Witness Is My Compass

Jesus was talking to his disciples and he explained that soon, he would be arrested, tried, killed and buried and three days later he would rise again.

Thomas, known to be a doubter, was sitting in the corner.  He shook his head and said to himself:

I don't believe in prophecies;

I don't believe in boasts.

I can't confess the living dead,

Like zombies, wraiths and ghosts.

I can't believe one rises from the burial tomb or grave;

No matter what their lineage, what they earned or what they gave.

A wispy apparition thus boasted of aloud,

Is not sufficient proof that Jesus tossed aside his shroud!

Witness is my compass,

Knowledge is my wealth;

I’ll only know what’s really real,

If I know it for myself.

Well, Jesus was arrested.  He was tried and hung on a cross.  He died and his friends placed him in a tomb.  On the third day, Mary went to anoint Jesus’ body with spices and she returned to the group of disciples all excited.

“The tomb is empty!” she said, “Jesus is risen!”

Thomas, who was known to be a doubter, shook his head and said to himself:

I don't believe in prophecies;

I don't believe in boasts.

I can't confess the living dead,

Like zombies, wraiths and ghosts.

I can't believe one rises from the burial tomb or grave;

No matter what their lineage, what they earned or what they gave.

A wispy apparition thus boasted of aloud,

Is not sufficient proof that Jesus tossed aside his shroud!

Witness is my compass,

Knowledge quells my fears;

I’ll only know what’s really real,

If I hear it with my ears!

Later that day, two friends of Jesus’ were walking the road to Emmaus.  They met a stranger on the way.  As they talked to him about Jesus and scripture, their hearts were warmed.  When the stranger was with them in their home and broke bread with them, they recognized the Living Christ.

They ran all the way back to the disciples in Jerusalem and announced, “We’ve seen Jesus.  He is risen!”

But Thomas, known to be a doubter, shook his head and said to himself:

I don't believe in prophecies;

I don't believe in boasts.

I can't confess the living dead,

Like zombies, wraiths and ghosts.

I can't believe one rises from the burial tomb or grave;

No matter what their lineage, what they earned or what they gave.

A wispy apparition thus boasted of aloud,

Is not sufficient proof that Jesus tossed aside his shroud!

Witness is my compass,

Knowledge is my guide;

I’ll only know what’s really real

If I see it with my eyes!

Later that week the disciples were gathered together in a room and the door was shut.  They were grieving, sad about Jesus’ death, wondering what they should do now.  They were telling stories about Jesus and remembering what he taught and how he wanted them to live.

Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them.

“Peace be with you,” Jesus said.  He breathed on them and said, “the Holy Spirit be with you.”

Thomas wasn’t with them when Jesus came.  The disciples told him about Jesus.

But Thomas, who was known to be a doubter, shook his head and said:

I don't believe in prophecies;

I don't believe in boasts.

I can't confess the living dead,

Like zombies, wraiths and ghosts.

I can't believe one rises from the burial tomb or grave;

No matter what their lineage, what they earned or what they gave.

A wispy apparition thus boasted of aloud,

Is not sufficient proof that Jesus tossed aside his shroud!

Witness is my compass,

Knowledge is my rose;

I’ll only know what’s really real,

If I smell it with my nose!.

The disciples went out fishing one night.  They fished and fished and fished, all night long, but didn’t catch a thing.  They were just about to row into shore, when a man on the bank said, ”Children you haven’t caught anything, have you?  Throw the nets in again.”

The disciples did as they were instructed and there were so many fish in the nets, they couldn’t pull them back into the boats.

Then they recognized Jesus and told everyone, “We’ve seen Jesus!  He is risen!”

But Thomas, who was known to be a doubter, shook his head and said,

I don't believe in prophecies;

I don't believe in boasts.

I can't confess the living dead,

Like zombies, wraiths and ghosts.

I can't believe one rises from the burial tomb or grave;

No matter what their lineage, what they earned or what they gave.

A wispy apparition thus boasted of aloud,

Is not sufficient proof that Jesus tossed aside his shroud

Witness is my compass,

Knowledge is my lands;

I’ll only know what’s really real

If I touch it with my hands.

Once again, the disciples were gathered in a room and the door was shut.  This time, Thomas was with them.  They were telling stories about Jesus and remembering what he taught and how he wanted them to live.

Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them.

“Peace be with you,” Jesus said. 

He showed his hands and side to Thomas and told him to touch his wounds.  “You believe,” said Jesus, “because you have seen me.  But those who believe but haven’t seen me are really blessed.”

Then Thomas, who was known to be a doubter, shook his head and said:

I don’t believe in prophets

I don’t believe in boasts.

I cant’ confess the living dead,

Like zombies, wraiths and ghosts.

But now I’ve really seen him with my  very own eyes.

He isn’t any living dead; he really did arise!

He’s not an apparition, boasted of aloud.

He’s living love incarnate: Love without a shroud!

Witness is my compass,

Knowledge must be sung;

Now I know he’s really real,

I’ll praise him with my tongue!

Go to Galilee

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary: "What shall we do?"

Earthquake: [stomp feet]

Angel: "Hear the word of the Lord!"

Jesus: "He is Risen!  Risen indeed!"

Hear the words that are printed in bold, call out or do the corresponding response.

After he had died and been lain in the tomb, the religious leaders had a great stone placed across the entrance and soldiers were ordered to guard it so no one could steel his body or tamper with his body.

It was a sad morning on the first day of the week, as Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb where their teacher had been lain.  As they came to the tomb, suddenly, there was a great earthquake; an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.

The angel's appearance was like lightning and his clothing as white as snow.  For fear of him, the guards shook and became like dead men.  But the angel said to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here; for he has been raised, as Jesus said.  Come, see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples, "Jesus has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will find Jesus.' This is my message for you."

So Mary Magdalene and the other Mary left the tomb and the angel quickly with fear and great joy and ran to tell Jesus' disciples.  On their way, suddenly, Jesus met them and said, "Rejoice!" and they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.  Then Jesus said to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary ran to tell the others about Jesus.

Jesus Is too Late

A certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany.  He was the brother to Mary and Martha.  Mary and Martha sent a message to Jesus to let him know that Lazarus, Jesus friend, was very sick and might die.  Jesus knew that Lazarus illness would lead to the Glory of God so he stayed where he was with his disciples for two more days.

Then the message came to Jesus that Lazarus had died.  And the disciples said,
"Jesus, You're too late!"

When Jesus arrived in Bethany, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.  There were many Jews, friends of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, who were visiting from Jerusalem, to be with Mary and Martha in their grief.  

Martha went out to meet Jesus.  When she saw him she said, "Jesus, You're too late!"

"If you had come sooner," she asserted, "My brother wouldn't have died.  But I know that God will give you whatever you ask for."

Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

"I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day," Martha replied.

But Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life.  Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.  Do you believe this?"

"Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world."

Martha went back to the house and sent her sister Mary to see Jesus who was waiting for her.  When Mary saw Jesus she said, "Jesus, you're too late!"

"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

Jesus saw her weeping as well as her friends who had come with her.  He was deeply moved.  "Where have you lain him?" He asked.  And he wept.

But the friends of Mary said, "Jesus, you're too late!"  You opened the eyes of the blind man; you could have kept Lazarus from dying."

Jesus came to the tomb where Lazarus had been lain.  A great stone was lying against it.  "Take away the stone," said Jesus.

But everyone said, "Jesus, you're too late!"

"Lord, already there is a stench.  He has been dead four days," said Martha.

"Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" said Jesus.

So they took away the stone as Jesus commanded.  And Jesus prayed, "Father, I thank you for having heard me.  I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me."  And with a loud voice he cried out, "Lazarus, come out!"

The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth.  "Unbind him and set him free," said Jesus.

Many who had come with Mary and Martha, saw what Jesus did and believed in him