Jesus stood atop the mountain, overlooking the vastness of the desert. He sighed, looking down at the ground on which he stood. The man standing next to him fiddled absently with one or two of the machines on his belt. He didn't want to be stranded here, and now would be an awful time for the translator to give out.
"And you're sure?" Jesus said sadly.
"Oh yes," the time traveler said, not without pity. "Trust me, it's all well documented by my time."
"But," Jesus implored him, "this can't be. Not wars. Not hatred. Never have I spoken in favor of such things. At least, if my worship is spread as far as you say, there are no more poor? No more starving people? Surely a faith based on my message..."
The time traveler shook his head. He felt so bad, saying all this. But, this is one of the things he'd always promised himself he'd do with a time machine. "You would think so, but no. Your name is used by rich men to cloak themselves in virtue while they keep the poor impoverished and increase their own wealth a thousandfold."
"But these are the very things I speak out against! Does no one truly hear my message?"
The time traveler rocked back on his heels. It was weird, seeing Jesus this way. As a man. Again, he took pity on the young savior. "Well, not everyone uses your name as a tool for their own ends. There are many who try to live by your example, who truly believe in your path." He shook his head. "But, while they are numerous, they are also without power."
Jesus nodded, and looked out again over the desert. "They would have to be," he mused. He turned back to his visitor. "And, this comes to pass... after I am killed?"
"Crucified, yes," the time traveler admitted. "Your death becomes central to your worship. The cross itself actually becomes your symbol."
Jesus blanched at this. "That horrible Roman torture device? THAT becomes the symbol of my worship?!" He looked up at the sky, arms outstretched. "Father, why?! I have done all that you've asked! Why do you lay this destiny before me?!" He fell to the ground, weeping.
The time traveler knelt down next to him, patting him awkwardly on the shoulder. "Sorry, man," he said. "I just thought you should know." And then he stood, turning away from the anguished messiah and activating his time machine. There were other things he'd promised himself he'd do with this thing, and he wanted to get to them.
He materialized many hundreds of years later, on a small island in the Caribbean at the end of the 15th Century. He hid in some bushes and waited until the last of the smaller boats had made their way back to the three ships. Once they'd gone, he approached who he assumed was the chief of the tribe.
"Excuse me!" he called out, walking toward the stunned natives. "Don't be alarmed! I come in peace!" He stopped well short of the chieftain and his people, holding his hands out in what he hoped was a peaceful gesture. "I don't mean to intrude, but there's something I think you should know about those men you met today..."
Short stories, flash fictions, and other miscellaneous dispatches from an overactive imagination. Updates randomly.
14 comments:
damn trouble maker!! My mind reels at the vast ways in which such interference would change the shape of our world...
Hope, aside from going back to my teenaged self and telling me that I won't be pimply, gangly and dorkish forever, and that girls will eventually fancy me, those have always been two of the many things I'd want to do with a time machine.
And as Lisa has pointed out, I do so love to make trouble. ;)
And, thanks Mike!
Just found your blog. Very cool...good stuff!
Love the Jesus thing, and it made me think that maybe this time traveler was the 'Satan' who tormented Jesus (maybe I've got my Bible stories confused?) in the wilderness. Or something like that anyway to illustrate how the stories have been convoluted over the centuries.
If I had a time machine? I might go back and do the same thing, speak to Jesus about distortions that his teachings have suffered.
Good call, Rae Ann.
I was talking to friends about how much benefit could be derived from going back and warning Jesus about the future and one of them (more versed in the Bible than I) said, "I think someone already did."
I love the Bible. Such an incredible source of stories.
Oh, and welcome, mr_g! Glad you enjoy the stories!
Good story. But if someone from the future went back then it already happened and nothing would change.
Ok, I confused myself.
Yeah. Time travel does that.
That's why my time machine (when I finally get around to building it) will be equipped with paradox buffers, to prevent the traveler from being affected by the changes.
Only way to time travel.
Excellent. If only time machines went back in time. Unfortunely they can only go forward and return to the first point of origin from whence you started. Nice thought tho...
Speaking of time machines, have you seen Napoleon Dynamite?
sounds like you have your time machine all figured out.
...friends ride free?
Lisa, of course! Though it has been suggested I institute a "gas, grass or ass" policy. ;)
And Rae Ann, I have not. I've heard it's good though.
It is a good movie, kind of weird, but one of the characters orders a time machine off the internet. That's why I thought of it. 'gas, grass, or ass' that's funny!
I believe Satan came to Jesus...in his mind in the strongest way possible and not in body form...as temptation enters ours. When that temptation is so overwhelming that your sweat turns to blood it has to be the hardest thing to face. what HE knew was the right thing and went ahead..... instead of giving in to merely evil temptation.
When my time travel comes I will lay my crown (as stated)...at his feet asking for full forgiveness.
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