A MAN NAMED JESUS!

There was always great joy in Judea when a son was born!  This was a blessing for any poor farm family for it meant another worker would be available to help with the cultivating, planting, and harvesting. 

When this beautiful baby boy was born, he brought great joy and expectation to his parents:  Eitan [meaning ‘one who is steady and very bold’] and Noam [meaning ‘loveliness or satisfaction’].  They deliberated about their new son’s name and wanted to give him one that would set him apart from all other Jewish boys.  They considered Moses – the great law-giver.  They also thought of David – the great king!  But the proud father won out and convinced his dear wife to name the baby Jesus.  It was the contemporary name for Joshua, the one who was mentored by Moses and then led the people of Israel into the Promised Land!  His name meant ‘savior’. 

Yes, this family had great expectations for their son!  They would name him ‘Jesus’ – savior!  They wrapped him tightly in cloths and held him close – only after checking him from head to foot and seeing that he was perfect in every way!  He would be a fine son!  Father and mother loved their son and cared for him attentively during the troubled times of Roman occupation.  They wanted their son to revere God, be kind and treat all people fairly.

But all plans, dreams and expectations are not fulfilled.

When Jesus was a young boy, tensions associated with Roman rule erupted into many violent conflicts across Israel.  A tax census placed upon the people by Quirinius triggered an uprising by Judas the Galilean and many died as the Romans responded with fierce and relentless force to quell the disturbance. 

Jesus’ father, Eitan, was caught in the conflict while on a trip to town for supplies and was killed.  He lay in the street as his blood mingled with the sandy soil of his homeland.  When news was brought to Noam, she was crushed that her love had been so abruptly taken from her.  Jesus, being only six, couldn’t understand why his father wouldn’t be coming home.  The house was filled with his mother’s anguish and tears. 

Life was hard for the mother and son!  Jesus was too young, too weak and unskilled to be able to fill the shoes of his father.  They were forced to be dependent on his mother’s larger family system to be able to survive.  This precious little boy, who had been the treasure of his father’s eye, was left alone with a mother who struggled for their very survival.  As he began to realize that his father would never be coming home, Jesus turned to anger and bitterness instead of despair. 

The father who had thrown him into the air and caught him with delight,
the father who tickled him until he was weary from laughing,
the father who held him and told him stories of his own childhood,
HE WAS GONE FOREVER!

And Jesus grew up hating the Roman soldiers for what they had done to his father!

His mother tried to steer him toward acceptance and forgiveness, but Jesus’ determination was set.  He would rebel against Roman oppression!  He would get even with those who had so brutally taken his father away.  When the time was right, he would even the score.

Noam lamented the dark moods of her son.  She tried her best to redirect his thinking and help him find a purposeful life, but the roots of Jesus’ hatred ran deep!  His hurt was inconsolable!  He was bent on revenge!

As time passed, they managed to survive with the help of family and friends.  Noam developed skills at making pottery and sold it at their village market.  Through the gracious help of her sister, Shira [meaning ‘song’], and Shira’s husband, they were able to get by.  Jesus was able to attend the village school and grow up among cousins and friends.  But, his anger was noticeable and his best friends were few – and also rebellious.

As he progressed in age, Jesus eventually left home and made his way to Jerusalem.  He wanted to find a way to hurt the Romans and they were more numerous in this center-city of the nation.  His companions shared his hatred and they schemed to create chaos in the city through subversion and disrespect.  One day, their efforts were rewarded as they set a trap for a small band of Roman soldiers.  Chaos erupted and a man was killed in the confusion.  Jesus was quickly captured and imprisoned.  After having been beaten, he lay for days tending his wounds as best he could. 

Then, to his surprise, he was suddenly led from his prison to the Praetorium, where he was placed on a platform along with – to his immense surprise – Pilate, the Roman governor!  What was going on?  Why had he been brought here?  What was going to happen to him?

It was then that he noticed another man, also standing between two Roman soldiers.  He quickly discovered that this man was also named Jesus.  He’d heard of this man!  He was a good man, a rabbi, who had healed many and fed multitudes.  He had often thought about searching him out to hear what he had to say, but it had never happened – until today. 

He could see that Jesus of Nazareth had been severely beaten.  His face was distorted and his eyes nearly swollen closed.  The soldiers had draped a purple cloth around his shoulders and had crushed a crown of thorns on his head.  Jesus thought of his own father and the blood that his mother had cleaned from his body before they buried him.  He felt sorry for Jesus of Nazareth and wanted to reach out to him and help him.  But he, too, was a prisoner;  a prisoner who was trying his best to figure out why he had been brought to this place.

Suddenly, Pilate stepped forward and called to the large crowd that had gathered:  “You know it is our custom to release a prisoner today in honor of your feast.  Which would you have me release today:  Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus, the King of the Jews?" 

Jesus Barrabas [bar = son, abba = father - therefore, “son of the father”] was shocked to hear his name being called out in unison by the mob.  Pilate seemed angry with the response of the people.  He called for a basin, washed his hands publicly, then said, “I’m washing my hands of responsibility for this man’s death. From now on, it’s in your hands. You’re judge and jury.”

After those words fell from Pilate’s lips, the soldiers released Barabbas and took Jesus of Nazareth away to be crucified. 

The precious “son of his father” was released, while the “Son of God the Father” was paraded away to become the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the whole world! 

This Jesus of Nazareth, this Son of Man and Son of God, died in our place just the same as He died in Barabbas’ place! 

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO LIVE AS A RESULT OF BEING SET FREE?

A TRIP TO THE CITY

 I'd like to tell you a little Good Friday story.  Part of it comes from my imagination, but part of it is factual - based on the Gospel of Mark, chapter 15.

Alexander (lets call him Alex) and his brother, Rufus, loved their father very much.  He was a very strong man who was capable of much hard work.  Once in a while, he hoisted them onto his shoulders and carried them around.  He never seemed to grow tired.  They were proud of their father.  He stood out in a crowd because he was a big man and also taller than most.  His very size seemed to command respect.  But inside, he was a gentle man and would never knowingly hurt anyone.  

He had to occasionally go to Jerusalem for supplies and would usually take his boys with him.  They loved these trips.  When they would come to the crowded marketplaces, he would hold each of them by their hands to keep them from getting separated and lost.  Their smaller hands got lost in his big, rough hands.  He worked in the fields and with the animals, so his hands had become calloused and brown from the sun.  He was not a famous man, but he was respected because he was honest, fair and a hard worker.  But most important, he loved their mother!  This fact gave the boys a wonderful sense of security.  They had good parents, and they knew it.  

Alex was a year older than his brother, Rufus, but age didn't really matter to them.  They played together every day and also had a few other friends on the farm where their father worked.  They played with a home-made ball that they kicked and threw around.  They climbed olive trees and hid from their father.  When he would walk below them, they would jump out and try to scare him.  He would catch them and rub their heads with his knuckles and then tickle them until they couldn't stand it any longer.    He occasionally would tickle their Mom too, but she didn't think it was funny and would pretend to get angry with him.  They would all end up laughing together...

Theirs was a poor but happy home.  Their father often told them, "All you need to be happy is the love of a family, enough food for the day and a safe, soft place to sleep."  They knew he was right and they never longed for things or for wealth.  Most of the time, their mother put them to bed at night, but once in a while their father would settle them down.  They would beg him for a story, and he would sometimes tell them about his own growing up years.  But then, he would wrap each of them up tightly in their blanket so that they could hardly move.  Then, he would kiss them on the forehead and pray over them.  When leaving their sides, he would stop in the dim light and say, "You boys must love God first, always bless your family and be kind even to strangers.  This will please God and you will live a long life!"  

One morning the boys had finished their breakfast and were wondering what to do when their father asked if they wanted to go to Jerusalem with him.  They burst to his side and off they went.  It was a long walk and their father always carried a sack with bread and grape juice.  Going to Jerusalem was all up hill, so it was a little hard-going.  The trip back was always more enjoyable.  

When they approached the marketplace, the crowd began to grow thicker, so their father took each boy by the hand to keep them together and safe.  Soon the crowd became so thick that they could hardly get through.  Their father was curious and pressed to the front to see what was going on.  This public road with merchants and vendors was always busy, but today the crowd was exceptional.  Soon, Roman soldiers stopped them from going any further.  As they looked up-and-down 'the way of suffering' they saw something that immediately shocked them all.

A man - nearly naked - was dragging a heavy cross-bar through the streets.  The soldiers were mocking Him and beating Him and spitting on Him.  He was clearly exhausted and had been beaten with a whip until His back was totally scarred and bloody.  He wore a crown of thorns that had been pressed cruelly on His head.  Many of the crowd were weeping at the sight of this man.  Others were jeering and seemed to be thrilled at this horrible sight.  Then they heard that His name was Jesus!  

They said to their father, "Dad, it's Jesus!"  They began to cry as they remembered the day He had pulled them up onto his lap and laid His hands on their heads.  "Why are they being so mean to Jesus?" the boys asked their father.  "I don't know, boys, but we must pray for Him."  They peeked between Roman soldiers as Jesus grew closer until He finally collapsed right in front of them.  The soldiers whipped Him in an attempt to get Him back on His feet, but He just laid in  the street.  

When the soldiers realized that Jesus couldn't carry His cross any farther, they began to look around.  One of them spied Simon - the boy's father.  He stood out from the crowd because of his size and height.  That soldier roughly called to their Dad, "Pick up His cross and carry it!"  Without a second thought, Simon turned to the boys and told them to keep him in sight.  Then, he stepped into the street and picked up the heavy cross-bar.  While lifting it to his shoulders, he reached down again and helped Jesus to His feet.  Together, Simon and Jesus followed the cruel soldiers out of the city and up to 'the place of the skull'.  

Once there, Simon was relieved of his responsibility and was able to rejoin his boys.  He took them by their hands and led them away.  From a distance, they sat and watched the grisly scene develop.  Finally, Simon took the boys away and they headed toward home.  The walk was quiet as they felt the sadness of what was happening to Jesus.  They had made a trip to see Him a year ago and heard Him teach.  That was the day that Jesus had called the children to come to Him so He could bless them.  Alex and Rufus had slipped from their mother's hand and had run to Jesus.  His tenderness was a moment they would never forget.  Their parents had been moved by His teaching.  

"Why were they being so mean to Jesus?" the boys asked their father.   "I don't know, boys," their father answered.  Then he said, "Jesus is a good man and a great teacher.  He has healed many who were sick and some say that He even raised some people from the dead.  He has performed miracles that are talked about all throughout Judea."  Just as he said this, the sun was quickly hidden from them and a night-like darkness fell over all the land - even though it was mid-day.  The boys were frightened.  Then the earth began to shake and they scrambled for high ground as they made their way home.  If the boys hadn't been with their father, they would have been terrified, but they knew that he would keep them safe.  

After three hours the darkness lifted and it was daylight again.  About then, they reached home and told their mother about everything they had seen that day in Jerusalem.  It was a day they'd never forget.  It was the day their Dad carried Jesus' cross!

A STORY OF TWO DONKEYS

One day, many years ago, in Jerusalem there was a donkey and she had recently birthed a colt. 

This donkey was nothing special.  She had worked hard for her master at carrying loads and turning the style.  She had worked in the heat and had always been faithful to her owner. 

But while she was pregnant, she didn’t have to work quite so hard.  Then, her colt was born.  He looked just like his mommy.  He was now four months old and followed her everywhere she went. 

One day, when dawn broke, she thought that it was an unusually clear day.  When she got up, her colt immediately got up too. 

Soon, her owner came and took her toward the city;  of course, her colt followed right along with her.  When they came to a house, they stopped for a while. 

Eventually, two men came and talked with her owner.  After a brief conversation, these two men led her away from her owner.  She was surprised – this had never happened before.  But she relaxed when they allowed her colt to come along too.

As they came to the brow of the hill overlooking Jerusalem, there were more men and others gathered.  They all seemed very happy.  Then the two men led her to another man who had the kindest eyes she had ever known.  As she drew near to him, she felt a strange sense of being genuinely cared for. 

The two men who had brought her here threw their coats over her back and this new man climbed onto her back.  First, he had petted her colt and spoke kind words to it.  He was not heavy. 

This began the strangest journey she had ever made.  As she carried the man down the hill and toward Jerusalem, crowds of people gathered.  They laid their clothing on the road before her.  Then, they cut down branches from nearby trees and laid them before her too. 

It was noisy!  There were lots of children!  Children love parades!  Each time she checked, her colt followed closely behind her.  She felt so proud!  The people shouted things like:

Hosanna to the Son of David! 

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 

Hosanna in the highest!

Before they entered the city, they came to a prominent spot where you could view the entire city.  The man slipped off of her and walked to the edge of the cliff.  The crowd grew quiet.  She heard him speak softly.  He said,

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and stone the messengers God has sent you! How many times I wanted to put my arms around all your people, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me!                                                              [Mt. 23:37 Good News Translation]

There were tears in his eyes!

She felt his pain.  She too loved her colt and loved having him close to her.  She nudged the colt with her nose.  He nudged her back and suckled during this brief break. 

Now the crowd was growing very large.  The noise magnified.  It was a joyful time!  She felt proud to be carrying this man.  The people obviously loved him and wanted to be close to him.  She was honored to be the one chosen to carry him.  

As they arrived at the temple, he dismounted and rubbed her head before moving away.  She watched as he was swallowed by the crowd.  Soon, her owner appeared and began leading her back to his home. 

As much as she respected her owner, there was something in her that made her just want to stay forever with this man who had ridden her into the city. 

Jesus our brother kind and good
Was humbly born in a stable of wood
And the friendly beasts around him stood
Jesus our brother kind and good

 

"I" said the donkey shaggy and brown
I carried his mother up hill and down
I carried him safely to Bethlehem town
"I" said the donkey shaggy and brown

[from "The Friendly Beasts" by Robert Davis]