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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Exhale (08/15/13)
What fun God was having! From a formless and empty earth he was now creating form and beauty.

“Let there be light.” he said and there was light. He flung stars in the sky, made the sun and moon and planets, and paid attention to the fine detail on earth.

“Let the land produce vegetation,” God said, and the land produced. Whatever he said, it was done, and it was done well. God looked at all he had made and declared that it was good.

But among all the stars and planets and plants and animals there was still something lacking. God wanted someone to love him, someone with whom he could talk and commune and share his thoughts, someone to look after the earth for him and give him a level of companionship not found anywhere else in his creation.

So – he made a man. At first Adam didn’t look like much. Formed from the dust of the ground he lay inert until something wonderful happened. God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. What a transformation when God exhaled! Now God had a friend, a companion, and he also made a friend and companion for Adam, his wife Eve. Everything would be perfect.

Except that sin came in the form of disobedience and things were no longer perfect. God had to sacrifice animals and use their skins to cover their nakedness, and Adam and Eve were driven from the garden. Centuries passed. Temporary sacrifices covered the sins of the people for a short time, but a permanent solution was needed.

Finally God sent his Son to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. On the cross as Jesus breathed his last, he cried, “It is finished,” and give up his spirit to his Father.

It is hard for us to imagine the devastation and despair of the disciples. All their hopes had been set on Jesus, and here he was in front of them dead, gone, finished. There was no denying it; they could see it with their own eyes.

They laid him in the tomb and mourned. They huddled in a secret place for fear of the Jews who, having got rid of Jesus, would now like to get rid of them also.

They didn’t believe Mary when she first came with astonishing news.

“Jesus is risen,” she said, breathless from racing from the garden. “His body is not in the tomb. But guess what? I have talked with him in the garden.” This was unbelievable, there was no way her story could be true.

But next thing, there was Jesus standing in the middle of their little group. Someone checked the doors, they were all locked. How ever had he got in?

“Peace be with you,” he said, and showed them his hands and feet. “Yes, it really is me. Now go and tell this good news to the world.” And he leaned in close and breathed on them.

“Receive the Holy Spirit,” he said. “Wait in Jerusalem until he comes, and then you will have power to tell the whole world.”

With that he was gone and they were left wondering what had happened. They were also filled with an indescribable joy. How could they comprehend this amazing happening?

What Mary had said was true; Jesus was alive!




Genesis 2:7 Mark 15:37 John 20:20-23
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This article has been read 534 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
08/22/13
Loved this! I never tired of reading about our Lord and His magnificence.

God Bless~
Brenda Rice
08/22/13
This is a lovely piece of writing and the subject never gets old.

Thanks for sharing.
Jan Ackerson
08/24/13
Your paragraph bridging the retelling from Genesis and the one from the gospels gives a seamless transition to this piece.

I found this to be slightly weak on the topic, which was certainly present, but not really central to the story. That's really the only weakness I can find, and it's a very minor one. The entry is very well done.