The Boy Who Would Become The Savior
mustapha umoru@umorumustapha596358
6 days ago
YOUNG CHRIST (Chapter 11).
Biblical Fiction
Copyrighted ©️
✝️
The tension at the School of the Spirit had been simmering for weeks. Herod’s campaign to undermine Jesus was subtle but effective, planting seeds of doubt among the students and staff. Whispers of dissent crept through the halls like an invisible shadow. And at the center of it all was Judas.
Judas had always been ambitious. His sharp mind and quick wit often set him apart from his peers, but his restlessness made him vulnerable to Herod’s schemes.
It began innocently enough—a private meeting in Herod’s office under the pretense of discussing Judas’ future. The principal leaned back in his chair, the faint glow of a desk lamp casting shadows across his sharp features.
“You’re a bright student, Judas,” Herod said, his voice smooth and calculated. “You could have influence, power, if you align yourself with the right people. But tell me—how do you feel about Jesus?”
Judas hesitated, unsure where this was going. “He’s... different,” he said cautiously. “Everyone looks up to him.”
Herod leaned forward, his tone dropping conspiratorially. “But is that fair? Shouldn’t someone like you—intelligent, capable—have the same respect? Or does he take all the attention, leaving nothing for the rest of you?”
The words wormed their way into Judas’ mind. Herod’s promises of recognition and influence stirred something inside him—a desire he’d tried to suppress.
Over the next few days, Judas began to subtly spread doubts among the students.
“He’s not perfect,” Judas said casually during a group discussion in the courtyard. “Everyone acts like he’s above us, but he’s just another student, isn’t he? Why does he get all the credit?”
The words spread like wildfire. Small pockets of students began to question Jesus’ motives, his actions. The once unified class started to fracture.
It didn’t take long for Jesus to notice the change. The air felt heavier, conversations quieter when he entered the room. He saw the way students whispered behind his back, their glances filled with doubt. And he knew who was at the heart of it.
One afternoon, as the sun dipped low and cast golden light through the library windows, Jesus approached Judas, who sat alone, pouring over a scroll.
“Judas,” Jesus said softly, his voice tinged with sadness.
Judas glanced up, his expression guarded. “What is it?”
Jesus sat across from him, his gaze steady. “I know what you’ve been saying.”
Judas bristled, closing the scroll with a sharp snap. “I’m just speaking the truth. Not everyone thinks you’re as perfect as you pretend to be.”
Jesus didn’t flinch. “I’ve never claimed to be perfect, Judas. I’m just trying to do what’s right.”
“Right for who?” Judas shot back. “You? Or the rest of us? Do you even think about how your actions make the rest of us feel?”
Jesus’ eyes softened, his sorrow evident. “Judas, this isn’t about me or you. It’s about something greater than either of us. But I see the pain you’re carrying, the doubt. And I forgive you, even if you can’t forgive yourself.”
The words struck Judas like a blow. For a moment, his defenses faltered, and guilt flickered in his eyes. But pride quickly took over.
“You don’t need to forgive me,” he said coldly, standing and walking away.
Judas’ actions continued to create divisions. Some students, like Peter and Abigail, remained fiercely loyal to Jesus, but others wavered, caught between doubt and belief.
John confronted Judas in the courtyard one evening, his frustration boiling over.
“What’s wrong with you?” John demanded. “How can you turn on him after everything he’s done for us?”
Judas crossed his arms, his face a mask of indifference. “Maybe I’m just tired of living in his shadow.”
“It’s not about shadows or attention!” John snapped. “It’s about the truth, and you’re twisting it!”
From his office, Herod watched the growing discord with a satisfied smile. His plan was working perfectly. If Jesus’ influence could be undermined, his power would never threaten Herod’s authority.
Despite the divisions, Jesus remained calm. He continued to teach, to heal, to guide those who sought his wisdom. His words carried a quiet strength, a resilience that inspired his closest friends to stand by him even in the face of doubt.
One evening, as Jesus sat alone under a fig tree, Abigail joined him, her expression troubled.
“Do you think Judas will come back?” she asked.
Jesus gazed at the horizon, the first stars beginning to appear in the twilight. “Everyone has a choice,” he said. “But love doesn’t give up, even when the choice isn’t the one we hope for.”
---
