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| 2:00 AM |
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| ����������� Down the drain.� The whole thing.� The whole three years wasted.� No!� That's can't be.� Gotta buy some time.� Gotta figure out how to get him out of there. |
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| ����������� Peter hears a commotion.� He looks up and notices a small crowd headed for another palace linked to this one. |
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| ����������� Oh, the other high priest.� Maybe they're taking him over to the other high priest.� Annus must have built his daughter and son-in-law a home on his property.� Good thing you stayed, Peter.� You're keeping track of everything.� Think of a plan.� An escape plan. |
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| ����������� But as he thinks on the edges of the artificial light, and as he again closes his eyes, he once more sees Jesus still bound.� But this time, he thinks he sees beside him Jesus' closest friends in the world ~ Peter and John. |
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| ����������� "Death to Jesus!� Death to all three of them!"�� |
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| ����������� "The cross is too good for you!� You could have destroyed your country.� Your religion.� Death!� Death!� Death...." |
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| ����������� Peter opens his eyes and looks at the crack in the wall.� A little grass where it doesn't belong.� Like Peter.� Like the Temple.� And ants scooting around it as though nothing else matters but the scooting. |
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| ����������� His muscles tighten.� He realizes his back is aching from the stooping and hiding.� So is his heart. |
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| ����������� "Oh, Jesus....� It wasn't supposed to be this way.� Why didn't you use your powers, Jesus?� Why did you give in to them?� What's going on?� Oh, God, help John and I rescue him.� Help us figure out a way...." |
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| ����������� Peter looks up and surveys the high brick wall that surrounds the palace.� He looks at the gate.� He stares at the lone figure in the guardhouse.� The figure stares back. |
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| ����������� Quickly he looks back down.� Maybe it was a figment.� Just keep cool.� Don't say anything.� Stick it out, Peter.� Don't desert a sinking ship.� Stay cool.... |
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| ����������� "Oh, God," his heart screams.� "Help Jesus!� Send those angels to free him!� Oh, God....� Oh, God....� Oh, Jesus...." |
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| ����������� He knows it is late.� He estimates It must be the middle of the night and he is still awake.� Why couldn't he have done this earlier?� Why couldn't he have stayed awake then?� It wasn't even midnight?� Why couldn't he have believed Jesus and done what he was told?� He was told to keep watch.� Such a simple command.� If he had only stayed awake, all this wouldn't be happening now.� If he'd only stayed awake.� If only.... |
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| ����������� Peter's chin sinks deeper into his chest as he senses the dew descending on him in the night air like a torrent.� He shivers and folds his arms tighter as though trying to comfort himself. |
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| ����������� Then he hears the voices.� Guards walking up toward the gate.� They're each carrying their own mug of beer.� They're half drunk.� They do not even see Peter.� He is safe. |
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| ����������� A woman who had been in the guard house walks over and greets the men. |
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| ����������� "Hi!� Got a beer for me?" |
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| ����������� "Hey, when do you get off?� There's some races down at...." |
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| ����������� Peter tries to will their presence away.� "Jesus....� Jesus...."� ���� |
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| ����������� Suddenly he is aware of a face down close to his. |
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| ����������� "Look at me!"� It's woman from the guard house.� Peter has no choice. |
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| ����������� "You're one of that traitor's men.� I saw you with him in that parade a few days ago.� I know it was you!" |
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| ����������� Think, Peter.� If you admit anything, you can't save Jesus.� You've got to lie.� Lie for Jesus' sake!� Lie, Peter! |
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| ����������� "I don't even know who that guy is!� I never laid eyes on whoever this is you're talking about.� I swear it!" [18] |
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| ����������� Run again, Peter!� Jump up and run!� She knows.� Don't give her a chance to make sure she knows.� Run, Peter!� Go back closer to John.� See what's going on.� Find out where Jesus is. |
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| ����������� Back toward the expansive courtyard Peter bolts.� Out of clear sight of the gate, he stumbles and slows down.� Slower.� Slower.� Ever slower. |
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| ����������� "God, do something!� God, don't let them hurt Jesus any more.� Help him burst through the rooftop and declare himself Master of the universe.� Oh God....� Don't desert him now....� Oh Jesus...." |
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| ����������� As Peter re-enters the back courtyard he glances around and sees John still sitting where he'd left him.� He quickly looks away, knowing that if their eyes met, they would be detected.� Can't take the chance.� Stay cool, Peter. |
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| ����������� Peter walks over to the brick ledge of an elevated flower-bed, one fairly secluded from others, and sits down on it.� He turns himself around sideways and puts his feet up on the ledge too.� Then he puts his forehead on his raised knees.� And remains there. |
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| ����������� "Oh, my God...." |
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| 3:00 AM |
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| ����������� He hears laughter!� Hideous laughter.� It's coming from the direction of the other palace. �He decides to walk over there.� Not as many troops there anyway.� Maybe he can figure out an escape route for Jesus. |
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| ����������� Finding himself in a similar courtyard, as though it is part of the flow of garden between the two palaces, he seeks out a stool on the edge of some torch lights.� Torch lights to keep the enemy away.� They smell.� They make Peter nauseated.� He stays anyway. [19] |
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| ����������� Once more he places his chin on his chest and hopes for anonymity. |
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| ����������� More is going on over in this courtyard.� Now and then he hears banging on a back gate.� Secret Temple police escort a man into the palace.� The door is closed.� But as at the other palace, the shutters are left open. |
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| ����������� "We've got to stop this Jesus!� He's dangerous!� We'll keep looking for witnesses if it takes us all night!" |
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| ����������� "Oh, my God,"Peter cries out in the desperation of his inner soul.� "Help me figure out a way to free Jesus.� He's the best friend I ever had.� I've got to free him!� Help me, God!� Help me think!� I've got to find a way...." |
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| ����������� Continually the back door of the palace opens and closes, the back gate to the alleyway eases open and shuts.� Witnesses whisked in and out again.� Dressed helter skelter some of them.� Dressed in night-on-the-town clothes some of them.� In their bed robes some of them. |
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| ����������� "That's not good enough!" he hears through the window.�" Knock on more doors.� What about our informants?� Have they all been contacted?� I don't care what time it is!� Get them over here! It's now or never!" |
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| ����������� "You!� Jesus!" |
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| ����������� Peter hears what he has longed to hear.� He hears the name of Jesus.� They're talking to Jesus.� He's still alive.� Thank God, he's still alive. |
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| ����������� "Hang on, Jesus," Peter whispers.� "We'll get you out of there yet.� I'm working on a plan.� Hang on, Jesus.� You're going to live!� Do you hear that, Jesus?� You're going to live to rule over them all!� Hang on, Jesus.� The dream's not gone yet.� Hang on, Jesus....� Hang on....� Oh, Jesus....� Oh, God...." |
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| ����������� Without realizing what he has done, Peter stands up, his muscles tightened and ready for battle.� He instinctively rams his fist onto a tree planted in the flower bed. |
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| ����������� Back to his senses, he looks around and realizes he has drawn too much attention to himself.� He looks further, picks up a stool, and moves it over by a bush.� He doesn't like the idea, so goes back over to an urn on the other side of the flower bed, sits on the ground, and leans on it, his back to the crowd. |
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3:30 AM |
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| ����������� "Talk, you Jesus!� Are you planning to lead troops to destroy the Temple, then dupe the worshippers into believing you'll actually rebuild it in three days?� Talk!" [20] |
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����������� "God, help him...."� |
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| ����������� Peter is near exhaustion.� He is beginning to feel weak.� He is beginning to feel useless.� He is beginning to feel like a failure.� He has not come up with one plan.� Not one possible way to help Jesus escape.� |
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| ����������� What if they execute him?� Don't even think like that.� Oh, God....� Oh, Jesus.... |
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| ����������� "Hey, here comes Malchus!" |
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| ����������� Peter looks up and sees a familiar face on the other side of the courtyard.� It's the guy he sliced with his sword earlier in the evening.� He starts into a panic but dares not move and draw attention to himself. |
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| ����������� "Hey, Malchus.� Is it true?� Did you get your ear cut off!" |
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| ����������� "Lay off!� Forget you ever heard anything." |
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| ����������� "Well, what happened?" |
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| ����������� "I said drop it!" |
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| ����������� An undercurrent of chuckles and guffaws.� It is obvious that Malchus does not want to talk about it.� It is obvious that Malchus will lose his job if he does.� Malchus must lie to cover up the truth of what Jesus did.� A miracle?� Never!� Liars are cowards.� Liars are no good. [21] |
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| ����������� The next time Peter looks up in his routine of surveying the situation, he sees Malchus is gone.� He is glad. |
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| ����������� Once more Peter hides within himself.� Hides from danger.� Hides from his own heart. |
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| ����������� He thinks of the plans Jesus talked over so many times with his twelve friends. |
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| ����������� Twelve friends?� Judas!� Peter wants to shout!� He wants to find Judas and strangle him.� How could he betray their mutual friend like that?� How could he deny him?� They all thought they could trust him.� Judas always seemed so dedicated to the Lord.� He was the most optimistic of any of them about Jesus' plan working and taking over the governments of the world. |
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| ����������� Oh Judas....� Oh Jesus....� Oh God.... |
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| ����������� "You're going to see it with your own eyes!" |
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| ����������� Peter looks up with a start.� It's Jesus' voice coming through the window.� Loud like it used to be when he addressed hundreds in the Temple courtyard.� Like when he addressed thousands in the hills of Galilee.� Like it will be when he takes over the government and the Temple. |
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| ����������� Peter dares to hope again. |
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| ����������� It's starting!� He's about to break free.� He's about to burst through the roof right there in front of them.� Didn't he just say they'd see it themselves? |
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| ����������� "You will all see me seated by the very throne of God!" |
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| ����������� "Stop him!" |
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| ����������� "Strike him!" |
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| ����������� "How dare he?" |
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| ����������� Then Peter hears a loud cry of agony.� Unmistakenly it is the cry of his Jesus.� The cry of majestic agony. |
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| ����������� "God....� Jesus....� Please God, free him!� You've got to God!� Oh, God....� Oh, Jesus...." |
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| ����������� "Hey, Jokthan!� You're Malchus's cousin.� You were out there.� Did it happen the way they say?" |
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| ����������� Jokthan looks up, unsure how to answer the question.� He stands and turns away in order to avoid the subject.� As he does, he sees Peter sitting over by the urn.� He stares.� Peter feels it.� Instinctively he knows. |
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| ����������� "Hey, Jokthan!"� It's the woman from the guard gate.� "What are you staring at?" |
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| ����������� Jokthan walks over to the woman.� "He looks familiar." |
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| ����������� "He was out by the guardhouse awhile ago.� I thought he looked a little suspicious.� I questioned him, but he denied ever having heard of him." |
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| ����������� "Yeah?" |
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| ����������� "I almost had to laugh, though.� That northern accent seemed to take away a little from his persuasiveness.� But I let him go." |
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| ����������� "Northern accent, you said?" |
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| ����������� "Yeah.� Why?� Do you think...." |
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| ����������� "Hey, you!" |
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| ����������� Peter has heard the whole conversation.� He has tried to sink into the pavement around the flower garden. |
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| ����������� "Hey!� You heard me!� Stand up!" |
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| ����������� Peter has no choice.� Either he stands up voluntarily, or there may be a dagger at his heart. |
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| ����������� One of Jesus' best friends stands and faces the same enemy he had faced earlier in the night.� They recognize each other.� |
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| ����������� Oh No!� Peter is about to arrested!� They will execute him!� He's a traitor.� They all know he's a traitor.� Just like Jesus.� |
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| ����������� Jesus, help me!� Save me!� |
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| ����������� "I saw you at the orchard tonight, didn't I?� You were one of them with Jesus.� You were one of them with a sword!" |
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| ����������� "I have no idea who this Jesus is!" Peter blurts out.� |
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| ����������� He turns from side to side, looking back at all the eyes trained on him.� Men everywhere put their hands on their swords and stand facing him. |
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| ����������� "Honest!� I'm just here in town to get a judgement from the high priest on a local matter.� That's all.� I never heard of this Jesus before now.� I swear!� I swear!� It's no lie!" |
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| ����������� Then he hears it.� Peter hears it.� His doom.� The rooster. [22] |
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| ����������� Oh, my God, no!� No, God!� No!� Not the rooster!� No.... |
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| ����������� " 'tention!" |
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| ����������� Suddenly the guards in the courtyard look toward the back door and stand at attention.� It is their commander. |
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| ����������� "We're ready to move out!� We're transporting this man over to the Temple for his sentencing!" |
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| ����������� Peter swings around and his eyes are riveted on someone behind the commander.� The man with the blood running down the side of his face.� His shirt ripped half off.� His eyes swollen nearly shut. |
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| ����������� But still they can focus.� Those eyes.� Those familiar eyes.� The eyes of Peter's Jesus.� They are focused on Peter.� He knows. |
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| ����������� He knows! |
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| ����������� Jesus has heard him with his own ears.� Peter has denied ever knowing him!� He knows....� |
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| ����������� Knots force their way up from Peter's stomach to his throat.� He chokes.� Chokes on his own lies.� His own betrayal.� His own evil.� He clinches his teeth and shakes his head.� No!� No!� No!� Please, Jesus!� I didn't mean it!� I didn't mean it!� I'm just so scared.� Oh Jesus....� �������� � |
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| ����������� They stare at each other knowingly.� |
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| ����������� "Keep going, you scum!"� Jesus is prodded ahead with the point of a spear. |
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| 4:00 AM |
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| ����������� Taking advantage of the moment when the guards are otherwise occupied, Peter runs around the palace and up toward the main gate.� He unbolts it himself, somehow gets it open, and runs out into the darkness.� Peter stumbles.� Peter falls. |
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| ����������� He gets up again and stumbles down the street like a wounded animal trying to find his cave.� He turns the corner and sees coming out of it a caravan of Roman soldiers, Temple guards, and the Temple elite. |
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| ����������� It's them!� Hide! |
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| ����������� He darts behind a tree as they pass.� Once they are gone, he proceeds, trying to remember where the city gate is. |
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| ����������� Suddenly Peter is no longer moving.� It is the street that is moving.� The walls of houses stumbling.� The trees rushing past him.� His dreams.� His promises.� His soul. |
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| ����������� Tears.� He cannot see.� Blinded.� Instinctively he knows when he arrives at the city gate.� Oddly it is still open.� He somehow stumbles through it.� Back into the shadows, and somehow falls into a heap of nothingness.� On the same road his Jesus had walked earlier. |
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| ����������� "Jesus?� Oh, Jesus....� I am so worthless!� I am a miserable coward.� A slimly turncoat.� A betrayer not worth even the time spent crushing a cockroach." |
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| ����������� Peter pounds on the rocky ground. |
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| ����������� "Oh, Jesus....� Can you hear me?� Oh, God, tell him!� Tell him!� No, don't!� Don't remind him of me!� I'm a nothing.� A miserable failure.� I've made a mess of everything...." |
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| ����������� He sits up in a panic as though being stalked. |
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| ����������� "All he said last night was, 'Watch with me one hour.'� One hour!� That's all he needed!� Oh, God!� If I could just take that hour back...." |
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| ����������� He slams his fist in vain into a bush of thorns. |
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| ����������� "Oh, Jesus....� Forgive me....� Oh, I'm not worth it.� I'm not worth forgiving....� You could never forgive me, God.� I turned on him!� I slithered like a snake...." |
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| ����������� He picks himself up and looks up into nothingness. |
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| ����������� "No!" he shouts at the sky.� "No!� Tell me this is a dream!� Oh, my God, help me take it back.� Tell me it never happened.� My friend.� I betrayed Jesus...." |
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| ����������� He forces his mind back a few days earlier to the victory march through the holy city. |
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| ����������� "All for nothing!� All because of me.� He's going die, God!� Jesus is going to die!� Oh, God, don't let him die!� No, God.� Don't let Jesus die.� Let me die instead.� Let me die.� Not Jesus...." |
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| ����������� He falls prostrate once again onto the road, still imprinted here and there from Jesus' own sandals.� He kisses the ground, then looks up at some clouds in the disappearing night. |
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| ����������� "Jesus.� I'm afraid to die.� Forgive me!� Oh, how can you forgive me!� The pain.� All the pain....� |
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| ����������� "You never did anything but love me.� How can I run from you?� You are everywhere.� You are in all I think and do.� How can I escape you?� You are in my heart.� I can't get you out.� |
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| ����������� "Jesus, my soul has collapsed.� Help me, Jesus.� Oh, Jesus, you can't help me now.� No one can.� |
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| ����������� "Please come back, Jesus....� Make things the way they were....� Come back.� Come back.... |
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| ����������� "Oh, Jesus...." |
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����������������������� "Jesus...." |
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����������� "I'm sorry.� Please.� I'm so sorry." |
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����������������������� "Oh, Jesus.... |
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����������������������������������� "I'm sooooo sorrrryyyy.........." [23] |
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LIFE APPLICATION |
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| 1.�������� Did you ever tell people with whom you were involved in a good cause (or think it), "If I go down, you go down with me"?� Who would have continued with the cause (as inferior as they were to Jesus) if Jesus had not diverted attention enough for his apostles to escape? |
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| 2.�������� People everywhere condemn Peter's denial.� But only he and John dared go into the hornet's nest of the palace where Jesus was held.� Even then, John apparently stayed in the shadows enough no one even saw him.� Peter was extremely brave ~ more so than the other apostles.� Do you know anyone who people will not let forget one mistake they made amidst many good things?� Contact that person this week and remind them of their good points and how you appreciate them. |
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| 3.�������� Have you ever said about someone, "I will never forgive him/her" Would Jesus have said this?� How does this makes Jesus superior to us?� Only God can forgive those who over and over do things against him.� Do you think forgiveness is a holy act? |
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