Hello Dear Friends,

Our family just finished reading a dear 19th century novel called Joel: A Boy of Galilee. It wraps the truths of Jesus' ministry on Earth with the fictional tale of a little boy who is healed by The Master, and then follows Him watching the events of the New Testament unfold.

Part of the story is Joel's transformation: from revenge seeking, to loving and forgiving the boy who made him lame. Joel learns that the hideous revenge he had longed to seek before he met the Messiah, had happened to his forgiven foe at the hand of another. Longing for others to be healed as well and unaware of the previous night's events, Joel set out to find his forgiven foe and bring him to Jesus for healing.

Upon returning from his unsuccessful journey, Joel learns that Jesus was crucified. "'Oh, wasn't there one to stand up for him?' he cried, with clasped hands and streaming eyes...'Oh if I had only been there!’ he moaned. 'If I could only have stood up beside Him and told that He had done for me! O my God! How can I bear it? To think he went to His death without a friend and without a follower, when I loved Him so!...’”

Two thousand years later, we understand how Joel feels. For this, we Testify!

With Christ's Incredible Love,
      Janel Messenger
editor of The Christian Woman's Page