I saw Him

On Friday night, people around the county speculated whether to head out to Ten Mile Church’s Family Park. The skies started darkening about 4:00 p.m. in Pine Grove and continued to darken as the hours grew later. The drama was to start at 7:30, following forty-five minutes of light refreshments. All my dogs and I were in the back yard playing when the rains came, making my decision for me. I’d stay home and hope for better weather on Saturday. I kept telling myself that the dark skies were not any where close to the darkness that shrouded the cross on Good Friday. My mood took on a somber tone, even though I knew the ending was a happy one.

Saturday, the announcement came that the drama would be moved to the social hall of Ten Mile Creek Baptist Church. Come, but no need to bring a chair as planned. One would be provided.

About 7:00 p.m. I drove past the Dairy Queen and cut across U.S. 1 to get me headed to the church. The heavy rain falling from above made it hard to see the roads, but I made it with a few minutes to spare. The choir was in place including the singers, the guitarists, the keyboard, and the drums. When they started singing, I was glad I’d braved the storm to get there. The house was packed as I moved toward the front hoping to find an empty seat. Some nice ladies from Glenville motioned for me to come over to an empty seat on the second row. Almost immediately, we were invited to stand as the worship in song began. Seven wonderful songs later, the narration began, explaining how the play would work. Many inanimate items from Good Friday would speak, explaining what they saw that terrible/wonderful day. The characters included the cup, the garden of Gethsemane, Caiaphas’ House, the whip, the robe, the crown of thorns, the stone pavement, Golgotha, the cross, the tomb, and two angels. The angels were not inanimate of course.

The drama was well written, and the sound effects somewhere off stage produced chill bumps on my skin and tears on my cheeks. While the whip was talking, the sharp cracks and pops of leather throngs assaulted my ears. I found it hard to sit still and listen. As the cross spoke of their nailing Jesus to it, the sound of a hammer pained my ears. Then of course with the tomb talking of His rising and walking out, the crowd cheered. The risen Christ! The very soul of our salvation had been demonstrated for the audience like never before.

The pastor pointed out that we have no guarantee of salvation tomorrow. Tomorrow may not come.

The drama made it most obvious that people had worked together for many months and many hours to bring this production to the community. They did a masterful job indeed of performing this powerful drama.

“Surely the spirit of the Lord was in that place.”