Painting by Liz Lemon Swindle
What follows is a first-person account by a biblical person that draws the reader into the life and times of Jesus and his followers. Such vignettes stimulate the imagination. They encourage contemplation of real events and real persons.
The last time I felt this discouraged was when my good friend “John in the wilderness” was beheaded.
Then Jesus came speaking words my ears had never heard before. He spoke of hope and everlasting Life. His parables were remarkable and profound. They changed me from the inside out.
It was very pleasurable to see the effect His words had on the “spiritual leaders” and the SO Sad U sees who rejected belief in bodily resurrection.
The thought troubled me that people could despise one so much. Because of all the good Jesus had done, they put Him to death, but not until they had Him beaten unmercifully, then the crucifixion!
My Savior was tortured, bleeding, and in agony. How could anyone endure this suffering?
My heart is broken! What am I to do? Who will save Israel now?
After the events on Friday there is an emptiness within me, even the report of the tomb being empty does not register.
The thought troubled me that people could despise one so much. Because of all the good Jesus had done, they put Him to death, but not until they had Him beaten unmercifully, then the crucifixion!
My Savior was tortured, bleeding, and in agony. How could anyone endure this suffering?
My heart is broken! What am I to do? Who will save Israel now?
After the events on Friday there is an emptiness within me, even the report of the tomb being empty does not register.
It happened like this:
My good friend Cleopas and I were heading to Emmaus, when a stranger met us on the road. As we walked, He listened intently to our rantings about what we had witnessed days earlier. The stranger listened. The last thing I remember saying was, “no longer is our conquering redeemer with us, is there a future for this nation?
Then the stranger began to speak. He spoke of things that sounded so familiar, as if straight from the Scriptures! We insisted He break bread with us and as He blessed it, we saw His nail-pierced hands and knew immediately that our King Jesus lives!
My good friend Cleopas and I were heading to Emmaus, when a stranger met us on the road. As we walked, He listened intently to our rantings about what we had witnessed days earlier. The stranger listened. The last thing I remember saying was, “no longer is our conquering redeemer with us, is there a future for this nation?
Then the stranger began to speak. He spoke of things that sounded so familiar, as if straight from the Scriptures! We insisted He break bread with us and as He blessed it, we saw His nail-pierced hands and knew immediately that our King Jesus lives!
Father, forgive my unbelief!
Imagine the greatest Teacher explaining the greatest themes from the greatest book and bringing the greatest blessings to men's lives: eyes open to see Him, hearts open to receive the Word, and lips open to tell others what Jesus said to them ~Wiersbe
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Imagine the greatest Teacher explaining the greatest themes from the greatest book and bringing the greatest blessings to men's lives: eyes open to see Him, hearts open to receive the Word, and lips open to tell others what Jesus said to them ~Wiersbe
1 comment:
I recently met the writer of this piece while visiting family in South Carolina. I asked him to send me something he had written.
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