WOEKEY & DOEKEY SERIES. TWO
The Earthquake
In the streets of Jerusalem, during the heat of the day, an earthquake suddenly struck. Both humans and animals were frantically searching for a safe place to stay. Woekey asked his dear friend, “There you are, Doekey. Where have you been?” It seemed Doekey was troubled by something even more than the earthquake. “We are about to die, Doekey. Can’t you feel the earthquake? Oh my goodness, it’s really terrible,” said Woekey, confused and fearful. “Yes, I can see that. Let us go and hide inside the temple,” Doekey replied.
“Finally, he speaks!” Woekey exclaimed, still trying to understand why his friend seemed unperturbed by such a massive earthquake. “Are you out of your mind, Doekey? We should be looking for a nearby forest to hide. We are not humans, remember? They might butcher us as a sacrifice. The angry and hungry lions in the forest can still eat us too. So, what do we do?” Woekey asked.
The Torn Vale
Faced with the terrifying prospect of an earthquake, both donkeys eventually sought shelter within the temple. “Better a sacrificial death,” they mumbled, resigned to their fate, “than being mauled by hungry lions.” But the sight that greeted them inside was far more disturbing. The priests, instead of offering solace, were themselves a picture of abject terror. Some ran around frantically, while others wailed openly, even tearing at their priestly robes. The earthquake seemed insignificant compared to the raw fear gripping those inside. Woekey, ever the worrier, pointed out the horrifying sight – the temple curtain, separating the Holy of Holies, ripped from top to bottom, exposing the sacred space beyond. “The chief priests must be devastated,” Woekey stammered, his voice laced with fear. In stark contrast, Doekey remained uncharacteristically calm amidst the chaos.
Curious Woekey
After sometime, the earthquake stopped, and the two friends made it out of the temple. Woekey couldn’t help but ask Doekey how he was able to remain calm all this while in the face of all that happened. “I saw it, Woekey.
It was terrible, very sorrowful and heart-wrenching,” Doekey said while shaking his head in agony, churned out of deep hurt feelings.
“What did you see, my friend? What could be more terrible than the earthquake we have just witnessed, not to talk of the chaos inside the temple? Tell me, Doekey, tell me!” Woekey queried, this time a bit irritated because his friend Doekey wasn’t flowing in the conversation. “If you are going to yell at me, it’s much better I keep to myself. But if you really want to know, then you will have to keep quiet and listen attentively,” Doekey said to Woekey.
Doekey’s Agonizing Experience
Doekey started to narrate to Woekey how he had gone out of Jerusalem with a man called Simon, who was a friend of his Owner. Simon had requested that he, Doekey, help him carry some load from a nearby town called Cyrene to Jerusalem. According to Doekey, as they drew near to Jerusalem, there was so much chaos on the road that he was wondering if the Jews were celebrating any huge festival. While he was trying to navigate the huge crowd along with Simon, whose load he was carrying, all of a sudden, the crowd cleared off, and Roman soldiers were in front of them, flogging and beating a man carrying a cross.
At this time, Woekey saw his friend shedding tears and was unable to continue with the story. “It’s okay, Doekey, stop crying,” he said. “At least we are safe. So, who is the man, and why were the soldiers beating him? Did you say he was carrying a cross?” “Yes, Woekey, he was carrying a cross,” Doekey continued. “The soldiers, on seeing that the man had lost lots of blood and looked so tired, forced Simon to carry the man’s cross. Indeed, Simon helped the man who staggered on. I later realized that they were heading to Golgotha for the man to be crucified. I also learned that the man had fallen under the weight of the cross three times.”
“Eventually, I followed them to Golgotha, where the soldiers mercilessly and brutally nailed this man to the cross. I could still hear his wailing in my head right now – each sound of the hammer blow on his hands and feet as they fastened him to the cross. Woekey, my friend, one thing that baffled me was that, upon the brutality meted upon him, he never rained down curses on the soldiers. Rather, he said that his father should forgive these men, for they knew not what they were doing. Such a kind-hearted man.” “So who is this man? Was he a criminal? For sure, he must have done something very bad, isn’t it?” Woekey asked.
Doekey Speaks
Now Pay Heed To This
“His name is Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the son of the living God. Yes Doekey, his death brought an end to the use of animals as sacrifices because he became the last sacrifice. He bore our pains, and the chastisement of our peace was upon him. That’s why it’s called Good Friday in the Christian community. By the death of Jesus Christ, we were reconciled with God. In the Old Testament, one had to sacrifice an animal to be right with God. But Jesus paid the ultimate price on the cross with his battered body and blood. We no longer have to kill an animal; we just need to believe in Jesus Christ, and then we are saved. If we read the gospel, we will see that the thief received salvation while on the cross with Jesus, simply by believing.”
“The torn veil in the temple is evidence of reconciliation with God. Before a priest had to go in, commune with God, and relay the message to those outside. But the torn veil shows that we can approach God boldly, knowing that He is willing to receive us since we have been reconciled with Him through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.”
The Question is
Do you believe in Jesus Christ? If no, now is the time, believe and you will be saved. If you believe in him already, do you live according to his commandment. Jesus said if you love me keep my commandments For a start take this little steps
- Pray to God always and love him with all your heart
- Be kind to those around you
- Obey and honour your parents always
- Love your neighbour as you love yourself because by doing that you will not hurt him or her
- Have a heart of forgiveness.
Know this and Know peace. Remain Blessed always