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!