Jesus, The Messiah; Jesus, The Crisis
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series III, Cycle C
Cecilia knew she was having trouble with her pregnancy when the doctor called and asked her and her husband to come to the hospital immediately. The sonograms and ultrasounds had been compared to the blood tests. Cecilia's twins were conjoined and something would have to be done.
The leaders knew there was going to be trouble with that fellow from Nazareth. More and more people were following him. He was healing the sick and speaking to great crowds. Something would have to be done about this Jesus.
Cecilia was devastated. What would be the future of the twins? Where were they joined? Would they survive an operation to separate them? She and her husband, Kirk, were sick with worry as they drove the thirty miles to the hospital. She had called her mother and mother-in-law. The family would join them at the hospital after the conference.
The political and religious leaders of Jerusalem were worried. What would be their future if this Jesus got out of hand? He was already drawing crowds in great numbers. What could they do without getting into too much trouble themselves? They would have to talk this over carefully.
Cecilia's sister took the initiative. She took action and called the families' churches. Presbyterian and Catholic, Lutheran and Baptist. All the pastors were informed and she requested an immediate prayer chain. All would be praying while Kirk and Cecilia were speaking with the doctors. It was a time of crisis.
This was a time of crisis. Jesus' name popped up everywhere. People were changing their lifestyles for him. They were changing their livelihoods to support his ministry. Several were going on journeys to speak about him. Panic seized the leaders.
Panic seized Cecilia and Kirk as they were led into a conference room. Fuzzy pictures were explained as they saw two distinct outlines of their twin girls. The radiologist described the outlines where the legs were clearly shown -- all four. Four arms were easily distinguished when he enlarged the image on the computer. Two heads were clearly in view from the ultrasounds and the doctors had been relieved to see two hearts and four lungs intact. But they couldn't be sure just where the twins were joined. Somewhere in the abdominal area. And they weren't sure what to do.
The leaders weren't sure what to do. Clearly Jesus was gaining respect. Jesus was more than a curiosity now. He was bringing people to debate issues reserved only for religious leaders. And he dared speak as an authority on several subjects. They would have to make a decision.
Cecilia and Kirk would have to make a decision. Their decision would affect the lives of the twins forever. They turned to their family and friends for support. They turned to God in prayer.
The leaders would have to make a decision. Their decision would affect their political and religious futures forever. They turned to plotting with their friends. They turned on Jesus.
The leaders knew there was going to be trouble with that fellow from Nazareth. More and more people were following him. He was healing the sick and speaking to great crowds. Something would have to be done about this Jesus.
Cecilia was devastated. What would be the future of the twins? Where were they joined? Would they survive an operation to separate them? She and her husband, Kirk, were sick with worry as they drove the thirty miles to the hospital. She had called her mother and mother-in-law. The family would join them at the hospital after the conference.
The political and religious leaders of Jerusalem were worried. What would be their future if this Jesus got out of hand? He was already drawing crowds in great numbers. What could they do without getting into too much trouble themselves? They would have to talk this over carefully.
Cecilia's sister took the initiative. She took action and called the families' churches. Presbyterian and Catholic, Lutheran and Baptist. All the pastors were informed and she requested an immediate prayer chain. All would be praying while Kirk and Cecilia were speaking with the doctors. It was a time of crisis.
This was a time of crisis. Jesus' name popped up everywhere. People were changing their lifestyles for him. They were changing their livelihoods to support his ministry. Several were going on journeys to speak about him. Panic seized the leaders.
Panic seized Cecilia and Kirk as they were led into a conference room. Fuzzy pictures were explained as they saw two distinct outlines of their twin girls. The radiologist described the outlines where the legs were clearly shown -- all four. Four arms were easily distinguished when he enlarged the image on the computer. Two heads were clearly in view from the ultrasounds and the doctors had been relieved to see two hearts and four lungs intact. But they couldn't be sure just where the twins were joined. Somewhere in the abdominal area. And they weren't sure what to do.
The leaders weren't sure what to do. Clearly Jesus was gaining respect. Jesus was more than a curiosity now. He was bringing people to debate issues reserved only for religious leaders. And he dared speak as an authority on several subjects. They would have to make a decision.
Cecilia and Kirk would have to make a decision. Their decision would affect the lives of the twins forever. They turned to their family and friends for support. They turned to God in prayer.
The leaders would have to make a decision. Their decision would affect their political and religious futures forever. They turned to plotting with their friends. They turned on Jesus.
