TELEMECHUS’ JOURNEY
One day, Telemachus thought he heard the voice of God telling him to go to Rome. And believing that he had heard God speak to him, he set out. Traveling on foot for weeks on end, he finally arrived in Rome. As he approached the city, he began hearing the sounds of people cheering in distance. As he approached the Coliseum, he heard people screaming,“Kill them…”
As he entered the Coliseum he saw the gladiators come forth and stand before Caesar. One by one they saluted the Emperor saying, “We who are about to die salute you.” Telemachus, now in complete shock, realizes that these gladiators were going to fight to the death to entertain the crowds. In utter disbelief, he watched as the killing began. Overcome with compassion and grief he made his way down through the crowd and climbed over the wall, dropping to the floor of the arena in the midst of the lions and gladiators.
Looking at the crowds, he yelled, “In the name of Christ, stop!” Even before the crowds were able to quiet down to hear what he was crying, a gladiator came over to him, raised his sword and thrust it into his body. Telemachus fell limp to the dirt. As this little humble monk lay motionless on the dirt floor of the stadium… silence came over the crowd. Then, someone in the top row got up and silently walked out… One by one the stadium emptied as people left in dismay at this humble man’s martyrdom. And never again did a gladiator enter the Coliseum to fight for Caesar. The games came to an end, that day."
One day, Telemachus thought he heard the voice of God telling him to go to Rome. And believing that he had heard God speak to him, he set out. Traveling on foot for weeks on end, he finally arrived in Rome. As he approached the city, he began hearing the sounds of people cheering in distance. As he approached the Coliseum, he heard people screaming,“Kill them…”
As he entered the Coliseum he saw the gladiators come forth and stand before Caesar. One by one they saluted the Emperor saying, “We who are about to die salute you.” Telemachus, now in complete shock, realizes that these gladiators were going to fight to the death to entertain the crowds. In utter disbelief, he watched as the killing began. Overcome with compassion and grief he made his way down through the crowd and climbed over the wall, dropping to the floor of the arena in the midst of the lions and gladiators.
Looking at the crowds, he yelled, “In the name of Christ, stop!” Even before the crowds were able to quiet down to hear what he was crying, a gladiator came over to him, raised his sword and thrust it into his body. Telemachus fell limp to the dirt. As this little humble monk lay motionless on the dirt floor of the stadium… silence came over the crowd. Then, someone in the top row got up and silently walked out… One by one the stadium emptied as people left in dismay at this humble man’s martyrdom. And never again did a gladiator enter the Coliseum to fight for Caesar. The games came to an end, that day."
Talk about the power of influence...
It's even greater to know the power of another "one." Unlike Telemachus, Christ knew exactly what he was getting himself into. He paid in full for the hope of the world.
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