Study Desk

Then Jesus spoke again to his twelve cowboys, "So don't fret about what you will eat or wear.

The cowboys who are waiting on his return will receive a magnificent reward. I'm telling you the truth when I say that the Boss will give the cowboys new clothes, sit them down at the big table, and give them food to eat.

Then Jesus told 'em this tale, "A rancher had a cow in his herd that hadn't calved in three years.

Jesus placed his hands on her, and she immediately stood up straight and gave thanks to the Boss.

The church leader stood up and clearly had his phylacteries in a wad. He said, "There are six days when you can come for healing. Come on one of those days, not the day of rest. It is a holy day, and no work should be done, not even healing."

The crowd that had gathered erupted in applause, and the hypocritical church leader and his minions skulked away in shame.

Jesus continued teaching in villages and cow camps on his way to Jerusalem.

"Jerusalem, old Jerusalem. She is the city that kills God's cowboys and his messengers. I've wanted to put her calves in one pen and protect them, but you are not willing.

Everyone was scared to answer. Jesus shook his head and then healed the man and sent him away.

Then you will know that when the Boss picks his crew, you will be rewarded for inviting those who couldn't do anything for you."

When everything was ready, he sent his cowboy to town and invited all the people from church.

"Or what general would go to war without sitting down to figure out if his ten thousand men could beat the army of twenty thousand he would be fighting?

"A salty cowboy is one who isn't afraid to go after rank cattle. But if he loses his salt and becomes lazy and only thinks about himself, then he is no longer good for the ranch.

Jesus continued with his examples, "Suppose a rancher had two sons.

The younger cowboy told his dad, 'Give me my share of the ranch now. I don't want to wait around for you to die.' The rancher did as the son asked and gave him what his half was worth.

A few days later, the son saddled up and left the ranch and moved to town. He spent all his money on booze, drugs, and wild women.

About the time all his money ran out, a depression hit the country, and there were no jobs or food to be found.

The young cowboy persuaded a farmer to let him take care of his pigs.

Finally, the young cowboy came to his senses, and he said to himself, 'All my dad's workers have more than they can even eat and here I am starving to death.

"So the boy headed for home, and while he was still a long way off, his dad spotted him walking up the road. His dad was nothing but relieved and happy at the sight of his boy coming back. He bolted out of the house and ran toward his son. The dad wrapped him in his arms and kissed him on his cheek.