Then I Saw Her Face
Tonight as I lay sleeping, I awoke. For no reason I just awoke and started thinking about the birth of Jesus. I guess because December 1st was just around the corner and everything around was getting christmasy was the reason. Or maybe not. Anyway I lay there thinking of what it would be like to have been there on that hill with the shepherds when the angles came with their message.
"And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger."
So I lay there thinking about how it would be if I had a machine that could take me back to that time and somewhere between awake and asleep my mind took me back to that time. However for some reason I was only a teenager and I was just learning all about being a Shepard. We were all talking about the days events and were about to go to sleep when the sky lit up and I saw and I heard the angels for my self. What was going on. Somehow I was indeed back in time and at that very event. And there was noway I would ever forget it. Just as the Bible said after the angels left some of us left and went down to the town of Bethlehem which was a couple miles away. We walked through the streets. Everything was so quite. I expected to see crowds of people. Anyway as we came to the other end of town we saw a small light in this animal stable. We were use to animals you know so we slowly walked up and knocked. A man came up to us and wanted to know what we wanted. We told him what we had seen and heard and he stepped aside and let us in. What I saw I knew I would never forget. This young girl had just had a baby and she was holding Him in her arms. Her face was a sight to see. It was almost like seeing one of those angels. She looked at me and asked if I wanted to see the baby. I nodded my head yes and she unwrapped His face.
Now you got to understand something, I wasn't asleep and I wasn't exactly awake either. I knew who I was and where I was laying in my bed, yet at the same time I was also a boy Shepard living there in those times. My mind was whirling, I knew I was about to see for my self baby Jesus. I was about to see God. My creator.
I looked down into the face of this little baby. He was not asleep and He was looking up at me and He just smiled. I smiled back ,my mind flipping back and forth between what I knew and as a Shepard boy. I looked at the other shepherds and knew they did not know what I knew. I will never forget that night and the look on the mothers face.
Well my mind kept racing and time went by and in my mind I was 30 some years older and had two boys of my own and on our way to Jerusalem to the passover. Evidently I wasn't through with my imaginations. I expected to see the town quite but it wasn't . There was a noisy crowd coming down the street. Not just any crowd but soldiers and prisoners . I could see right away one was differently. He was beaten so bad you could hardly see His face and He was caring a log on his shoulders. I could see it was so heavy on Him and He fell under its load. I did not know who it was but my heart went out to Him. Then all of a sudden a Roman solider grabbed my arm and said YOU you carry His cross. I jerked back and shook my head no. but the soilder pulled his sword and I picked up the prisoners cross. It was heavy, but I was strong and I carried it up to a hill called the place of the skull. I threw down the log and stepped back. I just stood there for the longest time, listing to all the people and what they were saying. Some were weeping but most were just a nosy crowd, and very rude. And Then I saw Her Face. There was no mistake about it. It was her. That young girl I saw long ago in that stable. She was older but I could still recognize her. She was crying and saying My Son, My Son. Then there was an earthquake and darkness. I heard the man on the cross cry out saying IT IS FINNISHED. My mind jostled. This man on the cross was that little baby I had seen so long ago. This was Jesus, This was my God. This was the true lamb of God. Then as the song goes my two boys squeezed my hands and brought me back to my senses. They looked up at me and said daddy the lamb ran away. I took them into my arms and turned toward the cross and said my sons, Behold The Lamb.
I just lay there in my bed. My heart pounding. Why had my thoughts ran such as this. Why had I took so much time to think all this. Why was I awake. I got up and came into my office and began writing. I was so impressed. Maybe that was it I was impressed to think on these things. A bible verse came to my mind. It says
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.
What could be more true, more honest, more just, more pure, more lovely, what could be more of a good report as testifying about the birth and death of Jesus? As you have listened or read this testimony may the love of Jesus fill your heart to overflowing.
Melvin Deans 11-23-12