By now we had heard the news that John the Baptist had been killed. I couldn’t feel loss or any great sadness because he was now safely with my Father in heaven. He was now receiving his reward from God for accomplishing the job that he had been born to do.
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The grief that I felt was for the way he had met his demise. It had been centred around a dance. Satan had certainly penetrated Salome’s mind ….. she had been offered up to half of Herod’s kingdom as her reward for dancing for Herod and his guests. Despite the wealth that was proffered, she chose to ask for John’s head on a platter as her reward. How cheaply she valued life.
I climbed the rugged, steep path that stretched out before me. Many were following behind and I was praying silently in preparation for the Sermon on the Mount. I wondered how it would be received and to what extent it would be understood.
The faces around me were intent. I knew that some had joined to see where the crowds were going but most had come to hear what I had to say. Silence fell as I began to speak. There was an undercurrent of calm; people wanted to hear what I had to say about God. Those who had come just for a day out were now listening intently. No one interrupted me; God was reaching the ears of a captive audience.
Scanning the faces of those who were positioned nearest to me, I observed their facial expressions changing from pensive listening to an acknowledgment of God’s voice. They wanted to learn more and an excitement welled up in my heart when I experienced barriers falling away. My heart overflowed. I definitely felt the mood swing that day; people’s perceptions of God were becoming more astute. I noticed a gentleness was spreading throughout the multitude, they were treating each other with kindness and consideration.
Many, many people were constantly arriving; they wanted to be healed from illnesses that they had been suffering with for a long time. I was doing my Father’s work and His presence was surrounding and supporting me. There was a hushed silence as I began to speak.
“Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will see God. Blessed are the peace makers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
“Blessed are you when people insult you, or persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5: 3-12 (Blessed, means to have hope and joy irrespective of circumstances)
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I was grateful for the obvious changes in those who understood God’s words and their deeper meaning. I had come to teach about a new way to live their lives. It was necessary to observe laws but the Jews had developed many rituals causing them to stray far from God’s heart.
I wanted to emphasise that the kingdom of God is within you. I needed to reform Jewish stringent beliefs. I wasn’t here to find fault indiscriminately. They needed to be educated about these acts of pointless ritual which were actually man made.
The days unfolded into a very hot summer and more and more people joined us; they wanted to hear God’s word. The hours I spent teaching were satisfying but also left me feeling drained and exhausted. My reward came afterwards, when I would quietly creep away to be with my Father and pray about the events of the day and the plans for tomorrow.
I loved these times alone with Him. They were peaceful and strengthening as I rested in His arms and heard Him whisper again those words of love and encouragement. These times were very special to me and I valued them enormously.
It was after a long day teaching and we were settling down for the night when a loud disturbance took my attention. The woman I saw had sunken eyes; she dribbled from her mouth and made grunting noises. She writhed about on the floor, screaming obscenities. John and Peter tried to restrain her for fear of her hurting herself. The once beautiful hair was now wild and unkempt, her long hooked finger nails were filthy from clawing at the earth.
I knew her instantly. My father had chosen this woman to support me but first I had to release her from her bondage. Looking intently into her frantic eyes, I called out her name. “Mary”. She stopped struggling and peered from under the uncontrolled halo of dull, lifeless hair. I reached out and grabbed for Mary’s hand, my touch stilled her movements. Using God’s authority, I firmly told the demons to come out of her.
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Mary Magdalene was a very beautiful woman, inside and out, despite her appearance at this moment. The sad, dishevelled creature who was in front of me had been dominated and possessed for a long time. She had endured extreme suffering. The glaring eyes told of her deranged faculties because she no longer had any control over herself. I could see that Mary had battled long and hard against the seven demons who possessed her.
Satan had almost won his battle against her and she was now an exhausted figure with very little resistance left. My heart filled with compassion and raising my eyes to heaven, I thanked God for releasing Mary, for bringing her to me and for what I knew would be a huge support in my ministry.
Mary became a most devoted follower and my disciples and I were blessed by her kindness in helping to provide for us which she did from her own private means. Mary was a very special lady who looked after us, expecting nothing in return. When I first laid my eyes upon her, I saw beyond the dirty, wild appearance and God revealed in her a ministering angel who would bless everyone she came into contact with.
Mary grew into her new role. She left all her sin behind and spent each day making up for her past and serving God with a new life which was completely opposite to the life she had led. I witnessed her growth in faith and humility
Carole Crossley
Chapter One – Jesus Leaves Home
Chapter Two – The Temptations of Jesus
Chapter Three – Jesus Looks for his Disciples
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