T.J.I.F.A.

THANK JESUS IT'S FRIDAY AGAIN!
PASS IT ON ... & ON...& ON... & ON
APRIL 11, 2003

HAVE A GLORIOUS RESURRECTION SUNDAY


SUBJECT: "DANIEL THE DONKEY AT THE CROSS"

THIS STORY IS  SPECIAL TO US, AT TJIFA, AND WE HOPE THAT IT WILL SHARE A SMALL PLACE, LIKEWISE,  IN YOUR HEART.  YOU, WHO HAVE BEEN WITH   US FOR A WHILE MAY REMEMBER VARIOUS STORIES ABOUT DANIEL AND   HIS MOTHER, DEBRA, AND THEIR DIVERSE JOURNEYS THROUGH THE BIBLE.  WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL ENJOY THIS ONE ALSO.   

THIS STORY IS OUR GIFT TO YOU THIS RESURRECTION DAY.  TJIFA WILL TAKE A VERY SHORT SPRING BREAK AND WE'LL SEE YOU  AGAIN ON MAY 1, 2003.  

CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR TROOPS EVERYWHERE.  WE SERVE A   GOD, WHO CAN AND WILL ANSWER PRAYER.  


THANK YOU FOR YOUR WONDERFUL EMBRACES OF LOVE AND PROLIFIC WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.  A GREATER GATHERING OF READERS NO ONE COULD ASK FOR, SO WE CONTINUE TO KEEP:

LOOKING FORWARD

SEE YA NEXT TIME (MAY 1,2003)    

TER & STAFF
  


DANIEL THE DONKEY AT THE CROSS


There are a few of you who remember Daniel the Donkey, who carried Jesus through the streets of Jerusalem as the crowd Worshiped Him with shouts of Hosanna!  Well a few days later this story unfolds:  


Daniel, the Donkey, stood teary eyed as he watched the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  He wondered about the cruelty of man.  He had seen one of his friends severely whipped, and wanted to rescue him, but was not in position to do so.  Even now, as he looked on this horrible humiliation of such a great man, his heart stayed toward Him.  What could he do?  He was only a Donkey; and a young donkey, at that.  He could have ran over those men with the swords, but then they would have killed him also.  And the look in the eyes of Jesus told Daniel that it wouldn't be the best thing to do.  So Daniel, like everyone else, stood and watched "The Innocent" die.  

Daniel heard the Words, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."  Daniel wondered if those Words also applied to him.  He felt that Jesus was talking about him, in his ignorance to do anything about this terrible punishment.  He was surprised when the crowd dispersed so quickly when the darkness came over the whole earth.  People ran to their homes crying leaving only a handful of disciples and Jesus; Mother, who was weeping without comfort.  

As they took His Body down from the cross, a third soldier pulled a small cart to the scene.  Daniel, now, understood his mission.  He walked up to the Cross and stood.  The soldier, without asking, grabbed Daniel and hooked him up to the small cart, with the body of Jesus in it.  

This day was so different from the day that he carried Jesus into the City.  He couldn't help but remember the crowds and the excitement.  Now, there was only sorrow, as they walked slowly down the cobblestone streets to a  place unknown to Daniel.   He noticed that there was a great difference in the weight of the lifeless body and the body, full of life,  that he had carried before.  He wondered if the sins of the world were the reason for the tremendous weight of the small cart.  Every step was labored and troublesome.  Every step was filled with a task and burden too great for Daniel.  He feared that one of these men would whip him if he didn't continue.    He realized in the midst of the trial, that he really didn't have to do this.  If he hadn't run away to see what the crowds were clamoring about he would be safe in the meadow with the other donkeys and his mother.  

His mother...   Then he looked at His Mother!  Still weeping, but walking along the street beside the dead body of her son.  His Mother, who bore Him in the manger of his mother, Debra.  And now, we all bear Him to His Tomb.  How could this be?  I thought He was the Savior of the World, The King of Kings!   It just can't be over!  Then Daniel remembered that in the stories that he had heard about Jesus, He would rise again.  All of a sudden Daniel understood his purpose.  

Daniel, the donkey, would see the rising up of Jesus, The Christ!.  His load wasn't as heavy.  His steps were determined.  He was looking forward to ‘The Tomb.'  He felt a tug on his bridle, which meant he was moving too fast.  In his thought life he was no longer weighted down.  He had the   eyes of a prophet.  He could see through love and faith the light of hope in everyone's future.  

After the Body was prepared, they laid Jesus in a tomb and closed the door with a large boulder.  The entrance was sealed with the Ruler's ring and the Soldiers spent the night, but so did Daniel, the Donkey.   

It was quite cold the first night that Daniel stood with the soldiers.  They didn't like being there and poked fun at one another about the possibility of Jesus rising from the dead.  The story that they told was very much like the one that Daniel had witnessed in his lifetime.  The soldiers frequently made fun of Daniel, also, because they had acquired him during this ordeal.  They spoke of how strong he looked and how they would sell him for a good price.   Daniel continued to stand there, because he knew that, as far as he was concerned he belonged to Jesus.  And if he rose up again, he would need a ride to where ever he lived, and Daniel would be His transportation once again...so he waited, despite the abuse that he endured by the soldiers.  

The second night seemed worst than the first.  The soldiers finally unhooked Daniel from the little cart and tried to shoo him away.  They had decided amongst themselves that this young Donkey couldn't be useful and they knew he belonged to someone because he had a mark on his thigh.   

On the third  night, Daniel couldn't sleep.  He felt nervous.  The guards weren't as loud as they had been in the past  two nights.  In fact, they were taking turns napping but remaining true to their posts.  They commented often about the ridiculousness of watching a tomb and laughed.  "Here we are with spears and swords.  If we saw a ghost, what could we do?"   And they laughed, nervously, all   the more.  

Daniel didn't know what time it was, but it was early in the morning when the earth shook violently and a bright light seeped around the large stone that occluded the entrance.  The stone began to roll   away and the light became brighter and brighter.  The soldiers who were guarding the tomb, stood lifeless, falling away with horrified expressions.  There were no more jokes or mocking, just horror.  

Daniel was excited!  He wondered what Jesus looked like , but in the bright light he couldn't look directly at whatever was happening.   But strange enough, he knew.  He knew that Jesus was alive. He's Alive! HE'S ALIVE! He knew that He had kept His promise.  He continued to stand.  Even after the Soldiers had run away, Daniel stood and waited.   

Daniel saw the larger than life Angel; Daniel saw the women who came; Daniel saw the Disciples; Daniel saw the Resurrected Christ.  He knew that his mission from that day on was to tell everyone about the truth in The Word of GOD.    He never was the same again, not even in appearance.  His beautiful dark coat of hair turned pure white and no one received him as the old Daniel, but then they never did anyway.  


Jesus is no longer the baby in the manger.  He is the Resurrected Christ.  If we believe this and/or receive this, we are obligated to tell some one about JESUS.   If GOD could use a Donkey to tell Balaam that he was going wrong, surely, He can use you to tell another how to go RIGHT!



Looking Forward

See Ya Next Time

TER



Next Friday will represent one of the most purposeful, and meaningful acts in human history. It's not only unequaled, but paramount in it's benefit to all of mankind.

I remember reading about Rev. Billy Graham, and how early in his ministry God revealed to him the significance of the "Cross," and I don't believe I need tell you how many millions of lives were affected by his ministry and message, that always included "The Cross".

Some facts you may want to keep in mind on next Friday, (April 18th) are how the ‘Cross' was used throughout scripture to lead us into an unmistakable understanding  of it's Power, and Authority.  Our entire Salvation is centered on what happened at Calvary when Jesus went to the Cross to die for my sins, and yours.

The Cross is emblematic of a death died under the greatest guilt, and the deepest curse.
For the Christian, the Cross therefore becomes the sign that Christ has borne the guilt and thus paid the penalty for  sin.

Jesus used the Cross figuratively,(Mt.16:24;Mk.8:34;Lk.9:23) while knowing that when we became "born again" by His blood, and water baptized, we would have an adequate concept of what it's like to ‘take up our cross.'  

In Wycliffe's studies he writes of the analogy, (carrying the cross)  "that Christ calls upon believers to be ready to sacrifice their selfish interests,  and daily to bear reproach, misunderstanding and shame in their service for Him, even as He did in His life and death Mt.10:38;16:24-26;Mk.8:34-38;Lk.9:23-26)".

Other scripture you might enjoy looking at are: [1 Cor.1:18;  Gal.6:14; Phil.3:18; Col.1:20], as Paul writes in his epistles.

If, we as a saved people, who know the core meaning and message of the Cross, change it in any respect, there's no confidence in that. Our only real hope lies not only in what happened at Calvary's Cross, but how much of this Sovereign act of God are we allowing to change, shape, and mold our (ETERNAL) lives today!

S.L.C.