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Jesus Riles up the Religious

¹ On one of the Days of Rest, Jesus went to eat at the home of one the leaders of the Pharisees. Many people were watching him closely to see what Jesus would do. ² A man approached Jesus who had arms and legs that were swollen up like a bloated cow. ³ Jesus asked the religious leaders and teachers of Moses's code, "Does the code of Moses allow healing on the day of rest or not?"

⁴ Everyone was scared to answer. Jesus shook his head and then healed the man and sent him away. ⁵ Then he turned back to them and said, "If any of you had a child who fell into a well, wouldn't you get them out—even if it was on the day of rest? Wouldn't you do it even if it was a donkey?"

⁶ But nobody said a word.

Cowboy Manners

⁷ As people were sitting down to eat, Jesus noticed how everyone was trying to get the best spots near the head of the table. Jesus said, ⁸ "When you are eating at a branding and lunch is served, don't run in and try to sit at the table with the rancher. You take your plate and go outside to eat.⁹ It would be much better for you to have the rancher come outside and insist that you sit with him rather than him have to ask you to go sit outside.¹⁰ Then you'd be all kinds of embarrassed and you'd have brought it on yourself. ¹¹ A wannabe who tries to pass himself off as a top hand will be humiliated, but the top hand who doesn't mind sitting outside will be given a place of honor."

¹² Jesus then turned to the host and said, "When you have a BBQ, don't invite those who you know can do something for you. Don't invite your friends or relatives who will return the favor. ¹³ Instead, invite the less fortunate. Invite the poor, hungry, crippled, and blind. ¹⁴ 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."

The Great Big BBQ

¹⁵ While listening to Jesus, a man hollered out, "It sure would be a blessing to attend a BBQ at the Big Boss's place!"

¹⁶ Jesus said, "There was once a rancher who was having a great big BBQ. ¹⁷ When everything was ready, he sent his cowboy to town and invited all the people from church. ¹⁸ But they all had an excuse as to why they couldn't come. One church guy said, 'I just bought some land and need to go check it out. Please offer my apologies.'

¹⁹ "Another church guy said, 'I just bought a team of horses, and I want to try them out on my wagon. Tell him thanks anyway for the invite.'

²⁰ "And still another said, 'I just got married, and we have plans. Please accept our apologies.'

²¹ "The cowboy went back to the ranch with all the denials and excuses from the church people. The rancher was furious and said, 'Go get the rough cowboys and the crippled. Gather up the lame, the blind, and the poor.'

²² "The cowboy went out and did like the boss told him. He came back and said, 'I did what you said, but we've still got food left.'

²³ "So the rancher said, 'Bring the mavericks and the mistresses, the whores, and the harlots. Tell the outlaws and rabble-rousers they are welcome. I want their bellies, and my ranch, full. ²⁴ All those I initially invited are no longer welcome and will not taste the food I have to offer.'"

The Cost of the Ride

²⁵ One day, Jesus was riding along, and a large group of people were following. He turned around and said, ²⁶ "If y'all want to ride with me, you must prove you love me more than your mother, your father, your wife, and even your children. And most of all? You must love me more than your own life. If you don't, you can't saddle up with my crew and me. ²⁷ You've got to be willing to die for the brand if you're gonna ride for the brand.

²⁸ "But don't say you will ride for me until you've tallied the toll it will take on you. I mean, you're not going to buy a bunch of cattle that you don't have grass for. ²⁹ Otherwise your cattle will starve, and people will laugh at you. ³⁰ They would say, 'There goes that greenhorn who doesn't know cows from caterpillars!'

³¹ "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? ³² If he sees that he can't win, wouldn't he try to negotiate peace before the war begins? ³³ You best realize that I am asking for everything when you ride for me, not just your weekends or a little of your wages. I require everything. Anything less than that and you'll never make it.

³⁴ "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. ³⁵ If he won't do the job, then he will be fired and kicked out. If you've got ears, you better be using them to listen."