Draw Near – 365 Guides to Greater Intimacy with GodSample

FULL PARDON The warden of the state prison had called all the inmates to the chapel for an important announcement. One man among them was going to get a full pardon. At the appropriate time, he called out the name of Joseph Jordon. There was no response. He called again but there was still no response. Finally he said, "Doesn't Joe Jordon want to be pardoned?" The inmate sitting next to Jordon punched him and said, "Don't you know he's calling your name?" Jordon, a life prisoner, could not believe that this was really happening to him. This is why he did not respond. However, when he finally did arise and go forward, he was granted full pardon. The Bible says: Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom (Luke 4:14-16). In His first sermon, He told the people that the Redeemer of the world had come. However, they were so blinded with material things they could not believe this announcement. They did not respond positively but questioned whether what He said was true. Often we go through severe trials. We know Christ has come but somehow cannot really believe He is here to help in every need. Like the prison inmate, we hesitate to accept the new freedom that is ours. If we would but arise and claim the promise, we could hear and understand that the Christ has really come.