My Brother's Keeper

Volume 6, Number 2, April-June, 2001

The Word of God, is the source of light, truth, and power, for those who seek its meaning and apply it to their life. Jesus Christ is the word made flesh, and we seek to follow him.

John 8:12 (NIV) - "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Each issue of "My Brother's Keeper" features a WORD study. This month's study is from Anthony Saldana, former inmate, Denver, Colorado. He prepared this study (utilizing the Gospel accounts), while he was still serving time in prison.

"The Crucifixion of our Lord"

As I sat in church, the choir stood to sing the old hymn, "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" I found myself wondering about those who witnessed the crucifixion events. Who were they? What did they see? I thought about what it would have been like to experience the crucifixion of Jesus through the eyes and voices of individuals who were part of that event.

I lifted my eyes to the cross above the altar, the wooden beams, a reminder of where God's own Son gave Himself to us in a great and saving act. The old hymn asked the question. "Were you there?" No, I wasn't there when they crucified our Lord.

So, this Holy Week, I will re-enter that first Holy Week and try to listen to those who were present around the cross; a pilgrim who'd come for Passover, a beloved disciple, a Roman Centurion, the Judean Procurator, a wealthy member of the San hedrin, a woman healed by Jesus, a thief, and Jesus' own mother. Each has something to say to us about the crucifixion, what it means in our lives. Lord, open my eyes to see the cross afresh.

Pontius Pilate, looked into his eyes. I knew he was innocent. People claimed Jesus was a threat to Rome, calling himself a King. I asked, "Are you a King?"

He replied, "My Kingdom is not of this world. I came into the world to bear witness to the truth." Does that sound like a man who deserves to die? The people were insistent. They wanted him dead. I found myself in the middle. I couldn't choose. I put the prisoner off on Herod. Let him decide. But, Herod sent him back. I had a plan. Put the decision on the crowd's shoulders, by offering to release a known criminal or the innocent man, Jesus. Just as expected, the crowds yelled to release Barabbas. I also stood Jesus before the mob and they shouted crucify him! I knew I couldn't afford to go against the mob. I had my own future to worry about. So, I signed his death warrant.

I wash my hands over and over every day, wishing I'd had the courage to choose what I knew was right. Choices can be hard to make, my friend, but can be even harder to live with.

Simon, was just a simple by-stander that day, one of a thousand pilgrims who'd come to Jerusalem for Passover. The city was in an uproar, shouting, "Crucify"! It seemed incredible this was the same man who'd ridden a donkey through the streets a few days ago, hailed as a king. Everyone had shouted "Hosanna"! I even broke a branch off a date palm and joined in myself.

But all of that had changed. Dragging through the street, bent under the weight of a wooden cross. Closer and closer, stepping over dried branches, I could smell the blood and sweat and hear him laboring to get his breath. He stumbled. Without thinking I reached out to catch him. A Roman soldier shouted, "You're so willing to help, you carry it the rest of the way!" He thrust the cross onto my back. Jesus lifted His eyes and gave me a sad look that pierced my heart. Maybe he's the Messiah after all! I thought.

People taunted me just as they did Jesus. But you know, I was glad in the end. Me, Simon, carrying the Messiah's cross. You see, I was simply doing what he asked all his disciples to do, every single day. Take up their cross and follow him, to walk with him even when the way is difficult and painful.

Thief on the Cross, my father died, it fell on me to feed my mother and brothers. Well, old Zacharius caught me with my hands in his purse and turned me over to the Romans. Now, I was about to be crucified with two others.

As I stumbled toward Golgotha, I looked at each of them. One thief like me, the other, Jesus. I'd seen him before. I had stood on a hillside while he was preaching, "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven," he'd said. As I was walking away, I'd wondered what he meant.

Now, here we were about to die together. The Romans pounded spikes through my wrists and feet, and the pain never seemed to ease. I heard the other thief shouting at Jesus, "If you're the Christ why don't you save us?" I shouted, "We deserve what we're getting." I struggled, saying, "He's done nothing wrong." I turned to Jesus, feeling ashamed of my life, "Lord remember me when you come into your Kingdom."

Jesus looked at me, as if he could see right into my heart. "This day you will be with me in Heaven," he said.

I was a sinner who had done nothing good in life. Was that the meaning of his words, I had heard on the hillside? Did he mean that entering his Kingdom is a gift for those who are poor enough in spirit to confess their need of him?

In pain, I uttered, "Thank you, Lord." I Know I had done nothing to earn my way to Paradise.

John, We fled, running into the night like fugitives. Peter, Thomas, and James, crouched in the upper room where we had celebrated Passover. "I'm scared," I said, "But, we can't forsake him."

When I arrived at Calvary, they were pounding the nails. It was like a nightmare. They hoisted the cross upright. Jesus was covered with blood. Some sort of spiked crown had been placed on his head. "You saved others," one onlooker shouted, "Can't you save yourself?"

Three soldiers squatted at his feet and rolled dice. What had he done to deserve this? Wherever he went, he preached nothing but love.

A thought came to mind, love was the reason behind it all. Tears blurring my eyes, it came back to me. He spoke as we shared the Passover meal. "Love one another, as I have loved you." I fixed my heart upon the taunting crowd, the dice rolling soldiers, and the disciples still in hiding. I love them, because of Him.

Roman Centurian, I was just doing my job. I was charged with seeing that justice was carried out. "Justice", now that's a fine word for what happened. There was little justice that day. He was claiming to be God's Son. I got a laugh out of that. We Romans had more gods than I could count. Things got out of hand, they spit on him and beat him. He didn't fight back. There was something different about this man. Something I couldn't understand.

After we crucified him, a peculiar thing happened. A darkness, which I'd never seen, swallowed up the country side. This wasn't natural. Who was this man that even nature seemed to mourn his dying? Then he looked at all of us, his eyes glazed with pain. He opened his mouth and said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." The words kept ringing around inside me, the truth broke over me at once.

"This man is the very Son of God," I whispered quietly to myself. I pulled off my helmet as my old heart filled with reverence. The emptiness inside me was gone, I believed!

Mary, the mother of Jesus, It was the blackest day of my life standing beneath a cross, watching my son die. Why did it have to end like this, I kept thinking. Jesus murmured above me, "I'm thirsty," he cried. O God, what mother can hear her child beg for water and do nothing? "Please give him something to drink!" I begged the guard. He lifted wine mixed with myrrh, Jesus shook his head. I longed to wipe the blood from his face, to cradle his head against me, as I did when he was small, and kiss all his hurts away so easily. Your mind does strange things. I was remembering him wrapped in swaddling clothes, nestled beside me in the hay, that cold Bethlehem night. How scared I'd been that Herod's soldiers might find him.

I even remembered how worried I had gotten when he disappeared in Jerusalem at the age of twelve. And the wedding in Cana, when Jesus turned six jars of water into wine. But, none of that was important now.

Looking up, I heard him speak the word "mother". "Yes, son, I'm here," I cried. He looked past me at John. "Behold your son," he said, with a loud cry. Then he died! John wrapped his arms around me, offering comfort. All the questions tormented me. Had God abandoned us? Was this how it all ended?

And then, as if in answer to my cries, the memories of Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Cana came to me again. God wasn't finished. He was still with us, waiting to intervene in some unexpected way. Could it be, God was not finished?

Joseph of Arimathea, We walked slowly along the garden path, carrying the body of Jesus. It seemed impossible our Lord was dead. Nicodemus, glancing at the gathering darkness, cautioned, "The Sabbath is upon us." We were on our way to lay him in my rock sepulcher.

The moment Jesus died, I hassled Pilate for the body. I took him off the cross myself. What despair I felt, holding his disfigured body in my arms. Rain fell on me as I wrapped him in clean linen with myrrh and aloe. It is over, Jesus is dead. We placed him inside the tomb and rolled a great stone across the door. We hurried away, past a little knot of women standing nearby.

Two days later, I was awakened by the sound of banging on my door. "Sir, Jesus is not there! The tomb is empty!", a woman cried, when I opened the door. I recognized her as one of those I'd seen near the sepulcher on Friday.

I hurried toward the tomb. The stone was rolled aside. Bending down I peeked in. I saw the grave clothes lying precisely as I'd left them, only they were empty. Empty like a cocoon when life inside it has emerged. I felt like a light pierced my heart, Christ entered inside it. I did not need to see him, I knew, He was risen! Being old, I danced through the garden like a child. He is alive!

Mary Magdalene, Wondering, how are we going to move the stone? The other Mary shook her head. In our sorrow we had forgotten about the stone. Could there be any future now that Jesus was gone?

The days stretched ahead of me like a dark empty tunnel! Suddenly the earth rumbled under our feet. Mary grabbed me, and a dazzling angel appeared beside the tomb pushing the stone away. We fell trembling on the ground. "Don't be afraid," he said, "You seek Jesus, but He is risen! Come and see!"

Clutching each other, we inched toward the tomb. I stepped through the door into the semi-darkness. The tomb was empty.

"Go quickly, tell his disciples that he is risen! Behold he goes before you into Galilee!", the angel said. I whirled around and stumbled through the door. The sun was spilling over the hills as I raced through the garden. I ran on into the Jerusalem streets, leaving Mary far behind.

"Jesus is risen!", I cried, bursting into the upper room where the disciples were staying. They hurried out, gasping for breath.

I sank onto the step, thinking of the angel's words, "He goes before you."

All the days ahead of me now are filled with promise and light. Jesus is not only alive in the present, but he has gone before me into the future. Every day the risen Christ walks ahead of me to prepare the way. There can be no circumstance in which he will not meet me.

On that Easter morning, I gazed up into the blueness of the sky. The Lord was alive. He was, at that very moment, going before me.

Lord may we walk away from the empty tomb renewed in hope that you hold our future in your hands. Your brother in Christ, Anthony Saldana.

"Jesus Christ is Superior"

What does this mean in today's world of hysterical confusion? When we put our faith in Christ, He is able to save to the uttermost - completely, perfectly, finally and for all time and eternity. After we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we enter into His perfect rest from fear, anger and self-pity, because He is living to make petition to God - interceding and intervening on our behalf. We can enjoy life, because Jesus is alive and praying for us.

As the eternal superior High Priest, He is perfectly adapted to our needs. He lived on the earth for over 30 years, being tempted in every respect that we are, yet without sinning. Therefore, He understands and sympathizes with our weaknesses and liability to the assaults of temptation. He doesn't disdain or belittle us, because we are in need of His strength. Instead, He lovingly pours out His mercy when we fail and gives us His grace so that we can try again. He doesn't hold us down or enjoy it when we fail. He helps us up, cleans us up, and walks with us to the battle. This is fitting to the divine nature, because He is holy, unstained by sin, and exalted higher than the heavens.

Since He is perfect, He doesn't need to make atonement for His own sins. This means He can pay attention to helping us - giving us whatever we need to be free from fear, anger and self-pity. Although He daily supplies power for victory, it is also forever available for those who trust Him. He will never fail us, give up on us, leave us without support, nor let us down. He will never relax His hold on those who put their faith in Him - assuredly not!

Psalm 65:

verse 1, To God belongs silence - the submissive wonder of reverence. When we sit in submissive silence before God, He is able to reveal His superior nature to us. When we grasp the magnificence of His personage, we can't help but burst forth into praise. Because of His superiority, praise is due and fitting to Him. Jesus is the one true God!

verse 3, Even though iniquities and much varied guilt prevail against us, God forgives and purges them away. He possesses the authority to do it. When we turn to Him for cleansing, He does it immediately and without hesitation. Jesus loves us!

verse 4, To be envied is the one who He chooses and causes to come near to Him, that we may dwell in His presence. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of His house. Our Heavenly Father withholds nothing from the one who believes!

verse 5, By fearful and glorious things - things that terrify the wicked, because they can't understand them - God answers our needs in His righteousness. He is the God of our salvation.

verse 6-7, Although He is girded with all power, yet He comes to calm the tumult of our minds and hearts. He comes bringing rest for our soul and spirit. God never intended for fear, anger, and self-pity to control our lives. Our Father wants us to rest in Him, because He is a God of heart, peace, and joy!

Verse 8-13, Even though we are human, He fills the earth with His bounty and goodness, His chariot drips with fatness. We will shout for joy and sing together of His greatness. God wants us to trust in Christ. The truth is, He has done great things for us. The verb used in the previous sentence is past tense. This means that the great things God wants to do for us are already in place for us to enjoy, yet we don't live in this truth.

He planned long ago for us to take paths that we should walk in them - living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live. The only obstacle standing between the good life and us is our refusal to trust Christ. He is superior and He has a superior life ready for us, but we need to trust Him and Him alone.

Living Free In Victory, Michael Perry, a brother in Christ.

Michael, a former inmate, resides in Connecticut, and is in daily service to our Lord Jesus.

Were Not Our Hearts Burning Within Us?

Luke 24:13-35 (NIV) - "...two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"

"What things?" he asked.

"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.

And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."

He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself."

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over."

So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Our scripture lesson from Luke, opens with two men walking toward the sunset along the road to Emmaus, just a few miles west of Jerusalem. It was the third day since Jesus of Nazareth was crucified on the cross at Calvary. Being so preoccupied with their talk about the events that had just taken place, and with the sun glaring in their eyes, causing them to squint; they did not recognize, nor for that matter were they expecting the risen Jesus to be walking along beside them. Caught up in their own sorrows and fears it did not dawn on them who He was.

The whole situation seemed to them, to have no explanation. Their hopes and dreams were shattered, they were dead and buried. In this forlorn state of mind, the only words they could utter were words of dejection,

"We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel!"

How like those men we behave. We expect Jesus to deliver nations, but we won't let him come close enough to deliver us. Jesus can be walking along beside us on any given day, just waiting to be recognized, waiting to bless us; but we are far too concerned with our own thoughts of how we think things should be, so we do not respond to Him. The presence of Jesus does not bring revelation to us in a personal way, if we are not open to it.

We, like those two men on the road to Emmaus, need to rise above our dead thoughts and the deadness of the tomb where they laid Jesus' body. The scene at the tomb should never be confused with an ending, for it was only the beginning of the glorious HOPE described by the gospel, which is the "Good News"! Although the men on the road did not have access to the gospels, or the New Testament like we do; simply because it had not been written yet, they were right in the middle of making history! The risen Jesus came along on that dusty road, so long ago, and he talked with them and explained what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Surely the truth of the scriptures had pierced their hearts, because later when their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus as the risen Lord, they immediately asked each other,

"Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

That's the way it always is, for those who have really heard the message of Jesus with their heart! After Jesus talked with them the meaning of life became clear, and their darkness turned to light. The way of the resurrection is truly a principle we can live by. It is the principle of a victorious and unchanging God at work in the universe, bringing about His eternal purposes. We are privileged to be a part of it in our sojourn on this earth.

Through the resurrection, God does things "in us" we could never have done for ourselves. Because Jesus rose from the dead, we have the promise (through our acceptance of what He did on the cross), we also will rise from the dead. As Jesus acknowledged in John 11:25-26:

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."

If we are to live eternally with Jesus, we must believe. Believing is an action word. The verses from an old hymn challenges us to make our decision based on the love of God for us:

The love of God is broad like beach and meadow; wide as the wind, and an eternal home. God leaves us free to seek him or re ject him; He gives us room to answer "yes" or "no".

We long for freedom where our truest being is given hope and courage to unfold. We seek in freedom space and scope for dreaming, and look for ground where trees and plants can grow.

But there are walls that keep us all divided; we fence each other in with hate and war. Fear is the bricks and mortar of our prison, our pride of self is the prison coat we wear.

Jesus often shares the sadness in His heart with me, concerning those prisoners whose answer to Him has been a clear "no". It seems that some inmates are absolutely bent on making their concrete cell their tomb. They do this by withdrawing into a shell, shutting out the very people that Christ Jesus has sent into their life to bring blessings to them. Those inmates who push God's people away, out of fear, are in reality rejecting Jesus Christ, Himself, by denying the power of His resurrection in their life.

On the other hand, those inmates who have experienced the glorious power of the resurrection, because of their clear answer of "yes" to Jesus, have brought great joy to him. He is pleased with these, His precious ones, who have not been able to keep quiet about what He has done for them. The Christian message is never completely ours until we have shared it with others. In many ways these inmates are like those men on the road to Emmaus, who trekked seven miles back to Jerusalem, because they could not keep the "Good News" to themselves. Their voices are echoing as far and wide as God's compassion leads them!

"It is true! The Lord has risen!"

Sharing the Good News

II Corinthians 5:20-21 - "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God..."

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From: Nancy Foster, Eagle, Colorado

Dear Alan and Sharon, I talked to my son, Glenn, last night and he and his wife, Shauna, who live in Utah, have been getting your CA newsletters. The newsletters are particularly important to them, because the three foster children in their family have both parents in prison. They will be sending the mother's new address to you soon, as she was moved recently to another facility.

Shauna has a regular Bible study with the kids and they use CA Bible references. You just don't know how far you reach, or when the contact really hits home. Thank you! With Love, Nancy.

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From: Saji Thomas, Bangalore, India

Hello Christian Ambassadors! I happened to see your web page on the internet and it is good. Praise the Lord!

I am working in a private firm in Bangalore, India. I am also a leader of a Church, which started 1½ years ago. God is blessing us! Slowly the new souls are coming to the Church. We request your valuable prayers. Looking forward to hearing from you. Take care, In Christ, Saji.

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From: Rick Donohoe, SICI, Boise, Idaho

Dear Sharon and Alan, I want to thank you for your newsletters and spiritual growth lessons. Your Spiritual Growth Lesson (#12) "Love -The Fulfillment of the Law" was a loving reminder for us to re-examine our lives and give the sin we find there to God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you!

I pray that your ministry continues to be a blessing to all those who are involved with or touched by it. Thank you for all your prayers. May God Bless you and yours. In Christ's Love, Rick.

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From: David V., Beeville, Texas

Dear Sharon, I was very happy to hear from you and listen to your advise. You know just the right words to say. I know that you are full of the Spirit. Every night I thank God for sending me laborers of His word. You are truly a child of God. I will keep on reading in the Word, after all, us men from Texas don't all give up that easy. J God Bless you! Love in Christ, David.

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From: J.M., CSP, Cañon City, Colorado

Dear Sharon, Your Spiritual Growth Lesson, "Testing Your Faith - Part I" was very good! It is easy to relate to "Mac's" situation, as there are many variations of the game, which inmates play, taunting Christian inmates in a locked-down situation. Thanks again for sharing "Mac's" victory through your lesson. Your Brother in Christ, J.M.

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From: Dave Garcia, LCF, Limon, Colorado

Dear Sharon, It was great receiving your letter. I want to thank you, with all my heart for all the encouragement, counseling, and special interest you have given to me and of course, thanks be to Alan for all he has done and the friend he has been, not only to me, but to all of us. Thank you both so much! Please know that you are in my prayers. Your friend, always, Dave.

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From: Larry Moore, WCC, Westville, Indiana

Dear CA, I got your address from another inmate. He said you have a thing called "Spiritual Growth Lessons." I would like to receive these lessons, if I could. I read the Bible every day, but I would like something that would help me to understand more of what I read. Thank you for your time, Larry.

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From: Theodore Lien, CTCF, Cañon City, Colorado

Dear Alan and Sharon, I'm writing to inquire about your ministry . I received a copy of your newsletter, volume 6, #1, which included letters from other inmates from all over. I would like to find out more about Christian Ambassadors, Inc.

The inspirational articles from other inmates are very encouraging to prisoners. I find the letters from other inmates to be understanding and helpful, too, both to inmates and their families. I pray to get more involved in writing and sharing the Good Word of how God has helped me in so many ways with life in prison.

Alan and Sharon, I want to thank you for all the work you put into your ministry. A brother in Christ, Theodore.

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From: Larry Lippert, USP, Beaumont, Texas

Dear Sharon, Greetings and God Bless you! I received your address, Lesson 13, March, 2001, and your newsletter from Pastor Sheilah Rollins, a friend of yours. J So here I am writing and requesting to be placed on your mailing list.

I have been a Christian since 1996. It is not always easy being in a prison environment, but it is easier with Jesus' help! Please feel free to write and ask any further questions you may have. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your assis tance. May God always bless you! In His service, Larry.

The Little Girl

Were You There?

Lean on Him

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