Pieces of Jesus (A modern parable for current events.)
Years ago I wrote a song called ‘Pieces of Jesus’.
It is the story of a small village that was visited by Jesus himself. Once they saw all that He offered they were beside themselves with excitement. The whole village came and listened to Jesus and begged him to stay, and so he did. They built him a house in the middle of the village and would visit him daily. At some point they began to understand more and more about the cost of Him being there. Once they realized that the sacrifice that was required on their part was great, many stopped coming around.
The leaders of the village held a meeting to try and decide what to do with this Jesus. They finally came up with a plan that suited them all just fine. The next day they woke up early and found Jesus in the town square. His eyes were sad, for He already knew their intentions. They carried him out of the village and into the woods. They walked just far enough that no noise could be heard back at the village from where they were. The town elders took a rope and tied him to a tree. They then began the intricately human process of cutting off the pieces of Jesus that would fit within their comfort level of life in the village. They took the pieces that would guarantee them success and health and fullness of life on the earth.
They returned to the village later that day and had the glassmaker create 4 glass jars. They placed the pieces of Jesus inside these jars and in the house they had built for Jesus in the middle of the village. And each day they would come and remember these pieces of Jesus.
One day a storm came through the village; many were injured and some died. Houses were torn apart and the village seemed in despair. They went to the house with the pieces of Jesus still inside and cried out, “Why did you not help us?” To which there was no reply. The whole village wept for days.
One day a boy from the village was walking through the woods when he stumbled upon Jesus, still tied up on the tree. Startled by this sight, he immediately untied Jesus and told him all about what had happened. Jesus hung His head in sadness.
“Why didn’t you help us?” The boy asked.
“My dear boy,” He replied, “When men choose to make the gospel about anything other than relationship with Me, they cease to have anything that is truly alive. Their tides will rise and fall, with the fate of the earth and its many enemies.”
“Well sir, it’s not too late is it? Can you come back and help now?”
“I don’t believe they would have Me back now.”
“Well, I would. Please come with me,” the boy said with longing.
And so Jesus went back to the village. He stood in the square still holding the boy’s hand as the boy announced that he brought Jesus back and they all needed to come and listen.
Slowly the villagers came out, with their heads hung low.
And Jesus addressed the crowd.
“You have desired of me the pieces that serve you best. You have sought power, but there is no power apart from Me. You have tried to make this village your home, but what I communicated to you from the beginning was that this life is temporary. You hoped the path that you chose of elevating the things that were not necessary to following me would bring you to the place of safety and blessing, but the path that you created was a counterfeit. It was an attempted shortcut to the riches that I have set aside for those who simply follow Me.
Any who wish to follow Me, do so now. For I will not wait long. I am leading any who would choose to follow to a new place where there is always enough. We will live in tents and move from one place to another as is appropriate.”
With that Jesus turned and began to walk out of the village. The elders tried to convince the people that leaving the village was not a good idea, and that they didn’t really know if it was safe out there.
Many villagers left the village that day. The village continued to go on about their business and continued to talk about the pieces of Jesus they had stored in the center of the village.
The ones who followed Jesus, felt a lightness in each step of their journey. They weathered many storms, but they did not fear, because Jesus was always with them. They no longer tried to find a way out of pain or suffering, they endured it knowing that it was temporary, and their reward and home were eternal.
It truly is the failure of modern Christianity, that has chosen and elevated specific teachings of Jesus over relationship with Jesus. And we are all guilty! Let us come to Him in humility, in surrender, and in repentance. That we might be restored to the ultimate promise on this earth. A union, a covenant, and a friendship with the Almighty Prince of Peace.
He is God, and we must come to Him on His terms and allow Him to lead us.
If this story engages your heart, you can find more like it by clicking on the link below.