After what seemed like an eternity, the gate to Pilate's courtyard swung open and Jesus was taken through by the Jewish soldiers and onto the street. The priests followed closely, not looking too happy.
"What's going on?" Peter asked Elizabeth.
"Remember what happened in the Gospel according to Luke?" The angel answered, "Jesus was found to be from Galilee and taken over to King Herod for judgment."
The Monkees and Elizabeth, along with the ever-growing crowd, followed along. The walk to Herod's palace was uneventful, and Jesus was taken inside.
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As it turned out, Jesus wasn't with Herod for very long. Herod was very happy to see Jesus, and questioned him about his teachings and his disciples. But Jesus wouldn't answer the snake dressed in fine clothing and simply looked straight ahead. Herod even offered Jesus his freedom with many riches if he would do just a small miracle, but Jesus stayed silent. The priests accused Jesus of many things, but Herod paid them no mind. To cover his growing anger at being ignored, Herod and then his soldiers treated Jesus with contempt and mocked him. Herod pulled off his own cloak and put it on Jesus' shoulders, then sent him back to Pilate with his complements.
Despite his disappointing interview with Jesus, Herod was happy that Pilate thought about him, and the two of them became friends from that day on.
The walk back to Pilate's house also went quietly, with no sign of Dr. Chronos and his goons.
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Pilate was not a happy man when he got word that Jesus had been brought back from Herod's palace. He threw down the scroll he was reading, got up off his couch and went back onto the balcony overlooking the courtyard. The courtyard door had been left open and people began to filter in behind the priests. As he stood there waiting for his translator to arrive, Pilate had an idea; since it was the Passover feast for the Jews, he would ask the people who they wanted released. It hadn't taken Pilate long to realize that the Priests were envious of Jesus and the respect he commanded, thus they wanted him executed. Finally, the translator came running over and Pilate began to speak to the priests down below him.
"You brought this man to me and accused him of inciting the people to revolt. I questioned him in your presence and have found him not guilty. Neither has Herod, since he sent him back to me." Pilate waited a moment for the translator to finish. "He has not committed a crime worthy of death, so I will have him flogged, then released."
But the priests began to yell "Crucify him!"
Pilate just shook his head and walked back into his house. The Roman soldiers grabbed Jesus and took him through a wooden door at the base of the house.
The Monkees and Elizabeth were among the people who had squeezed themselves through the courtyard door and stood against the back wall. They also noticed Mary of Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary, the wife of Cleophas and John had also managed to get inside the courtyard as well. Elizabeth hung her head, knowing what was going to happen to Jesus next. Sensing her sorrow, the Monkees gathered around her. Mike noticed the priests talking to their servants. After a few seconds, the servants ran out of the courtyard and onto the street again.
"I wonder what that's all about?" Mike wondered.
"They are going to get all the people who have a grudge against Jesus." Elizabeth replied. "They will gather all the priests' friends and family; even the moneychangers and merchants whom Jesus drove out of his Father's house a few days ago. They all hate Jesus after that incident."
Occasionally, over the murmur of the crowd, the sound of a whip cracking could be heard. A cry escaped Elizabeth's lips; Micky took her in his arms and held her close. He and the other Monkees were close to tears themselves. How could the Romans, who claimed to be so civilized, be so brutal to another human being? The courtyard began to fill up with newcomers; the people the priests had sent for. Once again, the trumpets blew and Pilate appeared on another balcony a little way from where he was before. This balcony was open; on it was a stone bench which Pilate came over and sat upon.
The crowd gathered underneath. Through his translator, Pilate began to speak.
"Look! I am bringing him out to you so that you many know I find no guilt in him!" Pilate motioned with his hand and Jesus was shoved forward. Many people in the crowd gasped in horror when they saw Jesus; he was covered in welts, a crown of thorns was on his head and a dirty purple cloak wrapped around his shoulders.
Mary the mother of Jesus began to sob, along with the women with her. Elizabeth was crying too. She whispered, "My Lord and my God."
Davy was sick to his stomach. "If Jesus isn't guilty, why was he scourged?" He asked gravely.
Pilate stood up from his bench, watching the reaction of the crowd, hoping that seeing Jesus so mis-treated, they would be satisfied. "Behold the Man!" The Roman Governor cried. But the priests, along with their friends and family began to shout, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
Pilate was shocked, but he had another card to play. He motioned with his hand once again and another man, bound in chains, was brought forward to stand next to Jesus. This man was Barabbas, who had been arrested a few days earlier for murder and starting a riot.
Pilate motioned for quiet, and when it was as quiet as it was going to get, Pilate spoke again. "Recall my custom of releasing a prisoner to you at Passover time. Do you want me to release to you the one called Barabbas, a murderer, or Jesus, the King of the Jews?"
The people began to shout back "Barabbas!"
"So what shall I do with Jesus?" Pilate demanded.
Once again the crowd shouted, "Crucify him!"
Pilate couldn't understand this. "Why?" He asked, puzzled, "What has he done to deserve death?"
But everyone kept shouting even louder, "Crucify him!" Everyone that is, except the three Marys, John, Elizabeth and the Monkees. They stood there in shock that everybody was yelling for the death of someone who had done only good for them. Pilate looked at his advisors. They shrugged their shoulders, unable to figure this situation out either. One of the Centurions came over to Pilate and told him the crowd was getting out of control. Pilate tried one last time.
"Look at your King!" He shouted.
"We have no King but Caesar!" The priests shouted back.
Pilate finally realized that he was having no luck with the crowd and that a riot was breaking out. He called for a bowl of water. A servant came over with a pitcher of water and a bowl.
While the servant poured the water over Pilate's hands, he announced to the crowd, "I am innocent of this man's blood. Look to it yourselves."
He looked over at the guards around Barabbas. "Release him and take Jesus to be crucified."
The guards obeyed. They freed Barabbas from his chains, and took Jesus away to be crucified.
Peter looked over at Elizabeth, his face wet with tears. "Can we go back to our own time now? Please? I don't think I can handle much more."
"We must stay until the end, sweet Peter." Elizabeth said sadly, "We have to make sure nothing will be changed."
The others nodded sadly, realizing that they had to stay and watch, no matter what.