Abishag concluded her interest in the bone and began to nose about under the table sniffing at things quite beyond the understanding of the rest of us. On occasion she rested her head on a knee for a scratch behind the ears. When she came to me, she tarried, sitting on her haunches. My hand reached for her head, and she willingly submitted. I believe she somehow sensed the pending departure of her Master, and in the way that only a creature like her could imagine, she had selected me to care for in his absence. In any case, curling her tail, she settled herself at my feet and stayed. I had no idea of the joy and companionship she would bring me in her remaining years.

Jesus was observing me and the liaison apparently being formed between me and the dog at my feet. He did not seem unpleased. "When that time comes," he continued looking away at the others, "you will be in me and I in you. It will always be. There will be times--many times--when you will feel lonely and abandoned, but do not succumb to your despair. You are not abandoned.

"When the Comforter comes, he will convict the world of sin because its people are guilty of it and because men do not believe in me. He will convict the world of righteousness because they have rejected the Righteous One. And He will convict the world of judgment: because the prince--the leader--of this world has already been judged and now stands forever condemned.

"But let those of you who believe in me, those who are accepted and beloved of my Father, never say, 'I am convicted of the Spirit'; for to convict means to adjudicate, to condemn as guilty. You are not now, and never will be, judged or condemned." It is I who will be judged and condemned on your behalf. Thoughts unspoken.

"From this day forward and forever, every breath you take will be my breath and every breath I take will be yours. You will ask of the Father, and it will be as if I myself had spoken to him. It is no longer necessary for me to ask the Father on your behalf. The Father himself listens to you. The Father loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from him. Never forget that."

"It is time." The words we dreaded to hear. "In a few hours you will scatter, each to his own home for refuge. You will all leave me alone." He paused, to let this sink in.

"Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. This world, as beautiful as it is, is filled with trouble and pain. You can't expect anything different. But do take heart. I have defeated the agony of this world."

With that, Jesus stood, gesturing for us all to do likewise. The supper, the observance of Passover, had come to an end. Jesus, in rich baritone, began to sing one of the songs of David. Following the first few notes, the rest of our voices lifted in melody. It was the kind of song that lifted the soul and enriched the heart. We sang each note, each word, robustly and heartily, the voice of Jesus leading:

The last notes were sung in harmony. As the notes echoed in the room, we gathered our things and began to make our way toward the Mount of Olives, Abishag at my side.