Trust me, he’s on the way
The Harrowing of Hell, A Baptist's Perspective
JOHN: Trust me, he’s on the way.
EZEKIEL: How could you possibly know? You just got here.
JOHN (rubbing his bearded chin): Well... how long have I been here?
ISAIAH (from the back): About two and a half years, while we have been here many, many more!
JOHN: Well, I’m telling you, and you—he’s on the way, and he’s more than any of us could have hoped. He became a man. I am his cousin. My aunt is his mom.
EZEKIEL: Ok. Now we know you’re crazy. The one that I saw in my visions had legs of burnished bronze.
ISAIAH: The one I saw, I could barely speak. The angel had to help me get some words out—not without some intense pain. Daniel, you too. You saw the same?
DANIEL: I did. He was like the Son of Man, but just his form. He was doing more than man can do—more than man can ever hope to do. High Father, what do you say? You saw him most.
ABRAHAM (pausing): Hmmm. You say he was like a man?
JOHN: No. He came as a man, he is born of a woman—flesh and blood.
ABRAHAM (recalling distant memory): ‘Is anything impossible for God?’ That’s what he said when he was at my tent... and then as you know, you all know, Sarah was with child. He even said when it would happen. This was before he destroyed the cities, mind you. Is anything too hard for God?
ABRAHAM (turning to John): Tell me, what was your name, John - right?
JOHN: Yes Father, John.
ABRAHAM (putting his hand on John’s shoulder with a smile): Good, John. Tell me John. Did a messenger come and announce his arrival? When he came to me there were two others.
JACOB (from the side): I only wrestled one.
ABRAHAM (slightly frustrated smile): Ok, ok - Jacob, I know, but there were three with me, and two went into the cities. Son, John, was it announced?
JOHN: Yes, Father. The angel Gabriel came to us...
Daniel fell on his knees and began to weep.
JOHN (continuing): Gabriel came to my father in the temple and told my father that my mother Elizabeth would be with child. She was very old...
ABRAHAM (smiling, holding John’s face): I’m sure she was. Tell me more.
JOHN: My father did not believe.
Abraham laughed.
JOHN (continuing): My father said Gabriel was offended, and then told him he was going to be mute until I was born and it was time for my naming.
ABRAHAM: And was he so mute?
JOHN: Entirely! Ha, he had to write everything down for almost a year. Then, immediately when it was asked what my name would be, he said ‘John’ and everyone was amazed. But Father, you must know, Gabriel came to us and I was so born of a woman long barren, and this same angel came to Messiah’s mother.
At the sound of Messiah, at the edge of the circle which had been gathered, to the right of Daniel who still sat there weeping—Moses stood to his feet.
MOSES (whispering): Messiah...
MOSES: What was he like, boy? What is he like?
JOHN: He speaks as one who has authority, Father.
MOSES: And not like the scribes?
JOHN: Well, actually yes. He and I..umm…we had run-ins with some scribes, more than once. Which is one reason why I’m here—ha. But yes, he spoke not like them. His words were different.
MOSES: He has done it. The Lord has done it. He has put his words in this man’s mouth.
JOHN: More than this, Father - more than a man. He is the Lamb who has come to take away the sins of the world. He is the one from everlasting which you saw, Daniel. He is the one you met, Abraham. He is the one—who has come to take away all the sins of the world and restore what was lost.
DAVID: This is impossible for a man. Only God can forgive sins. Only God, my God... he promised that he would, himself.
EZEKIEL: Yes. And that He would be the shepherd of Israel. But in a man?
JOHN: He is the one, the one and the same.
Abraham paused.
MOSES (to Abraham): Can it be? Can it be him? The one I saw, now twice?
ABRAHAM: I do not know, son. How can I know? I am here with you all, but as uncertain as anyone.
Then, the earth began to shake, and they could hear a voice echoing, and the walls of the place within which they had stayed began to bow, and the gate which kept them in, and through which they dared not travel, not knowing what was on the other side, began to glow red hot—like burnished bronze.
All were silent, terrified. This had not happened before, nothing like this. All began to look around for a place to shelter, all but two.
They were motionless, and had been for some time. Neither moving nor speaking, they had not spoken since time before memory—longer than any could remember.
They embraced each as they arrived, but then always returned to their seats, in silence, waiting. Something both harrowing and comforting about their presence—the silence about them, soothing. All were afraid; they remained motionless. The mad scramble was interrupted with the sound of steps, which grew louder and louder by the second.
The steps continued, and began to echo through the corridors of eternity and time, reaching finally to their ears. Eyes widening, the man let out a scream, and wailed, weeping—
ADAM (crying out): Ahhhh…my God…I recognize you…I recognize the sound of your steps! Eve, Eve it’s Him!
Adam turned to look for Eve at her seat, but she was already running. Immediately, Adam ran, oh Adam ran after her as fast as he could.
EVE: Abba! I will not hide again, I will not hide again! Abba! It’s Him! It’s the Maker! Elohim! Adonai! Master!! Master!!
At this the men were amazed, and all made way for Eve to run through the crowd towards the gate, with Adam close behind.
ADAM: What are you waiting for my sons? My daughters? It’s Him!
Shaken awake, and filled with courage, all ran after their Father and Mother towards the gate which was now melting beneath the heat.
As the first pair approached, within 50 feet, they could do so no longer, for the light of the world, the light of every world had drawn near, and the heat was so intense none could bear it.
In an instant, the light subsided, and everything cooled. Their eyes adjusted, and beneath the cloak of radiance they saw bare feet, and then up through the body the entire being was revealed, standing right outside the gates now in shambles, still glowing.
Then he entered in.
Jesus looked down at the gate, seeing the pair waiting for him, and smiled as he crossed the threshold.
ABRAHAM (to Moses): That’s him…he smiled like that when Sarah laughed. It’s him.
Immediately, Eve dove into Jesus’s side and wept and would not let go, and Adam came to the other side and could not control his weeping.
EVE: Abba! Abba! I missed you. I am so sorry, Abba!
ADAM: Master, I am so sorry, we missed you master…oh my Master. How is it now that we see you God? How can we see you again? Your face? Your hands, familiar, but strange, still you. How can I touch you God?
Jesus kissed Adam, and he kissed Eve, and held their hands, and held each face, like the children they were.
JESUS: Oh my boy. Oh my boy! I missed you. Oh honey, Oh my girl, my little girl. I missed you. Hey, look….You’ve so done well, you both have done so well…keeping your brothers and sisters safe until my arrival. About my hands…I am glad to say…we’ve done something new Son - see honey, I can hold you…and I promise…I will never let go. It’s done now. It’s done. You’re safe. Now, because of all that has happened, I have defeated death, and the grave, and made a way for all flesh, even fallen flesh, back to my Father. This is something new, something better Adam, something better Eve. Do not weep. Even this, and all things, I have redeemed my little lovey, my little buddy.
JESUS (turning to the front, seeing his kin, still holding Adam and Eve): John, oh John. I missed you, cousin.
JOHN (with a smile): Jesus!
Adam and Eve with tears and a smile hold each other, kiss God’s face, and step to the side to let Jesus and John embrace—and they do embrace…a long, good hug.
JESUS (with a coy smile): John, it looks like you’ve done your job.
JOHN (looks around, and back at Jesus, gesturing to the crowd): Yes, Lamb of God, I did my best…to prepare your way.
JESUS (laughing, looking at the great crowd, stepping towards them with his arm around John, gesturing to the crowd): Like one calling out in the wilderness?! Like a madman no doubt!?
The crowd all laughed!
…Then it grew quiet, like something else was supposed to happen.
JOHN (clears his throat, then to the crowd and Christ with a nod): Yes. Remember, just like I said. See you all could even feel yourselves that it was time for this. I’ll start, then your part, just like I said.
John backed up, faced Jesus, raised his hands, and knelt, with his back to the congregation, and in a loud voice said—
JOHN (says while bowing, face to the ground): Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!
ALL (say while bowing, face to the ground, following John): Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, For by your blood you purchased all of us, all of us for God, and have taken away the sins of the world!
And all stood, men and women from every tribe, nation, and tongue, and began to cheer; a roar the likes of which had not been heard in heaven, or on earth, or beneath the earth since before time immemorial.
Jesus quiets the crowd with a smile and a raised hand - then opens his hands again to Adam and Eve, standing off to the side. They walk to him.
Jesus then takes the hands of his Adam, and his Eve, looks down at each with a smile, and kisses on each on their head, and begins to lead them hand in hand towards the gate.
ADAM: Abba, are we going back?
EVE: Back to Eden? Your garden?
JESUS: No. Well, kind of. I want to show you my city.
And Jesus Christ, the risen God, led his Adam and Eve by the hand, and all of their descendants in a great train to his Holy City, so that they could live and dwell with God their Father forever …and they do… They do, even to this day. John prepared their way. The Patriarchs saw this day, and were glad.
