Driving Parables

If there had been cars two thousand years ago I wonder what kind of car

Jesus would have driven.  Would He have driven an economy hybrid to save His

environment?  Probably He would have driven a thirteen-seat van so He could

have taken His disciples with Him.  But what about the seventy disciples

mentioned in Luke 10:1?   Jesus would need a couple of buses for His

entourage.  I think He would have told parables about driving.  Highways are

rich with illustrations.

 

Friday afternoon I was returning home from Boston during rush hour.  We were

crawling along stop and go when we got to a place where a right hand land

had to merge. People were being decent and allowing every other car in line.

Like a good guy I waited for the car on my right to merge when the car

behind him rudely pushed in front of me.  “Okay,” I thought, “so you got one

car length ahead.  No big deal.”  A mile or so slowly passed when once again

a right hand lane needed to merge with us.  I couldn’t believe it.  That

same rude driver refused to allow a car to merge.  I’m sure you remember

Jesus’ story of the man who was forgiven a large debt and then accosted

another fellow for owing him.

 

Perhaps the most difficult place to be a Christian is while driving.  It is

easy to be rude when we don’t have to look the person in the eye.  I used to

live in a small town where I knew many of the people I passed.  I received

much better treatment in my car than on my motorcycle when people didn’t

know who was under the helmet.  Surely the story of the Good Samaritan would

not be the only highway story Jesus would have told.

 

Written by Roger Bothwell on June 30, 2008.

Spring of Life, St. Helena, CA 94574