Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: FINISH (05/26/16)
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TITLE: A Fork in the Road | Previous Challenge Entry
By Hugh Houchin
06/02/16 -
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With their lines in the water and sardines for bait they fished for their evening meal.
They lived in Jerusalem, and the activities of the past week traumatized them. Fishing gave them the chance to get out of town. They planned to camp by the stream that night; so, if they wanted supper, they needed to catch something.
As usual the fish began to bite, and for supper they ate tilapia and catfish. After eating, with his eyes staring into the fire, Daren shook his head. “Abdul, now we’re not going to have our ministry. Jesus’ crucifixion changes our plans to follow Him.”
Abdul stood up and walked into darkness the campfire didn’t penetrate. “That doesn’t surprise me. All the talk of a place called heaven turned out to be just talk. No one will ever break the tyrannical yoke of the Roman Empire. Even God cannot stop them. What’s next for us?”
Daren shrugged his shoulders.
With no answers they stoked the fire, rolled out blankets, laid down and stared into a heavenly array of celestial lights. The stars winked security, and the ring around the moon looked like a crown.
That refuge comforted them and they slept.
Early the next morning they ate a spicy breakfast of apples, pomegranates, and roasted wheat. Afterwards they walked back to Jerusalem.
As they neared the city they passed Golgotha. Abdul shuddered. “I’ll never forget the two thieves screaming as the soldiers drove the nails through their hands and feet. Jesus, though, absorbed the pain, but He looked sad.”
Daren noticed there were people around the burial grounds next to Golgotha. “Let’s check it out.” There, they heard someone mention Jesus’ empty tomb.
Abdul interrupted, “What do you mean Jesus’ empty tomb?” Absorbed, no one answered.
Daren and Abdul walked away to find a less preoccupied group. With funnel-like ears they listened, they heard comments about His body being stolen, or moved.
Someone said maybe He arose from the dead.
They looked at each other. “No one here knows anything for sure. Let’s go.”
Back in Jerusalem, Daren and Abdul searched for Jesus in and around the city. They heard that he appeared to different people, but they were always at least a village square behind.
Nevertheless, the burning sensation to find Him urged them forward.
Wherever it was they followed every clue; they camped by lakes or streams and fished for meals.
One night Abdul tapped Daren. “Please look and see if I’m sprouting gills.”
“Cool it Abdul. Let’s fish so we can eat. I need to wash clothes tonight. Wind’s blowing so I can hang them over a tree branch and they’ll dry by morning.
“Sire Daren, will that be your Sabbath or weekday attire you’re washing.”
Daren shed his only clothes as he walked toward the murky lake.
The next day they walked the main road. “Remember that group we saw earlier who said they talked to people headed the same direction we’re going?”
“You bet, Abdul. Think we’re on to something?”
“I hope so. We’ve been looking for Jesus for 40 days; we should be closing in. Let’s walk faster and try to catch up.”
“However, that quickly brought them to a fork in the road. They stared at the “Y.” Both lanes disappeared into low hanging brush.
They looked at each other.
“Let’s go left.”
“Left it is” and Darren took off at a slow trot. Abdul followed.
They jogged about 20 yards and Darren stopped. “This doesn’t feel right.
Abdul looked at him. “I agree. Let’s go right.”
They did and stopped again. “Right doesn’t feel right either; it’s the other way.”
They went left and coaxed a trot out of their exhausted bodies. They had no clue what kept them going but they knew they couldn’t quit.
After about 100 yards Abdul stopped. “Listen.”
They heard hushed voices.
Walking further they came to a clearing with people milling around looking into the heavens. They heard two men in dazzling white robes say, “Why are you looking into the sky? Jesus, who just left for heaven, will come again in the same way you saw Him leave.”
Abdul and Daren hugged each other. “The crucifixion is not the finish, it’s the beginning.”
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