First Easter

Date: 29 AD.

It is dark. Horribly dark. The smell of sulfur hangs in the air.
Distant screams and lonely crying can be heard in the background.

"I don't care what you do?I want him killed! Do you hear me? Dead! Now
go!" Satan stood from his black throne and pointed a threatening finger
at them all.

"Yes, master" all the gathered demons replied as they shot upward
toward the human dwelling place.

"Thank Satan that meeting is over with! You know?you have to wonder
about all this. How can we really kill Jesus?"

"Adolfo! Don't say that name. You know what he will do to you if you
are overheard," said Lucias.

"Well, we don't know what will happen do we? This could be it, right?
What if this ushers in the last days and we are thrown into the lake of
fire?"

"Are you saying you don't deserve to be punished, Adolfo?"

"No, I'm just concerned because the master has not dealt with this
Carpenter's son," said Adolfo.

Lucias did not reply as they flew at top speed toward Jerusalem.

Lucias and Adolfo were assigned to the Red Brigade that covered
Jerusalem and most importantly were charged with the destruction of
Jesus, his followers and future plans. They were chosen for this task
for their special abilities in being able to infuse a human with doubt
and dispair. Additionally, they were powerful enough demons to face the
ever-increasing number of the holy ones who were sent to do God's
bidding in Jerusalem. There is something stirring in the heavens. Many
of the holy ones are gathered around an upper room and have received
the Shekinah glory power from heaven. The demons all know something
important is about to take place. It always does when He is present and
the power pours from Heaven.

"It has been a great while since we have seen such power released to
Earth. We must ensure that Lucifer is informed," said Lucias.

"I will dispatch a message?" Adolfo stopped mid sentence because the
hill beside them began to fill with Lucifer's arch demons and finally
Lucifer himself appeared.

"My children," said Lucifer so all demons could hear. "It has
begun!"

"Lucias, I don't know what his plan is but I hope he has more success
than we did."

"You are right. We were able to get the disciples to doubt and dispair
on a few occasions but we never were able to budge heavens Prince. His
heart is pure and his will is the strongest I have ever encountered.
How can you attack such a powerful Prince?"

"If the Dark One has risked a public presence he must have something
up his sleeve," said Adolfo.

The last supper has ended and the demons are finally clued into
the
Dark One's plan. Judas Iscarot was leading temple guards and
priests
into the garden where Jesus and the disciples were resting. All
the
Demons on Earth and under the Earth flinched when the Prince of
Heaven answered their question whether or not He was Jesus of
Nazareth. His answer, "I am He" echoed and rose from the garden
up
the valley and slowly spread out across all time and space. The
demons reeled at the truth and power of His words. They were much
more effected than the humans. It would be minutes before they
could
move or continue their evil works. Satan noticed the fear in his
hoard and hissed vehemently, "take heart my children?we have
friends among the humans."

"Am I mistaken or has He grown more powerful? Do they not see His
glory? It nearly blinds me to look upon him!"

"Lucias, let us be about our work or we will certainly be
punished."

Just outside the Temple, Peter waited around a fire with other
men.

"Tell her again," whispered Adolfo to Lucias. "She is one of
ours?"

"He is with the One who is inside," Lucias whispered to the
woman.

For the third time she felt compelled to expose this large man as
a
follower of the false messiah inside.

"Surely, you are one of them," she said accusingly.

Peter stood up quickly, swore and yelled, "Women I tell you I am not!"
The old foul language and curse words rolled off his tongue with
surprising ease as if it were yesterday that he was a sin filled
fisherman from Galilee.

Adolfo and Lucias enjoyed the scene immensely. It had been a
considerable time since they were successful with this stubbornly loyal
human they called Peter.

The cock crowed for a third time while it was still well before
sunrise. Peter froze. His face contorted into a painful look of horror
as he realized what He had done and how Jesus had known of his denial
and fear. Peter ran off into the night not knowing that Adolfo and
Lucias were following close behind savoring his anguish.

Peter wept as he ran. He ran until the dark surrounded him completely.
Only his fists beating upon his chest and his heavy sobs could be heard
for a mile. He prayed, "My Lord Jesus?forgive me!" Adolfo and Lucias
were forced to back away at the sound of His name uttered by a forgiven
human. Fortunately, they don't seem to realize the power at their
disposal just yet. If all goes well, Jesus will be dead this day and
Satan will allow them to return to their favorite work of torturing
humans in other lands. They had to leave quickly as the powerful holy
ones were approaching to assist this human. But time was on their
side?they will wait for another time to torment this man. Humans always
forget their lessons even if accompanied with pain and much sorrow.
What frail creatures God created. Why would He come to Earth? In the
form of a human?

It does not matter, it will be over soon. His death will be the end of
human hope. Our victory is almost complete!