John carried a cross from Liverpool to London
Once a year my husband and I we spent a week at Scargill House in Kettlewell Yorkshire. The house is run by a community. In 2007 we where on a walking holiday there, when we met a young man who came for an interview to become a member of the community. In conversation with him he shared with me how God had spoken to him through his grandmother’s Bible. John at that time was on drugs and his life was in a mess. That day he was in his room when he picked up his grandmother’s Bible, it fell open and he read the words, “Whoever looses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10: 39 He said, “It was like someone breaking down the door of his bedroom, releasing him into freedom.” He went on to say that as a result of his meeting with Jesus he made a cross from part of their garden fence and he carried it from Liverpool to London, camping on the way. When people asked him why was he carrying a cross? He told them what Jesus had done for him. Jesus had sought and found him.
Jesus established the New Covenant through faith in what he accomplished on the cross in making the final sacrifice of himself to make us right with God. All that is required is for us to sincerely repent of our sin and to receive the Lord our God’s forgiveness.
For the last two thousand years it has not been necessary to bring to God a sacrifice ( a bird, an animal or grain)as a substitute for our sins against God.
The Messiah’s Secret – Mercy not Sacrifice Pages 92, 93.
“As Jesus sat at table in the house of Matthew, many tax collectors and outcasts came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to the disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy not sacrifice,’ for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9: 10-13.
Jesus the greatest person, who has ever lived on the earth, knowingly identified himself with ‘outcast’: the Jews of his day who were regarded as the lowest people in Jewish society. They had no status and no position because of their poverty, ill health, because they were lepers or had fallen away from the Jewish law or because they had been calibrating with the Romans and other Gentiles. Jesus described himself as a doctor, a physician. He had the cure for all ills. Turn back to God and His laws and he would heal them, belief in the Gospel of the kingdom, belief in him. Jesus said, ‘Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’”
Mercy not Sacrifice
Jesus said, ‘turn to me and I will heal you’; this was an appeal of love and reconciliation through the law,(Zacchaeus) steadfast love, and not sacrifice. His words and signs proved that he was from God. Jesus had the words of eternal life, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6
Jesus in saying that he desired ‘mercy not sacrifice’ he was pointing to the new covenant, which he brought into force after his death and resurrection and ascension. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit, steadfast love and the knowledge of God, reconciliation forgiveness of sins, the law written in the heart through faith in him. Jesus endorses the commandments for all time by them being written on the heart, circumcision of the heart.
A scribe came to Jesus asking which the first commandment was. Jesus replied, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. The second is this to love your neighbour as yourself.” The scribe said that it was right to love your neighbour as oneself. To do this is much more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. Jesus told his disciples to love one another as he loved them; this was a new commandment, which fulfilled the law through faith in him.”
The Burnt Sacrifice
The offerings made at the temple in Jerusalem varied: the burnt offerings, the meal offering, the peace offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering and other various sacrifices.
Extract from “The Book of Leviticus.” Charles R Erdman.
The first and most familiar of the sacrifices was the burnt offering, which expressed dedication. The very name indicates its distinct characteristic. The term means “that which ascends,” that is, to Jehovah. The entire sacrifice was consumed by fire on the altar, so that it was also described as the “whole burnt offering.” Of the other sacrifices, part was burned and part eaten by the priests or even by the offerer himself; but of the burnt offering, all ascended to God in flame and smoke. “
“The fire once kindled on the brazen altar was never to be extinguished. It was to be replenished, and a burnt offering was to be presented for the people every morning and evening. Therefore, this sacrifice became known as the “continual burnt offering.” The application is quite obvious. The consecration which God required of His people was not merely once for all. It was to be continuous, yet renewed consciously at the opening and close of each day. “The fire shall be kept on the altar continually; it shall not go out.”
The consecration as was symbolized by this ancient institution of the burnt offering has been embodied and realized only in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The continual burnt offering has not been offered since the destruction of the temple in 70 AD
Shoah Seminar – May 5th 2000 held at the Menorah Synagogue, Manchester.
Ten years ago I was invited to attend the Shoah Seminar at Menorah Synagogue in Manchester England. This day was in preparation for the first Holocaust Memorial Day in our area that took place on 27th January 2001. The government wants to ensure that the terrible crimes against humanity committed during the Holocaust are never forgotten and its relevance for each new generation is understood.
Several speakers gave reports: 1. An historical account of Hitler’s rise to power. 2. Examining the Christian response to the ghettoes and concentration camps. 3. The lack of concern by the leaders of European countries for the plight of the Jews.
Eye witness accounts were given of the terrible suffering and death of Jews in the concentration camps throughout Europe.
It was made clear that today Christians deplore threats to ethnically cleanse or exterminate any race of people.
The Rabbi of Menorah Synagogue when he spoke on the Holocaust, Holocaust meaning ‘burnt sacrifice.’ he referred to the Jews that had been taken by the Nazis to the concentration camps fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy in chapter 53 ‘the suffering servant’. The people of the Holocaust were the burnt offerings for the atonement for their nation’s sin against God. Also he said, God established the new covenant when the state of Israel came into being after the war, and the land of Israel, was their Messiah.
Whilst I respect Rabbi’s interpretation of his own Jewish scriptures, I as a Christian through the churches study of the Hebrew Scriptures, see the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy of the ‘suffering servant’ in Jesus.
King David prophesied that the Messiah’s body would not be burnt by fire.
Jesus’ body was not corrupted by sin. “David foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus, God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.” Acts 2: 31, 32. Psalm 16: 10. 49: 9.
The Book of Isaiah was written over a period of 200 years 740 BC – 510 BC by three prophets: Isaiah of Jerusalem, Isaiah of Babylon and the third prophet not named. (Introducing the Old Testament by John Drain, The Complete Bible Handbook by John Bowker was Dean of Trinity College Cambridge.)
At the time of Isaiah the land of Israel was divided into Judah in the south and Israel in the north.
Isaiah of Jerusalem lived in Jerusalem during the days of Ahaz and Hezekiah, he wrote the first 39 chapters. He prophesied in chapter 5 of the destruction of Jerusalem, this prophesy was fulfilled approx 100 years later when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered Jerusalem and shortly afterwards he destroyed Solomon’s Temple.
He prophesied about the birth of the Messiah in chapter 7: Behold a young woman shall bear a son and call him Immanuel. In chapter 9:6 “For unto us a child is born a son is given and the government upon him, his name shall be called: Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” Fulfilled when Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
In chapter 11 Isaiah prophesied of the distant future that has still to be fulfilled. The tree felled with only the stump remaining, referring to the stump of Jesse, the Jewish remnant that will survive the Great Tribulation period through the Messiah’s intervention destroying their enemies.
“Then the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.” Isaiah 11: 9.
In chapter 14: 12-16 Isaiah has given us insight into the history of Satan.
Isaiah of Jerusalem was killed in the reign of King Manasseh. 687BC.
Isaiah of Babylon was a student of Isaiah’s prophesies.
After Jerusalem was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, Jewish people were taken to Babylon as slaves 597 BC. Isaiah of Babylon (150 years after Isaiah of Jerusalem) was one of them. He wrote chapters 40 – 55 in these he prophesied of the exiles return and the restoration of Jerusalem. God would make a road through the wilderness where streams of water would make the desert bloom. Jerusalem would be restored like a garden planted in Eden, full of joy and gladness. He also described Israel as God’s servants and the Messiah as the suffering servant.
“Introducing the Old Testament” by John Drane.
“The prophet talks of the nation of Israel as the servant of God and the person mentioned in the servant songs is often described in the same language as is used for Israel.”
Both were created by God himself.
This has led many scholars to conclude that when Israel talks of the suffering servant he is simply talking of God’s people Israel in another way. But there are four servant songs that speak of a person, a servant. 42: 1-4. 49: 1-6. 50: 4-9. 52: 13-53: 12
Israel the servants of God
‘But you, Israel my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen’. 41: 8
“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not for I have redeemed you . . . For I am the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.” 43: 1-7, 21.
“Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun (title of Israel - upright one.) whom I have chosen.” 44: 2, 21, 24.
The servant the Messiah
“This servant will not loose hope or courage, nor has he rebelled or turned away from God.”
“Behold my servant whom I have chosen my beloved with whom my soul is pleased. I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will no wrangle or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.” Isaiah 42: 1-4. & Isaiah 50: 4-9 and so is the servant of 42:1 “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights: I have put my spirit upon him, and he will bring forth justice to the nations.”
In addition he suffers patiently – not for his own wrongdoings, like the nation, but for the wrongdoings of others. 53: 3-5
Most significantly of all is the fact that while the nation needed restoration, this servant is sent to restore and renew Israel. 49: 5, 6. 53: 4-6.
(Print off and give a copy of these prophesies to a friend.)
These prophesies below are taken from the Book of Isaiah and also I’ve included 25 other prophesies that were fulfilled on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion is just amazing, only God could do this.
"32 Prophesies Fulfilled in One Day" 6pm - 6pm
Isaiah 52: 14 - end Isaiah 53: 5 – 12.
1/14. The prophecy of his marred body, due to the brutality of the soldiers. “As many were astonished at you; his body was so marred more than any man and his form more than the sons of men.” Isaiah 52: 14.
Fulfilled. Pilate had Jesus flogged. ”Then Pilate released for them Barabbas, and having scourged, delivered him to be crucified.” Matthew 27: 26.
2/5. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Fulfilled. “And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak, and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to be crucified.” Mark 15: 20
Matthew wrote in his Gospel, “Jesus cast out spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.” Matthew 8: 16, 17.
Jesus bore on the cross, the causes and results of sin that came into the world with the fall of Adam.
3/6. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Fulfilled. “Jesus said on the cross, “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23: 34.
4/7. “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.”
Fulfilled. “Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you but he gave no answer, not even to a single charge; so that Pilate wondered greatly.” Matthew 27: 13, 14.
5/8. “By oppression and judgement he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgressions of my people.
Fulfilled. ”Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ? They all said, “Let him be crucified.” And he said what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more. “Let him be crucified.” Matthew 27: 22, 23.
6/9. “The place of the burial of Christ was predicted.”And he made his grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was there any deceit in his mouth.”
Fulfilled. Joseph from the town of Arimathea, believed the words that Jesus had spoken. Joseph was a member of the Jewish Council. “When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and departed.” Matthew 27: 57, 60.
7/10. “Yet it pleased him to bruise him; he has put him to grief; when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand;
Fulfilled. It was in the plan of God that Jesus would suffer and be killed and that on the third day God would raise him from the dead.
“Jesus said, “For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was reckoned with transgressors’; for what is written about me has its fulfilment.” Luke 22: 37.
8/11. He shall see the fruit of the travail of his soul and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous; and he shall bear their iniquities.”
Fulfilled. ”For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3: 16.
9/12. “He bares the sin of many; He was numbered with the transgressors.”
Fulfilled. “And when they came to a place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left” Luke 23: 33
10. Prophecy. 1,000 B.C. The prophecy of the betrayal of the Lord Jesus by Judas,
“Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” Psalm 41: 9.
Fulfilled. ”And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests, to betray him to them.” Mark 14: 10.(Just before Day of Preparation)
11. Prophecy. The price paid for his betrayal foretold. “And I said to them, if you think good, give me my price; and if not forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.” Zechariah 11: 12.
Fulfilled. “What will you give me, and I will deliver him to you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.” Matthew 26: 15
12. Prophecy. What would be done with the money? How would Judas use the betrayal money? “And the Lord said to me, Cast it into the treasury: a goodly price that I was paid off by them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them into the treasury in the house of the Lord.” Zechariah 11: 13.
Fulfilled. “Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? See thou to that. And he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said. It is not lawful for us to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel and brought with them the potter’s field to bury strangers in.” Matthew 27: 3-7.
13. Prophecy. The prophecy of his scourging. “I gave my back to the smitters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting.” Isaiah 50: 6.
Fulfilled. “And they spat upon him, and took the reed and struck him on his head.” Matthew 27: 30.
14. Prophecy of shame, reproach and dishonour. “You have known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour.” Psalm 69: 19.
Fulfilled. “They stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.” Matthew 27: 28.
15. Prophecy of the false witnesses against Christ at his trial. “False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.” Psalm 35: 11
Fulfilled. “Many bore false witness against him, and their witness did not agree.” Mark 14: 56.
16. Prophecy of the smitten shepherd. “Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.” Zechariah 13: 7.
Fulfilled. “Then Jesus said to them . . . it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” Matthew 26: 31. “And they all forsook him and fled.” Mark 14: 50.
17. Prophecy of the parting of his garment. “They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.” Psalm 22: 18.
Fulfilled. “So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.”. John 19: 24
18. Prophecy. It was seen in prophecy that he would fall beneath the cross. “My knees are weak through fasting.” Psalm 109: 24
Fulfilled. “So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha.” John 19: 17.
“And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: they compelled him to carry his cross.” Matthew 27: 32.
19. The prophecy of his thirst. ”I am weary of my crying; my throat is dried.” Psalm 69: 3.
Fulfilled. “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst.” John 19: 28.
20. Prophecy. What would they give him to drink? “In my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” Psalm 69: 21.
Fulfilled. ““When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” John 19: 30.
21. Prophecy. They stared at Jesus on the cross. “They look and stare upon me.” Psalm 22: 17.
Fulfilled. “They stare and gloat over me.” Luke 23: 35.
22. Prophecy. The pierced hands and feet. “They pierced my hands and my feet.”Psalm 22: 16.
Fulfilled. “And they crucified him.” Matthew 27: 35.
23. Prophecy . The pierced side. “They shall look upon me whom they have pierced.” Zechariah 12: 10.
Fulfilled. “And sitting down they watched him there.” Matthew 27: 36.
24. Prophecy. His heart was broken. “I’m poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.” Psalm 22: 14.
Fulfilled. “But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.” John 19:34 The blood and water issuing from his side, indicated extravasations of the heart: I.e., a broken heart.
25. Prophecy . Our Lord’s mother and friends in prophecy. “My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my wounds and my kinsman stand away off.” Psalm 38: 11.
Fulfilled. “And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance and saw these things.” Luke 23: 49.
26. Prophecy. The mockery of the people in prophecy. “I became also a reproach to them: when they looked upon me they shake their heads.” Psalm 109: 25.
Fulfilled. “And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God then come down from the cross.” Matthew 27: 39, 40.
27. Prophecy. The railing, hatred, and taunting of the mob. “ He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.” Psalm 22: 8.
Fulfilled. “He trusted in God let him deliver him: let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.” Matthew 27: 43.
28. Prophecy. The intense lonely cry in the hour of his suffering. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Psalm 22: 1.
Fulfilled. “Jesus cried with a loud voice . . . My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27: 46.
29. Prophecy. The cry of victory and triumph. “It is finished!” Psalm 22: 31.
Fulfilled. “When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” John 19: 30.
30. Prophecy. Jesus commends his Spirit to his Father. “Into your hands I commend my spirit.” Psalm 31: 5.
Fulfilled. “Father into your hands I commit my spirit.” Luke 23: 46.
31. A wonderful prophecy uttered 1490 years before its fulfilment. “In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside of the house; and you shall not break a bone of it.” Exodus 12: 46.
Fulfilled. “But when they came to Jesus they saw that he was dead already, they did not break his legs.” John 19: 33. “For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled. A bone of him shall not be broken.” John 19: 36.
32. Prophecy The Messiah was to be cut off, but not for him. “And after three score and two weeks shall the Messiah be cut off, but not for himself.” Daniel 9: 26.
Fulfilled. “You do not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather the children of God who are scattered abroad. “ John 11: 50-52.
33. Prophecy. The oldest prophecy of all, uttered by the Lord himself at least 4,000 years before. “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Genesis 3: 15.
Fulfilled. The heel of the Lord Jesus Christ was bruised when he was crucified, for the nails were driven through his feet, thus bruising his heels. John 19: 18.
The serpents head was there also bruised. John 12: 31-33. The execution of this sentence will take place when Christ returns. Romans 16: 20.
34. Prophecy. A great Calvary miracle prophecy uttered about 800 years before. “ And it shall come to pass in that day, said the Lord God, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day.” Amos 8: 9
Fulfilled. This is one of the most profound prophesies of the word of God. On the day that the Saviour would be crucified, there would be darkness at noonday.
“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. (12noon – 3pm) Matthew 27: 45.
Isaiah the Third Prophet
This prophet wrote chapters 56 – 66. He wrote at the time of the return from exile in Babylon 525 BC.
Cyrus the Persian King encouraged the Jews to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild the temple. The actual building began a year before Darius became King and it was finished in the sixth year of his reign. Ezra 5 & 6.
Nehemiah did not arrive in Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls until 445 BC 55 years after the temples completion.
King Herod added buildings to this second temple which took forty six years to complete. John 2:20
Isaiah wrote of the Israelite rebellion against keeping God’s Laws and traditions
When the exiles returned they found that foreigners had settled in the land, bringing in with them their religious worship and practices. As a result over a period of time some of these practices had been combined with the Jews traditions and worship.
This was regarded as rebellion against keeping God’s Laws and traditions by the prophet. He prophesied in 65: 1 of God’s call to the Gentiles. “I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here am I, here am I,” to a nation that did not call on my name.” God was ready to speak to the other nation, the Gentiles. (In the Bible two nations Jew and Gentile.) It was approx five hundred years later when this prophecy was fulfilled.
Paul mentions this prophecy when he wrote to the church in Rome. “Isaiah was is so bold to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me. I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” Romans 10: 20
The Gentiles were being brought into the New Covenant by God calling them to hear the good news about Jesus.
God was reconciling all nations to himself through Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Peter's Vision.
The Lord confirmed in Peter’s vision that God showed no impartiality between Jew and Gentile.
After Pentecost the apostle Peter was staying at Simon the tanner’s house at Joppa. Whilst Simon and Peter were preparing the evening meal, Peter had a vision, he saw the heaven opened, and something descending, like a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “No, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call common.” This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.”
Acts 10: 9 – 16
While Peter was still pondering the vision, three men arrived at the house and asked for Peter. They informed him that the centurion Cornelius had been visited by an angel. The angel directed Cornelius to send for Peter who was lodging at Simon the tanner’s house at Joppa.
Peter accompanied the men to the home of Cornelius at Caesarea. Peter related to them all about Jesus, “God had anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and made him manifest . . . To him all the prophets bear witness that every one who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” While Peter was saying this, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. Peter and his companions were amazed; God had shown no partiality between Jew and Gentile.” Acts 10: 38 – 45.
Today people are being found by God.
John the Telephone Engineer
My husband and I where on a walking holiday staying at Scargill House in Yorkshire. On the final day I was talking to a man who had been walking too and he shared with me how Jesus called him to be his disciple. John was a telephone engineer it was while he was working installing cable into a building when he heard within himself the word, ‘repent,’ over and over again the word kept coming to him. After work he searched his neighbourhood to find the Vicar of his local Anglican Church and when he did eventually find him, he asked the Vicar to explained to him what the word, ‘repent’ meant. John had never had any contact with the church, but he been sought and found by God.
Jane's Testimony
In Sept 1989 Jane who had no links with any church met Jesus as she walked along the disused railway line.
“First I would like to explain that I finally forgiven someone, I mean truly forgiven. A few days later I was walking along the disused railway in Helmshore with our dogs. It was a pleasant day, very still. I felt a wind blow up, but nothing was moving. I saw in front of me a life size Jesus on the cross. He was dead, his body grey, stone like, I couldn’t bear to look, I turned away. I felt all the wrong that I had done being taken away from me, but I didn’t want him to, because I physically felt the pain that I had caused him. I felt ashamed and started crying. The next minute I felt a presence next to me. I wasn’t sure if it was Jesus or God, but I couldn’t see anyone. All the weight I had been carrying inside had been taken away. I felt so happy, so clean. Everywhere was so beautiful, the colours were so bright, I had never seen colour like it before.”
