Mary…did you know? Part 10

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Under the heat of the rising sun the Centurion cautiously surveyed the familiar surroundings.  Countless times he occupied the place where his shadow was cast, but on this day he sensed something out of order and a slight feeling of uneasiness began to wash over him.

As he stood in his place of attention, his authority could not be mistaken, and the stern look on his face was set to serious business as he visually searched the crowd.

Carefully His eyes scanned to and fro, and though the multitude was larger than usual, he found,  that satisfaction and appeased anger sat firm upon the majority of faces.  It was an expression that he was well acquainted with and usually mirrored on such a day,  but not this day.

This day his face reflected the conflict residing in his heart.  And though he was a Roman officer known to be hard and swift handed, he was also a man of resolute justice, and today he feared that he saw error in the system he swore an allegiance to uphold and enforce.

This I Know

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An Easter Tribute

Jesus loves me this I know
For the nails tells me so

And by the shedding of his blood
It is confirmed that I am loved

As He hung there in his pain
I was forgiven of my shame

And as His blood ran down in streams
It was His gift He offered me

All the glory belongs to Him
I am forgiven of my sin

Jesus loves as no one can
For He suffered and died for man

It does not matter if you

Mary…did you know? Part 9

 

“Jesus!” shrieked Magdalena as she instinctively reached for her Lord.

“Stand back!” growled a soldier as he slapped her hands aside and barred her way with the shaft of his spear.

John lurched forward in reaction to the soldier’s harsh treatment, but when the Roman turned the tip of his spear, and gave a warning thrust;  John shrank back and pulled Magdalena protectively to his side.

Jesus’ mother,  who was now separated from her two supporters, stood trembling at the dismal sight unfolding before her.

And as the heat from the morning sun began to swell, she helplessly watched as six roman soldiers, hunched closely to the ground, went about performing their grisly task.

It was in that place of anguish where she discovered that it did not take a skilled eye to see that

Mary…did you know? Part 8

 

The three quickly fell amongst the multitude and steadily made their way towards Golgotha.

Their walk proved to be laborious and painfully quiet, for the crowd had grown tired of their ranting and now followed in mixed sounds of sorrow, the shuffling of feet, and remarks that lacked greatly in feeling and compassion.

As the trio continued their pace they each began to overhear comments made from those who walked around them, and it wasn’t long before they found that words could be harsh and capable of delivering a sting to the heart just as cutting as the slash of a whip.

*     *     *     *

“He brought it upon himself,” one could be heard saying in an unsympathetic tone.  “What did he think was going to happen?  You do not go against the Sanhedrin.”

“True, so true,” said those who walked beside him.

“Law breaker that is all he is!” said another who eagerly chimed in.  “There is no justification in breaking the Sabbath… even if it is to

Mary…did you know? Part 7

 

Both women found walking extremely difficult as they pressed through the throngs of people.

The city was loud and hot, and the disruptiveness of the multitude added to their grief.

As they rounded a corner, Mary Magdalene stopped short as she began to recognize her surroundings.

“Here, we will go through here,” she pointed while tugging on Mary’s arm.

And together they slipped into a nearby alley where they instantly gained relief from the pressing of the crowd.

*   *   *   *

Moving down the corridors clothed in shadows, Mary began to pick up her pace as Magdalena pulled her through the various alleys and narrow passages.

Somberly she pressed on and as she took careful steps upon the stony path, she could not help