Your Will, Not Mine

There were many angels within the crowd that day. They went among the men and women, unseen and unheard, for they walked on a separate, holy plane. The One who walked the line between was before them now, bearing a great wooden cross from which He would soon be hung.

Michael, robed in shining splendor, watched, his expression hard. His Father's orders had been absolute.

"When the time comes, you will watch. But you will do nothing."

"How am I to just stand by and let them hurt You?" Michael had asked, all those years ago, his soul in anguish. There had been no answer, only a repeated command.

"You will do nothing."

Michael had understood the Plan. It was the reasoning behind the Plan that he could not comprehend. His Father's perfect love for humanity surpassed even Michael's understanding.

Now, on this fateful day, it was Michael's duty to make sure that his brothers and sisters followed Father's commands, even when his own heart was torn in two.

Raphael, pale and beautiful, stood at Michael's side, staring down at his own shaking hands. They were made to heal. All it would take was one touch, and his Master's wounds would be gone. One touch, and yet, he was forbidden to interfere. He looked at Michael, a silent plea in his eyes. Michael placed a gentle hand on Raphael's shoulder and shook his head.

"We cannot," he whispered.

Gabriel stood on the other side of the path with his shining wings around Mary, trying to help her bear the pain of watching her child suffer. He had felt responsible for her from the moment he first brought her news of the Plan. A young man was also beside Mary, holding her hand in his.

Many others stood in reverent silence, ignoring the noise of the jeering crowd. Some of them covered their faces with their wings, unable to watch. Others could not tear their eyes from the scene. Samuel, dark-haired and youthful, was among them.

Though he had lived for thousands of years, Samuel was still but a child in the sight of the archangels. Tears came to his eyes as he watched his Master stumbling before him, weakened by a battered, human body. He quickly brushed them away.

"There is no shame in weeping," a kind voice said. Samuel felt an arm gently wrap around his shoulders, and he turned to see a tall, unfamiliar angel beside him who shone as brightly as Michael. The unknown celestial being looked down at Samuel with a sad smile. "Father's orders are cruel. I cannot help but wonder if they are a test."

"What do you mean?" Samuel asked as he looked up at the angel's shining face.

"Perhaps it is a test of loyalty," the angel said. "Who among us loves Father enough to save Him, even when under orders not to?"

This troubled Samuel. Father's orders were always clear. He had never tried to trick them before. Samuel looked over at Michael, who kept a steady hand on Raphael, even when the torment was clear on his own face.

"Michael is more loyal than any of us, and he will not allow anyone to interfere," Samuel said softly, his tone suddenly lacking in confidence.

"That is true. Michael is wise, strong, and fiercely loyal. But perhaps he has not stopped to think about what is truly happening here. Watch," the angel said, pointing.

Samuel's gaze was drawn back to the Son. Blood and sweat streamed down His face and back. He was slowing. The crowd was growing louder.

"The cross He bears is heavy, but it is nothing compared to the weight of sin that comes with it. All the sins of the world, even the ones that are yet to be, rest on His shoulders." The unfamiliar angel pointed at the Roman soldiers as he continued, "The one holding the whip, the one holding the hammer and nails, even Longinus, the spear-bearer. Their sins are all upon that cross."

Keeping his arm firmly around Samuel, the angel drew him along with the crowd, following the slow, painful procession.

"What have they done to deserve the Life He offers? Every last one has turned from Him. Not even His twelve chosen could stay by His side."

"John is here," Samuel reasoned, glancing across the crowd at the young man standing beside Mary.

"Yet he makes no attempt at rescue. None of these creatures are truly worth saving. This whole spectacle is nothing but a useless, painful endeavor," the other angel responded, disgust clear in his voice.

"Do not say such things," Samuel said, firmly, though he was unable to deny the logic of the angel's words.

A great clamor arose in the crowd, and Samuel strained to see. The Son had fallen to the ground, the great cross pressing down upon Him. Michael stood nearby, holding both arms out in warning to the other angels. No one was to touch Him.

Samuel felt his eyes filling with tears again, and the bright angel leaned down and whispered in his ear.

"Go to Him, Samuel. There is still time to right this wrong."

"But Michael-"

"Michael longs to help as much as any of us. He will understand."

The words were full of reason, and Samuel felt hope filling his heart. It didn't have to end this way.

"Go!" the angel said, giving Samuel a quick shove forward.

Samuel landed on his hands and knees before the Son. He opened his mouth to speak, but words had left him. A Roman soldier, blind to Samuel's presence, impatiently raised his whip. Samuel heard Michael's voice crying his name, but he ignored it as he got up to try and shield his Master from the brutal assault.

The whip came down, but Samuel did not feel its sting. The One who walked the line between felt both the whip and His servant's body trying to protect Him.

"Get back, Samuel!" Michael shouted again, this time reaching for his sword.

The Son raised His hand, silencing the archangel with one motion. He let His gaze fall on Samuel, who was back on his knees.

"Lord, please let us save You!" Samuel implored, finding his voice again. "Let me carry this burden for You. Let me die instead!" He reached for the cross on the Son's shoulders, but his hand went straight through. He could not even touch it.

"Samuel."

Samuel felt a thrill as the Son spoke his name.

"You are a good and faithful servant. But mine is the only Life worthy to be given in this exchange."

The Son smiled through the pain and reached out to wipe the tears from Samuel's face.

Samuel could not believe it. His Master was mere hours from an agonizing death, yet it was Samuel who was being comforted.

"But why must You die? I do not understand, Lord," Samuel said, begging for an answer.

The whip came down again, and the Son closed His eyes against the sting.

"It is a matter of love, my child. You will understand when you learn to love humanity as I do. Now go back to your brothers and sisters."

Samuel shook his head, dissatisfied, but he obeyed and stepped back, his eyes never leaving his Master's face.

A sturdy man from Cyrene was pulled away from his two young sons and ordered to carry the cross for the rest of the journey. When the weight had been lifted from His shoulders, the Son shakily stood and glanced quickly at Michael.

"There is a serpent among you," He said, before turning to continue His fateful journey.

Michael drew his sword.

"Lucifer! Show yourself!" he shouted.

The luminous angel stepped forward, but his light was suddenly gone. He was now cloaked in shadow, his face hidden.

"Young Samuel is the only one of you with pity in his heart," Lucifer said. "You should be ashamed, Michael."

"Father's will be done, not ours," Michael responded. "Your attempts at treachery have failed. Leave this place, before my sword rends you as it did before."

Lucifer's body flinched at the memory.

"I was only trying to save our Master from needless suffering, dear Brother," Lucifer said, but there was nothing but venom and mockery in his words. "Besides, Samuel knows I'm right. He believed every word I said. Didn't you, Samuel?" Lucifer reached out toward Samuel, but Michael put himself between them.

"Leave. Now." The archangel raised his sword in warning. Lucifer hissed with defiance, but he backed off.

"The plan will not work. The only thing that awaits this God among men is death," he spat.

"Then why, I wonder, did you bother trying to trick Samuel into helping Him?" Michael said, his voice steady.

Lucifer snarled like a wild animal.

"My armies will be waiting for you at the Skull," he said before abruptly turning and disappearing into the crowd.

Michael sheathed his sword and turned to Samuel, who instantly dropped to his knees.

"Samuel-"

"I am sorry, Michael. I let his words deceive me, and I disobeyed your orders," Samuel said, keeping his head down in shame.

"Samuel-"

"Please punish me as you see fit," the younger angel begged.

Michael smiled for the first time that day.

"Samuel." This time there was no interruption. "That was one of Lucifer's more clever schemes. He used your compassion against you. What you did was foolish, but it was done out of love. There is no sin in that."

Michael reached down and took a hold of Samuel's arm, pulling him to his feet.

"Stay by my side, Samuel. We will help each other through this bitter day," he said.

The archangel looked off into the distance and caught a glimpse of the demons gathering on the hilltop, preparing for battle. It felt like a blade was twisting in his heart. He had never expected that he would have to fight for his own Master's death.

"Your will be done, not mine," Michael prayed for the hundredth time that day.

The slow march to Golgotha continued.

A/N: Thank you so much for reading! If you have time, please take a moment to leave a comment. I would really like to know what you thought of it!

-Samuel