The Perfect Witness, Part 1
1 Samuel 16:7
Mark 7:1-23
2saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were "unclean," that is, unwashed. 3(The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.) 5So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with 'unclean' hands?" 6He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' 8You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." 9And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! 10For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.' 11But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban' (that is, a gift devoted to God), 12then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. 13Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that." 14Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.'" 16(OMITTED TEXT) 17After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18"Are you so dull?" he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? 19For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.") 20He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' 21For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.
23All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'"2 Corinthians 5:1-21
2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 6Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7We live by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 11Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.
21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.“The Perfect Witness, Part 1” is episode #309 of the Adventures in Odyssey audio series. It was written and directed by Paul McCusker, and originally aired on April 8, 1995.
Summary
A mystery is triggered when two armed men hold up Holstein's Books and take a hostage--a blind girl named Jenny Roberts.
Plot
At Holstein’s bookstore, Fred Holstein is showing Katrina Shanks a rare book, which he has acquired for Professor Marcus at Campbell College. Jenny Roberts, who is blind, comes inside. She is frustrated because people treat her like an invalid. Suddenly, two robbers, Russell Kosh and Martin Franklin Johns, lock the door and steal the money in the cash register. They also steal Katrina’s knapsack, which holds her college supplies. When the robbers realize Mr. Holstein has pushed the silent alarm, they grab Jenny, thinking she is a perfect hostage because she is blind.
The kidnappers eventually return Jenny to the police station. After Dr. Morton pronounces her all right, she is interviewed by Captain Richard Quinn and visiting Detective Pat Ethan. Detective Ethan tells Jenny that because of her blindness, she can help them paint a “sound picture” of the criminals and their hideout.
Meanwhile, Eugene Meltsner rushes to Holstein’s Books, frantic about Katrina and Jenny. He had heard about the robbery while he was at the police station, reporting that his laptop computer and car were stolen. Captain Quinn comes in and informs Eugene that his car was used as a getaway in the robbery.
While Jenny is questioned, she remembers things that lead the investigators to believe that it was the rare book, not the money, that was the motivation for the robbery. Captain Quinn and Eugene go over Eugene’s car for clues. Then the captain urges Eugene to go back to his room to see if anything else was stolen. Eugene discovers that a box of computer disks is missing, and the hard drive on his computer has been erased.
- This plot section is too short and should be expanded. »
Discussion Questions
- What was the big mistake the robbers made in taking Jenny hostage?
Cast
Heard in episode
Mentioned in episode
Character | Mentioned By |
---|---|
Dr. Marcus | Fred Holstein |
Doc Morton | Captain Richard Quinn |
Notes
PARENTS: This three-part mystery includes an armed robbery and kidnapping, which are played and replayed throughout all three parts. Although no one gets hurt in the episodes, they may be too intense for younger listeners.
- Trivia
- Captain Quinn tells Detective Ethan than Eugene's car was found on Route 29. In addition to the major north/west US Highway of this name, there are 14 states with a state highway named Route 29.
- The stolen book was by real-life author Erik Haugaard. Haugaard books would be mentioned again in #556: “And That's the Truth”.
- When Eugene's computer acts up in #267: “It Ended with a Handshake”, it says, "Non-system disk. Replace and strike any key to continue." This is a MS-DOS PC message. However, in this episode, Eugene starts up his desktop computer (at 23:08), and the distinctive Apple Mac II chime plays.
- References
- Jenny notes to Mr. Holstein in this episode that she and her parents are almost finished reading The Chronicles of Narnia.
- See main article: List of The Chronicles of Narnia references
- Mr. Holstein says to Katrina Shanks, "Please, put and your coat and k-napsack in the back room and I will explain." The joke of this line is that Mr. Holstein does not understand that the k in knapsack is silent.
Quotes
Martin Franklin Johns: What are you doing?
Russell Kosh: I'm changing shirts.
Martin Franklin Johns: Go in the other room, will you?
Russell Kosh: Why?
Martin Franklin Johns: The girl!
Russell Kosh: Don't be such an idiot. She's blind, remember?
Martin Franklin Johns: Well, I'm going in the other room.
Fred Holstein: Don't count your chickens before there are eggs.
Fred Holstein: If I can be of any service, just call me by name. I will be behind the counter. Just say, 'Fred Holstein, we need your help' and I will -- how do you say? -- zipper like a mad dash over.
Russel Kosh: That's one way of saying it.
Russel Kosh: Must be rough going all the way to the bookstore just to get hijacked.
Jenny Roberts: You should try it sometime.
Russel Kosh: Hey kid, what's your name?
Jenny Roberts: Abraham Lincoln.
Captain Richard Quinn: Have you ever thought of working for the police, Eugene?
Eugene Meltsner: What does it pay?
Captain Richard Quinn: You can't afford the pay cut.
Eugene Meltsner: I returned to my room after one of my classes and my dorm room had been burgled!
Katrina Shanks: Oh, no!
Fred Holstein: Ooh! Did they take much from your cash register?
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