A Story of God and All of Us Young Reade - By Roma Downey Page 0,41

crumples to the ground. Mary races forward to save her son, but a Roman guard grabs her roughly and throws her back.

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"Please," John says, risking his life by stepping from the crowd. "She's his mother!"

Tears stream down Mary's cheeks. The Roman guard steps toward John with a menacing glare on his face, but the disciple is undeterred. "Have

mercy. Please!"

Mary can't help herself. She flings herself forward and falls onto her knees, next to her son. She wraps her arms lovingly around him in what will surely be their last embrace. Jesus' eyes are swollen shut, and he can hardly react.

"My son," Mary sobs.

Jesus forces his eyes open. "Don't be afraid," he tells his mother. "The Lord is with you." His words repeat exactly what Gabriel told her when he visited her as a young virgin. They give her strength, and his look of love fills her with courage. She tries to help him up with the cross. If she could, she would carry it for him, but she knows this is what he came to do.

It is clear Jesus cannot carry the cross any farther. A man, Simon of Cyrene, is forced to shoulder the cross for Jesus. Their eyes lock, and then their hands link to lift the heavy wood. Together, they share the burden.

The crowd thins as Jesus leaves the city walls behind. Mary, John, and Mary Magdalene walk to the side of the road as it curls steeply upward. They are just

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out of Jesus' sight but always there. The hill is known as Golgotha, or "Place of the Skulls," because it is believed that the skull of Adam is buried there.

Choking dust fills the air, and Jesus can barely breathe. He trips. He rises and then trips again.

"My Lord," cries a woman as she steps into the street. Despite the threat of punishment by the guards, she lovingly washes his face with a cloth.

Jesus and Simon of Cyrene finally arrive at the place of crucifixion. Simon drops the heavy cross and quickly leaves. Jesus, no longer able to stand, collapses into the dust. The Roman guards spring into action.

The cross is upright. Jesus hangs from it. The executioner's job is done.

Meanwhile, those who have watched the crucifixion step forward. Mother Mary weeps with unbearable grief.

"Come to save others, can't even save yourself," mocks a Pharisee.

Jesus hears it all. He moans and then speaks to God: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Black storm clouds now fill the sky as he knows that the time has come to leave this world.

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"It is finished," Jesus says aloud. "Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit."

The body of Jesus, immaculately wrapped in linen, lies alone on a rock.

Strong men roll the rock over the opening of the tomb to make sure that the body won't be disturbed. Night has fallen, so the burial party lights torches to guide the way back down the path.

The morning of the third day after Jesus' death, Mary Magdalene takes it upon herself to go visit the tomb. She misses Jesus enormously, and even the prospect of sitting outside his burial site is a source of comfort. Her eyes are tired as she ascends a small hill. She knows that even in the early-morning fog, she will be able to see the tomb from the top, and she begins looking once she gets there. The entrance to the tomb stands open. The rock has been moved aside. Mary begins to cry.

Where is Jesus?

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PART TEN

NEW WORLD

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Mary Magdalene hears a man's voice at the tomb's opening. "Why are you

crying? Who are you looking for?"

It is the calm and knowing voice she recognizes well. Mary's heart soars as she realizes who is talking to her. "Jesus!" Her eyes swim with tears of joy and amazement as she steps out into the sunlight.

"Go and tell our brothers I am here."

Mary stares at Jesus in awe. Then he is gone. Mary, overcome with joy, sprints back into Jerusalem to tell the disciples the good news.

They stare in shock and disbelief at the empty tomb. Peering sheepishly inside from a few feet back, they can't see footprints or any other sign that tomb robbers 186 have been there, but they know that's the obvious answer.

"Thieves," says Peter.

"That's right: tomb robbers," adds John.

Peter steps closer to the opening. A white circle of light suddenly shines inside. Peter moves toward the light and sees the unmistakable Jesus. "My Lord," he says, in a hushed voice. Peter reaches forth to touch