"Yeshua, tell me the truth. Are you God?"
"What would you do if I told you that I am?"
"'I am'..."Out of all the words that Yeshua has spoken, the 'I am' caught my attention. Something's at the back of my head about it. 'I am'. "Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am! [John 8:58 NIV]"
"'Before Abraham was born, I am!'" I shouted. Is this from the bible?"Oh, now you're quoting me." Yeshua said while smiling at me again. I looked at him confusedly. "Quoting you?"
"Yes." he answered me. Then suddenly, Yeshua sighed. "You need to rest now, Maria." he said to me, and so I began biking again. And so did Yeshua.
We've been stopping a lot now because of our conversation. So I decided to keep my mouth shut throughout the journey. Yeshua stayed quiet as well and I can't help but to glance at him from time to time.
He did not answer my question directly but 'quoting me'? Is this really the Son of God whom our religion has been worshipping all this time? Then how come he looks nothing like the images displayed on the church and on the internet? If he is really Jesus, then why did he introduce himself to me as Yeshua?
"You have too many questions on your mind, Maria." said Yeshua as he glanced at me. "Are you really Jesus? If you are Jesus, why did you introduce yourself to me as Yeshua?" I asked him but Yeshua biked a little faster with a grin on his face. What? This couldn't be Jesus, right? I followed his pace. But it came from him that he's ancient! Oh, God!
"What did I tell you about that specific commandment!" said Yeshua as he now slows down and waits for me. "What would happen then if I kept using the name of god in vain?" I teased Yeshua. "I wouldn't want to test that if I were you. Our Abba would be wroth." warned Yeshua to me. I didn't listen and instead, "Oh. My. God."
And the dark sky lightened with a flash. A loud thunder roared throughout the heavens. I almost fell from my bike but Yeshua prevented my fall before I hit the ground. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! It won't happen again!" I pleaded while looking at the sky and Yeshua helped me balance my bike. "It's because you wouldn't listen. Just like the Israelites when they were in the wilderness." I quickly got off my bike, kneeled in front of Yeshua, bowed down, and touched His feet.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please forgive me! I believe! I believe! Please forgive me! I believe!" Yeshua got His feet off my hands, knelt with one knee in front of me, and held my hands. "Look up." I shook my head. "I can't. After all I've said and done. I can't." and I began crying my eyes out. "Yes, you can."
"I can't."
"Maria." with Him calling out my name, I slowly looked at Him. I did not see the Yeshua I've been with in this journey going home. I saw the One who called out my name with fire in His eyes. "You've already been redeemed. You are forgiven, my daughter."
And I hugged Him crying. I am home.