The Call For Redemption

{Chapter One}

{Chapter One}

The cross was heavier than Jesus expected.

It was like the weight of the world was resting on his bruised, bloodied, shoulders. With every step, pain surged through his swollen ankles into his entire body. His vision was blurring; the hypovolemic shock taking full effect.

The dizziness got the best of him and Jesus passed out, his head clouded by the loss of blood; the weight of the wood pinning him to the ground.

The Roman soldiers beside him forced Jesus back onto his feet. He felt the weight of the cross lighten, and wearily glanced over his shoulder.

 A second man was now helping him. Simon was his name, if Jesus overheard correctly.

 The two of them dragged on slowly, until they reached where the cross was to be set up.

The soldiers shoved Simon aside. “You’re free to go,” one of them spat.

Simon’s locked eyes with Jesus. His eyes displayed the raw horror and confusion he felt; his tightened jaw showing the anguish he fought to keep from spilling out. Simon turned and ran away.

The soldiers tossed the cross on the ground, and Jesus after it. They then bound his ankles and wrists to the splintered wood with thick rope. Facing the sky, Jesus could see a third Roman soldier approaching him, holding nails and a hammer. He knelt down next to Jesus’ right wrist, adjusting the nail to drive in straight.

Time seemed to slow as the soldier raised his hammer high.

All the drama, pain, and loss, for this one moment.

The soldier brought it back down, and Jesus’ entire body jolted in misery.

. . .

Sometime between 3,000 and 2,300 BC

Satan stood on a hill over the great city. Its walls glistened in the sun as if carved in gold, and the city itself stood high and mighty. Satan’s emotionless glare turned to a slight smirk. He had done well. Those men and women were so busy with their precious city, they were totally unaware of what was about to come. That was the plan; deceive as many as possible. Get them in his grasp, pull them in to what he had offer; and let them become like his twisted puppets, bringing the Messiah’s coming to a halt.

These people were so blind. They thought they were actually in control of their lives. In reality, they were all just choosing a different lie; all constructed by yours truly. They gave themselves over to their lust, crushed others in order to gain power, cheated and stole from others because of their greed; it some ways it was just sad. Violence was widespread. It was common to find piles of dead, rotting, or half-eaten bodies scattered on the city edges. Not to mention cannibalism growing, along with all these ritual human sacrifices and the pointless bloodbaths.

It was almost too easy to manipulate these people, corrupting almost all the human race to no end.  

Almost.

There was one family that eluded him, or to be specific, one man.

Noah.

Noah and his family were the only people on the face of this earth who still served Yahweh, the God who created them. They were the only ones who were righteous in his sight, who followed his commands, who loved the Lord with all their hearts. ..And they were the last family left, who the Son could be born through.

Satan would not let that happen. That would be the end. Everything he fought for—the rebellion, the fighting, the pain; it all would mean nothing.