Lucius; On the Footpath to Grace

by

Bob Shimer, StoryVent

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Chapter 5

They had been there several weeks when Silva gathered them all together on the plaza of the fortress called the Pavement. It was early morning and the smell of smoke and fresh baked bread still hung heavy in the air. The area was packed with soldiers. Everyone was asking why they had been called together but no one knew.

 

"We have been ordered to arrest this Jesus and take him to the Jewish High Priest, Caiaphas. Some of you know of Caiaphas and know that he is a devious old Priest. I don't know what will happen, so just be alert. Remember, you are Legionnaires and above this petty squabbling of these Jews!

 

"Capius, pick 10 men to go with us to a garden behind the Temple on the hill. It is called Gethsemane. An informer has said that this Jesus will be there and the informer will identify him for us. We are to arrest him and take him to Caiaphas' Palace on the other side of the city."

 

"What happens when we get him to the High Priest?" asked Capius. 

 

"Do what ever he tells us; at least if it makes sense. We will probably take him to Pilate for a trial, but you can never tell with these Jews. All I know is that Pilate is not happy with the whole thing. Capius, pick your men and lets go! The rest of you men stand ready here."

 

Both Lucius and Festus were among the 10 men picked. They gathered their gear and Silva led them out of the rear of the fortress. Several Temple guards who had been waiting outside joined them. They walked along the Wall of the city down into the Kidron valley and up the hill on the other side.

 

Part way up the road they encountered a man waiting for them. Silva called the soldiers to a halt and went forward with the Temple guards to talk to him.

 

Lucius turned to Festus. "I wonder who that is?"

 

"Probably the informer. Look how nervous he is. He's afraid of something."

 

"Yeah, look how he keeps looking around."

 

"I wonder if there will be fighting?"

 

Lucius tested the grip of his sword. "I don't know but if there is, I am ready! Ho, Silva is motioning us on!" The soldiers started off again, following Silva and the informer up the road. Soon they were almost at the top 

 

"I can see trees up ahead. Its a garden of some kind." 

 

"That must be the Garden of Gethsemane Silva mentioned. There are men in the garden." Lucius said. "I wonder which is Jesus?" 

 

Festus looked over the crowd. "Its hard to tell. Probably the man by the tree. He seems calm while the others are excited. Yes, that's him. The informer just pointed to him. Be ready, the crowd is getting angry."

 

"Look out!" one of the soldiers shouted. A man in the crowd suddenly had a sword in his hand.

 

He swung wildly. "Gaius has been hit!" shouted another.

 

Lucius pulled his sword from its scabbard and started forward. "Wait!" cried Festus.

 

Jesus had taken hold of the man's arm. There was total silence in the garden. For a moment the two stood looking at each other. "There is no need of this, put your sword away," said Jesus. "Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?" Slowly the man lowered the sword. He looked from Jesus to the soldiers and back again. Jesus nodded his head. The man looked down, turned the sword around, and handed it to the soldier. The silence was broken by the sounds of swords sliding back into their scabbards. The whole incident had taken only seconds but to Lucius it had seemed an eternity.

 

He looked at Festus. I thought we were going to be in for it for a minute."

 

"Me too," replied Festus. "It's over now, I think. We would have had a fight if it had not been for that Jesus."

 

"That's true. Did you understand what he said?" 

 

Festus was still watching the men. "He told him to put the sword down." 

 

"No. After that. Something about a cup."

 

"Yeah, now I remember. Something about drinking a cup his father gave him? I didn't understand. Sometimes these Jews say funny things. They even have their own funny language. Who knows what they mean."

 

Gaius who had been struck with the sword, was holding his hand to the side of his head. Blood oozed through his fingers and ran down his arm. Jesus reached out and placed his hand on Gaius' hand for a moment. Then he stepped back as Silva came over to look at his wound. He took the hand away and wiped the blood away with a cloth. 

 

"I don't see anything wrong with him," said Festus to Lucius. "It must have been just a scratch. "

 

"It didn't bleed like a scratch but you must be right, " replied Lucius.