From the Church on the Hill
by D. Eric Williams
Pastor, Cottonwood Community Church
pastor@CottCommChurch.com
Resurrection Story Part 5
The old man fell silent and little Josiah could see tears in his great-grandfather’s eyes. The boy stepped toward him and wrapped his arms around his neck.
“Grandpa I love you” he whispered. After a long pause he spoke again: “what happened next grandpa?”
The old man wiped the tears away from his face with his sleeve and returned the little boy’s embrace before speaking.
“Well Josiah,” his voice trembled as he spoke. “He began to teach us just as he had on the road to Emmaus.” He paused a moment to control his emotion “but it wasn’t just teaching little one; he enabled us to understand the Scriptures.”
“What do you mean ‘enabled’ grandpa?” Josiah’s eyes were wide as he spoke.
“I mean, he gave us understanding. It was a gift, a grace from God. What I mean is, the Holy Spirit taught us. It is just what the prophet Jeremiah spoke of when he said the new covenant would be written on the hearts of God’s people.” The old man leaned back against the courtyard wall and sighed. “Then Jesus said this; ’thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the promise of my father upon you; but wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.’”  The little boy stepped back, his eyes were wide and his mouth fell open as if to speak. His great-grandfather sensed a sudden change in Josiah.
“What is it my little one? Are you all right?”
“Grandpa, I think I have been enabled too. I understand something now. If Jesus was supposed to suffer then he had to have a body like you and me didn’t he?”
“Yes, yes that is right” the old man leaned forward in his eagerness.
“And grandpa, if repentance and remission of sins are given by Jesus because of his suffering and resurrection, then his suffering and resurrection had to be a real and true didn’t they?”
“Yes! My boy, do you truly understand? Have you truly been made a new creation in Christ Jesus?” Tears were once again streaming down his face.
The little boy began to sob. His were not tears of sorrow but of joy. He threw his arms around his great-grandfather again as he wept.
“Grandfather I understand now! I understand why you think this day is so wonderful! It is wonderful because Jesus rose from the dead - really and truly - with a body just like ours, he rose from the dead so we might have life!”
The two of them wept with joy as they held each other - and the Angels rejoiced in heaven because that morning a little one who was lost was now found on this most magnificent day of the year.
THE END

 
 

 

 




 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 


Cottonwood, Idaho 83522
 

Home

Classified Ads
 

COTTONWOOD
CHRONICLE
503 King St.
P.O. Box 157
Cottonwood, ID 83522-0157
editor@cottonwoodchronicle.com
or cotchron@qwestoffice.net
208-962-3851
Fax 208-962-7131