Spiritual Walk Week 16 - In Jesus' Time

          "Help me." I wheezed to the empty street in front of me.
          "What do you need help with?" asked a man behind me that seemed to appear from nowhere.
          "Uh... But... Uh, yeah." I managed to mumble. Then I got my wits together and said, "Don't you see? I'm paralysed!"
          "I know someone who can." said the man with a mysterious smile.
          "How can someone help a paralytic? It'll take a miracle to help me enough to be happy."
          "Exactly, a miracle would do it."
          "Yeah, that... wait... You think I can be healed?"
          "I know so."
          "How?"
          "I already told you. I know a man."
          "Is it possible that a man can do this? I've been paralysed for a very long time."
          "Just trust me."
          "How can I trust a man I just met, but I guess it couldn't hurt to try." I sighed.
          "Lay down on your mat and we'll carry you to him."
          "We?" I asked as I slid higher on my mat into a more comfortable position.
          "Yes, ready" another man came out of nowhere and picked up the mat where my feet laid as the man I first met picked up my head. The men walked into the street and took a street to the left. The farther we traveled, the better the buildings got. Eventually I saw the temple.
          "Surely we must stop here. This is the temple of the LORD." I said excitedly.
          "No brother, we must keep going. We must make it to the Sea of Galilee."
          "Why the Sea of Galilee? What could a sea do for me?"
          The man sighed, "Do you want to be healed or not?"
          "Of course, bu-"
          "No buts about it" he interrupted. "Trust us. Anyway, we're almost there."
          "Trust me." I muttered under my breath. "Miracles, bah!" Then I saw something that made me rethink what I just said. I saw a man talking to a group of Rabbis and civilians. I realized that he was lecturing them. This man had that kind of aura, he seemed millions of times more important than the other Rabbis.
          "Make way!" said the man at my feet. The civilians parted, giving me an open path the the man, whom I was now convinced was the Son of God. 
          The men that had carried me all this way set me and my mat down on the ground. The Son of God walked toward me and said, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." I was not expecting this. I thought he would like strike me with a lightning bolt and my legs would start working again, but this was pretty good. I would get to live the rest of my life and eventually see this man again when I die.
          The Rabbis whispered among each other. I picked up a couple words. "...fellow...blaspheming!" I knew that this wasn't true, I felt my sins leaving me. This man should do something about them.
          "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." Then he looked at me and said. "Get up, take your mat and go home." I froze and then feeling returned to my legs. I can barely describe the sensation to you, but I'll do my best. It was like boiling water, then freezing cold, then as if that wasn't enough, agonizing pain. Then I felt like my legs were floating and my toes moved, then my legs bent and lifted the rest of my body up. It was like they had a mind of their own. I bent down, and rolled up my mat. The men that had brought me here were nowhere to be see. They must have left as the Son of Man was talking. I looked to his eyes and I saw something in his eyes that I would never forget. It chilled me to the bones, In a good way. It seems like he could look straight through my soul. His eyes told me to go and rejoice. I did, and my life was never the same.

Spiritual Walk Week 16 - In Jesus' Time

          "Help me." I wheezed to the empty street in front of me.
          "What do you need help with?" asked a man behind me that seemed to appear from nowhere.
          "Uh... But... Uh, yeah." I managed to mumble. Then I got my wits together and said, "Don't you see? I'm paralysed!"
          "I know someone who can." said the man with a mysterious smile.
          "How can someone help a paralytic? It'll take a miracle to help me enough to be happy."
          "Exactly, a miracle would do it."
          "Yeah, that... wait... You think I can be healed?"
          "I know so."
          "How?"
          "I already told you. I know a man."
          "Is it possible that a man can do this? I've been paralysed for a very long time."
          "Just trust me."
          "How can I trust a man I just met, but I guess it couldn't hurt to try." I sighed.
          "Lay down on your mat and we'll carry you to him."
          "We?" I asked as I slid higher on my mat into a more comfortable position.
          "Yes, ready" another man came out of nowhere and picked up the mat where my feet laid as the man I first met picked up my head. The men walked into the street and took a street to the left. The farther we traveled, the better the buildings got. Eventually I saw the temple.
          "Surely we must stop here. This is the temple of the LORD." I said excitedly.
          "No brother, we must keep going. We must make it to the Sea of Galilee."
          "Why the Sea of Galilee? What could a sea do for me?"
          The man sighed, "Do you want to be healed or not?"
          "Of course, bu-"
          "No buts about it" he interrupted. "Trust us. Anyway, we're almost there."
          "Trust me." I muttered under my breath. "Miracles, bah!" Then I saw something that made me rethink what I just said. I saw a man talking to a group of Rabbis and civilians. I realized that he was lecturing them. This man had that kind of aura, he seemed millions of times more important than the other Rabbis.
          "Make way!" said the man at my feet. The civilians parted, giving me an open path the the man, whom I was now convinced was the Son of God. 
          The men that had carried me all this way set me and my mat down on the ground. The Son of God walked toward me and said, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." I was not expecting this. I thought he would like strike me with a lightning bolt and my legs would start working again, but this was pretty good. I would get to live the rest of my life and eventually see this man again when I die.
          The Rabbis whispered among each other. I picked up a couple words. "...fellow...blaspheming!" I knew that this wasn't true, I felt my sins leaving me. This man should do something about them.
          "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." Then he looked at me and said. "Get up, take your mat and go home." I froze and then feeling returned to my legs. I can barely describe the sensation to you, but I'll do my best. It was like boiling water, then freezing cold, then as if that wasn't enough, agonizing pain. Then I felt like my legs were floating and my toes moved, then my legs bent and lifted the rest of my body up. It was like they had a mind of their own. I bent down, and rolled up my mat. The men that had brought me here were nowhere to be see. They must have left as the Son of Man was talking. I looked to his eyes and I saw something in his eyes that I would never forget. It chilled me to the bones, In a good way. It seems like he could look straight through my soul. His eyes told me to go and rejoice. I did, and my life was never the same.

Spiritual Walk Week 15 - In Jesus' Time

          I dragged the man to where I wanted to go, I wish I could walk around without a host, but that's not how it works. "Hey Bob! Wouldn't it be awesome if we could go around without a host?"

          "Yeah, man. This guy is getting cramped."

          "Who is that in the distance? He seems to be glowing?" said one of us in the other man.
          "He looks like God..." said Bob
         "What do you want with us, Son of God?" I said.
         "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?" added Bob
         "We don't have a chance against this guy." I said
         "I know, but I don't wanna cease to exist... Wait! I have an idea." Then Bob took control of the man and said, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs."
         "Go!" He said to us.
         We were so happy we rushed toward the pigs and decided to go into the lake for a swim. We drowned instead...

Spiritual Walk Week 13 - In Jesus' Time

          Jesus was finished teaching for the day and he decided to walk sail out to sea, so we followed him into the boat. The waves were peaceful and the air was quiet. In many ways, this day could be described as a perfect day. John and I pulled up the sails and the others took some ores and pushed us into the water. Jesus was so tired that he went to the back of the boat to sleep. He had a long day, he deserves rest.
          Soon, we neared the center of the lake. The wind howled around us, rousing the waves and dark clouds blocked the sun from view. It started to rain. Just when I was thinking this was a perfect day. The waves crashed into us, threatening to flip the boat. How could Jesus sleep through this?... That's it!!! 
          "Let's wake him up, maybe he can help!" I yelled to my brother John.
          "Yeah!" he responded. Then he went to the back of the boat where Jesus was sleeping and he said. "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"
          Jesus awoke and yawned. "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and said. "Peace, be still" I wasn't sure what he was talking to until the wind stopped and the waves calmed down.
          "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" I said in amazement.

Spiritual Walk Week 12 - In Jesus' Time

          The Master was teaching one day as we were walking into Capernaum. Then we saw a group of chariots racing toward us.
          "Is that the Centurion?" Andrew mumbled.
          "Sure looks like it." I responded.
          Then John called out in panic mode. "Jesus! Master! A centurion is coming toward us. Do you think he is coming to arrest us? Should we hide?"
          "Have faith." Said Jesus. "Do not hide from the good, and God will deliver us from whatever happens."
          The chariots came closer and stopped in front of Jesus. "Which one of you is Jesus? Jesus of Nazareth." asked the Centurion.
          I fingered the knife in my belt. "I am he." said Jesus.
          Then the Centurion did something surprising, he knelt down as said, "Lord, my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly." What kind of a man would care about his servant? He is just a servant.
          "Shall I come and heal him?" asked Jesus.
          The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
          Jesus turned around and addressed us saying, "Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Then he said to the Centurion, "Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would."
          The Centurion was about to give the command to leave when. Dust rose up in the distance, eventually coming into view as chariots. The chariots stopped behind the Centurion's entourage. The man in the lead chariot yelled out, "Master, it is I. I don't know what happened, it's a miracle! I'm healed!"
          The Centurion immediately went up to his servant and hugged him tightly. To this day I, the mighty Simon-Peter, have never seen a show of Love this powerful.

Spiritual Walk Week 11 - In Jesus' Time

          I was a young man. I'd like to think I was too young to have leprosy, but sadly, I had the horrendous disease. I was stricken with this disease about a year past. It wasn't too bad at the beginning, but it got worse. I lost feeling in my hands, my legs were useless, and my once attractive face became ugly beyond repair. I thought there wasn't any hope for me. 
          Then one day, I heard that a man named Jesus was coming into town. At first it didn't faze me. "So, a man named Jesus is coming into our area, what's so special about him?" I asked one of my fellow lepers. That's when he launched into wonderful stories of this man healing the sick and preaching on mountainsides. Oh, how I want to see this man so that I can know if what my friend says is true.
          The next day, I awoke and saw a large group of people walking down the main city street. There was a medium sized man in the middle wearing the clothes of a Rabbi. This must be the Jesus my friend was talking about. I crawled up to him. Everyone around him gasped and stepped a few feet away, except Jesus.
          "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." I said to him.
          Jesus reached out and touched me. He really touched me, this man surely wasn't afraid. "I am willing, be clean!" said Jesus with a beautiful voice. I felt my body jerk and then nothing... wait, no. I feel everything. I stood up without knowing I stood up. I walked up to Jesus without fault in my steps. He embraced me. "See that you don't tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." said he, the wonderful healer. I was so happy, I told everyone on the way to the temple.

Spiritual Walk Week 10 - In Jesus' Time

          "Why aren't the fish coming to us? All the other fishermen are getting loads of fish, but ours... Why?" said my dad.
          "Maybe because you're so lazy, Simon." said my brother Andrew
          "I am not lazy, maybe the fish weren't in the mood to be caught today." I said sarcastically.
          "But something caused the fish to be scared off. I know! It was your ugly face, Simon."
          "Not much uglier than yours. And stop calling me Simon, you know I don't like that name."
          "Ok, Peter (Pita) Bread."
          "Sons, stop arguing. We just had a bad day, It doesn't mean we won't have a catch tomorrow. Lets just head back to shore and call it a day."
          Father let the sails go and steered us toward the shore. As we neared the shore we we saw a Rabbi walking on the beach coming toward us. Then the man spoke saying, "Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people."
          This was amazing. A Rabbi, calling me? I was rejected three times, no one would take me! My dad must be freaking out. I looked back and saw a huge smile on his face, as he looked back and forth between Andrew and me. At the same moment, Andrew and I let go of the nets we had been pulling in, and dove into the water eager to follow this wonderful Rabbi that had actually accepted us, the rejects of higher society.

Spiritual Walk Week 9 - In Jesus' Time

          I was walking through the wilderness one day when I saw a man. The Man looked tired and worn. Then I heard a deep growling voice coming from his direction, but his mouth didn't seem to be moving. The voice said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

         The man answered to the voice, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

         The man suddenly disappeared, but the voice remained. "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

         Then I heard the man's beautiful, but weak voice respond, saying. "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

         The deep voice said. "All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me."

          "Away from me, satan!" said the man, "For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"

          After this, the man suddenly appeared where he left and food fell from the sky by the basket load. This has to be a dessert mirague. It isn't possible.

Spiritual Walk Week 8 - In Jesus' Time

Story told from the perspective of John the Baptist

          I was a sight to behold. My clothes were of camels hair. The hair on my head was so scruffy, it could have been camel's hair. I had remains of grasshoppers held together by honey stuck to my beard. I have a mission, and that mission is to declare the coming messiah.

          One day, I was preaching and baptizing when a man came up to the water's edge. He was a different man, he looked as if he was perpetually happy. He walked with dignity, then I realized this was the messiah. The more I thought of it, the more it seemed it was true. I couldn't hold it in. "This man is the son of God, who cometh to take away the sins of the world!" I yelled, pointing at him.

          He came up to me. I felt like I should bow down, so I did. He said, "Please baptize me."

          I responded surprised, "I need to be baptized by you and yet you come to me?"

          He replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do his to fulfill all righteousness."

          With this, I baptized him. Bu then something amazing happened. A resounding voice echoed through the desert and it said. "This is my Son, whom I live; with him I am well pleased."

          I was amazed. I stared at the son of God as he walked away.

Spiritual Walk Week 7 - In Jesus' Time

          The room was quiet, but then rose into a roar of complaints as the soldiers left the training facility. I stood alone in the room, contemplating over the things I just said. Man...Herod would have my head if this gets out. Well, if it saves more lives, I'm for it. My men went into the weapons rooms and got their weapons, then they round up their horses and took off. 
           I, on the other hand, walked out the back door of the training facility, grabbed my horse and ran to the other side of the city which was where Joseph and Mary lived. As I got within range of their house, I slowed and dismounted, leaving my horse tied to a post. I walked up to their front door and knocked on the door. There was no answer. I knocked again and still no answer, so I walked inside. The house was empty, so I decided to check the secret room in their house that they called the "Hidey Room". It was hidden in the back of their only closet.
           It was a small room, but looked bigger without anyone in it. I decided to turn around and look somewhere else, when something caught my trained eye. There was a carving in the wall. It was addressed to me.
           "We were told by God to leave to Egypt, we hope to see you again. God be with you, Joseph."
           Then I heard a scream outside. The massacre of babies had begun.

Spiritual Walk Week 5 - In Jesus' Time

Written from the perspective of a Soldier

           "You want me to do what, 'O King?" I said to King Herod.
           "You heard me right General. I want you and your army to go and kill all the young boys under two years old, to get rid of that boy-to-be-king."
           Oh, no... I would never kill all these baby boys, but especially not Joseph's son Jesus. We met recently and became friends quickly. I realized that the son that they had was really the son of God, and I'd do anything for them, because of the baby.
           "You heard me!?" bellowed Herod
           "Y-yes, Sir. Right away Sir.
           "Oh, and I better not see those kids on the next census, you hear?"
           "I understand Sir." I said as I walked out of the throne room. I walked toward the barracks and shouted for attention. I can't do this, so many little babies... then I had an idea...
           "Ok everybody, listen up, we have a job from the King." I shouted over the mumbles and groans. "But today is different, we have to kill all the baby boys under two years in the city before nightfall." There was a collective gasp around the room. "That's what the boss said, but I know we can't do this, so we'll give them a chance to fight back. When you go to look through the houses for the babes, tell them that they have 5 minutes to leave and go as far as they can to be safe. But you know, make it seem like Herod gave the order and it wasn't from the good of your heart that you gave them five minutes. Ok everybody, any questions? No? Okay then, get to work, Herod doesn't like to wait."
           Part 2 Next Week!

Spiritual Walk Week 4 - In Jesus' Time

Written from the perspective of an Non-Fictitious man named King Herod.

          "What do you want?!" I shouted at my three visitors. One of them steps back uncomfortably. I like making people uncomfortable.

          "We have traveled long and wide to find-" One of them, the thinner one, said.

          "To find what? If you're looking for me or my kingdom, you're in the right place." I retorted. Inside, I laughed. I have everything they could ever want. And they're talking to me, what could be better than that?

          "We actually came to ask you where we could find a babe, who is the new king of the Jews." replied the wider one.

          "A new king?!" I yelled, "I mean... A new king, you say?" I try to say with less malice.

          "Yes a new king, we followed his star in the East and have come to worship him." said the Woman of the group.

          This momentarily slowed me down, I've never seen a female Magi before. "Well, well, well..." This could be my breakthrough, I could kill him before he rises to power, because he is just a babe. "Scribe!" I yelled, "Show me in the scrolls where the baby king will be born." There was a moment of rummaging as the scribe fumbled for the correct scroll.

          "I-it says here, O King, that He will be born in Bethlehem in Judea." said the Scribe

          "See to it that you go." I tell them. "Remember to come back to me and tell me where the boy is, so that I may go and worship him too."

          "Thank you for your help, we shall see you once more." said the thin one.

          "Good bye, and may the odds be ever in your favor." I say as I wave them farewell. When they leave, I let out a cackle of laughter. That is powerful enough to make my scribe flee the room. I must remember to kill him, I can't have a coward attending to me.

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Spiritual Walk Week 3 - In Jesus' Time

Story written from the perspective of a non-fictitious 

man that was simply called, "The Innkeeper"

          Whew! Finally some down time... With that census the emperor decreed, my inn became a hotspot for tired travelers. My inn and other inns were so packed, that some rooms had to have two or three families packed into them. Other inns sent me people because they were full. I tried to accommodate them the best I could, but eventually, even with packing people into the rooms, my inn became full.

          I realized that I didn't want other people coming to my inn finding that it was full, I didn't want people wasting their time. I grabbed the flask of wine I had been drinking and walked toward the door. I opened the door and jumped, surprised to see a young couple standing in front of me. The man's hand looked as if it was about to knock on the door.

          "What do you want?" I said, "We have no more room, in fact, I was just about to change the sign."

          "Sir," Said the man, "My wife is pregnant and is due any day now, please let us in, we can sleep on the floor in the kitchen if you like, we just really need a place to stay."

          "Look, the kitchen floor is already taken, I don't have anythi-" I don't know if it was the wine or if it was God, but a crazy idea popped into my head. "Wait, I have a place for you. If you don't mind staying in the stables with the animals. I mean...Its comfortable, kinda with the hay and everything..."

          "Thank you so much Sir, here is the payment for our sta-"

          "You keep it, you'll need it for the census, I'm just glad you have a place to stay. The stable's out back. It was cleaned today, so you should be fine."

          "Thank you so much." Said the woman. This was the first time she talked, and her voice left me in a trance as I stumbled back into my inn and fell asleep behind my counting table.

Spiritual Walk Week 2 - In Jesus' Times

Story written from the perspective of a fictitious tree.

          I stand still and never move unless the wind moves me. I see and hear, but never speak. I eat, but don't have a mouth. People walk by me and tell me things because they don't think I can hear. All the others of my race tell me what others say. They tell me through the roots in the ground that are our ears and our mouths. 
          One friend told me about what happened in Mary's garden. I didn't believe him until he showed me what had happened with his own "eyes and ears". He even noticed a man named Philipus eavesdropping on Mary's conversation with the angel.
          One day some men walked past me on the way to the temple. I listened in on their conversation.
          "...woman Joseph is to marry is already pregnant." Said man #1
          "So, the rumors are true?" Said man #2
          "I hear that Joseph is going to divorce her quietly, so that he can preserve his dignity."
          A Month Later
          The same men passed by and decided to listen in on them again because their earlier conversation was interesting.
          "...not going to divorce her! I can't believe it, he says that God gave her the baby and she didn't lay with another man or with him." Said man #1
          "God gave her the baby? Of course God gave her the baby, the only way a woman would become pregnant is if God would allow her to have a baby!" Said man #2
         "I know that, but he said it differently, as if she was still a virgin--"
         "Blasphemy! How can she still be a virgin if she is pregnant? Are you stupid or what?"
         "I know...but it doesn't hurt to wonder..."

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Spiritual Walk Week 1- In Jesus’ Times

Story written from the perspective of a fictitious man 

named Philipus in the time of Jesus

          I, Philipus am one of those people that overreacts about pretty much everything. I remember one time a friend pushed me into the Sea of Galilee as a small prank and Bam! I blew-up in his face almost literally. I realize now that I overreact and try not to do so.
          One day I was walking in my neighborhood and I happened to pass by the house of a lovely young woman named Mary. I've known her for years, we were good friends in our childhood. I even once asked my parents if she was the person I was to marry, but they said no, she was Joseph's. I stopped trying to win her heart after that. I don't blame them, Joseph and Mary are a good looking couple. Now they are engaged and are going to be married in a couple months. That's why I was shocked when I passed by Mary's house and found her talking to a shining man in her garden that was saying: "...You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus..."
          "What does he mean? Why is he telling her she will hav-... wait...did Mary cheat on Joseph? With this guy? Who is this guy anyway?" I thought, not really paying attention to what the man continued to say.
          "...How will this be, since I am a virgin?" Mary asked the man.
          "Wait, what? How can she still be a virgin and be pregnant? This is too much for me to handle." I started to run back to my house, then I realized that probably my overreacting brain gave me a hallucination. Probably because I still loved Mary and I didn't want her to get married. I confirmed this with the memory that the man Mary was talking to was shining. And no normal man shines... Or do they?

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