Easter 2001 - Story Sermon called "What Simon Saw" based on scripture and a song that I forgot the name of.

Simon from Cyrene and his son Josh

Bringing their sacrifice to Jerusalem for Passover.

"Watch the lamb" I kept telling him. He was still a little boy and this was his first trip with me since his mother passed away. He was "in charge" of holding the lamb we had brought for the sacrifice.

Just as we approached town there was a great commotion ahead of us. A man was riding a donkey and people were throwing down palm fronds in front of Him and singing praises to Him. "Why?" Josh asked. I didn't know.

The Pharisees came running out of the temple and told this man to make His followers be quiet. They called this Man "Teacher" and "Jesus". This "Jesus" told the religious leaders that He would not ask them to be quiet and that if they would stop praising Him the stones along the path would begin to cry out.

"Who is this man?", little Josh asked. "I don't know Josh, we will see. Watch the lamb."

As we neared the Temple to pray another great uproar began. This man Jesus was running back and forth across the square - knocking over all the tables, cages and stalls! What a sight! There was money and grain flying through the air like great clouds - the lambs and birds were everywhere!

Jesus shouted something about the scriptures declaring that Gods house being called a house of prayer but they had made it a den of thieves.

Jesus was not making many friends with he Temple elite - and they held great power over the people and the politics here. I was afraid of what this crowd would do so I hurried off with Josh and told him, "Watch the lamb, Josh, do not let him loose."

Over the next few days Jesus was very busy. It seemed like everywhere I went - there He was. Almost like He was talking straight to me - looking back I guess He was.

He was preaching, teaching, telling stories and healing the people, but mostly He seemed to be aggravating the Pharisees. I worried about how much of this they would put up with. They had challenged Him with many questions and Jesus seemed to answer them all correctly, still the high priest seemed to grow more angry and agitated at every turn.

More and more people came into town - it seemed like millions must have been there. "Watch the lamb, Josh. We cannot loose him because we can't afford another to take his place."

Josh always simply nodded and held on tight.

Thursday evening I watched as Jesus left the city and headed towards the Garden of Gethsemane with a small band of His followers. "Disciples" they called them.

Gethsemane is a very quiet and peaceful place, fitting for this band of people who proclaimed peace and said they were of "The Way"

I was surprised to later see a large group of men, including armed Temple guards, head in the same direction. Gethsemane was not a place for anger or battle I thought.

"Jesus is there" I suddenly cried out. I realized then that the High Priest had had enough and he was about to deal with this Jesus.

Sure enough, they returned shortly with Jesus bound and tied. The mob looked angry and wild while Jesus looked calm, almost serene...like He had expected this to happen.

As they got close to town I told Josh "Watch the lamb son, watch the lamb" Josh looked so little and scarred, but he bravely shook his head and held the lambs rope tightly.

A bunch of legal wrangling occurred as the Pharisees manipulated the crowds and the Romans. They drug Jesus back and forth from their council to the Roman Governor - Pilate.

Jesus was beaten, spit on, cursed, kicked, punched and drug every step of the way.

Pilate found no fault with Him and desired to release Him. The crowds cried out "NO CRUSIFY HIM". They even asked that a known murderer and thief Barrabas be released so this innocent man could be killed!

Pilate had Jesus flogged - beaten with a whip that had shards of bone and lead woven into its tips. Then he ordered Jesus crucified.

The roman soldiers of the day were very mean and cruel. They took Jesus to their headquarters.

I don't know what they did inside but when Jesus came out there were thorns sticking out of His head and He looked like a mass of raw meat from all of the beatings and flogging He had endured.

He was trying to carry the cross that He would soon be nailed to but He could barley carry himself. As they left the soldiers barracks and headed toward us Josh asked me why they were being so mean to this nice man. I did not have an answer. "Watch the lamb, Josh, watch the lamb" was all I could say.

As they came very close to us I could see the true condition of Jesus. Very little of what could be called "man" could be seen.

There were huge gaping wounds all over Him, much of what was not cut was swollen. Even the hair of his beard had been ripped out by the roots and a trail of blood marked the path He traveled.

I could not see an undamaged part on Him anywhere.

Right in front of us He fell - HARD

The path of blood drops began to form puddles - then pools of His blood.

A roman kicked Jesus out from under the cross and began to survey the crowd. "YOU" he shouted as he pointed directly at me, "Carry His Cross"

I could not argue or I would be crucified as well. As I began to lift the weight of the heavy timber I yelled to Josh, "Watch the lamb Josh, follow us and watch the lamb."

The cross was very heavy and it was both sticky and slippery from the blood of the man it was built for.

I was glad when we arrived at the top of Skull Hill and the roman told me I could go. I looked for Josh and soon he ran up and grabbed me tight. He had been crying, but did not want me to know.

"Papa, what is going on here?" he asked. I told him to watch and be quiet as they laid Jesus down on the cross and began nailing Him to it. Josh cringed with every strike of the hammer....so did I.

A heaviness fell upon me as they lifted the cross up. A mighty "THUD" sounded as it fell into it's hole and the entire crown gasped at what they saw.

Jesus was already at the point of death. Most strong men would have died a long time before this. Blood fell into the dirt in great drops, the ground became saturated as a small river of sorts began to flow out away from the cross.

This is a tragedy was the only thought I could form.

The crowd who had once cried out boldly for His crucifixion, now seemed afraid. "What have we done?" one shrieked. "Why?" several moaned. The priests quieted them down and said it was too late now - The DEED had been done. Each one of them had taken part in what was going on.

They began to mock Him again. Some threw rocks, some shouted words that must have hurt more. The crowd seemed to become more vicious by the moment.

"Watch the lamb, Josh, watch the lamb."

I was very afraid and confused.

About noontime fear turned to absolute terror.

Darkness fell onto the entire city. And for 3 hours it felt like all of the evil ever committed was focused on this one spot.

Jesus stirred, and gasped for air then cried out to God, asking why He had forsaken Him.

I was stiff with fear, and little Josh was attached to my leg and holding so tight I now wonder why I can still walk.

Then Jesus cried out again - and fell limp on the cross - DEAD.

The ground began to shake, then rumble - EARTHQUAKE! Someone yelled. Buildings began to fall, streets began to break up - even the Temple shook so hard the veil was ripped from top to bottom - exposing the Holy of Holies to the outside.

The only voice I was able to understand was spoken by one of the centurions who had beaten Jesus earlier, "Surely, This was the Son of God" he said as he fell to his knees and wept.

As I heard his cry scripture after scripture began to flood my mind and heart. Prophecies spoken by Isaiah and Jeremiah rolled past. Teachings I had long forgotten became clear and fresh.

This centurion WAS RIGHT! This was INDEED The Son of God - The long awaited for Messiah that was to set His people free.

Just then Josh came running up to me in tears. He was shaking he was so scared and I knew that what had just happened was enormous to everyone here, and magnified in a small child.

He cried and jumped into my arms. I held him tight for just a moment then he suddenly jumped back and began to look around - frantic.

"OH NO" He cried out "THE LAMB"

"Daddy, Daddy" He shouted as huge tears began to flow, "In the darkness and the earthquake I must have let go of the rope and the lamb for sacrifice ran away. I lost our lamb Daddy, I'm so sorry"

I held him close and assured him it was Ok but he would not hear it. "No it isn't daddy, we cannot afford another one! We will not be able to give a sacrifice for our sins - How can we be forgiven?"

I pulled him away from me and pointed to the cross - all bloody and cruel - I pointed to Jesus and said, "Don't worry my son, BEHOLD THE LAMB"