his warm embrace. Joseph kisses Him as He weeps and says gently, "My son." Lifting His head slowly, Joseph wipes His brow carefully with a cloth. Jesus lovingly cradles Joseph's face with His hands and says, "Thank you." Joseph tells Him softly, "I'll be waiting for You" and smiles. Jesus is again alone by the rock. He inhales deeply and rises from His kneeling position. We see that Peter, James, and John remain asleep as Jesus approaches. (Dr. Luke makes the unique observation that they were sleeping "from sorrow" and that Jesus's profuse sweat was mixed with blood, Luke 22:44-46.) Peter stirs. Jesus says softly, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?" Peter says, "Master, I'm so sorry. I don't know why this keeps happening." Jesus reminds him, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh ...." Peter rouses the other two. Jesus tells them, "The hour has come. Rise, it's time to go." "Go?" asks John. "The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners," Jesus explains and leads them to the garden entrance.
He says, "Look, My betrayer is here." They see a large group with torches approaching on the path they used. The other 8 apostles are on their feet near the gate. Zee is in front and begins advancing.
Torch light begins to reveal many fully armed temple guards, several religious officials dressed like Pharisees, and Kafni with his malcontents at the end of the procession, coming on in 3 columns. Jesus, Peter, James, and John are a little ahead and to the right of the other apostles. Zee runs ahead to confront these enemies, but Jesus orders him back. Jesus gestures that it will be all right and steps forward Himself, facing the 3 columns.
Peter, James, and John are a pace behind Jesus, Peter and James gripping their sword hilts. Jesus looks momentarily up to heaven and levels His gaze at His enemies, who have now halted only a few paces away. Malchus steps out behind a guard and looks toward a shadowy figure, well cloaked, emerging behind another guard and walking slowly toward Jesus. The apostles all gaze intently at this figure, but cannot yet make out in the night light who it is. The figure stops at the front line and breathes deeply. Malchus looks at him expectantly.
The figure sighs, steels himself, and removes his cloak as he resumes walking toward Jesus. Andrew gasps in recognition. The others look on in wide eyes as Judas Iscariot stops next to Jesus, looks up at Him with tears in his eyes, and says, "Rabbi." Jesus, looking sorrowful, replies, "My friend, do what you came to do." Judas slowly kisses Him on His left cheek (Mark 14:42-45).
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