Chapters 1-5 Summary

Jesus' nights are tormented by dreams of being pursued as "The One," and his days pass in vain because he cannot vanquish Fear. As Nazareth awakens to the rabbi's usual cry to God, "How long?" Jesus wonders whether it is God or the devil who visits him in dreams. Judas Iscariot visits, arguing that Jesus cannot provide a cross for today's execution. Barabbas and the Zealots plan on stopping the crucifixion and everyone expects the Messiah to join in the fight. Jesus believes that the Messiah will be different: he will die alone, in rags, on a mountain, crowned in thorns. As a seething crowd passes Jesus' workshop, taunting him as a "Cross-maker," Judas wonders whether this gaunt figure—constantly deteriorating—could indeed be The One. As Judas thinks this, Jesus recognizes that Judas is the main character in...