Spiritual Journeys #2 |
The follower |
clawmute Junior Member
since 2007-10-01
Posts 24Arkansas, USA |
The Follower by Frank Lee Jennings AT THE BEGINNING The first I ever saw him I was walking by the way a crowd was closely pressing while He had stopped to pray what is this I asked myself? a rich man's son was dying and he'd come here to plead that Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth would do a wondrous deed can he do that? I wondered to curse dark loss far from his door far from his precious son he wept and begged the Rabbi who simply said "it's done". is that really true? I doubted rejoicing went the rich man who'd trusted Jesus' word I watched and listened to them but doubted what I'd heard just a man can't do this! but then the rich man's servants came and met him in the way rejoicing, told their master his son no longer lay upon a deathbed dying but had risen up with joy and was now completely perfect a healthy little boy I was witness to this and yet I questioned still that a man could heal another without potion, touch or pill was this man a magician? He went into the synagogue there in Capernaum and preached words from Isaiah and said the time was come for those words to be quickened and that he was the one spoken of by the prophets the world to overcome this man says he's Messiah!? they brought a man before Him screaming, bound and tied Jesus cast the devil from him and he fell as though he'd died can this be, he casts out devils? I was more confused than ever as I stood there in that throng a normal man can't do such things could it be I was wrong? can He possibly be the Messiah? I went with them and Peter we wound through streets and lanes with Jesus sometimes speaking of the work that yet remained work? What work? then coming to his in-laws home Peter showed a few inside his wife's mother lie sick abed with friends at her bed side Jesus spake and healed her so the fever fled away so she rose up and served them toward the ending of the day what man can do these things? then others came to beg Him to heal them of their woes so Jesus prayed and healed them all at Peter's in-laws door not a one left sickly He healed them with such ease I stood amazed at his great power to cure these men's disease I must learn more about him! never had I seen such things in Israel's sacred land I intend to follow after him to try and understand my other life must wait I never tired of following after Jesus and his men as they roamed about all Israel and preached of life and sin I feel the burden of my deeds he spoke of dead religion and men whose hearts were as a sword who taught keeping tradition was all that pleased the Lord I left awhile to journey home to see my land and kin for I'd been gone for quite awhile so they worried where I'd been I can't tell them what I'm doing I soon returned to Jesus for all the while away I longed to be back with him for to hear him every day why do I feel this emptiness? come to me the rabbi said then I will take your sin and give forgiveness for it so you may enter in to God the Father's kingdom where you never shall grow old and worship Him for ever in Christ the Shepherd's fold where no dark thing can enter no tears or pain to bear for ever there to praise Him that bought us from despair he's says plainly that He's the one! and washed us from our sins with his own blameless blood and clasped us to himself just as a father would JESUS TEACHES AT THE SEA we came down to the sea shore with Jesus teaching still the crowd was pressing sorely and couldn't get their fill He spoke God's word with power like a prophet of the Lord then healed all those around Him with no thought of reward we'd never heard such things in the synagogues or temples His words came in such power that made it seem so simple never had I heard the prophets so now Simon's boat was near us so we few climbed aboard and Jesus taught the multitude from just off Galilee's shore Simon allowed me to come... we pulled the boat away now as I'd become a hand to help with all the nets and gear and near the Master stand for in the past few days I'd seen his frequent stare though he had said nothing I knew he was aware of this quiet, single follower that always came so near whenever he was preaching I was sure to stand quite near I wanted to draw even closer... He taught of many things then fading twilight came and as the people went away they were praising Jesus' name for his wisdom, love and healing that never had been seen in all the land of Israel since David had been king MIRACLE OF THE FISHES we went to sea right after that as the sun set on the rim Of Galilee's calm waters on a crew of needy men I sat in the stern watching him... then Jesus spoke to Simon to set their nets once more the fishermen all doubted but cast them as before as soon as they had set them the boat began to fail from the straining of the nets as they pulled against the rail the nets had filled with fishes more than they'd ever seen right to the point of bursting and we couldn't pull them in Simon fell to weeping and went down on his knees have mercy on us rabbi for we're not fit to be standing in your presence because I know your name you are the Lord's Messiah and for Israel you came JESUS CALMS THE STORM later a great storm arose we hoped that it would cease it looked like we were sinking but the master slept in peace finally we all woke him as high black waves broke oer' he marveled at our faithlessness but silenced all the roar he marvelled at our lack of faith and never seemed to fear no natter what was happening his voice was firm and clear months went by with me in tow just watching from the side as he touched and healed the lepers and opened up blind eyes how can this man be God too? the leaders of the synagogues all plotted day and night and tried to catch him in his words they sought with all their might but he made them all look foolish when he answered in a way that filled the place with power so took their breath away I stood amazed at his authority... HEALING JAIRUS' DAUGHTER a man named Jairus came then at Jesus' feet did plead for him to quickly come and meet his daughter's need for the child was near to death no physician had the skill to drive away the plague that stormed in for to kill I'd never seen a man more broken as Jesus walked to Jairus' house He was pressed hard by the crowds but suddenly he stopped then challenged right aloud He said "who touched my clothes"? and a little woman cried "if I hadn't touched you Lord I know I would have died" for she'd been to all the doctors who took her every cent but still she was afflicted no matter where she went she was frail and slight... he blessed her for her faith and praised her with his words but Jairus' daughter passed away and her neighbors mocked the Lord so Jesus sent the crowd away save for the chosen part then spoke life back into the girl who sat up with a start I saw this through a window the parents were rejoicing but Jesus merely said see that you do not tell a soul and see that she is fed THE LAST SUPPER they had a passover supper in an off street upper room I came to help prepare things then stayed to see it through they were used to me now... Jesus washed the disciples feet Simon Peter spoke a reprimand not so Lord, you'll not wash mine but he did not understand that Jesus came to serve not be served and teach this to all men to serve and be the last of all then serve and serve again JESUS IN THE GARDEN they came to take him in the night in the garden while he prayed the disciples all were sleeping and with them I had stayed the soldiers took him with them to the chiefest of the priests so he was gone from all of us and all our faith had ceased I'd not been parted from him in many days and miles and now I heard the Romans were sending him to trial surely they'll release such a one the Jewsish leaders pressing for hate and envy's sake to have the master put to death then all his flock to take back to the rule of Moses' laws back to traditions cold that had no life, or breath or grace but only chain-like holds I can bear the law no more... JESUS' TRIAL & CRUCIFIXION the next time I saw Jesus was at the public square soldiers stood around him while Pilate sat his chair I couldn't hear them speaking I got there much too late but by the great crowd's roaring I feared the master's fate where shall all of this end? I heard them shout Barabbas! saw Pilate wash his hands and soldiers striking Jesus while he was tied in bands they forced a thing upon his head I could see that it was thorns how could they do this to him? the kindest man yet born... they forced a cross upon him too that he could hardly bear I stood and wept as he went on then cried a wailing prayer how can God abide such a thing? the crowd was pressing on him as he strained along the way going up Golgotha's hill and skies were waxing gray the crowd followed along... he fell and then he struggled to lift the cross once more so then they forced a stranger to do that wicked, final chore forcing my way forward I watched as soldiers laid the wounded, bleeding Jesus upon that cross they'd made It was if I were in a nightmare... once the cross was upright between the other two they mocked and jested of him as that roaring mob still grew some of them he'd prayed for... they pierced him with a spear as he hung before us all many wept but many jeered and I had heard him call "father I pray forgive them for they don't know what they do do not charge them with this sin I forgive them before you" not even anger as was dying... the sky was black and windy and the earth shook with a roar Jesus whom I followed had passed through death's cold door the ground shook violently! I felt completely hollow with my dreams all fled away to see the master crucified was far too much to pay why had I been deceived? Jesus said that he'd be crucified then rise on the third day but all of us who'd heard him could never find a way to believe that such a thing would ever come to be for a man to raise from death we'd simply have to see what strange things I'd heard we'd seen him raise up Lazarus by calling to his grave but to raise himself up from the tomb was far beyond our faith his disciples all were hiding fearful of the Jews that came and took the Rabbi and might come for them too but after time had passed I soon began to hear from friends of his disciples a thing that shocked my ears that Jesus rose up from the dead and had been seen of all who'd followed him through Israel those ones that he had called these things were far beyond me... I'd sat for years in synagogues as teachers read the scrolls of Moses and Isaiah of Psalms and Ruth and Job since a child I'd heard and known Messiah would come one day and save us from our cruel trials then take us all away but it seemed like a dream... to the heaven Jehovah made for His people Israel whom He'd chosen long ago to deliver us from Sheol Jesus is Messiah, now I know after all these miles of travel after all I've see Him do I know for certain who He is and what He came to do It's for me He's come... so I gladly yield unto Him and come on bended knees so heal my heart dear savior do with me as you please at last my burden is gone! I knew I finally knew him for He was God's own son came to save us out of hell for He my heart had won He can't be taken from me for in me now He lives and I'm His new Creation so every day He gives this wondrous new life to me and guides me in His ways and even when He chastens me He lightens all my days and nightly births a song of praise that spirals through the stars a high clear song of deepest joy past Jupiter and Mars i felt new, I didn't know myself! Jesus came to the disciples as he hid there from the Jews the whole thing was way too much as they reeled from all the news Jesus breathed on them and said "receive the Holy Ghost, and then go you into all the world make disciples of all men" this is your calling now for soon I must depart and return unto my Father but now you have your charge for as the Father has sent me I now also send you wait for the Holy Spirit He will tell you what to do THE UPPER ROOM there on the day of Pentecost and I was with them too not as a distant follower but but a brother born anew I no longer stood apart from them there came a rushing mighty wind that swept right through us all baptized us in the Holy Ghost empowered for His call I felt a boldness rise up in me the fire of God, the doonamis now fills those to the brim they speak in tongues and have all gifts the spirit gave to them I felt a fire growing in my middle BEWARE THOSE THAT CAST OUT HIS WORDS AND DENY HIS POWER religion dark would cast away the Holy Spirit's gifts but they fight the very savior they say their sect uplifts receive you now the Holy Ghost and cast all words away that fight God's written Holy word and drive all those away that seek to have all things of God He's promised in His word in simple faith filled child like joy, not by religion blurred dismiss all words that dismiss His and cast them far aside remember that His written word is the true and only guide and adding to or taking from receives the Lord's great wrath so fear to change a single jot lest you be turned from the path it seems so right when they speak God's gifts won't come today but who will believe what's written instead of what false prophets say they say God has changed! there is a way that seems so right even to those who believe they cling to men instead of God and you will be deceived by saying His gifts are for yesterday but are not so for today how can you say that part is right but the rest must be thrown away? reject the words of those that preach that God no longer gives His spiritual gifts to those who ask those that for and in Him live now hearken distant followers watching Jesus from afar rush in close near to His side and stay not where you are be born anew of grace and blood shed by the Holy King who raised Himself up from the dead so followers could sing eternal songs of praise and awe as at His throne we fall worshipping with angels true followers one and all He made it all so simple a child could understand yet men refuse His message and flee from God's great plan because it's just not hard enough and works don't enter in and man's mind just won't let him see His grace alone blots sin religion's pride demands great deeds and say that these things save and earn his place in heaven and save you from hell's grave these are followers of the world and everything therein but true followers of Jesus are forgiven of their sins so now we follow Him alone on a path that He has built long before that we were born and long befofe the guilt that man accrues from day to day while seeking fleshly goals vainly chasing phantom dreams that never ever hold a lasting heart's contentment or God's eternal peace but only add more burdens and guilt that doesn't cease so bow down now before Him and pour out all your woes He knows your prayer already but wants you to know He knows Ps62:8, pour out your heart... I followed Him till I believed then repented of my sins His blood has washed those sins away, now Jesus is my friend |
||
© Copyright 2016 Frank Lee Jennings - All Rights Reserved |
⇧ top of page ⇧ | ||
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. |