Here's one I shall never forget . . . a young lady from Europe. On the last day of the TERM seminar she came to John and asked if she could talk. Though she spoke limited English, she was obviously very sharp. It was also apparent that she had been much gripped by the message. She told him that the teaching was such a 'change' for her. I joined John as he carefully reviewed the gospel message as retold in The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus. He asked her specific questions to make sure of her understanding in key areas.

The 'big change' for her was that she had come to recognize that all her life she had been depending on her 'rituals'—her good works—to make herself acceptable to God. She struggled with the belief that God was unhappy with her.

Because of the seminar, she now understood her helplessness to do anything about her sin, other than to pay its price—eternal death. John reviewed how Jesus took mankind's sin and bore the full penalty in man's place. He explained that on the cross, Jesus became the "sin offering" in our place and God carried out His judgment once for all, for all time, upon His own Son. Jesus bore the full force of God's anger and wrath against sin. And God's justice was totally satisfied. Sin was gone.

She had one question . . . did that include her sin? Did the judgment at the cross cover sins she had committed long after the time of Jesus? She wasn't real sure. As she came to realize that God's wrath was indeed satisfied for all time—past and future—that He demonstrated this fact by tearing the veil in the Temple and by raising up Jesus from the tomb, she was thrilled.

John addressed her 'rituals' saying that if she was going to depend on her good living instead of what Christ did at the cross, then she was looking for an AWARD. (He handed her the trophy). It was clearly distasteful to her. She set it on the windowsill with a comment about "not deserving it." John then held out the GIFT and said, "All that is left is a GIFT, and you don't deserve God's gift of salvation." She nodded her head in affirmation as she took the GIFT.

John went on. "Salvation was paid for in full. There was nothing more to be done. Christ paid it all. It was free."

She actually clutched the GIFT to herself. In fact, afterwards, when John reached out to take it from her she didn't want to give it up. With her understanding clarified, John asked her how she thought God looked at her now. She responded, "He is smiling." And then she smiled.

She actually clutched the GIFT to herself.

She left the room thrilled at the truths she now understood. Whether she was a believer or not when she first entered that room, we will let someone else judge. We do know that when she left, her focus was on the cross, not herself. Jesus had done it all. It had to be the gift or nothing.

Obtain the supplies needed:

Gift:

  • Use an empty box or a block of styrofoam approximately 5"L x 5"W x 3"H. (12cmL x 12cmW x 8cmH)
  • Wrap the box or foam with a paper that is neutral in both color and purpose. Don't use bright gaudy colors. Avoid birthday or Christmas paper. The idea is to stay away from anything that might be considered funny or inappropriate.
  • Complete your gift with ribbon.

Award:

This prop can be bought at a store specializing in awards and trophies. Stay away from buying a trophy associated with a sport. Though it is not necessary, try to find an award with an image of a human holding a star or a "number one." It coveys the idea much better than a "golden globe" or a "silver pinnacle."

Teaching with the Gift and Award

Here is an example of how this visual aid can be used (on page 271 of The Stranger, Edition 3):