I Appeal To Caesar!

To their horror, the flow of the crowd forces them away from the center current, far off to the side! They find themselves penned against a building. More anxious, able- bodied people pour into the area, making it absolutely impossible to see or move!

The noise level reaches full volume and highest pitch!

Voices are singing and shouting at maximum strength!

“HELP!” cries Rachel, lost in the strident cacophony of sound. She is beside herself. She loses all personal restraint. She pushes aside the needs of all others, including her own extreme pain and swirling emotions, and the dying woman screams a prayer of sheer desperation. “ LET ME SEE JESUS!” The boisterous crowd, however, is deaf to the dying woman, and they continue to roar their welcome to Jesus! * * * * * “JESUS is coming! Jesus is almost here! JESUS IS PASSING BY!” Jammed against the wall, body filled with pain— unable to see or hardly breathe—dear Rachel sobs without restraint, copious tears drench her face and dress. All hope is gone, the dream evaporated!

She screams a high, shrill, piercing cry, “God has

abandoned me!”

At that exact moment . . . a blanket of silence drops over the festivities. Joyous emotion halts along with the shouting and singing. People do not move from their positions and