It Was Night

"And it was night." (Jn 13:30)

"And it was night."
Jn 13:30

The door closed behind Judas,
and John wrote,
"And it was night."

To the city, it looked like any other Passover night-
crowded streets,
lamps burning inside homes,
families lingering over the story.

And it was night.

When Judas took the dipped bread,
Satan entered him- (Lu 22:3)
and he walked into the night. (Jn 13:30)

This was the hour
when darkness moved unchecked-
its shadows the cloak
around him.

Judas became
the face
Satan wore.

And it was night.

Something ancient moved with him.
Something patient.
Something that had waited
for this door to open-
like a serpent that had learned
to wait in the tall grass.

And in the shadows of Jerusalem,
other forces were awake-
allies of the same darkness.

The Pharisees
had finalized their plot. (Jn 11:53)
The chief priests
had secured their betrayer. (Mk 14:10-11)
The Sanhedrin
had prepared its false witnesses. (Mk 14:55-56)
The temple guards
were armed and ready- (Jn 18:3)
each one moving in step
with the kingdom of darkness. (Lu 22:53)

And it was night.

The city slept-
through the darkness.

But Satan
and his minions
did not sleep.

The gate had opened,
and the forces of darkness
were entering the city-
coordinated,
confident,
certain of their hour.

And Jesus-
still in the Upper Room,
still speaking of love,
still washing feet-
knew exactly what was coming.

He did not run.
He did not hide.
He did not call for help.

He rose.

And walked into the night.