Geshem
The day was dark, and full of clouds, for even the sun was not allowed to penetrate the sorrow. I remember that day well for I was prepared for the tragedy for many a century. But even with all of my pointless preparation I still grieved for my Master.
I counted every raindrop as it hit his mangled forehead. The drops of rain would desperately try to wash away the blood from his eyes. I could see the women’s tears; I could hear their wailing and cries of pain. While I looked around them and saw in stark contrast, the crowd screaming their lust for innocent blood. I had to turn away from the disgusting scene, at least for a while…
Later that evening I came back to witness the rest of the prophecy being fulfilled, as Roman guards played stupid games for his filthy robes. I cried in anger as my stomach churned with revulsion at the scene before me. This isn’t right! This must stop! I couldn’t deal with this for much longer; I did the only thing I could do, I went to my Master, surely he would put a stop to this! As I entered His chamber all I could see was what seemed like endless water, salty like the sea; for the room was filled with tears.
“Master, I cannot bear this any longer! Please put an end to this! Surely you love your Son enough to redeem him! Give him his ten thousand angels! Let him wipe away all the inhabitants of this vile earth!” Barely containing my anger I awaited for His response, for His roar of agreement, but instead all I heard was the sound of a thousand women grieving the loss of a favorite son. He brokenly responded, “No Geshem….We cannot do this. We cannot help him.”
“But why not! I responded in vehemence, ‘Master, these creatures aren’t worth such a sacrifice!’”
“Because they are my children. He responded strongly, ‘Whom I love.’”
However not giving up I desperately pleaded with Him,
“But he is your Son, whom you love! Surely you love your Son more that these ungrateful murderers?”
He sighed and looked at me with kind eyes of understanding,
“You forget Geshem, that the murderers, as you so call them, are my creation, and my beloved sons and daughters as well…what else can be said…” He turned and resumed His grief. I knew there was no further point in arguing, so I took my leave…
I nearly flooded Jerusalem with my rage. How dare they celebrate their precious Passover when the real sacrifice was being tortured and humiliated! I could see him labor for every intake of breath. Seeing his pain I lightened the pouring rain, allowing some warmth to creep back into whatever was left of his body. I watched as he took his last breath but within that breath was something more precious that any stone or jewel, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing. Into your hands I give my spirit.” As the words left his lips, so did his soul as his body sagged beneath the weight of death. His body limp, and cold. I could no longer contain my grief, I cried perhaps even harder than Peter, as the rain poured almost as hard as it once did in the days of Noah.
“How could he do it? How could he forgive them…” Between my wails and sobs I just couldn’t grasp the love and compassion one man had for an entire world.
I witnessed everything from the soldiers piercing his side, to Mary embalming his body and laying him in stone. The rain poured over Judas as his pain matched my own…
I heard a knock early the next day, in fact it was still dark. I arose and saw Shemesh before me.
“Shemesh, what are you doing here?”
“Shsssh! Quiet dear Geshem, for I am here to show you something miraculous.” His faced beamed as the radiant sun.
“Shemesh, if this is some kind of a date, I already told yo—“
“No! Now come Geshem, be reasonable, next you will be blaming me for the burning of Rome! Now do you want to come or not? You won’t regret it!”
“Well…alright let’s go then.”
Shemesh led me slowly to the tomb.
“Now, wait here while I conduct my business.” He ran off to the east before I could tell him otherwise. Why did he bring me here? Its not like I needed another reminder of what’s been happening the past two days! As I was in the midst of my complaining I saw Michael, the archangel, walking towards the guards. This is a miracle? I’ve seen Michael do this a hundred and thirty-seven times. He was speaking to the guards but I couldn’t hear him for some strange reason. But whatever he said sure scared off those guards. What happened next was astonishing, the stone covering the tomb rolled away! Now in my eons of experience, stones don’t usually do that sort of thing, but I would hardly place that in the miracle category. I waited for several minutes as Michael was speaking with Mary now…but wait! There’s someone else there! Who? I looked back at Shemesh and saw a mischievous smile while the sky did its usual colors. Though I was curious I turned back around towards the tomb and saw the incredible. He was there! In the flesh with his spirit intact! No longer did he have a crown of thorns on his head! No more did he have awful lacerations on his back. But as I looked closer I did see he had retained some scars…his hands and feet, where they had been pierced.
Immediately I felt happiness again, I could see the joy fill the grass and the air as I watched my beloved Master come back to his place.
As you here this story you will probably exclaim how could this be true? I cannot show you, for only you can see Him. But I give you this story, my testimony as a witness to these truths. And I will admit one thing to this story that should prove its sincerity, a few tears had escaped me in that moment as there was a light pitter-patter of rain all over Jerusalem.
