Open Writing

When the' got ter t' Gardin o' Gethsemane, Jesus says ter t' disciples:
'Nah sit yersens dahn — while I go ower yonder ter pray.'

'E took three on 'em wi' 'im — Peter an't' brutthers James an' John.

'Ah'm reight 'eart-sluffened,’ says Jesus, 'Ah want you lads ter stay 'ere an' keep watch.'

Then Jesus went a few yards further on an' threw 'issen full length on t' grahnd.

'Abba!’ 'e prays. (That's t' Jeewish word fer 'Farther', tha knaws.) 'Abba! If it's nobbut possible let mi nooan 'ave ter sup from this cup!'

T' cup 'e meant wor t' cup 'e'd talked abaht at t’ Last Supper — a cup o' blood, t' Roman crewcifixion.

'Even so, Farther,' Jesus prays, 'It's nooan my will, but thine. That's what matters.'

Jesus wor i' mortal agony. T' three disciples could tell that bi t' way sweat fell from 'is brah — same as gurt drops o' blood fallin' ter t' grahnd.

After a while Jesus came across ter these three — an' fahnd 'em all fast asleep.

'Simon Peter!,' 'e says, shakkin' im bi t' showlder, 'Couldn't ta stay awake fer nobbut one 'ahr? Tha mun keep watch — an' tha mun pray — or tha'll fall inter temptation. Aye. Thi sperrit's willin', all reight. It's thi flesh 'at's weak.'

Jesus went off ter pray a second time — an' the' dozed off ageean! 'E wekkened 'em up ageean, tellin' 'em ter keep a watch fer t' sodgers comin' from t' city.

When Jesus came back t' third time, 'e says, 'All reight, lads. Yer can sleep on nah, an' tak it easy ... It's all ower. Ah've been betrayed inter t' 'ands o' wicked men. Sither! 'Ere comes t' betrayer!'

Suddenly ther' wer' fowk swahrmin' up t' 'illside — t' sodgers o' t' Temple Guard sent bi t' preeasts an't' Scribes. The'd blazin' torches, an' swords an' spears 'at wer' gleamin' i' t' torchleet.

'Ah'll show yer which one it is,' Judas wor sayin'. 'T' one Ah kiss on t' cheek — That'll bi yer man. Grab 'im, an' 'od 'im fast!'

Peter dreew 'is sword an' went towards t' sahnd o' t' voice. But afooare 'e could reach 'im, Judas 'ad fahnd Jesus:
'Maister! Maister!,' says Judas, reckonin' ter bi all friendly, an' kissin' 'im on t' cheek.

'Judas!,' cries Jesus. 'Ter think tha could betray t' Messiah wi' a kiss!'

T' sodgers grabbed 'od o' Jesus — but Peter struck aht wi't' sword, fetchin' one on 'em — a feller called Malchus, t' servant o' t' Tgh Priest — a reight claht across t' face, nearly cuttin' off 'is reight lug.

Peter wor bahn ter strike aht ageean, when Jesus shahted to 'im:
'Put back thi sword, Peter! Doesn't ta knaw 'at them 'at taks ter t' sword 'll dee bi t' sword? Doesn't ta knaw 'at if Ah'd wanted ter defend missen Ah could 'ave prayed fer twelve legions of angils ter come an' feyt fer mi?'

Then Jesus reyched aht 'is 'and, an' touched t' lug o' t' man Peter 'ad wounded, an' stopped t' bleedin'.

It wor plain 'at Jesus wor bahn ter go quietly — but nut afooare 'e'd spokken 'is mind ter t' preeasts an' Scribes an' that.

'What's all this, then? Am Ah some sooart o' criminal 'at yer've come wi' swords an' cudgels ter tak mi prisoner? Day after day Ah've been preychin' in t' Temple — an' yer've nut laid so much as a finger on mi! An' nah yer've sneaked 'ere under t' cover o' darkness ... It's all comin' abaht just as t' Scriptures say it will!'

Then t' sodgers took Jesus away, an't' disciples — fer all 'at the'd sworn ter go ter prison wi' 'im — ran off as fast as the'r legs 'ould carry 'em.