Barbara Irwin Moebs
Barbara Irwin Moebs and Company Publishing, GA
Bobbie
USA
LLC Augusta,
TUCKED BEHIND THE WORD A Journey Through the Worded Veil
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ Irwin Moebs,TuckedBarbaraBehind the Word / by Barbara Irwin Moebs. Includes bibliographical references.
Tucked Behind the Word @ 2021 Barbara Irwin Moebs. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, or other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.
Dedicated to my late mother, Bobbie Irwin, who instilled in me a love for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, a passion for studying scripture and to her I say, “Thank you for passing the pen.”
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No More! ontentsC
The Magi
StarIntroductionAcknowledgementsTrackers
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Humbly Devoted Simeon The Seen Matthew Come and See Nathanael Served Grace Wedding at Cana If Only A touch of healing Meager to Feast Boy and the fish The Widow’s Offering Anointed DarknessForgivenesstoLife
The EvenWaitingNow
Martha Ember of Hope A Mother’s Cry A Spotless Hope Hook, Line & Drachma The Widow’s Son A Periphery Witness Mark Silent Witness: Courageous Devotion Joseph of Arimathea Thief
Mary Magdalene
DiscoveryPrologue
Doubt to Belief Thomas and Discussion
AboutConclusionNotestheAuthor
To the readers Thank you for taking this journey. I am deeply honored to be your guide.
Acknowledgments
To my Word messenger: Tracy Figgins Your text, prayers, and encouragement walked me through some very dark days.
The saying, “It takes a village”, is a very true statement, especially for a writer. Tucked Behind the Word, would not have been born without the Lord using the amazing people in “my village” to encourage and support me. To my husband, Brian to whom has been my biggest fan for over 30 years. I love you, babe!
To my Lord Jesus Thank you, without you, I am lost and void of life. You are my life.
To my children, Jessica, and Brandon my greatest accomplishments. I am so proud of you both. Remember, the Lord never loses sight of you. Psalm 139. Trust always in Him! To my sister, Holly My sweetest cheerleader, friend, confidant, and my fierce prayer warrior. You know all my days and you still love me. Thank you. To my girl squad, Lexi, Diana, and Nandy My beautiful friends, sisters in the Lord, Beta readers, my adopted Georgia family and the ones that keep me honest.
In between the words of scripture, tucked in just behind, resides the world that houses the moment happening in front of you on the page. It encompasses the outer landscapes, the sounds, the smells, the textures of life and its witnesses. It also captures the inner landscapes: emotional reactions, thoughts, and feelings of the character(s) navigating through these moments. Let us escort you beyond and through the worded veil to see these moments in your mind’s eye; to immerse you for a little while into the teeming life living in the pages of scripture. The world that is painted in, Tucked Behind the Word, is what I imagined life might have been like for these ordinary people just before and during their encounter with an extraordinary Lord. Let’s walk through the worded veil and see these moments as imagined through their eyes.
Introduction
and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2: 2 NIV TrackersStar –MagiThe
Blinking rapidly and shaking his head slightly to somehow clear his vision and mind. A question hovers there, “Am I seeing this truly?” He rechecks his astrolabe plates. He again realigns and focuses on the same celestial points hanging in the dark vastness of the predawn night. He is right. They are moving – something is coming on the horizon. He calls over one of his companions and shows him what he sees. After companion looks at what has his friend all flushed with excitement. His own wonder and question crosses his face. He nods at his friend. They both then turn and look back up to the night and whisper together, “Change is coming in the East.”
Theywitness.travel
In the light of day, they search the scrolls, the annuals, and ancient writings, talk to other searchers about any prophecies about a new ruler to be born in the east born to die. By night they excitedly search and watch the sky. Wonder, question, curiosity, and anticipation build within them. A decision is made. They chose to follow the star converging in the heavens. They search; waiting for truth to reveal itself and to bear its a great distance, through many landscapes and challenges: both physically, emotionally, and mentally. Each wrestling with their own doubts. “Are we insane? Is it worth this? I miss my bed, my wife, my family.” Their throats and skin at times as parched as the sea of sand they navigate through. Just as the glorious celestial light reveals itself in the pre dawn night resting in
the dark sky; so, does their determination to find what lies beneath it. They press on. Their animals laden and secure with their provisions and their precious gifts to present to the one they believe has been born the king of the Jews. In the distant horizon, the city on a hill, its outline breaks in: Jerusalem. Staying outside the city, they send word with a small token to the presiding King Herod and request an audience. An audience was granted. They eagerly enter the place in hopes to find the born king. The richness of the palace almost takes their breath. The vastness is filled with porticos, pillars, lined with gleaming white marble walls, lush greens, and florals. They hear the cooing of doves and the babbling of the water canals that traverse the inner courts. They enter a royal court and King Herod is seated upon the dais in full splendor. He was a man with pleasant features. But his eyes were sharp and with questioning laying behind their sereneness. They bow deeply in respect. The king speaks and states, “You have travelled far, as you are not from this land. What do you want to ask of me?”
Rising, but keeping their heads and eyes lowered, they ask, “Where is the one who has been born the king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” A collective gasp echoes throughout the hall. Hazarding a risk, they look up and see a dark and disturbed countenance on the king’s face. Then without a response, they are ushered out of the king’s presence.
The companions all share a questioning and concerned glances. They know of King Herod’s volatile reputation. The companions are led to an empty portico and left to wait. Almost afraid to speak; so, they once again view the splendor and lushness around them and wait in questioning silence. After a considerable length of time, they were once again summoned. They were led in silence to another area of the palace. They enter yet another lavish room, where they see King Herod seated upon a plush divan. They bow and show proper respect, each glancing over to another uncertain of what this means. The king then asks them. “What was the exact time the star appeared?” They answered without hesitation. The king then told them to go to Bethlehem. A community outside the city and search for the child there. The king requested that once they find the child, that they send word back to him. He said he wanted to worship the king too. They bowed and left the coolness of the King’s palace. Back to camp to regroup and continue their search. In the pre dawn night, the star once again reveals itself and stops over the place: Bethlehem. Excitement bursts out of them, for their journey to follow has not been an easy one. Arriving in the small hamlet, they make their inquiries. They learn of a child born on the night of the star. They retrieve their gifts to present to the born king and follow the directions they had been told. While they journey, they take in the narrow dirt packed streets, and the small patches of green, the
walls of sandstone and mud. So very different from the lush and gleaming palace where they had just been. But its streets team with life and vibrancy. Children running through them with small herds of wooly sheep baying and small cook fires fragrant the air. More than one person startled stopped and looked at them. They are after all strangers from a far land. One of the companions, “huh’s” as they navigate, shaking his head and thinking, “Oh, what a spectacle they make to these simple, country people.” He looks around at the others and smiles, as they too wear bemused looks. They must be thinking the same thing. A short distance ahead, they see the young mother sitting with the young child standing and clinging to her knees before her. The child looked to be “chatting” at the mother. She looked to be nodding in understanding with a small smile playing across her young face. Then they hear her laugh out loud. They slow their pace as to not disrupt the scene before them. Their hearts warm and smile. As they near, the young mother senses their approach. She turns to look, but in the same movement draws the child up into her arms and chest. They meet her eyes. She draws the child closer to her as she takes in their different appearances. In silent conversation, they look from her to the child and back again. Looking at her child again, understanding dawns. She gives a small nod to their silent question. She then turns the child to face them within her hold. They quietly approach and kneel before him. Their souls sing with recognition. They have found the born king. The child looks at them and then smiles. He starts to reach for them without hesitation or
alarm. The young mother holds him fast to herself. The child turns to look at her. She smiles at him. His little hands pat on her arm in excitement but he doesn’t squirm or cry out. The companions quietly lay down their gifts and offer their worship and respect. They reveal their gifts to the young mother. Her eyes swim with tears of thankfulness and understanding. The child takes in the scene and then looks up to the men with his warm coffee colored eyes. Their hearts and souls stir within them. Sighing, as relief and reality of the journey’s end has come to this little one. The one who has been born to die to save his people. The King of the Jews: God’s chosen. A star out of Jacob. The heavens were moved to reveal him. They are incredibly humbled and thankful they chose to follow.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s LukeMessiah.2:26NIV DevoutHumblySimeon
Rolling to his side, he instinctively raised his bleeding forearm and a knee in a posture to protect against any additional coming blows.
“WATCH OUT!” were the demanding and harsh words heard from the manica covered arm of the Roman soldier that shoved him and knocked him to the street. “Humph!” escaped him as he fell sprawled. The side of his head loudly slamming the dirt. His hands, elbows and knees scraped: also embedded with dirt and stone.
“Ha!” menacingly uttered from the soldier, as he mockingly threatened him and kicks towards his cowering body. The soldier then moves off further down the street leaving him where he fell.
Shame, embarrassment, and anger all collide upon his redden and dirt streaked face. The words pour out in a sigh, “How long Lord must we endure?” Dust and unshed tears choke him as he struggles to get to his feet. Age and old injuries make the process even more difficult. Comfort and a sigh comes to him as he remembers the Lord revealed to him that he would not die before seeing the Lord’s Christ. His humble resolve returns. Checking his wounds and righting his garments; he gently shakes his head and moves on toward one of the pools to clean his wounds. All the while, wondering why the Lord had selected him to reveal the Christ to. He himself was no one special a humble man. Yes, he tried to follow the Lord and the Law of the scriptures. But he was just a simple man. His musings quickly became a prayer to the Lord of thankfulness and for those faces he sees all around him.
He arrives at one of the pools and gently lowers himself down on the edge. Reaching in; he hisses and then sighs as the pool’s water both stings and comforts his abused raw skin. Then a gentle breeze blows across him, and with it whispers an overwhelming need to get to the temple courts latches onto his spirit – pulling at him. He hurriedly shakes off the water and pushes his aged body to move with haste. With each step closer to the temple, he feels the Spirit of the Lord falling heavier upon him. He arrives at the temple courts panting. He begins scanning the crowd there. He is searching for something, not sure just what or who, but the Spirit is revealing more and more with each glancing pass. Then, he stops frozen in his search. A young couple carrying an infant are entering. He is almost breathless. He hurries to the couple. He humbly stops right in front of them and the baby. He is mesmerized. He looks to the mother in silent plea as his eyes gaze down to the cradled newborn. She cautiously understands. Looking to her husband and with his nod, she gently places the baby into his scraped and trembling scraped hands. A sigh escapes him. He looks tenderly unto the child whose eyes lock with his. Then he starts to speak but his voice cracks with emotion. Clearing his throat, he says, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
With tears pooling in his eyes, he reverently caresses the baby downy head. His eyes still looking upon with the child. He nods to him with a small sad smile, before quietly laying the baby back into the welcoming arms of the mother. Meeting her eyes and then the eyes of the father, he places a rough and weathered hand upon each’s shoulder. He then looks to the questioning gentle eyes of the mother and says, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that, the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” At that, he gently squeezes their shoulders and once more slides a hand down to touch the head of the baby. Tears begin to flow, and he steps away from them reluctantly. He wants to stay by the child’s side, but this was not the place or time.
SeenThe –Matthew
As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth.
“Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. Matthew 9:9 NIV
A tax collector. He had scraped together all his money
Sea birds squawk overhead while street vendors hawking their wares fill the air the sounds of seaport life. The sea’s scent is heavy on the breeze rising off the water. It mixes with the day’s increasing heat, the fragrant spices of the merchants and pungent scents of all manner of people, beasts, fish, and caged fowl. It is a crushing symphony for the senses through the trade route streets of Capernaum. It is here at these crossroads that houses his ‘office” amongst the commerce and the chaos. Every manner of folk are required to stop by to pay their tax toll first to Rome and then to Herod Antipas. Of course, a little extra for himself and the Roman guards standing close by add to the amount extorted from the wary traveling Ascitizens.hesurveys the surrounding landscape: Jew and non Jew alike stand and wait for their taxes to be weighed and the tallied amount presented to them. They then struggle and dig deep to pay the toll, all the while the guards threaten and shove around their authority with impatience. In the midst of all the noise, his mind wanders back to when he was a boy running through these very streets. In his memory, he can almost hear the voice of his father yelling to be watchful and to keep an eye on his brother as they rush ahead dodging the chaos. Shaking his head, those earlier days seem like many lifetimes away from his present reality. He clearly remembers the day, so many years ago, when he got up, walked out and away from that life and his family. He remembers choosing this life, this profession.
The deep stirring that was within him earlier rushes back like an open storm out on the sea almost knocking him to his knees. Out of needful curiosity, he begins to scan the people passing by. So many questions start running through his thoughts, “Who is this
and then some, to buy the right from Rome to become one: a publican; a Roman tax collector. A man fearfully respected, rich; but also despised by so many, including his own family. He is pulled from his memories and turns his ear as he hears people passing by talking about the one from Galilee. He glances around. He has heard the stories: of healings, of miracles, etc. He has heard that the one, is also an amazing teacher. He is one, who speaks to all manner of people: both in the temple and on the streets; to the Jew, Samaritan, the leper, and the gentile. He has often wondered about this man. The teacher from Galilee. As his mind continues to wonder, he suddenly feels a deep pull stirring within himself. He rubs at his chest as he attempts to shake it off. He refocuses himself as concerned faces come into his view as they anxiously approached him. No concern for him, he knows that, but they only worry about how much their dues or tolls will be this time. He shakes his head as his chosen career pulls him again out of his mental musings for there is money to be made and the Roman guards are becoming restless in the waiting. After a short while, he senses a change in the mood out on the streets before him. Something is coming. No: someone is coming. The Galilean.
Once again, he scans the faces of those in the crowd. Then in a breath of a moment, the throng of people that were approaching seemed to part. In that moment across the distance, his eyes lock with the very one who was occupying his thoughts. The Galilean. He doesn’t know how he knew it was him. But something deep within recognized him. Within their look, a connection; in that connection, the one saw him really saw him. The Galilean saw it
Galilean the Nazarene? Are the stories about him true?” He shakes his head and thinks, stop looking, he will pay you no mind. He is a rabbi and will not talk to you you are unclean in the eyes of the temple leaders. Your own family can’t talk with you. Memories again flood into his vision from when he was a boy and of all the times he went to temple for reading, studying, and the memorizing scripture with the other boys from the community and his brother. He had so many questions back then. But no one could answer them. So, he behaved like everybody else did because it was expected of him. But he wanted more. He needed more. Until one day, he had enough of following the religious men and the law. He chose for himself a new life outside the law; in more than one way. He left his family. He left the life he knew. Now, he doesn’t always like this life. He doesn’t always like the choices he has made. But as they say, “You made your bed; so, lay in it.”
He continued to watch the crowded street. The stirring in his soul awakens his questions of long ago; they press heavy on him.
all: who he was, who he is. He saw him. A million conversations seemed to have happened within the moment of their locked gazes. The stirring within him came raising up like a waterspout compelling him to move. The one somehow had moved closer within those silent conversations and in the next moment now stands before him. The look in his eyes tells him that he still sees him. But the one then says directly to him with an authority, “Follow me”. It wasn’t a question. It wasn’t a plea. It was a simple statement of invitation. The Galilean rabbi presented him a choice. A choice: he and his spirit immediately agreed to. He, without a hesitation walks away, abandons his tax collector’s booth and steps alongside the one. He follows Jesus. For the second time in his life, he leaves one life to follow another. He didn’t look back.
“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael said, “Come and see”, said Philip John 1:46 NIV SeeandCome –Nathanael
A contemplative sigh escapes him. His gaze travels from the sea to the surrounding landscape and back again. The sun reflecting on the waves and their rolling rhythm capture him causing him to travel within his inner space of thought and memory. Water is so much part of his life and the lives of his people. His thoughts travel through his people’s history, one by one: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob the Father of the twelve patriarchs, Joseph who was sold into slavery in Egypt, but the Lord God rescued him. The Lord raised Joseph up to save his people through a great famine.
Glancing at the sea grass dancing below in his vision. His mind travels to remember Moses. Moses was born in Egypt under deadly times, but the Lord God rescued him. Moses a Jewish baby boy recovered from the river raised in the Royal Egyptian palace as a prince of Egypt. Later, Moses saw the slave life and plight of his Jewish people. His people. Moses attempted to intervened to help, but he wasn’t accepted by them. He was after all an Egyptian prince. Then in his mind’s eye, he travels with Moses to Midian. He imagines Moses’ life
Sitting under the shade of a fig tree overlooking the sea of Kinnereth, he could see gentle waves rise and fall. He took a bite from the ripe fig; he plucked from the tree above. He had to react quickly with the back of his hand to catch the juice sliding down off his chin. A smile comes across his face as he narrowly escaped the juices onslaught. He resettles himself against the tree. Propping up one knee and resting the wrist of the fruit laden hand upon it; in hopes that the juice will drip upon the ground and not on his tunic.
there. But after 40 years, the Lord God spoke to Moses through a burning bush telling him to go back to Egypt. Shaking his head as a small smile creases his contemplative expression and thinking, only God would show up in such an awesome fashion. At this thought, his eyes quickly look at some bushes close by. He wonders, “What would I do if the Lord showed up in my life like that?” Releasing a sigh, he takes another bite of the sweet fruit and is once again drawn back to watch the dance of the sea. His mind then reenters the Moses story; hearing the story for as longs as he remembers anything. Moses under the command of the Lord led his/our people from Egypt and escaped through the miraculous parting of the Red Sea. At this, his eyes travel back to the sea before him below. In his imagination, he tries to envision what that day must have looked like. Shaking his head, he knew he would have been terrified. Taking in the landscape before him, he takes another bite of fig, he spies the ruin walls of an old house not far from the sea. In his contemplative mood, his mind instantly remembers the story of Jericho’s walls and how they fell under Joseph by the Lord’s hand. Then surrounding stones remind him now of how a giant was fell with David’s stone. David, the shepherd boy who became king because of the Lord. A verse from the scripture’s pops in his mind, “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse from his roots a branch will bear fruit.”
With an eye roll, a sigh and resigned agreement, he slightly bows his head to Philip and directs with his hand saying silently; show the way. On their journey to the outskirts of town, Philip chatters on excitedly.
At this, he wonders, “Where is the root of Jesse?” The thought becomes a prayer. “We are in need of rescue again, Lord.” He thinks of the Roman guards and centurions that currently walk his city’s streets. His spirit riles within him. He grips the fig tighter as his anger and frustration rises. He is about to throw the now crushed fruit when his friend finds him. Philip who is almost breathless as he skids to a stop before him. Looking up to Philip’s flushed face, he could see excitement dancing in his eyes. Philip almost shouts at him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote Jesus of Nazareth, son of Joseph.” Hopping up from his seat, he throws the crushed fruit into a bush close by. He moves to stand before Philip. He places his hands on Philip’s shoulders and wipes the sticky fruit juiced hand upon his friend’s tunic. With a shake of his head, while looking at his friend, he says, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Philip moving out from under his grasp; uncaring about the fruit stain now upon his shoulder or his friends’ attitude and says, “Come and see.”
The man quirks his eyebrow and a small smile plays about the corner of his mouth before he says, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” At his words, a shock of recognition raced through every fiber of him, body, and soul. The words almost knocked him to the ground. He stuttered a shout of declaration, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel!”
Upon hearing this a smile blazes upon the One’s face with a twinkle of humor. He grabs his shoulders and look directly in his eyes and says, “You believe because I told you I saw you under a fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.” The One drops his hands from his shoulders and with a tilt of his head, He gestures with his hand, to point him and the others to Galilee. As he follows, he hears the words of the Rabbi, and his heart begins to pound. Because he believes this is how the Israelites: His people. How they must have felt stepping on the seabed and crossing over into a new life. He almost stumbles at the thought.
As they approach a small group of men, he sees a man he doesn’t quite recognize among familiar faces. The man calls out to him and says, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom nothing is false.” He stops in front of the man. With a furrowed brow, he looks to the man with a tilt of his head and a squaring of his shoulders and asks him, “How do you know me?”
His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2: 5 NIV GraceServed
Worry crosses their faces as they look around to one another. One nervously gnaws on the side of his lower lip. One presses his palms like trying to wipe the concern away. The others each have their own nervous tells. They knew the truth: it’s gone. They also knew they will be punished for it and the embarrassment it will cause the family if it is known. The nervous shuffling continues. Just then the woman helping the mistress quietly came over to them. She wore a look of question and concern. The one closest whispered the truth to her. A slight gasp escapes her. She scans the table and looks at each of them. She quickly turns and starts searching the feast guests. She meets the eyes of her son and discreetly motions for him to come over. He must have read the masked concern on her face. He walks over quickly to her. She grabs his forearm. He looks down at her small hand and lowers his head slightly. She quietly says, “They have no more wine.” She looks up to her son with concern deepening the lines on her face. He questions her about why she is involving him. He looks ups slightly at the group nervously twitching before him. She ignores her son’s next statement and turns to them. Her face now shows a calm expression. She says, “Do whatever he (her son), tells you to do.” She gives her son’s arm a loving squeeze and darts off to intercept some oncoming guests. She beautifully distracts them and angles them away from the table.
A collective sigh escapes from them and they turn their attention to the son. A teacher, they can tell. He looks at them, then looks up to the sky like saying a prayer and then focuses on the six water jugs just beyond them. He looks back at them and says, “Fill the jars with water.” They quickly move to grab the jars and go fill them as told. In the process, they pass questioning looks between them. Their worry deepens. They whisper to each other, “How is water going to help? We need wine.” They shrug their shoulders and shake their heads. They know that their punishment is going to be severe at the end of this day. Sighing, they quietly do as asked and make their way back to the feast; careful not spill any. The jugs were filled to the brim. Once back, they see him (the son, the teacher). He was standing with a group of men, talking. He turns slightly and says to them.
“Draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet”. He nodded toward another group of men standing a short distance away. The group with the son look about in question and wonder what is going on. They set down their jugs of water and carefully draw some out for the master to taste. Each wearing a look of fear and question as they glance at each other doing their task. Two by two, they approach the master of the banquet. Two by two they offer up their cups. Holding their breaths, the banquet master takes the first and closest offering. He takes a drink. A delightful and amazed smile surfaces from his redden cheeks. He nods appreciatively looking into the cup. They stand still and breathless.
Their eyes flittering back and forth from the water to the master and to each other; waiting. The banquet master calls over the bridegroom and pulls him to his side. He says that everyone brings out the cheaper wine at this time of the feast. But you have brought out the best wine and slaps the bridegroom on the shoulder and downs the contents of his cup with a hearty laugh. The bridegroom turns and smiles at them with a slightly shocked expression and nods. He then returns to his Theyguests.exhale. Wonder and relief shines bright upon their faces as they look to one another. They all then turn and find him, the son, watching them. A knowing look and a small smile plays about his face. He nods slightly to them and gently winks. He quietly raises a single finger to his lips and a small “shhhh” forms on them. They beam with thankfulness and absolute wonder at the grace they have just been served.
She said to herself, “If I only touch His cloak, I will be healed.” Matthew 9:21 NIV OnlyIf –faithoftouchA
She wakes with a hope like every day. Can it be done today? She starts to move to get up out of her cot. She is then hit with a very familiar sensation. She chokes out a sigh as tears jump into her eyes. A prayer gurgles up through her tears. Yet, another day alone, another day not being able to get close to or touch anyone for fear of contaminating them. The doctors have all tried everything still nothing heals her. “Oh Lord, please!” cries out from her anguished heart. Later, she cleans herself up as best as she can, and she quietly steps out among the people. She knows to be very careful not to touch or run into anyone. But she just needs to not be alone. So, she chooses to be alone on the edge of a crowd. She wraps herself tighter and skirts close to the edges of the street. People see her, they know of her, and they walk to the other side. Her cheeks redden and she turns down her face. But still, she is out among the people, the animals and all the vibrant colors of life; a small smile crosses her face. She thinks, “oh to be free to walk unashamed to meet and greet family and to have friends”. The pain of her isolation pierces her heart once more, as a deep sigh pours out, as she almost melts down into the dirt. She continues onward traveling nowhere in particular just to be out among life. She hears people taking in the street. One word pricks her ears: Healer. They are talking of a man that is a great healer. She stutters for a moment. She has been to all the healers to no avail. She is
about to move past. But then they say that with this healer that even Jairus a synagogue ruler has kneeled before and has asked for help for his daughter. Hope bursts with a pounding in her heart and soul. She edges closer. They catch her listening and she moves off. Her mind reels with hope. She wrestles. “I am just a woman. He won’t heal me.” But the conversation rings loudly in her mind that he is going to help Jairus’ daughter! She hurries her steps and with each step a prayer. “Please Lord, please”. As she continues towards Jarius’ home. She sees a large crowd trailing a man and Jairus. Oh, she can’t get close. She will ruin everyone. But as she must do something: Eyes flitting back and forth with a swirl of contemplation. She thinks, this man must carry the Lord’s healing power. “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed. I won’t ruin anyone. I will be freed from this suffering. Lord, you have brought him here to heal me too”, was the prayer of anguished soul. She breathes deeply and begins to bravely maneuver herself to be just behind him along the edge of the street. She hears the conversation and her heart beats loudly as the healer listens to the panicked father. Up ahead, she sees that the street narrows. She races forward so He will pass by her. So, when He passes close enough, she will get very low, reach out and to touch his cloak. He then comes close, and she stretches out her hand as far as out as it can. Her heart’s prayer stretched with it. His cloak faintly brushes along her far outstretched fingertips. In that exact moment she feels like a static shock zap her fingers and felt the
healing power race up and pour into her. She grasps and draws back her hand. She almost fell back onto the dirt packed street. But she knew it was done. It was over. Her anguish has stopped. The Lord heard her prayer and healed her through the touch of His cloak. Her trembling hands now cover her face as she remains kneeling in the dirt. Immediately, He stopped. He was searching the crowd; looking for the one who “touched” him. She heard him say. She knew she was caught. She shakily stood up with tears in her eyes. Tears of thankfulness, joy, and fear. She looks into his eyes and fell at his feet seeking mercy. Then she hears, “Daughter,” he said to her. She looks up and into his compassion filled eyes. He continues, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” At his words, she falls sobbing back down to the street in relief. He is pressed by Jarius and the crowd to continue. But Jesus left her healed and whole for first time in 12 years.
“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” John 6:9 NIV FeasttoMeager
“Abba, what do you think is going on?” Curiosity burning within his young mind, as he stares at the groups of people traveling passed, just down from his family’s small home. “Huh?” grunts his father in response as he looks up from the net he was mending. A tear happened while fishing earlier. He follows is his young sons wondering stare. Seeing what stirred his son’s curiosity, his own questions now fill his mind. He lays aside his net. He stands and stretches up to his full height as he watches the people stream by down on the shore road. He calls to his wife, who is just inside their small home with their younger children. He says he will be right back. This draws her out to see what is pulling him away. With a babe nestled close and the youngers trailing after her like little ducklings. She raises a questioning brow to her husband, as her eyes adjust to the outside light. He nods in the crowd’s direction a silent conversation ensues. He watches and wonders, what each look between them means as his eyes dart back and forth between the two. She then looks to her eldest and back to her husband. He perks up and looks to his father. A slight shake of his father’s head deflates him in a moment. A dejected sigh escapes. His father’s strong hand then lands upon his shoulder. With a slight squeeze, a command follows, “Stay here and watch over your mother, your brothers and sisters. I will be right back.” At this his father was off and all he could do was watch. He kept him in sight; but lost him a few times when he hit the turn, or blind
spot down the path, or was hidden from a tree or bush. But he diligently watched, wondered what was going on and waited. Behind him, he heard his mother usher the youngers back inside. He kept watch below. He caught sight of his father speaking to a couple of men. His father then turned and looked out to the sea. His own eyes then traveled up and out onto the lake below. In the distance, he could see a small boat in full sail traveling further north up the coast. He returns his gaze back to where his father was. But he was gone. “Oh no! Where is he?” Swaying and straining side to side, even going up on tip toes to try to find him below in the crowd. Lowering himself down, he is frustrated. He lost him. But just as he begins to turn, he spots him, and he was almost back to the house. He was on the last turn of the path. “Abba!” he yells, “What is it?” He smiles at his son’s boyish curiosity and impatience. Father nods his head in the direction of the house. Silently telling him to get his mother. So, he turns and yells, “Mother! Abba is coming!” He turns back to see his father shaking his head and quirking his eyebrow at his impatient yell. He sheepishly ducks down his head and mouths, “Sorry.” He hears his mother and the gaggle of his siblings come out and up behind him. Before his father takes one step closer, his mother almost yells, “Well?” He smiles because he wanted to do that but knew his father would give him the “look”; so, he was glad his mother blurted it out.
His father smiles and reaches for the baby who was now reaching out for him from his mother’s arms. Father settles the baby and kisses her sweet head before explaining. He is about to scream out, “Come on already, what is happening?” But thankfully his father begins to say that a Rabbi was travelling nearby. He is traveling by boat north. The people are from all over and they are following because he has done some miraculous healings all over Galilee. The people are hoping to hear him teach and some hope to be healed by him. Wonder and amazement tingle through him. He excitedly says, “Abba, can we go and see him?” His father looks down at him. His hopeful question written all over his young face. Father turns and looks to his mother with a raised eyebrow. She looks out and down upon the sea. She then silently turns and enters the house, saying Henothing.looks up to his father in question. His father shrugs in a silent, “I don’t know?” His father turns his attention to the babbling baby in his hold. He bounces and quietly talks to her. He looks around towards the house. The gaggle are crouched down by the corner of the house intrigued with a stick and some poor bug. He hears noises from inside the house but stays put; except for now watching the rabbi’s boat sail further up the seacoast. Until another noise draws him back to watch the doorframe of the house and he wonders, “What is she doing in there?”
His eyes travel back to the sea and a sad sigh escapes him. Behind him, he then hears his mother coming out of the house. She stops and tells the gaggle to leave it alone. He then feels her small hand rub the back of his shoulder. He turns. He looks at her. He is almost as tall as her now. She smiles and shows him his bag. He looks down at it and back to her. She nods, hands him the loaded bag with one hand, grabs the back of his head with the other and plants a kiss on his forehead. He was going to see the RABBI! He thinks this is a miracle all its own. He beams his biggest smile to her. She smiles and gently pets his head and then drops her hand. She turns and yet another unspoken conversation ensues between his parents. His mother plucks his baby sister from his father’s arm; settles her on her hip and leans over for a kiss from his father. He obliges. She tells the gaggle to say good bye to their father and Thenbrother.dirty hands and faces all run and grab a good bye and turn back to join their mother who is now standing in the doorway. He looks to his father and he nods a “let’s go”, their journey has begun. Excitement races through him. He fights the urge to break into a run down to the coast road and pump his father with a ton of questions. No, he will be good and grown up. He tries to search the sea for the boat. He sees it small on the horizon of the north coast. He stays in step with his father as the join the parade of people traveling to see the Rabbi.
He was amazed to hear the traveler’s stories of the healings the Rabbi has performed. He also loved hearing the debate and wonderings from his father with their fellow sojourners. Oh, what an amazing day this turning out to be. After a couple of hours, they reach an area where they could see a large number of people had gathered north of the shore, up in the grassy hills. People were scattered everywhere. He lost count of how many people were gathered. As they walked further up the hill, he adjusts his bag that lay across him from shoulder to hip. They had already snacked on the figs and nuts, his mother packed. Now, all they had left were some small barley loaves and a couple dried fish. As they continued navigating their way through the sea of people. He kept looking to the left and right, over some people and around some, in hopes to see the Rabbi. But with so many people around, how can he know who he is? His excitement ebbs a little, but he stays close to his father with every step. His father selects a grassy spot off to the edge of the crowd. Lowering themselves down into the cool grass. A sigh escapes them both as they rest from their long journey. He moves his bag to the front of him and rests it on his now crossed legged lap. Father stretches out his long body, with his hands clasped behind his head and his feet crossed at the ankles. They see people milling about all over the hill area. He searches the crowd for the Rabbi. He sees a man sitting up on a boulder with a few men encircling him. He is drawn to watch him. Bits of conversation floats down to where he is. He strains to hear more.
Andrew steers the conversation to him. He asks about him and then out of curiosity asks about what is in the bag. He tells Andrew the food his mother had packed and that they already ate the figs and nuts. Andrew laughs and said he would have eaten those first too. Now he said all we have left is, he peeks into his bag for a moment. Then he looks back up and says, five barley loaves and 2 dried fish. Andrew smiles and nods with approval. Andrew bids them good evening and proceeds to the group of men around the man on the boulder but turns and winks at him on the way. His face lights up. All this time, he was watching the Rabbi and didn’t know it. He turns his shocked face to his father. Father smiles with approval. Turning back to watch the group, especially the Rabbi. Suddenly, they all turn and look directly at him. He cowers back a bit. His father inches closer at the looks.
Andrew asks father about where we had traveled from. Then they somehow start talking about fishing. Andrew notices him trying to pay attention to the conversation but also how he keeps looking back to the man sitting on the boulder.
A man then comes up from behind him. He makes a comment to father. Father stands ups, dusts off himself and engages in conversation with man. Nodding at the conversation, the man turns and smiles at him. He then introduces himself as Andrew. Just then another man walks by and playfully shoves Andrew but continues to join the man sitting upon the boulder. Andrew turns and says, “Hey!” He turns back around to father, smiles, and says, “Brothers!” with a shake of his head.
Andrew comes back to him and his father. Andrew says, the Rabbi has asked if he can have your bread and fish. He looks up to his father for permission and direction. Father nods his agreement. He quietly slips off his bag and hands it to Andrew. Andrew nods his thanks and trots back to the Rabbi. He looks to his father and then to the Rabbi. The Rabbi nods his thanks. At this he beams a smile back to him. The Rabbi then takes out the small loaves. He raises them to heaven in what looks like a prayer. He breaks them. He then places the pieces in the bags of his friends. He does the same with the fish. He places them in other bags of his friends. He is fully watching the Rabbi now. He wonders what is going to happen. The Rabbi’s friends tell the group to please sit down. They then go to each group and offer bread and fish to all sitting down. He and father watch as each person took from the bag all that they wanted. Utterly amazed, he and father sit in stunned awe. Andrew circles back around to him and father. He asks them to take out some bread all they wanted. His friend then offered them fish from his bag. Again, told to take all they wanted. Andrew winks and then moves on to another group. He looks down to his bread and fish clutched in his hand. With his awed expression boldly displayed, he looks up to the Rabbi. The Rabbi turns at his stare and warmly smiles with a slight nod and a
Turning to his father who wore an almost identical amazed expression. He scoots closer and rests his head upon his Abba’s shoulder. Awe and praise fed his soul with each bite.
wink. He then beams a brilliant smile back to him. He witnessed and somehow was able to play a small part in a big miracle.
Taking a huge bite of bread, his mind and soul shout in agreement and say, “Wow, the Rabbi is truly from God and this is what a miracle taste like!”
But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Mark 12:42 NIV WidowThe ’ Offerings
Her small hand reaches for the jar upon the shelf. Bringing it to her, she out turns all its contents into her open palm. Two small copper coins fall almost weightless upon her skin. She encloses them tight within her grip. She replaces the empty jar upon the almost bare shelf. Sighing, she heads out on the street with slow and prayerful but determined steps. Not far along, she happens upon small children playing chase with smiling parents close by. She watches as the parents smile to one another and share some knowing look. Her breath catches. She grips the small coins more tightly, as the pain of loss once again hits her heart. She slightly shakes her head and sighs; but continues. She sees life all around her. It’s living, breathing and vibrant. She nods to a group of women gathering water. A small smile crosses her face. It almost seems a foreign action to her these Again,days. gripping the close to weightless coins. She passes the colorful and scent filled market stalls. Her stomach voices its need. She places her thin open hand on its hollowness; in attempts to quiet it. She continues but becomes distracted and her steps falter. She instinctively opens her small hands to grab onto something to not completely fall. Stopping herself she then squeaks with horror. She has dropped them. Frantically she searches, praying with each pass of the streets surface. Tears forming with each rapid heartbeat. On her knees now she spots
one. Her thin boney fingers grab it hungrily. She continues her search and spots the other. She snatches it. Sitting back on her heals; each hand tightly gripping a coin. She pressed them against her pounding chest. A ragged prayer of thankfulness is puffed out. Swaying with a bit of dizziness, she maneuvers herself up and brushes off the dirt with her clenched fists. She continues. She ascends the wide steps and quietly enters the Temple’s offering room. She steps to the side as; the coolness of the covered room refreshes her. As her eyes adjust to the light of the room. She sighs and scans the room. She sees at one end, thirteen inverted trumpet shaped offering receptacles and people seated at the other. She is drawn back to the offerings. She sees many people come in and drop their offerings. She hears the flow of coins fall and land. Sighing, she grips her small but precious offering tighter and prays silently to the Lord. She searches around for a less visible container to make her offering. She rubs the tiny coins between her thin fingers and wrestles with her thoughts. Her decision is made. She realizes that the room is almost empty now except for a group sitting at the other end. She quietly, almost silently, goes the least obvious container. With a prayer of faith, she drops each coin. No sound is made as they Claspingfall. her hands together, she turns to leave. But looks across to the ones sitting at the other end. She realizes she was being
watched. Her eyes lock onto the one watching her. The teacher. She looks down slightly, and shyly embarrassed. She again looks up at him. She sees a look of compassion, understanding, and warmth radiating back to her. He nods with a small knowing smile. She returns with a small smile of her own. She leaves the offering with sigh of peace and a feeling of hope.
A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 7:37-38
Luke
NIV ForgivenessAnointed
She rouses from sleep. Her hair and bedsheets all rumpled and eschewed. She searches the dimly lit room. No one is there. She is alone again. They always leave…always. She rubs at her eyes. Her eyes catch a glimpse of something in the corner of the room. A small beautiful white jar. She rolls out of bed wrapped in one of the coverings to investigate further. She swipes her tussled locks of hair out of her eyes. She gently grabs the jar. It is cool to the touch. It is of smooth alabaster. She unstoppers it and suddenly the small dark room is filled with the scent of a sweet perfume. She inhales deeply. Replacing the stopper and returning the jar to its place she catches her reflection with a small bowl of water. Disgusted: she crumbles to the floor as shame and self hate cling to her making her very skin crawl. Voices within her start calling herself every shameful name. They scream at her saying she sold herself for perfume. She draws her knees up and covers her ears in hopes to quiet them. She weeps. “I just want someone to love me. Why can’t they love me? Oh, Lord forgive me!” is her anguished prayer. I am a ruin. Can I ever be clean again? A voice from her past calls out in her memory. “Forgiveness comes with a price” she remembers. She bolts upright saying, “I need forgiveness. But who can give that to me? Who can make me clean again?” A sweet scent of perfume tickles her nose again, but the name of Jesus comes to mind. The
Rabbi. He is here in town. He speaks with authority and forgives sins. I have heard people on the street talking about him. “Yes, Jesus!” She dresses quickly, grabs the alabaster jar and flees her dim lit room. She briskly goes close to the temple courts. Asking people if they have seen Jesus. “Do you know where he is?” Many look upon her with judgement and turn their backs to her. She is undeterred. She goes to another group and asks, “Do you know where the Rabbi Jesus is?” One finally yells out to her. “He is dining with Pharisee Simon” . She deflates and almost drops the jar for a moment. Doubt and shame capture again. They scream within, “you are vile, your tainted and unclean. You are not worthy.” But the desire to see Jesus is greater than the voices in her mind screaming at her. She nods and waves thanks to one in the group. She knows where Pharisee Simon lives. She sets off. She slips into the house easily. She’s a woman most do not pay her any mind. She follows the voices and the smells to where they were. She tries to make herself as small and as invisible as possible. Then she sees him. Tears well deep within her eyes blurring her view of him. Her hands tremble and begin to sweat. The alabaster jar rattles. She presses it tight against her body to make it still. There he is relaxed and reclined. How to get to him? She wonders. “I can move slowly behind him” she thinks. She
takes slow and unsteady steps blurred by the welling of tears. She manages to get directly behind him. She stands behind listening to him talk to Simon and the others gathered. Tears increase and flow as she clasps the jar a little tighter. Listening to him draws her closer almost directly over him. Tears drop, and she realizes that they have fallen unto the dust covered feet of Jesus. She gasped and is ashamed. She looks for something to wipe them off his feet. But she has nothing. Tears fall all the more. He looks up at her. His eyes seeing into her soul. He truly sees her. She kneels and places the jar upon the floor. Sobbing in earnest now, she says, “I’m sorry so sorry. Please forgive me.” Her hair and tears fall over his feet. She gently tries to wipe off her tears with her hair. She lowers herself even more. She gently kisses his feet and a plea of forgiveness. Her hand brushes against the jar. With quaking hands, she unstoppers it and splashes some upon his feet. She again pleas for forgiveness. Everyone in the room witness this display. But it was only Jesus that speaks to her. He says, “Your sins are forgiven.” Her face shoots up to look upon his. She parts the curtain of hair to see him more clearly. The others in the room question his authority in shocked and murmured questions. But she only stares into his face and compassionate eyes. He speaks again and says, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” Absolute gratitude shines through her eyes to him. She places another gentle kiss upon his feet. She quietly gets up and flees the room.
The cool night air is heavily scented with the smells of the city hits her. She shivers. She draws her arms around her, and the scent of the perfume still lingers upon her hands and hair. She begins to tremble and doubt once more assaults her. She clenches her fists and repeats to herself. “I am forgiven. Jesus said I am forgiven”. Then she throws her arms wide and inhales deeply and yells toward the heavens, “I AM FORGIVEN!” She glides home on the fragrance of forgiveness where peace and love welcomes her for the first time in a very long time.
And also, some women who have been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary [called Magdalene] from whom seven demons had come out. Joanna the wife of Chuzal, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
Luke 8:2 3 NIV LifetoDarkness
Looking down at her blood streaked hands with broken and dirt caked fingernails. Her exposed arms marred with deep seeping cuts and raw scratches. She gingerly slides out and up into a sitting position. She yanks her hair free from a branch while wearily looking around.
She wakes groggily; everything aching and bones screaming. She attempts to push herself up, rocks press deep into her palms. She almost buckles from the stiffness and pain. She haphazardly tries to shake away the fallen matted hair from her eyes. Some dirty locks are caught upon a branch of the bush she finds herself under.
“Where is she?” she wonders. Like so many times before, she has barely any recollection of her life. She is not even sure she is still in her hometown or not; or what day or time of day it is. Sighing heavily, she shakily ventures to stand. She sways from the swirl of dizziness. Her lips are swollen, cracked and split. Her tongue is thick and glued to the roof of her mouth. Again, using her blood streaked hands, she brushes away her matted, leaf and twig entangled hair from her eyes. Squinting against the sun’s onslaught, she hungrily searches for anything familiar. She chokes out a strangled breath, as she recognizes she is still in her Ahometown.briefmoment of relief masks the pain. Another ragged breath escapes as she remembers home; but has no one there. She begins to take steps toward the familiar. But she quickly freezes and realizes something else is familiar. The voices. She lowers her head as they become louder and stronger. As if, rushing her from the
backside of her mind. Gripping the side of head, she stumbles from the force of them. They are fighting her for control. She has barely the fight left to keep them at bay. She scarcely breathes out a prayer. At that, the voices slam at her all the more. But yet she remains thinly in control and steps closer toward home. Reaching the street, people react to her. She sees their fear, their judgement, and their disgust as they skirt by. No compassion, no understanding, no empathy, one voice within becomes fueled by their fear and coldness. It fiercely rises. Now it is looking through her eyes; a malevolent glare bursts forth to those passing. They hurriedly cross and cling to the other side of the street. A crazed sneer and menacing laugh escapes out of her. Her fight for control has been lost. She again is shoved down and is locked behind the darkness within. She screams in the silence of her darkness. A time later, her body convulses, and she is thrown down. The voices are screaming in terror and they explode in her head. A brilliant light penetrates her darkness and a calm like she has never known before, surrounds and embraces her. She melts from the feeling of it, as a sigh escapes her. Slowly, she opens her squinting eyes and looks up. She is greeted by warm, compassionate eyes filled with understanding, recognition, and no judgment of her. She shyly looks around. She sees a group of concerned and amazed faces looking back at her. She is drawn back to look up to the eyes, she first encountered. His eyes. She heard someone in the group call him, “Teacher.” But He is so much
more than a teacher, that she knew. She gasps. The voices, she then realizes have left her. Only she remains. She collapses forward with relief and deep gratitude onto His feet. Tears leaving trail marks upon the dust covering them. He has rescued her. She deeply weeps. She feels a weight of a cloth fall over the back of her. She then feels the warmth of a small arm reach over her drawing her close. A woman’s shushing sound, like that from a mother, gently hovers over her. A small light hand begins to stroke her hair. As tears fall and shout screams within her soul. “I am home!”
“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” John 5:7 NIV WaitingThe
Looking about, he knows every stone and column. He can tell the time of day, as the sun passes through the colonnades and by the color changes of the pool’s waters. Early morning as the steam rises, the pools glisten as deep topaz. He overheard someone describe it that way years ago. He agreed with them even though he doesn’t know what topaz is. But it must be beautiful. So, he claimed it in his mind. Again, he diligently watches the pool’s water. Waiting, hoping, praying, and waiting some more.
A couple of times, he got close to being the first in after a stirring. But as he clawed and dragged his way to the healing pool’s water; someone entered before him. Exhausted, hurting, and feeling dejected again with sweat and tears, he maneuvered himself to continue to wait and watch. He would try to smile and feel joy for the healing that another received. The healed all act the same, they run and shout. Their joy shines from every fiber of them. They are healed and restored. But it’s a bittersweet moment. Their wait is over while his continues. “How much longer, Lord, must I wait?” is
Another day, his view rarely changes, except for the people that cross in front of him. With each passing person, he quickly checks the pool, searching for a stirring, a ripple. He hopes the timing and the person’s willingness would be perfect. But like so many days and years before; nothing but the waiting.
A sudden rush of warmth and tingling passes through him. His legs that were once dead, pulsed, tingled and twitched with life. His
his anguished prayer, “Can you call me home now? My life is worthless here.” People again pass by, drawing him out from his memory. Some look down and offer sad smiles, while others catch his eye but turn away quickly and act as they didn’t see him at all. He turns his gaze back to his familiar the pools. He can tell that the morning is almost over. Sighing, he crushes deeper into himself, shutting out all but the water. Willing it in his soul to please stir, hoping to be the one to get there first and praying for someone to help him has become his mantra. Just then a shadow hovers over him. He looks up to see a man bending toward him. The man is in shadow, so he can’t see him clearly. But his voice carried compassion, gentleness, and a warmth he hadn’t heard in a very longtime. The man simply asked him, “Do you want to get well?” He crackles out to the man that he had no one to help him into the water when the water is stirred. While he is trying others get in and receive the healing. The man says to him in a warm, firm, and confident voice, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”
muscles pump and flex. He rolls and draws up onto his knees with tears streaming down his face. He settles on his heels and covers his face. He sobs for moment getting his bearings. Heart pounding: he angles himself and shakily stands. He now stands face-to-face with the man. His healer. His rescuer. Sobs overcome him and shake his shoulders. The healer’s eyes crinkle with a warm smile. The healer nods to him looking down at his mat. He with his heart bursting, lowers himself and gather up his mat. The healer again smiles and nods for him to go and walk. With his free hand he wipes the streaming tears. He looks into the face of his healer and smiles brilliantly. A million thank you’s beam from him as he gratefully and respectfully nods and turns to steps out of the waiting and into the living. A shout of joy erupts from him as he takes his first steps.
“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been there, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” John 11:21-22 NowEven Martha-
“Why hadn’t he come?” was the question foremost in her anguished thoughts, as tears once again fill her eyes and cloud her sight. She had slipped out the house; away from everyone and the mourning wails. She needed to breathe. She was exhausted from the worry and constant care over her brother when the sickness came to him. Oh, how her heart hurts. She misses him. She misses his easy smile. He could always make her smile; especially when she felt overwhelmed or frustrated mainly because of their sister. She loves her sister, but they are just different. They see things differently. They react to things differently. Her brother understood that. He understood her and now he is gone. “Oh Lord, why didn’t you come?” again was the desperate cry of her heart. Tears again fell. She didn’t think she had anymore to cry after so many days. Just then another wail leaks from inside the house, her mind flashes on her beloved brother in his bed, as he would wail and thrash in the throes of fever. She immediately covers her ears and sinks further down the wall she was leaning against to shut out the noise and memory. Her shoulders shake silently as quiet sobs roll through her. Her mind is a mess of what was and fears of what is next cyclone through her. In the midst of her storming emotions, she somehow overhears the teacher’s name from people walking by her unaware of her presence. She heard them say that they saw him outside on the road that led to town. She stands. She wipes the tears from her
face. She takes a deep breath, straightens her shoulders, and sets off to go meet him on the road. On the edge of town, she sees him. Even at that distance, their eyes lock. Hers questioning. His filled with warm compassion and understanding. He stops. She approaches and while looking into his eyes, she says quietly, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Then looking down she continues, “But, I know even now God will give you whatever you ask.” He gently and slightly touches her shoulder and says to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She again looks up into his warm eyes, hearing him. Her heart and spirit stir within her. She replies in confidence, “Yes, Lord! I believe you are the Christ, the Son of God, who has come into the world.” Lowering her head, she turns to go to her sister. His hand gently slides from her shoulder. Sighing, she doesn’t know what will come. But with each step closer to home, she feels the burden of loss and grief lessen and ease. The Lord is here everything is going to be alright. A tear falls. But this one is from a peace within her soul. It sighs, “Even now, it is well.”
The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. Matthew 15:25 NIV HopeofEmber –CryMother’sA
Her heart pounds and shatters at the sight of her precious daughter before her. The girl’s garments are torn, covered in dirt and drops of blood. The girl’s hair is undone, wild and matted with sweat and twigs. She reaches out to touch her daughter’s wild curls and in an instant her mind flashes onto a once familiar scene of washing her young daughters flowing locks; while her sweet girl hummed and played before her. A guttural sound snaps her from the memory as her hand stills mid air. The beautiful caramel eyes of her daughter flash up at her. But they hold none of the sweetness or warmth in them. They are wild, feral and haunted. They hold no recognition of her either. Again, her mother’s heart jolts with piercing pain of grief and loss. She surveys the girl before her. Cuts, scrapes, bruises, and open wounds mar her young skin. Sighing, she is desperate to reclaim her daughter from the demon or demons living inside and through her precious child. She attempts to grab onto her hand to take her home. But the moment, their hands touch. The girl screeches like a wounded animal and pulls her hand away. She then scrambles up off the street and darts down the alleyway at an in human speed into the night. She is frozen with her hand out stretched and a strangled “NO!” etched on her face. Tears well and fall. She is surprised she has any tears left to cry. She unfreezes from that moment. Her eyes staining through the darkness and in the direction her beloved child fled. Cold fear wraps around her like an old friend. She shivers in its darkness.
As she slowly and painfully moves to venture to head back home; slivers of dawn lighten the sky. Street vendors enter and move to take up their positions to hawk their wares. Cooking fires smolder as tinder is added to flame. Daily life awakens, and it begins its normal hums. She hurts. She longs for those simpler times with beloved daughter preparing for the day in quiet conversation and smiles. As a cook fire just up ahead roars to life, the flames of pain and anguish sear her heart. Her child had been taken from her. She doesn’t know how to get her back from the demons that have claimed her. She unseeingly passes a group and overhears them. They said that the Nazarene teacher and his disciples have were spotted outside of town. She stops mid step and listens as they Forcontinue.thefirst time in what like seems forever an ember of hope ignites within her shroud of fear and anguish. She has heard the stories and rumors about the Nazarene. How he has healed the blind, the sick, the lepers and the lame. She has also heard that he has the authority to drive out demons. She draws a full breath. She is going to find him and beg mercy on her daughter. She adjusts her direction and heads out. All the while, she knows that He is a Nazarene Jew and a teacher. She is not a child of the promise and she is only a woman. But she must try. Otherwise, all hope is already lost from saving her child. She can’t do it on her own. With a renewed spirit – she sets off to find him. After a while, she locates him and the large crowd surrounding him. She surveys the crowd. She must get closer. So, she starts yelling,
“Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession.”
“Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession.” No one pays her any mind. She inches closer and continues to yell.
Some turn and create an opening for her to closer, it drives her harder and she screams all the louder. Her voice cracks with parched strain. The teacher slows his steps and answers her saying that He was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. He knows she is not a Jew. Desperate, she races passed the crowd and falls on her knees before Him. She breathlessly squeaks out, “Lord, help me!”
From her low position, she raises her head to look upon Him. He is in shadow. But she hears him say more softly, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” She flinches for a second, as He knows their shared history. Sighing, she replies, “Yes Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” He tilts his head and speaks with a hint of a smile and of compassion. “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” With a strangled sob, she again lowers herself. He and his group step around her and continue their journey. Tears of relief and faith flow down her face. She gathers herself up and starts her journey home. All the while, she searches for glimpses of her precious girl.
Rounding the path to her home; she suddenly stops as she sees a familiar form huddled outside her door. With a strangled gasp, she races to her. She slides to a stop just short, afraid to scare her off again. She gently crouches down aching to hold her. She quietly calls her beloved’s name. Her precious child raises her head and opens her caramel eyes. They swim with recognition and uncertainty as they connect with her own. In a whoosh of pure joy and thankfulness, she quickly embraces her child. The demons are gone just as He said they would be. Sobs rake through her as she clings to her girl. As faith and praise hums through every fiber of her as she strokes her crying daughter’s hair and washes it with her own tears.
When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Luke 5:12 NIV HopeSpotlessA
He continues to watch and wonder as he navigates the streets yelling, “UNCLEAN! UNCLEAN!” to give those about fair warning of his approach. He sees a mother’s hurried grab to shield her children from the sight of him. Oh, how he misses his own. But he stays clear of them to protect them from the ridicule and isolation
“UNCLEAN! UNCLEAN!” He yells as a large group of people head towards him. He breathes in the dirty, foul smelling fabric that covers his nose and mouth. He reaches up and messes his hair with a seeping bandaged hand. As the crowd comes closer, he again yells, “UNCLEAN!” The group parts, like he imagined the Red Sea did for Moses some to the left and some to the right. He knows what they see. His torn garments covered in dirt, stains of blood and puss. Hair wild and his once unblemished olive skin now speckled with white and angry red splotches. He once walked tall. Now, his foot turns and drags. He is a monster swollen with weeping wounds. What they don’t know or see is he once had a family, friends, and a trade he loved. He was at one time clean, whole and could go anywhere without shame. Now, he is riddled with this vile disease. No one can be around him. It’s not allowed. But he also doesn’t want anyone else to end up like him. Sighing. He has cried out to the Lord many times, “Why? What did I do to be cursed, to be sentenced to this isolation, despair and aching loneliness?”
for being related to him. His body maybe becoming unfeeling, but his heart and soul feel and hurt deeply. He wanders the dust covered streets and alleyways. He finds the spot where his wife has left a wrapped basket of food, ointment, and clean torn bandages for him. He cries at the sight. Oh, how he longs for her; to hold her and love her like before. He cradles the basket and lowers his face covering ever so slightly to try and get a whiff, a scent of home. He hobbles to an isolated spot near a small water run off. The trickle of water is clear. He lowers himself and listens for anyone approaching. He fumblingly undoes the bandage on his hand. His wound is open and angry looking, but he feels nothing. It is dead to him, no sensation. He lowers the wounded hand into a thin stream of water. But only hit or miss sensations gently dance across it. He gently washes his exposed skin; willing the water to wash away his vileness. He so desperately wants to be clean. Not only his skin, but also within the sight of God and community. Sighing, he prays. But his prayers feel as dead as parts of him are. He awkwardly applies the ointment; imaging the feeling and longing to be able to feel and touch. He is as clean as he will ever get, he fears. Rising, he journeys back to return the basket. A small scrub flower catches his eye. He smiles. He as gently as he is able plucks it. Hoping not to crush it. He again smiles at the thought of his wife seeing flower in the basket for her. The ache of longing like a wave rushes him; making him stumble onto the road. Rising, he sees
another set of bleeding scratches marring his already speckled skin. A sob of frustration rushes out. In the distance, he sees a group of people. He knows he is supposed to yell, “UNCLEAN! UNCLEAN!” But just for a moment, he wants to get a little closer and listen to their conversation and feel like he is a part of the group. He stays off to the side and heard the teacher talking about God and His love for his people. The teacher didn’t speak like any other teachers he had heard before. His spirit stirred deep within him. Then he heard one from the group say something about the healing the teacher had performed earlier. His heart leapt within him. He shouted then, “UNCLEAN! UNCLEAN!” The groups quickly divided. But the teacher remained unmoving. He rushed in falling onto his face before the teacher and begged.
“Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Breathing heavy into the dirt, desperation pounding his heart and soul. He then heard the crunch of dirt from movement above him. Then he felt it! The warmth of a touch upon his shoulder. He then heard the teacher say warmly, “I am willing.” Then the teacher said almost as a command, “Be clean!” Immediately, a warm rush of tingles, unlike anything he felt before zoomed though his body. He knew, he was healed. He felt the dirt below now unswollen fingers. He felt it!
With the teachers hand still upon him, the teacher said quietly, “Don’t tell anyone, but go show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Then teacher left him and continued his own journey. He began to sob and praise the Lord where he lay, face down in the dirt. But his soul was screaming, “CLEAN! CLEAN!”
“Yes, he does,” he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak.
“What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes – from their own sons or from others?” Matthew 17:25 NIV
DrachmaandLineHook,
Looking out on the vibrant blue waters of the sea that he knows so well. His entire life has been around this sea. His sea. His Galilee. At its edge of rock, shell, and sand crunch under his sandals. He steps up to the very water’s edge. Where the slightest ripples of waves play touch and go with land of sand and stone. It’s there that he slides off his well worn sandals, leaving them just out of the water’s playful reach. He steps in the cool water that brings out an “ahhh!” from him. He takes a deep breath and savors the feeling. It is one that he never gets tired of. In that very same thought comes a wave of memory. He thinks of a time out on this very same sea. When the water was as hard as stone and he walked upon it. Even though the boat was far out from the shore. He saw his teacher out on the walking on the water. He threw out the dare to him. The challenge for himself to also walk upon the water like he was. The challenge was answered in one word, “Come.” He did. He got out of the boat and his foot landed upon the water; like it landed upon the sand. With another step, he walked upon the sea towards the Lord. With each amazing step closer to the Lord, he was amazed at what was happening. He then remembers with sinking clarity the moment, fear and doubt rushed him like a storm wave and down into the sea he went. But immediately, Jesus was there and plucked him out the waters and carried him back to the safe harbor of his boat. Still in awe of the experience and memory, he takes another step further into the water. He again is doing what Jesus told him to do.
He thinks about the events and conversation that brought him to this moment and back to the sea. He focuses on the task at hand. He readies his line and take yet another step further out. He holds tight to one end in one hand. The bulk of the line now floats and bobs upon the water in front of him. In the other hand, he twirls the hooked baited end to gain momentum. He spins it with a season and practiced hand. Then at the perfect moment, he releases it to sail out to deeper water before him. A small splash of entry, he then slowly starts pulling back the line in hopes of a fish nearby to take notice. He repeats the motions and steps all the while thinking about why he is even out here. While in town, two temple tax collectors approached him. They questioned him about paying his two drachma tax. They also questioned him about if his teacher also pays the tax. To wit he responded strongly, “Yes, he does.” At hearing this, the two collectors turned and raised questioning, doubtful eyebrows to one another. They then turned their hardened glare back to him and replied, “Be sure he and you pay.” They turned on their heels and went off in pursuit of another to accost and question. He remembers shaking his head at the two and continued his journey to his house. He also remembers the wave of dread that hit him. He realized that he spoke for Jesus. In truth, he didn’t know if Jesus pays the tax. He assumes so. But he wasn’t sure. “Ugh!” was the thought in his memory. He can still feel it even now
Coming back to the reality of the moment, he again twirls and releases the line. He slowly draws it back to him. His mind again travels too earlier. He thought about all the things he needed to do to prep for longer nights fishing. Nets, sail, and oars, all needed his attention before they could set off. All the worries swimming within his mind as he approached the house. He pulls up the line; still nothing. He sends it out again.
In his mind, he thinks about when he entered his house. Jesus was there just inside like waiting for him to come home. Jesus looks at him, tilts his head, and a slight furrow crosses his brow. He then speaks and says, “What do you think, Simon?”
He remembers bobbing his head in an uncertain agreement to Jesus’ statement. Jesus continued, “But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth
standing in the cool waters. He remembers thinking of all the possible ways to ask him about it. He also decided to pay the tax for himself and for Jesus. He will work extra to cover it.
He stops almost mid step and provides him his full attention. Jesus continues to ask, “From who do the kings of earth collect duty and taxes from their own sons or from others?” He was taken back by the question. But he stammers out a hesitant reply, “from others.” Jesus responded saying, “Then the sons are exempt.”
and you will find a four drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.” He remembers standing there is a shocked silence and awe, with his mouth agape. Jesus just smiled and with his head directs him back out the house and toward the sea. He remembers the shocked induced haze as he retrieved his line, grabbed his small bag from the post, and set off the seashore. Questions, doubts, and wonder all entangled his brain with every step down the very familiar path. A splash in the water rouses him from his thoughts and memory. With a good tug of the line, he know he has snagged his first fish.
Excitement builds within him and the temptation to hull up the catch quickly. But experience overwrites it. He knows he lost many on the line because of impatience. So, he methodically and evenly pulls the line in. The catch thrashes and pulls. But he keeps the line taught as he draws it closer in. Just as the fish, thrashes, and fights, so does his thoughts thrash between belief, question, doubt, and wonder. Just like the two sides of a coin/drachma; with every flip you see which side will show itself when it lands. The last pull; out and up. The fish now twitches and dangles in front of him. Its mouth, gills, fins, and tail; all flapping. He takes hold of it with expert skill. He disengages the hook and line letting it fall into the calm water. He turns the fish to take a better look. He opens its mouth again even further and there, just lodged inside
by the gill, was a coin. Wonder and reality collide inside his mind and sprayed awe like a large wave against the rocks. Reaching in and taking out the coin in one hand, then releasing the fish with the other. He bends down and rinses the coin with the sea water. Standing back up, he holds it up against the backdrop of the late afternoon sky. Water dripping and running down his hand and arm he sees it. “It’s a four drachma coin!” A laugh fountains out of him and fuses with a prayer of praise, wonder, and thankfulness. His examines it again. Then he gently slips the coin into his small bag. He leans over to wash his hands and to gather is now floating line that had ended up bobbing against his ankle. Returning to the water’s edge, he retrieves his sandals and replaces them upon his wet feet. With one last look out upon the deep blue waters, a sigh of wonder and a prayer of thankfulness, dances with his deepening belief. He ventures back towards town with his line, hook, drachma, and the powerful truth of Jesus.
“As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her, and he said, “Don’t cry.” 7: 12-13
Luke
NIV SonWidow’sThe
Her current numb reality begins to be drowned out by the images from mere hours ago as they come back to her clearly into beautiful Herfocus.son.
He enters with his thick dark brown almost black hair all tussled as he had just awoken from the night’s slumber. He steps into the warm circle of the lamp light; that chases away the predawn darkness. Rubbing his still sleep filled eyes, he utters to her a gruff, “Boker Tov.” [Good Morning] He places a slightly off kiss upon her head, as he joins her in the corner of their home. Every morning the same since the loss her husband, his father. She sits but is rarely idle. Her hands busy dressing the small batch of goat cheese in wild herbs she found yesterday. She directs him to his breakfast laid out before him. The dawn is pressing, and his workday is pounding at the door. Her heart warms as he shares his day’s plans. His telling is interrupted by a run away drizzle of honey down his chin. He smiles. She giggles and smiles warmly. Her smile filled with love and pride of her son. With his breakfast quickly consumed, he goes to gather his things for the day. She whispers a prayer of thankfulness to the Lord for the blessing her with such a wonderful son. As she continues to pray, she feels a kiss on top of her head. She turns and looks up to see his kind but mischievous eyes. He winks as he grabs a bar of the now herbed cheese from her lap and says, “Kol Tuv!” [Be well] as scoots out the door in triumph before she could swat him.
The beautiful memory of this morning is completely washed away like a rushing flood and it takes her breath. Her heart aches with the deepest pain she has ever felt. She stumbles-almost falling onto the swallow conveyance that now carries her beloved son’s lifeless Thebody.hand of her sister stops her forward momentum. She turns to look at her through devastated tears. The heaviness of heart she feels keeps increasing from the moment she answered her door. She saw the pained and fearful look of the message bearer. Light and breath left her in that moment, like a shattered water jug. Her beloved son was no more no life remained. Questions move through her numbed brain. “How can she get through this? How can she leave him in a cold, dark tomb next to his father and the others that have gone before them?”
Each tear that falls takes more and more breath from her. She wonders, “What is left to live for?” “Please let me die and pass on like my son or my husband’, is her anguished prayer of her bleeding and broken heart. The processional slowly exits through the town’s gate. Many people on the road step aside bidding them passage and out of respect for the mourners and to not come in contact with the dead and become “unclean” themselves.
At that moment, she feels a strong but gentle hand upon her shoulder; there is something familiar, but also not in the that touch. She then hears a gentle, firm, and compassionate male voice say to her, “Don’t cry.” She shifts her head up to look at the voice, her hands lower just to her mouth and questions lurk in her gaze to him.
At the next breath, her beloved son sat up. ALIVE! Breathing and twisting to remove the burial cloths.
She steps through the gate and the landscape opens before her. In the distance she sees the tombs. She stops as a guttural sob escapes her and her hands fly to her nose and mouth in an attempt to stop the flood. Her mind and heart scream, “I can’t do this! Please, don’t make me do this!”
The teacher in his tallit. He removes his hand and then took the few steps forward to the now stopped funeral procession. All eyes were now focused on him and all were filled with questions. With a look toward Heaven, he then places his hand on the swallow conveyance. At that moment, a loud gasp rips through the crowd. Then Jesus says aloud, “Young man, I say to you get up.”
At this, his mother flies to his side with a shriek of delighted wonder. Sobbing with joy at the miracle she now holds. Her beloved son has been returned to her. Praise erupts from the crowd. Shouts of, “A great prophet has appeared among us! God has come to help his people!”
Shock and astonishment reverberated through the crowd. The bearers fight the inside movement and place the conveyance on the ground and jump a step back. The now alive son looks around and up at Jesus and says, “Lord?”
Still holding tight to her son, she turns her eyes to look up and at Jesus. A million words of thankfulness, gratitude, and joy stream down her face and from her gaze to him. He warmly smiles and gently nods in response. Her son’s movement in her embrace shouts of life. She once again turns her eyes to him and squeezes tighter all the more with every ounce of love and praise within her. A prayer roars from her heart of thankfulness and praise for the Lord’s blessing her with her beloved son once again!
Mark 14:16 NIV
A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind. Mark 14: 51 NIV
The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So, they prepared the Passover.
WitnessPeripheryA –Mark
Excitement builds within him. The one is here in his house! The very one everyone in the community is talking about. The teacher: the one that threw over all the tables in the temple courts. He tries to keep his pounding heart from being heard by all in the house especially by his mother. He knew she would scold him and tell him to calm down and be respectful. He quietly edges to the opening at the bottom of the stairs. In hopes to hear him. Straining hard to hear; but only murmured voices of the teacher and his close friends trickle down to where he has strategically positioned himself. Sighing deeply, he reluctantly goes to join his mother for their own Passover feast. After a while, from where he was sitting, he heard one of the friends rush out from the house to the street. But the others remain upstairs. He wonders to himself what just happened. His curiosity starts running his thoughts as he bids his mother good night and retires to his bed. A time later, while lying on his bed; he hears the teacher, and the remaining friends leave. Curiosity eating at him; he decides to slip out of the house to follow them. Keeping a distance and to avoid being seen, he darts behind and around large water jugs, into doorways or under carts that line the street. He follows. In his stealth, he wonders, “where they are going? Will he see something amazing?” It’s late. He is going to be in so much trouble, if his mother finds out he is gone. He tries to stay within the shadows. Avoiding the occasional light that pours from the window into the
The teacher looks deeply troubled. He can see that, even in the dim moonlight. He then sees the teacher leave the three and go deeper into the grove. He attempts to move closer still. But the three are close by. He can see the three starting to slump as their bodies becoming heavy. They attempt to fight off the pull of sleep; but sleep seems to be winning. In the distance, he hears the teacher’s distress and sees him fall to the ground. He gasps at the sight and holds his breath; he realizes
“Do I follow? Should I go home?” He decides to enter. Skirting around the edge of the grove, ducking behind trees and bushes trying to get closer to hear what is being said. He steps closer trying not to trip over a root or snap a twig, all the while keeping Jesus in sight. They suddenly stop. He freezes on the spot. Hoping they are not able to hear his crazy beating heart or see him in the moonlight. The friends seek out some comfortable spot to rest. He crouches down attempting to become small and invisible. It’s then he hears the teacher’s voice telling the friends to wait here.
The teacher then takes three others further on with him. So, he inches closer to where they are going staying in the periphery. Watching, listening, and waiting to see what will happen. Something seems to be hanging in the air tonight. A sense of something coming or something was changing has gripped him.
narrow street. Careful not to get to close; he keeps them all in Theysight.have entered the olive grove. He hesitates, looking around and wondering.
even the night sounds seem to be quiet and holding its breath too. He strains to watch as the teacher agonizes as he cries out in prayer. After a while, the teacher comes back and rouses the now sleeping friends. He asks them to watch and to pray. The teacher then returns to his spot. He is still deeply distressed and sad. The teacher continues his anguished prayers. Staring through the darkness, he himself now feels the weight of sleep pull at him as he continues to watch and wait. He then rouses with a start as the teacher says to the friends, “the hour has come”. At this, a large number of soldiers and attendants have quietly entered into the grove. Surrounding them. He is now on full alert. His brain zinging with restrained anxiousness and panic. “What is going on? What is happening?” are the thoughts racing across his mind. He watches the scene unfold before him. He is frozen. With his eyes bulging and in slow motion he sees one the teacher’s friends draw a sword and swings at the closest attendant. The sword hit its mark slicing off the attendant’s ear. Pain filled screams and blood spray through the quiet night. The screams awaken the other friends in the distance. They come running. But they skid to a halt when they see the large group of soldiers. Jesus quietly reaches down; grabs the ear. He then stands; replaces the ear and heals the servant. Its then that everyone starts to move. Almost in slow motion in his mind, but reality came into sharp relief.
He realizes he needs to run. He didn’t know what was going to happen, but he knows he must get out of there. He pops up from his hiding spot. His heart pumping and mind scrambling. He turns to run. But at that moment, a soldier grabs hold of him. He twists and turns in his grasp and wiggles free from the hold – losing his outer garment. He takes off in a full run through the grove. Bushes and small branches tearing at his naked exposed body he barely feels it. He runs out onto the deserted street. He quickly ducks and hides in the shadows of whatever he could. He had to get back home. His mind racing as well as his heart. He navigates through the night and finally he sees home. He quietly as possible slips in and falls naked onto his bed. He is still running but only his mind with questions now. “What did I just see? What happened out there? Why did they come like that for the teacher? Did they see me? Are they coming for me? What am I going to tell my mom? What is going to happen to the teacher?” He knew something was going to happen when he followed Jesus. But he didn’t expect this. He was a witness-not sure of what exactly. But something has started.
Mark
Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 15:43 NIV
Witness:Silent DevotionCourageous
“What!? Why? It is still night!” He barked out. “They have arrested him!” “Who?!” was his urgent question. “The Nazarene, sir.” The servants answer was like a bucket of ice cold water thrown upon him. His heart sank with fear and dread. “Bring me my things!” He shouted to as he rose and pivoted to sit on his bed. He lowered his head into his hands, as his elbows now rested on his knees. Rubbing his face and running his fingers up through his hair, he expels a shaky sigh and prayer, “Holy God, help us!” After dressing quickly, he fled into the night to the home of Caiaphas, the Chief Priest. As he approached the home; a crowd was already gathered in the outer courts. Many were gathered by small fires, which were lit to fight the chill of the night. Entering the yard, he saw of those gathered the planes of their faces illuminated. They reflected a hardness and an anger in the dancing flame light. He sails passed, into the home and up to the council chamber.
“What is it?!” was his gravelly reply. “There is an urgent call of the Council”
“Sir, sir!” came the urgent whisper in the dark.
Many of the council members were already there. Their faces, like the crowd below, reflect a simmering anger. A hatred. It felt like it was a breathing entity within the room. A strong sense of it hung there like moisture of a coming storm. It immediately covered him as he entered. Fear and warning screamed within him. He moved Maneuveringsilently. along the outer side of the room, he sees small groups of members huddled together in hushed but intense discussions sprinkled throughout. As he worked his way deeper into the room, he was careful not catch many an eye. He sees him. He was standing deep within, at the center of the crowded room. He was bound and standing before Caiaphas and the elders. They were questioning him. He noticed that his garments were all askew to one side. He assumed it was from being handled and shoved by the guards, several of them stood just off to the side; he observed. Returning his gaze back to him, he saw a large angry red mark at the side of his face. A small trail of blood traced down from the corner of his mouth. He winced at the sight of it. Then Caiaphas asked Jesus, “Are you the Christ, the son of the Blessed One?” Everyone in the room stopped, tuned in, and held their breath in waiting to hear his answer. Jesus was silent for a mere moment. As he looked squarely at the priests and elders before him. He then said, “I am.”
At this, the room erupted in pandemonium. Caiaphas tore his clothes and yelled. They condemned him; called him a blasphemer and called for his death. The guards went and blindfolded Jesus. Others in the room, began attacking him; some striking him, while others spat on him.
Taking in all the chaos before him, his heart broke. Because he knew Jesus and believed in his spirit that Jesus was the one, they were waiting for. Now this madness! The guards violently shove Jesus out of the room. They wrestle him between them as they haul him off towards the governor’s palace by order of Caiaphas. Death! They wanted Jesus: DEAD! He slowly trailed after the council mob. The journey towards death began. With heavy steps and even heavier heart, he follows. A silent Alongwitness.the short journey through fading night, he met up with Nicodemus. A pharisee and another member of the council. As they follow along this wave of madness. They share several silent conversations and agreed about the wrongness of it all. They too soon arrive at the Roman Governor’s palace. Not wanting to defile themselves, as the Sabbath/Passover feast was on the horizon. Entering the palace proper would make them unclean. They assumed that Caiaphas had asked that Pilate grant their audience in the outer courts. As when they arrived, Pilate was already out and up on the judgment seat above.
Caiaphas, the elders, and their entourage argued to Pilate, that the Nazarene had violated their law. He was criminal and was worthy of Theydeath.observed that Pilate was not wanting to become involved. But upon hearing that Jesus was from Nazareth in Galilee. He ordered them go to Herod the governor of Judea and let him decide the Galilean’s fate. The entire mob filed out the courts and out to inner city streets to the short distance up to Herod. They once again follow the madness. They then reach Herod’s; and like with Pilate, the chief priest and elders argue their case against Jesus. Herod was intrigued by Jesus. But when Jesus offered to response or action. Herod mocked him along with others in his court. But he sent them all back to Pilate. The mob’s anger festering, as they once again trekked up the street back to Pilate. Silently, he and Nicodemus watched, unable to stop this lunacy without fear for themselves becoming its victims. Pilate was now forced to hear the arguments from priests. He brought Jesus up to him and asked him questions. After them, Pilate announced that he found no reason for death. He then sent Jesus off to be flogged to appease the growing mob in his outer court. At hearing of Pilate’s order, dread and anguish passed through him. He has heard of the vicious floggings mitted out by the roman
guards. Many a man have died in the process. A shuddering sigh and a grave look to his companion as the guards take Jesus away. Jesus with no protest, no argument, “like a lamb to slaughter”. The words of prophet: Isaiah shout out in his mind. Their impact almost buckles his knees where he stood. As a gasp of realization resonates through him. He almost blurts his thoughts to his companion. But quickly refrains; not here, not now. He again returns to be the silent sentinel to watch and wait. In the waiting, his mind travels to the times he saw and heard Jesus at the temple. He again is awed at the authority and command of the scriptures that poured out of him. His mind continues to remember conversations with Nicodemus about Jesus. He remembers when Nicodemus told him about a man born blind but was miraculously healed. They had brought him to the Pharisee’s where they then questioned him. They then in response to his answers, threw the newly sighted man out of the temple. had said that a time later, some of the Pharisee’s met up with healed man. They discovered that it was Jesus who had healed him. When they were meeting the man, Jesus was also there. Jesus had challenged them and called them blind. A loud gasp from the crowd, woke him from his memory. Up on the top of the stairs was shoved Jesus. Jesus was now wearing some type of crown shoved down on his head. His garment was reddening with blood seeping through it. His face was distorted in color, swelling and bloody. He was bound and wavering in the loss of strength. He was unrecognizable.
Nicodemus
He was roused from his horror of the sight before him when the crowd started chanting the name, “Barabbas!” He once again his soul tunes in and silently screams to the absolute madness before him. He turns to Nicodemus who was still staring and reflecting his own horror at the sight of Jesus. The crowd was growing to a fevered pitch; fueled by something unseen starts to chant, Crucify him! CRUCIFY him! CRUCIFY HIM!” He then sees movement up above them. Pilate slides his hands into a large bowl of water; washes them and loudly states to the frenzied crowd, “I am innocent of this man’s blood! It is your responsibility!”
A silent anguished scream of “NOOOOO!” burst inside his mind and spirit. It screams, “This can’t be!” But yet the Roman guard came and ripped Jesus from the presence of Pilate and out of his view. It was time for Jesus to be put to death. A most inhuman death: it was to be. At that moment, a decision flickers to flame in his mind and spirit, as the sun makes it arrival upon this day. He had no choice in the trial and now the crucifixion of Jesus. But he can still do something for Jesus and regain a bit of dignity back for him. He pulls Nicodemus aside from the press of the exiting crowd and out of his own stunned stillness. He then tells him of his bold plan. Uncertainty darkens Nicodemus’ countenance as he looks around at the vengeful crowd. But Nicodemus looks back up to where Pilate is still drying his hands as he looks out upon the exiting
crowd. Nicodemus shakes his head in agreement. Then they both trail after the crowd to go and prepare. He connects with his servant outside the courtyard. He explains his requests and sends him off to complete the orders. The crowd is still growing; filling and lining the streets. The word of the death order of Jesus races through the inner city like fuel upon a fire. People clamor to be witness. As he himself navigates through, he sees some who are confused and some who are openly weeping at the news, while others have a vile hatred pouring off from them. In his journey through the narrow streets, at a couple of intersections, he caught sight of Jesus. His blood and sweat forcing his garment to cling to him. His arms raw and bleeding as they struggle to carry the heavy cross through the throng of people. Again, his own spirit screams, “How can this be? How can this be happening?”
Right before Passover. Shaking his head from the deep sorrow he presses on to make ready the plans. After a while back from his detour, he reaches “the skull” Golgotha. He sees a flurry of activities. As they set the others, who also are being crucified this day. He searches and finds him. Stripped and with arms stretched out on the ground. His mind focuses and realizes what they are doing. They are stretching him out as far as his arms will reach and then some. Then with a resounding strike, a nail is driven through Jesus and onto the waiting wood that is already soaked with sweat and blood. His own body flinches at another strike and then another. Screams and cries
fill the air from the other two. He must turn his head away from all the blood and horror. A prayer escapes him, “Holy God, I don’t understand. He is innocent. How can this be?”
Turning back to face the horror once more, the guards are setting Jesus between the other two. Something hangs over his head, nailed above him, he can’t read it from this distance. He hears jeers and taunts tossed at Jesus about saving himself. In truth, he has wondered the same thing. But there Jesus silently hangs dying. Shame screams inside him, “How could you have remained silent? You said nothing to help him.” A breath of “forgive me” he whispers out as he glances one more time upon the dying Jesus. He turns away. His day is far from over. It’s preparation day in more than one Laterway.the day became like night. Then after a few hours a rumble passed through the land. It was discovered that the curtain in the temple that separated the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom. The people at the temple were terrified. He had completed his needed preparations. He now silently sought out to claim Jesus. He respectfully sent word to Pilate while standing out in Pilate’s outer court. He asked to make a request of him regarding the body of Jesus. Pilate was intrigued, as it centered around Galilean who was not far from the governor’s thoughts this day; he allows the audience. Pilate then questions him skeptically as to why a council member, whose very own council so vehemently called for the crucifixion would now want to claim Jesus’ body.
He boldly explained he believed Jesus to be innocent. He wanted to bury him properly and according to their laws. Pilate nodded in understanding and granted the request. With orders in hand, he journeys back to “the skull”. The afternoon sky still dark. Nicodemus has rejoined him. Upon arrival, they react to the sight. The two thieves appear mangled and grotesquely broken. While Jesus’ thorn crowned head has fallen forward and death now colors his body. Lifeless. They notice Jesus’ side has been pierced at some point. Shame and sorrow fall hard upon them. They approach a soldier and provide the orders. He reads them and then yells to his men to take the dead Galilean down and give it to these men, pointing back in their direction. They scramble to provide the soldiers with the long linens to catch the body. They help in process of dropping the body down. He looks around while catching their breaths from the effort and as the body of Jesus no longer suspended is now laying on the ground. He notices a small group of women off to the side. They are broken with sorrow and warily watching. He then recognizes a couple of them. He gently nods towards them and turns back to the task at hand. He and Nicodemus respectfully as possible wrap the lifeless body of Jesus. They then secure their holds and together carry him down off “the skull”. Straining, they carry him to a garden, just little down and further out from the outer wall of the city.
Time is pressing the sun will soon finish its descent and the Passover/Sabbath will begin. In the quietness, gently laying Jesus on the ground in front of the opening of a fresh cut tomb. They set to work. Each taking a side, they are both visibly shaken at the brutality wreaked upon Jesus. They were almost uncertain of where to begin. In unspoken unison they each begin at a foot. Wetting their waiting sponges with the water they had brought in their preparations; He notices the droplets of water that fall upon the marred skin like tears. His hands shake and his mind flashes to the time when a fallen woman came to where they were reclining and having dinner. She was crying. Her tears fell upon Jesus’ feet, leaving trails streaking down upon the dust layer covering them. All the while, she is begging for forgiveness from him. She then began to wash his feet with her tears and her hair. She had a jar of perfume. She anointed Jesus’ feet with it. His own spirit now echoes the fallen woman’s words: “Forgive me”, as he is now washing those same feet. Shaking his head to dispel the memory as he quietly, gently, and quickly attempts to clean the embedded dirt, blood and filth from Questionsthem.
like a silent conversation, run freely through his mind as he continues his task. “I don’t understand. Why didn’t you save yourself?”
Light is quickly fading, but in reverent respect, move the wrapped body in the new tomb. He was happy to share this with Jesus one day. They lay he final clothes over the head and cover the body with the shroud of linen. They step back and out while taking one
Coming up onto Jesus’ pierced side, his mind goes to the scriptures of the prophet Zechariah, “they will look upon me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him…” The wound was almost now lost in the vast torn flesh of him. But he presses on as the day is waning quickly. Taking hold of Jesus’ arm and hand, he continues to somehow wash away the brutality that mars him. Washing the hand, that mere days before, brought healing. Hands that restored sight with a touch with spit and grit. Calloused hands of a carpenter, a healer, a prophet, a teacher, now lay lifeless, pierced, bruised, swollen and still.
“Oh, what have we done?” was the whisper of deep sorrow and regret that he speaks over Jesus. Nicodemus quietly agrees. They reach the face and head. He and Nicodemus work together to untangle and pull the thorn crown that is so deeply pressed and embedded from him. Thorns break off and remain. They pry out the broken from his flesh. Gently they wash the battered and almost unrecognizable face of Jesus. Lips that spoke truth and understanding are now split and swollen. Eyes that sparked with intelligence and compassion now swollen closed. They quietly say the prayers over him as they now wrap and lay an abundant amount of spices on the battered, torn and bruised body.
last look at Jesus. Lifeless. They say almost in unison, “Forgive us, Lord.” They work and struggle to maneuver the tombs’ slab covering to in front of the opening. It lands into place with a loud thud. Entombing Jesus into the cold black darkness of death. A light snuffed Lookingout.ateach other and the faintest sliver of light on the horizon. They lay their hands upon the cold stone. Looking up at the heavens and star is now starting to show itself, they say to each other, “It is finished.” In silent agreement they turn and take steps back toward the city with heavy hearts and anguished souls as the journey under the twilight sky.
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Luke 23:42 NIV ThiefA –MoreNo
Funny, he thought he was free while on the outside, but it was its own prison. Fighting, stealing, doing anything and everything to get by or try to live a rich life. For what? He lowers his head. Pulled from his thoughts as he hears the guards from somewhere just outside his cell yelling at, he assumes another prisoner. They were shouting, “Prophecy! Who hit you” as evil laughter rose from the same voices? Then he hears the “humpf” and grunt along with the sounds of manica clad muscle pounding on flesh. But no cry
Propped against the hard, unrelenting cold stone wall of his prison cell, staring into the dark shadows lurking all around him within the small space. The walls are covered with stains either from the damp, disease or the blood and flesh of those who sat here before him. He does not know which. His mind racing, and his spirit is sorrowful, as the last hours of his life tick away. Fear now is his closest companion. It holds him tight within its cold grip. He trembles within it. The soldiers came and hauled out his cellmate a short while ago. His name was Barabbas or something. He didn’t know him, but he could tell, he was an angry and arrogant man. He was one he would have chosen to avoid if he was out on the streets. He chuckles at the thought, which is saying a lot, as he didn’t socialize with the acceptable of society. No, looking around, his life was as dark and dirty as this cell.
echoes out from the one being struck. Another pound upon flesh and he winces at the sound and cringes at the pain he heard being inflicted. He again hears the mocking voices of the guards, “Kings of the Jews! Here is your crown and robe, Sire!” Evil laughs drown out the grunt of some type of pain inflicted as it resonates through the cell hall. Those within are silenced as listening to what is going on outside of their own bars. A short time, he hears the guard yell and say, “Move!” and the sound of retreating and shuffled footsteps echoes in the hall. He wonders for a moment, who was that man? Then his own life and situation comes rushing back to him. Fear wraps itself completely around him; almost taking all his breath. Grabbing his head within his hands sobs rip through him. No more tomorrows. No more sun. No more laughter. No more life. His day of reckoning has come. No sooner had that thought come to mind, then the clang of iron keys came and unlocked his cell. A strangled gasp escaped him. The rough grip and even rougher voice commanded him to get up and said, “Its time!” Hauled from his cell he was able to get a glimpse of those who will die with him today. The one closest to him was cocky and full of fight with the guards standing by him.
dawns, this is the man he heard the guards call the King of the Jews. He was so distracted by this man, that not until the guard shoved the wood beam to him that again the reality of his own situation poured back into focus. The rough wood’s weight pressed against his boney shoulder. The rugged beam tearing up his grip and almost knocking him down with its weight. The soldiers haul the beam up over his shoulder and around the back of his neck. The wood ripping and chaffing the tender skin there. The full weight now rests upon him. The reality of his death literally sits upon him. A shove and a shout to move from the guard nearly sent him tumbling beam and all. With uneasy and shaky steps, he moves. The journey out of the praetorium and to the skull begins. Everything in him screams, “NO! I want to live!”
Walking out from behind the walls and unto the city streets. He knows these streets; he has lived out on them most of his sad life. Today is different. The streets seem harder and colder somehow. The people have always looked at him with mistrust or hatred for one reason or another. People are lining up in the street to watch
The other, quiet, bloodied and beaten almost beyond recognition with something like a crown shoved down on his blood soaked Understandinghead.
the death parade. Some pull their children closer to somehow protect them from the sight. He looks upon some of their faces. Their stares hold no compassion or empathy for him. They reflect the statements of, “You chose this. You are getting what you deserve.” Deep within him, he agrees. But he longs for at least one face to care that he is dying today. He walks on. Through the bend in the road, he sees his destination in the distance. Golgotha. Fear once again rips through him. He fights his own muscles to keep going forward when all they want to do is stop and run in the opposite direction. Again, the Roman guard shoves him forward, throwing him off balance and heading toward a small group of people. He uses the last bit of his grit to right himself and not crash into the small crowd. Everything within him hurt; every fiber of him screamed for relief. From his current view, he could see the others. The one closest to him was struggling to. But his stony expression as hard as flint was still firmly in place. The other had fallen back. He was soaked with his blood. But he was shouldering the beam with another. Just then another shove from forward knocked out his view. Now on his final steps up the hill, he sees Jerusalem sitting high and reflecting the early morning light and the valley below still untouched by the sun’s rays. A strangled sob escapes him.
Quickly the soldiers hauled him and threw him on the ground. He begs for his life. Crying out for mercy. A soldier strikes him; making him dizzy from the blow. The soldiers pull and stretch him. His flesh, bone, and muscle scream in agonized protest. The soldiers then lash him to the beam. The then haul him up and hang the beam and him in his final position. Immediately, the pull of his weight upon his arms was causing a burning and ripping sensation, taking his breath. He attempts to shift or move his weight to relieve the strain fail.. Then, the one they called the “King of the Jews”, came into view. He was covered in blood, sweat, and dirt. He was surprised he was still alive. The soldiers shove off the man who helping him carry the Thecross.soldiers then stripped “the king”. Bile rose in his throat at the sight of his flesh: ripped and torn. He watched, mesmerized as the soldiers had the king crawl upon the cross on the ground. They then pulled and stretched his arms out, as far as they would stretch; then pulled them a little further still. Then they drove a long nail into one wrist. A guttural sound was the only sound that escaped him. Then they drove a nail into the other wrist. Again, a guttural sound rips the air. The soldiers push his knees up, cross his ankles and drive another nail through
Softly, he heard the one next to him. The one they called Jesus the Christ say, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” His brain screams within him, “Forgive them! How can he say that?”
The soldiers had called him the “King of the Jews”. He agreed with that statement. For this man is truly noble. His thoughts running through his life. He knows that his choices have brought him to this place: this death. He knows he should have died so many times before. But somehow was spared until this day. But not today. There is no escape from this. Just then, the one on the far side starts yelling at Jesus.
both ankles down through to the wood. They then flipped it over with him attached and bend down the nails from behind. They then hauled the king to his position, between himself and the other thief. He was utterly amazed at the man who was now next to him. Who is this man? Rattles through his pain filled mind. Emotion, memories, fear, and pain roll through him. Closing his eyes to retreat somehow from this reality. He hears angry voices, mocking voices, that draw him back to the reality before him. Some religious looking people stood off to the side, saying, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Christ.”
“Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
Upon hearing this, he threw back his head and raised up to draw a deep breath. He closed his eyes against the pain and shouted back to the other, “Don’t you fear God! Since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man had done nothing wrong!” Breathing heavily from the shouting and his rolling emotions. He opens his eyes and turns his head to look at Jesus, as best as he could. He then draws another strangled breath and says, “Jesus, remember me when come into your kingdom.” As his breath becomes again rough and shallow. The head of Jesus swings slowly to his direction; hindered by the thorn crown placed upon him. Jesus struggles to open his swollen and blood streaked eyes to look back at him. Through excruciating effort, Jesus turns. He looks at him with of compassion. He then struggles and strains to push up along the cross digging deeper into his flesh to speak. He then answers roughly, clearly and with authority, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus’ head and body once again slide down and waited for death. At his words, peace like he has never known pushed through his pain and anguish, His fear was shoved to the farthest reaches of his mind. He expels his own breath in relief.
Over the next few hours, day became like night. As he hung in the darkness, he wrestled with his memories and his fears. But the voice of Jesus echoed in the firestorm of memories of his selfdestructive life. His words bringing light and peace, “Today, you will be with me in paradise!” Today he is a thief no more.
So, the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, and put my finger into his side, I will not believe.”
John 20:25 NIV BelieftoDoubt –Thomas
Throwing another stone, his mind screams, “Why didn’t he heal himself? He healed so many others.” His eyes catch an upturned leaf floating on the water, like a boat. His mind is instantly flooded with so many memories with his teacher and all the wondrous things he witnessed. Peter and the Master walking on top of the water. Yes, Peter went down but the Master picked him up and carried him to the boat. They were on water! He had witnessed the Master calmed storms with a word. Sighing, he wished his master would calm the storm that now raged in him. As memories continue to rise in his thoughts as he stares unseeingly at the leaf. Just as the water captures and drowns the leaf, so does all his emotions overtake him as he crouches smaller and against the stone walls surrounding him.
Down in the shadows and throwing stones into the small pool that was close to where they were staying, his thoughts were a jumpy as the stones he was throwing. So many memories pool up within him just as the water before him. Water was usually a calming place for him. But with all that has happened even here, it’s hard to come to a place of peace in his mind. Across the way, he sees two rats rip apart some small creature. He turns his head away as the shredded form of the teacher who had passed by him in the street on his journey to Golgotha comes to mind and making his empty stomach lurch in response.
Again, throwing stones with increasing measure as thoughts, doubts, questions, and fear for what now, tumble and swirl in his mind twists and twirls like the leaf upon the water.
“Huh!” coughs out as he shakes his head. He is thinking of the others. They said that the Teacher appeared to them. They said he was just suddenly in the room, greeting them. Another “Huh!” escapes him. He could have believed that days ago. The Master could have done anything. He was certain of it. He’d seen it. No, it was going to take more than that for him to believe now. Had it only been days ago? It seems like a lifetime ago. Before the teacher’s arrest. His torture. His death on that wretched cross. Throwing out his remaining stones as a guttural sound escapes him. He pulls at his hair and lowers himself once again to the damp rock edge and screams with frustration. He pulls up his knees and wraps his arms around them. He lowers his head. He tries to pray; but nothing comes; all is lost. More questions, doubts, fears, and memories wrestle in his mind. He aches. He is exhausted. “What should he do now? How can life ever be the same again? How can he return to the life he was called from?”
The day is passing. He forces himself up to trek back to the upper room where they were staying. He was careful to not be seen, ducking into doorways and back allies. He knew they were being hunted. The leaders wanted answers about what happened to Jesus of Nazareth. In truth, so did he. When he arrived at the house, all the others were there. They were excitedly discussing everything and of course still talking about how the Teacher appeared to them; over a week ago. Not meeting their concerned and questioning eyes. He doesn’t blame them for their fearful concern. The have had a betrayer among them already. But they needn’t worry about him in that. He slips into an empty spot and snags some bread from the closest bowl. Breaking it, he suddenly recalls the words Jesus spoke that last meal before his arrest. Sadness comes on him and the bread becomes weighted like a stone. His appetite flees. Still looking at the bread, he hears a collective gasp from the room. He then hears His voice. His head snaps up. Standing before him was Jesus, his teacher and Master. He blinks rapidly for a moment and shakes his head trying to dispel the image before him. He looks at the nail pierce hands held out before him. His eyes travel up and look into the liquid warm eyes of his Lord. He’d know those eyes anywhere. Every doubt and fear fled him in that moment. His belief became: flesh and his faith: sight.
Like many events in history, the witness’ and hearers are left with additional questions from the emotional impacts upon their lives. The purpose and design of this journey is to introduce you to the people within those historical moments that are captured and told within the pages of scripture. Through, what we imagine what could be their backstory leading up to those actual moments. The scriptures gives us only those encountered moments but very little of who they were before Jesus. Those we met on this journey were like you or me. They are people living their lives; some good, some bad. But all needing a Savior to rescue them even though some didn’t realize it. Thank you for walking through the landscapes of scripture in this journey. It is my prayer that regardless of being raised in church hearing bible stories all your life, or if you have until this book had only a vague idea of Jesus; that this journey opened your eyes, mind, heart, and soul to reading, thinking about, and viewing scripture. Seeing and experiencing Jesus in a new and breathing way. God’s Word is living and active. It’s alive!
Prologue
The Apostle John, in his book, the very first statement is, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1 NIV
Jesus is the WORD, through him we are restored, redeemed, reclaimed, reconciled, reunited, and released from a deserving death of eternal separation from God the Father. Footlight: “WORD” in the Greek = Logos: a term used not only the spoken word but also the unspoken word, the word still in mind the Thereason.Jewish define the word, logos: as that which comes from God to fulfill his purpose in. The prophet Isaiah states in 55:11NIV [Declares the Lord] “so my word, that goes out from my mouth; it will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” A breath is from God. It is part of him but also it is own entity; made up from within God but is separated from him and out into the world. Psalm 107:20 NIV “He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.”
An atoning sacrifice: what does that mean?
Adam [Man] broke the relationship with the Holy God/Our Heavenly Father, by his disobedience in the Garden of Eden. He did the ONE thing the Father told him not to do. But once done, from that moment sin entered the world and separation from the Father in Heaven was the result. But SIN is compounding. It builds upon itself and takes us further and further down its road and further away from a Holy God.
Jesus [Born of God and Man/ Emmanuel] Who had no sin and committed no sin, became sin. So that, through him we can be restored / reconciled back to our Father the Holy God.
Jesus paid our ransom and our debt for our sins. Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for us all.
John 12.27 NIV [Jesus saying] “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour,’
What was Jesus’ purpose? He came to die; to pay the ransom for the world, that the world couldn’t pay for themselves.
Tucked Behind the Word, is a book of scripture discovery and discussion. It is for those who desire to walk deeper into the moments of these life changing encounters. We have created a place to do just that. We encourage you to grab a comfy seat, a study bible, a notebook, a pen or just your smartphone [There are many different Bible apps out there choose your favorite] For those that like an actual study bible; our preference, for instance, is the NIV Study Bible. It contains cross references, study notes directly on the page, a concordance, and maps in the back. You have everything you need in one place and you don’t have to open different apps or internet pages to discover additional information. Each discovery discussion contains the following:
• Spotlight: The supporting scriptures sights • Footlight: The backstory, history, other insights
• Sidelight: Additional thoughts or commentary Let us take a deeper walk behind the worded veil, shall we?
DiscussionandDiscovery
• Searchlight: Thoughtful questions to ask yourself or your group as they relate to the events played out within the scripture account.
learned men who studied the stars [Astrology] among other things. They were presumed from Persia or southern Arabia. In the study of astrology an instrument used at that time was known as an *Astrolabe. It is defined as: an astronomical instrument for taking the altitude of the sun or stars and for the solution of other problems in astronomy and navigation: used by Greek astronomers from about 200 b.c. and by Arab astronomers from the Middle Ages until superseded by the sextant.
Star Trackers: Journey of the Magi Spotlight: Matthew 2:1 12 NIV
TheFootlight:Magiwere
Astronomers define the three stages of twilight civil, nautical, and astronomical based on the Sun's elevation which is the angle that the geometric center of the Sun makes with the horizon.
In the morning, the sky is completely dark before the onset of astronomical twilight, and in the evening, the sky becomes completely dark at the end of astronomical twilight. Any celestial
The Bethlehem Star has been identified as a conjunction event that included the heliacal rising of Jupiter.
Searchlight: Magi stars?
• Are you like the
• Civil dawn is the moment when the geometric center of the Sun is 6 degrees below the horizon in the morning The scripture account of Jesus’ birth and the visit of the Magi are two separate events. In modern interpretation the manger scene incorporates the Magi /3 Kings. But scripture clearly defines the events as separate. Matthew 2:11 NIV, “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary…” Further along in the scripture Matthew 2:16 NIV “…all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.”
and have an investigative mind? • Have you ever wondered what it is like to the read the
• Astronomical dawn is the time when the geometric center of the Sun is at 18 degrees below the horizon. Before this time, the sky is absolutely dark.
• Nautical dawn occurs when the Sun is 12 degrees below the horizon during the morning.
bodies that can be viewed by the naked eye can be observed in the sky after the end of this phase.
• How do you think these men felt after fulfilling their quest and finding the newborn king? Do you think they understood his significance to mankind?
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Have you ever given up on a quest/journey? Why?
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• Could you be like the Magi and go on a quest for truth?
Have you ever been on a quest for truth: maybe your family history, or seeking answers about something?
The town folk of Bethlehem in our telling had a curious caution about the Magi. Have you ever had someone(s) come to your town and cause a stir: a celebrity, or political person?
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If so, did you go check things out for yourself or just wait for the news to provide you the details?
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• Can you relate to Mary’s reaction in this telling? How would you have reacted?
• Do you think Mary understood why these men came bearing gifts for Jesus?
TheSidelight:journey the Magi made was real to find the one of the prophecies. The travel costs were not all in money, but in time, emotions, and physical effort. Their expectations and the reality of Jesus/ King of the Jews didn’t quite align in the beginning. But at the journey’s end, their souls and mind embraced the child born King, so much so, they decided not to go back to King Herod and provide details of the child. They knew Jesus’ destiny. But they probably never knew that they were going to be part of his story or that their encounter was going to be told and remembered through millennia. They never knew that they were going to have characters representing them in all types of mediums. No, their journey, their quest was personal. A journey of the heart, mind, and body to embrace a truth that had been told though the generations before. The Heavenly Father does not hide what he is doing. The compiled books of scripture [the Bible] reveal what was, is and about to come. It’s our choice see seek out and find the truth. Our journey/ quest may not be to travel through a rough and foreign land; but then again maybe it is. Perhaps our journey is through a hurtful and destructive past, a volatile present with an
uncertain future, or a mundane normal. But if the journey is made, the savior born then is still the savior of today and tomorrow. Jesus’ destiny on Earth was always to die so that we may live. He defeated death on the cross. He paid the price for all the sin of the world – for every human that has ever been created. We just need to make the decision to make the journey and come to Jesus. All Jesus asks for is a willing heart and a mustard seed size bit of faith.
Spotlight: Luke 2: 21 35 NIV
Humbly Devoted – Simeon
JerusalemFootlight: and much of the known eastern world were conquered and governed by Rome. During this era, Jesus the Christ; the Messiah was born. On the eighth day after Jesus’ birth in the Bethlehem manger, Joseph and Mary brought him up to the temple in Jerusalem to be circumcised in obedience of the Law of Moses. The Jewish Bris/circumcision, which is the “covenant of circumcision” also includes the naming of the male child. [Angel to Mary] “You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” Luke 1:31 NIV They were to offer a small animal sacrifice [a pair of doves or two young pigeons] in keeping with the Law. Simeon was a devote follower of the Lord God. Simeon is only mentioned in the gospel of Luke.
Searchlight: • Have you ever been bullied? Physically, verbally or both? • If so, how did you feel after the incident (s)?
How did you get through it?
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Have you ever been promised something? Something from a family member in which you had to wait for. If so, what?
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What you think is meant by, “A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and for the glory to your people Israel”?
The Holy Spirit of God revealed to him that he wouldn’t die until he saw the Messiah. After, Simeon met Jesus the Messiah, do you think that he would be waiting for death to
Have you ever felt drawn to someone? A stranger? If so, what is the story?
Do you think Mary and Joseph were reluctant to hand baby Jesus over to Simeon? Why or why not?
Have you ever felt compelled or feel the intense need to go somewhere or to see someone? If so, who and why?
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Have you been stuck in an oppressive situation? If so, what?
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knock on the door any minute after that? If it was you, would you be scared, or would you welcome it or both?
imeon didn’t have a knowledge of Jesus, the child, per se. He only had the knowledge of the Messiah and what the Lord God through the Holy Spirit had promised him. He had known of the Old Testament prophecies, but he didn’t know Jesus’ name. We, in modern times, have the benefit of a compiled book of scripture: The Bible, that contains both the Old and New Testaments. We also can own and read for scripture accounts for ourselves. Simeon only had the old testament, the book of the Law, what was presented to him at temple, and what was told to him from his family and the religious leaders during his life. Simeon didn’t own his own copy of scripture. But Simeon had a powerful faith in God and a willing heart. The Lord rewarded him for his heart and provided him a magnificent honor of seeing the Messiah face to face.
• Death comes to us all. Are there things that you would want to do or change before that happens? If so, what and who is stopping you?
SSidelight:
Simeon appears to have left the temple prior to the naming of Jesus; by Joseph and Mary. So, he it is quite possible that even after his encounter; he still didn’t know his Messiah’s name. But he knew what he knew about his Messiah, the now named Jesus; and of Mary to whom he said that a sword will pierce your own soul too. We read additionally in scripture that within two short years after this encounter of Simeon and the Messiah, that King Herod had called for the murder of all firstborn males under the age of two to be killed in Bethlehem. King Herod knew of the same prophecies Simeon knew and because of the arrival of the Magi proclaiming the new King of the Jews being born there. King Herod attempted to destroy the Messiah before he could grow up.
The Seen – Matthew
Publicans were collectors of Roman taxes, ordinarily extortioners, and generally despised by all people especially the Jews. In modern century terms, he was a legal gangster, operating under the authority of Rome. As Capernaum was a captured state of Rome, as were most of the regions surrounding Jerusalem and beyond during that time. As reigning authority, Rome would accept bids from locals to become a contracted tax collector for Rome for a set length of time. It was a purchased position. The contracted publicans would set whatever fee they wanted over and above the tax of Rome.
Spotlight: Matthew 9: 9 13 NIV, Mark 2: 13 17 NIV, Luke 5:27 32 NIV Matthew,Footlight: prior to when we are introduced to him, Matthew was a natural born Hebrew a Jew with the given name of Levi. At first introduction, Matthew was a publican [tax collector].
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Do you ever feel you are so far gone into your choices that you don’t know how to get back to the life you had, want, or hope for?
Knowing that Matthew worked to purchase his position as a Publican. What do you think his family thought of his occupational choice?
Searchlight:
Have you ever consciously walked away from the life you were raised in? If so, why?
• Have you heard voices of your “Old” life somehow calling out to you? What is it calling you back too?
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• Do you think Matthew was proud of his line of work?
• What insight does Matthew choosing to become a publican provide you into his life?
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How do you think you would have felt during that time upon hearing that Jesus was in town?
• Ever have a “conversation” with someone only within a look? Somehow you knew what was being said but no words were uttered.
• Have you ever felt soul your stir within you? If so, what was happening in the moment?
• Have you ever felt so compelled to do something like move toward something, go to someone, do something beyond your “normal” behavior, text or call someone that is pressing on your mind? If so, what or when?
• Do you think Matthew only thought he was going to follow Jesus for that afternoon? Or do you think he knew it was for the rest of his days?
• Would you have been able to walk away and leave a life, like Matthew did and follow someone? If so, when and who?
• What would you be willing to leave behind? What would be easy to leave? What would be hard/difficult to leave?
• Returning to family after a living a life opposite of your family’s plans, desires, and hopes. What do you think the internal conversation would look like?
Matthew/LeviSidelight:
walked away from one life and into another that was vastly different then his upbringing. Now, he again is choosing another life and walking away from the life he has built. His encounter with Jesus moved him so much that he abandoned his booth. The place that openly defined him. Jesus didn’t make a demand of Matthew; he simply made a statement. But, when the call comes upon your life, you can stay where you are, or you can follow the call; the choice is yours.
Come and See – Nathanael
Searchlight: What do you believe about God? About Jesus? or who do you place your faith?
like some of the other twelve disciples are also known by another name. He is also referred to as Bartholomew [Book of Acts, the Gospel of Luke]. Nathanael was a student of the scriptures. He took great pride in his ancestry and belief in the scriptures.
“A true Israelite”: Israel was the name given by God for the entire nation. Nathanael knew his history and proudly claimed his identity in the nation of Israel. In the statement, “in whom there is nothing false”, there is a cross reference to Psalm 32:2 NIV “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.” Nathanael was completely honest before Jesus in attitude, reaction and acceptance.
• What
Spotlight: John 1:43 51 NIV
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Nathanael,Footlight:
Sidelight: Nathanael knew and accepted his people’s history. He has been raised knowing that God the Father was real and true. He knew he
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[New American Webster Handy College Dictionary pub: 1981]
Do you struggle with aligning your faith more with your heart or in your mind?
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Do you take people at their word or do you need to discover what they are telling you to be true on your own?
• Would curiosity be enough for you to follow Philip like Nathanael did? What would drive you to Jesus? What would it take for you believe and accept Jesus?
• Is it easier for you to believe in God and in Jesus for someone else but struggle with faith in them within yourself?
Faith: n. Belief without proof, confidence, reliance
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was part of the chosen nation of Israel. But this understanding appears to make him a bit of an elitist. He knows what he knows. He doesn’t appear to be one to believe in something just because someone says something even from people he trusts. He appears to be one willing investigate their claims with a reserved or discerning take. But Jesus knew that about him. Jesus knew what to say and do that was unique for Nathanael to believe. Jesus wasn’t intimidated by Nathanael’s attitude or skepticism. Jesus stood in front of him and in truth and understanding. Jesus then confirms that Nathanael’s immediate faith in him will be proved, that he will witness not only the miraculous but the reality of Heaven and the touch of God upon Jesus. Jesus knows us. He knows all about out us, Psalms 139 NIV and other scriptures testify to that fact. But like Nathanael we still must “come and see” for ourselves who Jesus is and what He wants to show you and experience with us in this life and the next.
Served Grace – Wedding at Cana 2:1 11 NIV in the first century was a very important happening within the community. It celebrated the joining of families and the union of a husband and wife becoming one: no longer separate. It was common that a wedding feast to last for up to a week. It was considered a social offense, if the hosting groom’s family failed to provide enough beverage and food for the socially acceptable length of time for a wedding. Beverage options were limited within that time. They usually consisted of water or wine. Water itself was an important element. Water had to be drawn from a local well or cistern. Water was used not only in drinking but also to be available for guests to wash the travel dust from their hands and feet upon arriving. It was a sign of hospitality, welcome and Stonerespect.water jugs named in this passage held 20 30 gallons of water. Weight perspective: gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds or 3.785 kilos. 30 x 8.34= 250.2 pounds per jug.
AFootlight:wedding
Spotlight: John
• Could you relate to Jesus’ reaction to his mother?
• Why do you think Jesus didn’t want to be involved?
• Have you ever been to a wedding where the food or beverages have been “skimpy” and watered down? What was your impression of the hosts?
Master of the Banquet/Ceremonies
was an appointed responsibility of a friend or guest of the wedding. It was an honor to serve the Searchlight:bridegroom.
• Have you ever been to a destination wedding? If so, what were your expectations of your time there?
• The reason for a wedding oft times get lost in the details of the wedding: the dress, the venue, the food, the people in attendance, the flowers. What aspects of the wedding to you often remember most?
• Have you held a job as a server? If so, can you relate to the servants and their concerns?
• At the time the servers were handing the cup to the master of the banquet, they believed it was just water. Do you think they fully grasped what all just happened before them?
• After it changed, how would you have played it? Cool and yes, it is wine? Or would shock and wonder radiate from you?
TheSidelight:wedding
miracle was the first time Jesus revealed who he truly was. Jesus’ mother came to him with a worrisome concern and an honest expectation for him to help with a problem. She didn’t tell Jesus how to fix it. She left that up to him. She was unable to change the situation. But she had Jesus and trusted him with is solution. She may not have even known of the miracle of the
• Why do you think the words of Jesus didn’t stop his mother from involving him?
changed water until a time after the fact. Jesus himself chose the how he was going to “fix it”. The beauty of this miracle and his power is that he chose to first reveal it to the lowest in society: the servants. Yes, his chosen disciples were there to and saw. I would like to believe that the disciples had a cup of changed water/wine after and tasted the miracle. The related symbolism of this first miracle is rich and beautiful. A wedding: a union of love. John 2:1 NIV states that, “On the third day a wedding took place…”
Throughout scripture Jesus is referenced as the bridegroom and the church is his bride. When Jesus was crucified and resurrected on the third day the separation caused by sin was paid for by his blood [the atonement]. The bride price was paid [the dowry/mohar].
Jesus is then able to claim his bride because of that day. Jewish tradition is that a bridegroom would leave his father’s house and go to the home of his chosen bride. He would negotiate with the bride’s father the bride price. When the bride price was paid, the bridegroom would then offer the chosen bride a cup of wine. She had a choice to accept it or reject it. If she accepted it, drank from it and then he drank from it. They then had entered a covenant relationship. They were considered married without consummation in the eyes of God and the community. The bridegroom would then return to his father’s house and start to build an addition unto it for him and his bride to live. After a time and only when the bridegroom’s Father had approved the work was complete, did he allow his son to go get his bride.
We enter covenant with Jesus the Christ when we accept his offering. He paid our price, but the choice still sits with us.
Searchlight: • Do you know what it feels like to be wake up hopeful everyday only to be disappointed that nothing changed?
Footlight: During biblical times, a woman’s “monthly condition” governed her access to her family and community. In one of the old testament books of the law, Leviticus in chapter 15, the regulations are detailed out. But strictly speaking, “the condition”; being a normal flow or abnormal are cause for separation from society until the time passed and the cleansing was completed. This woman was in this “condition” for 12 years. That meant no friends could socialize with her; no hope of a husband or family, as she couldn’t be touched without making them “unclean”. During that time in history, most women weren’t allowed to or didn’t own anything. Their worth was defined by what they could produce: children. They were completely dependent on their families or their husbands for their survival.
If Only – A touch of faith
Spotlight: Matthew 9:20 22 NIV
Have you ever had a health situation where you had to be away from family or friends? If so, how long?
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• Can you relate to her miraculous healing? If not, do you know someone who can?
Have you ever been so desperate for something that you were willing to risk everything? If so, what?
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Do you think this type of practice of separation during menstruation for women is continued in modern times?
• Can you imagine all the “experiments” by so called healers, she had to endure in attempt to be “clean”/ cured?
Can you imagine the loneliness and isolation this woman felt?
TheSidelight:woman, in her desperation reached out to Jesus with a thread of hope and faith for healing. She knew she is risking so much. Jesus was a “Rabbi” n. Master, A Jewish doctor of scriptural law. She could have made him “unclean”. If caught, she could have been severely punished or stoned. But she was beyond reason, she was already “walking dead” in her eyes and in the eyes of her family, her community. Her life held no worth or meaning, no purpose, no joy. But somehow, she still found a thread of hope; that thread pulled her to Jesus. Because of her faith, He granted her life: one that was whole and complete. A thread of faith at times can be thinner than a silk strand of a spider web. But just like in nature, the tensile strength of a web strand is incredible. The thread of hope and faith is even greater still. Spider silk is invisible to some, though some are disgusted by it, to others they are fearful of it. More still will say of the thread of faith; it’s not enough to hold you. But with Jesus, he can weave beauty, life, healing, and restoration from that single thread of faith.
TheFootlight:Seaof
Spotlight: John 6:1 15 NIV
Galilee, like other things are known in scripture by different names: Sea of Tiberias (Jn 6:1 NIV), Lake of Gennesaret (Lk 5:1 NIV), and the Sea of Kinnereth (Nu 34:11 NIV). Because of the surrounding topography and the Sea of Galilee’s size, visibility from shore can be quite a distance; especially on a clear day.
Meager to Feast
Barley loaves: cheap bread; food of the poor; peasant in origin
The scripture states the number of men fed by the Lord numbered about 5,000, but that didn’t include the women and children also in attendance that day. In old testament scripture, the Prophet Elisha participated in a miracle the Lord brought about in 2 Kings 4:42 44 NIV, where the Lord fed one hundred men from 20 loaves of barley bread. They ate and were satisfied and had some left over. In this miracle, Jesus brought about the leftovers were enough to fill 12 baskets full.
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Searchlight:
Have you ever been drawn in to investigate something going on outside your door? People gathering or cars that aren’t usually there. Why?
• Have you ever been part of some historical event? Do you remember where you were or what you were doing at the time of a historical event? If so, what was the event?
Have you ever traveled to see someone? (in concert, to speak, etc.) If so, how far have your traveled? How young were you?
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Have you ever been sidetracked by people wandering by your home or workplace? What draws your attention to them?
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• Have you ever been unknowingly brought up to participate in an event? (on stage with a performer, somehow engaged from the center stage)
If you were asked to share what you brought to event. Would you? Would it depend on who is asking?
If you were the father, would you have made the journey to see the Rabbi even though you were uncertain of the destination or outcome? Or would have grabbed onto some excuse like about repairing the nets or too far?
• As a mother would you support the journey or nix it?
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TheSidelight:draw of the journey can often be overshadowed by the weight of responsibility or routine. The boy in our telling heard the call of wonder. He was able to share his curiosity and net his father in the adventure. We can choose to repeatedly ignore the small voice calling us to participate in something outside our everyday. The scripture verse: Matthew 19:14 NIV, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.”
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The question then is are we a hinder or a participant? The small voice of a call can make us uncertain, and we question ourselves: Am I hearing this right? This is crazy. But scripture tells us that the Lord can do exceedingly more than we think or imagine. Yes, this miracle of feeding 5,000k+ could have happened with or without the boy and his small lunch. But Jesus chose to work it through a young boy with meager means, a big heart and even bigger willingness to share whatever he had. At that moment, the boy then became of part of the Jesus’ story, now told through generation upon generation. We don’t know the boy’s name only his example. The question is are we willing to walk with others following Jesus? Are we willing to offer whatever we have with us into the Lord’s hands? Are we willing to see him work it into something far greater than what we could do on our own? In this miracle only Jesus, the Twelve, the father [implied not mentioned in scripture]and the young boy, knew what the miracle was. They literally could taste it. The others there that day, didn’t know what was happening until later, if at all. They didn’t know from where the feast came, only it was provided to them by the hands of the twelve under the direction of Jesus. He takes our meager offerings and turns them into feasts for us and others.
• What feelings do you think the woman felt as she made her was to the temple?
• Grief and loss can cause life to shut down. Have you ever forced yourself to walk through a life situation in the midst of pain or know of anyone who has? Write down or share your thoughts and feelings of that time(s).
Searchlight:
The Widow’s Offering
Spotlight: Mark 12:41 44 NIV
[New American Webster Handy College Dictionary pub: 1981]
Throughout old testament scripture Jewish law calls for the bringing an offering to the Lord God is outlined. An offering represents giving back to the Lord a portion of what He has blessed you with. Its design is to show devotion and trust in His future provision for you.
Offering:Footlight:
n. something offered, a gift.
• What is the greatest gift you ever gave? Could you afford to give it?
Sidelight: Jesus’ last act within the temple was to recognize the widow’s offering. He knew that she gave all she had. Perhaps, she also
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• Money seems to hardest gift to give. Why do you think that is?
• Do you think you could have done what the widow did? If not, why?
• What is the greatest gift you have received? How did you feel at the sight of it? What do you feel about it now?
How do you think the widowed viewed her offering?
• Have you ever given up something so dear to you, that you didn’t know if you would survive letting it go?
reminded Jesus of his own widowed mother: Mary. Perhaps this was a reminder of what was quickly coming. His obedience unto death and to give his all. He was the atoning sacrifice for all people; those before him, those during his lifetime, and those after him. There was a debt to be paid for all human life. Jesus’ blood and obedience was that payment to cancel the debt owed by all. The widow: we really don’t know anything about her her name, her history. But her act of devotion and obedience, in the midst of her loss and poverty, speaks volumes of who she really was. The beauty of this telling is that she saw Jesus but didn’t know him. But Jesus saw her. He knew what this was costing her. Her story is forever a part of his story. She touched his heart.
Searchlight: • Have you ever felt like you “sold” yourself: either morals, physical actions, or treasured beliefs? What did you get for that price? Was the result worth it?
Anointed Forgiveness
Spotlight: Luke 7:36 50 NIV Footlight: Pharisee: n. Their name means “separated ones”. They were the teachers in the synagogues and the religious examples in the eyes of the Tablescommunity.inbiblicaltimes are not what we recognize within today’s idea. Tables then consisted of a mat or a low rise table whose height sat just off the ground. Large pillows or divans surrounded the area. The posture would be normally consisting of a person being on their stomach or side as they ate and conversed around it.
• If people were ignoring or judging you when you spoke to them, how would you feel?
Have you ever seen an alabaster jar? What do you imagine it would look like? Why do you think it is important enough to be mentioned?
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Have you ever wanted something so desperately that you do anything to get close to it or to get it? Even for a little while?
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• Why is it so easy to get caught up in a “sin”?
• Have you ever been moved to tears that you could not stop them from falling?
Have you ever been “wrecked” over something you have done in your life, that it consumes you?
• Where do you think she heard of Jesus?
• How do you imagine Jesus sees her when he looks up at her?
• The woman humbled herself before Jesus in front of her community leaders. How far are you willing to go to be forgiven?
• Asking for forgiveness costs. What is its price?
HaveSidelight:been ever been so broken by either your own choices or by the choices of others have done to you, where you can only cry. Brokenness makes one feel like nothing or that life holds no value. Society may have branded the broken; placed them in an undesirable category. This woman took all her brokenness and carried it in an alabaster box. It’s her own mixed “perfume” of the sweet lies, words and deeds she had received and or claimed as her own. She took all of that and poured the contents out unto Jesus. Even though she stood in the house of one of her communities’ religious leader, the Pharisee knew of her and she of him, but to the only one she knew who could handle her all brokenness and save her from it was Jesus.
• Have you ever been in such a state of mind where you weren’t sure where you were or how you go there? How did you feel?
MaryFootlight:ofMagdala,
we do not know much of her prior life. She was known within the group as “Magdalene”: probably a nickname to separate her from the “other” Mary’s also within the group. We do know that she became a devoted follower of Jesus. She was one of the woman supporters of Jesus’ ministry after he rescued her from demon possession. She was there when Jesus was crucified. She was the first one Jesus appeared to after his resurrection; and was trusted to tell “the twelve” about his return to life.
Searchlight:
Darkness to Life Spotlight: Luke 8:1 3 NIV
• Can you imagine being controlled by seven demons: each with their own vileness?
InSidelight:modern times, we refer to Magdalene; Mary of Magdala as Mary Magdalene.
• Have you ever faced the battle of good versus evil in your mind? • Have you ever felt a tug of war for your soul? • Do you believe in demon possession? • Do you believe demonic possession exists in modern times? If so, in what form do you think it exists? • Have you ever been rescued out of a dangerous situation? If so, when, where and who rescued you? • Have you kept in contact with your rescuer? If not, why?
However, we will not discount who Mary Magdalene was and what she was rescued from. Mary Magdalene’s devotion to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Messiah was beautiful; something we all should strive for. She lived out her thankfulness to one who saved her from her own hellish nightmare. No one else could save her, or us for a matter of fact; only Jesus. He gave her a life of beauty from ashes. She is a part of his life story.
Some have embraced the idea that Mary Magdalene had become Jesus’ wife. But to refute that idea, scripture tells us that Jesus’ bride is the Holy City, Jerusalem [Rev. 21: 2, 9 10 NIV].
pool named Bethesda [Aramaic] was located close the Sheep’s gate. Jerusalem has ten gates* that encompass old city [*Ten gates named in Nehemiah 3]. Each gate is named for its purpose or direction. The Sheep’s gate, aptly named for it was through which, the sacrificial sheep were brought through up to the temple for sacrifice. A sheep market was located just outside the gate. It is also through the Sheep’s gate that leads to the Via Dolorosa. The path to Golgotha, where Jesus was later crucified.
15 NIV
Jesus literally walked this path as our sacrificial lamb of God. The modern day [16th Century] Lion’s Gate was constructed near the original Sheep’s Gate that was previously destroyed.
• Do you ever wonder what daily life is like for someone with special needs? • How many different/specials needs can you list?
The Waiting
Spotlight: John 5:1
Searchlight:
TheFootlight:healing
• Which one do you think would be the hardest to live with? • WAIT is a four letter word for most. Why is that? • What is the longest you have ever waited for something? Are you still waiting? • How do you hold onto hope? • Have you ever lost hope? When? • Are you still feeling lost? • Would you, like the paralyzed man, take Jesus at his word and stand? • Or would you scoff and ignore Jesus?
JesusSidelight:sought out the paralyzed man, who was living in that condition for 38 years. Jesus walked past others who were also waiting and hoping for healing. But Jesus had a singular focus: this man. The man had no idea who Jesus was. Even immediately after his healing, the man still didn’t know who Jesus was or Jesus’ name. However, Jesus sought him out a second time. Jesus found him at the temple and healed him again this time spiritually. This same Jesus would again save/heal him yet a third time. This man didn’t know that only a few months or years later, that Jesus would be crucified and die as the sacrificial lamb for this man and for all mankind. Jesus is the atoning sacrifice. [Atone: v. make amends for sin or error] Jesus knows our conditions and our struggles: physical, mental, and emotional. He knows how long you have been waiting for a healing. He knows where you are. He knows the perfect time to bring about healing. When the time is right, he has a singular focus: You. The question is: do we pay attention to him? Or do we ignore his question? The paralyzed man had a choice. The same choice, we have today. Jesus still asks the question. Do you want to get well? We don’t have to know everything about Jesus. But we must listen to his voice and let him do the rest. Jesus knows you. [Psalms 139 NIV]
• Have
TheFootlight:town of Bethany was about two miles away from Jerusalem. Women during this time, lived in the family home until they became a bride and left to live with their husband’s family. Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus, were all unmarried. The sisters were dependent upon their brother for protection and provision. The death of their brother meant that they would come under the care of another male family member or the family land would have to be sold and the women put out.
• Anguished
Even Now – Martha Spotlight: John 11: 1 44 NIV
Searchlight: prayers for a loved one who is sick: have you ever prayed such a prayer? you ever lost a loved one? a time of loss, do you prefer to mourn in private or with others?
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• Do you think Marth felt let down? Did your loss have you questioning God? In what way?
of the hardest times in a life, because death is beyond our control. Loss changes our world and alters our reality. What was “normal” prior to the death, is no longer “normal”. Grief takes our emotions through many stages, at different times or sometimes in quick succession and then back again. We often look for somewhere to hang our deep hurt. We can blame the one who
GriefSidelight:isone
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• What did Martha mean when she said, “Even Now”?
Have you ever felt disappointed in God? No disrespect to the God of the universe; He can do anything. So, maybe you expected his help, healing, guidance, etc., but you felt it didn’t come?
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• Have you ever had an “Even Now”?
Separation
passed for dying. We can blame the medical staff, or maybe the person directly involved in the death of our loved one. We can also blame God. But Jesus was well acquainted with grief and sorrow. Further along in the passage with Martha, contains the shortest verse in all scripture. “Jesus wept.” Even though he knew what he was going to do, Jesus shed tears at their pain. He understood that grief was born out of a longing from the separation of loved ones. he knew all too well and will continue to know through eternity: for those who do not believe in him and have died are/will be forever separated from himself and God the Father. Jesus does not want to lose one [John 6:38 40 NIV]. He was born to die, to be the atoning sacrifice for all who believe in Him. Jesus loves us. The last book of scripture: Revelation tells us, [Rev 21:4 NIV, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”] Martha believed Jesus and trusted him with her pain, her grief, her life and her “new” normal. Are you living in the tomb with your loved one? Does Jesus need to resurrect your life from the grave of loss or of pride? Follow Martha’s example. Even now, meet with Jesus and lay it all out there and let him work to resurrect your life and your eternity.
Ember of Hope – A Mother’s Cry
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Spotlight: Matthew 15.21 28 NIV Footlight: The mother’s remark within the talking about their shared history: Jewish and Canaanite, is very long from the beginning of the covenant with Abram (aka Abraham). Genesis 12:4 7 NIV. The Canaanites were non Jew and possessed the land west of the Jordan. The very land the Lord God had given to Abram and his offspring. The Canaanites were polytheistic [worshipped many gods] through various acts and rituals.
Searchlight: • What would you do to rescue a loved one? A child? Can you relate to this Canaanite mother? Would you try, against all hope and culture differences, beliefs, to enlist Jesus a Rabbi, to help you; to heal your child?
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Do you think like this mother? I don’t know what all to believe, so I will believe it all: someone must be right. If he can heal my child; I will believe him. Why not, what do I have to lose?
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• Do you believe in demon possession? Do you know anyone that has battled addiction? How did it control them? How did it change them? What has addiction robbed them of?
ManySidelight:may read this telling story and take offense to how Jesus spoke to the mother. But what we fail to see is the “heart position” Jesus is bringing her to. She is willing to say or do anything to achieve the result she wanted: which is her daughter healed and restored to her. But Jesus wanted more for her. She knew of the old prophecies and their shared history. But Jesus wanted her to step out of the attitude of the past. She called out to him as, “Lord,
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Son of David”, which was a popular Jewish title for Messiah. She was not Jewish. But she would claim anything to get her daughter healed. But when she dropped her fake faith pretext and knelt before him as the one who truly was whom the prophecies told about. When she saw Jesus, the Messiah. She saw him as her Messiah, not just the Jewish Messiah; Jesus then knew her heart and faith had come to where she needed to be. He then granted her heart’s desire because of her faith in him. Also, because ultimately of his love for her and her child. Scripture tells us that he came to save the lost. He will leave the 99 to go after the one who is lost. The one lost in preconceived ideas, lost in addictions, the ones lost in an inhospitable landscape; being the past, the heart, or the mind.
A Spotless Hope Spotlight: Luke 5:12 16 NIV
TheFootlight:rules governing a person with leprosy [or any infectious skin disease] were handed down to Moses and Aaron from the Lord. The book of Leviticus [Chapter 13] gives many of the foundational laws and regulations for the community of the Israelites. There were no hospitals, Red Cross or World Health Organizations to assist with the potential outbreaks. But the general public needed to be protected from infectious diseases, those protections came from the Lord. Our story sheds a light on an imagined moment of the life of one afflicted, though the rules seem harsh and somewhat demeaning, they were established for the safety of the whole
Searchlight:community.
• Being honest: Have you ever moved slightly away from someone with a noticeable skin condition? Or showing symptoms of a bad cold or flu?
• Are you the one casting judgement and afraid to get too close?
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Have you ever cried out to God because of a physical condition you were or are enduring?
• How hard do you think it would be to suddenly not be able to be around your family, spouse, kids, parents, friends, etc.?
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Have you ever felt the need to defend someone living under a condition or disease? Or plead with someone in public to understand about the affliction and to not judge the afflicted?
Have you ever felt isolated by an illness or disease? Or know or loved someone who has?
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Have you ever been concerned about touching something after someone else? Had the hand sanitizer on the ready? Why?
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• What do think that moment would be like if it was you who was healed?
• Why do you think Jesus told him not to tell anyone?
Jesus told the man to go show himself to the priest first. Our modern inclination is for the man to run home to his family. But the only way he could be fully restored to his family and his community was to adhere to the laws that govern it. Jesus knew that. Jesus wanted the man’s life to be restored completely, not in a half measure but to the full.
• Can you imagine the moment when our man was restored and healed? Have you ever been healed from a major affliction/disease?
AfterSidelight:thehealing,
for variety of reasons: state sales tax, federal income tax, unemployment tax, social security. It is do our part to support the whole and it is the law. Now, monies paid to the government do not support local churches: then and now. The monies paid to a church is to help support the church staff, building, missions, etc. and they are tax deductible [not then]. • Why was is important that Jesus paid his temple tax/ atonement money? He is the Messiah, the Son of God.
Spotlight: Matthew 17:24 27 NIV
Drachma
AnFootlight:annual temple tax was required of every Jewish male 20 years of age or older. It was worth half a shekel (approximately two day’s wages) and was used for the upkeep of the temple. The temple tax or Atonement Money began with Moses to pay for the care and upkeep of the Tent of Meeting. [Exodus 30:16 NIV].
WeSearchlight:paytaxes
Hook, Line and
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• How
Have you ever struggled to pay your bills or taxes? Did it cause you stress?
Do you think Peter struggled with doing what Jesus asked? Do you think he thought what he was being asked was a bit crazy? would you feel when you saw the coin? Why do you think Jesus paid for Peter’s taxes too?
TheSidelight:simple
fact lesson of this miracle is that there is a required debt to be paid by all of us. But Jesus was willing and chose to pay our atonement / ransom money. In the telling, Peter remembered an earlier experience with Jesus, where he did the impossible and
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Have you ever been willing to pay someone’s bill? If so, what was the motivation for it?
defied the laws of physics. He walked upon the water in the middle of the sea out to Jesus [Matthew 14:22 33 NIV]. But even after that experience, Peter still struggled in his faith and who he was inside Init. other passages of scripture, Peter is shown as questioning Jesus but ultimately doing what the Lord had asked of him. His faith was rewarded. Another time, three times, Peter denied even knowing Jesus. We don’t always know why things play out as they do. But for those who place their faith and trust in Jesus, know and believe he will show up in the most extraordinary ways. We may need to wade out from shore and step into our uncertainties and our failures. But it is there where he will meet us.
The Widow’s Son Spotlight: Luke 7:11 17 NIV
InFootlight:biblical times, most women were not allowed to own property. The care of the family was the sole responsibility of the husband. The wife was simply part of the household. If the husband had died and there was a male heir. The responsibility of the house, the husband’s wife/his mother, any siblings, servants, livestock, etc. all came to the first born son. Regardless of social standing, the expectations levied to the first born son were the same. Through these historical events, there are many parts in this life changing story. We have noted some of them to help clarify and to direct some light of deeper understanding. Tallith: a Jewish prayer shawl. Zizith: are the four fringed ends of the prayer shawl. Burial on the day of death: Jewish custom does not embalm the deceased, so as soon as death is confirmed. The preparation of burial begins and proceeds within the same day (if possible). Family
Searchlight:
the Coffin: By doing so Jesus risked ritual uncleanness {cf. Numbers 19:16}
• After your loved one’s passing, did you struggle with wanting just one more moment, minute, hour, or day to say one more, “I love you!” to give one more hug? If you could, what would you give for that?
(1)Bier/Coffin:Foundin
and friends follow the conveyance to the family tomb if the family has Touchedone.
• Have you lost someone close to you? Was there a funeral? If so, what stood out the most from that day?
the Old Testament only in 2 Samuel 3:31NIV, "and king David followed the bier"; and in the New Testament in Luke 7:14NIV, "and he (Jesus) came nigh and touched the bier." The Hebrew word rendered "bier" (miTTah) and its Greek equivalent (soros) mean strictly "coffin." The so called "bier" among the ancient Hebrews was simply an open coffin or a flat wooden frame, on which the body of the dead was carried from the house to the grave.
• Death affects all of us at some point in life. Have you asked the same question, others to have surely asked, “What is left to live for”?
• Did you question God and ask “Why?”
• Our telling of the events of the widow and the loss of her son, what spoke the loudest to you?
LossSidelight:ofafamily
loved one leaves a tear in the fabric that makes you: You. They helped form your identity: child of, mother of, sister of, wife of, daughter of, son of, husband of, niece / nephew of, etc.
Depending on the weight of the relationship, the loss can leave you destroyed, and your world distorted and foreign. You may feel isolated and believing no one knows or understands this grief, my
• Do you think it is strange, that in that time in history, dead people were considered unclean?
pain. In scripture Jesus is identified as “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Jesus knew this widow, her name, her pain, her fear, her loss and her heart. We do not know her name; scripture never reveals it. We also do not know the son’s name; only that he is from Nain. [A small village a few miles south of Nazareth] Perhaps during this miracle encounter, Jesus may have thought of his own mother as her time of grief was quickly approaching. He wanted to remind her and the others that the power of death has no hold over him. The stark reality is that we are all like the widow’s son. We are all dead without Jesus. It is through him; we are raised to life. The mother’s world shattered in moment but was rebuilt in another by the touch of loving hands of the carpenter Messiah. Jesus.
Spotlight: Mark 14:12 52 NIV
The Periphery Witness – Mark
Searchlight: • In social media, do you have any celebrities you follow? • Have you ever met someone famous in person? If so, who?
MarkFootlight:[aka. John Mark], he was the son of the Jewish homeowner [Mary] whose home held the upper room used for the Last Supper during the Passover feast in Jerusalem. Mark was not an apostle, nor was he a listed disciple of Jesus Christ. He was, however, a periphery witness to the events of Jesus’ arrest. He became a close friend to several of the known disciples and apostles. He was a cousin of Barnabas [aka Joseph the Levite from Cyprus one of the disciples in the book of Acts]. Mark was also part of the Apostle Paul’s first missionary journey. Mark became a believer and follower of Jesus. His account details and writings are noted Gospel. They are simple and straightforward.
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• What would you do if a celebrity rented out part of your parent’s home?
Being in modern times, would you try to get a ‘selfie” with the celebrity and post it on social media?
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• What about them attracts you to them; what makes you their fan?
• Has curiosity ever driven you to act / do something you normally wouldn’t do? If so, what?
How did you act upon meeting them?
• Have you ever been in a situation where you were uncertain of what to do?
• Have you ever snuck out of the house before? If so, why, and where did you go?
• Have you ever witnessed a very personal moment unbeknownst to the person in it? Especially, when you know you should look away, but you didn’t? If so, please provide an account.
MarkSidelight:being
a teen. He hears of a man mixing it up with the main governing community /religious leaders of the time. This man noted as being a miracle wielder, an extraordinary teacher and nothing like him has ever come around in his life. Mark was awed and curious. He had an opportunity, and he took it. But he did not know he was going to witness so much. He did not know that
After witnessing an intense situation; what type of questions would be rolling through your mind?
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• Have you ever been in or witnessed a situation where it plays out before you in what appears to be slow motion? If so, please describe.
Jesus was going to be arrested and he himself almost caught along with him. He was a teen who was drawn to this radical Jesus. Why, because Jesus wasn’t afraid to stand up for what was right, and against the ruling authorities. Jesus was full of compassion and conviction; that is a powerful light that draws people. Mark didn’t travel around with Jesus. He was a periphery witness of these few but extraordinary moments of the life of Jesus. He was around to hear the accounts of those who were healed, changed, resurrected, etc. Mark was close enough to witness Jesus. He then was compelled to provide an account based on what he himself witnessed and the accounts of others who were with Jesus. In today’s world, he would have been on social media, vlog’s, podcasts, world media outlets, etc., sharing what he saw and all the other accounts.
Silent Witness: Courageous Devotion
ThroughFootlight:these historical events, there are many powerful parts in this life changing story. We have noted some of them to help clarify and to direct some light of deeper understanding. nazNazarenearen; naz' a ren Nazarenos; Nazaraios in Matthew, John, and Luke): A derivative of Nazareth, the birthplace of Christ. In the New Testament it has a double meaning. san'Sanhedrinhedrin (canhedhrin, the Talmudic transcription of the Greek sunedrion): The Sanhedrin was, at and before the time of Christ, the name for the highest Jewish tribunal, of 71 members, in Jerusalem, and also for the lower tribunals, of 23 members, of which Jerusalem had two (Tosephta' Chaghighah] 11 9; Sanhedrin 1 6; 11 2)
Spotlight:
Mark 15: 42 47 NIV
2. Questioning before Herod Antipas
The Roman trial contained 3 parts:
3. The flogging and final decision before Pilate.
Trial: Jesus’ trial held in two stages: the Jewish and the Roman
2. The trial before Caiaphas, the ruling high priest
Crucifixion: A Roman means of execution in which the prisoner was nailed or hung to a cross. It was illegal to crucify a Roman citizen.
3. The final action of the council.
1. Preliminary hearing before Annas, the former high priest
1. Brought before Pilate
The Jewish trial contained 3 parts:
Praetorium: The Praetorium was originally the headquarters of a Roman camp, but in the provinces the name became attached to the governor's official residence. Scourge/ Scourging [aka Flogging] by Roman flagellum. An implement that consisted of a handle, to which several cords or leather thongs were affixed, which were weighted with jagged pieces of bone or metal, to make the blow more painful and effective
Excruciating: n. extremely painful = “out of the cross” no word in the Roman language existed to describe the pain a crucified victim endured, so the word was created. [paraphrase: The Case for Christ
• What do you think it is like for the people as they were told that Jesus had been arrested?
• If you believed that Jesus was the Messiah; and you were watching all of this unfold against him, what kind of emotions would you feel?
• Have you ever been a part of something you strongly disagreed with but were forced to “go along with” for sake of position? If so what?
written by Lee Stroebel chapter: The Medical Evidence page # 264 Copyright Preparation1998]Day:
It is used as a technical term indicating the day of the preparation for the Sabbath, that is, the evening of Friday.
Preparation for Burial: [John 19:40 NIV] “Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.”
Searchlight:
• Have you ever witnessed pure rage or hatred? Was it directed to you or someone else? How did you feel?
• When Pilate washed his hands in the water and stated that he was “innocent of this man’s blood”. Do you think God saw Pilate as innocent?
• Have you stepped out to demonstrate your belief in something? Walked in a march or participated in a protest? If so, what was your motivation to participate?
• In an unjust situation, would you intercede for the affected person or has someone interceded for you in a situation? If so, what happened?
• Joseph willingly stepped up and out to claim Jesus’ body. He could have been arrested or found a similar fate as Jesus. Would you have been as willing to forfeit life and position?
In our telling, we touch on the wounds Jesus endured. Joseph and Nicodemus were literally covered in Jesus’ blood as they prepped him for burial. Do you think they understood the magnitude and significance of what that meant at that time? What does that mean to you?
Do you think they would looked at their hands the same way again? How do you think they felt walking back into the temple and meeting up again with others in the Sanhedrin? How would you feel?
crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus changed everything for all humanity. It bought back true life. Mankind was lost because of the act of disobedience [original sin] with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. It separated us [man] from God the Father. In the beginning of creation, God had provided everything to
• What is the significance of the curtain that separates the Holy of Holies in the temple of being torn from top to bottom mean?
Do you think these events changed Joseph and Nicodemus?
TheSidelight:life,trial,
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Adam and Eve, but He commanded only one thing, for them not eat from the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. They however, disobeyed that command. They ate the apple/fruit of that tree as Satan had enticed them and planted a speck of doubt in their minds. So much so, that they chose what they wanted over what God had told them. With this choice, the journey of separation from God the Father, which has spiraled to absolute debauchery and lives devoid of truth, began in that moment and it began our journey in it too. God is a Holy God. He cannot go against himself. He required atonement [v. make amends]. The required payment took Jesus to live a pure and sinless life, to choose violent death on a cross, and to scream, “It is finish!” to end man’s separation from God. Jesus paid the atonement blood with his own. Once completed and death defeated after 3 days. He then resurrected and allowed us to join with him to a life restored; for those who choose to follow and believe in him. In scripture, Nicodemus had his own earlier encounter with Jesus a time before the arrest, trial and crucifixion. The encounter account contains within, one of the most widely known passages of scripture. It was to Nicodemus, that Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” [John 3:16 NIV] and it continues, “For God did not send his son in to the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” [John 3:17 NIV].
Joseph and Nicodemus were not privy to the conversations that Jesus had had with his twelve. Nor did they know of the compiled book of scripture as we have today: The Bible. They believed Jesus to be the Christ The Messiah. They believed in Jesus. They took what they believed from the Old Testament scriptures as they were learned men. They then took that knowledge and measured it against this Jesus before them. They chose Jesus and accepted Jesus to be the Christ. They just didn’t understand all that Jesus was going to do and what it all meant. But what they did know, is that they wanted to show their love, courageous devotion, and sorrow for Jesus. They stepped out of the shadows of religious piety and into the saving light of Jesus.
Golgotha/ The Skull {Latin: Calvaria, translates to Calvary} place of execution. In the telling of the event, the mention of “shouldering the beam with another” is reference to Simon of Cyrene.
Cyrene: Cyrene was a city of Libya in North Africa, lat. 32 degrees 40' North, long. 22 degrees 15' East. It lay West of ancient Egypt, from which it was separated by a portion of the Libyan desert, and occupied the territory now belonging to Barca and Tripoli. It was
A Thief No More Spotlight: Luke 23: 26 43 NIV
ThroughFootlight:these historical events, there are many parts in this life changing story. We have noted some of them to help clarify and to direct some light of deeper understanding.
Praetorium: The Praetorium was originally the headquarters of a Roman camp, but in the provinces the name became attached to the governor's official residence.
Paradise: a Persian word (pardes), properly meaning a "pleasure ground" or "park" or "king's garden." It came in course of time to be used as a name for the world of happiness and rest hereafter (Luke 23:43 NIV ; 2 Corinthians 12:4 NIV ; Revelation 2:7 NIV).
Searchlight: • Have you ever been in a jail? What was the feeling like? • Do you know anyone who has been in jail? Or is currently? • Do you think prison provides a chance to re evaluate life choices?
situated upon an elevated plateau about 2,000 ft. above the sea, from which it was distant some 10 miles.
Simon of Cyrene: Cyrene comes into importance in Biblical history through the dispersion of the Jews. Ptolemy I, son of Lagus, transported Jews to this and other cities of Libya (Josephus, CAp, II, 4) and from this time on Jews were very numerous there. By the return of the Jews of the Dispersion to the feasts at Jerusalem, Cyrenians came to have a conspicuous place in the New Testament history. "A man of Cyrene, Simon by name," was caught by the Roman soldiers and compelled to bear the cross of Jesus (Matthew 27:32; compare Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26).
• Being the criminal told to carry the very cross you were to die upon, what would your thoughts be?
From the thief’s perspective hearing/ witnessing the events of flogging and brutalization of Jesus, what would you imagine his reaction to be? What would yours be? Would you think the “criminal” deserving? Or thankful it wasn’t you? (Be honest)
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• What do you think compelled the thief to speak up and call out the other thief regarding Jesus? Would you have?
• Have you ever contemplated your last day? What would you regret the most? What would you miss the most? What would you fear the most?
The thief asked Jesus to remember him. Why would he want that? Why would that be important to him?
The thief’s longing for some compassion on his last day but fearing and seeing none, do you think you would want the same? Why would it matter?
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• Jesus said to the thief, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” What do you think that means? Would that bring comfort to you? Why?
Sidelight: In our telling, the thief’s dual perspective of the events of the crucifixion; we view his journey to death; one as a participant and the other as a witness. Both are compelling because it is true statement of our own lives. We too walk the journey to death both as a participant and as a witness to the lives of others/loved ones. As participant, we walk through the highs and lows of the physical, emotional and psychological of life. We also deal with the wounds inflicted along the way that are either self-inflicted or done to us by others (real or perceived). Our choices within the midst of the highs, lows and wounds shape the very core of us. As witnesses, we walk in and through the lives of others as they face the same type of elements [emotional, physical, psychological, and spiritual] as they happen to them [i.e., Loved ones, friends, colleagues, neighbors, etc.].
In the end, we exit this life the same way we came in: by ourselves in one breath. Our first to last breath defines the length of our lives. What we do with our breaths in-between defines our life in this world. So, if we take at least one of those breaths and acknowledge Jesus for who he is. We can change the purpose of our remaining breaths in this life and redefine our eternity. Our thief died a thief, a criminal. His dead body would have been placed in an open pit not buried, as it was not deemed worthy of burial. It would have been discarded out in desert somewhere. No name, no grave marker nothing to remember him or even to acknowledge his existence. But our thief, became a thief no more, because of Jesus. He believed Jesus to be from God. He took a ragged breath and reached out through his pain, guilt, pride and fear in the pressing reality of his death to Jesus who was dying right beside him. He didn’t know that Jesus would rise again and conquer death. He didn’t know that Jesus was the Atonement for all sin for his sin. He didn’t know that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah. He didn’t know about Jesus’ miraculous birth or the miracles he performed. He didn’t know all the things that we know about Jesus. But he did know that the man crucified next to him was more than just a man. He was a King and wherever his kingdom was, he wanted to be part of it. So, he asked him. Jesus didn’t look away or ignore him. Jesus without thought of the pain and struggle to do so, turned toward him and saw him with his blood covered eyes. Jesus knew his name, saw him for all that he
was, and Jesus marked him as worthy. Jesus chose to use his own dying breaths and welcome him as a thief no more into his Akingdom.shortwhile later, when the thief drew his final breath on earth, Jesus was already waiting for him as he took his first breath in eternity. Jesus with recognition and a warm smile, pushed opened the narrow gate door with a nail scarred hand and welcomed him home to paradise.
• Ever have your world implode? • Have you ever lost your faith in someone or something?
Doubt to Belief – Thomas
Spotlight: John 20:24 31 NIV Footlight: Jesus Christ had been put to death; crucified on a cross. “The Twelve” and other friends were fearing for their lives. Thomas [Hebrew] Didymus [Greek] the versions of his name both mean the same thing: Twin. We know that Thomas was reeling with the truth: Jesus was dead. We do not know much really about Thomas or about how he became one of “the Twelve”. But we do know, that like the rest of the Twelve, he was found by Jesus and asked to follow. Thomas like his name had two sides. He was capable of both showing great faith but also, deep skepticism. Thomas had trusted Jesus and now felt betrayed by him on some levels. Thomas needed to reconcile his heart faith with his doubting Searchlight:mind.
If you missed something spectacular, would you believe your friends account of it?
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Have you ever been so lost that you are unable to decide your next step? Where you are frozen in fear and uncertainty?
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Why do you suppose Thomas had such a hard time believing that the others had seen Jesus after his death? After all, he had seen the same Jesus, and saw the same miracles that they all had seen.
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Have you ever been so locked up in your head that you are unable to utter a single word or sentence of a prayer? Have you ever been governed by doubt? What does doubt take from you?
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Have you ever wanted to believe in something so badly, but doubt is always whispering in your ear?
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• Do you think Jesus was disappointed that Thomas had DoubtSidelight:doubts?isthefirst
weapon of the master thief. A doubt, even in its subtlest, has the power shake the foundations on which you have placed your faith to stand. It robs you. It unsettles you. Thomas, who like many of us, when our faith is shaken, we feel vulnerable, fearful, embarrassed, and angry. We trust less easily. Doubt skews our lens on which we view life thereafter. But as we see with Thomas, Jesus is worthy of our trust. He allows us to come to the end of ourselves and reveals himself in all his beautifully scarred glory.
Allusion/Allude: [defined] To allude to something casually Conversational Reference: Scripture is used as part of the conversation within the telling.
Notes
Star Trackers The Magi Matthew 2:2 NIV Entire passage: Matthew 2:1 12 NIV Allusion:Born to die: Star of Jacob Num 24:17 NIV = Conjunction of Jupiter and ConversationalSaturnReference/Partial Quote: Where is: Matthew 2:2 NIV What time: Matthew 2:7 NIV Worship him too: Mathew 2:8 NIV Humbly Devoted Simeon Luke 2:26 NIV Entire Passage: Luke 2:21 35
Conversational Reference/Partial Quote: Sovereign Lord: vs 29 33 Pierce your heart too vs. 34
The Seen Matthew Matthew 9:9 NIV Entire Passage: Matthew 9:9 13
Allusion:Abraham: Genesis 12:1 3NIV, Genesis 17:4 5 NIV Isaac: Genesis 21:1 7NIV Jacob: Genesis 25: 19 34 NIV Joseph: Genesis 37:1 36 NIV Moses:Rescued Prince: Exodus 2:1 10 NIV Unaccepted: Exodus 2:11 25 NIV Midian Burning Bush: Exodus 3: 1 22 NIV Red Sea Escape: Exodus 14:13 31NIV Joshua:Fall of Jericho: Joshua 5:13 6:27 NIV
Conversational Reference/Partial Quote: Follow Me: Matthew 9:9 Come and See Nathanael John 1:46 NIV Entire Passage: John 1:43 51NIV
Conversational Reference/Partial Quote: *Found the one: John 1: 45 NIV *Nazareth/ Come and see: John 1:46 NIV *Here is: John 1:47 NIV How do you know? John 1:48 NIV *I saw you: John 1:48 NIV *You are: John 1:49 NIV *You believe: John 1:50 NIV Served Grace Wedding at Cana John 2:5 NIV Entire passage: John 2: 1 11NIV
David:Shepherd
Conversational Reference/Partial Quote: Dear Woman: John 2:4 NIV Do whatever: John 2:5 NIV Fill the jars: John 2:7 NIV Master of the Banquet: John 2:8 NIV If only A Touch of Healing Matthew 9:21 NIV
King Shoot from Jesse: 1 Samuel 16: 10-13 NIV Felling a giant: 1 Samuel 17:1-58 NIV
Allusion:Contamination: Lev 14:1-32 NIV Meager to Feast John 6:9 NIV Entire passage: John 6: 1 15 NIV
Entire Passage: Matthew 9:18 22
The Widow’s Offering Mark 12: 42 NIV Entire passage: Mark 12:41 43
Allusion:13trumpet receptacles: https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia of the bible/Treasury Temple Anointed Forgiveness Luke 7:37 38 NIV Entire Passage: Luke 7:36 50 NIV Conversational Reference/Partial Quote: “Your sins are forgiven” vs 48 “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” vs 50
Conversational Reference/Partial Quote: Do you: John 5:6 NIV Pick up: John 5:8 NIV Even Now – Martha John 11:21 22 NIV Entire passage: John 11:17 37 NIV
Conversational Reference/Partial Quote: Whatever you ask: John 11:22 NIV I am: John 11:25 NIV Yes Lord: John11:27 NIV Ember of Hope A Mother’s Cry Matthew 15:25 NIV Entire passage: Matthew 15:21 28 NIV
Darkness to Life Mary Magdalene Luke 8:2 3 NIV Entire passage: Luke 8: 1-3 NIV
The EntireJohnWaiting5:7NIVpassage: John 5:1 15
Allusion:Not a child of the promise: Romans 9:8 NIV Lost sheep of Israel: Matthew 15: 24 NIV Help me! Matthew 15: 25 NIV
Leviticus 13 NIV, Leviticus 14 NIV
Allusion:UNCLEAN
Conversational Reference/Partial Quote: I am willing /be clean: Luke 5: 13 NIV Don’t tell anyone: Luke 5:14 NIV Hook, Line & Drachma Matthew 17:25 NIV Entire Passage: Matthew 17:24 27 NIV Allusion:Walks on water: Matthew 14: 22 36 NIV
Conversational Reference/Partial Quote: Son of David: Matthew 15: 22 NIV Toss it to the dogs: Matthew 15:26 NIV Request granted: Matthew 15:28 NIV A Spotless Hope Luke 5:12b NIV Entire passage: Luke 5:12 16 NIV
Conversational Reference/Partial Quote: Don’t cry: Luke 7:13 NIV Young man I say: Luke 7:14 NIV A great prophet: Luke 7:16 NIV A Periphery Witness Mark Mark 14:16 NIV Mark 14:51 52 NIV Entire Passage: Mark 14:12 52 NIV Allusions:
Conversation Reference /Partial Quote: Yes, he does: Matthew 17:25 NIV From others: Matthew 17:26 NIV But so that: Matthew 17:27 NIV
The Widow’s Son Luke 7:12 13 NIV Entire passage: Luke 7:11 17 NIV Allusion:Unclean: Number 19:11NIV, Leviticus 21:1 4 NIV Tallit: is a fringed garment, traditionally worn as a prayer shawl by religious Jews. The tallit has special twined and knotted fringes known as tzitzit attached to its four corners. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tallit
Silent Witness: Courageous Devotion Joseph of Arimathea Mark 15:43 NIV Entire passage: Mark 15:42 47 NIV
Temple Courts Rush out Gethsemane:(Judas)Mark 14:32-52 NIV Watch and Pray: v. 38 Hour has come: v. 41 Heals the ear: Luke 22:51NIV
Allusion:Small fires in outer courts: Luke 22:55 NIV Lamb to slaughter: Isaiah 53:7 NIV Nicodemus & Jesus: John 3:1 21 NIV Blind Man: John 9:1 41 NIV Crown: Mark 15:16 20 NIV Barabbas: Mark 15:7 NIV Other two: Matthew 27:38 NIV Over his head: Mark 15:26 NIV Day became night: Matthew 27:45 NIV Temple curtain torn: Mark 15: 38 NIV, Matthew 27:51NIV 2 broken & one pierced: John 20: 31 37NIV Fresh cut tomb: John 20:41NIV Tears like the fallen: Luke 7: 36 50 NIV A healing touch with spit and grit: John 9 NIT
Abundant spices: John 20:39 40 NIV Conversational Reference/Partial Quote: Are you? Mark 15:61NIV I am: Mark 15:62 Uncleanness:NIVhttps://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/uncleanness/
Copyright Statement: These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'UNCLEANNESS'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915. Crucify him: Mark 15:13 NIV Innocent of this man’s blood: Matthew 27:24 NIV Pierced: Zechariah 12:10 NIV A Thief No More Luke 23:42 NIV Entire passage: Luke 23:26 43 NIV Allusion:Mark 15:16 NIV Prison cell: Praetorium Thesehttps://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/praetorium/dictionarytopicsarefromM.G.EastonM.A.,D.D.,Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain copy freely.
Crown and Robe: John 19:2 3 NIV Cross [transom cross beam] = crux immissa/ Latin cross Parade: Luke 23:32 NIV
meaning a "pleasure ground" or "park" or "king's garden." (See EDEN.) It came in course of time to be used as a name for the world of happiness and rest hereafter ( Luke 23:43 ; 2 co 12:4 ; Revelation 2:7 ). For "garden" in Genesis 2:8 the LXX. has "paradise." These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain copy freely. Logos signifies in classical Greek both "reason" and "word." Though in Biblical Greek the term is mostly employed in the sense of "word," we cannot properly dissociate the two significations. Every word implies a thought. It is impossible to imagine a time when God was without thought. Hence, thought must be eternal as the Deity. The translation "thought" is probably the best equivalent for the Greek term, since it denotes, on the one hand, the faculty of reason, or the thought inwardly conceived in the mind; and, on the other hand, the thought outwardly expressed through the vehicle of
Shouldering with another: Mark 15:21 NIV
Conversational Reference / Quote: Who hit you? Luke 22:64 NIV Father, forgive them: Luke 23:34 NIV Save yourself and us: Luke 23:39 NIV Same sentence: Luke 23:40 NIV Remember me: Luke 23: 42 NIV With me in paradise: Luke 23:43 NIV Paradise: https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/eastons bible adictionary/paradise.htmlPersianword(pardes),properly
language. The two ideas, thought and speech, are indubitably blended in the term logos; and in every employment of the word, in philosophy and Scripture, both notions of thought and its outward expression are intimately connected.
Orr,BibliographyCopyrighthttps://www.biblestudytools.com/encyclopedias/isbe/logos.htmlStatement:Thesefilesarepublicdomain.InformationJames,M.A.,D.D.GeneralEditor."Entryfor'LOGOS'"."International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915. Doubt to Belief Thomas John 20:25 NIV
Allusion:Flogged: John 19: 1NIV Walking on the water: Matthew 14:22 36 NIV Calms the Storm: Mark 4: 35 41 NIV
Conclusion
Thank you for joining me on this journey through the living pages of scripture. It is my heart’s prayer that you see Jesus; in a new way or maybe you were introduced to him for the first time. I deeply encourage you to walk with him every day. Let him lead through the scripture’s pages of the living and vibrant life tucked behind the word. But even more, live out a life that He call us all to. “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 NIV God bless you, my fellow sojourners!
Hello. Here is little history about me. I have been digging into The Word for over 30 years. Throughout those years, I have written children’s curriculum, women, and adult bible studies. I have been a guest speaker at youth groups and special ministry events. The Lord has blessed me with my husband of 33 years. Together we were blessed with two amazing children, who have grown into even more amazing adults. I am a history nerd as well as a sports fan. On a Saturday, you may find me quietly meandering through some favorite vintage shops seeking to rescue some lost or forgotten treasure or screaming at my T.V while watching my teams play.
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I love a good mystery especially if they are written in different eras.
A favorite evening is sitting on the back deck on a pleasantly warm and clear night star gazing and listening to the night sounds with or without some old tunes softly playing in the background. Thank you for sharing this time with me. I hope and pray it has blessed, encouraged, challenged, and inspired you to know Jesus.
