Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Bestie (05/22/14)
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TITLE: Divergence | Previous Challenge Entry
By Gary Ritter
05/27/14 -
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My friend Amos and I were buddies from the earliest days I can remember. Besties. You can’t imagine anyone being better friends. Every year our parents would go up to Jerusalem for Passover and we met stuffing our faces at the Feast. During the walk home we played hide and seek, tormented our mothers with foolhardy behavior, and laughed at the sternness of our fathers. We never made it easy for them.
When we were about twelve we heard about this one kid our age whose parents couldn’t find him after noticing he wasn’t with the group following a day’s travel. Turned out he’d stayed behind and spent several days in the temple talking to the teachers without telling his parents. I know if it was me who’d done that I’d have gotten a good whupping. If this kid got one I never heard it.
For some reason the Godly teaching we received never stuck. Amos and I went through the motions: bowing to the priest, burning holy incense, offering sacrificial doves for our sins; the point of it eluded the both of us.
We became bolder in our daily ventures. We’d go to market and sneak up on a fruit stand, pretending it was a Roman soldier we hated. Each of us would make a run at it, snatching a bunch of grapes or a cluster of figs. Stealing from the vendor was like thrusting a blade into the back of the soldier we despised. As we ate the fruit of our efforts we joked and dreamed. Some day we’d make it big. We’d be lifted high above the earth surveying our domain. Our enemies would be low beneath our feet.
Day to day work that our fathers tried to teach us had a dreariness about it that never resonated with either of us. My father wanted me to learn masonry, Amos’ father attempted to teach him fishing. We had greater plans, bigger purposes. When we actually stole weapons from the Roman garrison we couldn’t believe it. The money we got from selling to the Zealots made us want more and more.
It seemed that the more we took the more we wanted, and we were untouchable. Our fame grew among both the criminal class and the dissidents. We could acquire anything and provide everything. If you came to us with a need, we made sure you got it.
We were at the height of our prowess when we heard about a man who gained quite a reputation as a prophet. He drew large crowds, performed miraculous healings, and royally ticked off the Pharisees and their ilk. The crowd we ran with loved Him; they thought He’d come to deliver our people from Roman oppression.
But something happened. He alienated many of His supporters and they turned against Him. The chief priests and teachers had Him arrested. In solidarity all rose up and demanded He die.
To satisfy our traditions, the ruler Pilate freed our friend Barabbas. Wouldn’t you know? He was so grateful he immediately fingered Amos and me as thieves, and instigators in the rebellion. Boom! Like that. A sham trial and we’re headed up crucifixion hill with this Jesus character.
You can imagine, neither of us was too thrilled that morning. Amos; man-o-man, he was not dealing well with this turn of events.
They hung us all on crosses, Amos and me as bookends to Jesus. I figured if we were there and deserved it, the man in the middle must have really earned His punishment. Strange thing, though. The crowd below jeered and taunted Jesus, but He forgave them. I was with them. If He was God like He said, why not release us all with one His special miracles?
But Amos…. He asked Jesus to remember him to God, and Jesus told him he’d be with Him that day in paradise.
Peace came over Amos. I thought of nothing but the pain and injustice. My breathing was labored. I was bitter. All my plans, everything I’d worked for so hard had come to this.
Around me, all became dim and shadowy. I looked up. Light surrounded Jesus. Amos, too! Angels lifted them both away. I shrieked as demons of darkness tore me from the cross and dragged me down to their lair.
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WEll done
God bless~
God Bless~