Our brothers at IN HIS STEPS magazine are at it again. This time, they are releasing a very timely easter flick that is bound to cause more than a stir. They released a short film earlier this year and this is a follow-up and must watch.
This project is peculiar because while we have been told the resurrection story over and over again, none has focused on what Mary must have been thinking or going through the whole time.
The narrative video which is about 10minutes long was shot primarily in Abuja with a couple shots taken in the United Kingdom. The release date has been set for April 1st 2013 . Attached here is a narrative and a trailer of the short film.
HE PROMISEDIt was dark.
It was late.
It must be about 10pm, the shadows said that much.
I stepped out of our home and looked down the street. The last set of traders were returning home
bearing baskets, some totally empty, others near empty. I could see the soft orange glow of lamps
reflecting through the windows of most homes. Up in the sky, the stars seemed to be winking down on
the earth and the moon was just there, a bright creamy-grey.But where is my Jesus?
I had hoped He will be home tonight. Last night was just awkward. There was something unsettling
about His disposition. He always came visiting me and Joseph at home every Thursday before He again
returns to do the work of His Father – as He always put it. But last night was Wednesday, and for some
reason, He was home. I was more than glad to see Him of course and threw my arms around Him.
However, His sentences were laden with pregnant meanings. The kind that old folks who are on their
death bed say.
Now that it is Thursday and I am yet to see Him, I am very worried. Joseph had said I need not overwork
myself. Jesus is special and no hurt can come to Him. As I was about to re-enter the house, I heard
someone whisper my name with some urgency in the tone.
I startled and noticed it was Taramera, a neighbor. Her next words knocked strength out of my knees:
“Jesus has been arrested”
A flood of questions came pouring out and within a split, I was in to pick my veil and out to head for the
courts where He was being held. I arrived there just as He was being jostled into an inner chamber. He
must have felt my presence because He looked back and locked His eyes with mine and spoke love. I
reached out as if to touch Him but He was too far. At the sight of His chained hands and feet, my knees
buckled and I crumpled to the ground weeping. But I soon consoled myself – He is the Son of God, He
will be fine.
How so wrong I was… He wasn’t fine. Things only got worse by the following day. I couldn’t believe all
that was happening! The events of 33 years ago were still fresh in my mind – when the angel appeared
to me and called me blessed and gave me the promise! Here now was that promise waiting to be judged
by Pilate.
Pilate’s judgment was final, it was death! I yelled and screamed NO, but it was insignificant amidst the
overwhelming noise of the crowd. I seemed like a lone voice! There had to be someone, anyone,
somebody who cared! Where are they? All those who threw their garments for Jesus last week when He
entered Jerusalem? Where are they? By now, tears were lining my face.
The memory of my ancestor, Sarah, flashed through my mind, how she judged God faithful to make true
the promise – Isaac. I wanted to trust that God is still faithful but how do you reconcile such intangible
virtue with the tangible reality which is that my son is being taken to the Cross. Or will it be like Isaac
and the ram? Maybe Pilate will replace Jesus or maybe he will overturn his judgment.
None of that happened. Instead the next thing I heard was a piercing groan! It was Jesus! By the time I
got to the place where the sound was emanating from, I couldn’t bear what I was seeing. He was being
whipped! I pleaded with the soldiers to stop but they just wouldn’t. Did they even regard me?
Nothing could have prepared me for the next series of events. My already broken heart kept being
shattered into smaller pieces with each passing act of cruelty. I still wanted to believe that Jesus won’t
die! How will He save the world if He wound up dead? During one of those few moments I was able to
get close to Him, I held His torn body and could feel Him shiver uncontrollably.
‘Jesus, please save me from this grief’ I cried.
He just smiled, through His swollen and bloodied face, He still smiled
By the time the nail pierced His hands and feet at Golgotha, I knew it was over! I cried out aloud:
“God won’t you save Him?” And I could hear a gentle voice saying:
Behold your God dying to save you
Truly, dying He died! And my once alive Jesus now rested in a tomb! Everything had happened so fast. It
was just 48 hours ago that I kissed Him. How I wish I knew what was coming. I won’t have let Him out of
my sight, I would have held Him longer, I would have told Him a million times how precious He was to
us. I would have…
My thoughts were interrupted when I overheard a group of women discussing as I approached my
home:
“She thought she was the mother of God! How so ridiculous!!!” one of them was saying and actually
laughing
I was stunned to hear such snide comments. How insensitive people can be! They hushed as I passed by
but the reality remained: many thought I was completely insane to think I could have been Mom to the
Saviour whom the Prophets had spoken about. It would seem they were right after all because Jesus the
Christ now lay dead and cold in a tomb.
BUT…
Today I walked out head held high with an everlasting smile on my face. I am a believer again because
yesterday (Sunday), I saw Him!
Yes I saw my Jesus! I could not believe it! He defied death! I should have known that the Jesus who
raised dead people back to life will not stay dead! Now I understand that He had to wind up dead, so He
could conquer Hades and death itself through His resurrection. And it was by dying that He
accomplished His mission of saving the world.
Indeed I had the highest priviledge of having been chosen to tend God in human form. And as I beheld
Him, I didn’t see my son. Rather I saw the Christ, my God, because He died for me too!
And like Sarah, I declare:
I judge Him faithful because He promised!
- Adebayo Okeowo ©2012
WATCH THE TRAILER BELOW:
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