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Books by
Sheila Rae Myers.
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Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever
is noble, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable
- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. --
Philippians 4:8 |
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WERE YOU THERE? |
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Were you there when they nailed
Jesus to the cross? Crucifixion - the punishment for hardened criminals. As
the cross lies on the ground, the authorities force Jesus to lie upon it.
Stretching his arms wide, they drive spikes into his hands. Then they cross
his feet, one on top of the other, and drive a spike through both. Oh, the
pain he must be enduring!
Were you there when Jesus was crucified? What a shameful and agonizing
way to die. Death doesn't come quickly with this form of punishment. Hour
upon hour he hangs there. No one offers him a cool drink of water when he
thirsts. No one wipes the sweat and blood from his eyes. His lungs burn with
every breath. At long last, life passes from his body.
Were you there when they laid Jesus in the tomb? The lifeless body is
finally removed from the device of torture and death. Carefully, lovingly,
it's taken to a tomb carved out of a hillside. The body is cleaned and
wrapped in a burial cloth. Mourners weep as a large stone is rolled into
place and sealed.
Were you there when the tomb was found empty? Women return to the tomb
to complete the rituals of burial. The stone no longer blocks the entrance.
They look into the tomb and discover that the body is gone. Shocked and
horrified, they wonder what has happened to their beloved Jesus. Sadness
turns to joy as they hear the news that he is now alive.
Were you there after God resurrected the Lord? For a short time after
leaving the tomb, he walks among men. He spreads the message that the
scriptures have been fulfilled. God sends the clouds to lift him Heavenward.
Though he no longer walks the earth, he's alive. He's sitting at the right
hand of his Father.
Were you there? When we read the story, we can imagine ourselves
standing at the foot of the cross.
Were you really there? I was. You were. As Jesus hung upon the cross,
we were in his mind. He died for us long before we existed, before anyone
else knew our names or saw our faces. He knew us then and he knows us now.
Because he knew us on that day long ago, we were really there. |
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