John's Story by Tim Lahaye, Jerry B. Jenkins Page B

understand. Of course, it eventually became clear that what we did not understand was the simple truth of what He was saying. And as you know, the night did come when He was arrested and led away away before our eyes.
    “But one late afternoon after He had spent a few hours telling us of the Father, we enjoyed a hot meal, cooked by Peter.” John smiled at the memory. “He could cook on an open fire as well as any man I ever knew, but I suspect the Lord frequently chose him just to give him something to do to keep him quiet. Curious? Peter had more questions than the rest of us combined.
    “Jesus had a way of moving about during a meal, getting a bit of time with each of us. Sometimes He merely asked how we were, whether we were understanding His teaching, that kind of thing. I cannot speak for the others, but He always made me feel cherished. When He was speaking with me I felt as if I were the only person in the world to Him.
    “He had spent a few moments with Thomas, and then Nathanael, before I saw Him whispering to my brother. I didn’t mean to stare, but I noticed James shake his head and shrug, then nod toward me. I looked away, but soon Jesus joined me and asked that I walk with Him.
    “I hate to admit this, gentlemen, but I was filled with pride whenever He did that. You would have thought that our spending that much time with a Man we knew was the Son of God would cure us of jealousies, but anytime Jesus spoke privately with one of us, the others wondered what was going on and why someone had been singled out. As I moved away from the group with Him, I knew all eyes were on us.
    “He said, ‘John, I have been asked to meet in secret after dark with a member of the Sanhedrin, and I need someone to accompany Me.’
    “‘Well!’ I said. ‘I would be honored. But the Sanhedrin?’
    “‘Verily,’ He said, ‘I must tell you I asked others first, as I prefer an older man. But they are otherwise occupied, and—’
    “I know. James has promised our father that he will—”
    “‘And so I must ask if you are available to serve Me in this way.’
    “‘Certainly, Lord.’
    “‘My wish is that it not be obvious I have brought anyone along. You will stay out of sight, within earshot, and come to my aid only if I call for you.’
    “‘I understand. You do not suspect this man, do you?’
    “‘On the contrary, beloved…’
    “I know I have told you this, Polycarp, but it was not at all uncommon for Him to call me that. And forgive me if still more than a half century later I fight this pervasive conceit, but I do not recall His calling another of the twelve the same. Sometimes He addressed crowds as ‘beloved,’ but I was the only individual….
    “Anyway, He assured me He believed this member of the Sanhedrin was a sincere seeker after the things of God.”
    Ignatius stopped in mid-bite. “Who was this?”
    “Nicodemus.”
    Polycarp perked up. “Wasn’t he the Pharisee who spoke up for the Lord before his colleagues?”
    “And privately helped bury Him?” Ignatius added.
    “The same.”
    John noticed that the eating had stopped, the rest of the food remained on the plate, and Ignatius, apparently unaware the knife was still in his hand, appeared rapt. “So Nicodemus had a private meeting with Jesus…”
    “Yes, and I was close by and heard every word.”
    “Tell us!”
    “Trade places with me, Ignatius,” Polycarp said. “Do you not agree I should get this down?”
    “I do indeed. John, are you willing? Or should it wait until the morrow when your strength has been renewed?”
    “Let me cover it this night. It is all coming back to me. Nicodemus proved an elderly man, dressed formally in his religious garb, and sporting a long, pure-white beard. He was articulate and thoughtful, respectful in his conversation. He said, ‘Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.’
    “Jesus said, ‘Most assuredly, I say