Finishing the 4-Man Challenge

Finish the Journey

This morning we finish the four-man challenge. Imagine that you and your brothers, carrying

your paralyzed brother, are approaching Jerusalem. You approach the city from the east, coming over and down the Mount of Olives. You pass through the Garden of Gethsemane mid-morning and see the rock where Jesus’ tears became blood, you see the blood and wonder what happened there? You pass through the Kidron valley and begin the ascent into the city. It is now about the noon hour. You notice that the sky has darkened significantly and you start to be somewhat anxious about what that may bring.

There is a definite tension in the city, people are everywhere, some in noticeable distress,

mourning, weeping. Others seem to be laughing, cruelly you feel, and are gesturing outside the city toward a hill. You are in the front of your four-man team and you stop a passerby to ask them where you can find, Jesus, the healer that you have travelled so far to see. They look at you with disbelief, and with tears in their eyes, unable to speak they point you to Golgotha. As your men turn to look, you see three crosses outside the city walls on a hill. Not quite understanding and nearly pulled along by a force that you cannot explain, you and your men follow the road that leads outside the city toward the hill.

You pass women in absolute despair, crying, folded at their knees with some men silently

comforting them, their husbands. It is approaching three in the afternoon, you are cresting the hill with your brothers and the darkness seems to be building. You hear thunder rumbling in the distance and lightning begins to flash. Your eyes go to the cross in the middle, where a man and a few women are gathered, mourning. The man on the cross is noticeably different, he has been beaten and scourged badly wearing a crown of thorns...you realize this is Jesus, your healer. Your feet move forward, exhausted, you are going to the foot of the cross. Just at that moment, Jesus cries out with his remaining strength and slumps... it is finished.

Suddenly you are struck with great fear and doubt, “We are too late!” You and your men jog the

pallet to the foot of the cross and put your brother there. You are filled with sorrow. Your journey has

been long, you are exhausted physically and mentally as tears begin to fall. You hear words in your

head, “it was all for nothing.” Just then a soldier pushes by you and stabs a lance into the right side of Jesus. You are surprised at the sudden violence of the act and recoil as blood and water spray from His side. Your four-man team and your sick brother are touched by these drops and immediately a powerful change comes over you. You fall to your knees and adore this man, this Jesus, as you hear the centurion remark, “Surely this man was the Son of God.” Your knees, shoulders, and back no longer hurt and your heart is opened and filled with love as you turn to your brothers realizing your paralyzed brother no longer lies on the pallet but is kneeling beside you adoring Jesus. The tears increase and your entire body shakes with tears of joy, the tears of a forgiven man, of a rescued man, and you hear a new voice in your head, a voice of love and strength...”It is never too late!”

Bring your intentions, your brothers, your family, your deepest sorrows and hurts to Jesus today at the Hour of Mercy, 3 pm. It is never too late...