Read Online The Thirteenth Apostle by Michel Benoit - Free Book Online Page B

I’ve come to reassure Judas. God is just, he knows that he has an upright heart. Judas was wrong to call him to witness between himself and the High Priest. Ask him to step outside, I want a word with him.”
    The woman hesitated, stared at Peter for a while and closed the door in his face.
    The apostle wandered a little further on. There were three low-roofed houses at the dead end of the street; their outside shutters were drawn. Jerusalem was still asleep, after spending the night reciting the Passover Seder.
    A noise made him start. He turned round. Judas was standing in front of him.
    â€œPeter! Shalom !”
    He was deadly pale. There were shadows under his eyes, and his hair was unkempt, giving him a haggard air. He stared at Peter in some disquiet. Peter did not return his greeting, but merely nodded. Judas took the initiative.
    â€œIf only you knew… We were betrayed, Peter, betrayed by the High Priest in person. He had sworn that Jesus’s life would be safe. And yesterday at dawn, I saw the master being led before Pilate in chains. Then…”
    â€œThen you lost your head!” Peter replied in cutting tones.
    â€œThen I wanted to remind Caiaphas of our agreement. And I called God to witness between him and me.”
    â€œDo you know what that means, according to your absurd beliefs?”
    Judas lowered his head and wrung his hands.
    â€œEvery oath that is sworn calls on the Everlasting. Caiaphas swore an oath to me, he gave me money as a token of his good faith, and yet Jesus died as a malefactor! Ah yes, only the Everlasting can be judge of such infamy.”
    â€œDidn’t Jesus tell us again and again that we were not to swear by God’s throne, since this was insulting to him?”
    Judas shook his head.
    â€œGod judges, brother; God must judge the infamy of men…”
    Peter thought: “This is what the priests have done to us – made us the slaves of absurd beliefs. This is what we need to free Israel from, first and foremost – and if this doesn’t happen with Jesus, it will have to happen without him. But Judas is doomed. It’s too late for him.”
    â€œWell, Judas?” he said.
    â€œWell, it’s all over. All we can do now is go back home to Galilee to expiate the Master’s death for as long as we live. It’s all over, Peter!”
    The apostle took a step towards Judas, who stared at him mistrustfully. To reassure him, Peter smiled at him. “This man is a victim of Jewish power, let him die in peace!” Then he unsheathed his sica, and with a sudden thrust, as he had once learnt from the Zealots, he plunged it into Judas’s belly. With a grimace of disgust, he jerked it upwards until he felt the sternum obstructing his weapon.
    â€œGod has judged, Judas,” he whispered into his face. “God always judges: Caiaphas will continue to live – so much the worst for Israel.”
    With his eyes widening in horror, Judas, without a cry, toppled forwards, his belly slashed open and his entrails spilling out onto the sand.
    Peter stepped back, slowly, and looked up and down the dead-end street: nothing had moved, there would be no witnesses. Slowly, he wiped his short sword on the inside of his tunic. Then he looked up. The cheerful Passover sun was shedding its light on the land of Israel, reminding him of their departure from slavery in the land of Egypt, and the miraculous parting of the waters of the Red Sea.
    On that day, a people had been born: the People of God. Twelve tribes had then wandered through the desert before settling in Canaan: the old Israel, which was now on its last legs. A new Israel needed to come into being, and this time it would be led by twelve apostles. So there were only eleven of them left? God himself would appoint a replacement for Judas.
    But never would the Judaean, the so-called beloved disciple, be one of the Twelve.
    Never.
    * * *
    Peter stepped over Judas’s