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who deserves your wrath.”
    Mark’s mother was called away by a servant with news that some of the disciples had arrived. Mark was hardly in a mood to see them, for fear that Peter might be among them and he would be unable to hide his disgust. He busied himself with chores, only to learn that Peter was not among the few who soon sat retelling his mother everything of the night before.
    To Mark, John was the only disciple not worthy of reproof, and indeed he heard from a servant that John was still in the city. More than once Mark had heard John referred to as the disciple Jesus loved, and now he could see why.
    Soon Mark’s curiosity got the better of him and he made his way to the great room, where James, the son of Zebedee and brother of John, was telling his mother more of the story. The four who had accompanied him looked pale and stunned, as if still afraid and uncertain about their future.
    “In the early morning they bound the Teacher and led Him from the high priest Caiaphas’s to the Praetorium to face Governor Pilate. It seemed all the chief priests and elders of the people were plotting to put Jesus to death.”
    “To death?” Mark’s mother said, covering her mouth. “Whatever for?”
    “They claim all kinds of charges, from blasphemy to insurrection—crimes against the Jews and the Romans. The chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none, because while many bore false witness against Him, their testimonies did not agree. But some rose up and said, ‘We heard Him say, “I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.’” But not even then did their testimony agree.
    “The high priest himself asked Jesus, ‘Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?’ But Jesus kept silent. Again the high priest asked Him, ‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?’
    “Jesus said, ‘I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.’”
    “He said that?” Mark’s mother said, eyes wide.
    “He did. And the high priest tore his own clothes and said, ‘What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?’ And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. Some spat on Him and others blindfolded Him and beat Him, saying, ‘Prophesy!’”
    Mark’s mother stared at the floor and shook her head. “And what has become of Judas?”
    The disciples looked at one another, and Bartholomew spoke. “Word is that he tried to return to the chief priests and elders his payment, saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’ They would have none of it and said, ‘What is that to us? You see to it!’ Some say he threw the coins in the temple and went and hanged himself.”
    “Oh, no!”
    “Madam,” Thomas said, “the man betrayed our Lord for thirty pieces of silver.”
    Mary spied her son in the corner. “Mark, I’d rather you not hear all this.”
    “I could have seen it all last night!” he said. “Nothing could shock me now! To have seen Peter deny Jesus with curses…”
    James held up a hand. “Mark, my brother assures me that Peter is abject with sorrow and remorse. We must be sympathetic and—”
    “Sympathetic! He should be abject!”
    “Son, like all of us, he fears for his life.”
    “John doesn’t!”
    “But John and I know the high priest, Mark. That is the only reason he and I were able to move about freely in that company.”
    “So John was there the whole night?”
    “He is still there, son.”
    “And?”
    “He reports that as the Master stood before the governor, Pilate asked Him directly, ‘Are You the King of the Jews?’”
    “Did Jesus deny it?” Mark said. “I would wager He is not afraid for His life.”
    “You are correct. Jesus said, ‘It is as you say.’”
    “That’s courage!” Mark said.
    “Indeed. And