THE CENTURION’S GOSPEL – Ch21 – part 3

A NIGHT OF REGRETS – Jerusalem

The city of David was a fortified walled city built on a long ridge shaped like a finger protruding from the Temple Mount. The ridge overlooked the bottom end of the Kidron Valley in the East, the lower city in the West and the tip overlooked the main Southern gate of Jerusalem and the Pool of Siloam. The city of David was originally built by King David and held the royal residences. Now, the palaces, located at the fingertip of the ridge were mostly used by visiting dignitaries and it many halls used by the ruling class. The rest of the ridge were houses of the rich.

They found the halls empty. Cornelius was frustrated. They back tracked to the plaza under the Temple Mount. The city was quiet with very few people wandering the streets. Then Cornelius spotted a figure crouching against the tall perimeter wall. When he came closer to him, by the light of the torches they carried, Cornelius recognized Judas Iscariot.

Judas saw them closing in and all he perceived was they were Romans, so he tried to run. But Cornelius cornered him. Judas was panicked and his face was riddled with guilt. Cornelius knew he was the one that led the High Priest’s henchmen to arrest Jesus.

“Judas… Judas! It’s me, Cornelius. Tell me what happened.”

Judas seem to calm down a little. Seeing that it was someone he knew, he told his story. He was disappointed with Jesus for sometime now. He was really hoping Jesus would use his heavenly powers to claim his rightful kingship. But Jesus would not. For weeks he was disillusioned. So, he met with the High Priest’s people to see what deal he could make. Then during the Passover meal, Jesus said that one of them will betray him, he panicked and went again to the High Priest and told them that he can lead them to where Jesus will be alone.

So, he led the High Priest’s servants and Temple guards to the Garden of Gethsemane. He betrayed him with a kiss. He told them that whoever he kissed is the one they wanted. Then Judas cried out.

“I looked at his face when I betrayed him! I looked into his eyes. There was no condemnation in his eyes. I cannot stand it. What have I done?”

Cornelius had no more time to console him. “Judas!” He had to shake him a little. “Judas, where did they take him?”

Judas pointed to the upper city and sobbed, “The house of Annas, the father of Caiaphas, the High Priest.”

“Listen, Judas. The Lord will forgive you if you let him. I’m going after him. Look for the others and wait. I have to go.”

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The story continues on in my next post.

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THE CENTURION’S GOSPEL – Ch21 – part 2

A NIGHT OF REGRETS – Jerusalem

“If Temple guards have Jesus, they’ll hold him in a cell at the other end of the Temple,” Cornelius said more to himself. He turned to Cestus and said, “Cestus, you get six of our men, full armor and weapons. Wait for me at the Temple portal gate, South tower.”

Cornelius brought Jacob and Trax to the Lady Pheobe’s quarters. He knocks at her door and did not have long to wait. It was the Lady Pheobe waiting for him expectantly.

“My Lady, thank you for your assistance. May Jacob and Trax stay with you?”

“Of course, Cornelius.”

“I must be off.”

“Be well.”

Cornelius rushed to the South-West tower of the fortress where Cestus waited with six of his men. Putting on his helmet, he and his men went through the portal gate that led to the North West corner of the Temple battlement walkway. They had to go to the other end of the Temple Mount. Cornelius figured it was about a third of a mile away which they can jog it in less than ten minutes. Along the way, Temple guards stood at their posts and dared not interfere with the Romans. When they reached the Southern buildings, they went down two flights of stairs and waylaid a patrolling squad of guards to demand where they held the Nazarene. The guards expressed no knowledge of this. Then Cornelius spotted a group of four men coming in through the gate. One of them had a big blood stain on his tunic but no visible wound. Cornelius angrily grabbed him and shoved him against the wall.

“Who’s blood is this?”

“It… it’s mine.”

“Tell me… Tell me what happened?”

“We went to the garden following the lead of one of the Nazarene’s closest disciple. We caught them unaware. They were sleeping except him. I and my companion were tasked by the High Priest to bind him but then I was attacked. My ear was cut off. There was so much blood and the pain… the pain was so unbearable until… until there was no more pain. I opened my eyes to find that the Nazarene’s hand was cupped over my ear which was whole again. He healed me even after all that.”

“Where is he?”

“I don’t know. After he healed me, I didn’t want to partake anymore.”

“What did the High Priest intend?”

“A trial tonight. He has reconvened those members who are loyal to him and find the Nazarene guilty. They intend to have him killed.”

“Where?”

“I don’t know.”

Cornelius figured that they’re probably holding the trial in one of the great halls in the ancient city of David where the Sanhedrin usually met. They quickly descended the Southern stairs that brought them to the base of the Temple Mount unto a grand plaza.
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The story continues on in my next post.

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BIBLE Q & A with Johann – #3

If a Christian commits suicide, does he lose his salvation?

The answer is a definite NO! How can I be sure? Well, first, let us look at the basics of Christianity.

What constitute a Christian?

1. Are we Christians because we call ourselves one?
2. Are we Christians because we just believe in Jesus?
3. Are we Christians because God placed His Holy Spirit in us?

If you chose #3, you were right to do so. For those who chose #2, you are partially right, however the process of salvation is still incomplete.

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory. [Ephesians 1:13,14]

So, our salvation is guaranteed not by our actions but by the Holy Spirit in us. We also have Jesus’ promise.

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and the Father are one…” [John 10:28-30]

Now, let me tackle the subject about a Christian who might commit suicide. I will only focus on those cases that where they gave into despair and killed themselves.

Personally, I do not know any Christian who committed suicide. Biblically, I believe that Christians are spiritually incapable of ending their lives so tragically.

Jesus will not allow it. Let us look at Jesus’ words again.

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and the Father are one…” [John 10:28-30]

For a Christian to commit suicide, that person would have to have been tempted to a point of absolute despair, willfully rejecting the influence of God’s Spirit in him/her. The Holy Spirit is our guide into all truth. He teaches, convicts and protects us. Christians, while still on this earth, may not be so perfect and can falter into sin, but yet God will always be there to help us recover and give us a way out.

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. [1 Corinthians 10:13]

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footnote:

Someone asked me about the suicide of Judas Iscariot who hung himself after betraying Jesus. Yes, he was a follower of Jesus and was one of the chosen Twelve. Let me say first that Judas did not have the Holy Spirit indwelled in him. At that matter, none of Jesus’ disciples received the Holy Spirit until the day of Pentecost. So, they were all very susceptible to temptation of the evil one, most especially Judas who was later controlled by the devil (John 13:27).

Judas’ suicide was even more tragic because I truly believe that if he sought forgiveness, Jesus would have given it with no reservation.

THE CENTURION’S GOSPEL – Ch13 – part 2

TO JERUSALEM – Magdala to Jerusalem

Wherever Jesus went there was always a large following. Cornelius started to note the presence of a tighter group of Pharisees and scribes among them. At first, they mostly observed and whispered among themselves, but lately, they have been increasingly confrontational. Just the week before, three of them from Jerusalem came up to Jesus and publicly demanded why he would allow his disciples and they used the word “transgress” the time honored traditions of the elders. Apparently, they observed some of the Twelve not washing their hands during a Sabbath meal.

[note: The scribes were the religious lawyers of the priesthood. The Pharisees were mostly rich fundamentalist and members of the leadership.]

To their surprise, Jesus started to chuckle and shake his head. A few others also started to laugh though Cornelius knew that they were not sure why. Jesus started to walk away still chuckling but they insisted that he answers them before the witnesses around them. He looks at them and again he had that same knowing smile. He whispers something to Peter, James and John. They started to push the crowd to form a circular area with the three angry Pharisees on one side and a calm Jesus on the other. Cornelius was reminded of another similar scene of the Prophet Elijah against four hundred Baal priests.

Then he answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?

“For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother is to be put to death.’

“But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God,’ he is not to honor his father or his mother.’ And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition.”

“We are teachers of the Law!”

“You are hypocrites! How rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: ‘this people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’ “

The Pharisees were blustering for no one has ever dared spoken to them that way. They angrily pushed their way through the crowd and left.

Jesus called the crowd to come closer, He said to them, “Hear and understand. It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”

Privately Judas Iscariot, who had a disturbed look, came up to Him and said, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended in what you said?”

But Jesus answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
[Matthew 15:1-14 NASB]

Cornelius now knew that he need not worry about the Zealots. For Jesus had just made a bigger enemy of the religious leaders of the land.
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The story continues on in my next post.

If you are interested in reading the entire ebook, you can find my ebook in Amazon.com for only $1.99. Just click the link below.

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Thank you

Johann Q