Double Crossed! (F/M)
Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2021 1:38 am
Every year around Easter, the usual array of Jesus films arrive in your TV guide. They are amazing films, but horribly graphic because, frankly, the Passion of the Lord is a necessary part of the complete tale. These films also fill the guides of our European friends, Paul and Gemma.
These films do wonders to impress the imagination of a child. Once they have scene the depiction, suddenly the gravity of what happened on that hill called Golgotha is much clearer. Such was the case for Paul. He wondered what it would be like to be up there like the two robbers were.
Gemma, being a keen big sister now 17 years of age, could see the gears turning in the 10 year-old's mind. She looked outside at at trees back there and realized that she could recreate this scene with the trees which were just budding.
"Paul, how would you like to be tied to a tree?" she asked her brother.
"That's old stuff, Gem. We do that all the time."
"Yes, but what about being secured with your arms spread out like Dismas?"
"Now that would be new and something amazing! Am I... worthy?"
"Well, you see it and realize through experience what was suffered on that day 2000 years ago!"
"This sounds amazing!"
"Let's get on it, young man!"
Spring brings something amazing to the scenery. The grass grows green long before the trees and flowers appear. The air still has a bit of a sting to it, but children are not bothered by it as much as the thrill of the outdoors takes over. Paul, too, wasn't bothered by this nippiness but rather warm with excitement!
Gemma looked at Paul and compared him to the tree. He was still a few inches shy of the height needed for this to be an easy task, but this was not a deterrent! She contemplated her dilemma before deciding.
"Paul, I'll be back!"
"Well, OK!"
Soon, she returned with a sturdy footstool and put it against the tree. She directed Paul to stand on it, and so he did. He put his arms out toward the large branches. Now, it's one thing to be tied to a tree; it's different to be tied with the tree.
Gemma carefully and securely roped Paul's arms to the tree branches. To ensure he was safe and secure, she secured him at his wrists, elbows, and shoulders. She likewise put ropes around his chest just under the shoulders for further support. Then she felt comfortable binding his ankles and then securing his ankles to the tree.
"Now, let's see!" she wiggled the stool out.
"Whoa!" Paul felt gravity take over, and now his lone support was the rope.
"You look comfy. No struggling or anything?"
"No, this is exactly it!"
"Dismas was about 6 feet higher off the ground."
"Shall we mince about such things, Gem?"
"You know," Gemma produced a handkerchief, "I once read somewhere something fascinating."
"Share this!"
"That real crucifixion is so painful that they often cut out their tongues to stop their cursing."
"You better not cut my tongue out. Mum will kill you. And then father will kill you again!"
"I will not, silly!"
"Well, what then?"
"I will gag you so you can't talk either!"
"Gimme a minute first! Jesus died like this."
"So he could rise again and destroy death."
"Remarkable."
"That's part of why it's the Good News!"
"I am probably not the only child ever to learn the Good News this way."
"Maybe not the last either!"
"I hope not!"
"It makes me think of hymns."
"Were You There?"
"Not that one."
"There Is a Green Hill?"
"Not that one."
"I'm not guessing anymore."
"Fine, then!"
"What a view. Imagine Jesus looked at all of Jerusalem like this and forgave the entire world!"
"Indeed. Now, let's stop waxing poetic and cut your tongue out!"
"Demma thith ith noth thair!"
"Stop it!"
"Mmm!"
"Better. Now, let's talk more about this amazing Biblical lesson..."
On a green hill far away in Scotland, a young man learned firsthand just how amazing His Saviour's sacrifice was.
There is a green hill far away, without a city wall.
Where the dear Lord was crucified, Who died to save us all.
-- Cecil Francis Alexander
These films do wonders to impress the imagination of a child. Once they have scene the depiction, suddenly the gravity of what happened on that hill called Golgotha is much clearer. Such was the case for Paul. He wondered what it would be like to be up there like the two robbers were.
Gemma, being a keen big sister now 17 years of age, could see the gears turning in the 10 year-old's mind. She looked outside at at trees back there and realized that she could recreate this scene with the trees which were just budding.
"Paul, how would you like to be tied to a tree?" she asked her brother.
"That's old stuff, Gem. We do that all the time."
"Yes, but what about being secured with your arms spread out like Dismas?"
"Now that would be new and something amazing! Am I... worthy?"
"Well, you see it and realize through experience what was suffered on that day 2000 years ago!"
"This sounds amazing!"
"Let's get on it, young man!"
Spring brings something amazing to the scenery. The grass grows green long before the trees and flowers appear. The air still has a bit of a sting to it, but children are not bothered by it as much as the thrill of the outdoors takes over. Paul, too, wasn't bothered by this nippiness but rather warm with excitement!
Gemma looked at Paul and compared him to the tree. He was still a few inches shy of the height needed for this to be an easy task, but this was not a deterrent! She contemplated her dilemma before deciding.
"Paul, I'll be back!"
"Well, OK!"
Soon, she returned with a sturdy footstool and put it against the tree. She directed Paul to stand on it, and so he did. He put his arms out toward the large branches. Now, it's one thing to be tied to a tree; it's different to be tied with the tree.
Gemma carefully and securely roped Paul's arms to the tree branches. To ensure he was safe and secure, she secured him at his wrists, elbows, and shoulders. She likewise put ropes around his chest just under the shoulders for further support. Then she felt comfortable binding his ankles and then securing his ankles to the tree.
"Now, let's see!" she wiggled the stool out.
"Whoa!" Paul felt gravity take over, and now his lone support was the rope.
"You look comfy. No struggling or anything?"
"No, this is exactly it!"
"Dismas was about 6 feet higher off the ground."
"Shall we mince about such things, Gem?"
"You know," Gemma produced a handkerchief, "I once read somewhere something fascinating."
"Share this!"
"That real crucifixion is so painful that they often cut out their tongues to stop their cursing."
"You better not cut my tongue out. Mum will kill you. And then father will kill you again!"
"I will not, silly!"
"Well, what then?"
"I will gag you so you can't talk either!"
"Gimme a minute first! Jesus died like this."
"So he could rise again and destroy death."
"Remarkable."
"That's part of why it's the Good News!"
"I am probably not the only child ever to learn the Good News this way."
"Maybe not the last either!"
"I hope not!"
"It makes me think of hymns."
"Were You There?"
"Not that one."
"There Is a Green Hill?"
"Not that one."
"I'm not guessing anymore."
"Fine, then!"
"What a view. Imagine Jesus looked at all of Jerusalem like this and forgave the entire world!"
"Indeed. Now, let's stop waxing poetic and cut your tongue out!"
"Demma thith ith noth thair!"
"Stop it!"
"Mmm!"
"Better. Now, let's talk more about this amazing Biblical lesson..."
On a green hill far away in Scotland, a young man learned firsthand just how amazing His Saviour's sacrifice was.
There is a green hill far away, without a city wall.
Where the dear Lord was crucified, Who died to save us all.
-- Cecil Francis Alexander
