Chapter Seven: Jesus' Answer

Jesus and I walked into History Class with everyone else. When we had settled in our seats Rabbi Nicodemus announced to the class, "I've got excellent news, for me at least. I've got an interview today for a position on the Sanhedrin. If all goes well I will become a member of the assembly."

The Sanhedrin was the name of the Jewish Supreme Court. Every city in Israel had one. Each Sanhedrin consisted of twenty-three judges. To be one of them was considered to be both an honor and a privilege.

"Anyway, I've got to go now," Nicodemus said. "I've already told the school, but unfortunately they don't any available substitutes to fill in for me. So just behave without me. If I hear of any trouble for you there will be Hell to pay, especially if I get the job. I want you to read the book of Deuteronomy. Good-bye."

And with that Rabbi Nicodemus ran out the door. As to be expected, nobody read Deuteronomy, but pulled up their desks into groups and talked quietly. At least Jesus and I had an excuse for not reading it: We had read it at least six times strait through already and could almost recite any verse.

Judas pulled up his desk in between Jesus and I and asked, "Are you two in the mood for a religious discussion?"

"Sure, what's on your mind?" Jesus asked.

"Yesterday John sat with me at lunch and I asked him a few questions that I had that nobody could answer. John was even stumped by them, but he said to ask them to you. I figured we have time now to talk."

"You stumped John?" Jesus asked. "We'll I'll do my best then. What were your questions?"

Judas took a deep breath and asked, "Did God create everything?"

I would have said yes, but Jesus thought for a moment. "God is the source of all creation. But God didn't create his school. Mankind used materials such as wood and stone, which were directly created by God, to build it."

"What about evil?" Judas asked.

"Evil," Jesus muttered. He took a pause and said, "With the creation of anything good there is potential for perversion. That's what evil is. Evil is the corruption of anything good. It is has no individual existence of its own. Which means that there is one good thing about evil: Anything evil can be restored back to good."

"Wow," I said. "That's a way better answer than I gave."

"And it makes sense too," Judas said.

Jesus glanced behind him and whispered, "Now I've got a question for you, Judas. Have you ever met Mary's boyfriend Devlin?"

"He just moved into my neighborhood a few days ago," Judas said. "I think he's a creep. He wears the same black outfit every day. Yesterday after Cross Country practice I saw him sitting on the sidewalk. I asked him what he was doing and he said that he was learning divine knowledge from the spirits in the air."

"Sounds pretty strange to me," I said.

We whispered in such low voices that Devlin, who was sitting in the back row, couldn't hear us. But as if on cue he got out of his chair and walked to the front of the room.

Excuse me everyone," he said in a calm voice. His voice was so soothing it was almost hypnotic. This was the first time I ever heard Devlin's voice, but it certainly wasn't the last. Even after his earthly shell was rotting in the ground his friends continued his work.

"I am throwing a huge party in a few days," Devlin announced. "I'm new in Nazareth so this is my way of getting to know everyone. Everyone and anyone are invited to my house. Bring all your friends and family. There will be free food and free drinks. I will speak to everyone individually before giving my speech to everyone. So please come."

Devlin gave a low bow and went back to his chair. Jesus, Judas, and I had our own opinions about this guy after hearing his voice for the time. But I think Jesus hit the nail right on the head for all of us.

"What a weirdo," my cousin muttered. "But I'm going to his party to see what he has to say."