Moments With God.
Advent
Week 3
Monday, December 13
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The Soldier
Another night spent patrolling the inside perimeter on guard duty, I hated it. It was really boring and nothing ever happened, just marching up and down night after night. Many things flooded my mind and yet there wasn’t anything very cogent in my thoughts, just marching and the unceasing boredom.
Three hours passed, then four and five until the time approached when the Captain of the guard would come to relieve me from my post. At long last I could get some sleep and more than anything else right now, I needed some sleep. I had even considered sleeping on duty, but the punishment was severe enough that it was no more than a passing fancy.
Off in the distance I could hear the tell-tale sighs of metal clanging against metal and knew from experience that my relief would soon arrive. I made one last, quick check of my uniform as they neared my position and mentally prepared myself for that much-needed rest.
"Soldier, come with me," the Captain bellowed. "Yes Sir," I replied and quickly fell into the formation, adjusting my step to the march. I had no idea where we were going or how long it would take us to get there, and my feet were killing me. We marched past governmental buildings and some opulent religious structures, before finally exiting the city by way of the Horse Gate.
We marched down into the valley, passed through an orchard and into a large clearing where some men were gathered around a simple fire. The Captain ordered us to halt and from the back of our ranks a civilian and some of the chief priests from town pushed their way to the front of the column to where I was standing.
"Greetings, Rabbi!" the civilian said as he approached and kissed one of the men in the garden. The Jew looked at him asking, "Friend, why have you come?"
Suddenly out of the corner of my eye I saw a flash of steel flying towards my face, but before I could move one of the men with the Rabbi had cut off my ear!! I started to fall, weak from the lack of sleep and dizzy from the loss of blood that poured from the side of my head.
"Put your sword in its place," the Rabbi said, "for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?"
The Rabbi then retrieved my ear from the ground and as gentle as a mother with a newborn babe, touched the side of my head. Immediately the pain stopped, and when I felt the place where He had touched me, I realized that he had somehow re-attached my ear and removed the blood from my face. Who was this Rabbi that He could do such a thing as this?
Suddenly all those who had been with the Rabbi, ran off into the night leaving Him alone with us. The Captain ordered us to take Him into custody and lead Him away to the home of the high priest. We bound Him and began the march back into the city--my feet no longer hurt...
We beat, kicked, humiliated, spat and tortured this Jewish Rabbi while the priests looked on. I kept thinking that He would use His miraculous powers to save Himself from our thrashing, but He never did.
We killed Him, you know. There was a mock trail, more torture and then the most horrible death known, upon the dreaded cross. I should have slept well that night, but having come face to face with this man, my life was forever changed. After His death I fled my post and joined the group of men that had been followers of this Rabbi called Jesus. They told me a story about a babe who was born in a stable under a great star and they told me of many other miracles. It was then that I became convinced in my own heart and began serving the man who had touched me with the gentle hand of God.
Glenn Porter
As I journey through the data that creates today, may I be mindful that the babe in the stable came so that joy could be a reality as I face the issues in my life.
Sometimes I want to pick up a sword and take care of things in my world. The sword isn't an expression of the peace that your birth came to give to us.
May I embrace Your peace and not try to make peace with my human ways.
O, Come to us, Abide with Us...Emmanuel
Amen
[Psalms 41,52] [Zech 1:7-17] [Rev. 3:7-13] [Matt. 21:1-11]
or suggestions to Yvonne Edwards.
Edited: Dec. 12, 1999 3:20 p.m.
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