Several years ago I went into a book store and saw a book that had five simple symbols on the cover. The name of the book was called “Witness” by Debbie Webb and Mary Owen. Reading the book overview it basically explained that this book was a fictional book, or one that was based upon the author’s own imagination. The author’s of this book have written what reads like a personal memoir of Mary Magdalene (who was a real person), but told a “fictional” story of her life after her encounter with the real Christ. Within the book five simple symbols were used to explain the good news.
The first symbol is a down arrow. This lets us know about what Jesus said of Himself in John 6:38, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” One can go back to the first chapter of John and also read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”
The second symbol is what in the time of Jesus was one of execution. It would be equivalent in our time as an electric chair or even less brutal, a lethal injection. The cross was the way the worst of criminals were punished. However, before the foundation of the world God had already known it would become the altar in which would be used for the “perfect, blameless Lamb” be sacrificed for the redemption of all who choose to believe.
The third symbol is an empty tomb. If Jesus had died and stayed within the tomb there would be no real truth or meaning of Christianity. Former atheist, turned author and pastor Lee Strobel documents his journey to “disprove” the resurrection of Jesus after his wife became a believer. He was challenged that if he could prove it didn’t really happen, then there is no real basis for Christianity. Needless to say his search led him to becoming one who now accepts and shares the truth of the empty tomb.
The fourth symbol is the up arrow. It can symbolize that Christ did rise from the dead and that He also ascended into Heaven as recorded in Luke 24:50-51. Peter also wrote about where Christ had gone once He had been lifted out of their sight. “…by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God” (1 Peter 2:21-22).
The fifth symbol is like the first in that it is another down arrow. This time he will not be coming to the earth as a babe in a manger, but as a reigning King that brings forth righteous judgement. It is written in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 that, “the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout…”
These five simple symbols can tell of the greatest story ever told. Just like the atheist turned pastor, search out the truths each symbol represents and abide in Christ with confidence waiting for the last symbol to be fulfilled.
~TRS
2/16/25
Rays of Hope 