THE BIG EVENT

                                              THE BIG EVENT

    The city teemed with people, vendors were set up along the streets, and there was an air of excitement. If events followed the big build up of officials, this would be a day no one would  want to miss. That this main attraction would be on a religious holiday ensured the attendance of the general public as well as the religious community. This would be a day either of great joy or bitter disappointment, and not necessarily for the same reason.

    Things were building up to this occasion for several days, as there were sharply divided opinions about forecasts of activities. As always, promoters and politicians joined church leaders in seeking a financial windfall from the event. It was a perfect situation for commercial profit, because people had already come to the city for the scheduled holiday. Now they would be staying at least an extra day. There had been a mad rush to prepare a cheap symbol to sell to the crowd.

    As twilight approached, the rumble of horses and wagons dominated the atmosphere. Dust swirled as the excited animals picked up the suspensive anxiety of the people. Musicians had gathered, preparing for the big event. Money changers were busily plying their wares. This scene would be repeated hundreds of times in the years to come. Some of the odds being given were out of sight. 

    Aaron and his friend Leon were caught up in the excitement, and held opposite opinions about the special day's outcome. Aaron believed there would be a large procession led by special outriders to reach the point where the parade would separate from the city. Leon said he thought the honorable parade marshal was not what he claimed to be. Helen, Aaron's wife, disagreed with both of the men, firmly stating both had the usual problem of thinking they knew more because they were men.

    The expected parade would move from the center of town to the main exhibition site and then on the main highway out of town. The spectacular fireworks would be seen for miles. As dawn approached, people lined the parade route. The usual quiet of the early dawning day was broken by the vendors. They were selling little artifacts to commemorate the big day. The already volatile atmosphere was further heightened by arguments by several of the dignitaries' as the parade began to move.

    Two religious leaders almost came to blows, while a civil servant
laughed at both. According to the program, the person of honor would join the parade at the main exhibition point and would take charge of the activities. A large contingent of sturdy men drove the wagons, 
accompanied by well drilled marchers including a contingent of the 
Army's finest and bands representing the religious and civil groups.
Women and children had a difficult time trying to watch the parade
because, as usual, men pressed to the front, making it difficult to
see what was passing by on the road.

    As the parade neared the main assembly point, there were loud 
outcries and shouts from the front of the parade. People in that area were pushing and shoving. The contingent of Army marchers broke ranks and rushed to try and restore order. Some of the horses became frightened by the shouting and rough actions, causing drivers to strain and try to hold them back. Some teams broke out of control and crashed into the wagons in front of them, while others ran into chariots traveling on both sides of the procession. Now the crowd joined in the melee, and there was a full scale riot. Weapons were drawn, and carnage resulted. The parade was over without the appearance of the grand marshal and with damaged and empty wagons.

    A couple of days later, Aaron, Leon and Helen were with friends in a large inn, trying to understand what had and hadn't happened. Aaron said he couldn't understand why the grand marshal hadn't appeared. Maybe he had already taken the treasure and departed, he suggested. How he could do this was doubtful because there was the problem of the treasure being locked up, and it would be so extensive in size and weight.

    Leon laughed at Aaron's explanation. "I told you it was all a hoax by merchants to make a lot of money," he said. The whole idea that the grand marshal would walk out of that rock-solid safe and carry off treasure to parts unknown was fool's folly," he continued, still laughing contemptuously. Opinions were divided among the other men. Most were still grumbling about money lost in the pre-parade betting. Leon continued, "How could so many grown men believe the propaganda of that politician?"

    At that moment, Helen rose from her seat, and startled the crowd of mostly men. "I'm ashamed of you men," she exclaimed, "For you heard and saw what the Master did. Your carnal soul clouded your minds, and you have been filled with doubt. I saw the Master as I left home to come here today, but you won't believe me. You say it's not physically possible, but you ignore His spiritual presence. You never understood His teaching. You're all frauds."

    Then, setting the stage for one of the men who would preach a 
powerful sermon a few days later, Helen told the men spiritual truth they failed to grasp from His teaching. "You told Him you would bear the cup He had to bear. You failed the first test, according to His very words," she charged. You can read His words in Matt. 20:22. "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" The men were taken aback, because women were not accepted to preach. This was not in church (synagogue), so the "be quiet" rule didn't apply.

    Helen now had a full head of steam because she could see the men were troubled by their actions of the past few days. She continued, again referring to the Master's teaching. You can read His words in Matt. 6:19-21. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures  on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in  in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where  neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

    She charged them with having more doubt than belief, just as Thomas said he had to see to believe. She held up two little symbols as she spoke. "See this outline of a fish?" she asked. He said He'd make you fishers of men to bring them His teaching and eternal life. She then held a roughly hewn cross in her hand, and cried as she said, "This symbol is forever etched in my mind as I remember the worst act ever committed by man. Where were you men?"

     As she cried, heartbroken, the Lord Jesus Christ suddenly appeared
among them. Mark 16:12 tells us what He said to those gathered there.
"He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had arisen ." They had not believed the resurrection. If you don't believe it either, you have no excuse, because the Word of God is readily available across the United States. I'm saddened because people who profess Jesus Christ come to our ministry for prayer when they have needs or wants, but they refuse to spend 10 or 15 minutes in reading appropriate scripture. Christ gives us eternal life...that's a never ending period of time. Yet a few minutes of your life--even one time-- is more than you're willing to give Him. He is so wonderful and man is so depraved. It's an honor and privilege to serve Him, and the sham Christians are destroying His faith.

Rev. Walbear