Wearing the same sandals
he uses when portraying Jesus in his one-man play, "Road to Bethany", Robert
Macklin walked the Stations of the Cross, "collecting the same dirt" from
Jerusalem in his toes that Jesus did.
I visited Israel intent on experiencing place-locations for my play. I
went where He went, from the Dead Sea north to the shores of Galilee and
beyond to the source of the Jordan River. After this visit it came to me
that I should write about His last year on earth, because the gospels tell
us where he went and what He did, but almost nothing of the “why.”
Accompany Him now, via these gospels, on this, His final journey, beginning
with the feeding of the “5000,” and leading inexorably to His crucifixion,
death and resurrection. On the way I will attempt to explain why He did what
He did and why He went where He did. Think of Jesus: The Final Journey as a
mystery story, not so much as a “whodunit,” but rather a “whydunit.”
It is an
interesting book, that I recommend (and so does every reviewer at Amazon.com,
where - so far - it has received unanimous five-star reviews). Much of my
pleasure came from the observations that the author makes along the journey.
For example:
We think of the disciples as mild-mannered men. We forget that they are
men used to living out of doors, facing the elements, guarding against
predators, animals and human. They are armed with swords, which some of them
know how to use. They are prepared to defend their master. Indeed, Peter
attacks one of them. As an ex-military man I derive satisfaction in this
knowledge. Of course Peter's aim is not very good, or else the man moved at
the last moment.
And
this fascinating aside:
I believe that God intended to sacrifice Isaac for the sins of mankind,
thousands of years earlier. Afterwards, He intended to resurrect him, and
thus guarantee eternal life for the rest of the world's people. This is
conjecture on my part. It may be that He only intended to test Abraham's
faith as most believe.
....God knew that Abraham, His great and loyal friend, would've been
devastated by the fact that he had killed his own son. So God had a change
of heart and realized, at that time, that only He could bear the sorrow of
killing a son worthy of sacrifice.
And
this fascinating aside: