Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: PEACE (12/02/21)
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TITLE: Peace Lost and Regained | Previous Challenge Entry
By Gloria Pierre Dean
12/09/21 -
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Our loved leader is not asleep. He is praying fervently. He took three of us with him on this trip. I begin to hear him louder and louder; he seems to be in such travail. We can hear him grow more agonising; it seems. He is talking to Father God.
Please Father, we hear him say repeatedly in the shadowy light. He is on his face and it is distressing to see.
It is hard for us to understand why he is so disturbed. We have never seen him so discomforted. There are three of us here with him.
He comes over and says to us, "Can you not watch with me?"
We are so surprised by his vulnerability. I wonder to myself, what are we to watch for?
His next words haunt me forever.
"My soul is exceedingly sorrowful unto death" {Matt. 26:58}
I am still thinking about what he said to me earlier.
"Before the cock crows you will deny that you know me three times" {Matthew 14:27}.
No. I think in my heart. I will never deny him. We have been friends and constant companions for three years!!
"Not me". I declare inwardly, as I nod off yet again.
Minutes later, I am awake. The garden has become a hive of activity. We have visitors it seems and they are not friendly.
A group of men come into view and they are angry. At the head of the
group is our fellow disciple Judas. He looked elated. Eyes wide open we leap to our feet. These men are armed!
The high priests and elders are here too. This is scary! I think to myself. They are here to kill us. I watch as Judas makes a beeline for Jesus and kisses him with bold assurance!
Anger fills my heart as they grab Jesus! No way. I am thinking. Not on my watch!
In defence of Jesus, I seize a sword and slashes away. My instinct is to deliver Jesus from his captors. Blood flows and immediately common sense returns to me.
I look around only to see James and John retreating hastily.
"And they all forsook him, and fled".[Mark 14:50} Chaos ensues and I flee; call it cold feet. I was not brave anymore. Yes, I ran away. When I was sure that I was not being followed I turned around and followed at a safe distance. By then they had got Jesus and our world had fallen apart. Over the next few hours, I was trying to be incognito but a maid and some locals in the watching crowd recognised me. I was terrified and I did not want to be arrested and tortured. Three times I heard myself say,' I do not know the Man!'
I found myself cursing and swearing. I had a serious case of cold feet or self-doubt. All the other disciples had left. What horror! My all-powerful friend who worked miracles walked on water, multiplied food and raised the dead was being beaten to a pulp, mocked, scourged and yet he was silent.
'What is going on?' I asked myself.
My world as I knew it was no more. So what now! Eventually, I found the other ten and we went into deep hiding. The women were braver and proactive. We men were in shock. It was the Sabbath so we rested in our usual meeting place.
As events unfold, when Mary told us the good news that she had seen the Master I was first out of the door. He had risen just as he had promised. I was glad of the opportunity to meet him later so that he could bless me. I thrice affirm my love for him and could receive his final blessings with love, joy and peace. {John 21}
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Some minor constructive feedback: I think the formatting may have gotten messed up when you cut/pasted into the submission form. I suggest always previewing before you submit. Also, I have always been told to use exclamation points sparingly.