Post by Les Brewer on May 27, 2014 21:50:53 GMT
AT THE CROSS
In agony I looked as the crowd approached, I was in good position to see them coming, as the another malefactor railed with cursing also being in agony. I looked over at him feeling his pain, but lacked his contempt. I thought to myself if only I could have lived differently, if only I had kept torah better; but now its too late. The crowd grew closer, but we already knew who was coming, I had passed the crowds by watching him from afar. But the soldiers had already told us it was him, as they jeered and mocked and laughed out loud. When they laid him down on the support beam, I looked down, the other malefactor did also, but cursing and mocking just as much as the soldiers were, but he did it without the joy the soldiers seemed to have concerning the occasion. I was horrified at the sight of him, even more horrified than I was concerning my own circumstances.
He was so bloody and bruised and writhing in pain, not the man that I had seen who stood in the public squares teaching, if I had not been told it was him I would not have recognized him for he was so marred. I also seen not to far from where he lay, a small group of people gathered together crying and hugging and wailing loudly as they took one arm stretching it out; then with a blow of precision the nail pierced and secured his hand to the crossbeam. Then the other as he yelled out in excruciating pain. The group weeping louder, as the soldiers laughed harder, I saw what seemed to be a multitude of religious men gathered with somber faces that lacked compassion but wreaked of hatred to my dismay.
Then it seemed there were just those who were curious within the ranks of a growing crowd. I seen soldiers casting lots for his garment which had an air of royalty about it, and then one of them ran over to cut some briars and then twisted them into a thorny crown and shoving it down on his head laughing and mocking him as he lay there growing silent as another soldier took hammer and nail to secure a sign just above his head. I thought to myself what could this man who teaches the things of God have done to deserve this. I knew in my own heart I deserve to die this day, but this man who was called Messiah who had harmed no one or stolen or broken any law, why was he being done this way.
Then finally they hoisted him upward and erected his cross, now I could see the white of his ribs and the extent of his wounds, but yet he remained silent as the soldier mocked increasingly more, then the other malefactor looked over at him and mocked him saying “ you have saved others why don’t you save yourself “. An anger rose up in me that I could not explain, so I defended this Savior telling the mocker, you and myself deserve to be crucified, but this man has done no wrong. I heard many of the religious rulers who now see the sign clearly which read “ The King of the Jews “. If you’re the King of the Jews save yourself, mocking him in their madness. I heard another declare if you are the Messiah then save yourself now. Remorse filled my heart and mind, and I railed back at the malefactor and all that could hear me,” Don’t you have the fear of God in you seeing how we are in the same condemnation “ . At that point the man whom I heard the weeping crowd cry out even louder. The man then raised his head to look at his accusers, so I said to him, “ Lord remember me; when you come into your Kingdom”. I knew his doctrine; for anyone in Jerusalem knew of his teaching and many followed him calling him “ Rabbi “ and it was common knowledge he was considered the Messiah. He looked over at me and with a peace within his voice he gazed into my eyes saying “ Today you shall be with me in Paradise “.
It was if a burden had been lifted and for a frozen moment in time, I felt no physical pain, I felt no agony, or anxiety. I was free as any free man could be. Even as the soldier approached me with the mallet to break my legs so I would die quickly; I knew in my heart that when I closed my eyes in death, I would open them again in paradise with my Messiah. Yes I was free in deed! Selah!
(8) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
(9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
(10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(11) For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Romans 10:8-11
Shalom, Agape, & Amen!
Apostle Ritchie
In agony I looked as the crowd approached, I was in good position to see them coming, as the another malefactor railed with cursing also being in agony. I looked over at him feeling his pain, but lacked his contempt. I thought to myself if only I could have lived differently, if only I had kept torah better; but now its too late. The crowd grew closer, but we already knew who was coming, I had passed the crowds by watching him from afar. But the soldiers had already told us it was him, as they jeered and mocked and laughed out loud. When they laid him down on the support beam, I looked down, the other malefactor did also, but cursing and mocking just as much as the soldiers were, but he did it without the joy the soldiers seemed to have concerning the occasion. I was horrified at the sight of him, even more horrified than I was concerning my own circumstances.
He was so bloody and bruised and writhing in pain, not the man that I had seen who stood in the public squares teaching, if I had not been told it was him I would not have recognized him for he was so marred. I also seen not to far from where he lay, a small group of people gathered together crying and hugging and wailing loudly as they took one arm stretching it out; then with a blow of precision the nail pierced and secured his hand to the crossbeam. Then the other as he yelled out in excruciating pain. The group weeping louder, as the soldiers laughed harder, I saw what seemed to be a multitude of religious men gathered with somber faces that lacked compassion but wreaked of hatred to my dismay.
Then it seemed there were just those who were curious within the ranks of a growing crowd. I seen soldiers casting lots for his garment which had an air of royalty about it, and then one of them ran over to cut some briars and then twisted them into a thorny crown and shoving it down on his head laughing and mocking him as he lay there growing silent as another soldier took hammer and nail to secure a sign just above his head. I thought to myself what could this man who teaches the things of God have done to deserve this. I knew in my own heart I deserve to die this day, but this man who was called Messiah who had harmed no one or stolen or broken any law, why was he being done this way.
Then finally they hoisted him upward and erected his cross, now I could see the white of his ribs and the extent of his wounds, but yet he remained silent as the soldier mocked increasingly more, then the other malefactor looked over at him and mocked him saying “ you have saved others why don’t you save yourself “. An anger rose up in me that I could not explain, so I defended this Savior telling the mocker, you and myself deserve to be crucified, but this man has done no wrong. I heard many of the religious rulers who now see the sign clearly which read “ The King of the Jews “. If you’re the King of the Jews save yourself, mocking him in their madness. I heard another declare if you are the Messiah then save yourself now. Remorse filled my heart and mind, and I railed back at the malefactor and all that could hear me,” Don’t you have the fear of God in you seeing how we are in the same condemnation “ . At that point the man whom I heard the weeping crowd cry out even louder. The man then raised his head to look at his accusers, so I said to him, “ Lord remember me; when you come into your Kingdom”. I knew his doctrine; for anyone in Jerusalem knew of his teaching and many followed him calling him “ Rabbi “ and it was common knowledge he was considered the Messiah. He looked over at me and with a peace within his voice he gazed into my eyes saying “ Today you shall be with me in Paradise “.
It was if a burden had been lifted and for a frozen moment in time, I felt no physical pain, I felt no agony, or anxiety. I was free as any free man could be. Even as the soldier approached me with the mallet to break my legs so I would die quickly; I knew in my heart that when I closed my eyes in death, I would open them again in paradise with my Messiah. Yes I was free in deed! Selah!
(8) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
(9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
(10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(11) For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Romans 10:8-11
Shalom, Agape, & Amen!
Apostle Ritchie