Jesus Christ, Ordinary Man

By Donna Strong Paquin

This short book of personal meditations is meant to nourish the mind and the heart. What began as a grouping of words has become a tale of people who could be real. These people are like you and me. They suffer in life just as we do. Then each one felt the touch of the wonder of the only begotten son of God. The hands and words of a carpenter from Nazareth changed these people in ways that has lived throughout the ages. These vignettes are fictional tales based on the very true gospels of Jesus. Each story is based on books, chapters and verses of the gospels. They come from the heart of an ordinary woman who would love to share them with you. Enjoy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 5, 2011
• ISBN: 9781452024790

Donna Strong Paquin

Donna Strong Paquin grew up on a dairy farm alongside her eight siblings. She was the first woman of her immediate family to graduate from college. Then she spent the next thirty three years teaching special needs children while raising two of her own. Struck by Fibromyalgia at a young age, she found peace through pain in a living growing relationship with God. As the church served her needs she also learned to serve, through writing, neighborhood ministry, speaking, teaching, and singing. Now retired, and with her two children grown, Donna endeavours to continue her ministry through her writings. She lives with her husband in Burnips, Michigan.

Book preview

Contents

Acknowledgements:

INTRODUCTION

THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

FAITH OF THE CENTURION

THE TRANSFIGURATION

PETER WEPT

JESUS CALMS THE STORM

THE HEALING OF A BOY

THE ANNUNCIATION

THE VISIT

THE NATIVITY

SIMEON IN THE TEMPLE

JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

FISHER OF MEN

THE PARALYTIC

LEGION

BEFORE THE COCK CROWS

THE ASCENSION

MIRACLE AT CANA

WOMAN AT THE WELL

LOAVES AND FISHES

LAZARUS

YOU SHALL NEVER WASH MY FEET

THE SCOURGING

FEED MY LAMBS

PENTECOST

Acknowledgements:

Writing a book is never just a solitary venture.

My book quickly became Our Book through the knowledge and efforts of those who were so generous with their time.

Karen and John Armock offered many hours and their years of bible study to make certain that Our book stayed within the traditions, foibles, and religious beliefs during the time Jesus walked this earth.

Steve and Jacky Strong, my brother and sister-in-law, used their extensive knowledge of computers, context and punctuation to add accuracy to Our Book.

The most beautiful of geeks, Amy Williams, did all kinds of computer stuff to make Our Book a piece of fine literature.

God bless my very large family for their prayers and encouragement.

Also, thank you to the people at Authorhouse who were kind, professional and helpful.

Last of all, I cannot thank Father Steve Rodrigo enough. He came all the way from India to be our pastor, friend and teacher. He taught meditation and contemplation to all of us, his flock.

Donna Strong Paquin

June, 2010

INTRODUCTION

Dear People,

Twenty-four vignettes based on the New Testament are included within. All of them are meditations pertaining to the miracles that became the focus of the life of Jesus. There are some from each gospel writer.

They are simply written, fictional accounts of the people whose lives were changed by Jesus as he walked about this world as an ordinary man.

A participant in an actual miracle tells each one in the first person.

They are fictional accounts of people touched by the presence of Jesus as God and man. There are many statements taken from the bible. Each one has chapter and verse contained.

They are the tips of an iceberg. There is nearly an endless supply of stories to meditate on.

Jesus, Father God, and the prophets, touched so many people in the bible. We can become part of those miracles in each vignette.

They are in their order of appearance in the Bible.

Enjoy each one.

I have chosen to title this work: JESUS CHRIST, ORDINARY MAN

Donna Strong Paquin

THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

Matthew 3:13-17

My name is Joshua and I am certainly of no great importance to anyone. I am old now, grandfather for three generations. My children and grandchildren take care of me these last years. I am not so different from the little ones held in arms. I can’t work in the fields any longer. I can’t shepherd the sheep. I forget things frequently. Yet my people serve me without complaint. Bless them Lord. They are good, caring people. Thank you Jesus, Son of God.

I am the only person left in this community of believers who has seen Lord Jesus with my own eyes. My church community has heard this story so many times I can’t begin to tell you the number. They will hear it again today, for it is a most incredible story. Though I may forget everything else about my life, I will not forget the day I met Jesus.

Grandfather, tell us how you saw Jesus being baptized! the children shout. They laugh, take my hands, and lead me to the chair where I will sit and speak. A few of them crawl upon my lap. Their parents and grandparents slow in their work and turn an ear in my direction with a smile. It becomes quiet.

I was only eight or nine at the time, I begin.

You were eight; my wise great granddaughter helps me along.

Yes, very likely I was eight, I agree with a smile. "My mother, father, and older brother were working in the market. They were busy selling their wares and could not leave to go down to the River Jordan. But, news of John the Baptist down in the river, asking for all to beg forgiveness from God, was running through the market like a stream flowing quickly down the mountain. This strange man, dressed in camel hair, had come from the desert and down to the river to demand a baptism of repentance for all believers.

‘Go, down to the river, Joshua,’ my mother commanded me. ‘Listen to all that the desert wanderer says. Watch all that he does. Then come back and let us know what happened.’ I didn’t need to hear one more word. I turned and ran straight down to the river as fast as I could go. There were so many people down there that I couldn’t see so I had to be a little rude and wiggle my way through. Fortunately I was very small. Finally I worked my way down to the edge of the river, where I could see and hear everything. I stood there, my toes dipping in the water and I watched for all I was worth.

"There was John the Baptizer, standing in the shallows, wearing his camel skin clothing, looking kind of wild and unkempt. His eyes had a strange glow. He was so interesting. He talked very loud and I could tell that some of the people didn’t like what he was saying. When the Pharisees and Sadducees stepped forward to be baptized he shouted at them instead of pouring water over them. He shook his finger in their faces. It frightened me. He shouted at them,

Matthew 3: 7-10

‘You brood of vipers! Who told you to flee from the wrath to come? Give some evidence that you mean to reform. Do not pride yourselves on the claim, ‘Abraham is our father.’ I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these very stones. Even now the ax is laid to the root of the tree. Every tree that is not fruitful will be cut down and thrown into the fire!’

"There was fire in his eyes and ice in his voice. I was hypnotized there at the water’s edge.

Matthew 3: 10-

‘I baptize you in water for the sake of reform, but the one who will follow me is more powerful than I. I am not even fit to carry his sandals. He it is who will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear the threshing floor and gather his grain into the barn, but the chaff he will burn in unquenchable fire!’

"Then the Sadducees and Pharisees went away, angry, muttering to each other, and John baptized others who came to him. I watched more. He was so certain of the coming of one who was greater than himself. I was fascinated. I hunkered down and continued to watch.

"Later that day, a man I hadn’t seen before, came and stood at the edge of the river. He didn’t look any different than anyone else and I wouldn’t have thought anything of it, except that the baptizer dropped everything he was doing and just stared at the man for a long moment. That man was Lord Jesus, but I didn’t know it at the time. He told the baptizer in a quiet voice that he wanted to be baptized.

"Baptizer shook his head. He looked stunned.

Matthew 3: 14-15

‘I should be baptized by you, yet you come to me!’ Jesus answered him, ‘Give in for now. We must do this if we would fulfill all of God’s demands.’

"I didn’t know at the time what that meant, but I became very interested, as the man dressed in camel hair slowly nodded his head and prepared to baptize this man who had come. It was strange to me to see that the Baptizer had great respect for, and deferred to, this other man who was not a king, a Lord, a priest, or a soldier.

"So John gave in and baptized this man, but his voice shook as though he was overwhelmed. He seemed almost afraid to touch Lord Jesus. After the baptism, he comforted the baptizer with a smile and a touch. Then he came out of the water right in front of me. He began to leave the river. He wasn’t more than two steps before me when suddenly it was like the sky came open. A dove came down through the opening. It was bright and colorful like a rainbow. It was like the spirit of God was descending and coming to rest over Lord Jesus! I couldn’t believe my eyes. Then a voice came out of the tear in the sky. It was a booming voice and the sound filled my entire body. It said,

Matthew 3: 17

‘This is my beloved Son! My favor rests on him.’

Everyone who was there was in shock. No one moved. Not a sound was made. Then the dove was gone. The voice was gone. The sky closed up. It was like it had never happened, except that Lord Jesus still stood there. Then Lord Jesus looked straight at me. I must have been squatting there with my eyes and mouth wide open. He smiled at me and put his hand, still wet, on my head as He blessed me. Then He walked on past. There has never been anything in my life that compares to the touch from Jesus the Christ, and the voice of Father God in my own ears.

I shook my head. Still, after all these years, I was overwhelmed by the memory of that day.

Take off your head covering, great grandpa, Rachael called out. The others chimed in with her call. Even my children and friends joined in the call. I let them do it for a while just to make the moment last longer. Then, at last, I did it. I took off my head covering. There, on my otherwise bald head, was dark hair, still thick and wavy where Jesus’ hand had rested. It held the exact shape of my Lord’s hand. This tuft of hair never needed to be trimmed. It never lessened in thickness or quality. Those hairs were the exact same strands that had been there when I was eight years old.

The children