Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: STARS (07/28/22)
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TITLE: Silence | Previous Challenge Entry
By Arlene Baker
08/03/22 -
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Moments before, He’d notice a man dangling a useless arm. How must this man feel? He wondered. Does he have family he can no longer support? His heart quickened with compassion.
Heal him. He heard His Father’s whisper in His heart. His own leapt with joy as He called out the afflicted man.
“Come here.”
The man stepped forward. Jesus searched his eyes, which flickered with hope. Again, He studied the faces of all the others present. Stony silence. Firmed jaws. Merciless eyes. He squared His shoulders.
“Stretch out your hand.”
With a trembling smile, the man complied. As his feeble arm rose, it grew to match the other in shape, length and strength. He stared at both hands, now equal in front of him. Tears formed and splashed down his cheeks.
“Thank you, thank you,” he choked. “Thank you.”
“It is the will of God.” Jesus smiled as He rested His own hand on the man’s shoulder.
“Sabbath-breaker!”
“Heathen dog.”
“God mocker.”
Cries of rage swirled around Jesus and the healed man. As one, they moved toward the door and out into the dusty street.
“Go home so your family can rejoice with you.”
“Yes, Lord. Thank you, Lord.” The man bolted down the street, waving both hands over his head and shouting praises to God.
Well done, my Son. Well done.
“How can people be so blind, so hardened against Your goodness?” Jesus murmured. “They cared nothing for that man, only their rules.”
Come away, just You and Me.
Jesus walked to a nearby hill. Deep in thought, he listened to the crunch of the dirt under each footstep.
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7. Jesus sighed. They don’t want the good news.
A breeze rustled through the nearby trees. Jesus stopped to listen to the simple song.
“The trees of the fields will clap their hands,” He quoted (Isaiah 55:12). A smile tugged at his lips. He envisioned the celebration of joy in the healed man’s home. Doubtless, they’ll celebrate deep into the night!
Jesus moved on. A donkey brayed. A dog barked. He heard their voices as though for the first time. His head turned at the sound of splashing water. A toddler’s hands slapped at a filled bucket and the child screeched with joy. Jesus laughed out loud.
He reached the top of the hill and sank down on a ledge of rocks. Silence permeated the air. Jesus embraced it. He always heard Father’s voice the clearest in silence. All the harsh words, turned down mouths and flashing eyes melted like raindrops on hot coals. Only He and Father remained. He studied the fading light as the sun sank in the west.
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1,2). Again, Jesus smiled. “Father, You are ever with Me. I rejoice in Your presence.”
Soon, hidden in daylight, stars appeared. Brighter and brighter they shone as darkness deepened. Myriads appeared to flank the brightening moon until the full beauty of creation flooded His being.
“When I look at your heavens,” Jesus whispered. “The creation of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have set in place” (Psalm 8:3). He paused to study the stars from a new perspective – from earth to heaven, rather than from heaven to earth.
“We made these,” He breathed. “We, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, made all these and declared it all good.”
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