In the March newsletter, I asked members to sum up the Easter story in only 6 words. I received so many wonderful responses! Unfortunately, for lack of space, I could only include a few in the April newsletter (which will be posted on April 1st.) I’m not asking the same question here, but I figure since it’s Easter week, this Tackle it Tuesday challenge is the perfect opportunity for you to write about the most important holiday in Christian history. So here’s your challenge:
Take on the viewpoint of one of the Bible characters mentioned at any time throughout the Easter story. Maybe it’s Mary, Barabbas, Pilot, Peter, John, another disciple, or you can make up a character from the crowd. In the viewpoint of that character, write a story in 100 words or less about either Jesus’ arrest, his trial, the crucifixion, or the empty tomb.
It’s time to try your hand at biblical fiction! Grab your helmet and go for the tackle! Looking forward to your stories!
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26 Comments until now.
Have have a narrative to submit. Where do I submit it? This is my first attempt since joining FaithWriters.com. Thank you!
Also, I chose a topic that is Easter-related, but not one of the scenes proposed. May I use it?
Angela King
Angela,
Sorry, I should have been more clear. Submit your “story” in the comments section of this post. That way, anyone who stops in here can read it.
Thanks for participating!
(I actually wrote about another aspect of the Easter story and have an expanded version of this that doesn’t fit the 100 word requirement!)
“Travel Companions”
Who is this plain-looking man with the gentle eyes? He’s softly touching the homespun robes on my back—I hope they are pleasing to him. As we enter the gates to Jerusalem, the multitudes are laying palm branches down in our path. They are shouting “Hosanna!” and “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” as we make our way through the crowd.
I realize that I am carrying a precious treasure at that moment–a man who appears average but feels like a king on my back. I hope I have provided him a comfortable journey.
Nice work, Angela! Love this!
Blood trickles down my Lord’s forehead and into his eyes. “Mother, behold your son. Son, behold your mother,” Jesus gasps with all his remaining strength. So we are now family. I briefly turn my gaze from my dying friend to his anguished mother, Mary. I silently reach for her clenched hand; I see that her fingernails have dug bloody cuts in her palm. I watch my new mother fight off the overwhelming need to rush to the cross and rescue her Son from his torture. My mother. With God’s mercy, we will help each other mend.
Wow, I love this challenge, but once I started writing, I couldn’t stop. I wanted to do Peter, as he goes through the times when he denies Christ, and I ended up with about 3 pages. I am trying to see if there is a particular part that I can pull out that would fit within the 100 words. Thanks for this great idea.
This is the abridged version, immediately after Peter denies Christ the third time:
Suddenly, dawn broke, and a rooster crowed twice. Jesus’ words come back to me, and I realize what I had done. Who am I, that I think I am standing for my Lord, all the while denying Him?
I can not bear it anymore. I drop to my knees and cannot stop the tears that pour from my eyes, or the wails that come from within. I am no better than Judas, whom I despised only hours earlier. Jesus, how could you name me as a rock? You knew I would deny You, and still You called me brother.
Very moving narrative, Judith. To me, John at the foot of the cross foreshadows his intimate writing style–especially evident in his gospel account.
(I have another one–it’s fun to write from these perspectives!)
The Centurion and the Savior
Three more today. I am weary in body and soul from the crucifixions. I keep telling myself that it is justice handed down from Pilate—that the criminals deserve this cruel fate—but the Galilean, he does not seem guilty.
I must finish my job…
We’ve made it to Golgotha. I’ve got my mallet and my nails and as I hammer them into his hands and look into his eyes, I find peace where hate should reign. And I hear words of forgiveness coupled with crippling thunder. He exclaimed “tetelestai.”
We’ve both completed our jobs.
Debbie, I really enjoyed your excerpt! And I have unabridged versions of mine, too! 100 words happens fast! lol!
Thanks for your kind comment, Angela. Your moving story of the Centurian brought tears to my eyes. Lovely account of the Lord’s ability to work in hardened hearts.
Angela,
I loved both the donkey one, and the centurion, what a great perspective on it.
Thanks for your kind words, also,
Debbie
As we approach the cold tomb in the garden where they put Jesus on Friday our hearts are beating like those of a captured bird. We are trembling. The stone has been rolled away. HE is gone! Where have they laid him? Then the VOICE that could calm the sea calmed me. I turned and there He stood– Jesus is alive. My Lord and My God. I now serve a Risen Savior. Praise God.
Mary Magdelene
Oh dear God, you had plans for my son – our son. I feel so helpless watching my Jesus being condemned to death. Is this what you had in mind all along? Why did Jesus not warn me? It is heart wrenching to see his blood fly during this merciless scourging. Have mercy on our son, please! Must he suffer so harshly? That cross is so heavy: he is struggling from its weight. Ease his burden, please. Soldiers thrash nails into his hands. In what ways have I contributed to his need to die for our sins? God, help us all.
The soldiers began to pick themselves up off the ground, eyes still seared from the flash of light. Their centurion was rising also, adjusting his helmet properly. All exchanged stares, at each other and at the open tomb where the dead Galilean had been put, they had been placed here to see that He stayed “dead” and not taken by His followers. The centurion, a good soldier, formed the men into order and they marched off to report what they had seen, and still couldn’t believe. The dead Galilean was no longer dead, He had risen, risen indeed.
I call this “Easter Duty”
You guys are so creative! Nicely done!
John’s Race
As I race to the tomb, I am fervently praying that Mary is right. May her story be true. That my Lord rose from the dead. As I look inside where He was placed three days ago, I see the face cloth folded where His head once laid. My eyes beheld the truth of what she had said. Truth that my head was so slow to receive. Truth my heart was quicker than my feet to believe. He is no longer here but has risen indeed!
“What a waste of prime wood, a Regal throne in a palace is where I belong. This one now my burden, his weight I must bare. All these years of being groomed just for this?” Then a spike pierces my cross beam. “Aaah!” then another, “Aaah!” now my base. “Aaaa-h-h!
“His blood gripping my core!” “In this moment I realized, such a gift I was given. An earthly King’s throne I had yearned to become. Oh, but an altar of sacrifice, for the Lamb that was slain; to think I was the chosen one!
He comes now, covered in blood. They’ve beaten him half to death. And there He stands, not looking at them. Saying nothing. They found Him in the Garden early this morning… Judas knew he’d find Him there. They always found Him in the Garden, talking to His Father. Must be why He is so quiet now, like He settled something there.
He knows the time has come…Betrayal, pain, suffering, shame, death..it’s all in the plan…and Joy beyond it all, his earthly journey. He can undure this cross if He knows Father waits for Him on the other side.
Jonas: “what is this I hear about Jesus? The tomb is open and the disciples stole his body?”
Roman Guard:(hand in his robe jingling coins nervously)” “That’s right, we were asleep when they came.”
Jonas: “What? All thirty of you were asleep?”
Roman Guard:(Beginning to turn red)”That’s right.”
Jonas: “That’s strange that none of you woke up when they were stripping off His clothes,folding them,and dragging His body out. Besides,it’s been three days now since He was buried. That’s when said He would rise from the dead.”
Roman Guard: “Be on your way, man!”
Sarah was a meek mother of a 10 month old blind girl. Her husband had died 6 months ago of a “mysterious disease”. The town doctor could not diagnosis him nor help him.Sarah kept away from town and only went in for supplies, she lived about 5 miles out of town. One day she heard all this yelling and people running into town screaming “They are going to kill our savior”. Savior , she thought, who could this be and to cause such stir. She wrapped her baby and followed everyone into town. It was an awful site people were weeping everywhere and there on a cross was a man nailed to a cross by his hands and feet with a crown of thorns on his head. She looked up at him tears streaming down her face due to his pain, he looked at her with sympathy, which she could not understand why, when he was the one on that cross being tortured. The man died after an agnozing 3 hours. She left with everyone else.
The next day she could not get the gentleman off her mind. Finally, when her baby woke she noticed the child looking around the room as if she could see. She started talking to her and the baby looked at her and smiled. She then took her finger and moved it back and forth in front of her daughters eyes.Praise be to God, her daughter could see. How could this be.
Then she remembered the man on the cross giving her that look of compassion. It couldn’t be could it. Why he was who they said he was their savior and he performed one last miracle as he hung dying. He gave her baby her sight. What a blessed man, from that day forth the woman became a Christian and raised her daughter as one also.
(Crucify Him, Not Me!)
“Look, can I help it if the people want me instead of Jesus. Anyone running around saying they are God, well they ought to lock him up. Crucify might bit a bit much for him. Not that I care.”
“Barabbas, you are one lucky fellow. This Jesus character is taking it on the chin for you.”
“Don’t try and lay that guilt trip on me, Jonas, he got the short straw, not me. It could have been me, but I’m too young to die. Besides, I got a lot more work to do; if you know what I mean.”
(Rolled Away)
“Do you think there is any truth to the rumor about this guy?
“Marcus, I will say this, he had a lot of followers.”
“Yeah, I know, but he claimed to be the King of the Jews and all of that. I have no king, but Caesar.”
“But what if it is true that he will rise again on the third day? Everything he said up until his crucifixion came true. He isn’t some ordinary carpenter’s kid. He is more.”
“What was that? It sounded like an earthquake, and the stone is rolled back. I’m out of here.”
“Me too!”
Barabbas’ Report
Barabbas is being interviewed as possible candidate for Passover freedom.
Jesus, He’s a mad man. King of them Jews who dose He think crown Him.
Don’t He know Herod is king. Alas ain’t any evidence against Him. Pilot’ll let the man live. He’s got hart on him; the man’s no fool either. My chance to live is less then slim. So that’s chops for me Pilot will soon declare, sign Barbbas to death. It’s Jesus he’ll want alive.
As a centurion commanding many, I was dispatched to Gethsemane the night Judas gave the betrayal kiss to the One we were to arrest. Once done, that very man stepped forth and asked, “Whom do you seek?” When answered, He said, “I am He.” Many of our number drew back and fell to the ground. However, we arrested, bound, and took Him in where He was tried, convicted, and hanged.
Later standing by the foot of His cross, having witnessed His complete demeanor, how could I help but know and say, “Truly, this man was the Son of God!”?
Angela:
What a great donkey-ride!
Loved it….
Dorothy