Watch His Face – Where the Christian Looks in Troubled Times

The bus was just four yards away. They were so close!

But between them and the vehicle stood a chain link fence topped with a coil of barbed wire. A Nazi soldier guarded the only gate. So close and yet still so far away!

Havilah bit her lip until it bled. When she didn’t it quivered. Her hands trembled too, so she tucked one into her pocket and Martha squeezed the other tightly.

“Take a deep breath, Havi.” Luke whispered into her ear. “He won’t even suspect us, unless you look scared.”

Havilah gulped a big breath of air and tried to breath out slowly, but it was of little use. Her body was afraid even though her mind told it not to be.  

Luke leaned close to her again. “Just watch his face.”

Havilah’s eyes moved from the grey clad soldier onto a man who had just reached the front of the line. Carrying a small child in one arm, he fished through his pocket for their ID cards with his other hand. Finally, he found them.

He smiled at the soldier as he handed him the documents. How did he do it? Wasn’t he afraid?

With a nod and a wave, the guard motioned them on. Just like that they were through.

 The line moved ahead and the children moved one spot closer to the Nazi soldier. Havilah’s heart was pounding so hard she felt certain the guard would hear it.

“Look at his face.” Martha whispered.

Havilah’s eyes moved off the guard once again and this time, all the way up to one of the windows of the bus. He was looking out through the pane of glass – right at her.

As soon as their eyes met, his face fell into an expression of fear that exactly matched her own. He was impersonating her – a fearful little girl, looking up at a stern guard.

He turned away from the window, then looked out again. Now he was imitating the guard, his brow furrowed, his mouth in a frown. He pretended to scrutinize an ID card. Then using just his hands and face, he transformed the guard into a little ant, who thought himself great and strong. 

Finally, he returned to her and acted out her expression changing from fear into confidence.

Havilah couldn’t help but smile. She nearly laughed.

Suddenly, the guard, his grey uniform, and the red, Swastika armband didn’t seem so scary.

Introducing “The Father of Mime”

Those who are familiar with mime, will recognize the name Marcel Marceau. For those who aren’t, this man is best known as “the Father of Mime”. He was an actor who specialized in this silent art.

Whether or not you have heard of Marceau previously, it may surprise you to learn that his first audiences were made up entirely of children. 

Working with the French Resistance, Marcel Marceau smuggled Jewish children out of occupied France. He performed this task armed with a special skill – mime.

On multiple occasions, Marceau used his talent to entertain the children in his care. By doing so, he set them at ease in danger and kept them quiet at times when silence and safety went hand in hand.

At least seventy children passed through extremely difficult and dangerous situations by watching his face.

Christian, Will You Do the Same?

The story of Marcel Marceau and the children he rescued is an intriguing tale. It is also a timely reminder.

In the midst of trouble and turmoil, in times when fear seems natural, the Christian needs the same admonition as little Havilah did: “Watch his face.”

Like Havilah, we often stare at trouble and tremble in fear of what is to come. However, we too have a rescuer – a Saviour – and our attention needs to be turned from the trouble onto His face.  

God’s Expression

Nothing catches God by surprise. Our Lord is never worried, fretful, or afraid.

At the moment, it seems like the entire world is looking at COVID-19, its spread and possible outcomes. Consequences to health, freedom, and economy loom over our heads. These things affect our lives now and, in one way or another, are likely to continue doing so in the days, months, and even years to come.  

However, as hard as this may sound, we need to turn our eyes away from these things. As Christians, we are not supposed to focus on this world, or our circumstances and troubles. We focus on Christ and let Him direct our words, actions, and even our feelings.

An Admonition in Troubled Times (of any kind)

I’ve been thinking a lot about Psalm 2:1-4, “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.” 

This scripture depicts a pretty world-shaking situation – the kings of the earth plotting against God Himself, planning to rebel against Him. In the midst of this, we see the Lord’s response – the expression of His face, as it were.  

“He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.”

Our Savior is not afraid of the Coronavirus. He doesn’t worry about an economic crisis. He isn’t stumped by any of the problems you or I will face. We don’t have to be either. 

Instead of looking at the problem, let’s look at His face. His expression will show us how to respond in any crisis.

 “For the Lord spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honour as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” (Isaiah 8:11-13)

In Christ

Quiana

*All Scripture references in ESV unless otherwise noted.

One Doctor - Putting Others First, Even at a Cost

They lived on one of the poorer streets of town and the row houses stood in a sad state of disrepair. The young man opened a door and led the doctor up a rickety staircase. At the end of the hall, stacks of newspapers were piled up - saved to stuff the building’s cracks and holes. A rough barricade against the cold drafts of the approaching winter.  

Another door and they entered a small apartment. The dishes were piled up in the sink, dirty laundry was overflowing its basket and food had been left out on the counter – all attesting to the fact that the woman of the house was not well.  

"In here." Jonah reached for the nob of the door which hid the apartment's other room. "I've been keeping the lights off, Doc, they hurt her head.”

"I can manage with a lamp, if you have one."

Jonah nodded. "I’ll get it."

Turning the handle, Dr. Krzyżanowska let himself into the dark room. It was a small space - just enough to fit the bed, with a small walkway round it. Under the covers, lay a young woman sleeping fitfully. Every few moments, her head tossed on the pillow.

He picked up her hand and felt for a pulse. “Hetta, I’m Dr. Krzyżanowska. I've come to help." Her hand was hot and when he felt her forehead, he found this warmer still.

Then Jonah entered with a lighted lamp revealing her face, which was flushed and wet with sweat. As the light fell on her closed eyes, she moaned and turned away. The doctor gently turned her face back toward him.

There it was - the telltale, dull red rash.  


A Spreading Disease

The first world war raged in Europe, claiming thousands of lives. But the warfare was not the only threat. Another enemy, an invisible one, flourished in the cold and dirty conditions. Carried from house to house and street to street by rodents and fleas, the Typhus epidemic quickly took hold in the slums of Poland.

A throbbing headache, a high fever, a red rash. The dreaded symptoms of the seemingly unstoppable disease.

Everyone who could avoid the affected districts did, leaving the sick to care for themselves and in many cases to perish alone. In Warsaw, Poland even the doctors stayed clear. Afraid of contracting the disease themselves, they refused to care for the infected population.

Treat the sick, they could lose their lives. For what? To care for people who would likely die anyways?

It wasn’t worth the risk.  


Only One Man Was Willing to Help

None of the doctors in Warsaw would take Typhus patients. None, except Dr. Stanislaw Krzyżanowska.

When his collogues announced their resolve, Dr. Krzyzanowska was horrified. He pleaded with them to reconsider. They were doctors – they had vowed to care for the sick at any time, any cost, any risk. Hadn’t they?

The other doctors disagreed. It wasn’t worth it. They’d be putting the rest of the population in danger, not to mention themselves and their families.

Stanislaw Krzyzanowska saw not the risk, he saw people who needed his help. So he went alone into the lines of contaminated row houses, knelt by the beds of feverish patients, and worked day and night to stop the rising tide of casualties.


It Cost Him Much

His fellow doctors thought him foolish. His regular patients ceased to call for him. His wife questioned his priorities – if he died who would care for his family? Didn’t he care about them?

Dr. Krzyzanowska once told his daughter, Irena, “If you see someone drowning, you jump in to save them whether you know how to swim or not.” It was on this principal, that he went. Putting his all on the line to help those who needed him.

The predictions were right. The doctor contracted Typhus from his patients and died in February of 1917. Leaving behind him a widow and a fatherless little girl.

But his efforts were not in vain. Many had been saved through the doctor’s selfless work. A large percentage of these were Jews and the Jewish community came together to provide for the needs of the doctor’s family. They never went without.

When Irena grew old enough to go to college, the tuition was payed for by those her father had given his life to save.


The Same Was Done For You

Another man risked entering contaminated quarters. Another physician subjected himself to a deadly disease. He did so for you and I.

Jesus came down from heaven and gave His life to battle sin - to heal us. He looked not at the cost, but at those who needed His help. Let us never forget what He sacrificed on our account!

“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:7-8, NKJV)

In Christ

Quiana

By Pen or Pulpit – Fulfill the Ministry Given You in the Lord

The key turned over in the lock, the cell door groaned as it opened, and the old floorboards creaked under his feet. To John all these sounds were happy sounds. For, like the sound of the earthquake that shook the prison in which Paul and Silas were kept so long ago, these were the sounds of freedom. 

John was free of the Bedford Jail. Free of its bars and benches. Free to breathe the fresh air. Free to see his family.

“I don’t think I need to remind you of the rules, Bunyan, just be back in the morning.”

The jailer’s voice was gruff, but John thought he saw the man smile as he turned back towards the building.

Standing alone, the prisoner took in a deep breath of the cool, clean air. 

What a fine Sunday morning it was! The birds were singing in the trees, a little stream trickled by and his mind was filled with the sermon he would soon preach.

The Preaching Prisoner

John Bunyan was a tinker by trade. A lay preacher by calling. A prisoner by decision of the court.

In the England of the mid-1600s, it was illegal for anyone except ordained ministers to preach. John Bunyan, however, believed that permission to share the gospel was something given by God, not by the government.

 John had a calling to preach. He believed it was a God-given commission and a God-given right. So, he preached despite the law which said he couldn’t, and was arrested because of it.

After three months in prison, John appeared at trial. He knew he could be banished, even executed, for his “crimes” but he would not relent. He boldly told the magistrate and the onlooking court, "If I was out of prison today, I would preach the gospel again tomorrow by the help of God."

He was true to his word. In the following months, he used every pass to see his family as an opportunity to preach to the secret gatherings of believers.

The Things He Held Dear

He tapped gently on the door of a little cottage decorated with wildflowers. He heard excited voices and the patter of little feet inside. In a moment, the door swung open. 

“Daddy!”

“Daddy!”

Sarah grabbed his hand and pulled him in. John tugged at his pant leg, trying to show him a missing tooth. One-year-old Thomas, in his high chair, enthusiastically pounded the table with his spoon.

John closed the door behind himself, then knelt and pulled his children near to him. He hugged them for a long time, listening to their chatter and thanking God that he was free to hear it.

When he felt a hand on his shoulder, he rose and kissed his wife.

“It’s good to see you!” He said to the young, dark- haired woman. 

Still holding her hand, he made his way across the room to where his eldest daughter, Mary, sat with knitting on her lap. He greeted her with a kiss as well.

“It is good to see you all!”   

Elizabeth smiled. “The others are already gathered in the Elrett’s barn, John.”

John Bunyan looked over his family once more. Mary’s golden hair and Sarah’s brown were braided, Elizabeth’s was neatly tied up and all of them, including the little boys, were dressed in their Sunday best.

 He nodded. “Give me a moment to clean up and we’ll be off.”

“Shall I send the girls ahead, or should we all go together?”

“We’ll go together. I don’t see how a family going out for a walk could in any way be suspect.”

Elizabeth laughed. “Don’t you know, everything we do is suspect!”

Resilience

John Bunyan wasn’t a man to be silenced. He preached the gospel though he was told not to, though it would cost him the little freedom he had left and everything he held dear.

Eventually, the authorities caught on to the fact that John was preaching while on pass from prison and this small liberty too was taken away.

But John Bunyan could not be stopped. Prevented from preaching in the usual way, he traded his pulpit for a pen and turned to the written word.

For the next twelve years, John wrote in the small cell of the Bedford Jail. There he wrote the gospel message into books which have gone on to be read by thousands! Books, like The Pilgrim’s Progress and Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, have stayed in publication for more than three hundred years!

In Application

 I once heard a quote that went something like this: “In every country in the world men are free to preach the gospel, it is only the consequences that differ.”

 Try as I might, I can’t find the original quote, nor the name of the author, but the truth behind these words has stuck with me since I first heard it. We all have the ability to obey God, the question is, are we willing to obey at any cost? Despite any obstacle?

In the face of difficulty and daunting odds, John Bunyan held fast to the conviction of his soul. He met increasing difficulty with perseverance and creativity, using whatever means were available to press on in the work God had given him to do.

John Bunyan obeyed God, refusing to view any obstacle as big enough to stand in his way. Are you willing to do the same? 

"And say to Archippus, "See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord." " (Colossians iv.17, ESV)

In Christ

Quiana

If you want to learn more about John Bunyan, his family and his writing, I can help!

Visit These Related Posts:

-        John Bunyan’s Second Wife

 Finding the Middle Ground Series

-        Part 1: John Bunyan and the Slough Despond

-        Part 2: John Bunyan and the House of Mr.Legality

-        Part 3: John Bunyan and the Wicket Gate