Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Hear / Here (01/26/23)
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TITLE: Bethlehem Babe | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marlene Custer
02/02/23 -
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I looked around and saw my fellow shepherds gazing in amazement at a dazzling figure. “A bright light surrounded the figure that had to be an angel of God. His words were clear— ‘I bring you good news of great joy…’. He went on to proclaim the birth of a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, then told us where to find Him.”
“In spite of having been gripped by fear a few moments earlier, we shepherds were compelled to go to Bethlehem and see for ourselves.”
***Thirty-three years later ***
Tartan was reminiscing with Levi. He longed for his grandson to believe. “What a night! Was I really seeing a future king?”
Tartan’s heart felt it had been pierced with an arrow when Levi countered, “Well, it’s rather obvious He wasn’t the Messiah we are looking for. The Romans are still in power and making life miserable.”
Tartan rubbed his furrowed brow. If only he could help Levi understand the story he was sharing. He leaned his elbows on the table and broke off another piece of bread, spreading it with freshly churned butter. Looking intensely at Levi, he continued, “I heard nothing else until about four years ago. That was when that eccentric character, John the Baptist showed up. I wanted to hear what he was preaching, so I trekked over to the Jordan. I picked a good day to go.”
“What happened?” Levi asked.
Tartan finished chewing a bite of bread and swallowed. “I haven’t talked about it much, but I swear it is true. As I listened and watched, a few people responded by being baptized. Before long, I saw a young man walking along the bank of the river. He stopped and gazed at the Baptist. John caught sight of Him, stretched out his arm towards the young man, and shouted, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
Sitting up straighter, Levi probed, “Do you think He was the baby born that night you heard the angels?”
Shaking his head, Tartan replied, “I think so… but I am positive about what happened next. After a brief exchange of words, the young man, Jesus, walked down into the water to be baptized. Then…I kid you not, I saw it with my own eyes…a beautiful dove came down out of the heavens, and I heard a voice proclaim clearly, ‘You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased’.”
“It wasn’t much longer after that that I began to hear stories about Jesus performing all kinds of miracles—healing blind men, curing leprosy, causing the crippled to walk again, and even raising a few people from the dead.
Tartan winced as he listened to Levi snarl, “Well, we know what happened at Passover last Spring. How can He be the Messiah? Where is He now?”
Tartan sat for several minutes as in a daze. Then locking eyes with Levi, he earnestly related, “At first I wondered about the Resurrection story I was hearing. But then I saw Him myself, and heard Him speak briefly with a group of about five hundred. His voice conveyed such power and authority.”
At that point Tartan leaned over and laid his hand on Levi’s arm. “One more thing has convinced me that Jesus is who He said He was. On the Day of Pentecost, when so many Believers were speaking in languages that they had not learned—the big fisherman, stood up and convincingly proclaimed who Jesus is. After hearing that powerful sermon and seeing the response, my doubts were gone. I am convinced we haven’t heard the last of Jesus. He will some day reign!”
***Two Thousand Years Later***
Tartan is correct; and it could happen at any time. Perhaps you and I will be a witness of it.
According to the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, there is coming a day when those still here on earth will hear the sound of a trumpet. In a split second all Believers will be caught up together to meet Jesus, our Lord and Savior, to live and reign with Him forever!
Fiction, based on the following Scriptures:
NKJV Luke 2:8-20, Luke 3:21-22, Acts 2:14-41, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, Revelation 22:5
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Excellent ''true'' fiction! Well-done.