“Gabriel, where is the one called Socrates, the Athenian?”
“Counseling the new arrivals, Michael.”
“The Master needs him. Go and bring him to Jesus.”
“Father, with you all things are possible. If it is your will, let this cup pass from me.”
“Thank you for coming, Socrates. I need to speak with you.”
“Master, I do not understand why you have need of a poor old philosopher such as me, since you are the son of The Most Wise. And, more to the point, of what use is my meager advice at this time?”
“Are you forgetting that all times are the same time to God?”
“Of course! Our meeting now is the same as our meeting before you were even born. The difference is only my point of view. To think I have been here over 400 of what we called years on earth and I still can’t seem to get used to celestial time!”
“Yes, God’s time is eternal and eternally difficult for men to grasp. It is God’s time that makes our meeting possible, but it also makes my sojourn on earth infinitely painful — all moments are one to God…and all sins as well…”
“Sins? What have you to do with sins, Master?”
“I am dying for your sins, for the sins of the whole world, Socrates. It is for this reason that you are here. It is for this reason that I am born.”
“Is it your fate, then?”
“Something like it. It is not what you might call fate or destiny. It is the will of God.”
“And this knowledge troubles you?
“As a human, I am in complete anguish, but as God’s son, I should have nothing to fear…”
“But I still do not understand. Why have you sent for me? You are the Son of The Most High and equal to Him, while I am, or was, only a man, a man who asked too many questions for his own good!”
“There is no such thing as asking too many questions!
“Then, let me ask one more. If men ought to seek wisdom from God, then why would God seek wisdom from a man?”
“Socrates, I am equal to God in all ways but one.”
“Master, I do not understand. In what way are you unlike God?”
“I am a man. God is not. Therefore, as a man, you know many things I do not know.”
“What things?”
“What it feels like to be a man, what it is like to be declared an outcast for your beliefs, to be falsely accused, to be sentenced to die because the authorities were threatened by your very presence.”
“I see. But, my life and yours are not the same. How can one who simply sought wisdom help the Son of God, even though he is a man?”
“Your experience is important to me, Socrates. You sought wisdom to the end of your days on earth. Now, I ask you to share it with me.”
“I will gladly share what I have learned, if only to help in some small way.”
“Truly I say to you, one of you will betray me.”
“What was it like, then, to be falsely accused? Were you betrayed? How did you feel?”
“I believe you know the facts of my case, Master. I will not recite them here, except to say that some powerful men brought charges based on hearsay and lies. I was deeply hurt that my questions were taken to be an evil influence on the young men of Athens and a subversion of Athenian religious beliefs. But, to seek wisdom I had to question everything. The trouble began when I challenged certain arrogant, self-righteous officials. If my questions offended God, I am truly sorry. I wanted to seek the truth, so I could act more virtuously.”
“God wanted you to ask questions, Socrates. It is only by seeking that men find answers, and their knocking opens the doors of truth. Did any of your friends desert you in your time of need?”
“No, my true friends stood by me, even when the majority opposed me. I suffered the betrayal of men in high places who ought to have known better, and the injustice of the crowd going along with their accusations. Yet, I was encouraged by the support I received, even though it was not enough.”
“Injustice always offends God, Socrates. And I understand what you mean about betrayal. What about your trial? Did you try to defend yourself? What should I do?
“For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up”
“Some of my students, especially Plato, thought I defended myself brilliantly, but my defense was not enough. I may have changed the minds of a few, but most had their minds made up long before I spoke a single word. If I could give you any advice about your trial, I would say, ‘don’t waste your breath.’ By speech alone you will not influence your accusers. Let your life speak to the ages. Those who know the truth will not need an explanation.”
“You are wise, Socrates! Since it is God’s will that I die, I must do it with dignity.”
“Exactly. Let their own words declare the truth!”
“The Governor asked, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus said, ‘You have said so.’”
“We have much in common, Socrates. Didn’t you once say, “Never return evil for evil? “
“Yes, but you said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” It seems to me yours is the more righteous way.”
“How did you avoid unrighteousness? Were you tempted to escape your sentence? Were you outraged by the injustice done to you?”
“I was outraged, Master. I was angry. I wanted to humiliate my accusers. I even resorted to sarcastic remarks in my trial. I am afraid my attitude did me more harm than good. You see what I mean about not talking too much? I wanted to run for my life but compared to yours my fate was easy to bear. I had lived a long life and did not have many more years ahead of me. I was ridiculed, but not spat upon. I was cursed by some, but not tortured. I was sentenced to a nobleman’s death by poison, but not the crucifixion of a common criminal! I believe your fate is by far the greater outrage. You will need more than a philosopher’s reason to keep your natural reactions under control.”
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
“So, you think I will experience anger and want to express my outrage?”
“As a man you certainly will, but as God’s Son, I think you will follow the path of righteousness. But it will be difficult — extremely difficult — because your friends will deny they ever knew you.”
“Yes, I know…”
“Even God will forsake you.”
“I…know. There will be one moment in which I will be totally separated from God, but I must somehow find the strength to keep my faith in Him, nevertheless.”
“I wish I had had that kind of faith. I did not know what awaited me. All I had was hope.”
“Hope is an essential part of faith. If you had hope, you had all I could expect.”
“Do you know what awaits you, Master?”
“Yes, Socrates. The greatest pain any man will ever know, but also the greatest victory. “My suffering will make forgiveness possible. My death will conquer death itself.”
“I like to think I died so others might be free to seek wisdom, but why must you die?”
“There can only be one reason.”
“What is it, Master?”
“Love, Socrates…love.”
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