Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: See (07/22/10)
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TITLE: A Glimpse of Jesus' Love | Previous Challenge Entry
By Fern Brown
07/29/10 -
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My heart was bleeding and broken, as I sought an audience with the King, for I had severe complaints to lay at His feet. “Why do I have to go through this trial, too? Is it not enough that my health is failing and friends have hurt me?”
“There will be many trials, dear Child, but I will carry you through. Do you not remember all the promises I made?” He didn’t coddle me nor assure me that I’d never have another burden. His gentle voice strengthened me. “Come, Child,” he pleaded. “Let’s walk together. There are many places you need to see.”
He led me beside still waters and across green pastures along the rocky slopes of life. The path grew less familiar as we journeyed through the night. “Keep your eyes focused,” he emphasized.
Lanterns and torches shed a dim light as we watched the soldiers force their way to where Jesus prayed in Gethsemane. “Judas betrayed my Son with a kiss of deceit for merely thirty pieces of silver. They are here to escort Him like a criminal to Caiaphas, the high priest, where He will be falsely accused and condemned.” God spoke tenderly, His grief intense.
The scene in Pilate’s Hall opened. Soldiers spat in Jesus’ face, taunting Him. I saw Judas sling the money across the temple floor, where the chief priests and elders gathered, confessing he had betrayed innocent blood.
I gazed on the scene before me. Pilate inquired, “What are the accusations against this man?” He asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Pilate scrubbed his hands, declaring himself innocent of Jesus’ blood. The gathering crowd chanted, “Give us Barabbas. Crucify Jesus.” My eyes beheld, but could not comprehend the beating He endured, before Pilate released Him to the throng. Blood poured from His ragged body.
My view was perfect as another curtain opened. The whole band of ruthless, sneering soldiers took Jesus into the common hall. They stripped him and dressed him in a beautiful scarlet robe. They fashioned a crude crown of thorns for His lovely head, and formed a reed for His hand. Falling on their knees before Him, they mocked and ridiculed him, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews.”
Enormous, disgusting mouthfuls of spit shot into His unflinching face. They tore out His beard. With the reed, they hit the Son of God on the head, pounding the thorns deep into His scalp. Blood gushed down His face as every blow erased more of His human image.
We walked further. The cross He carried was heavy on His shredded back. It rubbed against the wounds, opening them wider, causing the blood to rush with each step He took. At the Top of Mount Calvary He placed His body on purpose on that cross. Spikes were irreverently hammered into His hands and feet. Soldiers dragged the cross roughly, and dropped it spitefully into the hole, jarring every bone in His afflicted body.
His cross hung in the middle of two other crosses. For a while, sneering, mocking, ridicule was screamed at Him from both men, who were thieves. One of them acknowledged Jesus was God and repented, receiving the promise from Jesus that they would be together in Paradise that very day.
Suspended between Heaven and earth on that shameful cross, His love glowed pure and sweet. He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Three hours of darkness drowned the daylight, as God turned His back on the sins Jesus bore. Jesus cried in anguish, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Then he said, “It is finished.”
I saw the Son of God die. Cruelty continued as a soldier, with hateful delight, raised his sword, thrusting it deep into Jesus’ sides. Blood and water poured relentlessly from his body, until not a drop was left.
I looked into my Father’s tear-filled eyes. Through tears of my own, I said, “Father, I wouldn’t do what you have done. I wouldn’t, for anyone, want to sacrifice my son.”
With eyes full of love piercing deep into my soul, he replied, “It had to be this way. Jesus is the only one who could pay sin’s debt. When He arose from the dead, He came home again to Heaven. He’ll return in the clouds to bring you to Heaven, too. It won’t be long now. Keep your eyes open. Soon you will see Christ Jesus.”
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