web | The case of the disappearance...

The Judge: At last, today we are here to consider the case of the disappearance of the body of Jesus of Nazareth, son of Mary, father unknown, condemned to death at the request of the Jews, crucified and died on the cross last Friday. Call the first witness.You are the first witness. Approach. Identify yourself and describe what you do.

1st Witness: My name is Joseph from Arimathaea. Landowner. Member of Sanhedran.

The Judge: Swear on your life that you will tell the truth.

1st Witness: I swear.

The Judge: You requested that the Emperor's Procurator give you the body of Jesus Christ to bury. Why did you do this?

1st Witness: There were rumors that His followers would steal the dead body and then proclaim to the people that He had resurrected, as He himself predicted. That's why.

The Judge: If the followers stole the body then they know that their Teacher hasn't resurrected. Ergo, He isn't the son of God and has lied to them. Do you think that they, too, could lie to the whole world about a thing so great as heaven and divinity?

1st Witness: Even if they know that their Teacher hasn't resurrected, when the word spreads they, His followers, will gain great fame and respect. This will ease their conscience and maybe years later, when the whole universe believes in their lie, they will believe in it too. You know how easy it is to believe in any lie which promises heaven and immortality.

The Judge: Would you believe such a lie?

1st Witness: Do I have to answer such a personal question?

The Judge: You are before the court.

1st Witness: I prefer to die knowing that I'll be dead for ever instead of standing before heaven's gate begging for immortality.

The Judge: So you don't believe in your God who promises you resurrection?

1st Witness: At the end of the world and for everybody.

The Judge: So, you do believe in something?

1st Witness: Dogmas give structure to society. I live well in this society and I don't want it to collapse around me. That's why I believe in following the dogmas in which I don't believe.

The Judge: Isn't something in which you really believe?

1st Witness: There is emptiness full of atoms which move aimlessly for all eternity. They unite and scatter senselessly.

The Judge: I am here to learn the facts. Only the facts will help me to find the truth. I want to hear what really happened.

1st Witness: I laid the body in a small cave in the garden of my country house, sealed the entrance with a big stone slab and placed two armed soldiers to guard it. That was on Friday morning.

The Judge: Did you personally see the body? Were you certain that He was dead?

1st Witness: Yes, He was dead. His face was gaunt and yellow with bluish shadows. His eyelids were so thin from the suffering that his black pupils shown through under them like He was watching me through a veil. Th wound on His hip wasn't bleeding. He was ice cold and stiff. Yes. He was indeed dead.

The Judge: The Court is aware that your slaves brought the body. Do you think that they could have been mistaken? Could they have brought the body of one of the two thieves crucified with him?

1st Witness: I knew Him. I've seen Him.

The Judge: When and where?

1st Witness: When he arrived in Jerusalem on a mule, when He drove out the dealers from the temple and when we condemned Him eight days ago. I will never forget His face... Do you really think it's more likely for a thief to resurrect than the son of God?

The Judge: You have no right to ask questions. When and how did you learn that the body had disappeared?

1st Witness: On Sunday morning, a slave ran from my country house and brought the news. I went straight there without telling anyone. All the slaves were scared to death. The two soldiers were still beside themselves. They could barely say what had happened.

The Judge: Well, tell us what had happened.

1st Witness: At midnight, when they were guarding the grave, a blazing light suddenly blinded them. There was a thunderous blast and they felt the earth shake. They fell on the ground, trembling with fear. When they came to, they saw the grave open and the body wasn't there. That's what they told me at first.

The Judge: At first?

1st Witness: Later, one of them told me something else. He said that after the nightfall some man appeared before him.

The Judge: What man?

1st Witness: A man with a torch in his hand. They didn't know him. He sat down with them and they started talking. It was chilly that night and the man had a jug of wine with him. He offered some to warm them up.

The Judge: Didn't the soldiers find this suspicious?

1st Witness: They're not from here - strong, but simple people. Barely speak the language. They were ordered not to let anyone approach the grave. The man didn't approach it, he just sat with them.

The Judge: Then what?

1st Witness: After a few sips they felt dizzy. They tried to stand up but fell back on the ground and lost consciousness. When they awoke the stone slab had been removed and body was gone.

The Judge: That's what of the guards said. What about the other, did he agree with him?

1st Witness: No, he didn't. He insisted to the end that the story with the blinding light was truth.

The Judge: Huh. Maybe he was afraid he would be punished for drinking wine on duty?

1st Witness: Maybe. But I promised them forgiveness and a reward for telling the truth.

The Judge: For reward one might lie.

1st Witness: Doesn't the truth deserve a reward?

The Judge: What do you think happened?

1st Witness: Some of his followers snuck into the garden of my country house. One of them gave the soldiers wine which had sleeping herbs in it. As soon as the soldiers fell asleep, the others came, removed the slab and stole the body. And the very next morning the rumor that He had been resurrected spread. That' it.

The Judge: How many slaves lifted the stone slab to close the grave?

1st Witness: Fourteen. With ropes and levers.

The Judge: And He had only 12 followers?

1st Witness: Eleven. The twelfth betrayed Him and then hanged himself.

The Judge: Well, it has come to the court's attention that on the night when the body disappeared all the followers of the Nazarene were gathered at the house of Simon. Therefore, your hypothesis that they have abducted the boy seems to be in error.

1st Witness: If it is error, then the only conclusion we can draw is that He must have had other, secret followers.

The Judge: Maybe you are one of them.

1st Witness: I voted in the Sanhedran for His death.

The Judge: That doesn't matter. Judas betrayed him too, and as you know, he was His most faithful follower.

1st Witness: My life and my service place above reproach. Besides that, as I said, I hate anyone who wants to demolish the structure of the society of which I am a part.

The Judge: then, why did you bury Him in your garden, and what's more, in the grave that you prepared for your self? Jesus ought to have been buried with the other criminals, deep in the ground. And there, not just two but ten soldiers would have guarded the grave. Then it would have been much more difficult to drug the soldiers and dig up the grave. Isn't that so?

1st Witness: I refuse to respond to such an accusation.

The Judge: But, I do not accuse Joseph, my friend. I just suspect you. And you know that no one an be convicted on mere suspicion. I don't have any further questions. May be the Prosecution and the Defense would like to ask you something?

The Prosecution: You said, Joseph, it's possible that Jesus had other secret followers. Maybe more that we're aware of . In Judea, there were and still are many prophets. Why is it only Jesus that has so many followers? You are a Jew, you explain it.

1st Witness: Do I have to answer this?

The Judge: Since the question relates to the case, yes, you have to answer it.

1st Witness: The prophets before Him proclaimed themselves to be messengers of God. Jesus proclaimed to be God's son.

The Prosecution: Deep within themselves people know that there is no God. Why did they believe him?

1st Witness: The minority knows and they keep the secret. The majority doubts, but out of fear of death they're willing to believe that God exists, that they are His children, and that someday they will be given forgiveness and resurrection, which means immortality. That's why Jesus had to be resurrected, to convince the masses.

The Prosecution: And why did Jesus need so much to make people believe? Even sacrificed his life?

1st Witness: Not Jesus - His followers. They exploit His supposed resurrection to make the masses believe in their own immortality. Then the people do whatever they're told in the name of the Resurrected. When one believes in eternal life, you can make him achieve the greatest feat or the worst crime. He defeats death and fears nothing. That's why the resurrection of Jesus is dangerous. The believers could destroy our society. And they will, unless it is proven that Jesus is not resurrected.

The Prosecution: Now, I want you to answer directly and sincerely one question. You, personally, in the depth of your soul, what do you believe? That He is resurrected, or that His body was stolen?

1st Witness: The body was stolen.

The Prosecution: But you believe in the dogmas of your religion, don't you? You do believe that at the end of the world there'll be resurrection, and for everybody, don’t you?

1st Witness: As I said.

The Prosecution: No further questions.

The Defense: Yes, I would like to discuss this matter with the witness. First of all, I want to register my disagreement with the Honorable Judge. Personally, I haven't any suspicious about you, Honorable Joseph. Not for a moment have I thought you could be a secret follower of the Nazarene. I consider you a loyal citizen, a thinker, who asked himself questions about life and death, faith and society, and has reached the conclusion that even though God doesn't exist, religion is needed as an anchor for society. And if another religion appears, especially one that comes from the depths of the simpleminded, it would demolish the structure of society.

1st Witness: Yes...

The Defense: That's why you requested the body of Jesus. Although you were sure that He wouldn't resurrect, you were afraid that His body could be stolen and the resurrection proclaimed. That's why you buried Him secretly in the grave prepared for yourself and placed soldiers to guard it. Isn't that so?

1st Witness: It is so...

The Defense: However, it turned out that, as the Honorable Judge said, in spite of your desire to do it right, you inadvertently did it wrong. Wrong? Let's imagine for a moment the impossible. Let's suppose that Jesus was the son of God and He would've been resurrected. Let's suppose further that He was buried with the other criminals, deep in the ground. As we said before, He would resurrect from there too, wouldn't he? Then if He had resurrected from there, there wouldn't be any about His resurrection. The people would see that the grave hadn't been dug up and that the earth simply opened and He had come out. And, of course, then everybody would believe in His resurrection, even you, even us. Because faced with the obvious, all doubts vanish.

1st Witness: Yes...but...

The Defense: But when you buried Him in the grave and closed it with a stone slab, even He had resurrected, the doubt that He was stolen remains. The stone could be removed as easily by supernatural power as by human hands. Now, do you understand that you haven't done it as wrong as it looks at first glance? You have planted doubts in the hearts of the strongest believers. Now tell me what you wanted to say.

1st Witness: Nothing - you're right...Your logic absolves me completely. Thank you.

The Defense: That’s quite all right. I am here to find and reveal the proof people's innocence. If they are innocent. And now if the Honorable Judge will allow me and if you will permit it, I would like to ask you a few questions.

The Judge: I already allowed it.

The Defense: Thank you. Honorable Joseph, I don't believe you haven't heard that Jesus has performed miracles: turned water into wine; fed thousands of people with a few fish and loaves of bread; given sight to blind people. Well, do you believe that?

1st Witness: Do I have to answer questions like these?

The Defense: Joseph, I'm not questioning you. We are just discussing an interesting issue.

1st Witness: There was a man who was born blind, a beggar. He stayed on the crossroad in front of the market place. His eyes were white ... like statue's. The gossips say that the beggar was given sight by Jesus.

The Defense: Do they?

1st Witness: Yes. So, we asked him to come to the Sanhedran because there was a fervor building within the public. We questioned him. He said that a man named Jesus saw him, spit into the dirt to make a mud, spread some on his eyes, and told him to go and wash at the well at Siloam. He did so and began to see. I saw him myself. His eyes were black with huge pupils. Clean, like new.

The Judge: And what did you in the Sanhedran do?

1st Witness: To deny that he could not see was senseless. But to accept it meant to confirm that Jesus possessed God's power. The matter was extremely delicate. I suggested an explanation that seemed to be plausible and practical.

The Defense: What was it?

1st Witness: Man can do miracles only if he possesses supernatural power. But such power comes not only from God but from the devil as well. I proposed, I think quite reasonably, to admit that Jesus had performed that particular miracle with the power of the devil. We ordered the man to tell everyone that he could see because of the help of the Satan.

The Defense: Did he comply?

1st Witness: He said, "I don't know whether it is from the devil or from God. I just know that I was blind and now I can see.

The Defense: I have no doubt that you don't believe in God and likewise that you don't believe in the devil. Or...

1st Witness: I shall not answer this question.

The Defense: Why? All right, we'll forget it. So you don't believe that Jesus could perform miracles.

1st Witness: I don't believe, I know that He has done the miracle about which I told you.

The Defense: I understand. Do you personally think that the resurrection is a miracle?

1st Witness: The resurrection is a blessing from God... if it is possible. I personally don't believe in it.

The Defense: I don't have any further questions... If the Honorable Judge...

The Judge: Yes, you may go. Wait a minute. Approach the bench. I want to ask you one last question. But please, tell me the truth. Why did you bury Him in the grave which you had prepared for yourself? Him, the man for who's death you voted, the man who you condemned as a servant of the devil, who you proclaimed as an enemy of your society?

1st Witness: I've explained that.

The Judge: No, no. You could have still buried Him in your garden, but in the ground. Why in your own grave? Why? Please, answer me! I beg you.

1st Witness: Because, if He resurrected somehow from my grave it would be like me myself resurrecting. At least a little.

The Judge: Now you can go. Call the second witness. Approach. Don’t be afraid. You are not on trial. We just want you help us find the truth. Tell us, what is your name and what do you do?

2nd Witness: I'm not afraid. My name is Mary. Before I was a whore. Since the Teacher forgave me, I've have been His servant.

The Judge: Yes, I know this.

2nd Witness: If you know, why do you ask?

The Judge: Do you swear in your life, Mary, that you will tell the truth?

2nd Witness: I swear I'll tell my truth.

The Judge: What does it mean "my" truth? There is only one truth.

2nd Witness: Yes, there is only one truth. But there are many eyes which see it differently. For them, the truth is like a cloud that floats and changes its shape. For the truth is bright and everlasting like the sun.

The Judge: Your truth is important to us now.

2nd Witness: Then, I swear on my life.

The Judge: All right. Tell me now what happened Sunday morning.

2nd Witness: It was the most secret and frightening, the greatest, and the most wonderful thing that happened Saturday, before Sunday, at midnight.

The Judge: All right. But you didn't see it. What did you personally see Sunday morning?

2nd Witness: You know, don't you? Why do you want me to say it again.

The Judge: Because we want to find the truth.

2nd Witness: About what?

The Judge: About what happened with the body of Jesus.

2nd Witness: Don't you know? He resurrected! On the third, day, as He said.

The Judge: To whom did He say this? To you?

2nd Witness: To me personally.

The Judge: When?

2nd Witness: Wait... Yes, it was on the second day before Passover. I remember. It was afternoon. He was relaxing in the cool back room of the house of the other Mary. I entered quietly and kneeled down. He was laying facing the window...flat and still, staring at the sky through the square window. Suddenly, I started shaking inside. The thought that He could be dead gripped me. Then He began to talk. His voice was like a rain for me. No! I can't say like what. Like everything. It comes somewhere from heaven and carries with it melodies I heard in my dreams as child. Yes. Maybe because it was coming from so away that sometimes His voice was tired, monotonous. And it was full of many sounds. Full of the voices of all living creatures, full of the echo of angels' songs, and of the silence of the everlasting night, and of all the voices that I dreamed before my birth...

The Judge: Mary, what was his voice like - monotonous or full of sounds?

2nd Witness: Monotonous and full of endless variety of sounds. That's why when I heard Him for the first time I knew He was the son of God.

The Judge: When did you hear Him for the first time.

2nd Witness: It was when the crowd dragged me to kill me. They took me to a small hill north of the city. There, at the bottom, a very old fig tree with leaves graying from dust and sun. He was under it with a few young men. The crowd stopped and started to complain about me. Their shouts were like rolling down a cliff. And they asked Him if I didn't deserve death. Then He uttered something without looking at me. He was sitting with His head down and drawing something on the ground with a twig. And the crowd silenced. And there He was. I understood that my sins had been forgiven, and I was freed from them, ad I was like a newborn.

The Judge: What did He say?

2nd Witness: I don't know. I never heard His words. I hear His voice - and I know.

The Judge: How know if you don't hear the words?

2nd Witness: You are beautiful. You must understand. Because I am beautiful. Don't think that if I say you are beautiful you are handsome and good looking. No! To be beautiful means to be in harmony, harmony always being destroyed and rebuilt again.

The Judge: For now let's leave the abstract out of this.

2nd Witness: Abstract? This the truth which gives live to everything.

The Judge: Then let's leave out "the truth which gives live to everything." Tell me what He told you when He was lying still and staring through the window.

2nd Witness: I told you, didn't I? The He began to talk and said that He would soon die and on the third day after His death He would resurrect. Nor for Himself but for the people to believe in Him and to change them and the word in His name.

The Prosecution: Remember these words, Your Honor!

The Judge: I remember everything. Go on Mary.

2nd Witness: But I've finished. This is what you wanted to know, isn't it?

The Judge: Did you ask Him anything? Why He would die, how He would resurrect?

2nd Witness: I never ask Him. He talks, I listen to His voice and I feel that I'm inside Him, a small part of Him. And He is inside me, big like the whole universe, cuddled in my heart.

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© Stephan Gechev
© Mimi Tsankov, translated
© Nikolai Tsankov, revised and adapted
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© E-magazine LiterNet, 19.01.2001, № 1 (14)