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Continued from // The Cross - Part IV

On the hilltop, people were running back to the city and soldiers were shouting at one another as the earth shook. The officer picked up a huge mallet and tossed at a soldier running past and shouted, “Make sure they are dead!” The soldier obeyed and broke the legs of the two criminals that hung with Jesus. They each, in turn, cried out in pain as their lungs were punctured, and then breathed their last. However, the soldier on the right of Jesus had a peculiar peace about his face - although the Roman didn’t notice.

But the Roman Soldier couldn’t bring himself to break Jesus’ legs. He just kneeled at the foot of the Cross, tears dripping down his cheeks. The officer, seeing the soldier’s hesitation, in a panic, ran over and drove his spear into Jesus’ side - puncturing Jesus’ heart. Water and blood gushed out, ensuring that the He was dead.

The soldiers lowered all three crosses and removed the limp bodies hanging from them. As they did so, a rich man walked forward and asked for the body of Jesus. Without even a second glance, the officer said yes and left the body of Jesus where it lay. The Romans then picked up the bodies of the criminals and took them away to a mass grave. Jesus, however, was wrapped in clean white linen and was carried away with honor by four men who came with the rich man. They took him to a new tomb and laid him in there. Then they rolled a great stone in front of the tomb and sealed it. Not long after they left, a squad of Roman soldiers came and stationed themselves about the sealed tomb entrance.

But back on the hilltop, soldier who nailed Jesus to the Cross stood oblivious to all that was happening. He was motionless, staring into space, openly weeping. Lowering his eyes he sobbed, “Certainly this man was innocent. Certainly this man was the Son of God!” Then he broke down and fell to his knees, praising God. When the detachment of soldiers left the hilltop, he had to be drug away, still worshiping the Living God.

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January - 2007

The Cross - Part I

The first installment in a series of short stories depicting Jesus’ crucifiction.

A Lesson From the Vikings - Do Hard Things

« December 2006 | Featured | Febuary 2007 »

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Continued from // The Cross - Part III

The Cross jerked, bringing Jesus back to the moment. Slowly it began to move skyward. Weekly, Jesus looked right and left. On either side of Him, the other crosses were being raised. With a lurch, the Cross fell forward into the hole made for it, throwing Jesus against the nails. Groaning, Jesus looked Heavenward, looking for the Father. As Jesus gazed, the clouds darkened, darkness fell, and the Father left Jesus. In His desperation, Jesus cried out to His Father, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” But the Father did not hear Him; Jesus alone shouldered the burden of the sins of mankind.

There He was, nailed to the Cross, with two common criminals on either side of Him, and a sign above Him that mocked, “This is the King of the Jews.” Roman soldiers were about the crosses, three of them were casting lots for His clothes, ordinary people were passing by on the road and would throw insults at Him, and there was a small throng still lingering and insulting Him. In front of Jesus stretched the city of Jerusalem, with the Temple sparkling above the low-lying homes and shops. The sky was overcast, the sun was fading, the whole countryside looked bleak, as if it was mourning for the Son of God.

As the two men and Jesus hung on the crosses, the one of Jesus’ left began throwing insults as Jesus as well. “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” But the one of Jesus’ right rebuked him, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” He then turned to Jesus and pleaded, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And Jesus replied, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

At the sixth hour, there was a great thundering in the clouds, and the whole land became black as if it was night, and it stayed dark until the ninth hour. As the ninth hour rolled came, Jesus lifted His head heavenward and cried out, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit,” and, Jesus Christ the Lord, died. As the echoes of His cry died away, Jesus exhaled, and went limp. At that moment, there was a great earthquake. In the Temple, just as the High Priest was about to sacrifice the perfect lamb for the entire nation of Israel, the veil between the Court of the Priests and the Holy of Holies tore from top to bottom. The priests cried out in alarm, and turned to run out of the Temple. But there, on the hilltop, Jesus hung on the Cross, as if a lamb who was slain. Several of the priests fell down on the spot in worship of the true Lamb of God.

Continued on // The Cross - Part V

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Continued from // The Cross - Part II

The hammer came down with a thud, driving the nail into Jesus’ wrist, striking the medial nerve. Which sent excruciating pain through His arm and shoulder. The cry that came from him was painful even to hear – the hammer paused. Slowly, the echoes faded away. The Roman officer walked up to the soldier with the hammer and signaled for him to continue. After a deep breath, the hammer rose and came. The nail drove completely through Jesus’ wrist into the wooden cross. Again and again, the hammer rose and fell, each time followed by that same cry. Lethargically the Roman bearing the hammer went to Jesus’ other wrist. He readied another nail, and shakily raised the hammer. The hammer came down with a thud, again, driving into the medial nerve. Which sent excruciating pain through Jesus’ other arm. Every eye on the hill watched the hammer rise and fall, ramming the nine-inch spike through the prostrate man’s wrist. After the wrists, came the feet. Unable to stand up, the soldier picked up the third nail, and crawled to the foot of the Cross. His arms were visibly shaking as he placed the feet of Jesus on the cross. After two deep breaths, he raised the hammer, and brought it down on the nail head. Blood gushed forth as the nail penetrated Jesus’ feet and into the rough-hewn wood of the Cross.

With his job completed, the soldier tossed the hammer aside and crawled away, weeping. Some of the other soldiers laughed at him and readied the cross to be raised. When the soldiers’ laughter broke the silence, the crowd began jeering at Jesus again. “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One,” taunted one of the Pharisees. And another followed suit by shouting, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” But Jesus said in a shaky voice, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Upon hearing Jesus’ voice, a few of the jeering onlookers quieted down and walked off; their heads hung low in shame. Two of the soldiers jeered at the Roman for not being able to nail Jesus to the Cross. He replied in a quavering voice, “Don’t you realize that this is the Son of God?” Hearing a strange note in his voice, they left him alone.

As the Cross was made ready to be raised, Jesus felt the full weight of mankind creep upon Him. The sins of the entire world, past, present, and future were being laid upon The Perfect Sacrifice – Jesus. The burden felt like an actual weight, pressing Him downward. As the soldiers finished readying the Cross, Jesus’ thoughts drifted to every man and woman. He reflected on their lives, their emotions, and their choices; He felt their pain, both physical and mental. He grieved for their sins, praised their triumphs, and was filled with a love for each and every one. Even through the physical and mental pain, Jesus did not feel any anger or bitterness for anyone. He loved them all, no matter what they had done, or will do.

Continued on // The Cross - Part IV

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December - 2006

Trapped

Trapped is a fictional short story illustrating that we need to let go of everything, and hold on to God with ALL our heart, soul, and mind.

Do New Things - Part 2

Do New Things is an article on The Rebelution written by Marshall Sherman of Advancing His Kingdom. Do New Things encourages you to get out in the world and try new things - for Jesus.

Featured | January 2007 »

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