His Healing Stripes
“It’s like you’re saying Jesus is God!” Ahmed scoffed in a loud whisper to the man who was sharing Isaiah 53 with him.
“Just take these,” the man said quickly, pressing a couple of items into Ahmed’s hands.
Ahmed looked down at the gifts as the man walked away. He didn’t really want them, but calling out or running after the man would draw unwanted attention. Living in safety required wisdom; since advertising such things was far from wise, he tucked them away in his coat and left the area.
When he got home, Ahmed pulled out the items to inspect them. The first was a Bible that he leafed through, wishing he could read. Though he was sure to disagree with it, he would still like to have known what it said. The second was a small digital player – the man had called it a “BibleStick.” Ahmed put the earbuds in and turned it on. He was amazed that this recording was talking about Isa (Jesus). Over the next few days, Ahmed listened to this Audio Bible, fascinated by what he was hearing.
A few days later, a sudden scream from another part of the house startled him. He ran into the room to find his terrified wife holding their six-year-old daughter and turning in circles. Hayat’s eyes were closed, her body limp, and she didn’t seem to be breathing.
Everything went into slow motion as Ahmed saw the panic on his wife’s face, grabbed Hayat, tried to revive her, and then fumbled to get her outside and to the hospital. His vision narrowed and he felt as if they were traveling through a tunnel with darkened, shadowy edges. Why was everything moving so slowly? Why was everyone in their way?
Ahmed looked down at Hayat. She had been born paralyzed, blind, and deaf, but she was the sunshine of their lives; a joy, always sweet and loving. He shook his head. Now this? Why? Was this the end – after all she had been through?
Hayat wouldn't come out of the coma – she didn't have much longer to live
At the hospital, the doctor told them Hayat wouldn’t come out of the coma – her heartbeat was too slow. She didn’t have much longer to live.
They took her home. Ahmed sat by his little girl, the tunnel growing smaller and darker as grief overwhelmed him. Then he spotted the Bible the man had given him sitting on the table next to Hayat. He grabbed it, held it over her head and cried, “Jesus, I hear from this book that You have healed many people. You have also brought the dead to life. My daughter isn’t dead yet, but please, if You still have the power, bring Hayat back to us – let her live again.”
He turned to put the Bible down and heard a noise behind him. As Ahmed spun around in shock, Hayat spoke. Then she stood up and began to walk; she even began to see and hear. Ahmed lifted Hayat into the air and started shouting to everyone within hearing, “Look at my daughter! She’s alive again! She can walk and talk and see! Jesus heard my prayers!”
When he called his father the day after the miracle to tell him what happened, he was surprised to hear him say, “Listen my son, Isa is alive and He can hear you whenever you ask. You just have to obey Him and follow Him.” In this area of the world where people are not free to claim the name of Christ without endangering their lives, Ahmed didn’t know that his father had become a Christ-follower.
Ahmed now shares Christ with others. His wife, his cousins, and some of his friends from work have all come to know Christ.
