ALONE

My name is John, son of Zebedee and I am the youngest of my master’s followers. It had been another gruelling day in the heat. People, as usual had come from far and near to hear our master teach about God. There were those who came begging for healing, came with petitions but mostly to hear him teach such wondrous words of hope. Then there was that strange incident while we were in the home of Simon, whom Jesus had healed from a skin disease. As we were sitting talking amongst ourselves a woman, a prostitute no less comes over to Jesus and pours a bottle of perfume over his head. To say the least we disciples were angry that a bottle of expensive perfume would be wasted like this and we let our opions be known. To our surprise Jesus told us to be quite for this woman had performed a beautiful symbolic act. The perfume she has poured over me is in preparation for my burial. For this act of love and kindness she will be remembered for all times. Unknown to us who followed Him more surprises were in store. Then there was the preparation for the Passover. A place was found and preparations made for this important feast that commemorates the Angel of Death passing over all doors of those who had blood on their door posts. This while our ancestors were enslaved in Egypt. During this feast I sat next to my master whom I loved as son loves his father. My master then said two things that we could not fully understand. First he Peter would betray him and then he said someone at the table would betray him the outcry was noisy to say the least as each denied they would do such a terrible thing. Who could betray such a teacher as Jesus? As I looked at my beloved teacher he appeared deeply troubled and out of the corner of my eye I saw Judas our treasurer leave.

After the feast we went out into the coolness of the night, a slight breeze was refreshing us. We came to the garden where my master would often pray. He asked his other followers to stay near the entrance way while he went ahead to pray. He turned to Peter, my brother James and me and said come with me. I am so filled with anguish I feel like I am going to die. As I gazed into face I saw such deep sorrow as I have never seen before. His face had become haggard, his eyes filled with unspeakable anguish. We came to the spot where there grew a large tree and beside it like a guardian stood a rock. He told us to wait and to pray with him. I watched him go to the rock, drop to his knees. I heard him begin to pray , "Father, if it is your will, take this cup of suffering away from me. However, your will must be done, not mine." As he prayed his voice was trembling, he was shaking and sweat like drops of blood streaked his head, flowing like tiny rivers down his face onto the ground. Never have I witnessed such a struggle, such agony in prayer as my master was experiencing. Then I beheld something no human eyes have ever beheld. I saw a brigtht light flow over my master. In that light was an angel? Yes, it must have been, I saw this heavenly being cradle my master to his breast, enfold him with his wings and comfort him. He continued to pray for slong having been strengthened I fell asleep. The next thing I knew he was standing over us for we had all fallen asleep and we heard him rebuke us for not staying awake. Then we heard a noise and looked to the garden entrance and saw men, armed men coming and in the torch light we saw Judas pointing to Christ, and the soldiers rushing forward and grasping my master. I felt my heart sink as I felt more terrible things were to come.