"You want me to
do what?"
The
sermon was about Jesus as a shepherd. A shepherd was the lowest of the low.
Looked down upon. Couldn't even testify in court.
At Bible
Study, I learned that bramble bushes were gathered and stacked to make the
sheep pen. The shepherd slept at the opening. Anything: sheep rustlers, wolf,
lion or bear had to get past the shepherd to get to the sheep.
My mind
flew to heaven. I pictured God and Jesus discussing his 'trip to earth'.
"You want me to be what? A shepherd? Keeping them safe. Sleeping on the
ground? Keeping them calm, so they can eat? Going after the ones that won't
stay with the flock? Giving up my life for even one wayward lamb?"
"Why
do I have to go as a Jew? Most of the world hates Jews. Jews think they know it
all. Their leaders will not want to give up their ideas nor authority. They are
certain who God is and how He works and what his plans are. You, dear Father,
have to be kidding!"
"You
want me to ask for water: From a Samaritan, A women? Come on, I invented water.
Jewish men don't talk to women. And certainly not Samaritan women. And her?
Good Grief! Do you know what kind of woman she is. What if someone sees me?
You're kidding?"
"I'll
spend nine months where? Oh, NO! then thirty years just hanging around
Nazareth. Then three years wandering around Israel with a dozen unusual,
arguing misfits. Crowds pushing and demanding miracles. Come on, Dad, can't we
come up with a better plan?"
"A
cross? A CROSS! A long painful death. And naked! With people mocking. Spitting.
Jeering. And to top it all off, You won't be able to stand the sight. All of
the evil, hurtful wrongs of the world will be piled on me. Just as if I had
really committed them. Father, just when I need you the most, you won't be
there. Are you sure this is the only way?"
"Remember,
they have chosen to walk away from us. They made the choice. Then followed up
with actions. Hurtful evil. Sin after sin. They don't deserve mercy or
grace."
God
said, "Will you do it?" Jesus said, "Of course!"
And He did.
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