Scarlet Robe Creations

They called out from a distance, following.   They were outcasts, lepers.   “Jesus, have mercy.”   The teacher brought us to a stop.   They kept their distance, not allowing the sickness to enter into our presence.   Open sores and decayed flesh, ten men with little hope for anything more than death.   “Jesus have mercy.”   And He did, but not without instruction.   It is said that along the way they were healed.   Their open wounds closed.   Their flesh cleared.   The law instructed them to show their bodies to the priests, to put the miracle on display.   And nine followed the law.   “But were there not ten?”   The one prostrates at the feet of Jesus, a Samaritan by birth, not subject to the law.   “Where are the others?”   A man of another land has returned to offer praise to a homeless traveler who gave instructions.   There is no law, chiseled into his he...

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Five loaves, and the voice of Andrew adds, two fish. What can be done with so little when there are so many? I as a man, believer or doubter. I as a follower, saint or sinner. What can I do to feed the multitudes begging to be fed? A little boy with a basket of hope, the twelve entrusted with the Word and the five hundred offered a miracle made capable by the hands of the one who says, "Feed them". copyright 2018 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author From the Collection;  From Capernaum to Emmaus

It is right for us to stand gazing into an empty tomb. The stone has been rolled away by earthquakes and angels. No longer are we subjected to those who dictate the law, grace will anoint our foreheads, the Spirit of God is among us. The oils and herbs have never been needed. He told us. Yet we were blinded by the world, and still He chose us to stand amazed before the empty tomb. It is right that we should sing praises of God's new covenant. He has sent His son, not Isaac or a prophet, but one begotten of His own being. God from God, light from light, this is truth and we have stood amazed at the open tomb. copyright 2018 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author From the Collection;  From Capernaum to Emmaus

And Pilate said, "So Christ, king of the Jews, I've had you whipped and humiliated. My men have crowned you with the mockery that pierces your scalp. You are a king of thorns. Your people, who celebrated you a few days ago, plead for your death. Crucify, they taste the sweetness of the word. They no longer shout Hosanna. I have authority, by the gods of Rome. Your life is in the palm of my hand. Will you speak in your defense?" And the lamb remained silent. copyright 2002 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author From the Collection;  From Capernaum to Emmaus

On one of the days while Jesus was teaching, some proud religious law-keepers and teachers of the Law were sitting by Him. They had come from every town in the countries of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was there to heal them.  Some men took a man who was not able to move his body to Jesus. He was carried on a bed. They looked for a way to take the man into the house where Jesus was.  But they could not find a way to take him in because of so many people. They made a hole in the roof over where Jesus stood. Then they let the bed with the sick man on it down before Jesus.  When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the man, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” Luke 5:17-20  A hole began to form overhead, in the roof.  We heard footsteps scampering overhead.  The Teacher paused, no longer speaking as pieces of the ceiling fell to the floor at our feet.  Even the keepers of the law, who had no sincere interes...

Once there were ten young women who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish, and the other five were wise.    The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any extra oil with them,  while the wise ones took containers full of oil for their lamps.    The bridegroom was late in coming, so they began to nod and fall asleep.   “It was already midnight when the cry rang out, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come and meet him!’    The ten young women woke up and trimmed their lamps.  Then the foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Let us have some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’    ‘No, indeed,’ the wise ones answered, ‘there is not enough for you and for us.  Go to the store and buy some for yourselves.’    So the foolish ones went off to buy some oil; and while they were gone, the bridegroom arrived.  The five who were ready wen...

No one knows about that day or hour,  not even the angels in heaven,  nor the Son,  but only the Father. Matthew 24:36  Raise Your hand, Lord to calm the winds and the torrential rains. Still the turbulent earth and quench its fire. Are we in those days, Lord? You said I was not to know, yet prophets speak of Your wrath without knowing Your name. There are soldiers mounted for war and dark clouds on the horizon. I hear You say "not today," and remind me that only fools predict the moment. copyright 2017 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author From the Collection;  From Capernaum to Emmaus

Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head. Luke 9:58 I will follow, but am I willing to sleep in an open field with a stone for a pillow. The den is for the fox, the nest is for the birds, but the cold and barren ground is for the Son of Man. I will follow, but let me first bury the dead and say farewell to those who abide with me. He says, begin the journey without looking back at where you have been. Enter the pristine fields of holiness without the burden of your sins. copyright 2017 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author From the Collection;  From Capernaum to Emmaus

Jean-François Millet - The Sower He set out into the fields, a man with a singular purpose, to sow good seed onto the soil. His garden is well prepared, but it is bordered by weeds and the birds of the air are hungry. His clothing is of no status. His gait is hindered by tired limbs and arthritic feet. His life is to plant, to offer his gift to the course of existence, to nourish those who would spring upright from the dirt. With a gentle motion of his hand the seed takes flight into the breeze, scattering like dust. Is the soil of his field receptive, or have briars and weeds rooted in the depths of the ground? Will some of his offering land on hard stone, where there is no dirt to hold it in place? Will some land where the briars have domain, to be corrupted in infancy, before the roots have gained strength? Will some land where the soil has been tended, where life will come to blossom and fruit will be multiplied to feed the hungry? copyrig...

I wondered, how it was possible that this man leaving the Holy City did not know anything about the horrible events that had taken place in the previous days.  Cleopas and I were downhearted, the others were crushed.  I mean Peter and John had followed Jesus since the first days of his ministry.  They were fishermen, filled with hope of something better than moldy nets, leaky boats and a lifetime of paying taxes. I can still hear the traveler asking what we were talking about in such solemn voices.  I could not believe someone could possibly have slept through the trial and crucifixion.  Still, we patiently explained about Jesus of Nazareth, asking the traveler, multiple times, if he was the only person who had been to the city who did not know.  Every time we queried him about this, he would simply smile and ask us to continue. But he did know. He knew everything scripture had shown us. The lessons forgotten, the verses taken for granted and the pr...

Overturned tables, cages where doves were imprisoned, once, now broken, like dried bones on the stone floor. Coins, Roman currency spilled out like a ruptured bowel. The anger of the one cheered yesterday brings silence to the onlookers. Hosannas are silenced. Pharisees plot and merchants fill with outrage, fists in the air, curses on their tongues. The temple is a den for thieves, not God's will, but man's. Have those who stand at His side ever seen such anger? Have they ever been the focus of such wrath? Break apart this temple, this vessel of the spirit. Rip each stone from the foundation, each limb from the body. Destroy the very structure of man's design, impale the flesh of God's creation. On the third day the tomb will open and the temple will be filled with the spirit they once tried to sell. copyright 2017 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author From the Collection;  From Capernau...

Lay your palms on the Jerusalem dust, at the feet of the animal carrying Him. Celebrate this moment. Sing out His name in praises. Hosanna, the son of David has come. Today He is the king of your hearts. He rides a donkey as scripture foretold. He has healed the blind and the lepers. He has opened the tomb of the dead Lazarus. Tomorrow doubt will take root and knowledge will inflict blindness on the sighted. You will reject the longing in your hearts. But for now you celebrate and dance in the street, children not yet abused by the minds of men. copyright 2017 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author From the Collection;  From Capernaum to Emmaus

Weeds that grow up among the wheat, choking the goodness the soil has to offer, pushing aside the grain planted by the sower of souls. Weeds reaching for the glory destined for the good seed, the bright orb that nourishes the bounty of the intended  harvest. Weeds trying to imitate wheat, pulled from the soil when the time is ripe, separated in rustic barns by the workers and tossed into the flames.  copyright 2017 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author From the Collection;  From Capernaum to Emmaus

  The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) – Part 1 He sat with tax collectors and others who were considered outcasts.  The Pharisees grumbled, upset because Jesus sat in the presence of sinners, those their law considered unworthy.  And He told them stories; about a lost sheep, a lost coin, a lost son: ~ I went to my father and told him that this life was not what I wanted for myself.  I needed to find my own sense of worth.  Despite the love he held in his heart for me I needed to find my own way.  A life of farming was not what I envisioned for myself.  I asked for my inheritance, as bold as that sounds.  I demanded my half of everything my father owned. And he gave it to me. With my share of my father's wealth I headed to a foreign land.  I intended to have the best of times, eat, drink, be merry and take my choice of beautiful, exotic women.  I fell in and out of love, if that's what you would have called it....