Skip to main content

A blind man is about to be healed - a short story


Is he mad? I believed he is a genuine person. I knew him, though from a distance. A brilliant guy. An academician - might not be as brilliant as I was. That is exactly why I could learn under Gamaliel and he under Sheltiel. I was hard working. He was too. He knew more things than an average Israelite. 
Then somehow our paths diverted. I heard that he has become a follower of this blasphemer called Jesus. Now, my blood boils when I hear his name. He claims to be the Messiah himself. But we all know where he is from. He is basically a carpenter from a small town called Nazareth. Who might have learnt a little bit of magic, a little bit of sorcery. A little bit of fraudery too may be. May be he healed a few people. May be he did a few miracles. May be he did things out of divine power. May be he is a prophet from God. And his teachings were also acceptable. But the moment he calls us all sinners and him as God, a Jew cannot listen to it and not do anything. As if he is no sinner. His friends are all sinners. How come? How does he explain that? And when he says he is one with Yahweh. Oh! That is horrendous for me to hear. I need to protect my faith. I need to protect my god. I need to protect my people from any sort of heterodoxy. I couldn't do anything then. I was young. 

But now. Why Stephen, why? Why did you just wander off from the truth. Why did you have to do it? You would have had a brilliant future. May be I would have been a future Gamaliel and you a future Sheltiel. We would have had wonderful arguements with each other in the temples. Why did u have to join this cult which has grown stronger after this man's death. They say he has resurrected. Absurd things they say. And how could a brilliant guy like you believe in these lies. We all know what the Roman soldiers told. It's all based on lies, Stephen. Why do you deliberately believe in lies, knowing it's a lie. 
Look at the audacity with which he speaks. The glory on his face. Brilliantly he narrates the entire story of Israel. He has got the big picture. Oh! Sheltiel has taught you well. 

Wait! did he just accuse all of us that we killed all our prophets. In a way what he said is true. Our ancestors were all stubborn. But what did we do. We are waiting for the Messiah, Stephen. We did not kill anybody. Why are you blaming us. 
And as he looks up he says he sees the Son of man standing on the right side of God. That is blasphemy. He has prooved that he is a follower of the blasphemer himself. No one can see God. He claims to see God. He claims that Jesus is God. Yes. All the teachers are doing the same thing I wanted to do. Let us all close our ears. We can't listen to this atrocity. Go get him. Drag him out of the city. Stone him with the biggest stones that you can find. Jews will not tolerate any such attrocity mo matter how dear a friend he is to me. Stephen has to die. Oh what bright future he had. I pity him. But no. This is not something pardonable. 
Yes sir, give me your coat. I will take care of it. You can stone him. You should stone him. I will take care of your belongings as you crush this blasphemy. I approve. 

But as he leaves his spirit, he kneels down with a smile in his face. How? There is a shine on his face. How? He is praying for us. How? How Stephen how can you do this? I have heard this prayer somewhere.... Lord don't charge them of this sin.. I don't remember where! Has my intelligence failed me for the first time? 
............................................................................. 

Five years have passed since that incident. His smiling face as he breathes his last still lingers around in my mind. Looking up, smiling at someone, he dies. Praying for us who killed him. Praying for me as I approved of his stoning. I still remember, as he was dragged out side the city, as he came near me, he said, "My dear Saul, repent"
I can't forget all those things. 
But the vehemence of crushing the heterodoxy was consuming me. I was not able to listen to all they are saying and not do anything. I am man who is devoted to my God. I cannot stand somebody telling anything against my God. Be it my own family. I will kill. The levitical priests who killed their own families who sinned against God is my true example. And I know God will reward me. And I have been quiet successful as I do this. I was able to convince the authorities about my fervour. And now I'm in charge. Im the usurper now. And I will defend my values. But their is something disturbing in my heart. Can't figure out what. Something unexpected is about to happen I believe. Oh! Stop Saul. Don't think about anything else. You do what you are expected to do in Damascus. 

A bright light..... 
The horse is fearful..... 
Jumps up high.... 
I fall low.... 
Full darkness.... 
Is it an eclipse or something? Just like what happened when they crucified the blasphemer. 
"Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" Such a powerful voice. But I can't see a thing. Ruel, my friend who is it? I don't know Saul, I heard a voice, but don't know from where. 
Ruel, why has it become suddenly dark. No my friend. The sun is bright.... I don't understand what  you are talking? 
"Who are you Lord? "
"I am Jesus whom you persecute! "

Wait! He was dead right? I was risen from the dead. 
How? Do you want to know? 
Yes! 
I will send you a man, dear Saul. You are a chosen instrument to tell about me to the gentiles and to the kings and to the people of Israel. 
You were blind. And you are about to see. 

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

For you

They began to spit ------ Beat him with their fists ----- Some slapped him, jeering Matt:26:67-68 It would be humiliating to be spat upon the face. His face would have been fully red out of bruise. A racoon eye probably. It is menial to be made fun off - more menial when people make fun of you disbelieving what you claim or what you really are. Matt:27:26 Jesus was flogged with a lead tipped whip  Skin might have shredded to pieces, pieces of muscles torn away, splurting blood everywhere. Pain unable to be described in words. Psalm:129:3 The plowers plowed upon my back. Hematomas everywhere. Anaemic because of the blood loss. Internal organs lacerated. Excruciating pain from the tip of the hair to the toe. Dehydrated. Stinking. Stripped naked and made to walk through the streets in front of the ones you loved, the ones who loved you. Thorns on His brow. Nails driven through the median nerve. Struggling to breath hanging on the cross. He has to pull Himself up to expand ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Not my will, but yours - a poem

Yes, Jesus was distressed and anguished too He was also grieved to the point of death So it is okay, dear one to be frustrated  It might not be as grievous as that of Jesus, but it's fine. But how Jesus handled, that is a lesson for us He did not over react. He did not brood over. He did not vent it over. He did not blame Himself He just prayed - not my will, but yours. How you handle your stress makes you stronger and bolder Either you succumb and grow weaker But face it in faith, and you will grow stronger. Equipping you to face the next one. Ultimate purpose is to be transformed into His likeness Live as Jesus lived. Do as Jesus did. Here how did He handle stress and anguish? Not my will, but yours He prayed. Image credit: https://www.artisor.com/artwork/morgan-weistling/thy-will-be-done/
Post a Comment
Read more

Plain and true

Mark:1:1-8 John the Baptist preached the gospel - plain and true. v4: He proclaims about repentance and turning to God to be forgiven. v7: He proclaims that Jesus is the only way. Acknowledging my sinfulness is the first step to salvation. By nature I am sinful. By my choices I am sinful. Realisation that I need forgiveness is the next step. And only God can give that. I need to turn to God to be forgiven. And finally Jesus is the only way to reach to God. He is the only way that this forgiveness is practicalised.  Once I can approach God, through the forgiveness granted on the cross, of the sinfulness of mine, then the beautiful amazing journey starts. Have you taken this first step? If not, all other efforts are wasted  Image credit: https://www.thenivbible.com/blog/what-does-gospel-mean/
Post a Comment
Read more

Coming back

Matt:24:37-51 When the Son of Man returns In those days When the Son of Man comes The Lord is coming The Son of Man will come If the Master returns and finds The Master will put The Master will return unannounced and unexpected  The owner of the whole universe, the Master, has Himself announced that He is one day coming back again. To reclaim. To reward. It is foolish to think He is not. It is utterly foolish to think there is no such master. It is foolish to sit unprepared. Because Jesus Himself has said that He is coming back. There is no ifs there. The only if that we find here is that - if the Master finds... Coming is certain. When you see earthquakes, when you see wars, when you see false Messiahs and false prophets, be assured that He is coming back.   These are signs that His coming back is near. Whether you believe it or not. Whether you want to accept it or not. Reinstate with Him, while there is yet time. Before it is too late. Image credit: https:/...
1 comment
Read more

Silence

I am often amazed by Jesus' silence on the cross. For all the accusations and false testimonies, how could he keep quiet.  There was no " I never said that" or " "for whom am I doing this, why should I go through this for them" or "why don't you understand". Why can't I keep quiet when falsely accused or pointed fingers at? Why should I justify? Will that bring about a change in the situation? Will they stop accusing? Why do you want to defend? More or less because of the pride. To protect our own self. By defending ourself we think our tarnished image would be protected.  Learning from Jesus' example is a difficult thing to do. Let the accusers say whatever. As long as you are a child of God. As long as you are loved by Him. As long as you are His beloved. Be secure in His love. Image credit: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/image/pictures-of-jesus-nails-feet-6723253?lang=eng
1 comment
Read more

Joseph of Arimethea

Joseph of Arimethea had chosen Jesus but was secretly following Him. We never come across him elsewhere in the gospels apart from the time of burial of Jesus. But at that point, he decided to go public. This is the time I should stand up for Jesus to give Him a decent burial-  and that is how the prophecies came true. Being a silent follower of Jesus is good. Yes it is between you and God. But openly proclaiming that you belong to Jesus is a different level. It is a higher way of obedience.  In your workplace do people know that they cannot mess around you? In your college / school, do people  approach you to pray for them? Do people fool around you? Do they hush their conversation when you enter the room? Would your presence make no difference? Do people want to gossip about others to you? The basic question is - Do others know you are a Christian? Do others know you are a child of God?  If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinf...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Parable of the ten Bridesmaids

Matt:25:1-13 The foolish ones were not ready with the oil. The wise ones also slept off, but they had the oil.  What has been told about Him, beforehand has been proved right. The same book says He is coming back. And when He comes back, will He see you waiting and ready with the oil of Holy Spirit; the oil of faith. Shouldn't the wise ones have shared their oil with the others? Isn't that what Christianity teaches to selflessly share. It doesn't work that way at the last hour when He comes. You have to have your own oil. The wise ones job is to tell the others about the need of the oil when the bridegroom will some day come, in an unexpected time, the need for faith in Jesus before it is too late. The choice is yours. Whether to be on the wise side or the foolish side. Would you keep oil for yourselves before He comes. If not, you would be called foolish, you would be labelled not ready, the door will be closed to you. Do not be foolish. Do not be on the unread...
1 comment
Read more