abbotsford parish church@clydebank@scotland

garden

Olive trees in a full moon twist and creek as their branches cool after the day and the olives burst open with ripeness. Like sinister creatures they entangle you and their long distorted shadows patiently wait for Jesus and a few disciples. Judas has already informed on Jesus and the night lurks around the branches like an underage school boy for the moment of deception. Jesus arrives and while his disciples sit and fall asleep under the olive trees in the garden he goes for a walk to think things through. All the anxiety is beginning to tell: the stress of a week that has taken him from king to criminal after and three short years of wondering the Judean countryside; healing, teaching, living, eating, drinking with all manner of people send him thinking and praying: 'What's it all been about?' 'Why do I have to go through this?' The smell of the olives is rich and sharp in his nostrils as he sits and talks to God, nerves dancing silently in anticipation of the next move. Back with the disciples they are sound asleep. Jesus wakens them angry that they can't stay awake. 'Don't they realise what's going on? How can they sleep?' Panic makes Jesus wander off again, adrenaline shooting through his muscles and a sharp pain in his stomach from the pressure. 'What's happening God? I can't cope any more. This is too much for you to ask of anyone. Please take this moment away from me. Let's just go back to the Sea of Galilee or Capernium or the Jordan Valley. Anywhere but here! Please God!' 'You really want me to go through with this? Don't you? So be it God, so be it.' And at that the soldiers arrive. Judas, camouflaged by the shadows, comes to Jesus, looks him in the face, mad eyes dancing, sweat glistening. The two are eyeball to eyeball breathing in each others face. Judas swallows hard, wets his lips and moves to walk past Jesus but as he passes, he kisses Jesus on the cheek. He tastes the sweat, smells the fear. That's the last Judas sees of his friend.       Copyright: R Hamilton 1998

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