The Man and His Knife (Part 2)

Well, hello. Welcome to Kingdom Offerings. This is the podcast home of 100 Fold Ministries. I'm Dave Scherrer, and you have found us here in the middle of a children's story, who I'm hoping many adults will enjoy it as well. So let's review a little bit. We are in part two of a story that I wrote when I was in my 30s. It's an allegory, really, of love, of sacrifice, and of hope. It's the story of redemption. It is a story of a desperate search for healing. But what our hero is going to find out is that it's not about mere healing, but it's also about a calling. So for this to make sense, you should probably listen to part one, since we're in part two. And you can find that part one on our Kingdom Offerings site at 100FoldMinistries.org, November 3rd, from 2025. So let me review a little bit. Let's start where we left off. Our hero, Donnell, and his companion, Grippa, are on a search for a cure to a disease that's called the Vine. Mostly what they're finding on their search, though, is disappointment, and hardship, and even deception. They were nearly tricked out of their money, and all of their hope as well, by this scam artist. But Grippa, Donnell's friend, saved them, as Grippa explained in The Man and His Knife, part two. I'm not so trusting as you, Donnell. I've been begging on the street for five years and in my experience, people are even willing to steal from a beggar. You can't trust anyone. I could tell when that so-called nephew came up to us, that he was setting us up, trying to earn our trust. He didn't want to say anything because, well, what if it could be true, that he might have the cure? And then I said to myself, well, why would someone who had the cure, and made so much money selling it, why would they be so secretive and live way out here in the mountains? It just didn't make any sense. Well, it took them four more days to make it back to their mountain pass, and they continued on for three more weeks before they came to the outskirts of Ugarit. It was a city called the City of Smoke, and for good reasons, lots of coal and iron deposits. Though it was on the sea, it was a bustling port town. It was also a mining town, and Grippa knew that at once. All those years in the mines, he could smell the fragrance of burning coal miles away. It was a bustling city. There were thousands of people, and right away, their hopes were dashed. Grippa said out loud what Donnell was thinking. Donnell, everyone here has the vine. We came here all this way for nothing. Look around. There was a cure here for these people. They would be clean. Now as luck would have it, a woman was standing close by and heard this very brief exchange. She interrupted them. I heard you say that you have come a long way. Your accent is like mine. I'm from Kala, but I've been here for four years. I'm from the family of Rake and Jama, the Bandhas. Do you know my family? Well, Donnell was immediately encouraged by their good luck. Yes, of course. My parents and your parents are good friends. Donnell told the woman all about their circumstances and their hopes for finding a cure. What Donnell had not been noticing was how much worse that Grippa was doing on the long, hard trip. All the days of hiking and the vine that was growing inside of him was taking its toll. The woman looked at Grippa. Your friend here, he needs a doctor. We have a new doctor here in Ugarit who seems to be very good. It seemed obvious to Donnell that Grippa was indeed failing in health. He just hadn't been paying attention. They all walked a little bit further. The woman said, the doctor is just up these stairs. Do you want to try? You could see in Grippa's eyes that he was very unsure, but Donnell was deeply concerned for his friends. Going upstairs, they found a brightly lit room. Just as they came through the door, the doctor came out from the back room. Strangers, I heard you come in. What's your concern? Do you need a doctor today? You sir, you look to be quite sick. Both of you, come with me right now. Grippa was too weak to put up a fight, but that was good. The doctor was able to give Grippa some medicine and almost at once, he felt a lot better. So Donnell took a risk. Please sir, you seem like a fair-minded doctor. We've come very far and my wife is dying of the vine. We had heard perhaps someone in Ugarit might be able to help us. Would that be you? The doctor said, I have been trying. I've been trying surgeries to cut out the disease, if not to cure it, to at least slow it down. To be honest, it seems like a long shot. I even have an operation scheduled for later today. The man, the man who's dying from the vine and he offered for me to try my hand on him. Maybe you'd like to stay and see the procedure. You can come watch, but I must say it is not pretty. That was such an understatement. Donnell and Grippa only watched for a few minutes before they were excused to go sit in the front room. You know, at that time there was no anesthesia or painkillers. The screams and the blood was overwhelming. Donnell knew at once that he could never put his wife through this kind of torture and that for practically no hope at all. The two of them simply left before the doctor even came out of surgery. The men were despondent. They decided to make their way home and had only made it a little ways out of Ugarit and Grippa had to rest. Donnell helped him to the shade of a large spreading tree and took a short walk away to think. His mind was racing. How could he go home and face his wife, Astrid, with no answers and yet how could he not go home to be with his family? Looking up, he saw a traveler walking by, looking as though he were set to just simply walk by. Perhaps, sir, perhaps you know, I'm a bit confused, I'm new. Is this the road to the east to Kala? Well, that started them talking. The man was quite kind and Donnell poured out his heart. The man was so caring and seemed to understand. Sir, Donnell asked, my friend here just around the corner is dying from the vine. Can I just say that I don't see any trace of it on you? I mean, you must be over thirty, the man said, thirty-six with a smile. What are you wondering? Well, I'm wondering why you don't have the vine. I've been looking at your neck, your arms, your face. There's no sign that you have it at all. The man answered, no, no, I don't have it. I've never had it. I will never have it. That's impossible, Donnell whispered to himself. Why do you think that? the stranger asked. With God, all things are possible. Are you a spiritual man, Donnell? Donnell looked the stranger in the eyes. He didn't remember telling the man his name. I must have, he thought. Donnell answered, yeah, I believe in God, if that's what you mean, though I don't really put any faith in the idols of our city or any city gods for that matter. I don't know how to explain it. How can a man make a statue and then call it a god? It just doesn't make any sense. The stranger tried. Is it, maybe you're saying, I believe in God, but not in gods? Donnell simply looked deep into the stranger's eyes. So, the stranger said, do you and your friend want to be cured? You've said that was your search. Today, you have found the cure to this death. I am the cure. Donnell could hardly believe his words, but there was a confidence, a surety in his voice, even in his eyes. He was telling the absolute truth. Donnell could tell. Come with me, please. Come see Grippa. Donnell woke Grippa and explained their good luck, but Grippa, well, he was unmoved. Donnell, you're too trusting. I should have died in peace in Kal-El. You give this man a try, and if you're cured, then maybe, and I mean maybe, I'll try it. And Grippa closed his eyes. Don't wake me again unless you're cured. Donnell wheeled around, looking at the stranger. Quick, please, give me this medicine. I said, I am your cure. I am. Do you remember that I said that I never had the vine? It is me. It is my blood, to be exact, that will cure you. If you're willing, give me your hand. Donnell stretched his hand out, and the stranger pulled out a long, silver knife. And Donnell, watching carefully, the man then took the knife and he cut a two-inch gash in the palm of his own left hand. Donnell's eyes shot open. The stranger explained, it's not in the spilling of the blood alone. You have to receive my blood into you. If you have enough faith, if you have enough faith, Donnell, cut your hand like mine, and I will give my blood to you. Donnell looked into the man's eyes, searching, looking for a trick or perhaps some doubt in the man's eyes. It all seemed so strange, but at the same time, it seemed so perfect, so clear. Of course, this is how it must be, he thought. Donnell took the stranger's knife, that long, sharp, quite silver knife, and he pulled it across his own palm of his left hand. The stranger said, take my hand, and they clasped hands, joining wound to wound. And at once, Donnell could tell, the healing started. You would think it would be in his hand first, but the warmth and the hope and the healing came first to his head. His mind became clear, and his confidence and trust grew moment by moment. And then his chest began to warm. His heart, it seemed, to fill with joy and gratitude. He looked up into the eyes of the stranger, only to find them locked on him. It was as if these two were the only people on earth. Time stopped, it seemed, and the stranger said simply, Donnell, you are saved. While you had faith, your friend did not. He has passed from this world to the next. Donnell looked over his shoulder to see that Gripa had indeed died. Stranger said, leave your friend to me, and I will take care of his body. But now, Donnell, I commission you, in a like manner, now, go, go and offer this salvation to others. They must first come to you, seeing your faith, seeing that you've been healed. This is the first step, so you must live a life worthy, worthy of this gift, or they will not find it. Then, by faith, they must make their own wound, just as you did, offering yourself up for me. Your loved ones are saved one at a time. And just as I did it for you, then I send you out to make my disciples. Donnell's head was spinning, that he was filled with hope, and now a purpose. Oh, what shall I call you? What's your name? People will ask. See if you can remember this. My name is Melchizedek. Watch for me. I will be coming again. Go home, Donnell. Astrid and your children are waiting for me. You and your family are saved. Well, that is the end of our story, The Man and His Knife. The next time that we're together here at Kingdom Offerings, I'll offer myself some kingdom applications that are embedded in our story. Maybe you'd like to weigh in and send me some thoughts. You can do that at Dave at the at sign. 100FoldMinistries.org. All one word, no space. Dave at 100FoldMinistries.org. So peace to you. And go. And as the stranger said, live in a manner worthy of such a great salvation. The Man and His Knife