The Guest (Гость)

There is an opinion that Judas had betrayed Jesus Christ in order

to force him to declare his divinity

and thus set off a vast rebellion against the yoke of Rome

I think such act of Judas would be superfluous

Jesus daily preached in the synagogue

and performed miracles before gatherings of thousands.

There was no need in the treachery of an apostle to identify a master

This, nevertheless, occurred. Is it an error in Scripture?

Or a single haphazard act in the most precious drama in the history of world

No, there was no error. The treachery of Judas was not accidental.

- Explain. - it was a predestined deed

and it's linked with Redemption.

The Word Jesus, when It was made flesh, passed from eternity into history

from blessedness without limit to mutation and death

A spoken word crucified Jesus.

in order to correspond to such sacrifice it was necessary that a man

a man, as representative of all men, made a suitable sacrifice.

Judas Iscariot was that man.

Judas, alone among the apostles,

intuited the secret divinity and the terrible purpose of Jesus.

But wait. Jesus did not need to make use of a man to redeem all men.

He could count on the considerable resources which omnipotence offers.

And we know nothing of the inexplicable traitor

Only in gospel of John there said

that he was a thief, was greedy and had a box with money.

To impute his crime to cupidity? I don't think, this is too simple.

Don't forget that he was an apostle.

One of those chosen to announce the Kingdom of Heaven.

To cure the sick, to cleanse the leprous, to resurrect the dead.

That's why I'm sure that cupidity is not the cause.

I propose another version of the treachery.

An extravagant and even limitless asceticism.

The ascetic, for greater glory of God, degrades and mortifies the flesh.

Judas did the same with the spirit.

He renounced honor, good, peace

the Kingdom of Heaven.

Pardon! Why didn't he renounced his renunciation?

Why didn't this man renounced his renunciation?

With a terrible lucidity he premeditated his offense.

Almost all sins have dual nature.

In adultery, there is usually tenderness.

In murder, courage

in blasphemy, a certain splendor.

Judas elected those offenses unvisited by any virtues

abuse of confidence and informing.

He labored with gigantic humility

He thought himself unworthy to be good.

Judas sought Hell because the felicity of the Lord sufficed him.

He thought that happiness, like good,

is a divine attribute and not to be usurped by men.

The water of the forest is still and felicitous,

And we, we can be vicious and full of pain.

It is a mere perversion or exacerbation of mind game.

And nothing more.

I haven't finished! The thing is that God lowered himself to be a man

for the redemption of the human race.

His sacrifice was perfect,

not invalidated or attenuated by any omission.

But this sacrifice played a very successful role.

His 33-year being among us was some kind of a good rest.

It won international recognition, thanks to typography.

He just payed the price of the agony

of one afternoon on the cross for all this fame.

You mistake! The crucifying of God was not ceased,

for anything which has happened once in time is repeated ceaselessly

through all eternity.

You think that Judas continues to receive the pieces of silver and to kiss Jesus?

He continues to knot the hangman's noose on the field of blood?

Sure. And the incarnate word of God that Jesus actually was

it was a precise prophecy, not of one moment.

Have you said that Jesus is just a Word?

Now listen to the most important.

This is the third version of Judas' treachery.

God became a man completely.

And if he could feel tiredness, coldness, unrest, hunger and thirst,

Then we should admit that he could sin and ruin his soul.

God became a man completely, a man to the point of infamy,

a man to the point of being reprehensible.

In order to save us, He could have chosen any of the destinies

which together weave the uncertain web of history

He could have been Alexander, or Pythagoras, or Rurik, or Jesus.

He chose an infamous destiny

But, my dear, if it is true, you've disclosed a terrible secret.

A roman writer, Valerius Soranus, died for revealed the occult name of Rome.

What infinite punishment would be yours

for having discovered and divulged the terrible name of God?

No! I refuse to listen to it!

We've come to the edge of an abyss.

Oh, this endless building! Everything is falling and crumbling.

- I'm leaving to my estate. Let's go together!

No, you don't say so, I can't

"The Guest" based on the story

"The gospel according to Mark" by J.L. Borges.

Director and screenwriter Alexander Kaidanovsky

Holy Golden Age! When there were neither laws nor officials.

And people respect justice by their own wish.

They knew no fear, no punishment, no judgement

They didn't read threatening sentences on brass plates.

People lived peacefully without courts,

knowing neither Christ, nor Antichrist,

nor Judas, nor treachery, nor deuce knows what.

All crimes were combined together on the basis of justice and trust.

All this disappeared. Deceit, treachery, cunning and abuse came instead.

The War came. A host didn't believe his guests any more.

I'm not saying about you.

Come here, help me!

Lift it, damn!

We've come.

Be careful!

Wash the staircase

and wax it.

Place the sculptures.

Spread the carpets.

Put up the paintings.

And there should be no dust!

You'll do it tommorow morning. And now we must have a snack. Be quick!

- Supper will be plentiful. - No, just show me my room.

I have a terrible headache after this damned riding.

I'd rather have a rest.

Is it a goldfinch?

Do you need something, sir?

What's wrong? Do you feel bad?

No, there's nothing to worry.

You have a strange look. Haven't you recovered yet?

- Haven't you heard about this street? - Never. Where is it?

The street... Doesn't it remind you of something?

No.

Why do you ask?

I have a silly feeling.

A feeling or desire. In other words, I'm longing for places

where I've never been and haven't been going to.

Nonscence. You've overworked, my dear.

You should have a rest.

It's impossible to do that endless resitting of your damned examinations.

- Sorry, how old are you? - 33

33!

When will you find a job to your taste, at last?

Please have a drink.

I have to go to the neighbouring town.

I've looked through commercial papers... My silly steward mixed everything up.

I'll just finish the affait and will be back in a week

I wanted to take you along but a journey makes you sick.

There's no point to harass you.

I warned the steward, so he'll treat you like owner.

Have a rest and do your exercises. By the way, about the steward.