A Night to Remember

by la-hija-de-Dios

After a successful mission, the A-Team spends the night at a cabin in the woods, only to have the most interesting night ever.

2. Chapter 2

(Chapter 2)

Hannibal had witnessed the death of Christ as well. the two things that stuck foremost in his mind were the agony Jesus had went through, and the love that emanated from His eyes. Emotionally and physically worn out, the colonel had made for the building in which the farce of a trial had happened. It was cold outside and he the building provided shelter. After entering, he slipped behind the curtains, slipped to the floor, and fell asleep instantly. This way, hopefully, no one would see him.

When Hannibal opened his eyes, the first thing that greeted them was a room full of Pharisees, the chief priests and Pilate, the governor. By God's grace, the colonel was hidden from their view. The chief priests and Pharisees said, "Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first."

Pilate's response was, "Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can."

Well, that sounds suspicious, Hannibal thought. He escaped unseen out the window.

~\•/~

The tapping on his shoulder woke Murdock up. He looked up from where he had fallen asleep under the tree, Billy snoring softly beside him. "Hmm?" he questioned groggily.

"May I ask what you are doing here?" a deep-chested voice bounced back the verbal ball.

"Oh! I'm here to see when Jesus rises from the dead. I must have dozed off for a few minutes."

"Doz-ed ahff? What is this 'doz-ed ahff' of which you speak?"

"You kno—Wait. You probably don't know. It means "to have fallen asleep."

"Interesting." the man declared thoughtfully. "Well, you must leave. We have orders from Pontius Pilate to secure the sepulchre."

Murdock frowned. "We?" And the guys think I'm crazy.

"Yes. My men and I."

Murdock held a hand up to his eyes to block the sun, then saw a watch of Roman soldiers. "Oh, ok." He stood up, then knelt down to shake Billy awake. "Come on, boy. Time to wake up. Good boy!"

The watch looked at the lunatic. There thoughts were something akin to the following sentence: What is he doing? That man must be crazy! Anyone can see that there's nothing there.

Murdock and Billy stood up. "This here's my dog Billy!" he announced proudly.

The watch eyed him warily, as though he'd suddenly foam at the mouth and start attacking them.

"It's ok. He doesn't bite. Well, only if it's self-defense, or he's protecting me. Oh! He'll also do it if I tell him to, or if he gets really mad. But don't worry. He's very mild-mannered and docile."

The men all grabbed their swords and pointed them at him, motioning for him to leave. Billy growled, but Murdock calmed him down, and, with a click of his tongue and a "Come, boy!" the two left.

~\•/~

Face woke up face-down in the dirt. He got up, dusted himself off and tried to remember just exactly what had happened. During this time, he had started walking, lost in his thoughts. He had just pieced together the events of the previous night, when he bumped into someone.

It was a tall man with large arms and dark-brown, straight hair standing beside another slightly shorter and slimmer man, his black hair curly. "Who are you?" The taller asked.

"Um, I'm . . . " Think up a Jewish name, Face! "Jeremiah."

"Nice to meet you, Jeremiah. I'm Peter and this is a fellow disciple of Jesus, John."

John nodded at "Jeremiah."

"Where are you headed?" Peter questioned.

"Nowhere in particular. I'm not able to think straight."

"Ah, so you were at the crucifixion yesterday, too?" John spoke, his voice slightly quieter but with the same amount of grief in it..

"You could say that, yes." Face nodded slowly

"So you're too depressed to think. I know the feeling. I know He was the Christ, the Son of God, but I thought that He would take us Israelites up out it the reign of Rome."

"Yeah, but He said He'd come back." John tried in vain to cheer Peter up.

"But I wouldn't be able to face Him, not when I denied Him just as He said."

"Peter, let us wait the three days. On that day, we shall see the truth."

~\•/~

The women, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and Zebedee's mother as well, took Amy in for the day and allowed her to spend the night with one of them.

~\•/~

Hannibal found Murdock walking his dog along the streets. "Hey, Murdock!" he called.

"Oh, Hannibal! It's so nice to see you! I didn't know where any of you guys were. Hey? Where are they?"

"I don't know, Murdock, but we'll find them. I'm sure of it."

Murdock smiled, reassured. "Ok, but I want to tell you what happened!"

~\•/~

B.A. had left the crucifiction site reflecting on Jesus's sacrifice. He hardly laughed, smiled, or chuckled, but he was doing all three now. All he had to do was find the sepulrchre. He asked around for where he might find the private family tomb of Joseph of Arimathaea. Finally someone had told him how to get there. It took a while without his precious van, but he finally made it. He sat down, out of the sight of the guards posted, awaiting morning.

~\•/~

The ladies, Any included, got up right before dawn the next morning and dressed warmly, for it was still spring. They were going to put spices on the Savior's body, so it wouldn't stink.

Mary Magdalene hurried them on. Salome and Amy were the two who hadn't seen the sepulchre, but they trusted the two Marys, so all was well. Mary the mother of Joses voiced the question in all of their minds. "Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?"

The others concurred. One suggested that if they all worked together, it might happen, but these women were no stronger than a flea compared to that rock. But, right before they got there, there was an mighty earthquake. They rushed over to the tomb and saw the watch of soldiers all lying on the ground, "as dead men," the Bible would say.

Even more amazing, there was the Angel of the Lord sitting on the stone, which had been rolled away. He said to the women, "Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you."

They fled, and were too afraid to tell anyone, Amy included. All except Mary Magdalene.

~\•/~

Hannibal had taken Murdock to one of the local inns for the night. In the morning, they heard excited yelling and looked out to see what was going on. Curiosity got the better of them, and they went to see what all the fuss was about. They saw some of the same Roman watch that had kicked out Murdock from the sepulchre frantically trying to show the chief priests what happened.

Probably to avoid being heard, they took the soldiers to the elders, debated, then bribed the watch, and said, "Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.

The soldiers accepted the bribe, and spread the lies: "and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day."

~\•/~

Mary Magdalene ran to Simon Peter and John, and said, "They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him."

The two disciples ran. Face, who had been with them struggled to keep up, and he had gone through military training. John approached the sepulchre first, but didn't enter yet. He just looked, and saw the linen clothes in which Jesus' body had been wrapped lying there. Peter finally got there, and went in first. He looked closely at the fabric. The napkin, which had been over His face was "not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself." to quote God's Holy Word. John then went in, "and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead." were some of the words written about this in the Word of God. Face stood at the entrance, forgotten by the two. But he had forgotten them as well. He was entranced by the fact that Jesus had risen from the dead, just as He said! All three went home, but Mary, who had followed them.

~\•/~

In the morning, B.A. awoke to find it all quiet. He looked around. He'd have thought that he's at least hear the chatter of the soldiers, but he couldn't hear anything. That thought got him worried. Had he suddenly gone deaf? How could he be a part of the A-Team if he couldn't hear?! Sure, one time he had pretended to be deaf for the benefit of a mission, but for real?! He opened his mouth and whispered, "It's going to be ok." He let out a sigh of relief. He could hear his own voice! It was ok . . . unless he was crazy, like Murdock. That thought sent a shiver down his spine, and he visibly shuddered. Then a bird tweeted and he smiled. He wasn't deaf. He could hear that. He could also hear a scraping sound. He made for the front of the sepulcher. There, just like the Bible said, were all the soldiers lying on the ground as though they were dead. He felt their pulses. They were alive, but had fainted.

He smiled. He knew why this had just happened. He recalled to mind the Bible verse: "And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men."

He got up and looked around, then stood dead in his tracks.

In front of him, about ten yards away from him stood a lady. She stood there, doubting and crying. She crouched and looked in the sepulchre, and she saw "two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain."

They questioned her, saying, "Woman, why weepest thou?"

Her answer was "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him."

At this, she turned and saw Jesus, but didn't recognize Him. He said, "Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?"

She assumed Him to be the gardener. "Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away."

Jesus said one word, but it was all it took. "Mary."

God showed her Who was standing before her and she said, "Rabboni;" Now, the word she said meant "Master" in Hebrew.

"Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God."

She ran to the disciples and told them what had happened and what the Lord had said.

~\•/~

B.A. had been wandering around Jerusalem and had all most given up hope that he'd ever find the rest if the team, when a group of ladies crossed his vision. One of them looked familiar. He ran to her and was rewarded for his efforts by a very relieved sounding "B.A.!" He greeted her. "Hey, Amy. I can't find anyone else.

"Yeah, me, neither. Well, we might as well walk together."

"I can't even find the crazy fool! How're we ever going to find all of them?"

"You'll just have to pray."

"Yeah. I forgot about that."

They walked in silence for a while, finally resting on a rock in front of a house.

~\•/~

Murdock had left the colonel at one point, saying he'd be right back. He took Billy for a walk, and came across two men. The two talked about all that had transpired the last two days. Murdock just walked behind them. Then a Jesus joined them. The Bible says, "But their eyes were holden that they should not know him."

Jesus asked them, "What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?"

One, Cleopas was his name, said, "Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?"

Jesus questioned, "What things?"

He knows what things, Murdock thought. But He wants them to tell Him.

They both said, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not."

Jesus answered, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?"

The Bible says, "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."

When they neared the village Emmaus, "whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight."

Murdock saw it all from their window. He had turned a barrel over so Billy could see, too.

The two men looked at each other and asked, "Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" "And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread."

While they were talking, Murdock glomped Face, and Billy licked the Faceman's cheeks. "Am I ever glad to see you, Faceguy. I ran into Hannibal a while back. Here, wait a minute." Murdock exited the room, leaving a very confused conman standing there. He knew he had felt something wet and slobbery on his cheeks, but the crazy man's head had been at the Lieutenant's shoulder. How had that worked? Murdock returned within five minutes, dragging the colonel with him.

"Face! Where've you been?" Hannibal asked, his trade-mark cigar in his mouth.

"Just fine, Hannibal. And you?"

"I've been better, too." Neither wanted to admit just how much the death of Jesus had affected him.

Then, even while the disciples spoke, Jesus appeared and said, "Peace be unto you." The whole room freaked out, with the exception of Face, Hannibal, Murdock, and Billy, for the door of the upper room they were in was locked, and there was no other way in. The thoughts of the disciples were one at this time, and went something like this: It is a spirit!

Jesus said, "Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." Jesus showed them His hands and feet, but they were so excited, they did not believe. He said unto them, "Have ye here any meat?

They found an honeycomb and a piece of a broiled fish. He ate it, showing them He wasn't dead. Then His eyes roved over the crowd, but stopped when they got to Face.

Face's heart skipped a beat. He could hardly breathe, let alone talk when he saw the boundless and unconditional love that shown from His eyes. That was what he had been searching for all his life, and not just because he was an orphan. He knelt, his legs unable to hold him any longer. He was so unworthy to even kneel in His presence.

He felt a hand on his head and looked up. He saw in Jesus's eyes one more thing, and that was forgiveness. Face involuntarily smiled and got up. He looked at Hannibal and was surprised to see tears in his C.O.'s face, too.

Murdock heard a noise outside, so he opened the door. "Hey! You'll never guess who I just found!" He hollered, shutting the door so they couldn't cheat.

"Your golf ball?" Hannibal smirked, playing along.

"No, Hannibal. He's in my pocket." Murdock patted the front right pocket of his tan slacks. "Your turn, Oh Facial One."

"The muffin man?" Face guessed.

"Of course not. He comes only on Saturdays and Wednesdays. It's Amy and the big guy!" He flung open the door and sang, "You finally came! You finally came! We missed you, our dear friends! You finally came!" to the tune of "Happy Birthday." He held his arms open wide for a hug.

Though Hannibal and Face could not see B.A.'s face, they heard the stomping up the stairs and could just imagine. B.A. stepped in and, with a growl at Murdock, bypassed him and went to stand by Hannibal. Amy also entered and, after giving the pilot a hug, went to stand by Face. Murdock, not satisfied with only one hug, but content, stood by his unit. He held his hat in his hands.

Face nudged Hannibal. "How long has that been off his head?"

Hannibal shrugged. "Since Jesus appeared, I think."

Jesus spoke, "Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." He breathed on all of them, except the A-Team. "Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."

There was one disciple that was not present that time. His name was Thomas, but he was called Didymus.

Jesus looked at the A-Team and said, "I did not give any of you the Holy Ghost for a reason." He looked at B.A. and Murdock with His loving, piercing eyes. "B.A., when you were eleven, and Murdock, when you were five, you called on Me for salvation. That very millisecond, I forgave you, saved you, and came into your hearts to stay. The Holy Spirit came as well. I did not offer you Him now because you all ready have Him." He turned to the others. "Face, Amy, and Hannibal. You don't know Me now, but you will. You cannot have the Holy Spirit unless you know Me as your Savior." With that, He left.

The group talked amongst themselves.

"Man, B.A.! We got to see Jesus!" Murdock's eyes glittered with mirth.

"Quiet, fool!" B.A. snapped, but without as much of a gruffness as usual.

Amy was staring in disbelief. "He said we would know Him. Jesus said that."

A new voice joined the fray. "Well, I don't know about you, but I don't think you really saw Him. He's dead!" The man had just entered the room.

"Lay off it, Thomas." John rebuked the man. "We saw Him with our own eyes!"

All the disciples began to speak. "We have seen the Lord."

"Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." Thomas stated, a stubborn look on his face.

"Fine." Murdock decided. He knew what would happen. "In eight days, let's meet here again at the same time."

~\•/~

Eight days later, the group, Thomas included, reconvened. "Well, I don't see why we're here." Thomas complained.

Face smiled. "I think Murdock has a plan."

B.A. grinned, too. "The fool finally did somethin' right."

Murdock shut the doors, and waited.

Jesus came. The first thing He said was, "Peace be unto you." Turning to Thomas, He added, "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing."

Thomas was pretty close to being speechless. He could only manage to croak out, "My Lord and my God."

Jesus looked at him with those loving eyes, and declared, "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." He then addressed them all, with the exception of Hannibal and Face. "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me."

So, "opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures," as the Bible would say.
Jesus continued, "Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." The Bible would say, "And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them."

"All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Jesus then commanded them, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Even as He said this and blessed them, He rose up in the sky. The disciples, Face, Hannibal, and Amy looked at Him in amazement. Murdock and B.A. just looked at Him with wonder and love.

The disciples worshipped Jesus right then and there. They practically ran back to Jerusalem, joy overflowing. The Bible states the they "were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen."

~\•/~

Face woke up first. He was drenched in sweat. He knew now that it had been a dream, but he was being convicted by God. Guilt and sorrow gripped him. All he could think of was that he had sinned so many times. He knew that he deserved to go to Hell, but wanted to be forgiven of his sins. He rose to his feet, then gently shook Murdock awake.

"What is it, buddy?" Murdock queried, half-asleep.

"Murdock, I want to be saved."

That woke Murdock up. "You mean it, Faceguy?"

"Yeah."

Murdock practically jumped out of his rocking chair and went for the lamp-stand, where there might be a Bible. Sure enough, the owner of the cabin had a Bible sitting there. Murdock turned on the lamp and there he showed Face, in God's Word, the following verses: "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one." (Romans 3:10), "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23), "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23), and "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:9-10, 13).

Face then got on his knees and prayed. "God, I'm a sinner. I'm sorry for lying, cheating, stealing, and everything else I've done! I don't deserve Your forgiveness, but I ask You to forgive me, anyway! Will You forgive me and save me? Thank You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen." He smiled. He had a peace in his heart now. Jesus had saved him! Only then did he realize that he was crying.

Murdock showed him a few more verses, such as: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9), "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12), and "In whom ye also trusted after that the heard the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise." (Ephesians 1:13).

Amy was the third to wake up. She was covered in sweat. Then, thinking it was all a dream, she went to check on the guys. What she saw amazed her. She saw Murdock showing Face verses in the Bible, then she saw Face kneeling on the wooden floor, repenting of his sin, and asking for God's forgiveness and salvation. Tears were even streaming down his face.

God was convicting her if her sins, too, she knew. She had heard the verses and knew Jesus would save her should she ask. So she prayed and asked for Jesus to forgive her and save her. After that, she relaxed. She was forgiven! She felt like climbing to the roof and shouting the news, but it was too cold outside. So she settled for sharing the news with Face and Murdock.

They rejoiced with her, which woke Hannibal and B.A., the latter of which gave her a bear hug and called her his "little sister."

Hannibal stood by and watched, guilt eating him. He knew he had sinned, but could Jesus save him? He asked B.A. to show him the story of Jesus in the Bible. B.A. happily complied. Soon, Hannibal asked Jesus to save him. All of the team celebrated to salvation of each member and praised God for His mercy. Truly, it was a night to remember.