

### The Journey

By Don Hatfield

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2013 Don Hatfield

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# Table of Contents:

Introduction

Mark 1 The Road of Meeting

Mark 2 The Road of Authority

Mark 3 The Road of the Followers

Mark 4 The Road of Sowing

Mark 5 The Road of Grace

Mark 6 The Road of Sending

Mark 7 The Road of Hearing

Mark 8 The Road of Rebuke

Mark 9 The Road of Transfiguration

Mark 10 The Road of the Rich

Mark 11 The Road of Entry

Mark 12 The Road of His Warning

Mark 13 The Road of His Return

Mark 14 The Road of Betrayal

Mark 15 The Road of Death

Mark 16 The Road of Resurrection

# Introduction:

Take a walk with me using you God given imagination through the Gospel of Mark. Stand on the bank and look down as John baptizes Jesus in the Jordan River. Then walk the dusty roads, wind down the cobble streets and climb the mountain paths as we get to know this man.

Be with Him as He heals the sick, cures the leper and raises the dead. Then follow Him up Calvary's Hill and be there close to Him as He gives His life for us. Yes, use your imagination and get to know your Savior a little better.

There are some blank pages in the book in case something may strike your imagination as you are reading and you would like to write your thoughts down.

# The Gospel of Mark 1

### The Road of Meeting

### John the Baptist prepares the way

The day was sweltering hot and I thought I might go for a swim in the Jordan River. I had heard that there was a lot of commotion going on from the Jews in the countryside as well as at the Jordan River. I had no idea what was going on with them but I thought to myself, perhaps if I go out to the river today they won't be there as it was drawing close to their Sabbath. But as I approached the river it looked as if the whole city of Jerusalem was there. I walked silently up to the edge of the crowd hoping that they would not notice the Gentile among them. Being a little taller than most of them I caught a glimpse of what was going on. There was a wild looking man in the river and it looked like he was wearing clothes made from camel's hair. His hair was black as midnight and his eyes dark and smoldering. I waited a little while for some of the noise to die down so that I could hear what he was saying. He spoke with an authoritative voice, "repent, confess your sins, for there is one coming whose shoes I am not even worthy to tie. I will baptize you with water but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." I must confess that I had no idea what he was talking about. But then again I never did understand what these Jews were talking about when they talked about this one God of theirs. They finally left and I was able to get my swim and washing in, then I went into town to have some supper and get a good night's rest.

The Baptism of Jesus (9 - 11)

I awoke the next morning to a great deal of commotion as people were flocking back out to the Jordan River. I was taking a little vacation from my blacksmith business which I jointly owned with my brother in the city of Bethany. My curiosity got the best of me so I followed them out to the Jordan to find out what all the commotion was about today. I also must admit that the strange man from yesterday fascinated me. Again I walked up to the edge of the crowd and peered out into the river to see what this strange man was doing today. I asked one of the onlookers what the man's name was. He replied, that is John the Baptist son of Zacharias and Elizabeth, he eats only wild locust and honey. We love to watch his antics as you never know what he is going to do next.

As I was looking down at this man named John standing in the middle of the Jordan I saw a man approach John and began to talk with him. I saw John shaking his head over and over again holding up his hands as if in protest. I faintly overheard him say, No! No! No! Then I watched this man put his hand on John's shoulder and John begin to shake his head as if to say okay but he seemed humbled as he shook his head. How can I describe this man that John was talking to, there was nothing unusual about him and yet he seemed so different from everyone else? It was as if he held a magnet in his hand and was drawing people to him. I felt as if I wanted to approach him and speak to him but I stayed back in the crowd where I would not be noticed. Then I watched as John put him under the water, the Jews call this baptizing. Then he came up out of the water and I know this is going to sound strange but it was as if the very sky parted, the heavens open and the sun shone as I never had never seen it shine before. From my place in the crowd I could not quite make out all that was happening but it looked as if a white dove came down and landed on him. Then it was as if the heavens opened up and spoke although I could not make out what was said. The crowd became silent. The strange man then walked into the crowd passing right by me. It was almost as if I could feel his eyes on me. I felt my heart melt within me as He walked by.

The Temptation of Jesus (12-13)

I watched him as he walked away and about 50 people began to follow him. I also joined in the crowd staying well out site of him. The further we walked the more the others begin to dwindle away until finally there was no one but him and me walking. Then the path we were on began to narrow. The Olive trees which were blooming and so full of fruit begin to wither and become destitute of any leaves or fruit. The branches of the trees had begun to grow over the path as if trying to block out the sun. Even though the sun behind us was shining brightly, it became darker and darker. Darkness like I have never experienced. It was as if you could actually feel the darkness as it began to surround us. The path became so dense that you had to start picking your way through the branches of the trees that overshadowed it. It became so foreboding and oppressive that I finally had to stop. I could go no further and so I watched him as he worked his way up the path. I thought I would just wait here as I could see that the path ended at the precipice of a narrow cliff. I stayed there until it got dark and I could no longer see. I decided to placed twigs and branches on the path so I could tell when He came back down the path and out of the dense thicket. If you were to ask me then why are you doing what you are doing and why did you do it for so many days I could not give an answer. All I can say is I just did it and I did it for 40 days. I would leave when darkness began to creep in. I would then go into town and get something to eat. I would then find a place to sleep and rest for the night. Then early in the morning I would get back up and go back to the thicket. I would look up into that fog that never seemed to lift to see if I could catch a glimpse of Him. Every day for 40 days those branches that I placed over the path never moved. Above that thicket crows, vultures and ravens were always flying about and making screeching noises. Where and how I got the nerve to stay there I will never know. On the 40th day as I looked up the path I saw a figure approaching. I wasn't sure if it was the same man that had gone up because he looked so different. It was as if he had faced some terrible ordeal. He had lost weight, his garments were practically in shreds, his hair was matted to his head and yet he still had that resolute look on his face. I hid back in the olive trees and watched as he walked by. The further he got from the thicket the more the sun began to shine, the brighter the day became, there were scores of doves flying silently overhead and I know this sounds crazy but it is as if something or someone was ministering to him as his garments seem to mend themselves and become whiter than the whitest white that I've ever seen. I followed him back into town where he stopped at market and got something to eat. Then he sat down to rest and fell asleep and I also fell asleep watching him.

Jesus begins His Ministry (14 - 15)

When I awoke he was still sleeping. I got up to stretch and I heard some men talking about the man called John the one who had been baptizing in the Jordan and the one who baptized the one I was following. They said he'd been arrested and put in prison for telling people to repent of their sins. I thought how ridiculous just because someone was telling someone to stop their wrong doing and do right they were put in prison. After he woke, I begin to follow him again and I heard him saying to others the same thing that the man named John had been saying. "Repent, the time is come, the kingdom of God is near, the good news is here, just believe." I had the most horrible thought. Could this man who was saying the same thing as John had said, could He be put into prison also just for asking people to do right. There must be some misunderstanding, something I did not know. After all are there not laws that would not allow something like this to happen? Are there not good people who would stand up for this kind of wrong? Yes, surely there must be some mistake; good people would not allow this to happen.

Jesus Calls the First Disciples (16 - 20)

I begin to follow him again as he walked down to the Sea of Galilee. He seemed to be in no hurry enjoying the bright morning sun and the gentle waves lapping at the shore. Then as He walked along the shore he stopped at a boat where two rough looking men were getting ready to cast their net out into the small waves. When they saw him, they froze as he began to speak to them. I was almost within earshot and I could make little of what they were saying. I was able to make out the following words "follow me and I will make you fishers of men" They dropped their nets got out of the boat and began to walk along with him. Going probably another 500 feet up the shore he stopped at another boat where two other men were mending their nets along with who I geuss was their father, a man named Zebedee. The next thing I knew the father raised his hands as if to say what you are doing as the two younger men got out of the boat and began to also follow him. From there they made camp as I he hid in the thickets. As I eavesdropped I heard them call Him Jesus.

Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Spirit (21- 28)

The next morning they spotted me outside the camp, I have the feeling that He knew that I was there all the time. The man named Jesus came over to me and invited me to follow along with them. I ask him where you are going. His answer, why don't you just follow? For some reason I felt compelled to do so. From there we traveled into Capernaum. It was the Sabbath Day and Jesus entered into the synagogue. Being a Gentile I stood just outside where I could still hear and see what was going on. Jesus began to teach and talk to the people. They looked enthralled as they sat there listening. Jesus spoke about this God of the Jews as if he knew Him personally. When all of a sudden a wild looking man came running up to Jesus falling to his knees and screaming at the top of his lungs," what have you to do with us Jesus of Nazareth have you come to destroy us?" I thought to myself who is us, there's only this one man kneeling there and yet it sounded as if a chorus of men or should I say a chorus of something hideous were all shouting the same thing. Then they screamed out something even more astonishing," I know who you are they screamed". "The Holy One of God," Jesus had started to walk away but when they said this he rapidly turned back to them and said "be silent come out of him" The wild looking man became very quiet and calm. He seemed almost reverent in front of this man who I had just met a few days ago. I could hear the people in the crowd saying," What is this", even unclean spirits obey Him. "He talked to them for a while longer and then he dispersed the crowd. I could hear different groups conversing about him and I knew that it would not be long before his fame began to spread all through Galilee.

Jesus Heals Many (29 - 34)

As we left the synagogue and begin to walk into the city I learned the names of the other men who accompanied us. There was Simon and Andrew along with James and John. We walked down the narrow streets and stopped in the marketplace where we purchased some dried fish, olives, dates, figs and a loaf of bread. Then we wound down some dusty corridors stopping at a small house which I learned was the house of Simon's mother-in-law. When we walked in the door it was obvious that she was sick with fever as she lay there on her bed. Jesus had remained outside talking to a little boy. I could hear the little boy's laughter although I had no idea what Jesus was saying to him. When told about Simon's mother-in-law Jesus came in to the house took her by the hand pulled her up and the fever left her. She began to smile, our eyes were about to burst out of our heads in amazement. She then prepared food and begin to serve us. We set around the rest of the day and talked of fishing, mending nets and just the common ordinary things people talk about. The man Jesus told us that he was a carpenter by trade. Then we started to hear a commotion outside the door. It sounded as if the whole town had come down to Simon's mother-in-law's house. I thought it's just as I thought it would be his fame has begun to spread all around. He stepped out of the house and talked with the people there. There were at least 100 people gathered there many with different diseases. All of us watched in astonishment as he healed every one of them. There were also wild looking men and women just like the one who had been in the synagogue earlier. Jesus said the same thing to them" come out and be silent." That night as I laid down and tried to go to sleep I wondered what I had gotten myself into.

Jesus Preaches in Galilee (35 - 39)

By this time my brother whom I share my blacksmith business with had caught up with me. Although he did not understand my following this man, he did leave me with some money and went back to the business. During the time that my brother and I were talking Jesus watched us and made no move whatsoever to convince me whether to leave or stay. I made my own free choice to go on with him that day, and I did thank him for not interfering. The rest of the day passed without any unusual events occurring if you could say being around the most unusual man I had ever met was not unusual. That night when I went to bed I again questioned myself as to what I was doing and if the choice I had made was a wise one. About daybreak we all begin to rise and found Jesus missing. Simon, John and the others including myself begin to look for him. At the top of the small hill we stopped and stared in silence as we watched him kneeling in the grass. His hands were spread upward toward heaven and there was a soft hush all around us. Even though it was early morning not a bird or even a rooster was making a sound. The morning sky looked as if it had been painted just for him. After he got up from the place where he was kneeling he came walking back to us. Simon said to him everyone is looking for you. To which he replied, "Let us go on to the next towns and let me speak to them also for that is why I came." We went through all of Galilee as he preached in the synagogues healing the sick and casting out demons.

Jesus Cleanses a Leper (40 -45)

I had never seen a person with leprosy before this night and had only heard about what an awful disease it was. So forgive me if my description is not completely accurate because what happen next happened in the dead of night. It was around one o'clock in the morning, John and the others had chased everyone away so that we could get some rest. We had all gone inside and as Jesus started to come in he turned and waited for a moment. I looked out the window and saw a figure approaching him out of the shadows. Whether the person was a man or woman I could not tell for they had wrapped themselves in a blanket so that their whole body would be covered. As the person came and stood in front of Jesus they dropped the blanket and I must confess that the most pathetic and hideous sight I had ever seen stood there in front of him. Giant boils covered this person's face; the lips looked like they were completely sealed shut from the horrible eruptions on the face. The skin around the eyes was so covered with what looked like seeping boils that I wondered how the person could even see. As I looked at the hands, torso, and feet they no longer even looked like hands or feet but just grotesque pieces of flesh. I then heard the person speak in a voice full of more anguish than I've ever heard in my life. It was if every pain, suffering, torment and sorrow was present in that voice. The person only said eight words, " if you will, you can make me clean." Jesus looked at the person with a face full of compassion and pity. He reached out his hand and laid it on the disfigured person's cheek and then He said just four words back," I will; be clean." Before my very eyes what was the most hideous sight I had ever seen turned in to one of the most handsome men I've ever seen. His skin seemed to radiate health. His eyes glowed full of joy. His teeth perfect between his lips and his hands. His feet and torso restored to new. As I stood there with tears streaming down my cheeks I heard Jesus say to him," see that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded as a proof to them." I must confess I did not know what Jesus was talking about when he told the man to go to the priest. But I do not think he went because it was not long before people were coming out of every desolate place and quarter as they heard about this. If I were honest had I been that man I'm not sure I could've kept quiet either. After this, Jesus had trouble going openly into any town. Who could this man be that even leprosy had no power when confronted by him?

# The Gospel of Mark 2

### The Road of Authority

### Jesus Heals a Paralytic (1 - 12)

We traveled quite a bit up-and-down the countryside and we finely returned to Capernaum. I guess the news got out that we were back, because a large crowd gathered around the house. As I was sitting there listening along with all the others there was a great commotion on the roof. The next thing I knew the tiles of the roof were being torn off. As the roof opened up I saw what looked like a stretcher or a cot. Four men were lifting it up and I could see that it had ropes attached to its handles. Then to everyone's amazement they began to lower the cot through the hole they had made in the roof. On it laid paralyzed man. The cot came down to the floor right in front of Jesus. What he said next amazed all of us." Son, your sins are forgiven." Now there was some rather well-to-do looking gentlemen sitting towards the back of the room. I later found out they were called scribes. It's as if Jesus read their minds because he said to them," why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, your sins are forgiven or to say rise, take up your bed and walk?" I personally was thinking anyone could say your sins are forgiven. But I'd never seen anyone tell a paralyzed person to pick up his bed and walk. Jesus then said to them," but that you may know that the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" then he turned to the paralytic and said," I say to you, rise pick up your bed, and go home." The man got up, picked up his bed and walked out the door. Everyone was amazed and they begin to glorify God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!" I thought the well-to-do gentlemen would be equally amazed but instead they just glared at him. I think what was puzzling to me was the statement that Jesus had made your sins are forgiven. I wanted to ask him more about this but kept quiet.

Jesus calls Levi (13 - 17)

I was to learn something new about this man Jesus, he did not play favorites. Rich or poor, young or old, educated or uneducated all were the same to him. We were walking by the seaside and of course the crowd was coming to him and he was teaching. As we were walking he called out to a man," Levi come away from your tax booth and follow me", how he knew his name I do not know. This man named Levi rose up, just as the fishermen had done and followed him. These tax collectors were hated men in the land and yet the next thing I knew we were following this Levi to his house and sitting down to supper with him and some other unsavory characters. I saw out of the corner of my eye one of those Scribes or Pharisee approach John who was sitting next to me and I heard him ask John. Why does this man Jesus eat with tax collectors and sinners? Jesus must have overheard it also for he said to the man, "those who are well have no need of the physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." I know that I was relieved when he said this because a more upright, righteous, honest and trustworthy man like this man Jesus I had never met in my life. He was even letting me go with Him and, I knew in my heart that I was far from righteous, yet we were the very type of people He seemed to like to have around him. I do know that when we were around him we all seemed to be better men.

A Question about Fasting (18 - 22)

It seemed that where ever we went trouble just seemed to follow us. We were just minding our own business and some people came to us with this question. They asked us," why do John's disciples and the Pharisees disciples fast but your disciples do not fast?" This question scared me mainly because they were considering me as one of his disciples and I had never thought of my acquaintance with Jesus in that manner. He answered them and his answer puzzled me when he said," Can the wedding guests fast while the bride groom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken from them and then they will fast." This statement was puzzling enough. Who is the bridegroom and who is the bride? Was he calling himself the bridegroom and if so was he calling his disciples his bride? Then He puzzled me even more with his next statement, I do not quite remember all of it but part of it was about un- shrunk cloth on an old garment and putting new wine into old wine skins. Then He said new wine is for new wine skins. I still was not sure what he was talking about but I did realize He was saying that something new was going to replace something old. Something new was going to come about and something old was going to be done away with. But to tell you the truth I was still wondering about my role with this small band of men. Did I want to be one of his disciples?

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath (23 - 28)

This subject of replacing something old with something new seemed to come up again as we were walking through a grain field of all places. Everybody was getting hungry and so some of the guys begin to pluck the heads of grain and eat them. All of a sudden these Pharisee who were strolling along behind us seem to become very upset about us eating the grain. They begin to rail on Jesus telling him that it was not lawful to pluck grain on the Sabbath. Jesus replied to them "have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he entered the house of God then ate the bread which was not lawful for any but the priest and then he also gave it to those who were with him." They became silent but it was obvious that they were enraged. He then said the Sabbath was made for man not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. Later when we were alone I asked him what he meant and he in turn asked me what I thought it meant? I replied it sounds as if you're Jewish law states that you may not work on the Sabbath. But it seems to me if a person were hungry, picking a piece of grain, or an ear of corn and eating it would not be working. In my work as a blacksmith if a horse got a briar stuck in its hoof and was in great pain on the Sabbath I would take it out. It seems to me that these Pharisees are just looking for something to find fault with instead of looking at a persons need. He just looked at me and smiled and said my follower your eyes are beginning to open.

# Mark Chapter 3

### The Road of the Followers

### A Man with a Withered Hand (1 - 6)

I have decided to keep following this course that I am on even though the opposition to Jesus seems to grow larger and larger with each passing day. I recall when we entered in the synagogue on a Sabbath Day and there was a man with a withered hand trying to worship there. The Pharisee were there also. They spoke not a word when we walked in but only watched us in stony silence. Jesus turned to the man with the withered hand and said," come here". Then he turned to the Pharisees and said," is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good work or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" They just remained there in their stony silence. I could see that Jesus was upset with them because they would rather remain silent than answer a simple question about kindness. Jesus then turned back to the man and said to him," Stretch out your hand." The man did so. Jesus then took hold of his hand and before our very eyes the hand was restored to normal. What happened next would have been funny if it were not so scary. For the Pharisees stomped out of the synagogue cackling like a bunch of old hens, feathers in an uproar, looking as if they were about to lay eggs. The scary part was that I saw them talking to some other men as they looked back and pointed at Jesus. I later asked who these men were that were talking to the Pharisees. I found out that they were Herodians, a political party who supported King Herod. I also found out that the Pharisees and the Herodians were not great friends. I thought to myself how often hate can align the worst of people together.

A Great Crowd follows Jesus (7 - 12)

Wherever we went it seems as though the crowds seem to be able to find us. We withdrew and went down to sea and yet a great crowd still followed us. They came from Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Tyre, and Sidon and beyond the Jordan. The crowd became so great that Jesus told Simon and the others to have a boat ready for Him because the crowd might crush Him. His fame for healing had now become so great that all who had diseases tried to press around him to touch Him. The unclean spirits when they saw him fell down before Him. Then they would cry out," you are the son of God." He ordered them all not to make Him known. I pondered this statement that these men who seemed so possessed would cry out," you are the son of God" and yet the ones who were supposed to be the religious leaders seem to scorn him. It puzzled me that those who were supposed to be so evil would cry out," you are the son of God" and those who were supposed to be so good acted as if they wanted to do away with Him.

The Twelve Apostles (13 - 21)

One morning we went up on the mountain and Jesus called the following men to him. He said you twelve are my apostles. Soon I am going to send you out to preach and also to have authority to cast out demons. I later learned that this term apostle meant one sent out on a special mission. Here are the names of the twelve that he appointed Simon, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thaddeus, Simon the Canaanite and Judas Iscariot. Judas seemed to be the smartest of all of them. Judas was clever with money and ideas of what to do with it. Though he seemed more intelligent than the others I must confess that for some reason I did not like him. We tried going back to Jesus's home but the crowd followed even there. His family approached us once and I know they were trying to help by trying to persuade him to stop what he was doing. They could see as I could see that there was only a catastrophe ahead. I even heard one of them say he is out of his mind. I do not want to say who that one was.

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (22 - 30)

While we were at the home of Jesus some Scribes came down from Jerusalem. They begin to say that Jesus was possessed by an evil spirit. They said that's how he is able to cast evil spirits out of people. I thought to myself if I was possessed by an evil spirit I would want everybody else to be so why would I cast them out. Jesus in his own way said the same thing but in a different way. He said to them how can I cast out evil spirits by evil spirits. I would be fighting against my own self. Then he became very serious, he gave the Scribes a look which frightened me. He said all sins will be forgiven men and even the blasphemy that they utter. But those who blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness. They will be guilty eternally. I must confess that I was not sure who this Holy Spirit was but for some reason I remembered what I thought was that dove that came down and landed on his shoulder the day that He was baptized in the Jordan River. For some reason the pure whiteness of that dove and the way the sun was shining so brightly when the clouds parted reminded me of something Holy.

Jesus's Mother and Brother (31 - 35)

In the time that I had been following Jesus I had come to learn that His ways were not the way that I would have done things nor was his thinking the way that I was often thinking. I was about to learn another lesson when it came to His family and the way that He thought about them. His mother and brothers had come down to the house where we were at and we found out that they wanted Him to come out to them, for one of the men shouted out, " your mother and brothers are outside seeking you." He sat in silence for a short while and then startled us with His answer,"

Who are my mother and brothers?" Then He sat silently for a short while again. You could have heard a piece of straw drop it was so quiet. Then He began to point at different disciples and say, "Here are my mother and brothers. For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother." He then got up and went outside leaving us there in our silent thoughts. I sensed that there was so much more to this man than just His ability to heal the sick and cast out demons. I also felt he wanted more from me than just for me to follow along on this journey. I knew in my heart that there was much more for me to believe or even not believe if I was going to continue on. Then I thought I must follow on to the end whatever that might be.

# Mark Chapter 4

### The Road of Sowing

### The Parable of the Sower (1 - 20)

As we gathered along the seashore there was such a large crowd that Jesus had to get in a boat to be able to speak with them? He been teaching many things but the following is probably one that I remember more than the others. He said a sower was sowing seeds and as he walked along the seeds that he was sowing fell in different places. Jesus said some fell on a path and as soon as the seed fell the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell where there were a lot of rocks and there was not much soil so even though the seed did come up it was not rooted and the sun scorched it and it withered away. Some of the seed fell among the thorns and because of this it yielded no fruit or grain. Then Jesus said some of the seed fell into good soil and it grew up and yielded much grain. After Jesus had made these statements He said "he who has ears to hear let him hear." I know that Peter, John, James as a matter of fact all of us were perplexed about what He meant with this story and so we ask Him. Jesus made an astounding statement to all of us, He said" to you has been given the secret of the Kingdom of God but for those outside everything is in parables so that they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, least they should turn and be forgiven." When he said" least they should turn and be forgiven," he looked right at me. At that moment I caught a glimpse of how sinful my heart was. I cannot explain it but Jesus just seemed to have that effect on people. It seemed He could exposed your deepest secrets with just a word or a look. Then he turned to the others and stated" do you not understand this lesson." Jesus said the sower plants the word. When those who are on the path hear the word but do not want to really hear or really consider what is said to them they let Satan steal it away from them. The ones on rocky ground hear the word and they think it is wonderful at first but they do not let the word take root in them. It is like a rain drop, we feel it hit us and we are aware of it but then it runs off of us and we forget about it. The word is the same in this respect it is felt and realized but when a little trouble arises or someone makes fun of them or belittles them because of the word they want it to hurry and run off of them. You see the word really never had any roots it was just like a raindrop. Then Jesus said to all of us are you one of those along the path? Are you one of those on rocky ground? I hope not he stated. He then told us about the others who were given the seed. Some actually seemed to accept the word but then their desires begin to choke out what they heard. Their longing for riches or fame or position would not allow the seed to grow in its proper place for it was always pushed to the back. For them there is always something more important to plant. Then He stopped for a moment and said in a voice that penetrated everyone's soul,, there are those who hear, and see, and perceive, and understand, and seek when the word is given to them. They prove to be fruitful maybe not in this world eyes but in God's eyes. Then He stated, each of you must make a choice. You cannot stay on the path with the word for it will be stolen, you cannot hide in the rocks with the word for it will be scorched, you cannot have all that the world has to offer for then the word will be choked, but you can chose to let it reach down into your hearts and find root there.

A Lamp under a Basket (21-25)

Then Jesus said to all of us how can one know if they have received and kept the seed that was sown? Jesus then actually answered himself, he stated," is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed and not on a stand? Listen to me he said, pay attention to what you hear, "for with what you give out it shall be given back to you." These words really sank into my heart for I realized that the further that I went with Jesus the more that it was going to cost me. Somehow in my heart I knew if I paid the price and accepted this man Jesus and His teachings wholeheartedly that someday somewhere it would be worth it. However I was not sure that I had the courage to do so.

The Parable of the Seed Growing (26 - 29)

As I look back on these events and how they took place I am reminded of a couple more instances where Jesus talked about seeds. Before He had talked about the seeds that were left by a sower but in these instances that I relate now He talked about how the seeds grew. Jesus said the Kingdom of God grows in the same way as a man scattering seed on the ground. The man goes to sleep then he gets up, he goes back to sleep and rises again and does this over and over. While he is doing this the seed sprouts and grows. The man does not know how the seed grew but he does know that it grew. The earth produces it by itself, first the leaf, then the blade, then the full grain and when it is ripe the man comes in to harvest it. As I sat and thought on this Kingdom of God I realized that this seed was the word and the Jesus was scattering his word wherever we went and that his word had begun to grow. I wondered if I would ever be tested on whether the word was growing in me and if I was tested how much had the word matured.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed (30 -34)

During all the time I was with Jesus He told many stories and parables, he was always speaking about the Kingdom of God and the way that it would come and grow in people's hearts. He never ceased to amaze me the way he could take the tiniest thing and turned it into lesson about God. I remember once he talked about a tiny little mustard seed and how that once it was planted it would grow into a tree that put out branches large enough that the birds could make their nest in it. Then He would take us aside and explained to us about the Kingdom of God. When He talked with us He was so kind and gentle. He never chastised our lack of understanding. Although I was about 10 years older than Him I always felt as if I was the child who was learning and He was the teacher. Often the things He talked about, such as the seed, always seemed to die before it sprang into new life. After it died it would grow larger than anyone could have imagined. I must confess I should have spent a lot more time contemplating the things that Jesus had spoken and tried to explain to us. For it was not going to be long before all of us were going to be tested to see if we were really listening or learning anything.

Jesus Calms a Storm (35 - 41)

All of the teaching about the sower and the seed that he was planting seem to come to a climax that evening. Jesus said to all of us let us go across to the other side of Lake. So we got in the boat and begin row to the other side. Out of nowhere the winds begin to arise. They grew stronger and more violent the further we went out into the lake. Before long the waves became so high that they were breaking into the boat. I was especially terrified because I did not know how to swim. It seemed as if I, Peter, James, and John all turned at the same time to look for Jesus. To our amazement or horror which ever fits the best we saw that he was asleep on a cushion. We all crawled to him, shaking him awake, and in one way or another all said, Jesus do you not care that we are going to die? He awoke looked around and said three words," Peace! Be Still!" The winds ceased even quicker than they had begun, the sea became as glass, no sound was heard, no oar was rowed, and no one said a word. It was as if the whole world had come to a standstill. Jesus broke this awesome silence with a soft sentence," Why are you so afraid " and then he became silent again, after what seemed like an eternity and in that same soft voice He again broke the silence with these words," have you still no faith?" In my mind I caught a fleeting glimpse of those seeds that were sown just hours earlier and how little root they had taken in my forgetful heart. As I begin to think about this I heard someone from one of the other boats that had gone out with us say," Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" The thoughts of who Jesus could be rapidly replaced the thoughts about the shallowness of the seeds.

# Mark Chapter 5

### The Road of Grace

### Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon (1 - 20)

I know that I have told you before of Jesus casting or calling out demons from tormented souls but what I am about to relate now goes far beyond that. We had come to the other side of that wild sea ride and had gone ashore in a country called Gerasenes. As soon as our feet touched down on the sands one of the largest men I had ever seen came running towards us full speed. He must have stood 6' 8" tall with not an ounce of fat on him anywhere. His arms and legs were like the branches of large trees. As for the rest of his appearance his hair was down to his waist and matted together with what could have been nothing else but dirt, leaves and what might have been cobwebs. His hair looked as if it had once been black but was now a dull gray. His beard which was about 2 feet long was the same color as his hair. His legs, arms, and torso were filthy dirty and in some areas covered with slime. It looked as if he had been eating with pigs. I looked closer and could see that the slime was also encrusted in his beard. His hands were as large as bread baskets with nails about 6 inches long which were covered with dirt as if he had been digging with them. From one of his nails dangled a raw piece of meat of some kind. But what frighten me the most about this giant of a man were his eyes, they were the blackest black I had ever seen and even though it was daylight they glowed with an evil light. He had run out of the tombs where he lived and I wondered if these dark openings did not lead straight down into the depths of Hell. Needless to say if Jesus had not been there I and the others would have taken off running for the man had pieces of shackles hanging from his wrists and ankles where people had tried to chain him to no avail. As he stood before us he had a large sharp stone in his hand and was rubbing it against his raw skin and in some places he was actually bleeding from the cuts. As he stood there before us he cried out in a loud voice or should I say voices at the top of his lungs, "What have you to do with me Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God do not torment me." Jesus had been saying to him come out of him you unclean spirit and then to my surprise Jesus asked him his name, not the man but the spirit. To my greater surprise the spirit answered him and said my name is Legion for we are many and this powerful demon or man or both begged Jesus not to send him or them out of the country. They instead begged Jesus to let them go into a nearby herd of pigs. I could not see what shape or form came out of the man but I knew that something came out because the next thing I knew the pigs numbering about two thousand took off down a steep bank and fell into the sea where they drowned. Were these things so foul that even an animal would rather die than have their company? People starting running everywhere and there was complete chaos but when I turned back to Jesus there was this giant of a man kneeling and weeping at Jesus feet. Jesus had his hand placed on the man's head as if the man were a small child. Then the most surprising thing happened something that hurt me and the others very deeply. All the people came out from town and saw the man sitting there cleaned up, in his right mind, and fully clothed and they did the most unbelievable thing. They asked Jesus to leave, I could see the hurt on His face but He said nothing He just got in the boat and we with Him. One was grateful though as we began to row away the now gentle giant of a man came running after us and begged to go with us. Jesus told Him go and tell others who want to hear how much God has done for you.

Jesus Heals a Woman and Jairus's Daughter (21 -43)

After we crossed back across the sea a great crowd gathered about us and it was here in that great crowd that I begin to believe that Jesus was the Son of the one and only true God. It was here that I begin to believe that he was the Savior of the world. One of the rulers of the synagogue a man named Jarius saw Jesus and literally fell at his feet," my little daughter is at the point of death. Come lay your hands on her so that she may be made well and live." Jesus started to go with him when something amazing happened. It touched me so deeply that I can hardly tell it without tears coming to my eyes. For as the crowd thronged around him jostling and shoving I saw small woman trying to make her way up to him from behind. As she slowly got closer and closer I saw her timidly reach her hand out and touch the hem of his garment. She then quickly withdrew her hand and started to fade back in to the crowd. Jesus suddenly stopped, he then said," who touched my garments?" One of the disciples said to him look at all the people and yet you say, "Who touched me?" The little woman made her way back to Jesus. I could see her trembling as she fell down before him and said," I knew if I just touched your garment I would be made well and I knew as soon as I did that I was made well. Jesus said back to her," daughter your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease." I could feel the tears streaming down my cheeks as I watched the little lady with her face aglow fade back into the crowd and just then one of the servants from the rulers house came and said to Jairus, "your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further? "Jesus in turn said," do not fear, and only believe. "He went to the house of the ruler allowing only Peter, James and John to go with Him. Later Peter told me that when they got there people were crying and weeping everywhere. Jesus asked them why are all of you weeping the child is not dead but sleeping. Peter told me that everyone begin to laugh when Jesus said this so he put them all outside except for the child's mother and father. Peter said he took the little girl's hand and said," little girl, I say to you, arise" Peter said before their very eyes the little girl's eyes opened, she then got up and began walking. Then Jesus told them that they should tell no one and He then did most common thing, He said give her something to eat. I have now come to believe that this man Jesus is God, in the flesh. I also believe that He has come to save sinners such as myself. That night I professed this to him privately while we were walking by the sea he put his arm around me and we prayed there together to the God who created the heaven and the earth.

# Mark Chapter 6

### The Road of Sending

### Jesus Rejected at Nazareth (1-6)

We left a very happy mother and father behind us with a smiling little girl in their arms and headed for Nazareth expecting a warm welcome from those former friends and acquaintances of Jesus. However much to our dismay this was not the case as Jesus began to preach in the synagogue the people were astonished and amazed at the things He said and the wisdom with which He said it to them. They were astounded when they heard of the miracles He had wrought and yet instead of rejoicing with Him they began to deride Him and find fault. I heard them mumbling to one another, "Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and are not His sisters here with us." It seemed as if they were offended that one of their own from their small villages could be noticed by anyone. Jesus stated to us that "a prophet is only without honor in His own country." Even Jesus was astounded at their unbelief so we moved on to other villages.

Jesus sends out the Twelve Apostles (7 - 13)

Jesus called us all together and then took the twelve that He had chosen aside and told them it is time for you to go out and preach the gospel. He told them that you will be able to cast out demons. Anoint people as I have with oil and see the sick healed. I thought to myself how careful they will have to be for it will be easy for them to get caught up in the things that are happening and to forget the reason they are going. For the first thing that Jesus told them was to go out and proclaim that people should repent and believe the good news that He had come. I guess the healing and the casting out were to prove the need for repentance to God. I found it unusual that He told them to take no provisions for their journey no bread, no bag, no money but only their walking staff. I have now come to realize that what He was saying is that God would provide. To top all of this off He then told them that if they went somewhere and the people would not listen to them they were to shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against those people. I thought to myself that God is even able to see the dust that is left behind when people reject Him. I rejoiced in the fact that because of Jesus's wonderful love for me, I had come put my trust in Him as Savior. I wondered how others when they saw this great love and compassion for us who are such sinners could help but do the same. It did not take long for us to receive news that not everyone wanted to hear the good news. So I watched this ragged troop of men walk off from us two by two. Yes their clothes were ragged, their hair a little unkempt and their hands hard and calloused from work but they had a giant love and concern for the welfare of their brothers. A love that I had just began to know in my heart.

The Death of John the Baptist (14 - 29)

What I had feared when I had first heard and saw the man John preaching in the river Jordan had come true and all because of a young girls dance. Yes I know that it is hard to believe that someone would have another person be-headed because a young girl danced in front of him but that is how it was with Herod the King. A man who was supposed to be full of integrity, a man who had been brought to power and was supposed to rule his kingdom justly put John to death. Why? Because John had told him the truth, you see Herod had taken his brother's wife Herodias and John had said that it was not lawful for him to do so. As I understand Herodias was getting nervous about John because Herod liked to listen to him. I supposed that if truth be told she was afraid that Herod might begin to agree with John and put her away. She would then lose her place as the queen. I do not even want to think about how she gained it in the first place. I heard that her daughter danced for Herod and the foolish man told her he was so pleased with her dance that she could have anything she wanted up to half of his kingdom. It is amazing what lust and drink can do to a king or any man for that matter. One of the servants who was there said as Herod laughed with his guests the young girl came back and said she had a request for him. Herod with a mighty kingly gesture raised his glass while the guests clapped and yelled. The little servant girl said they were making so much noise that Herod could not hear what Herodias daughter was saying so he raised his scepter and everyone grew quiet and with a big smile ask the girl what she wanted to which she replied, " the head of John the Baptist". She said Herod turned as white as a sheet and just sat there with his eyes going from her to the crowd. He then turned to the executioner and told him to grant her request and the executioner did. I know that it sounds unbelievable but he brought John's head out on a platter and presented it to her. How could one man who loved others so much arouse so much hatred in others? Peter told me later that some of the disciples went and got John's body and gave it a proper burial.

Jesus feeds the Five Thousand (30 - 44)

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Have you ever been hungry? I have been. Have you ever been feed by God Himself? I have been. Let me tell you more about this man who has become not only my Messiah and Leader but also my greatest friend. The men who Jesus had sent out to tell about Him had returned and had so many wonderful stories to tell us. Jesus told all of us to come with Him and we would find a place to rest and then they could tell us even more. We got in a boat and began to steal away from a crowd that had gathered when they found out that Jesus was near. As fate would have it that did not work for many saw us leaving and began to follow along on foot and as we got to shore a large crowd was already waiting. Jesus as usual had compassion on them and began to minister to them as only He could do. The next thing we knew it had grown very late so Andrew, Thomas and the others in their concern for the people there came to Jesus and said, send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages so they can buy themselves something to eat. As usual my friend the one who always astounded us did so again. With what appeared to me like a look of amusement on His face He turned to the disciples and said, "you give them something to eat." If stammering, stuttering, and shuffling could make you rich we would have become the richest men in the world. Finally Phillip spoke up and said Lord we have two hundred denarii and with what I thought was his most impressive way of trying to sound spiritual while looking foolish said we could not feed them if we wanted to. I do not want to sound as if I am putting Phillip down in anyway as most of the rest of us were staring off into space pretending we did not even hear Jesus say, "You give them something to eat." After all had they just not came back from healing the sick, curing the lame and doing other miracles in Jesus name. Finally Jesus got everyone's attention again and drew us back from our outer space stares when He asked," How many loaves do you have?" Now we had something we knew how to do again so we went and found out that we had five loaves and two fish. If I remember I actually laughed to myself when the tally was counted and I looked out at the enormous crowd. My laughter quickly changed to astonishment when Jesus began to separate the crowd into groups of fifties and hundreds. Then He took the loaves and fishes and said a blessing over them and broke them into pieces. Then He gave them to the disciples in baskets. They began to pass them out very timidly to the crowd that was there and again to our wondrous amazement all were filled and satisfied. Then Jesus told them to take up what was left and put it in the twelve baskets. The one who could create bread and fish from nothing would still not let anything go to waste. How shameful I felt when I thought not only of the material things I wasted but also of the time I wasted being so concerned with the small concerns of life. Oh, by the way I was told that the number that was feed was five thousand people.

Jesus Walks on the Water (45 - 52)

As soon as the baskets were gathered Jesus told all of us to go ahead and get in the boat and go over to Bethsaida. He told us that He would dismiss the crowd. It was always amazing to me that He knew when we had just about reached the brink of exhaustion and would tell us to go away quietly and rest. As we rowed out in the boat and the crowd dispersed I saw Him walking up the side of the mountain and I knew He was going to where He always seemed to draw His strength from and that was when He talked to God. It was then I realized that it was from Him that I was drawing my strength to continue following Him. It had grown dark and this trip to Bethsaida had grown increasing hard as a very strong wind had come up against us. We were finding fault with each other in the small boat and arguing that some were not rowing as hard as the others. All of a sudden Levi let out a gasp, follow by a cry of terror. All of us turned to see what he was looking at and all of us fell back in terror. I must confess that I screamed, "Where are you Jesus there is a ghost walking by us" and then the ghost spoke and said, "Take heart it is I. Do not be afraid." and there right off of the waves Jesus stepped into the boat and the wind ceased. I think that Jesus was a little disappointed in us that night for we had just seen Him feed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish yet now we were astonished when He came walking to us. Did we not realize that the boat belonged to us but the sea belonged to Him? I think what touched me the most was that He did not need the boat but could have passed us by and went on to shore but got in waited for our poor dull minds and spirits to catch up with Him.

Jesus heals the Sick in Gennesaret (53 - 56)

What I am about to tell you now shames me and I will tell you why. We had no more moored the boat and as soon as we did the people recognized the one who we did not recognize on the water. That was shameful to me but more than that they began to bring the sick people on their beds. Wherever He was whether it was in the villages, cities, countryside, even in the marketplaces they brought the sick and implored Jesus to just let them touch the hem of His garment and they knew they would be healed. I tell you there were a lot of us who had followed Him and had been with Him from the beginning of this journey who had seen the sick healed, the hungry fed and the sea tamed who did not have the faith that those people did. Jesus said not a word about this to us which I think for me was even more shameful. I think I might have felt better if He would have berated us up one side and down the other for our small faith but He only would say let us go tell others the good news that they too might believe.

# Mark Chapter 7

### The Road of Hearing

### Traditions and Commandments (1 - 13)

Did you ever have anyone find fault with you no matter what you did unless you did exactly what they told you to do? It seems that is what happened to Jesus with the Pharisees and Scribes. Once Jesus did not do exactly what they wanted He was a marked man as far as they were concerned. I remember mentioning to you before how they found fault with Him for healing someone on the Sabbath. What took place on this day borders on the ridiculous. We had been out in the heat all day walking through the village listening to Jesus teach and watching Him minister to old and young alike. We stopped at the market to pick up some items for supper as all of us were tired and hungry. Peter picked up a piece of fruit and began to eat it. As fate would have it the Pharisees and Scribes who had just come from Jerusalem saw him do it and seized the moment to go after Jesus. They all came like a flock of chickens that only saw one grain of corn and that grain was Jesus. They were clucking, and strutting like roosters and saying to Jesus that some of His disciples were eating with dirty hands. As a matter of fact their exact words were, "Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?" Jesus as He often did answered them first with Scripture and said, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, this people honor me with their lips but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men." I knew when Jesus took the Scripture which they were supposed to be the teachers and followers of and asked them why they turned Gods word into tradition for their own purpose that there was great trouble ahead. Here is what He said quoting the Scripture from Moses, "Honor you father and mother and whosoever abuses father or mother must surely die." He then took a deep breath and said to them you take a Scripture that is supposed to let you help your father and mother and turn it around by saying we would like to help you but I have dedicated what you need to God so I cannot help you. I, the son you raised and cared for cannot help you in your distress because I am dedicating all I have to God.

What Defiles a Person (14 - 23)

Jesus then in front of the Pharisees and Scribes called all the people to Him and said," Hear me all of you and understand. There is nothing outside of a person going into him that can defile him but it is what comes out of a person that defiles him." When the people had departed and we went into the house some of the disciples asked exactly what He meant. He said to them," are you still not understanding? What goes in a person's stomach is not what defiles but what comes out of his heart they are the things that defile. Things like evil thoughts, sexual immorality, murder, envy, jealousy, slander, pride and theft. He said quite a few others but I must admit that He hit me square in the face when He said, well never mind I would rather not say but I knew that He knew. That night as I prayed I asked God to help me to quit worrying about what others saw of me on the outside and instead to make me pure on the inside.

The Syrophoenician Woman's Faith (24 - 30)

Jesus always had a way of using two things to accomplish His goals in people's lives. Let me explain, I think I was beginning to feel pretty smug about myself. You see I was the only Gentile among this close ring of men that Jesus walked with. Oh yes, wasn't I important being privy to so many things. He had picked me and did not bother a whole lot with other Gentiles. Then it happened, we had entered a house in the region of Tyre and tried not to let anyone know we were there. But we heard a soft knock at the door and the disciples and I tried to ignore it as we were all very tired. Jesus who never tired of ministering to others went to the door Himself. There was Gentile woman standing there but as soon as she saw it was Jesus she fell at His feet and grabbed Him by the legs. She began sobbing uncontrollably and though it was hard to make out what she was saying this is what I heard. She told Jesus that her daughter was possessed by a demon, to which Jesus responded," Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to the take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." We all nodded in agreement for Jesus had said He had come to the lost sheep of Israel not to the Gentiles. Shamefully even though I was a Gentile I joined right in with their agreement after all was I not special. We waited for her to get up and leave but she just clung that much tighter to Jesus and then she looked up at Him and in a soft voice said, "Yes Lord, yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs. Jesus with a look of compassion on His face and a voice full of love said, "For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter." Then He turned and looked at us in that way that He had. The way in which He never had to say a word only look at us and we knew again that He was teaching us the way of God's love and that we had a long way to go. Again His words came to my mind for it is with the heart that man is made righteous not ceremonial law. I later heard that when she got home she found her daughter lying peacefully on her bed.

Jesus Heals a Deaf Man (31 - 37)

We had returned from Tyre and were in the region of Decapolis near the Sea of Galilee. The day was sweltering hot and we were tired and grumpy when we saw a small crowd approaching. They were half walking and half dragging a man to Jesus. When they got up to us they began imploring Jesus to heal the man as he was deaf and could not speak properly. Jesus did something that I had not seen Him do before. He stuck His fingers in the man's ears and after spitting touched his tongue. He then looked up to Heaven and said, "Be opened". The man then began to speak plainly and could hear every word we said to Him. Jesus then told him to tell no one but it seems the more He told people not to tell the more they told. Needless to say all were astonished at this and proclaimed that He even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak. Later I wondered why He did not just say be healed to the man and why He looked up to heaven. I have my theories but never did get a chance to ask Him. I think He looked up to Heaven just to honor God the creator of ears, eyes, tongue and everything. I know that after I began to think on this I began to realize that even the air I breathe is borrowed from God. After watching Jesus do that I began to thank God for the small things as well as the big ones. As for sticking His fingers in the man's ears and spitting on his tongue perhaps it was just for all to see and know that God was interested in touching everyone's life if we would just let Him. Perhaps just to let us remember that our ears were made to hear His voice in nature and our tongue was made to praise Him. That night I prayed open my eyes Lord that I might see you and know you even more now that Jesus my friend introduced me to you.

# Mark Chapter 8

### The Road of Rebuke

### Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand (1 - 10)

Once again we were to prove how little we knew of Jesus and how much we knew of this world. Jesus had been ministering to a great crowd of people for three days and many had not eaten. Jesus said to us, I have compassion on the people because they have been with us three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away." Several of the disciples said, "How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?" Jesus just looked at all of us as if He was waiting for us to say something else. After a while when no one spoke Jesus ask, "How many loaves do you have?" Someone said, "Seven." Jesus directed the crowd to sit on the ground and then took the seven loaves and gave thanks and then gave them to the disciples to set before the people. The disciples did so in complete silence as we all began to realize that desolate places and lack of supplies meant nothing to Jesus. Again I was embarrassed because we should have already learned this lesson. We also had a few small fishes and Jesus took and blessed them also and told the disciples that these also should be set before the people. The people then began to eat and were satisfied and the disciples took up what was left which came to seven baskets. Jesus never said a word about this to us. Often His silence taught us as much or more than His words. We just hung our heads and got in the boat that He got in and went to the district of Dalmanutha. Oh, the crowd there on that day numbered about four thousand.

The Pharisees demand a Sign (11 - 13)

Sometimes in this life, no often times in this life we do things just to please others even when it is not the right thing to do. I guess I was brought up to try to solve every problem, right every wrong and please everyone. One day as I traveled with Jesus He showed me how really impossible this was to do. The group called the Pharisees came again looking to find fault with this one who only a short while ago feed four thousand people with just a few loaves of bread and a few small fish. They approached us with that smug look on their faces. I was thinking to myself how we can please these people. Without as much as a hello, or a greeting they began to question and argue with Jesus. They began to demand from Him a sign from Heaven that would prove Himself to them. I could see that Jesus was deeply bothered in His spirit almost as if He were moaning in Himself although no one could hear that. He spoke the next words very softly almost as if it hurt Him to say them, "Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly, I say unto you no sign will be given to this generation." At first I was puzzled by His response but later as I pondered it I think I understood a little of what He was sadly saying to them. They really came not to seek a sign at all for their minds were already made up. I think if He would have called down lighting from Heaven or split the earth in two it would have made no difference to them. For they were only looking to find fault because what was happening was going against what they thought should be happening. I thought to myself how often I have found fault because things did not go as I planned. Yet on the other side of that coin I thought how often I have tried to appease others just to get their approval when no matter what I said I would not gain their approval for they were not looking to approve. They were only looking or questioning me because they had already made up their minds about it. Jesus taught me a great lesson that day sometimes you just have to get in the boat and row away. I think the term I am looking for is discernment. I did not realize that day how often I would have to face this kind of opposition even when I just wanted to do the right thing. I think a little more of me on that day quit looking for the approval of other men who were just like me. I think a little more of me just wanted the approval of the one I was following. Yes that day He taught me that He was looking for those who would follow Him with their hearts and spirits. He knew I would make mistakes but He was more concerned with my heart. Mistakes could be corrected or be learned from but the hardness of the heart could not be changed though a man would rise from the dead.

The Leaven of the Pharisee and Herod (14 - 21)

We had rowed almost three quarters of the way across the lake when James said what happened to all of the bread that was left over. To our dismay we discovered that we had only one loaf with us out of the seven baskets that we had picked up. Of course an argument broke out as to who should have brought the baskets. Jesus finally got our attention again by splashing the water with His hand. We stopped to look at what He was doing because it was impossible to get our attention by just speaking as we were too engrossed in what we were saying to one another about who forgot the bread. He said to us," Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod." He then said, "Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread?" He was kind with His words as we were actually very heated in what we were saying to one another. Jesus then asked us another question and a rather humiliating one at that. He said, "Do you have eyes yet you cannot see, do you have ears and you cannot hear? Do you not remember that when we fed the five thousand we had twelve baskets of bread left and when we fed the four thousand we had seven baskets of bread left? Do you not yet understand?" It was that little three letter word "yet" that got me to thinking. Do you not "yet" understand? I soon forgot all about that little word as we were busy rowing and doing all the things that keep one too busy to think about little words. That night as lay down to rest that one little word came back. Do you not "yet" understand? As I prayed I think I began to get a little insight into what Jesus was trying to teach us. We get so busy with our little rituals that we forget the purpose as to why we are here. We become so obsessed with being right that we forget that Jesus said forget about your supposed rightness and have compassion on those who need to know God. The Pharisees had become so self-righteous that they forgot the reason they were supposed to be there and that was to show the world that we were all unrighteous before our heavenly Father. That night I realized how much I needed to be near this man Jesus for if I did not stay near Him it would not be long before I would fall into the same traps as the Pharisees and Herod. Again with just a little word Jesus taught a giant lesson.

Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida (22 - 26)

Even though so many were against Him it did not stop Jesus from doing the things that He said He was sent here to do. I know in myself that if I had faced such opposition and only had people like myself to back me up it would not take long for me to quit. It seems that Jesus got such strength and determination for Himself when He prayed. I knew if I and the others were to ever truly follow Him with 100% of our heart and soul we too would have to find and know this strength He got while praying. We had come into Bethsaida and some people brought Him a blind man and begged Jesus to heal him. Jesus took him by the hand and led Him out of the village as if to say you will not need to be here begging anymore. After we had gotten a little way out of the village I was shocked when Jesus brought the man up close and actually spit on his eyes and then laid His hands on him. Jesus then asked him, "do you see anything." The man said, "I see men but they look like trees walking." Jesus again laid His eyes on the man's eyes and the man opened His eyes and fell to his knees and began to thank Jesus for he proclaimed that he could see everything clearly. That night as I tried to pray I prayed about the day's events wondering why Jesus did not just heal the man with a word as I had often seen Him do. I began to think about my own life and how I had come to believe in Jesus. It did not come all at once as matter of fact it was almost like His words were spraying and sinking into me as the spit did on the man's eyes and then one day my eyes were fully opened and I believed that this man Jesus was God's Son sent here for us sinners. I thought some more about the blind man and wondered what would have happened if he had not followed the light that he had when Jesus asked him the first time what did he see. If he had just walked away he would have been able to see some light but by staying and letting Jesus lay his hands on him again his sight was fully restored. That night I asked for the strength to keep going on with Jesus until the very end. It was then I remember that Jesus had told the man to go home and do not even go back into the village. I thought about this in comparison with my own life for I had seen others come along side of Jesus and then turn and go back when things did not go as they expected. I must admit that there had been times when I was tempted to go back to my blacksmith business with my brother and just play it safe and it was at that moment my eyes were opened a little bit more as God brought into my remembrance all the things that I had seen Jesus do, the raising of the little girl, the lame made to walk, the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus stilling the waves and then walking on the water. I think that God did answer my prayer that night as my eyes opened a little more and His strength came into me to stay until the end whatever that might be.

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ (27 - 30)

It was on the way to Caesarea Philippi that I felt my bond with Peter grow a lot stronger. We were just walking along talking with one another when Jesus asked us all, "Who do people say I am?". Someone spoke up and said John the Baptist; someone else said they are saying that you are Elijah or one of the prophets. Then Jesus asked, "But who do you say I am?" It became very quiet then and Jesus stopped and just stood there with that penetrating look that went down into your very soul. Then quietly Peter said, "You are the Christ." I think everybody already knew this but to hear it expressed there in the open had a stunning effect on all of us. We were walking, living, talking, and interacting with the Christ the anointed one of God. We who were just a ragged bunch of men with no special skills or abilities were actually interacting with the Savior of the world. He was not in a Kings palace or dressed in fine clothes, His feet were dusty as were ours and there was sweat on His brow yet He stood among us. I thought to myself that the whole world needs to know of Him but could not imagine how that could be. He then puzzled me again as He so often did when He sternly told us to tell no one about Him in this way.

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection (31 - 38)

It had been long and hard day as we sat down to eat that night around a glowing campfire. I think we all felt elated after sharing with Jesus who we thought and felt He was in our hearts. All seemed very content that night except for Judas who seemed somewhat disturbed yet he kept quiet although I could tell he did not quite share in our views. After dinner Jesus became very solemn and asked us all to listen to Him and not say anything. He then began to tell us that the chief priests, the scribes and the elders did not believe in Him at all and were planning to kill Him. He then said a remarkable thing. He said though they would kill Him, He would rise from the dead again in three days. I was very confused as were the rest of us how could they take Him, the man who I had seen raise a man from the dead and kill Him. Surely one with Jesus's power and closeness with God would not let this happen. Peter was the only one of us who spoke out but I know we were all thinking the same thing. Then Jesus took Peter by the arm and very sternly said, "Get behind me, Satan for you are not setting your mind on the things of God but on the things of man." He spoke so sternly to Peter that it hushed all of us up. Jesus then said," if you are going to follow me you must deny yourself take up your cross and follow. If you are worried about saving your life then you are going to lose it but if you lose your life for my sake and gospels you will save it." I think that Jesus was talking to himself as well as us. I think He was saying I am going to do the will of the one who sent me and it does not matter if I like it or not it is necessary and although you do not understand now you soon will. Then He said," what would it matter if you could gain the whole world and lose your own soul. What can you give in return for your soul? " He said this with such conviction that I felt as if He had been offered the whole world with all of its riches and glitter and turned it down to come and be with people like us. I knew in my heart that He was saying that if we were to follow we would have to have that same attitude about Him that He had about the world. To follow Him would have to be the most important thing above all things. I knew I was right when in His next words He said, "For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." The turning point had come again but in a different way as I sat and thought how can I follow if He would not be here.

# Mark Chapter 9

### The Road of Transfiguration

Then He said to us, "there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Kingdom of God after it has come with power." Much of what He said to me at that time confused me then but as I write this it has become much clearer with the passing years. As I sit here in this cell awaiting my execution I will tell you of a most fantastic thing that James, John and Peter were able to witness which to me explains the preceding statement that Jesus made.

The Transfiguration (2 - 13)

I was almost asleep when Peter came and sat down next to me. He had a look of wonder on his face. I asked him where Jesus had taken him, James and John. I suppose I was a little hurt that I had not been asked to go. Peter very quietly began to whisper the following account to me. He said that Jesus had led them up on a high mountain. As they stood there with Him his clothes began to change into the purest white they had ever seen. He said he had to shade his eyes from the whiteness of Jesus clothes. Then all of a sudden two men appear out of nowhere and began talking with Jesus. He said he almost fainted when he heard Jesus speak to them calling one of them Moses and the other Elijah. He said that he was so unnerved that he just began to ramble saying stupid things like it is good for us to be here. Peter then looked at me shame faced and told me, "I then said Rabbi let us make three tents one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." What was I thinking he said, did I think that we were going to camp out together? Peter said that no sooner were the words out of his mouth than a terrifying voice came out of nowhere saying, "This is my beloved son listen to Him." Then all grew quiet and when he opened his eyes only Jesus was standing there. Jesus helped him up and as they were walking down the mountain told him not to tell anyone until He had risen from the dead. Then he apologized for telling me this but he said he had to share it with someone. Peter said that James asked Jesus why do the Scribes say that Elijah must come first. Jesus said he has already come and they ignored him just as they are going to ignore me. Peter said that Jesus then looked off into the distance and said to himself, yes they will scorn me as they did Elijah. Peter then said that he thought he saw a tear run down Jesus's cheek but was too embarrassed to ask Him about it.

Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit (14 - 29)

I must back up to what else had happened that day. It just that Peter telling me about Jesus on the mountain with Moses and Elijah made me forget about the little boy and the faith of the little boy's father. Jesus came walking back into a hornet's nest of arguing and squabbling, you see while He was up on the mountain down here in the valley a storm was brewing. A father had brought his son to the disciples and asked if they would cast out an unclean spirit that had been torturing the boy for some time. The disciples seemed helpless to do anything so when the crowd saw Jesus coming everyone went running to Him. Jesus asked, what are you arguing about and the boy's father said, I brought my son to your disciples but they could not help him. Jesus said to all of us, "O faithless generation how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? He then said bring the boy to me. They brought the boy and as soon as the boy saw Jesus he fell on the ground rolling over and over and began to foam at the mouth. The women were screaming, and the men were shouting what we shall do, what shall we do? All was chaos except for Jesus who grabbed the father by the arm and asked how long has this been happening and the father said from childhood. The boy's father also cried above the crowd that the unclean spirit would cast the boy into fire and water and try to destroy him. He begged Jesus if you can do anything have compassion on us and help us. Jesus calmly said to him amid all the noise and chaos. "All things are possible for one who believes." The father and said," I believe help my unbelief." Jesus look at the boy and calmly said." you mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." A dreadful scream emitted from the boy, he jumped up and then fell to the ground as if he was dead. As a matter of fact some in the crowd began to murmur He has killed him. Jesus then reached down and gently took the boy by the hand and lifted him up and the boy arose with a smile on his face. The father took his boy and headed for home, we all entered the house and the disciples asked Jesus privately, "why could we not cast it out?" Jesus said to all of us," this kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." Not one of us had even thought about praying when the unclean spirit did not come out we just stood there defeated and dejected. After all the time we had spent with Jesus watching His example I am dumbfounded that not one of us gave any thought to praying or fasting to the God who has everything under His control. Another slip up another mistake another lack of faith. I sometimes wondered how Jesus ever put up with us like He did.

Jesus Again Foretells Death, Resurrection (30 - 32)

As we were passing through Galilee Jesus had us keep to ourselves as He seemed very intent on teaching us something. He kept telling us that He was going to be delivered into the hands of men and that they would kill Him. It was hard to understand or comprehend this because I had seen Him do so many miracles I wondered how could just a plain man like myself be powerful enough to kill Him let alone take Him captive. He further confused me when He said that after three days He would rise again. I wondered rise from what if He was going to be killed a thought which I refused to believe, but let's just say He did get killed how He could raise Himself from the dead. I saw Him raise others but how could the dead raise the dead. I wanted to ask as the others did but we were too afraid to ask.

Who is the Greatest? (33 - 37)

When we got to Capernaum we went into a house to rest and after we had washed up and eaten we were all just sitting around talking when Jesus asked us "What were you discussing on the way here?" As it so often happened when He asked us one of His penetrating questions everything grew silent and no one said a word. Why the silence this time? Because we had been arguing about who would be the greatest in His Kingdom. After a long silence when it was apparent that no one was going to answer Him, Jesus said to us, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." Red faces, hung heads, averted eyes small sighs all came into to play after He said this. I think every one of us realized that is exactly what Jesus did all the time. He put us and others first and Himself last. Then He took a little girl and picked her up and sat her on His lap. She was sleepy and just laid her head against His chest in restful dreams. Jesus in a soft voice said to us, "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but Him who sent me." We were looking for the big things not realizing that the big things were found in the small things. We were looking for crowns to place on our heads while He was looking for children to sit on His lap. This was another one of those times of insight for me when my eyes were opened a little to realize that I just might be missing everything He was trying to teach us. I prayed that night that I could have the attitude of a small child and just follow Him not so much for all He was going to do but just for the fact that I loved him and for some reason He loved each of us ragged men that were with Him.

Anyone not Against Us Is for Us (38 - 41)

John then changed the subject so he thought but now I realize he only changed the focus. For the subject never changed it was always follow me and learn of me and my Father. John said that they had seen someone casting out demons in Jesus name and they had tried to stop him because the man was not following them. Jesus again began to teach us about our attitude. He said if someone is for us how can they be against us. Just because they are not standing right here beside us does not mean that they are not with us in Spirit. He then said something that it took me a little while to understand but after much prayer I began to see more light in His words. Jesus told us that whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. My first thought about this statement was that almost anyone except the meanest of the mean would give a person a drink of water but as I thought about this I do not think that is what He was talking about. I think He meant that the poorest follower of His could do good things if they were done for the sake of Jesus. We His close disciples were no closer than the widow lady sitting by herself on her porch praying. We were no more important to Him than the man with no legs who offered a drink of water because He was doing it for Jesus. What a change my heart must make to follow Him for He cares not for the things that seem so important to us. He cares not for position, fame, money, stature but over and over proves and shows us that He cares for each and every person in the same way that comes to Him. I guess for the first time in my life I have met a person who truly plays no favorites. I and the others have walked a lot of miles with Him but again I see how far my heart has to go.

Temptations to Sin (42 - 50)

Jesus then began to talk about a place of outer darkness, a place called Hell and how terrible it would be to spend eternity there. Some of the illustrations He used were so very graphic. I know He meant it to be that way to warn us and also to warn us about leading others the wrong way. He spoke to us first of all about our role in the life of another, a little one at that. He said if we were to lead them into sin we would have been better off if we had a millstone tied around our necks and were thrown into the sea. It would be better to be thrown in the sea to drown and be eaten by the fish than to spend the rest of our lives in this outer darkness. Then He really got down to the bottom line when He said the following. If any of the following causes you to sin or to lead others to sin then do the following if it is your hand causing you to sin cut it off if you are using it to do wrong, if your feet keep leading you to wrong places then make yourself lame so that you can no longer walk there, if your eyes continually look upon the wrong thing causing you to imagine the wrong things pluck them out. His talking about this outer darkness, this Hell scared all of us who were there because you could have heard a pin drop when He told us of the maggots which attack the dead but these dead must not die for He said the worm dies not. The hair on my arm stood up when He told us of the fire that never goes out and it scared me even more when I thought of running from the worms only to be caught in the flames or trying to hide from the flames only to be plunged into a darkness so dark that you could feel it around you and hear others in their misery. The way around this was salt, good clean, pure, salt that was used to preserve and season things with. Then it struck me like a flash Jesus was like salt His words continually changed my thinking, His kindness continually changed my actions, His patience with me made me overlook the faults in others. He was the salt that I wanted to be with me always.

# Mark Chapter 10

### The Road of the Rich

### Teaching about Divorce (1 - 12)

We traveled into Judea and beyond Jordan and it was there that I again had to confront myself, my sinfulness and own up to my failures and mistakes. Some Pharisees came up to Jesus and asked Him the following question "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife," this really hit home with me because my wife had left me for another man. Jesus answered them with a question, what did Moses command you? They responded with the following, Moses allowed us to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away. Jesus said because of the hardness of your hearts he allowed you to do this. Yes my wife had been unfaithful to me and actually had asked me for a divorce but as Jesus talked about how God had made man and woman and how in marriage the two became one I began to see that I had also been at fault in the divorce. That night in my prayers I asked God to forgive my neglect even though I did not know Him at that time. I could still see my failures as a man and a husband. Jesus again spoke not to the Law of Moses so much as He did to the heart of man. Did these men who claimed to know God and claimed that they were the teachers of others think that just because they had grown tired of their wives or because their wives had grown older and were not as attractive as they once were that they could just leave them for someone else because they felt like it. Was this what they were teaching others and stating that God was in favor of it? The thought that men could be so narrow-minded was astounding to me and yet the thought of John the Baptist came back into my mind and how Herod had justified beheading him because of a young maidens dance. Again a shudder went thorough me when I imagined them doing the same to Jesus. Surely these men were not that calloused to the things of God. In the house the disciples again asked Him about the preceding conversation and Jesus plainly told us that if you divorce your wife or she divorces you and marries another you have committed adultery. I think that all of us realized again how little we resembled the one we were following. It matter not that we had or had not divorced our wives it only mattered where our hearts were for as I was beginning to find out that my heart is deceitful. It often tells me that I am right even when I am wrong. I again learned how far I had to go with the one who was leading us and I determined by God's grace that I was going to stick even closer, listen even harder, and keep my eyes constantly on Jesus

Let the little Children come to Me (13 - 16)

It seemed no matter how hard we tried to follow and be like Jesus we were always proving ourselves to be just the opposite. Let me explain, some mothers had begun to bring their little children to Jesus for Him to bless and just talk to for it was obvious that wherever we went little children were attracted to Him. When the mothers came we all grew irritated with them and began to tell them that we did not have time for this. We were too busy with more important things than to have Jesus fool around with little kids. We all became very red-faced when the tables were turned on us and Jesus began to rebuke us. He told us all in very plain words," Let the little children come unto me for to such belongs the Kingdom of God. "This put us all in our place and humbled us as it should but then He added even more when He said, " unless you become like these little children and receive the Kingdom of God the way they do you shall not enter in." He then took them up in His arms and blessed them while we stood there with hung heads. We realized again how much He had to put up with our foolish and unbelieving hearts. Lord let me become like one of those little children that I was so ready to find fault with.

The Rich Young Man (17 - 31)

Perhaps as you read this poorly written account of a miraculous life you say to yourself, Ah! I too would become a follower of this Jesus tell me what I must do to gain acceptance into His Kingdom. I will tell you by telling you of the account of another young man who thought He wanted to become one of Jesus followers. We had just started out walking, towards, well come to think of it I did not know where we were going I was only going where He was going. Anyway, we had just started out and had only gone about a quarter of a mile through an open meadow when we were approached by a young man dressed in some of the finest clothes I had ever seen. He was attended on both sides by servants with fruit's and sweets which he offered to some of us. He went up to Jesus and said," Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus answered his question with a question before He went on to say more. He said to the young man, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone." I think I had a quick insight into what He meant when He prepared the young man for His answer. True goodness as true grace can only flow from the one true God. We men seem to think that by observing certain laws and practices that we will become good in Gods eyes. I can attest that this is not so from my many, many failings in front of the one to whom I had begun to call my Lord, my Savior. Jesus, after making this statement to Him answered the young man's original question on how to obtain eternal life. He laid His hand on the young man's shoulder and in a gentle voice said, "You know the commandments, do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, honor your father and mother." The young man looked at Jesus in a very respectful way and in a very respectful manner said," Teacher all of these I have kept from my youth up." Let me stop here and say something before I go on, most of us there including myself, Peter and the others knew in our hearts that if things were brought out into the open and our lives were compared to this young man's earnestness and honesty we would come out on the short end of the stick. Then Jesus turned His eyes on the young man and with a look that showed all the love a face could show for another and a voice that conveyed all the hope that could be conveyed to another said very softly," you lack only one thing go sell all that you have and give it to the poor and you will have treasure in Heaven and come and follow me." A face that once had the sun and a glimpse of heaven shinning on it now had the look of the clouds of despair on it. The silence was almost unbearable between that young man and Jesus as they looked at each other. It was almost as if a silent war was being fought in that young, the same war I realize that was fought in each of us at one time or another for example when Peter jumped out of that boat and followed Jesus, or when I turned my back on my blacksmith business, or Matthew turned away from the tax table. That same battle was going on inside of that young man. With one last look of anguish on his face He turned and walked away. Jesus turned to us in a sad manner and said," How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter into the Kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." We were all astonished at this for we were all caught off guard at what He said. Almost in unison we all said who then can be saved as fear began to rise up in us. Jesus calmed us and brought us back to reality when He said," with man it is impossible but with God all things are possible." With just a word He brought us back to faith, the faith that He was showing us. The faith that realized that salvation was not about us and what we do but about Him and what God does. Again my heart felt relief as I realized I was following Him and not Him following me. Peter then said to Jesus, "See we have left everything and followed thee." Jesus replied, " Truly I say unto you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mothers or father or children or land for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecution and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last and the last first." Later that afternoon as I sat on a hillside I pondered what Jesus had said to Peter. It was almost as if He were saying if you gave it up you got it back. I thought then what was the use of giving it up in the first place and then in a flash I remembered the story that Jesus had told about Abraham and Isaac. Abraham gave up Isaac to God and God gave him back to Abraham but the picture that I saw was this. Isaac or anything else that Abraham possessed were never the same to him anymore. He had them and could even enjoy them but God had become the one who reigned on Abraham's throne in Abraham's heart. It was the same with the rich young man his riches reigned on the throne of his heart and he was not about to give them up. I thought when we give up the things for God, He may give them back but in a different way, a way that we can truly enjoy them and not have to hoard them for ourselves. What an amazing man Jesus was and what an amazing way He had of saying things. When would I let the things He said sink down into my heart for they changed my very life? Yes here on earth we have our leaders, kings and queens but to a just and true God who knows the heart of every human. Truly, some of the last in this world will be first in His and some of the first in this world will be last in His. I prayed, Lord, may I give everything to you.

Jesus Foretells His Death A Third Time (32 - 34)

As I look back on what eventually happened to Jesus I can see how He tried to tell us over and over again what was coming but it just would not sink into our thick heads. We were much too concerned with ourselves and the great plans that each of us had in our minds for the way we thought things were supposed to happen. Nevertheless Jesus never quit trying to show us. I now know that He knew that we would be able to look back as I am doing now and remember His words and learn from them. What I now tell you is just another instance of how He tried to warn us of coming events. We were on our way to Jerusalem when Jesus took His twelve disciples and began to talk with them. John later related to me what Jesus had said to them. Jesus had said, "See we are going to Jerusalem and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death and deliver Him over to the Gentiles and they will mock Him and flog Him and spit on Him and kill Him and after three days He will rise." Again as I look back on it and think about these statements I am amazed at our response to His teaching. I am amazed at our lack of consideration for Him. It seemed we could only think of ourselves.

The Request of James and John (35 - 45)

This concern for our own concerns did not take long to come to the surface again. Jesus had just told us that He was going to be delivered up to the Scribes and Gentiles and that He was going to die when up stepped James and John with a request for Him to do something for them. Jesus asked them what they would have Him do for them and they stated that they wanted to sit next to Him when He came into His glory. I am not sure but I think James wanted to sit on the right and John on the left. Jesus stared at them for a short while as if He could not believe what He was hearing. Jesus then said to them," you do not know what you are asking." He then ask them," Are you able to drink the cup which I am going to drink or be baptized with the baptism that I am going to be baptized with?" Both of them replied with a bold, "We are able." Jesus again stared at them and then slowly shook His head up and down and said," yes you will drink from the same cup I drink and be baptized with the same baptism I am baptized with but to sit at my right hand or my left is not mine to give but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." Now when the other ten heard what was said they began to clamor about and they became very upset with James and John but I think they were more afraid that one of them would get something that the other would not get more than having a concern for Jesus. I know I was feeling envious at the moment that I was not in that elite circle so that I could get what I thought I should get. Then Jesus shut us all up as He always did with just a few words. If you remember He had just told us that He was going to die but we were so self-absorbed that we really did not hear that. He now told us how to be great in His Kingdom with the following words, "you know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them and their great ones exercise authority over them but it shall not be so among you. But whosoever would be great among you must be your servant and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve. Now after these few years of telling others about Him and His teaching, as I sit here looking out of my cell at the gallows they are preparing for me I am not one bit frightened. I only look forward to the day when I shall see Him again. I know now and I am sure that the others also know that when we see Him we will not care where we are sitting and that just to see Him and be with Him again will be enough. I lay my head down on this stone to fall asleep and remember as I pray how it was to walk with Him and I dream of how it will be to walk with Him in glory.

Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus (46 - 52)

I felt as we made our way to Jerusalem that things were going to change, that the wind was blowing a bad storm our way. But as was normal we only showed our concern for our position and place instead of following just what we had been told about being a servant to others. As we approached Jericho a blind beggar named Bartimaeus set along the road. When he heard from the shouts of the crowd that Jesus was passing by he began to cry out, "Jesus Son of David have mercy on me!" How this blind man knew that Jesus was a descendant of David I will never know. I do suspect however that God had revealed this to him and that somehow he knew that not only was Jesus descended from David but that He also came from God. Sad to say that none of the disciples nor I took note of him calling Jesus the son of David, no we only began to rebuke him because we thought our business to important to be bothered with by a blind beggar. Now I know different and realize that we all are blind beggars sitting by the road. How few call out to the Son of David to have mercy on them as this one did. Jesus as usual paid no attention to us but went about His earthly business in a heavenly way and stopped and said to all of us," call Him." Of course when we saw that Jesus was going to speak with him we all put on our best spiritual front and said to him," take heart, get up He is calling you." Bartimaeus jumped up and threw off his cloak and though blind went straight to Jesus as sheep go to their shepherd. Jesus asked him, what do you want me to do for you? Bartimaeus without any hesitation said, "Rabbi let me recover my sight." Again I do not think that any of us noticed that the blind beggar now addressed Jesus as Rabbi giving Him the honor that was due Him. But in the next instant I now realize that Jesus discerned that the beggar realized in his heart who He was. Then Jesus said to him," go thy way your faith has made you whole." How slow we were to learn to the lesson that we were to serve one another not ignore each other because of our own grandiose misguided feelings as to how important we are.

# Mark Chapter 11

### The Road of Entry

### The Triumphal Entry (1 - 11)

I had mentioned previously that I felt like a bad storm was heading our way, a time of great trouble but as so often happens the time before the storm is often a time when everything is going well and there is celebration and singing. So it was with us. Oh, let me tell you of a remarkable thing that happened at we got to the Mount of Olives before we got into the coming storm. Jesus told a couple of the men to go into the village and there they would find a colt tied up on which no one had ever sat. He then told them to untie it and bring it back to Him. Of course as we so often did instead of just doing what He told us to do we began to question Him as to what the people might say. He answered, "Tell them that I have need of it." After much hesitation they finally went and in about an hour much to everyone's surprise they came back with the colt. We asked them what had happened and they said that it was just as Jesus said it would be. They told the people that Jesus said He had need of the colt and amazingly they just gave it to them. Some of the people standing there, for by now a rather large crowd had gathered threw their cloaks on the colt and Jesus began to ride towards Jerusalem. As we approached the city more and more people began to come out and they began to spread their cloaks on the road and they also spread out palm branches as the colt to carried Jesus into the city. The people then began to shout together, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord and blessed is the coming Kingdom of our Father David, Hosanna in the Highest." The air was filled with excitement there were people shouting and running. Little children were being held up and sat on the shoulders of their parents so that they could see. Men and women were bowing down and praising as Jesus passed by. We actually had to form a small circle around the colt so that we could keep moving. It was all glorious and wonderful at the time. However it would not be long before the wind would began to change and the people would began to find fault among themselves. They would then shout with voices just as loud and filled with as much malice as they were now filled with joy. Yes, it would not be long before we began to hear things like, what kind of a King rides on a donkey, where is His chariot and His soldiers, who is this ragged group of men with Him. The palm branches would wither, the cloaks would be grabbed up, the donkey sent home and for Jesus the long dark night would come. It was very late when we finally made our way to the temple. Jesus was very quiet and just looked around with a sad expression on His face. Then we made our way past some fig trees and went to Bethany for the night.

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree (12 -14)

The next morning we made our way from Bethany and as we walked past the fig trees that we had passed by the night before Jesus stopped and began to look at one of the trees. Then He began to look through the branches for figs even though it was not yet the season for figs. Then when He did not find even a sign that the tree was going to produce He said what a strange thing seemed at the time. He said, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." At the time I thought how odd that He would say that when it was not even time for the fruit to appear. I now know because of what came later that He was talking about men and how God would search their hearts to see if there were any hope of the fruit of repentance in them. Upon finding none He would leave men to go on to their own destruction just as the fig tree would be destroyed by the gardener for never producing fruit. It would not be long before I was to actually find out how unfruitful those who were supposed to be the fruit had withered.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple (15 - 19)

I do not think that I have ever seen or even known that there was a thing called holy anger until we got to the temple in Jerusalem. Being a gentile I had not studied the Scriptures and only of late learned how God had grown angry with His children because of their refusal to obey His commands and reap the blessings that He had for them. I now realize that the reason that He wanted them to obey was so that He could bless them and that is just as true now as it was then. When we got to the temple Jesus without saying a word just went in and started overturning the tables and stands where the money changers were. People were scattering everywhere it was complete chaos. I did not know the reason that He was doing this so when things began to settle down a little I ask James. He told me that many people came from far off to sacrifice at the temple for their sins and could not always bring their sacrifice with them so they would often buy what they needed for the sacrifice when they got there. Jesus overturned the last table and then turned to the crowd but at the same time looked right at the chief priests and scribes and said, "Is it not written? My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations. But you have made it a den of robbers." I could see the fear in the faces of the priests and scribes but I could also see the hatred in their eyes. It was then that I again realized that a storm of gigantic proportions was heading our way and there was no way to stop it for what Jesus taught was completely the opposite of what the leaders of this temple taught. The day drew to a close and we headed back to Bethany for the night.

The Lesson from the Withered Fig Tree (20 - 25)

As we headed back towards Bethany for the night we all noticed that the fig tree that Jesus had cursed had withered, died and was beginning to show the signs of the blight that had infected it. Peter spoke to Jesus about this and Jesus said to us, "Have faith in God and do not doubt." As He pointed to one of the mountains He said something that sounded incredible to me He said," if you say to one of the mountains, be taken up and thrown into the sea and do not doubt in your heart but believe that it shall come to pass that also will be done unto you." Later I sat down under a fruitful fig tree and began to think about what He had said about moving mountains. I asked myself this question, why would I want to pray for a mountain to be moved into the sea? I then realized that He was saying if a person would be willing to respond to just one word that He had said God would move mountains to get to that person. As we were praying for others we must realize that Jesus had to remove mountains of wrong thought about Himself to get people to move towards Him. I thought about the mountains He had removed in my life. The mountains of prejudiced, pride, self-seeking, jealously and how that just by believing in who He really was this began to come about. I knew that the changes that had taken place in my heart did not come by some kind of great effort on my part they came about just by being with Him and letting the things He said and did sink down into this heart of mine. Just like that fig tree that had withered all at once on the outside but did not begin to show the rot and blight that was on the inside until the next day. My spiritual birth took place all at once when I realized who Jesus really was and that little by little there was fruit beginning to appear on the outside of me. I just sat there under that fig tree praising God for the mountains He was removing in me. The words that He had said came back to me again, have faith in God and do not doubt for just as you did not see all that was going on inside of that fig tree it was still happening and just as you cannot see all the changes that are going on in you they are still happening. I thought about the priests and how they had already withered away from what Jesus was trying to teach them. Little did I realize then in what way the rot and the blight that was on the inside of them was going to show itself on the outside. As I sit here on this cold stone seat in this dark dungeon and pray to my Savior it is amazing to me that I am able to forgive the men who have put me here. It is amazing to me how those words that He spoke on that day come back to me, "When you pray if you have anything against anyone forgive them and your Father will forgive you." Yes it is amazing to see spiritual mountains moved in me. I only pity those who have put me here and pray that they would respond to just one word about my Jesus so that God can began to move mountains to get to them before it is too late and the mountain of unbelief falls on them. Oh, how I long to see Jesus again but praise God the time for that is rapidly approaching.

The Authority of Jesus Challenged (27 - 33)

The next day we came back into Jerusalem and as we were walking in the temple the elders and the scribes approached us. When you hear what happened you will realize that they had already withered like the fig tree and now the blight and rot was beginning to show it. They came up to Jesus with all their pretentious authority and asked Him a question, "by what authority are you doing all these things or who gave you authority to do them?" I almost laughed out loud when they said this because the thought flashed through my mind how you could ask someone who was healing the sick, curing the lame and raising the dead by what authority are you doing this. How could you ask someone who walked on the water, commanded the wind to cease and fed five thousand people from just a few loaves of bread by whose authority are you doing this? Do you see the rot and the blight coming through? Jesus of course knew just how to handle the situation. He said in effect if you will answer me then I will answer you. He asked them this question, "was the baptism of John from Heaven or was it from man?" With this they all withdrew and huddled together. You could almost smell the rot of their thinking coming from them. They answered," we do not know." Yet we all knew that they knew. We knew if they said from Heaven then they would have to admit that Jesus had authority from Heaven because John said He did. We also knew that if they said that John's preaching was just from man then the people would cry out for they believed that John was a prophet. Jesus simply said, then neither will I answer you. Yes how sad that they who were supposed to be the fruitful fig trees, they who were supposed to guide others withered right before our very eyes.

# Mark Chapter 12

### The Road of Warning

### The Parable of the Tenants (1- 12)

Yes, they had withered and the blight was showing more and more. I think as I listened to the next words that Jesus said to them that He was still trying to show them that they were wrong without coming right out and telling them. He was so patient and kind, even to those who opposed Him. He spoke to them of God who planted a vineyard and surrounded it with a fence to protect the tenants. He also gave them a winepress to produce good fruit and built a tower so they could be on the lookout for Him when He came back. All this was given to them free of charge. They were chosen by Him to tend to the things that were His and to enjoy the fruits of their labor. But they began to change and to think that the things that were on loan to them were owned by them. When it came time for the harvest God sent some of His prophets to collect the fruit that they were supposed to be producing but when the prophets got there they could find only withered and rotten fruit. The owner told them to tell His tenants to repent and to replant and produce good fruit but the tenants would have none of it for they now believed that what was not theirs to begin with now belonged to them. Time after time the owner tried to warn them and time after time they rejected His warnings. My eyes were opened now and I could see that Jesus was trying to tell them that He was sent by God Himself to rescue them from themselves. He was the final warning. He was the foundation on which this city of Jerusalem was built. He was the cornerstone and He had proved it time and time again by the things which He said and did. Sad to say as I stood there with Him I could see that they knew exactly what He was saying to them. They understood but would have none of it for the last bit of sap that flowed through their veins, the last bit of life producing fruit drained out of them at that moment. I could see the hate fill them up as the sap drained out of them. Like the fig tree there was nothing left of the life that God was so trying to produce in them as they rejected the one who owned city. I have come across many who were drained of any life and only sought to kill the ones who would give them life. But I do not think that I have ever seen lifelessness as I saw it in those men eyes that day anywhere again.

Paying Taxes to Caesar (13 - 17)

It seemed as if the leaders never tired of trying to catch Jesus up in something. They were always trying to trick Him or trap Him in some way so that they could make themselves look good and make Him look bad. They were forever trying to find something to accuse Him with but what was so amusing to me was how it always backfired on them. Of course this just made them more determined to find fault with Him and less inclined to believe that they had any fault of their own. The following are just a few examples of their trickery. As we were standing talking we saw some of the leaders coming in all their fine dress and apparel. They walked up and said, "Teacher, (as if they really respected Him as a teacher) we know that you are not swayed by anyone's opinion but truly teach the way of God." Little did they know how true their statements were for He did teach the way of God and in their lies to His face they were speaking the truth without believing it. Anyway they said let us ask you a question, "Should we pay taxes to Caesar?" I wish you could have been there to see their faces when He answered them. Jesus simply said bring me a denarius and they did. He then said," whose inscription is on this coin?" They had to answer Caesar's. He then said," Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and the things that belong to God render unto Him." They just stood and looked at Him for they were speechless and it was not long before they all disappeared back into the dark from where they came. Then another group came it was as if they were forming a line and taking turns to see who could catch Jesus up in something. Again as you will see they only succeeded in catching up themselves.

The Sadducee Ask About the Resurrection (18 - 27)

The men called the Sadducees came strutting up to Him with a question about the resurrection of the dead a subject that I knew little about. They began to question Him not only about this resurrection but also threw the Law of Moses in with it. They said that when a man dies and leaves a widow who has no children that his brother must marry the widow and bring up offspring for his brother. To make matters more confusing they said that not only did the man's brother die but seven of his brothers married the women and also died and none had any offspring. They then stated that the widow died. My head was spinning with all this when they threw the trick in that they were aiming for all the time. They asked," In the resurrection whose wife will she be for all seven had her for a wife." I must admit that they sure had me stumped and confused. I could see the look of triumph and contempt on their faces as they looked at Jesus and waited for an answer. Jesus astounded all of us when He said to these supposed learned men, "Isn't this the reason you are wrong for you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?" Complete silence followed this statement, not a child was heard nor was a bird chirping it as if even the angels in Heaven were waiting to hear what Jesus would say next. Jesus said," for when they raise from the dead they neither marry or are given in marriage for they are like the angels in Heaven. "This was astounding but His next answer was even more astounding to me for I knew so little of the Scriptures and these men were supposed to know so much about them. Jesus said to them with an inquisitive look on His face, "as for the dead being raised have you not read in the book of Moses the passage where God spoke to Moses in the burning bush and said I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. I am the God of the living not the dead." If looks could kill we would have all been dead for when Jesus said this we all cheered out loud with Praise to the God of the living. If men could disappear into thin air those men would have done so but they only could leave with faces as red as a painted up women's lips. Later I was even more astounded because when John and I were talking he told me that the Sadducees did not even believe in the resurrection from the dead. This amazed me even more for I realized that they were not only just trying to trick Jesus up but were trying to trick Him by pretending to be interested in something ( resurrection) that they did not even believe in themselves.

The Great Commandment (28 - 34)

Not all the learned men were so callous or obstinate some were just like the rest of us who realized that we were sinners in the sight of a Holy God and needed redemption. After Jesus had made the statements about the widow woman the scribes of course began to argue amongst themselves. However one of them turned to Jesus and in a voice with respect asked Him, "Which commandment is the most important?" Jesus with mutual respect said to the scribe, "hear O Israel, the Lord our God is One and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind and with all your strength. The second is this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself, and there is no other commandment greater than these." The scribe who stood their talking with Jesus with a look of humility and a voice filled with admiration answered back," you are right there is only one God and to love Him with all thy heart and with all understanding and with all thy strength and to love's one neighbor as oneself is much more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices." Jesus quietly answered him "you are not far from the Kingdom of God." After He said that it was very quiet as no one dared to ask Him any more questions. That night I again had to pray and ask forgiveness. I now realized how often I thought that if I just obeyed the laws it would make me right with God. I realized that I could give all I could to the priests to sacrifice and burn and that did not make me right with God. It was the reason behind the sacrifices and offerings that I should be thinking about. I should be thinking about His grace and goodness to me a sinner who deserved nothing. I should be thinking about how much He loved me even though I messed up so much and in doing that I could began to have grace and compassion for my fellow man. Thank you Jesus for again having just the right words to say to someone else so that I could learn from them.

Whose Son is Christ? (35 - 37)

As Jesus was teaching in the temple on a particular day He asked the scribes, "How can the Christ be the Son of David? "They answered and said He will be the son of David from his line then Jesus said to them then how come David said in the Scriptures, "The Lord said unto my Lord sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet. David himself called Him Lord so then how can He be His son?" This question completely stumped everyone there and the scribes who had been so vocal before now became silent and sullen. They no longer questioned Him they only stared at Him with a hatred that seemed to turn their faces into ugly masks. It took me a long while to realize that Jesus was talking about Himself when He asked this question and that before David was born Jesus was already in Heaven at the right hand of God waiting for the right time and the right place to come to this earth to save us. The more I learn the more amazed I become with the God who saved me.

Beware of the Scribes (38 - 40)

So many times in this life we are all taken in by appearances. We are all impressed with the way people dress, the way they look, and their place in society. Jesus was never impressed with any of the outside things that He saw about man but He was impressed with the heart or the intention. He warned us about being impressed with the outside things with the following statement," Beware of the Scribes who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplace and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at the feasts who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers they will receive the greater condemnation." I know that He was trying to teach us to look beyond the outward. He wanted us to pray and ask God for discernment about others and not to judge on appearances as we all were so often guilty of. I was as usual amazed at what happened next because He not only taught us not to judge by appearances but pointed out to us a living example.

The Widows Offering (41 - 44)

We all sat down to take a rest on the other side of the street where the treasury was and as we sat there people would come by and put money in the offering box. Many came by in fine clothes with their long robes and servants. They would often stop right in front of the offering box and stand there as if they were waiting for people to notice what they were doing. Often they would make a great show of the money they were putting in. One of them even announced to the crowd milling around how much he was putting in and with a show put in one coin at a time. Towards evening the crowd had died down and we noticed a little woman heading up towards the offering box. She stopped about 100 feet from it and waited until no one was looking then she quickly made her way to the box dropped in what appeared to be a very small sum and disappeared. Jesus turned to us and said, "Truly I say unto you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they contributed out of their abundance but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had and all she had to live on." My heart practically stopped when He said these words first of all because He knew exactly how much she had put in and second that He could see what was in her heart. I thought how often we go about trying to fool others and never realize or even give thought to the fact that God sees everything we do and knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts. This little widow would never know in this life the effect she had on me for by her offering all she had she made me want to become less concerned about me and more concerned about others. She actually shamed me and did not even know it, yes she shamed me as I searched my own heart and saw how often even in the supposed kind things that I did there was often a whole lot of vain glory and show in them.

# Mark Chapter 13

### The Road of His Return

### Jesus foretells the Destruction of the Temple (1 - 2)

We had been in the Temple and had been discussing among ourselves how much it had cost to build it and how ornate it was. One of the disciples said to Jesus in passing, Teacher look at the wonderful stones and wonderful buildings. I think he said this because Jesus had seemed to be deep in thought and was not like the rest of us who were gazing around and admiring the Temple. I know I was for I had never actually been this close to it before. Jesus astounded us and sent our heads reeling when He said, "Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down." Of course we all began to question Him as to when this was going to happen. The following discourse is what Peter, James, John and Andrew said that Jesus told them about things to come.

Signs of the Close of the Age (3 - 13)

John said they were sitting at the Mount of Olives opposite the Temple when they asked Him when will all these things be and what will be the signs when all these things are about to be accomplished. I must admit as John also admitted that chills ran down my spine and fear gripped my heart when he told me what Jesus said. Jesus told him," do not be led astray for many would come in His name and actually say that they were Jesus. Do not believe them for they are impostors and will lead you to destruction. Also when you hear of wars and rumors of wars do not be alarmed for nation will rise against nation and kingdoms against kingdoms and famines will come and earthquakes but these are just the beginning of birth pains. Be on your guard for they will deliver you over to councils and synagogues because of me." Jesus then said," this gospel that we preach must first be preached to all nations." John then told me some words of comfort when he said that Jesus told them," do not be anxious when they imprison you and are ready to bring you to trial for I will be with you in the form of the Holy Spirit (I did not understand what He meant about being with me in the form of the Holy Spirit at that time but now I do) and whatever is given to you in that hour speak it for it is I who speak with you." Then John without realizing it gave a prophecy about me although at the time I did not realize it either. John said that Jesus said brother would turn on brother and father against child and child against parent and many would be hated just because they believed in Jesus. This brings sorrow to my heart as I sit here in this cell for my own brother turned me in as heretic and then turned my father and mother who had become believers in also. As Jesus prepares me for my death I am amazed that I hold no malice or hatred towards him and only pray that he also would believe. Jesus said that he who endures to the end would be saved and I lean on Him for the grace to do this. As you read this may you also learn to lean on Him for the same grace.

The Abomination of Desolation (14 - 23)

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Jesus then spoke of what He called the abomination of desolation and the things He told us raised the hairs on our arms. He said when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it not ought to be. I must interject here and say that I am not sure who or what He meant when He used the term abomination of desolation whether He was referring to and idol or a person but things were happening so fast that I had no time to ask Him. He then said if you see this," take no thought for what you have but flee for a great terror is coming do not run and try to collect your things just run." He then stated that," when you see this happening tribulation like no one has ever known will take place, yes tribulation that has not been since the beginning of creation." He then let us know that God was still in control when He stated that God for the sake of His followers would cut those days short for if He did not all would perish. He then told us to be on our guard for many would come claiming to be Him and others would say that He was here or there but not to believe any of them. At the time I could not understand this but now I do for I was there when they crucified Him. I am not able to talk about that right now but will try to later for the memory of it is still too painful.

The Coming of the Son of Man (24 -27)

Then as He always did Jesus spread a ray of light for us who followed Him. He painted a scary picture and then changed it into a moment of glory. He said after this tribulation the sun would darken and the moon would not give its light. He stated that the stars would fall from heaven and the very powers of earth would be shaken. Then He told us of all the glory that was going to happen. He said that people would see the Son of Man coming on clouds of glory and power and that He would send His angels to gather His elect from all corners of the earth. Of course being here in this cell I am hoping for that and yet if He does not come I know that I will be with Him one way or another in a very short time.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree (28 - 31)

Then again Jesus used the fig tree to teach us something. It is amazing to me how often He used nature to show us the Father. I think He wanted us to take notice of nature so that we also could see our creator in it but often as we men do we just passed it by until He would bring it to our attention. Jesus said watch the fig tree and watch its leaves as you can read the signs of the seasons from it and then watch as the things He said would also come to pass just as He said. I now realize that when He talked about the generation of men that He was talking about the race of man and not the men like we who were with Him. Some of my dearest friends from that group have already gone to be with Him. Some crucified just as He was. I watched one of them die in a terrible manner a young man named Stephen they stoned him to death for talking about the wonders of Jesus. As I watched this terrible scene it seemed as each stone hit him his face became more and more radiant as he gazed up towards heaven. I believe He could see the face of Jesus with arms open wide waiting to receive Him. In some ways I am looking forward to my own death or should I say just the beginning of my new life for I think that I too shall see Him welcoming me Home. Jesus said that Heaven and Earth would pass away but that His words would not pass away. I do not know what will happen after I am gone but I do know that even now His words are being told for I just told one of my guards about His wonderful grace and with tears in his eyes he bowed his head and asked our Savior to save him also. Praise God.

No one knows that Day or Hour (32 - 37)

As the morning light approaches the tiny window in my cell I am again reminded of words that Jesus said. Two of them stand out to me right now "Stay awake" He said for you do not know when your Savior will again come. I remember that He said that no man, angel or even He knew the hour when He would come again but only our Father knows. Again He said "Stay awake" for the hour approaches rapidly at least for me it does. I guess for all of us it is rapidly approaches for it seems that just yesterday I was a child and now I am and aged man. "Stay awake" He said and yet I must confess to you that many times I have fell asleep, many times I have let chances to share this great love of God with others slip by without saying a word. Other times I was too busy with other things to even notice but you as you read this you have that chance to" Stay awake." Do not let your life pass you by without getting to know our Savior better. Take the time to" Stay awake" it will be worth everything you have or think that you have when eternity comes to greet you. I have many regrets but the one of the things I do not regret was the time I took with Him to" Stay awake."

# Mark Chapter 14

### The Road of Betrayal

### The Plot to Kill Jesus (1 - 2)

I now know that the chief priests and the scribes plotted to kill Jesus but not during the Passover because they were afraid that the people would start and uproar. One of my guards said they had overheard them talking and discussing how they might rid themselves of Him. He said that it amazed him how they fought among themselves over someone who had done nothing but good to them. How they were afraid that the people might turn on them and they would lose some of their prestige. He later ask me to tell him more about Jesus and I was able to share the gospel with him. I wish I could say that he became a believer right at that moment but he did not but the seed of the Savior has been planted and I realize that here even in this cell my Lord has not forgotten me.

Jesus Anointed at Bethany (3 - 9)

While we were at Bethany one of purest acts of love that a human is capable of was done for Jesus. We were sitting around the table in Simon the leper's house when a woman came up to Jesus holding and alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard. I know that it probably had to be her greatest treasure for it was very expensive. She took it and broke the flask that was holding it and poured the contents over Jesus head. At once there was an outpouring of indignation some were saying why was this not given to the poor, others were saying what is this crazy woman doing while others were thinking as I was what a mess to clean up. I do not think that there was one person there who commended what she did except for one that is. He just sat there and let the ointment run down His face and body. I think because He just sat there and made no comment, everyone became very quiet as if expecting Him to also reprimand her. Instead as He usually did He reprimanded us in that way that He had of doing it. That way of making you look at yourself in a different way than you had before. He said to all of us in a calm quiet voice, "leave her alone why do you trouble her she has done a beautiful thing for me." Then He looked at Judas and said," The poor you always have with you and you can do well for them anytime but I will not always be with you." Then He said something that shocked us for we still did not understand what was coming. He said," She had anointed my body beforehand before my burial." No one said a word at this for we could not comprehend what He was talking about. Then He said something else we did not understand at the time. He said," when this gospel is proclaimed before the whole world this act that she did will also be remembered", so I guess if you are reading this it proves He was once again right.

Judas to Betray Jesus (10 - 11)

I always knew that Judas and I did not see eye to eye on a number of things but I never dreamed how really far apart we were on the person of Jesus. After Mary had anointed Jesus with the perfume there seemed to be an even different spirit about Judas than before. He became more aloof than the rest of us. He did not seem to want to share as much in the things that Jesus did and said. I know that Jesus noticed this but He never really said anything to any of us at that time about the way Judas was acting. I never learned until later that it was at this time that Judas secretly went to the chief priests in order to betray Jesus. I also learned that they were overjoyed to have one the twelve that Jesus had picked joined up with them. I guess they thought that this was just the beginning of a major defection back over their side. I have often thought that maybe if I had just been friendlier to Judas that perhaps this would not have happened but then I realized that if he would not believe Jesus then he would never have believed me. This night of anointing seemed to begin a new path for us. Looking back on it I see that Jesus really began to try and prepare us for His death. How do you prepare for the death of the most important person in your life? How do you prepare for the loss of someone you gave your whole life to? How do you prepare when every fiber of your being was wrapped up in that person? I just praise Him that He knew that what would seem to be our greatest loss would become our greatest gain.

The Passover with the Disciples (12 - 21)

We were on our way to Jerusalem and it was the time of the Passover one of the twelve asked Jesus where we were going to go to celebrate the Passover. An amazing thing took place after that question was asked but I must add that every day with Jesus was amazing. Jesus said," go into to town and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him and when he goes into his master's house say to the master that the Teacher wants to eat the Passover here and he will show you a large furnished room. Then prepare it, for it is there that we will eat the Passover." My mouth just fell open in amazement when they came back and reported that it was just as He said. That evening as we sat round the table eating Jesus looked at each one of us in the eyes with a sorrowful and penetrating look then quietly said one of you who is dipping bread with me will betray me. I cannot tell you the relief I felt because my stomach was acting up and I had not eaten anything as we sat there. I watched and each of His disciples stopped what they were doing as if frozen in time and just stared into their bowls. Then one of them and I will not say which one softly spoke and said is it I and in succession each one said the same thing. When the question came around to Judas, he also said surely it is not I, Master. Jesus looked at him and said," Yes it is you." I think that each of us realized that in ourselves we were capable of just about anything and were at that moment even afraid of ourselves. Then Jesus said one the most frightening statements I have ever heard. He said that He knew what was going to happen to Himself but it would have been better for the one who was going to betray if he had never been born. It was just a brief moment after that the Judas got up and left the room.

Institution of the Lord's Supper (22 - 25)

Even after this tragic moment Jesus still wanted to have supper with us. He said some things that did not make sense to me at the time but it seemed that things were happening so rapidly that I never got the chance to ask Him about it. Here is what He said at supper after he had broken the bread," Take this is my body, then He took a cup and gave thanks and then gave it to all to drink from and said this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many." He then said another strange thing which did not make sense at the time but now is ever so clear to me. He said," I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the Kingdom of God."

Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial (26 - 31)

We finished supper with a hymn and then went walking out to the Mount of Olives, as we approached it Jesus said," you will all fall away for it is written I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered." This statement went through all of us like a knife especially after what had just happened with Judas. I think that all of us had the thought that after all we had been through with Him how could He think that we would ever desert Him. Peter was the only one who had the nerve to speak up. I was glad I did not for after what Jesus said next to Peter I think I would have melted right into the ground. Peter spoke up and said," even if they all fall away from you I will not." Jesus looked at Peter and said," Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." Peter said," no never! Even if I must die with you I will not deny you." Others began to join in with the same statement. So as they did I did and yet in my heart I was not so sure that I was as brave as the others appeared to be. The biggest part of what Jesus said went sailing right over our heads and not until later did it come back to memory. He also said, "But after I am raised up I will go before you in Galilee." Again we were so consumed with ourselves that no one even thought about asking Him about being raised up.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane (32 - 42)

After this we went to the Garden of Gethsemane and it was there where the real nightmare and the things which Jesus had been trying to warn us about began to become a reality. Little did we realize what was about to transpire for if we had maybe we would have not been so careless. We came into the garden and Jesus told us to sit under the olive trees while He went to pray. He then told Peter, James and John to go farther with Him. James later told us that Jesus told them that His soul was very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch. James said they watched Him as He walked into the garden when it suddenly looked as if He collapsed on the ground. He said He started to get up to run to see what was the matter but then Jesus got to His knees and bowed His head in prayer. James said he then decided to stay and watch. He said the next thing He knew Jesus was tapping Peter on the shoulder and saying, "Simon are you asleep? Could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing but the flesh is weak." Then He went back to pray again. James said that they all determined to keep each other awake but again the next thing he knew Jesus was waking them again and they were so embarrassed that they did not know what to say. Jesus went away a third time and came back and said to them," are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough arise: the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise let us be going my betrayer is at hand." The nightmare then came to life for all of us for as Jesus approached us from one way Judas with his band approached from the opposite direction.

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus (43 - 50)

The shame of what I did next still haunts me to this day. Even though I know that I have been forgiven it is something I will never forget. As a matter of fact I hope I never forget what we all did that night for in remembering and regretting it makes me see how much more I need my Savior. Let me tell you what happened. Jesus had no sooner said the words, "my betrayer is at hand", when Judas was there with a band of men holding swords and clubs. To my astonishment Judas walked up to Jesus and said Rabbi and then kissed Him on the cheek. At this the men seized Him. I know that one of us I think it was Peter for the night was foggy and very dark took a sword and cut off one the soldiers' ear's at least I think it was one of the soldiers. I heard Jesus say," Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in the Temple teaching and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled." My brother if you are reading this I must tell you that what happened next is one of the most shameful moments of my life. I took off running and ran like I have never run in my life. I do believe that as I ran demons were mocking me and laughing. I ran and ran until I finally ended up at a trash sight where I collapsed into filth and rotten food. I laid there and cried for what seemed like hours then walked out to the Jordan River to that same place where I first saw Him. I washed myself and remembered that first day I saw Him there in the river with John the Baptist and then I wept some more.

A Young Man Flees (51 - 52)

I know that I was not the only one who ran and felt this shame and I often think of a young named John Mark and wonder what happen to him and how he felt. For you see as we all began to run he was wearing only a linen cloth around himself and they grabbed him but he spun around in that cloth and ran away naked. I hope that he also knows how forgiving our Savior is and has made peace with Him and with Himself.

Jesus before the Council (53 - 65)

I did not see Peter or the others many times after that night but one of the few times when I did meet up with him he told me what happened to Jesus after they had arrested Him. He said he followed them staying out of sight and when they got to the courtyard of the High Priest he snuck in behind them and stood by the fire. He said the High Priest and others were trying to get people to give testimony about Jesus but that none of them could agree with the other one. Peter said that one man stood up and said that they had heard Jesus say that He would destroy this temple made with hands and in three days He would build another one. Yet they could not even agree on this testimony. Peter then said that the High Priest stood up and said," Have you no answer to make? What is this that these men testify against you?" Peter said Jesus just stood there and made no answer. The High Priest then asked Him," Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" Jesus looked him straight in the face and answered, "I am and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of God and coming with the clouds of Heaven." Peter said at this all kinds of commotion started and the High Priest tore his garments and said," What further witnesses do you need? You have heard this blasphemy. What is your decision?" And they all condemned Him as deserving death. At this many began to spit on him and covered His face with a garment shouting, Prophesy, and began to strike Him and even the guards did the same. Then Peter choked up and with tears in his eyes told me what happened next.

Peter Denies Jesus (66 - 72)

Peter said he was standing by the fire and one of the servant girls of the High Priest also came up to the fire. She stood looking at him and he tried to shield his face from her because he was afraid that she would recognize him. Sure enough she spoke up in front of all who were there and said, "You also were with the Nazarene Jesus." He said he looked around and every eye in the place was also staring at him and not a sound could be heard in the entire courtyard. Peter said he just blurted out," I neither know nor understand what you mean." He then quickly went out into the gateway and in the distance he heard a rooster crow. To his utter terror the servant girl followed him and again said," Certainly you are one them for you are a Galilean." As we talked Peter's voice was starting to quiver a little bit and his tone became so low that I had to lean over close to him to hear what he said next. He looked at me and then looked down at the ground and with a voice filled with such remorse that my heart just ached for him he said that he then started cursing and swearing," I do not know this man of whom you speak." As soon as the words were out of his mouth he heard the rooster crow again and remembered the words that Jesus had said," before the rooster crows twice you will deny me." He said he looked up and somehow through the great crowd of people he was able to catch a glimpse of Jesus's face as He turned and looked at Peter. He said he ran just like I had run and finally fell down in an alley where he wept for hours. I could only tell him of my own failure and together we prayed again and thanked Jesus for His unending love and amazing grace. If you are reading this and have failed somewhere I can only say that I thank our Savior that if it was not too late for us then it is not too late for you, Praise God.

# Mark Chapter 15

### The Road of Death

### Jesus Delivered to Pilate (1 - 5)

After what seemed the longest night of my life and after I finally regain a little courage and composure I snuck back into to the city to try and find out what had happened. I covered my head and followed a loud and mocking crowd to the palace of Pilate. Although I could not see Jesus I knew that He was in front of the crowd because I could hear them mocking and swearing at Him. The crowd came to a halt and I worked my way to the front and saw Pilate standing up on his porch. At first I could not see Jesus and then I spotted Him and I realized that He had been slapped many times across His face. At the time I did not realize that this was just the beginning of the most horrible torture of a person that I would ever witness. Pilate with his Roman authority ask Jesus in a cynical tone. "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus spoke back to him in a clear voice," you have said so." This sent the chief priest's into an uproar and they began to accuse Him of many things. They were all shouting so loud and all at one time I wondered how Pilate could make any sense of anything they were saying. Pilate was finally able to get them to quiet down and he asked Jesus. "Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you." You could actually see the countenance on Pilate's face change from one of cynicism to one of concern when Jesus did not answer him.

Pilate Delivers Jesus to be Crucified (6 - 15)

It was the time of the feast of the Passover and during the feast it was a custom to release one of the prisoners to celebrate the release of the Jews from the bondage of Egypt. The crowd began to beseech Pilate to do this. When he consented my hopes soared as I was sure they would release Jesus. My hopes came dashing to the ground when the crowd began to demand the release of the prisoner Barabbas who had committed murder. Even Pilate who had little mercy for anything or anyone seemed astounded for he said;" do you want me to release the King of the Jews?" I think he knew that the charges they brought against Jesus were trumped up. When he asked this the chief priests dispersed through the crowd and incited them to even louder demands that they release Barabbas. Pilate walked away and conferred with some others who were on the platform with him. When he came back he addressed the crowd with a puzzled look on his face and said, then what do you want me to do with the man they call the King of the Jews. When they shouted crucify him Pilate stumbled backwards into one of his guards. After regaining his composure he asked in an amazed voice," why what evil has He done?" With this the crowd became even more unruly shouting" crucify Him, crucify Him." I along with some others could not believe what I was hearing, what I was seeing, what was taking place. I stood there as if frozen in time. What happened next was even more unbelievable. Pilate went back and conferred with some others and then came back to the front of the porch and with a look of dazed confusion on his face let them have their wish. He released Barabbas and told them to lead Jesus away to be scourged. Though I tried to follow the crowd it was so thick that I lost what little sight I had of Jesus. I know that they took him somewhere inside the palace and there scourged Him. I did not catch another glimpse of Him until after this happened but later a servant of Pilate's and a fellow believer (Anna) told me the little that she saw happen. It embarrasses me to tell you of this because of the shame and humiliation I felt because of my own cowardly actions through this whole ordeal.

Jesus Is Mocked (16 - 20)

The servant Anna said she was scrubbing the floor when a whole battalion of Roman soldiers came into the governor's quarters laughing and cursing. She said she then saw Jesus being half dragged through the doorway. When they got into the same room that she was in they took a purple cloak that was hanging there and put it on Him and began to pretend they were kneeling down to Him. She remembered one of them saying," O mighty one show us how mighty you are by drying up this shower of spit." She could not believe her eyes when he began to spit in Jesus face. Then many of them joined in to see if they could stand back away from Him and hit Him in certain places in the face with their spit. She said she stood there horrified. What happened next made her run out of the room when one of the soldiers came in from outside with wreath of thorns. She said some of the thorns were at least two to three inches long. They took this wreath and said here is your crown and mashed it down on His head. Anna said the wreath was too small to fit but they just keep pushing it down and the thorns made large gashes in Jesus forehead. Blood began to run down His face and into His eyes, across His lips and chin and began to drip onto the floor. As she began to run from the room they ripped the purple cloak off Him and threw it. It landed on her and she fell to the floor. She said the cloak was very heavy and when she fell it got tangled around her head. Anna said that in those short seconds of darkness she somehow knew that eternity without Jesus would be like this. She could hear the jeers, laughter, and mocking of the guards but she knew when that darkness came to them their jeers would turn to screams, their laughter to tears and their mocking to pleading. We both just held each other and wept for what seemed like hours. Then we both just hugged each other one more time and she went back into the palace and I waited outside to see what would happen next.

The Crucifixion (21 - 32)

If I had not known that they had taken Jesus into the governor's palace I would not have recognized Him when they brought Him out. No starving lion could have ravaged Him more. No bear could have torn His skin to shreds as it had been torn. I do not think that even maggots or worms could have had this effect on a body if they had been eating at it for days. They then placed a cross on His back and shoulders and began to beat Him as they headed down a street called the Val Del La Rosa. When it became obvious that He was not going to be able to go much farther the soldiers grabbed a man out of the crowd, (who I later learned was named Simon) and though he violently protested they made him help Jesus carry the cross. We began to approach and start up a hill that led to a place called Golgotha. A hill where we had all once raced laughing to top see who could get there the fastest. Now it showed its true name which meant the Place of the Skull. As we approached the top I could see in my mind demons dancing round and round in the dust while swarms of flies buzzed round about them. When we got to the top they offered Jesus wine mixed with myrrh but He would not take it. They then nailed Him to the cross while at the same time taking His garments and casting lots so that they would see who would keep them. I remember that it was about the third hour of the day when they lifted that cross and placed it in the ground. It seemed that they could not humiliate Him enough for they placed and inscription above His head which read The King of the Jews. Then though it may sound unbelievable people began to dance around His cross and shout, you who would rebuild the temple in three days come down from the cross and save yourself. Above all of this the chief priest, those who were supposed to have compassion shouted you who were supposed to save others come down and save yourself. Let Christ the King of Israel come down and save Himself. Of the two who were being crucified with Him even one of them began to mock Him. I will say no more of this but only will now tell you about His final words before death.

The Death of Jesus (33 - 41)

It seemed as if even the sun was dimming and losing its warmth and radiance as we stood there. I was suddenly very cold as I looked at Him there on that cross. As long as there is a breath left in us there is hope but when that last breath is gone all hope goes with it. Even though He had tried to tell us time after time what was going to happen. And even as I stood right there looking up at my Savior, my best friend. I could still not believe that this was happening. Then He uttered those last words," My God, My God why have you forsaken me," and all hope died. I do not know how long I stood there in my numbness was it 5 minutes or three hours to this day I have no idea. I vaguely remember seeing others there with the same expression that I probably had on my face. I know Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James were there. Many who had followed Him stood mixed in the crowd. It was as if we could not speak to each other or even look at each other even though our paths had crossed many times. Even in His death the bystanders could not be hateful enough after hearing Him uttered those words they ran and got a sponge filled with a terrible sour wine and gave it to Him to drink. Then with mocking voices said, wait let us see if Elijah would come and take Him down for some thought that when He called out He called out to Elijah. With a loud voice Jesus gave out a cry and breathed His last breath there on that cross. The crowd began to disperse some laughing, some crying and some like myself completely empty. I do remember someone saying that when He died the curtain in temple tore in two from top to bottom. Oh yes, I also remember as I walked by the cross with eyes looking down at the ground that I heard one of the soldiers say," truly this man was the Son of God."

Jesus is Buried (42 - 47)

What I can tell you of His burial I can only tell you as it was told to me by Anna the little servant girl of whom I mentioned. As you recall she was there in the palace when Jesus was scourged. I found myself sitting again along the banks of the Jordan with the great empty feeling that would not let me go. Anna came walking by and saw me sitting there and came over and sat down beside of me. After a long while she began to tell me what happened next. She said she was in the palace when Joseph of Arimathea a member of the council came and asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Anna said she was surprised that he came to Pilate because it took great courage for he risked his very reputation. She said she continued to scrub the floor but was listening at the same time. Pilate was very surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead and sent one of his soldiers to check. When the soldier came back he confirmed to Pilate that this was true. Pilate then granted Joseph of Arimathea his request. It just so happen that Anna had finished her work for the day so she followed Joseph to the cross. She said that Joseph and some others took the body of Jesus, wrapped it in a linen shroud and took it to a tomb where a large stone was rolled across the opening. I asked her who helped Joseph and she said she thought that one of the men was named Nicodemus. She also thought that Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus was there. After a long period of silence we hugged and Anna went on her way. I was never to see her again but heard that she had been killed by an angry mob a few years later as she told about her faith in Jesus.

# Mark Chapter 16

### The Road of Resurrection

### The Resurrection (1 - 8)

As I sit here on this cold hard floor how can I say anything that would match just three little words? He is risen! The loudest song, the highest praise, the applause of a million angels could not match those three words. He is risen! No daybreak, no sunset, no palace, no ocean, could blaze higher or be more splendid than those three words. He is Risen! Forgive me for when I began to tell of what happen next my spirit soars within me and takes me out of this cell. It is almost as if I am sitting at His feet in Heaven. I must again relate to you what was told to me for I was not present when all this took place. I can tell you however that after three days of darkness in my soul I awoke to the brightest blue sky I had ever seen, it was as if the flowers had bloomed just that morning and were singing praises to the heavens as they waved in a gentle warm breeze that seemed to sing its own song. I know this might sound a little off but the birds and the animals seemed to also be singing a new and glorious song. That third morning I can tell you that something in my soul or spirit seemed to be at peace with what had happen three days before. Somehow I just knew that all was alright. A few days later as I was walking down that same road (my soul was still at rest though I still did not know why but was soon to find out) that led to the city I looked up and saw Mary Magdalene and Mary hurrying down the road. Even from a distance I could see that their faces were glowing. As they approached me I could hear them saying He is not there. After we had hugged and they caught their breath they told me what had happened. They were going to the tomb with some spices they had purchased to anoint the body of Jesus. They explained that they were wondering how they were going to move the large stone that covered the tomb. As they got closer they could see that the stone had been rolled away. They slowed down in fear but approached anyway. When they looked inside they saw a young man sitting there dressed in pure white. They said they were ready to run out of the tomb when the young man said to them, "do not be alarmed, you seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here but see the place where they laid Him. Now, go tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you into Galilee. There you will see Him just as He told you." They said they fled the tomb and start hurrying to Galilee but they were too afraid to tell anyone.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene (9 - 11)

As we talked their excitement began to grow again. They were talking, praising and weeping at the same time. Then they both stopped and looked at each other and laughed. Mary graciously looked at Mary Magdalene and said you tell him what happened. Mary said that as she was walking He appeared to her. She said she went to the others who were mourning and weeping and told them He was alive. When she said this my knees buckled and yet I felt my spirit soar. She said when she told the others that He was alive and that she had seen Him they did not believe her. Even though my spirit was soaring I must admit that I wondered if Mary was just in a state of shock, refusing to believe the truth and yet when she spoke her words rang of the truth. I was confused to say the least.

Jesus Appears to Two Disciples (12 - 13)

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She then said there was more to tell and then ask Mary to tell this part of the story. Mary said that He appeared to two other disciples and they also went and told the others but they still would not believe even two of the disciples. I was so enthralled by the story that I forgot to ask who the disciples were but I have an idea that one of them might have been Peter. Perhaps John was the other one for he seemed to have such a special bond with Jesus.

The Great Commission (14 - 20)

The dawn is beginning to break and I can see sun beginning to come up. It is the day when I go to meet my Jesus. What a glorious day it will be. It is as if God had painted this sky just for me. I can hear birds singing praises to our King. Before they come to take me to my cross, a cross which I am not worthy to die on for my Savior died on a cross. Yes, before I end my earthly journey let me tell you what happened next. I met up with Andrew a few days later and he told me that all of them were eating together and Jesus appeared to them. He rebuked them for the hardness of their hearts because they did not believe Mary and the others when they were told that He was risen. Andrew said it was the most wonderful scolding he had ever received in his life. He said Jesus then sat down with them and loved them. He told them to go into the entire world and preach the gospel to all of creation. Jesus said that whoever believes and is baptized will be saved and whoever does not believe will be condemned. Andrew said that there would be signs that would accompany them. I have personally seen a lame man healed when Peter laid hands on him. I also heard of a disciple named Paul who used to persecute believers and of his conversion. I heard that this Paul had accidentally picked up a deadly viper while gathering wood and nothing happened to him. Andrew then told me that they watched as Jesus was taken up into Heaven. He said that He is now sitting at the right hand of God interceding for us. I have been preaching and proclaiming this good news now for several years and it is for His gospel that I have the honor of being crucified. I hear the executioner's footsteps approaching; perhaps I may have the chance to tell him of Jesus's wonderful saving grace as they lead me to the cross. My friends if you are reading this then tell someone that Jesus came to save sinners. For He so loved us - goodbye until I along with my Savior see you in glory.

The End

My Journey - written by Donald Hatfield

Copy written 3/15/2013

