The dust was killing me. I had travelled for days to get
here. It was not the easiest travel since I could not walk. I had to rely on
others to get me from A to B. My family had been very supportive. This was my
last chance. This place was my final hope of healing. I had heard of a doctor
of sorts that would be able to heal me. I had heard the stories from so many
people of how he had healed others. I assumed he was some kind of magician although
all the magicians I had heard of were not able to do what I had heard he had
done. Trust me, I had tried them all. Magic potions, spells, chants…..It was
all pointless. None of It had worked. I had paid, I had slaved, I had done
everything and it had got me nowhere. All the gods I had tried were useless.
As I was being carried into Jerusalem there was a huge
amount of commotion. Crowds were following people going up the hill. It looked
like the romans were going to crucify a few people. I wondered what they had
done to deserve that. They were probably murderers, thieves, rapists or
something of the like. They deserved the death sentence. I felt no pity for
them at all even though I knew they were going to suffer the most painful death
anyone could suffer.
As we waited for the procession to go past so we could
continue I saw the one prisoner go past. He was bleeding profusely from the back
where he had obviously been whipped. There was very little skin left on his
back. His face was beaten black and blue to the extent that I was surprised he
could see where he was going with the swollen eyes from all the punches the romans
had obviously given him. He had a weird crown of thorns on his head. I had never
seen that before in any crucifixion. As I watched he stumbled and fell. The
beam he was carrying smacked him from behind onto the unyielding ground. He
barely moved from what must have been exceptionally painful. After some prodding
and pushing the roman grabbed a guy from the crowd and made him carry the beam.
The guy with the crown slowly drew to his feet. Other than
some groans of pain he said nothing. He stood slowly and with some pushing from
the romans began to move forward. As he began to move he looked over at me. I
froze. There was something in his eyes. He bore deep into my soul and I could
tell he knew everything about me. Through the blood he smiled at me, if ever a
man could in the pain he was facing as if to say that this was for me. Then he
was shoved forward by the roman soldier. Before I could say otherwise the guys
carrying me began to follow up the hill. They wanted to see what was going to
happen. I must confess I was drawn for some reason to what was going on.
I watched them crucify him.
I watched him die.
I cried my eyes out.
Something about that man had been more than anyone had
known. I cried even more when I found out that he was the man I had come to
see. He was my last hope to ever walk again. He was dead and my hope was gone.
I would never be healed.
After three days of hiding in the room and crying myself to
bed I was woken by a man standing in front of me. At first I was confused who
he was. He looked me in the eyes and then I knew it was him. I could never
forget those eyes and that smile. He said to me “My name is Jesus, You were looking
for me and now you have found me”. “You are now healed”. “Stand up and walk”.
He took my hand to help me up and as he did I could feel my legs. I could
wiggle my toes. I had not done that in all my life. I started to stand up. My
legs held my weight. I took a step forward and could not contain the elation in
me. I screamed in pure joy and ran to the side of the room and then ran back. I
knew this man. He was the Messiah. He was my Lord and King.
Jesus is risen. As we celebrate Easter and the days ahead
remember that Jesus is risen, he is real and is a miracle working God. He wants
to interrupt your life and heal you from everything. As
you draw close to Jesus and look into his eyes. He will smile at you and change
your life. You can make that choice today to meet with him. Close your eyes and
picture him smiling at you. What does he say to you?
Cheers
Greg
