The Parable of the Tenants

Wednesday, June 17th, 2015

Reblogged from http://gracethrufaith.com/topical-studies/parables/the-parable-of-the-tenants/

• Israel
• Old Testament
• Parables
• Past Featured
• Salvation

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

It was one of those contentious discussions between the Priests and the Lord. They were questioning His authority again, and since they were unwilling to answer His question about the origin of John’s baptism, He refused to answer their question about His authority.
Then He told them two parables.

The Parable of the Two Sons

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him (Matt. 21:28-32).

The Parable of the Tenants

“Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.
“The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
“But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
“He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ” ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet (Matt 21:28-46).

I Think They Got The Point

These two parables are so obvious in their meaning, it’s no wonder they got it. John’s Baptism was one of repentance. By the way, let’s correct the meaning of that word. Repent means to change your mind about your behavior, not change your behavior. When John said, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near,” he wasn’t warning people to clean up their act so they could qualify for the Kingdom. He knew that was impossible. He was telling them to change their mind about needing a Savior to save them instead of trying to earn their own righteousness.  By allowing John to baptize them, the tax collectors and prostitutes were showing that they had made the change.  They were now ready to receive the Messiah when He came to offer cleansing from their sins.
The Lord’s point was that those who realized their hopeless condition and received their cleansing by faith would enter the Kingdom ahead of those who felt no need for a cleansing and relied on their behavior instead. Way ahead.
The Pharisees worked hard to maintain the outward appearance of keeping the law but failed miserably in their hearts, what with their pride and feelings of superiority. The “sinners” on the other hand admitted they hadn’t been able to please God with their behavior and came in faith alone with broken and contrite hearts. The Lord’s preference for that attitude had been documented in their Scriptures for nearly 1000 years. (Psalm 51:16-17)
As for the Parable of the Tenants, only the naming of names could have made this a clearer summary of their history. The Landowner was the Lord, the vineyard His Kingdom on Earth, the workers were the Israelites, His servants represented the prophets He regularly sent to Israel, and of course His son was Jesus. And when they answered the question about what should be done, they gave as pure a prophetic utterance as has ever come from the mouths of men. “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”
The Lord agreed. “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”
Here then are the only two options available. Fall on the stone (the Stone the builders rejected) and be broken, be humble and contrite, be born again and live by faith. Or keep going your own way till someday when you least expect it the Stone falls on you, and be called to account for your behavior, be crushed and die in your sins.

So What’s The Big Mystery Here?

They knew He was talking about them, yet their response was contention not contrition. Their hearts had become so hardened, they could no longer consider the possibility they might be mistaken. They had to shut Him up because they couldn’t risk having to re-think things.
Back then the officials typically had people who disagreed with them arrested,  but they were afraid of Jesus because of His popularity.  Still, they understood that He was threatening to take the Kingdom away from them and give to others who would produce its fruit.
Now don’t let anyone try to tell you that the vineyard represents the Land of Israel in this parable. The Lord Himself explained to them that the vineyard represented the Kingdom of God. The land was given to them unconditionally. But beyond that, Israel was chosen by God to accomplish four things; to transmit His word (Isa. 42:9), be a witness for Him (Isa. 43:10), show forth His blessing (Isa. 49:3) and be the channel for the Messiah (Isa. 49:5).
They did such a remarkable job in transmitting God’s word that today hardly any of the Old Testament varies from the way God originally spoke it. And as a showcase for His blessing, the reigns of David and Solomon are unparalleled in previewing life in the Kingdom. Of course it goes without saying that Israel was the channel for the Messiah. It was in the area of being a witness for Him, where they had failed.  and that’s why he accused them of bearing no fruit.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are,” Jesus accused them. (Matt23:15)
On the Temple Mount, the Court of the Gentiles was as close as non-Jews could get to the Holy of Holies, and the only place they could legally worship the Lord. Any attempt to get closer was a crime punishable by death. At the time of Jesus it had been turned into an open air market (it’s the place from which Jesus drove the money changers and sellers of animals) making it impossible for gentiles to worship there.  In short the Lord promised He would be their God and they had refused to share Him with anyone else.

Go Ye Into All The World

And so the Great Commission was given to the disciples, and through them to the Church. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me,” Jesus told them. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt 28:18-20)
True to His word, the vineyard was taken from them and given to other tenants. Pretty soon now, we’ll find out if we’ve done any better at producing its fruit. Selah 2-22-04.

The Joshua Tree - Final episode - Meeting the Master

Written and posted by Jean-Louis. 7/2011

To read the preceding chapters,starting with chapter I 

click Here

Jesus said: "Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:25

"He must become greater; I must become less." John the Baptist. John 3:30

John 10

The True Guide - The Good Shepherd and his sheep - The True Gate.

“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. (or kept safe)[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Do you remember the Scripture passage mentioning Joshua in the very first chapter? Joshua represents a type of Jesus in the Old Testament. The similarity between these verses attests to the fact. We have here a true prophecy announcing the coming and ministry of the Lord Jesus. 

In Numbers 27:15,18 Moses told the people: “May the LORD, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the LORD’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd”. So the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him;

Meeting the Master

Fifth and Final Episode

The Dream
Next morning early, after breakfast, Theophilus took leave of his new found friend, thanking him for his kind hospitality.
Thus, day after day, he encountered Joshua’s brothers who helped him recover from his ordeal. His sight was improving and his hope to finally get out of the desert gave him an increase in courage and a new direction towards a definite goal. He was eager to meet this Master who caused the blind to see and healed the hardened hearts.

One shared his light, the other the coolness of his shade. Another listened to him patiently and attentively. All gave of what they had received with gladness and unselfishness. The peace that ruled in their hearts, the words of wisdom and encouragement , the fidelity to their beloved Master went beyond any human value that he had know in his world.
He learned that his name meant “friend of God”. What a contrast with the life that he had lived until now!

One night after an interesting conversation, he had a very different dream from those that usually haunted his conscience. He found himself, unconscious, almost dead in an operating room surrounded by a team of nurses in white coats.

Next to him, another man about thirty years old was lying on another table just beside him with an intravenous needle in his arm. A tube connected another needle inserted in his arm. The blood in the man’s arm was turning into a liquid light when going into his vein, washing his heart that started beating again. His brain became filled with the light that was spreading throughout all the parts of his being through the system of arteries and veins irrigating his lifeless body. A breath filled his chest and he opened his eyes.

The Tree of Life
Theophilus woke up, with tears of joy flowing from his eyes. He was watching an unforgettable scene.
There in front of him, stood up a Joshua tree, majestic and radiant that bore an uncanny resemblance with the man from his dream whose blood had saved his life. He fell down, prostrate on his face against the hot desert sand. He knew without the shadow of a doubt that he was in the presence of the Master of the Joshua Trees. He didn’t dare move from his position such was the power emanating from the glorious appearance. An indescribable ripple of fear coursed through his being.

-- Rise, Theophilus and look at me. The imperious tone of voice was enough to make him obey. He was reluctant at first to lift his gaze directly into the eyes of the Master. Lifting his head up slowly, he saw the pierced feet, then, the pierced wrists. He gathered enough courage to focus on the chest where a scarlet wound in the shape of the tip of a lance or the eye of a needle remained from a cruel wound.
  
-- Don’t be afraid, look at me. I am Yeshua, the Master of the Joshua Trees. What is your quest? Why do you want to meet me?
While the Master was asking these questions, his eyes whispered softly words Theophilus never heard before, words of love that penetrated deep in his heart.

-- Master, I am looking for the desert exit door. Your trees told me that you possess the keys and that a word from you can set the captives free, can give sight to the blind, make a poor man rich, and heal the afflicted. You can also give knowledge to the ignorant who think they are wise, and you can clothe with your pardon and righteousness the nakedness which I try to cover with my religion and good deeds.

-- It’s true. But you have too big a notion of yourself to be able to go through this door. First, you must answer a few questions.

-- Yes, master, as you wish.
-- What is your name? Who are you?
-- Well, before, they called me Theophilus, but I will accept whatever name you wish to call me.
-- Where do you come from?
-- From the land of deadly illusions and appearances, a world filled with violence and deception.
-- Good, are you rich, or do you intend to be?
-- Well, before now, I had credit cards, bank accounts, a good and profitable business, cars, a beautiful house, but all that didn’t help me very much. To tell you the truth, I will accept whatever you want to give me.

After these answers, Theophilus was feeling his body shrink little by little. What a strange sensation!

The Master continued:
-- What about your reputation?
-- Alas, people looked at the appearances. But I can see that you know me and I desire to become what you want me to be.
-- What do you hope to gain from me?
-- Freedom from the chains that keep me tied up and hinder my walk, understanding truth and knowing which way to go.
-- Good, I can do that for you. But what will do once you are free if I give you the key to the door?
-- Master, I want to belong to you and serve you, for you are the one who healed me.

Each of Theophilus’ responses was followed by a change in his size until at last, the Master's stature appeared gigantic in comparison without overwhelming him. Then, the Master bent forward and catching him tenderly in the palm of his right hand, he lifted Theophilus up to his chest and hugged him close against the wound shaped like the tip of a lance or like the eye of a big needle.

On his way up, Theophilus was helplessly watching on the screen of his memory the video from his first meeting with the touchstone at the crossroad of his destiny, the first step of stairway which led to the royal capital of the heavenly kingdom, illumined by the eternal light. He possessed a law of gravity defying lightness, with no desire to resist the attraction propelling him towards a universe of unconditional freedom. Being transported on this celestial stairway, this bridge between two worlds without any effort on his part, he was about to enter a territory invisible to the human eye and yet so real.

Instantly, going through the open door at a breathtaking speed, Theophilus found himself standing on the desert floor that he had just left.
-- Welcome to the kingdom, announced the master in a warm tone of voice. Open your eyes and look at yourself.

His eyes opened by the voice of his Master, Theophilus looked at his legs, his trunk, his arms and discovered that he had turned into a Joshua tree with soft scars in the place of the usual armor of thorns . Yeshua spoke to him solemnly:
-- From now on your name will be Joshua Theophilus O’Call because I called you to my service and you responded with good will.

Tears of joy mixed with gratitude flowing from his eyes, Theophilus answered:
-- Master, where do you want me to serve you?
-- Right here in the desert to guide those who have lost their way or those who have wandered from the way of truth and need help in finding me.
-- Yes, Master. But I have a question. How do your trees find food and drink? There is nothing but sand in the desert.

Yeshua touched his eyes and now he could very clearly watch a fantastic scene through the desert floor as if it was made of transparent crystal. From the feet of the Master, roots full of a sap that resembled light amber honey extended all the way under the feet of the Joshua trees and fed them constantly night and day.
-- Please, Master, what do you want me to call you?
-- Call me Lord Jesus, for I am both Savior and King.
-- Lord, I can see the trees, the roots, the leaves and the cactus flowers, but where are the fruits?

-- Every time one of my servants extended to you love, kindness, goodness, patience, they shared their fruits with you. When you enjoyed their light, their protective and refreshing shade, their peace, their wise words of counsel, comfort or encouragement, those are the fruits that grow from the source of life that I give each one of them.


Eden Restored
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. Revelation 22:1-5
 

This is what the LORD says:

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,

who draws strength from mere flesh

and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;

they will not see prosperity when it comes.

They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,

in a salt land where no one lives.

7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD,

whose confidence is in him.

8 They will be like a tree planted by the water

that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought

and never fails to bear fruit.”

9 The heart is deceitful above all things

and beyond cure.

Who can understand it?

10 “I the LORD search the heart

and examine the mind,

to reward each person according to their conduct,

according to what their deeds deserve.” Jeremiah 17:5-10

Dear reader, if you have been touched by this parable and can identify in some way with Theophilus, I invite you to meet the Lord Jesus, the Savior of fallen humanity, the One who has the keys to the Kingdom of God, the One who is the Door that leads to true freedom, to the knowledge of the Truth, to Life abundant and eternal and the only Way to the Heavenly Father. Without Truth we cannot know the Way to the Door of the kingdom and to the Life in Jesus without whom we are reduced to a mere existence without hope.

To discover how you can be born again of the Spirit, Click Here: http://thelightseed.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-can-i-be-born-again-spiritually.html

Thank you for your visit. Have a good and safe journey.
Jean-Louis.

The Joshua Tree - Fourth episode - The Joshua Brothers

Written and posted by Jean-Louis. 3/2011

 

Photo found on a Facebook page. Origin unknown

ENCOUNTERS ON THE PATH
Fourth Episode

To read the preceding chapter,

click: http://thelightseed.blogspot.com.br/2011/07/joshua-tree-desert-parable_06.html

Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison.
 When such a person hears the words of this oath and they invoke a blessing on themselves, thinking, “I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way,” they will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry. Deuteronomy 29:18,19

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God

and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

Hebrews 12:15

After having spent a few hours under the shade of the Joshua tree in a sleep free of nightmares to which he was used, Theophilus felt invigorated.

-- Are you hungry or thirsty? This question from Joshua who had watched kindly over his sleep brought him back to reality.

-- What do you think? Of course, I am hungry and thirsty. But I don’t see any Starbuck or McDonald around here, retorted Theophilus who, in spite of the desperate situation he was facing, was indulging in sarcasm.

-- Yes, you are right, answered Joshua without any defensive tone in his voice. This is why I am a guide; I have all the resources needed to help castaways like you survive in the desert.

-- Oh yes, and how so?

-- It’s simple. Put your hand over the scar in the middle of my chest and press hard enough to make a syrup with the taste of honey come out. It will satisfy your hunger and quench your thirst. Thus you will be able to be on your way until you find one of my brothers who will help you to pursue your goal.

-- Thank you, answered Theophilus who found this cactus more and more peculiar, because as he got closer to Joshua, his barely opened eyes could make out a soft scar where usually cacti have long and dangerous needles.

-- Tell me, Joshua why all cacti have thorns, but you have scars instead?

-- Well, my friend it’s obvious. How could you get close to me enough to feed yourself? And besides, those are the marks of my Master.

Satisfied with this response for now, Theophilus followed Joshua’s instructions and felt his strength coming back. However, he still had a pressing question.

-- I know that some people remove cat’s claws or genetically produce thorn less roses, but I think it‘s against nature. How do you defend yourself against attacks that you didn’t even provoke?

-- Well, it’s a little difficult to understand. It’s my Master’s handi work, He is a very good surgeon, you will discover. But don’t worry, my brothers will explain everything to you. Have a good trip.

Still wondering about his conversation with Joshua, Theophilus continued on his way with difficulty, but with a growing glimmer of hope. The sweet tasting syrup had calmed his worries and a strange feeling invaded his being in spite of the many questions bouncing off the walls of his skull.

He was regaining a little of the lucidity he had experienced as a child when life used to be simple, pleasant and without worries. Without even realizing how much of his journey he had accomplished, since his mind was so absorbed in his new adventure, Theophilus arrived at his next touristic stop bathed in the light of a sunset as can be watched only in the desert.

Once the fire ball cursed by the desert Bedouins had ceased lighting his path, he was able to distinguish a luminous shape strangely similar to the first Joshua tree. This discovery filled his mind with the reassurance that he hadn’t lost his way. Nevertheless, he was wondering how he could have not deviated from it in this unknown immensity.

-- Good evening and welcome.

The comforting voice reminded him of his first encounter with the Joshua tree. Though this time, it had lost a little bit of the surprise effect, all the more since the voice was coming from a figure strangely resembling the other Joshua.

He felt at ease and sat down surrounded by the only light emanating from the cactus. It spread all around them and provided a heat that felt welcome against the night’s cold settling as a companion to the surrounding darkness. That night, he met Joshua’s brother, himself named Joshua who offered him food, drink, light and heat. However his morning query that was left unanswered was still bothering him. So before falling asleep against the Joshua tree’s thornless trunk, he asked him this question:

-- Tell me Joshua, this morning your brother told me that you would reveal to me the mystery of the absence of thorns and of the soft scars. Also, he vaguely insinuated that there was something wrong with my heart. I don’t see how.

-- Well, actually a lot of people have this problem. Do you remember when you were young and felt abandoned, confused and lost in a merciless world without understanding why? Then growing up, the injustices, abuses and deep wounds that left their marks on you, the thorns bushes that you encountered at the turning point in your family, professional or social life that you didn’t know how to deal with? It’s normal, people defend themselves as they can.

 -- The sad part about it is that these thorns find their way to their heart and become incrusted producing a poisonous infection without a chance of healing. These thorns appear on the surface and multiply each time another thorn thrown at us penetrate the sensitive skin of our fragile ego and with time form a stone-hard and cold callous building a self-inflicted protective prison. The only antidote to this poison is a radical change of heart that only the Master of the Joshua Trees can provide with his power. He is the only one who can help you and change your life so that you do not have to keep those ugly thorns that harden your heart, darken your vision and poison your life and that of the people around you.

-- Yes, I begin to understand, answered Theophilus who remembered that the first Joshua had mentioned a horned viper whose poisonous bite weakened its victims and rendered them blind and incapable of recognizing their true spiritual condition. So, that explains the absence of thorns on your skin, doesn’t it?

-- Exactly, my Master teaches us how to reject the thorns and to not let them penetrate our hearts. He will reveal it to you when you meet him soon. Your made a lot of progress. Tomorrow, after a good night’s rest , you will be on your way. Keep hoping because you are about to meet the Master.

My friends, I shall see you soon for the next and last episode of our desert adventure.

To read the next and final episode  click: Here
 http://thelightseed.blogspot.com.br/2011/07/joshua-tree-desert-parable_15.html    

The Joshua Tree - Third Episode - Welcome to the Home of Mirages and the Horned Viper

Written and posted by Jean-Louis

WELCOME TO THE HOME OF MIRAGES AND THE HORNED VIPER

To read the preceding chapter,

click:  Here

 Whoever digs a pit may fall into it;

whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

If a snake bites before it is charmed,

the charmer receives no fee.

Eccl 10: 8-11

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Revelation 3:14: 17, 18.

AN UNUSUAL CONVERSATION Third Episode

Early in the morning Theophilus wakes up grumpy. After a night of disturbing dreams, he gets up and through his barely opened eyelids, he is able to make out the fuzzy silhouetteof a strange vision cut out on the background of an intense blue sky. Refusing to believe his weakened eye sight, he rubs his eyes trying to get a better focus on the scene.

“Good morning Theophilus. I hope you had a good night sleep”.

Now, he couldn’t believe what he heard. There at only a few feet distance, planted in the desert sand what appeared to be a tree or more exactly a cactus stood up, resembling the ones he had seen in the science books of his childhood.

Completely taken aback, his first reaction is to think: It is not happening. If I told my family and my friends, they would lock me up in a psychiatric ward. I must be hallucinating or I am seeing a mirage”.

-- Calm down, reassured Joshua who had read his thoughts, you are not going crazy. You can tell that I am real, can’t you? Are you bothered by my talking? Of course, it is a bit unnerving; your world is different and I can understand your reaction.

Relieved that after all he was not crazy -- who wants to look for lost marbles in the middle of the sandy desert floor without help from anyone? — Theophilus replied:

-- Are you kidding? As if it were natural to accept that a Joshua tree has the gift of speech, that he could care about a man and discuss things about which he does not have the slightest idea. Then, he remembered the preceding night’s conversation and blushed in shame at the thought that he had carried a conversation with a cactus in the desert. He had a furtive glance around to make sure that nobody had been a witness to this absurdly surreal scene.

Josh: -- You are right. I like to kid around. Well, then. Tell me the story of your life. I see you are passionate about adventure travels trying to find yourself. And how are you going to know if you finally found yourself if in the first place you don’t know who you are and what you look like?

Theo: -- Hey, watch it! You start annoying me. What about you? What do you look like? You can be proud of yourself, you found yourself, indeed, didn’t you? What a beautiful place to spend the rest of your life! Congratulations! Your master must be very proud of you. Tell me again, why can’t you speak clearly like everyone else?

-- Because you don’t have enough wisdom to understand the words of my master. But you are right. He is the one who gave me this responsibility which I am handling in the best way and also keeping his word. One day, when you meet him, you will understand.

-- I knew it! It is you who are incapable of intelligent reasoning. You are hiding behind someone else teaching. You cannot even have an original thought.

-- Ouch, Touché! But I forgive you. You have lost your way, you are not seeing clearly because your center of vision comes from Lao d’Sé. You believed in their remedies for your illness, didn’t you? Well, you can see the result. Now you see double!

-- It’s not true! I didn’t drink anything, I assure you.

-- It’s not a question of drinking. On your way, did you meet a sand viper with two horns that lies in wait for its victims and poisons them surreptitiously? The poison weakens their vision until they become incapable of telling the difference between reality and their own erroneous perceptions. For example, they are poor but believe that are rich, they think that darkness is light and are convinced that evil is good. The worst part is that they don’t realize that they are deceived because of the serpent’s power in his subtlety and his many disguises.

-- Rubbish! All this is philosophy! As for me, I have more pressing needs. I want to get out of this blasted desert to go back to my world where the cacti don’t talk nonsense about spells to people in dire need of help.

-- Well, then, I am ready to help you. Where are you going? What are you looking for?

-- Come on, it’s obvious! I want to go back where I come from and I am looking for the exit door.

-- Yes, of course, they all say the same thing. But there is a slight hitch; here as you know, we are in the desert. This is a very different place. People that are lost need a guide. But there is no way back and to get out of the desert, one has to go not through an exit door, for no such door exists, but through an entrance doorway. This is why my Master placed me on your path.

-- Not again, please. You are not going to bother me with your master. What can he do for me? Sell me a camel or a flying carpet? Or offer me a lamp with a genie inside? Does he live in an oasis nearby where he sells maps of the desert?

-- None of it. And by the way, the camel is too big, for the entrance door is very small. And He is the one who has the keys. He does not sell anything, but He alone can satisfy your thirst and your hunger, and give you new clothes that do not wear out. Moreover, he can heal you of your disease and restore your sight so that you will not lose your way again.

-- Stop making fun of me. Nobody is that generous a giver. There is no freebie in this world. Everything has a price, that’s the law. I simply need to gain my strength back, and find a pharmacy where I can buy some salve for my eyes that are irritated by this blasted sand.

-- I am afraid that your condition is a little more serious than you think. But you are not well enough yet to meet my Master. Get some rest in my shade and later, I will take care of your heart which right now is your most urgent concern. We will continue our chat once you feel better. Tomorrow, you will meet my brother who will help you find the Master of the Joshua trees.

My friends, take care until our next encounter.

Jean-Louis

To  continue reading the next episode click:  http://thelightseed.blogspot.com.br/2011/07/the-joshua-tree-desert-parable.html

The Joshua Tree - Second Episode - The Encounter

Written and posted by Jean-Louis 

THE ENCOUNTER 

Second Episode
To read the preceding chapter 
click  Here

Just when the desired goal of shutting out all external stimuli has been achieved or so he thought, a warm voice shook him out of his altered state of consciousness. In spite of its gentle tone, the voice triggered a reflex that rippled throughout his body caused by the unexpectedness of his breaking the silence barrier.
“Welcome to the desert, I was waiting for you and here you are just on time”. These words gripped his heart with an uncontrollable anxiety.

-- That’s it , our lost traveler spoke to himself, thinking he was alone. Either I am waking up from a terrible nightmare, or I am in the throes of delirium just before dying of thirst, of a heatstroke and madness. First, dementia sets in indicating the decrease in blood circulation to the brain.

But then, what if this were real? continuing his monologue, arguing with all the motivation of his survival instinct. After all nobody enjoys dying alone. What if? In a desperate attempt to maintain a grasp on reality, he squinted with his deficient eyes to focus on the fuzzy image standing in front of him.

-- No, you are not going to die, I assure you. As long as there is life there is hope.

-- Easy for you to say. You should try being in my place. He uttered these words without realizing the weirdness of the situation.

-- Yes I understand, but I was in your situation before. This is why I am here with you. Perhaps one day you will be in my place after you meet my Master.

-- No thanks. Me, submit to a master. It’s been a long time since I have been out of school. Who do you see in front of you? A child who needs to be taught? Have you ever heard of pulling yourself by your own boot straps? And God helps those who help themselves?

-- Indeed, those are wonderful comforting words. But let me introduce myself: Joshua, guardian and desert guide. How about you?

-- Mine is Theophilus McCall.

-- What a beautiful name! Do you know its meaning?

-- No, my parents named me at my baptism. -- Nice to meet you, Theophilus. Well, It’s getting late. Why not continue our conversation tomorrow? You really need some sleep. Good night.

To continue reading the next episode click: Here http://thelightseed.blogspot.com.br/2011/07/joshua-tree-desert-parable_06.html
Jean-Louis

"The Joshua Tree" - First Episode - Near the Desert Gate

Written and posted by Jean-Louis Mondon

 

Near the Desert Gate First episode
 To go back to the previous chapter click: Here

Some years have gone by. Still wearing his self-imposed blindfold, our lonely pilgrim, in spite of his condition, has traveled quite a distance to a remote and desolate place where even with the best eye-sight, experienced men have some difficulty finding their way. But now, he is not only blind and ignorant, but hungry, thirsty and exhausted. His only desire is to find a place of rest, an oasis that his weary soul has dreamed of and longed for, ever since his journey began. However, he despairs of finding such a place because, as he looks at himself and his surroundings, that haven seems to recede further in the hopelessness of his situation.

Thinking that the end was near, he had just resigned himself to accept his fate. After all, what could he do? Years ago, during the turbulent years of his adolescence and his early manhood enough vigor and idealism filled his heart to fight against real or perceived enemies. Little did he realize that the causes that he so wholeheartedly embraced were only detours in his life. Neither did he know that the weapons he used in the battle, securing short-lived victories, would eventually be the very means of his defeat. Now years later, all his resources spent, the overwhelming dread of an impending doom coursed through his weary body and soul.

He remembered the time when dreams and aspirations seemed so reachable. With concentrated effort, coupled with the unswerving tenacity that had been characteristic since his childhood, he had managed to accomplish a few challenging things in spite of disappointed scoffers, and other critical individuals that make it their business to see that nobody rise above the level of mediocrity that they have established as a standard for themselves. He didn’t quite yet understand the outworking of his life. Nevertheless a sense of destiny kept him going in spite of the past failures that slowed him down and had forced him to change course many times on his uncharted journey.

But this time, it was different. The surrounding landscape was so unfamiliar and his weary mind could not draw enough inner strength from one of the reassuring pictures that his fertile imagination would produce in time of crisis. No enemy in sight to slash with a quick turn of his sharp tongue, one of his favorite weapons to cut down to size any who threatened to make him look smaller than he already felt. Nothing to grasp, no helping hand, no end in sight, no sight to see but a sea of sand, solid waves of shifting shadows blown by a merciless wind. Looking back, he discovered that his tracks had been erased. No chance of ever going back.

A misty grey fog in his head overwhelmed the azure sky overhead and in spite of the strongest efforts of his will, he could not break through out of it. Until now, will power had been his best ally, the means by which he accomplished almost anything, whether it be the most menial tasks or the deep desires and dreams of his life.

Nevertheless, everything was now so totally new and different. The unexpected had taken on the form of the impossible. A slow giggle emerged from his cynic side as he remembered the old adage "where there is a will, there is a way”. In his present situation, the reverse would apply, “where there is no way, there is no will”.

For a moment he mused with a bit of his personal philosophy: "people should not throw empty words into the air or on pages of books where they are going to travel through the ages, carried by airwaves or copied endlessly by scrupulous scribes and maybe deceive countless generations raised on clichés and slogans spouted by unscrupulous demagogues. Even if one stumbles upon a truth worthy of being shared and embraced, it is too late to enlighten those who have gone before. There are also situations and attitudes that prevent the truth from being known and proclaimed on a large scale".

Such was his predicament. “How silly of me, he thought. Here I am thinking of a way to warn and save others from the tyrannical oppression of the mind and I can’t even save myself. Going back to his anti-cliché, it dawned on him that maybe, it is true; where there is no way, there is no will or at least no will that will provide a way. That the conditions which lead to the deepest despair are designed to force us to abandon any hope that we might place in our human resources, whether personal or collective. It is only when all the doors have been slammed shut in our face that we realize that the One who slammed them shut is the same One who can open the door specifically stamped with our name.

By this I mean that man basically is a poor chooser. He imagines that out of all the tempting opportunities presented to him, he is capable of selecting by and for himself the ones most suitable to him. All the while, there is a door with his name on it, but he cannot find it, so focused that he is on the other doors. The question is and remains: How does a man abrogate his will?"

Oddly enough, deciding to give up one’s own will is in itself an exercise of the will. Actually, it is more the recognizing of one’s proper place in the eternal scheme of things. I think there is a good reason why Adam and Eve were placed on earth in the garden of Eden and not on one of the stars. God is in His heaven and Man on planet earth which is his proper domain.

There is something to be said and certainly to be emulated about the humbleness of the old farmer or gardener bowing his tired frame down to the earth to plant the seed after preparing its womb to bring it to germinate new life. His bowing down is the best expression of worship, of total dependence upon the One who provided the seed, the nutrients in the earth, the rain water and the sun shine to make the seed grow. The One who provided the intelligence to develop the skills to create the farming implements and the methods. The Creator and Father of the spirits and hearts of all mankind created the first Man to be an earth dweller and a farmer, not an astronaut".

While thinking about his helplessness and the present failure of his predilection for escaping reality, a salient idea emerged from the forefront of his consciousness. He needed a point of focus to gather his ever fleeting thoughts as a pinpointed laser ray to reach its target.

He picked up a handful of hot sand. Making a fist and placing it on top of his other hand also formed as a fist, he slowly and deliberately let the sand pass through this improvised funnel in the shape of an hourglass and let the grains escape through the lower fist instead of gathering them as a real hourglass would. The sand cascaded in a continuous stream onto a growing mound on the desert floor.

“Tempus fugit” (time passes), he ironically thought to himself as he tirelessly placed one hand on top of the other in an endless circular motion. This simple concentration exercise turned into a Sisyphean task but provided a physical, reassuring point of contact against the vastness of the desert and the limitless amount of sand and the inevitability of the passing of time. 

"Well, he said to himself, finding the courage to cling to a positive thought as a life buoy in the middle of this vast ocean of sand extending as far as the eye could see, everything begins with a zero, then comes one...from zero to one the distance is very short and if I continue counting everytime I take a step, at least I will be making progress."

Believe me, in the desert, things get reduced to the simplicity of zeros and ones equations out of sheer necessity. What lies between zero and one is a little like asking what came before God. Who wants to be number zero? Men want to be number One, women hope that men will tell them they are a 10. Even on a pain scale, I don't think that there exits a zero, I have never seen anyone without pain, visible or hidden.
The choice is clear. I said choice, not answer.

On this hopeful note, the story continues with a surprise new episode.

To continue to the next chapter click: Here
http://thelightseed.blogspot.com.br/2011/07/joshua-tree-desert-parable.html
Jean-Louis.

The Joshua Tree - Ozymandias of Egypt

Ozymandias of Egypt

 (Delusion of Grandeur) 

Written and posted by Jean-Louis Mondon. 2/2011

To read the first chapter, click Here

I met a traveler from an antique land
Who said: two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip and sneer of old command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read,
Which yet survive, stamp’d on these lifeless things,
The hand that mock’d them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear:
“My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings.
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.


Percy Bysshe Shelley
1792-1822

Well then, my friend, did you sigh
 last night while falling asleep:

Or are you feeling like this king

Master of his domain

Following his own whim?

What drives you and leads you?

Your castle made of cards

So patiently constructed

Can in a single night

Become an abandoned ruin,

A no man’s land where children

Laugh and play without worrying

About why and how

Such an accomplishment

Such a beautiful edifice

With a proud and tall stairway

Is left to lie, forgotten

In the great hour glass,

The hallway of memories

Lost forever

In the labyrinth of the past.

For whoever wants to save their life (or soul) will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul. Matthew 16:25, 26.

Come with me if you want, if today you have lost the hope of finding the key of the exit door that leads to life. Jesus said: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Foreword

One day, in blind ignorance,

a man stumbles over a stone,

the first step of a stairway

that leads to the most high place.

In his haste, without pause,

at the cross road between light and darkness

Pride opens his mouth and mocks the stepping stone

calling it a stumbling block.

Then, further deceived by his lack of understanding

he turns around indignant and walks away

from the Rock that Love placed there

to help him on his journey.

So tonight don’t forget to sigh. It’s as natural as crying or laughing. It is the others who do not like to hear the complaints of our souls. You have to understand them. They do not know how to take them. A sigh as soon as it is released flies off upward. But somebody is listening and hears you. If you persist, he will answer.

So long and take care. I hope to meet you at the desert gate.
To be continued.

To read the next chapter, click: Here
http://thelightseed.blogspot.com/2011/02/joshua-tree-desert-parable_1896.html

Jean-Louis.

The Joshua Tree - A desert Parable - Sighing and the Divine Response

Written and posted by Jean-Louis Mondon

Prologue

The Scream by Edvard Münch

To go to the next chapter click here:

http://thelightseed.blogspot.com/2011/02/joshua-tree-desert-parable_13.html

SIGHING AND THE DIVINE RESPONSE

This is the first installment of a story in several episodes called: "The Joshua Tree, A Desert Parable".

"The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. I open my mouth and pant, (or sigh) longing for your commands. Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name. Direct my footsteps according to your word." Psalm 119:130-133.

Sighing is not the only prerogative  of lovers languishing and waiting for the beloved or the facial expression of discouragement of a student facing homework that is beyond his intellectual capability. It is in fact as inherent to man as laughter is.
All sighs do not possess the same value or meaning. There are sighs that loose their weight in the immensity of a cruel, merciless universe that can lead to despair and even death in the absence of a saving answer. Such is the condition of the human being without God. Can the answer to the mysteries of life be found without asking pertinent questions about it?

In my generation, Nihilism, the Absurd of Eugene Ionesco’s theater, artistic expressions such as the painting “The Scream” by Edvard Münch, the literature and the life style of intellectuals such as Camus and Sartre were faithful mirrors reflecting the alienation, the despair and the perplexity, all, experiences of our modern life. They had no valid and satisfying solution to offer for the complexity of more and more insurmountable problems. The influence of their promising modern ideologies and philosophies have only produced a bitter fruit poisoning the existence of a humanity close to her last sigh.

However, there is another sigh that comes out of the depth of the human being. In Ecclesiates 3:11, the wise King Solomon declares that: “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity (the thought of eternity) in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end”.
It is the act of sighing or panting that best expresses this absolutely essential need of a human being suffering from separation in the search for his creator who alone can satisfy his deepest need.
The Lord God is the Father (Creator) of the spirits of all mankind and he wants to guide us by his word, by the sound of his voice on our way back to our eternal home. In Numbers 27:15, 18,  Moses said to the LORD, “May the LORD, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the LORD’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd”. So the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him;

Before one can go out, before knowing freedom, one has to find the door to go in that leads to liberty, to eternal life, to our destination. Who is this man, this guide? What is this door, where can it be found? So many questions, so many sighs!

What about you my reader, my friend, are you asking yourself these same questions? Do you know these deep sighs that will only be fully satisfied with a response that would fill the deepest part of your soul? God knows your thoughts even before they are formed in your brain. In fact, it is he who is seeking you. He is just waiting for you to sigh, he understands the burdens that we bear.  
Jesus invites you: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”. Matthew 11:28.

To be continued. click  Here to go to the next chapter

http://thelightseed.blogspot.com/2011/02/joshua-tree-desert-parable_13.html
Hope to see you again.

Jean-Louis.