My Friend Jesus

My Friend Jesus

by Brian Woodford

"Jerusalem." Seven-year-old Samuel whispered the name almost reverently to himself as he viewed the fabled city spread out before him.

This was his first visit to the great city from his home in Perea, beyond the River Jordan. And the journey had been long and difficult. Samuel was the son of Jonab, the merchant, and this was the first time his father had allowed the boy to travel with him to Jerusalem.

Samuel was doubly excited at the prospect of entering the city, for soon the great Feast of the Passover would begin and the city would be full of exciting people from far and near.

But most important of all, Jesus would be among them. At several places along the road from Perea, Samuel had heard stories about Jesus, the Nazarene, who performed miracles and who taught the people to be good and kind.

Samuel thought of Jesus as his special friend. Not many months ago, Samuel had met Jesus while He was visiting Perea. He had gone to hear Jesus teach the people with his older sister, Jessica. Together with the other children he tried to push his way though the crowd to get close to Jesus. But some of His disciples had felt that their Master should not be bothered and had hushed the children.

How sweet and gentle Jesus seemed when He saw their sadness at being turned away. How kind His smile had been when He had beckoned them forward. He had spoken to them in a tender voice when He said: "Suffer [the] little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19:14)

And then Jesus had taken the children in His arms and placed His hands upon them and blessed them. Samuel had patiently waited for his turn and when it had come, Oh, how peaceful and warm he had felt in Jesus's strong arms. Even now, he could remember the touch of Jesus's hands as they rested gently upon his head. And His smile, how kind it was. He would never forget the gentleness, the love, and the kindness that sparkled from Jesus's eyes.

Samuel thought of all this as his father's camel train wound its way slowly over the rough road and passed through the city gates into Jerusalem.

How wonderful it will be, Samuel thought, to see my friend Jesus again.

For the rest of that day, Samuel helped his father and the other camel drivers unload their merchandise and tend to the animals. It was not until the day before the Sabbath, however, that Samuel found himself with enough spare time to explore the exciting city. As he wandered wide-eyed through the narrow streets amid the noisy crowd of people and animals, he continually searched for some sign of Jesus.

When Samuel approached the very heart of the city, he noticed that everyone seemed to be hurrying in one direction. His curiosity moved him with the crowd and he craned his head to see the cause of the excitement. At the end of the street the buzz of excited conversation from the crowd reached a fever pitch. Then Samuel saw a flash of red, the plume of a helmet, and the glint of sunlight on armor that meant only one thing in this captive land--soldiers. Roman soldiers!

Samuel pushed his way though the crowd, brushing against the legs of the grown-ups until he reached a flank of soldiers holding back the crowd. As he peered between the close-ordered shields of the soldiers, Samuel's heart skipped a beat and then dropped like a rock in water. For before him was his friend, Jesus, who was the center of the crowd's attention.

Upon His back was the heavy weight of a wooden cross, and His head was circled with a crown of thorns. As Jesus staggered under the great burden, some of the people laughed and mocked Him.

How could it be? the boy wondered. Tears filled Samuel's eyes and trickled slowly down his cheeks. Bewildered and feeling lost and lonely, he followed the procession to the city gates. Out of the city the column went and up a nearby hill. And there young Samuel watched, heartbroken, as Jesus was crucified.

Samuel could not understand why this terrible thing had happened. Two days later his heart was still aching with sadness as he helped his father prepare the camels for the return journey to Perea. As Samuel busied himself in making fast the load on the back of a kneeling camel, he heard someone say Jesus's name. He looked up to see two men talking together, and he moved closer to hear what they were saying.

"Today's the third day," one of the men said, "the day the Nazarene, who claimed He was the Son of God, said He would rise from the dead."

Son of God! Rise from the dead! The words pulsed through Samuel's mind like a desert storm. Could it really be? he wondered. If only it were true that Jesus lives.

Overcome with longing for such a thing to happen, Samuel went into the nearby stable. He knelt down and prayed that Jesus truly might be alive. When he arose, a quiet, peaceful feeling flooded over Samuel. Filled with wonder and happiness, he gathered up the tie-down ropes and went back outside. Looking into the bright sunlight, Samuel suddenly knew that Jesus was alive.

With a strange and wonderful excitement, he thought, Jesus is the Son of God and has risen from the dead. He will be my friend forever. It is true.