The Prisoner in the Third Cell Read Free Page B

finished.
    â€œYour tree! An axe has been laid to your tree. The wrath of God is upon you. The axe will cut down your tree and destroy its root. The day is not far when all that you are shall be destroyed under the wrath of God.”
    With that the delegation, as one, gathered up their outer robes and hurried back toward their carriages, each devising in his heart some form of vengeance to take against John.
    Someone in the crowd began to cheer. Someone else clapped. With that, the whole multitude stood and took up the applause. Everywhere men and women felt shackles falling from their souls. At last, someone had dared to challenge the religious system!
    Spontaneously, the multitude moved toward John. It seemed that every soul present who had not been baptized wanted very much to do so now. They had all, as one, glimpsed something deeper of John’s message, something they had never understood before.
    It was a glorious day. Yet no one seemed to have laid hold of the obvious. Conduct like this would get John killed.
    And then there was that other very memorable day.

Chapter 7
    The door from the other realm opened, like a window, just over the Jordan River. Out from the very center of the being of God the Father came forth His own sacred Spirit, the Holy Spirit, somewhat as a dove might, fluttering out through the open door and coming to rest on one of the spectators who was listening to John speak.
    John’s eyes scanned the crowed, his fierce gaze catching every face. What was that? A light of unnatural origin, appearing out of nowhere, like a dove flying out of a window and coming to rest on someone out there in the crowd.
    John realized he was seeing what no other eye could see. This was the sign of the Messiah. John fell silent. His only thought was, “Where landed the lighted dove? Who is out there?”
    Murmuring whispers swept across the crowd. Many followed John’s searching gaze.
    Spontaneously, John roared,
    â€œBehold the Lamb of God!
    â€œI am nothing. This man is everything. Look no more to me; look to him. As for me, I am not even worthy to stoop down and unlatch the sandals that are on the feet of this one.”
    The Father seemed to agree. Standing in the door between the two realms, He called out.
    â€œThis is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”
    And as God was pleased, so John was pleased. Nor did it bother John as he watched the multitudes forsake him and begin to follow Jesus. After all, John knew he had come into the world for this very reason.
    What John did not know was that the easiest days of his work were now behind him. The harder were yet to come.

Chapter 8
    â€œTell me of my cousin,” asked John.
    â€œPresently he is in Galilee. He, like you, has twelve disciples; there are also others, perhaps fifty or sixty more, who are always with him. He travels from town to town preaching.”
    The voice was that of Nadab, a follower of John’s who had been in Galilee and witnessed Jesus’ ministry.
    â€œOn occasions he speaks to large multitudes of people, but most of the time he speaks in someone’s home.”
    â€œWhat does he speak about?”
    â€œHe mostly tells stories. And many of them have a great deal of humor in them.”
    Nadab paused. “Teacher, did you know he drinks? I mean, he drinks wine ! And the twelve, his twelve, they are not like us. They laugh a lot.
    â€œHe receives many invitations to banquets. It seems he always accepts. Some say he eats too much and drinks too much or, at least, that his disciples do.”
    John’s interest was intent, but his demeanor betrayed no evidence of his inward thoughts. Not one person present had the slightest idea what he thought of Nadab’s report. It was a trait of John’s that dated back to his childhood.
    Nadab continued. “The people he keeps company with are mostly tax collectors, whores, and . . . well, people like that.”
    One of John’s other