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THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SON
This account from the Christian Holy Bible has been paraphrased to a modern setting taken from Luke 15:11.
Many years ago there lived a young man who was faithful to God. He was a farmer and had grown up on the land. In due course, as with all young men, he fell in love and was married. He was very happy in his love for God and his wife . Soon there were two sons, called Michael and Joel. The farmer's name was Jim and his wife was called Mary. Jim had made a lot of money; he was comfortably off and he hoped that one day his sons would take over the farm. Jim taught them about God and His Love for His children and prayed that they would have a faith like his own.
As time went by his sons grew up and the family were content. Jim had a fine house and servants, and his wife had everything that she could want. Jim1s sons were fine strapping lads who loved to work on the farm. Jim thought that his world was secure. His sons became teenagers and were now growing fast. Michael loved farming but Joel, the younger son, became discontented with his lot. He saw his friends working in offices while he worked hard on the land. His hours were long while theirs were short. Many worked in the City, and he began to ache for City life, it seemed much more fun. He made friends with a man called Simon who was a drifter; Joel learned many of his ways and he began to change, growing restless, wanting to leave his humdrum life and live like his friend Simon in the city.
One day Joel was working with Michael on the land. 'Michael,' he asked, 'don't you ever yearn to do something new, something different, travel, see the world, meet people, do things?'
'Not really, I am content with what I have, I am happy with my life, I would have it no other way,' Michael answered.
'The world is our oyster, we can go and do things, dancing, meet girls, live life to the full,' said Joel.
'No, Joel, I do not want those things; I am happy here,' said Michael.
They went to many village socials and gradually Joel changed. His friends began to notice and he started to get in with a bad crowd. 'Michael, what has happened to your brother? He has changed, he is not the person he used to be, he is getting into bad ways,' they would say. Joel went on dreaming about a different life. He was yearning to be free. He was becoming more and more discontent .
One day, Jim called his sons to him. He had decided to leave half of his fortune to each of them. 'This is my gift to you, my sons, you may do as you wish with the money.' Joel looked at his father and an idea was forming in his mind. At last he would be able to to leave, what joy! He was filled with pleasure at this thought and he began to dream dreams about his new life. One day he was working on the land, bored out of his mind. He saw a big car go past with Simon at the wheel.
'Hey, Joel, coming out tonight, like a ride?' Simon shouted. Joel looked at Simon with envy and answered, 'I can1t, I am working.' 'Okay, see you around,' answered Simon.
Michael joined Joel and they worked side by side. Someone came and spoke to Michael. 'Joel would you mind carrying on without me? A calf has been taken sick and I will have to see to the animal.' 'All right, I suppose so,' Joel answered grudgingly. Michael left Joel alone and he began to feel more and more angry. 'I hate this place and this life, I want to leave.' When Michael returned, Joel1s mind was made up. 'Michael, I am leaving, keep your wretched farming. I hate it, I am going to see the world and reap its rewards. I am going to be free at last, free!' He downed tools and walked off. 'Where are you going?' asked Michael. ' I am going to see Dad,' Joel said and off he went.
He found his father in the house. 'Dad, I want my share of the money now. I want to see the world. I hate it here, and I loathe the work. I want to enjoy myself and see the world while I am still young.' His father looked at his son and sighed. He had seen the signs and knew that Joel wanted to leave. If he kept him, things would go from bad to worse. In time, Joel would resent his father1s action in not letting him go. Yet Jim knew if he let Joel go, he could lose his son for ever. He decided to take that risk. 'All right, my son, here is your share. Spend it wisely and may God go with you; you have my blessing.' Joel went and packed his case. His heart was singing, 'I am going, leaving at last. I am free to live and to do just as I please with lots of money.' He said goodbye to his father . Jim stood on the doorstep, his heart was heavy as his son walked away, wondering if he would ever see Joel again.
The city was a wild, exciting place. Joel was welcomed with open arms. People flocked to see him and he was popular. He had many girlfriends. He went to many parties and had a whale of a time. He drove flashy cars and life was grand. He only saw the good in people, he did not see the bad. People borrowed money off him and never returned what they had borrowed. He began to see drug taking and drinking, the other side of people, and convinced himself that this was the way to live, it was the life he wanted, but he began to realise that there was a price to pay for freedom. As his money dwindled so did his friends. They became fewer and fewer and he knew that soon he would have to get a job in order to pay the rent on his flat. Soon he was threatened with eviction, he could not even afford to feed himself. Jobs were hard to find without experience.
He searched for a job far and wide, until one day he found one. It was looking after pigs. As he had farming experience, he was given the job, But the pay was not good and he was still very hungry. He looked at the pigs and began to think longingly of home and of his father. 'Even my father1 s hired helps get paid better than this. I am going home to see if I can get work as one of my father's hired helps. I cannot go on like this.' So he set off home wearily, a different man from the youth who had left home.
Michael was working on the land. He had worked hard and many hours, years, had passed since his brother had left home. Some gossip had filtered through to him and he knew that his brother had not lived a good life. Still life had to go on, so he worked hard upon the land which he loved. His father would often watch Michael. Jim was growing old now, and he still wondered what had happened to his other son.
One day Jim stood on the porch, as he often did. He looked and blinked. A figure was coming down the lane. ' It could not be Joel, could it?' he asked himself. He looked again, his heart beating fast, and he waited. Joel came up the path. Jim could bear it no longer. He ran down the path crying. 'My son, is it really you? Oh, my son, my son.' The tears flowed down Jim1s cheeks as he hugged Joel. The servants and Mary his wife had followed, for they had heard Jim1s voice. 'Quick, make him a meal, give him the best meal you can find. We will have a party to celebrate Joel1s return and everyone can come. This is my son whom I1ve lost and found.' Invitations were sent out and many neighbours came to attend.
Michael came off the land. He saw the lavish display and the celebration and he was angry. He had worked and toiled on the land for many years. He had worked hard. He had never had a word of thanks, let alone a party. He was incensed. He refused to go in. 'Dad, this is unfair. You give a party for Joel, yet to me nothing. Is this a way to treat me, your son?' he asked. Jim looked at his son and smiled. 'Michael, I love you. No man could have a better son than you. Your brother has been gone for many years. No-one knew where he was, or what he had been doing. We thought, your mother and I, that he was dead. We had no word from him but he has come back alive and well. Are you not glad that he is safe? Everything I have is yours. Let us thank God that Joel has returned. Come and rejoice with me.' Michael and his father made their peace, and Joel had learnt that money means very little compared with the love of God and the love flowing from your family. |
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THE STORY OF ESTHER
This account from the Christian Bible has been paraphrased to a modern setting taken from Esther.
King Xerxes was not a happy man, his wife Queen Vashti had let him down. He had ordered her to a banquet as he wanted her to be seen by his friends and she had responded by saying ‘no’ as she did not wish to be paraded in front of his friends so the king terminated the marriage. The king was miserable and his officials suggested that he find someone else, so the single young ladies of the kingdom were sent along as a potential bride to the king. Among those ladies sent was a young woman called Esther. Esther was a Jewish orphan and she had been brought up by her cousin, Mordicai who decided to send her along with strict instructions not to tell anyone that she was a Jew. Every day he went to the courtyard and waited for news to see how she was getting on. Esther was a popular woman and everyone liked her as she never put on airs and graces.
The king sent for Esther, she was very beautiful and he fell in love with her. He put a crown on her head and proclaimed her as his Queen. A banquet was held in her honour and Mordicai was pleased. There was great happiness all round but this happiness was to be marred by a man called Haman. One day Mordicai was sitting at the king’s gate when he heard two officers guarding the doorway talking but he became alarmed when they were talking about assassinating King Xerxes who had upset them. Mordicai alerted Esther who informed the King and the guards were arrested. The incident was recorded in the King’s book of things that happened.
Soon afterwards a man called Haman was promoted by the King and at the king’s gate he expected all royal officials to bow down to him including Mordicai who refused. Haman loved people to bow down to him and he got more and more angry with Mordicai whom he felt was disobeying the king’s order to bow to Haman. He found out that Mordicai was a Jew and loved his God. Haman naturally was annoyed and he was determined to get rid of this upstart as he was embarrassing Haman in front of everyone, but how? He plotted in his mind to kill him and then he thought ‘Why not all Jews then people will bow down to me.’ He was quite happy about this and went to see the King to get rid of the Jews, they chatted and the king agreed to his idea not knowing that Esther was a Jew.
An edict went all over the Persian Empire for the Jews to be destroyed, the Jews grew afraid, they cried praying to their God. Mordicai went to the king’s gate in sackcloth and ashes as he was not allowed to go into the palace in that state and wept loudly. Esther was in the palace and she saw that Mordicai was weeping at the king’s gate, she sent one of her attendants with fresh clothes so that Mordicai could come to see her. Her attendant went out and spoke to him, but he refused the clothes and stayed where he was, sending a message to Esther pleading with her to see the King on the Jews behalf. Esther explained that she had not been summoned by the king in thirty days and to go into his inner court without permission could end in death unless he touched her with his golden sceptre. Esther’s attendant went out and repeated this and Mordicai told Esher that her life too was in danger, Esther decided to go and see the king after three days of fasting with her maids and she asked Modicai and the Jews to do the same and was willing to sacrifice her life for her people.
On the third day she dressed in her finest clothes and she trembled and went to see the king wondering if this day would be her last. The king was sitting on his throne with his sceptre as she went forward. The king saw Esther and was pleased to see her as he loved this woman so much. He came forward and held out his golden sceptre towards her, Esther felt relief and touched the tip of the sceptre. ‘What is it you request? Queen Esther, even half my kingdom can be yours,’ he said. ‘If it pleases your majesty I would like you and Haman to come to a banquet I am holding,’ She answered. Haman was summoned and they went to the banquet and they were again invited to another banquet the next day, in which Esther would tell the king her request. Haman was happy but when he went home he saw Mordicai at the king’s gate and was upset. Haman told his family about the banquet and they were pleased for him, he told them also about Mordicai and his family suggested that he had a gallows built for him, Haman was pleased with the idea and had them built. He decided the next day to see the king and have Mordicai executed.
That night the king could not sleep, he tossed and turned, he asked for his book of records to be bought in. He read about Mordicai saving his life and asked if he had been rewarded.’ No nothing has been done’, they said. ‘Then we must do something for this man who saved my life?’ In the morning the king called for Haman ’Tell me Haman, what would you do to reward a man for good service? ‘Haman was puffed with pride thinking of himself. ‘I would give him my finest robe and place him on a horse and take him around the city saying, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honour.’ The King answered ’What a good idea! that is what I will do, send Mordicai to me, dress him in the finest robe and on the finest horse, let the people see what he has done for me.’ Haman had to accompany Mordicai and lead Mordicai’s horse through the streets saying, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honour.’ Haman went home in anguish and Mordicai went to the kings gate. He explained to his family what had happened and they knew that Haman was in trouble. There was a knock at the door and Haman was summoned to Esther’s banquet. The meal went reasonably well. ‘Esther, what do you have to tell us?’, the King asked. ‘Someone is trying to destroy my people,’ she answered . ‘Who is this rogue?’ the king asked. ‘That man Haman!’ Esther exclaimed pointing at him. Haman felt horror, then fear made the blood drain from his face. The king in anger withdrew from the table and went into the garden. Esther reclined on a seat. Haman begged her to save his life, unfortunately for Haman the king came in at this point and saw Haman near her and ordered Haman to be hung on the gallows intended for Mordicai. Mordicai was brought to the king and the edict was changed, the Jews won their battle and the Jewish race was saved. The race that Jesus was to be born into. |
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JESUS HEALS A BLIND MAN
This account from the Christian Holy Bible has been paraphrased to a modern settings taken from John 9:1.
The day was hot, a man was sitting on the dry ground, his begging bowl with him, he could hear the sounds of people passing, their voices echoing and sometimes the chink of money passing into his bowl which would buy him food. He could not see, but people would call out as they passed so he knew their voices. Then something happened, he felt an air of excitement, ‘He is here, Jesus is coming’, people exclaimed. The man moved his head round as the people shouted, footsteps came to where he was sitting. There seemed to be a lot of people standing in front of him. Someone was talking, asking questions, a man’s voice, he was talking about him. ‘Rabbi, who sinned this man or his parents?’ The man listened intently for a reply, for people believed that he or his parents had sinned for him to be born blind. A reply came, he guessed from the man they called Jesus. ‘Neither this man or his parents sinned for him to be born blind, he is blind because God is to show a healing in this man’s life, as long as I am in the world, we must do the work of Him who sent me, darkness is coming when no-one will work, while I am in the world I am the Light of the world.’
The man again heard movements and the sound of spitting a mud pack was put on his eyes, it felt cool and refreshing on his face, a voice spoke to him, it was the voice that had given the answers to the questions being asked, he realised that this man must be Jesus. ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’
The man got up and did as he was told, he felt his way towards the pool. He went into the water and it felt warm and he began to bathe, he washed his eyes with his hands. He looked and as he did so he saw objects which he realised was his hands, he looked turning his hands, this way and that. He looked up and saw people for the first time in his life. He came out of the pool, looking for Jesus but realised that he did not know what He looked like. He picked up his begging bowl and went home.
He walked back to his home and as he came back to where he lived, people who had seen him begging could not believe that he was healed and his neighbours too were puzzled.
’Look, is it not that the man who used to beg who was blind, of course not it is someone else.’
There became quarrels among them. The man came up to them ‘I am he, I am the man who was born blind.’
’How can you see?’ Someone asked.
’The man called Jesus, he made some mud and put it onto my eyes, He told me to bathe in Siloam Pool which I did and then I could see.’
’Where is this man?’ Someone asked.
'I don't know,' he answered.
The people had a discussion, they decided go and see the Pharisees. They went with the man who had been born blind. The Pharisees were not pleased to hear of the man’s good news, as he had been healed on the Sabbath, no-one was healed on the Sabbath according to their Law, it just was not right. They asked the man how he was healed and he repeated his story to them. After they heard his story, they moved away and had a discussion amongst themselves.
'This man Jesus cannot have come from God, he is a sinner.'
They looked round at the man who had been born blind and had another discussion.
’No we disagree,’ some of them said, ‘if this man Jesus is a sinner how can a sinner heal like this?’ The Pharisees then fell out with each other. 'Let us go back to the man who was born blind and ask what he thinks.' They said. They went to the healed man and asked his opinion.
'What do you think about this man Jesus, He healed you?' They asked.
'I think he is a prophet.' The man answered. The Jews were not happy with his answer. 'We don’t think this man was born blind, he is lying, we think we should speak to his parents.' They said.
The parents were duly sent for and they were worried, they discussed between themselves on what to say to the Pharisees and Jews for they knew that if they said that Jesus had healed their son they could be in trouble, for the Jews had put round that anyone mentioning Jesus could be saying that Jesus is the Christ and be banned out of the synagogue which would be very embarrassing. They agreed to let the Pharisees and Jews know that he was their son and was born blind but to let their son deal with Jesus healing him. The parents saw the Pharisees standing alongside the Jews with their son. The parents felt afraid. The Jews came forward, and pointed towards the man who was born blind.
'Is this your son?' they asked.
'Yes he is our son,' they replied peering at him.
'Was he born blind?' the Jews asked.
'Yes he was born blind,' they replied.
'Why is it he now can see?' The Jews asked.
'We don’t know and who opened his eyes, we don1t know.' They answered.
’What do you mean you do not know? Your son who you claim was born blind, yet he can see? Surely you must know who healed him.’ The Jews responded.
'Why don’t you ask him, he is of age, he was the one who was there when his eyes were opened.'
The Jews realised that they would get nothing further out of the parents. The man who was born blind was again summoned.
'Call for the man who was born blind.'
The parents moved aside relieved. The man came forward.
'Give Glory to God, for we know that this man Jesus is a sinner.' The people shouted and then there was silence. The man who was healed spoke in the silence, all eyes were fixed upon him for his reply.
’Whether this man is a sinner or not, I don1t know? One thing I do know I was blind but now I see.'
'What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?' The people again asked.
The man felt weary, ‘I have told you already but you do not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become His disciples too?' He asked them.
The crowd went wild, ‘Who do you think you are? We do not think you were born blind, you only saying this, you deserve to be flung out of the temple. You are a follower of this Jesus, we are disc
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The Story of Esther
The Parable of the Lost Son
Jesus Heals a Blind Man
Nicodemus
Moses
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