Ninth Leper
Page 5
CHAPTER FIVE
The trip home was a long and trying journey. As he was happy to be returning home, he was disturbed by the past couple years of his life. The first day he made good distance, since he started at first light and rode until sundown. That night he ate cold food and slept on the ground with just a mat and blanked. He couldn’t sleep well trying to understand the last couple of weeks. He never thought that in his life he would experience something such as this.
He laid on his back staring at the stars wondering where heaven was, and if Jesus was there. The more he thought of this the more conflicted he became. No normal man could heal leprosy with just a word, he also knew he had lost a finger. Now he was healed, and a finger does not grow back. He wondered if GOD would forgive him for claiming that he was his son. But truly he was a devout man, one of which the law could not explain. Just as Elijah and Elisha full of miracles and misunderstood by many. If only he was the Son of GOD he could have easily got down off that cross anytime he wanted. He could have spoken and Annas and Caiaphas would have been wiped of the earth. For truly the Son of GOD could have destroyed all the Roman army with just a thought. So why would the Son of GOD choose to die.
The thoughts in his head carried on thru the night until he finally fell asleep in the early morning hours. His sleep was shallow never going into deep sleep only enough to be unconscious. Unconsciousness was a blessing, though, because, for a while, he could put it away and be at peace. When the morning sun came up he saddled the horse, tied his bed roll, and started the rest of his journey home. He rode all day and night because he was determined to get home. After the sun rose and the midmorning had passed, he could see home. The horse began to stumble from exhaustion so he got off and led it on.
When he was about half a mile from home, he heard someone calling to him. It was Jeremiah calling because he saw him coming and was shouting, “Father, Father, your home.” With this shout the family came pouring out for news had just reached them two days before. They had a celebratory Passover feast in honor of GOD returning him home. As the family ran closer he saw a new face. This girl was with child. When Jeremiah reached him, he threw his arms around him and kissed his cheek. He then turned and said he wanted him to meet his wife Ruth.
When all the hugging and greetings were over they made their way to the house. While Enoch put away the horse and fed him the rest went into the house. Deborah was so thrilled to see him she fixed him a plate of food and asked him to tell her about the last couple of years. He filled her in on the highlights but leaving out the part of the crucifixion. When he told them he met Jesus, Jeremiah shouted that he had talked to him at the wedding over two years ago.
Then he started telling his father how he had secretly been following him until after he left.
“Since you left I have been telling everyone he was the Messiah. Some laugh and some get angry, but I tell them anyway”. These words struck fear in his heart and he told him he needed to stop that nonsense, since he was definitely not the Messiah. Jeremiah looked at his father and said, “I know for a fact He is”. This upset him more for he was in fear of his son’s life. He then demanded he stop this nonsense, while Jeremiah only stood up and told him he was a man now and would do as he felt was right.
Ezechial jumped up off his chair and shouted, “I mean stop” so loudly that Enoch came into the room wanting to know what was going on. He turned and said, “Jeremiah believes that Jesus is the Messiah”. Enoch said, “But father I believe this also” this infuriated him so badly he turned and screamed “I am the head of this house…. stopping in mid-sentence, clutching his chest, and fell to the floor. Gasping for breath Deborah told the boys to put him in the bed. She told Enoch to go get the healer. He laid in bed gasping for breath until he fell unconscious.
When he regained consciousness, he could hear the healer talking quietly as he told the family he was not going to make it. As he laid there between life and death he felt a peace, a peace that was not to his understanding. As he laid there he could feel the presence of Jesus as if he was in the room. Then he heard Sarah crying and shouting at her brothers “You killed daddy, you and your JESUS”. Then she said “I hope you and your false god burn for eternity”.
These words ripped a fear in him that made his heart hurt worse than ever. He tried to talk to them only getting out faint whispers. Sarah came to his bed side and said, “Don’t worry, daddy I’ll never believe in this Jesus, I want to be like You”. He struggled with the effort to tell her he also believed in Jesus but in garbled whispers. He begged GOD for the chance to tell her but the lights were fading. He got out the words “Sarah no” unable to finish the sentence, which was “they are right.” As he slipped off he could hear shouts at her brothers “I hate you and your Jesus, I’ll never follow him!!”
THE END???????????
LET ME GIVE YOU A THOUGHT:
In Matthew 8:28 there is the mention of two lepers, but in Mark 5:2 there is the mention of only one, both in Gadara. While many say this proves the Bible is in error, others try to explain that in Matthew it takes two to be a witness to the Jews, that is why it is like this. Matthews was written to the Jews. I propose both are wrong, because in Matthews 10:33 it says that if you deny Him before man He would deny you before his father. History tells us one went home and started a great revival with the people of Gadara. While the other was never heard of again.
Now in John Chapter 3: Jesus used two different words to explain salvation:
3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life - 3:16 For GOD so loved the world he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Eternal means what: forever. While everlasting means what: indestructible, permanent. So, both men were saved, one for reward, the other forgotten. Both will be in heaven because Jesus does not repossess salvation. So, will there be people in Heaven who are not saved? We know them, Jesus knows them, but the FATHER knows not their names.
The possessed man most likely feared the same people who told Jesus to leave their land. What do you fear?
Do your children know you’re a Christian? Do your co-workers know you’re a Christian? Your friends, Your Boss, The Police? Do other Christians know you’re a Christian? I know in some countries most have to meet in secret. But the meeting in secret is a proclamation of I’m a Christian. But in free countries Christians hide in fear of ridicule, while the wicked rule. Will GOD know your name?
*All references are from the King James 1611 Bible