I
would like to take you back in time to a day in Jerusalem; we’ve been there all
our lives. All we can remember is being continuously beaten by the Romans. No
matter what we do they are always there to tell us, “You
can’t win, this God of yours will never help you. Our God is superior to your
God. You will always belong to us.”
Sometimes
we find ourselves in such a state of despair and the heaviness is so strong
that we do not know which way to turn. We feel that there is no way out and we
are sentenced to suffer forever more. Then one day I found a large group of
people gathered around a man as he spoke on the mount; even though I was so far
away that I could barely see him yet I could still hear him as he spoke of
peace, love, and good will. There was something about this man that keeps me
listening and wanting more. It is in his presence that I find such a peace, a
peace like I have never known or will ever know in this world.
Now
imagine that we wake up one morning only to find that this very man has been
arrested and has been sentenced to be crucified. Since that day I heard him
speak there has been a feeling as though something was missing in my life. I
don’t understand it completely but there has been so much hatred in my heart. I’ve
been so devoted to this hatred for so long and have made sure that I have never
forgotten it.
I
hurry to the main street but I find that I’m too late; for He is already being
taken up the hill. I hear that he has been condemned to the cross even though
they could not find any fault with him. What did this man do to get that
sentence? All I have ever heard about Him were good things. He healed the sick,
made the lame walk, and the blind eyes to see. Not too long ago I had heard
that He had raised a person from the dead one Sabbath afternoon but surely the
Romans didn’t sentence Him to death for giving life.
As
I watch him walk his last mile to the cross it is easy to see that he can
barely pick up his feet; he can barely stand as he carries his cross up to that
dreadful hill. I can see where they have beaten him so severely and placed what
looks like a crown upon his head yet when you look at his face there is a
determination like I have never seen before and his eyes are filled with love
and peace. Suddenly he stumbles and immediately I hurried to help him and offer
him a little water; the guards knock it from me and push me away.
I
continue to follow them up the hill and to my surprise they did not have to
force him to lay down his life for he gave it freely; as I heard them begin to
nail his hands and feet to the cross I jumped at every pound of the hammer. They
raised him to the sky and as he began to die the guards gambled at his feet. It
looks as though my life of searching for peace was going to end in death here
at the feet of this innocent man. There were many times in my life when I had
hopes and dreams yet I did not believe that they would come to pass.
I
heard him speak words that did not make much sense; “Father
forgive them, for they know not what they do” and his last words spoken
were even stranger, “it is finished.” When he
spoke those last three words and died the sky began to grow dark as though it
were night in the middle of the day. Heavy rains began to fall and wash his
blood down the hill. The thunder and lightning was all around and very fierce
and many people were frightened into hiding.
As
I stood there in a puddle of his blood and the rain was falling all around me
my heart full of hate was beginning to melt and was replaced with a love like I
had never felt before. It was as if the rain washed away all the hatred I had
for years and took the sword from my hand. Everywhere the rains seem to touch
there were many sick in body healed. I even heard where there were some lepers
restored to good health. Even in his death he was able to bless the people that
he loved so much by freely giving his life for them.
On
the third morning after the death of that innocent man I was walking and trying
to make sense of the events of that day when suddenly three women ran by me
laughing and shouting that he has risen; I thought they must have found another
man that can do the same as the innocent man so I ran on down the road see this
miracle that they spoke of and all I found was an empty tomb with bedding. I came
out of the tomb and a huge man spoke to me asking “why
do I look for the living among the dead?” it startled me at first but soon I began
recognize the familiar features of the innocent man. As I gazed upon him in
amazement I tried to move my feet toward him but he just smiled at me and then
he turned and walked down the path I had just came from.
There
was a lady he called Martha and he told her not to touch him for he had not yet
ascended to his father but to go and tell everyone that he was alive and well. Many
things were accomplished with the death of this innocent man. Many were healed,
a few months later he appeared before his disciples and others saw him but the
biggest thing that I now know is I was set free from hate and torment when his
blood washed over me as I stood there at his feet while he was on the cross.
He
has given me a drink that has satisfied my never ending thirst. There have been
times sense then that I felt like he was never coming back but when I least
expect it he hears my cries for help and he gives me a refreshing drink of
strength so that I can go on a little further as he did on his last mile. The
last I heard about this innocent man was that his disciples watched him ascend
into heaven making a promise to come back for everyone that love and serve him.
I also learned from others that his name is Jesus, for he is alive and will
return for me and many others that are faithful. Just to speak his name brings
a peace that I cannot put to words.
Written
by: Karen ReNee
March
2013
