Two Very Different Perspectives

   The scorching sun beats down on me as I walk into town. Dust from the dry, dirt road is thick in the air, and it is difficult to breath. Beads of sweat roll down my forehead and create mud with the dust. The oppressive stench of fish, (fresh and rotten,) pollute the air. Every moment of walking I am jostled by pedestrians and almost run over by donkey-pulled carts. I make it into town and find that the market place is even worse. It is around 110 degrees and the fact that I have to have my head covered doesn't help. I'm hoping Jesus will be here today. They said he would be. In front of me is a small hill that once had grass on it, but is now just dirt and a couple of sad excuses for flowers. The crowd of the market is nothing compared to the mob surrounding this hill. It is jam packed. I can't even see Jesus, although I know he is in there. I move around the outskirt of the crowd trying to find a place where I can hear. After about half an hour I come to a place where I can barely hear some of what Jesus is saying. I don't see what all the fuss is about. He sounds like a very wise teacher, but I could go to the temple and hear that. I am able to elbow my way a little bit further into the crowd as the morning turns to afternoon, and the afternoon becomes evening. I finally get to a place where I can see him. But instead of a tall, well dressed pharisee, I see a short pudgy man with dark curly hair. He is dressed in clothes more ragged than mine, and is very dirty. Not handsome at all. He is very emotional when he speaks and sometimes he yells. Other times he is moved to tears, although I don't see why. This man looks like a beggar and yet all these people are listening to him! His teaching is very advanced. Too bad he didn't heal anyone today. But what he is saying is so out of this world! It sounds like it has significance, but I would get in trouble if I believed it. So It's time to go home.

   I walk slowly along the path, looking out across the fields of wheat, and down on the water and harbor. It is a clear sunny day. I look ahead and see the hill I am headed to. Jesus is going to be there today. A large crowd is milling around, and I recognize some of my neighbors who have come to hear him speak. As I arrive, Jesus starts speaking. I sit down on the soft grass and hang on every word he says. He speaks in a calm, clear voice and tells of beautiful things. He says that in heaven there are many rooms. He takes a child on his knee and blesses him. He is tall with a very handsome complexion. His eyes are soft and kind. he is smiling, and sometimes he laughs with his disciples. I see why everyone is talking about him. He has so much compassion and forgiveness. I wish I could know him better. As I walk back to my home I dwell on what he has said. My heart is joyful inside of me. I can't wait to tell my family. Surly this is the Messiah, The Prophet, the One Moses and the prophets wrote about, The Promised One, The Christ.

Today I wanted to make a point of how romanticized our view is of Jesus when He lived his life on this earth. Tell me your thoughts on this!

~Melody