They RIPPED his BIBLE away… But GOD acted Instantly
On a sweltering July afternoon in 1998, the streets of Bessemer, Alabama, were about to witness a confrontation that would change lives forever. As the temperature soared to a blistering 102°F, 71-year-old Ezekiel “Zeke” Johnson stood resolutely on a familiar street corner, clutching his Bible—a cherished artifact filled with the handwritten prayers of his late wife, Sarah. Little did he know, this day would test his faith in ways he never imagined.
The Confrontation Begins
For over a decade, Zeke had preached the Gospel on that very corner, sharing the message of hope and love with anyone willing to listen. He had seen countless souls transformed by the power of prayer and faith, but that day, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. Complaints had been lodged against him by local business owners, citing his preaching as a disturbance to their commerce. With a new mayor and private security force in town, Zeke was about to face an adversary unlike any he had encountered before.
As he began reading from the book of Acts, a shadow loomed over him. Zeke looked up to find Bull Harrison—a towering figure, a security guard known for his intimidating presence—standing before him, eyes filled with a hatred that seemed almost otherworldly. “Old man,” Bull growled, “you got exactly 60 seconds to pack up your little show and get off this sidewalk.”
Zeke’s heart raced, not from fear of the man, but from the thought of losing the one tangible connection he had left to Sarah. The Bible he clutched contained not just words, but memories, prayers, and the essence of their 43 years together. As Bull’s hand reached for the Bible, Zeke whispered a desperate prayer, “Jesus.”
A Moment of Divine Intervention
In an instant, something remarkable happened. Bull let go of the Bible, stumbling backward as if struck by an unseen force. His partner, equally bewildered, stepped back in fear. The crowd—now swelling to 14 witnesses—watched in stunned silence, unable to comprehend what they had just seen. Zeke, however, felt a surge of strength, bolstered by the presence of God beside him.
The confrontation escalated as Bull regained his composure. “You’re trespassing on private property,” he barked, tightening his grip on the Bible. Zeke’s fingers bled as he held on, feeling the weight of his wife’s prayers urging him to stand firm. “This is the word of God,” he declared, his voice rising above the chaos.
Just as Bull prepared to rip the Bible from Zeke’s hands, the elderly preacher felt a profound peace wash over him. “Do not be afraid. I am with you,” echoed in his spirit, a reminder of the divine support that had carried him through countless trials.
The Battle for the Bible
As the struggle intensified, Zeke’s mind flashed back to his calling—a moment from 1953 when he first heard God’s voice urging him to preach. He had faced adversity before, but this was different. Bull’s hatred felt like a physical force, one that threatened to extinguish the light of faith he had carried for so long.
“Let go, old man!” Bull shouted, pulling harder. Zeke’s resolve hardened. He remembered the countless lives transformed on that corner, the prayers that had been answered, and the love that had sustained him through the darkest times. “I will not let go,” he replied, his voice steady. “I will confess Jesus Christ until the Lord tells me to stop.”
In that moment, everything changed. Time seemed to freeze. The crowd’s murmurs faded into silence, and Zeke found himself transported back through the tapestry of his life. He saw his mother teaching him to read the Psalms, his wedding day with Sarah, and the many trials they had faced together. Then, he saw her—Sarah, standing beside him, radiant and reassuring. “Don’t be afraid, Zeke. Watch what he’s about to do.”
The Miracle Unfolds
As Bull yanked the Bible from Zeke’s hands, the crowd gasped. But instead of falling, the Bible floated gently back into Zeke’s lap, opened to Psalm 91. Bull’s expression morphed from triumph to terror as he began to shake violently, his body convulsing as if caught in a storm. The crowd erupted in screams, some fleeing in panic while others stood frozen in disbelief.
In an instant, Bull collapsed to the ground, his massive frame hitting the pavement with a thud that echoed through the street. The air thickened with an otherworldly presence, a mix of fear and awe enveloping the onlookers. Zeke, still clutching his Bible, felt the warmth of God’s protection surrounding him.
As paramedics arrived, they found Bull unresponsive, yet alive. His body had shut down completely, and medical professionals were baffled. How could a man in perfect health simply collapse? The neurologist later reported that Bull had experienced an acute neurological event, but no medical explanation could account for the phenomena witnessed by 43 people that day.
The Aftermath
The news of the miraculous events spread like wildfire. Videos captured the moment Bull collapsed, and soon, stories of the incident reached far beyond Bessemer. Zeke’s testimony became a beacon of hope for many, drawing people from all walks of life seeking to understand the power of faith.
Within hours, Zeke found himself surrounded by people eager to know more about the God he served. Terrence Williams, a young factory worker who had witnessed the event, approached Zeke with tears in his eyes. “Is God real?” he asked, desperation in his voice. Zeke replied, “You just saw Him freeze a man in his tracks for touching His word. What do you think?”
Terrence fell to his knees, overwhelmed by the presence of God. In that moment, 17 people accepted Christ as their Savior, not because of Zeke’s eloquence, but because they had witnessed the undeniable power of the Almighty.
A Legacy of Faith
As the weeks passed, the ripple effects of that day continued to unfold. Bull Harrison spent three weeks in the hospital, grappling with the reality of what he had experienced. Zeke visited him, sharing the love of Christ and reading from the same Bible that had once been a target of Bull’s disdain. By the time he left, Bull had given his life to Jesus, forever changed by the encounter.
Zeke’s Bible, now a symbol of hope and resilience, remained a treasured possession. The faint golden circle around Psalm 91:11—a mark that could not be explained by science—served as a reminder of God’s presence and protection. Even years later, Zeke would recount the story of that miraculous day with a sense of awe and gratitude, knowing that God had intervened in a powerful way.
Conclusion
The events of July 16, 1998, in Bessemer, Alabama, serve as a testament to the enduring power of faith. Zeke Johnson’s unwavering commitment to preach the Gospel in the face of adversity, combined with a miraculous display of divine intervention, transformed not only his life but the lives of countless others. From a simple street corner to the hearts of many, the story reminds us that God is still at work, performing miracles and inviting us into a deeper relationship with Him.
As Zeke often said, “But God.” Those two words encapsulate the essence of faith—the ability to trust in the unseen, to believe in the impossible, and to witness the extraordinary. In a world filled with doubt and despair, Zeke’s story stands as a beacon of hope, a reminder that when we stand firm in our faith, God is always ready to act.
