Jesus Was a Sly Dog
Jesus was a sly dog, even as a boy. While everyone else in the neighborhood was hanging loose, Jesus was studying, thinking, and asking questions. He’d hang with the rabbis, asking endless questions. Sometimes listening. Sometimes boldly challenging their reasoning, which was unusual for a boy. In that way, Jesus was unlike most of his family or his buddies. When Jesus wanted to know something, he was relentless.
One day, after he’d started his ministry, Peter, the oldest in his group of students asked “Why do some people have so much money, while the rest of us, have almost nothing?” Jesus looked at Peter and shook his head, and then said “Why are you so concerned about money, Peter? Hasn’t God given you your daily bread and a place to sleep, even if it is under the stars? It could be worse, you know.” For a second, Peter was startled, but had learned not speak up without first listening. At least, in most cases. That’s when Jesus continued; “Don’t you know that the wealth of the wicked, is laid up for the righteous?”
“How long have you and the others been with me?” Jesus asked. “Think about what you learned when you were boys and heard the rabbis read from the Torah. Do you remember the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors? This coat was not just a beautiful coat, it was a symbol of a highly learned man, a man chosen for a higher purpose. In that way, joseph was very different than his brothers, who couldn’t be troubled to learn any more than was necessary. And, because Joseph was dedicated to knowledge and wisdom, his father gave him this wonderful coat as a reward. From that point forward, everyone who saw Joseph knew that he was special. But, his brothers were jealous of the favoritism shown to him, by their father, so the plotted to kill him. Soon after, Joseph was attacked by his siblings who viciously beat him and left him for dead. But Joseph did not die. Instead he ended up in the house of Pharaoh, the man who was said to be the living embodiment of god on earth, and the most powerful man in the world. Eventually, Joseph gained Pharaoh’s favor and was given the coveted position as his right hand man, sitting at the right-side of Pharaoh’s throne. There was no higher position in all the world than this, especially for someone who was not a natural born son of Egypt. Now, Pharaoh did this for one reason, because of Joseph’s great learning, which made him very useful to Pharaoh. Not because he liked Joseph or his tribe. Here is the important part. Pharaoh’s wealth served God’s purpose. And, it became the means by which God would save the world from famine, including Joseph’s brothers, who were unworthy of God’s blessing, but he saved them just the same.”
“Now, tell me,” Jesus said, “What does this mean?”
Peter and John conferred for a minute, but they could not be sure if what they were thinking was true or not, so they sat silently, waiting for Jesus to answer.
“Here is my answer” Jesus paused for a second and then spoke. “God has a plan for all mankind. It is not your plan, nor your brothers or sisters. It is God’s plan for the world. Your job, my job, is to be prepared, because when the day comes and God calls, you must be ready. If you have not studied, do not know his word or its meaning, God will pass you by for someone who has. Think of David or Abraham, Moses or Joseph, God used each by putting them in circumstances that would fulfill his purpose. God’s purpose. Not theirs. Why? Because God, who is your father, has a purpose which is bigger than all of his children, even me. And, it is those who willingly serve him, by first preparing for service, which your father in heaven will use. Not those who sit idly by, like Joseph’s brothers, who long for greatness, but do nothing to earn it. That is because it is their greatness they seek. Not God’s greatness or glory, which fills the whole earth.” And then Jesus grew silent.
“So, let me see if I’ve got this right? Peter said, in response. “Pharaoh’s wealth and power were used by God to save his chosen ones, but also the whole world—and, in that way, the wealth of the wicked, truly was used for the benefit of the righteous?”
“That’s right, Peter.” Jesus said. “You have spoken the truth. You see, even wicked men, may be used for God’s purpose, as was the case with Pharaoh or Cyrus “The Great” the king of Persia, whom the Jews called Messiah, their deliverer. Because he was their deliverer, and he was God’s man, even though he did not know it. God may raise up an unrighteous man or woman, who, when the time comes, sees God’ plan, even if he or she does not know its source. Nonetheless, it is God who directs the fortune of nations, but the choice is ours, too obey or not. That’s what’s at stake, Peter. The choice is yours.”
Mark Magula
One day, after he’d started his ministry, Peter, the oldest in his group of students asked “Why do some people have so much money, while the rest of us, have almost nothing?” Jesus looked at Peter and shook his head, and then said “Why are you so concerned about money, Peter? Hasn’t God given you your daily bread and a place to sleep, even if it is under the stars? It could be worse, you know.” For a second, Peter was startled, but had learned not speak up without first listening. At least, in most cases. That’s when Jesus continued; “Don’t you know that the wealth of the wicked, is laid up for the righteous?”
“How long have you and the others been with me?” Jesus asked. “Think about what you learned when you were boys and heard the rabbis read from the Torah. Do you remember the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors? This coat was not just a beautiful coat, it was a symbol of a highly learned man, a man chosen for a higher purpose. In that way, joseph was very different than his brothers, who couldn’t be troubled to learn any more than was necessary. And, because Joseph was dedicated to knowledge and wisdom, his father gave him this wonderful coat as a reward. From that point forward, everyone who saw Joseph knew that he was special. But, his brothers were jealous of the favoritism shown to him, by their father, so the plotted to kill him. Soon after, Joseph was attacked by his siblings who viciously beat him and left him for dead. But Joseph did not die. Instead he ended up in the house of Pharaoh, the man who was said to be the living embodiment of god on earth, and the most powerful man in the world. Eventually, Joseph gained Pharaoh’s favor and was given the coveted position as his right hand man, sitting at the right-side of Pharaoh’s throne. There was no higher position in all the world than this, especially for someone who was not a natural born son of Egypt. Now, Pharaoh did this for one reason, because of Joseph’s great learning, which made him very useful to Pharaoh. Not because he liked Joseph or his tribe. Here is the important part. Pharaoh’s wealth served God’s purpose. And, it became the means by which God would save the world from famine, including Joseph’s brothers, who were unworthy of God’s blessing, but he saved them just the same.”
“Now, tell me,” Jesus said, “What does this mean?”
Peter and John conferred for a minute, but they could not be sure if what they were thinking was true or not, so they sat silently, waiting for Jesus to answer.
“Here is my answer” Jesus paused for a second and then spoke. “God has a plan for all mankind. It is not your plan, nor your brothers or sisters. It is God’s plan for the world. Your job, my job, is to be prepared, because when the day comes and God calls, you must be ready. If you have not studied, do not know his word or its meaning, God will pass you by for someone who has. Think of David or Abraham, Moses or Joseph, God used each by putting them in circumstances that would fulfill his purpose. God’s purpose. Not theirs. Why? Because God, who is your father, has a purpose which is bigger than all of his children, even me. And, it is those who willingly serve him, by first preparing for service, which your father in heaven will use. Not those who sit idly by, like Joseph’s brothers, who long for greatness, but do nothing to earn it. That is because it is their greatness they seek. Not God’s greatness or glory, which fills the whole earth.” And then Jesus grew silent.
“So, let me see if I’ve got this right? Peter said, in response. “Pharaoh’s wealth and power were used by God to save his chosen ones, but also the whole world—and, in that way, the wealth of the wicked, truly was used for the benefit of the righteous?”
“That’s right, Peter.” Jesus said. “You have spoken the truth. You see, even wicked men, may be used for God’s purpose, as was the case with Pharaoh or Cyrus “The Great” the king of Persia, whom the Jews called Messiah, their deliverer. Because he was their deliverer, and he was God’s man, even though he did not know it. God may raise up an unrighteous man or woman, who, when the time comes, sees God’ plan, even if he or she does not know its source. Nonetheless, it is God who directs the fortune of nations, but the choice is ours, too obey or not. That’s what’s at stake, Peter. The choice is yours.”
Mark Magula