The Day of Atonement

 

God rest his soul, Jesus decided it was time to get arrested. So the Ministry revolted; Judas died defending the Ministry. While they were holding Antipas at bay, Christ turned himself into Roman Senator Pontius Pilate, claiming to be King of Kings, son of Herod, it was not a lie. 

“King of the Holy Land?”

“Yes. I offer myself up as the yearly sacrifice.”

“That would be a selfless act.”

“One selfless act does not negate a lifetime of selfishness.”

“You look allot like the King, and who knows you may even be a pauper King, but you are not Herod Antipas. I can tell you are not evil.” 

 

Jesus repented and shared his story. Pontius smirked, “You cannot lie, but I can.” On Good Friday, Pilate announced Herod Antipas and Barabbas were on block. Pharisees’ representatives were in attendance and realized there was no way for them to warn Antipas he was in two places at once since he had his hands full with the revolution, which the Sanhedrin, Jewish synagogue, was now behind. Pharisees almost convinced the people to vote for Barabbas as Sacrificial Lamb, but Pontius used reverse psychology and swayed them to vote otherwise. Jesus was carted off to Golgotha in preparation for the Day of Atonement. When Christ reached Golgotha, he was greeted by his blood brother Caligula, who was in charge of preparing the Devil’s dinner. “Jesus?” Caligula took Jesus aside. “What are you doing here? Whatever you have planned the Devil is no fool.”

“I must be sinless yet reek of sin”

Caligula had an idea and started to believe it. Lord called for his second in command, instructing, “I have been called away, but I will be back in time to finish the Ceremony. You will be in charge of preparing the Devil’s dinner.” Treated like royalty, much like the grooming and fattening up of an animal for consumption, Saint Peter baptized Jesus as part of the Church’s oath to make sure sacrificial lamb was clean; Jesus even helped two thieves avoid getting their hands cut off. He argued, “I am still King, release these men just because I said so. Who is the real thief, the one who is overworking and underpaying someone, Herod Antipas, or the one who steals a loaf of bread to feed his family?” They all laughed hysterically thinking he was talking to himself in third person. While Jesus was prepared for the Devil’s Dinner, Caligula travelled to the Holy Land and kidnapped Herod Antipas. Caligula returned to Golgotha in time to escort Jesus down through the Valley of Kings; people kissed Christ’s feet, splashed him with perfumes and tossed ashes and flowers. As part of the ritual, Caligula carried Hero’s Cross to the Heart of Egypt. Hour was soon upon them, and just before the Devil arrived, Caligula slit Antipas’ throat and collected his blood in a Chalice and hid it under his robe; Jesus, nailed to the cross was hoisted up; Caligula placed a crown of thorns upon Christ’s head and pierced his side with a spear. Blood dripped down the spear into another Chalice. Caligula stood next to the Cross and patiently waited for the Devil to arrive. The Devil swooped in with his Fallen Angels and Vedas. Caligula turned his back to the Devil grabbed Jesus’ blood Chalice and switched it with the hidden Chalice beneath his robe, then turned and offered it up to the Devil. 

“A taste of this year's sacrifice.”

The Devil took a sip from the chalice and was delighted. “Evil runs deep in this one.”

Devil flipped Caligula a gold coin, “Only the most wicked for the Dark One.”  

Jesus not afraid of the Devil or death. had to keep his eyes open and pretend he was. Devil reeked of sulphur; Jesus remembered what God said, his breathing techniques and cutting garlic with his mother to make garlic bread. When Devil bit into Jesus, he immediately knew his blood was pure; before Devil keeled over and died, he chained Christ’s cross to a stone and tossed him into the Mediterranean Sea. When one defeats an immortal, one gains their powers, achieving immortality. Jesus dropped like a rock being tossed into the Ocean, lost to the murky depths.

 

The Devil breathed his last breath, “We had a deal.”

“I have lived up to my end of the bargain, we all fall short, look around you, I am a sinner, we are all sinners compared to Jesus. Have your will and fill if you can.” The Devil could not and died at the foot of the Lord. “The World will forever know The Lion stands between the Devil and the Lamb. Or as Caesar would say 2 goats are better than 1.” Fallen Angels and Vampires scattered. With the death of the Devil and Herod Antipas, the Holy Land was quiet for a time. Caligula visited The Ministry, looking for John the Baptist’s only son, born in the wilderness. Little John introduced himself to the Lord. “I am he.”

“Before Jesus died he told of all who listened to him, you were his favourite. That you could recite his Sermon on the Mount word for word.”