Study Desk

He sent some folks on ahead to a village in Samaria to get a room for the night.

As they were headed for Jerusalem, a cowboy came running up and said, "I'll ride with you wherever you go, Boss!"

Jesus looked at another cowboy standing nearby and said, "What about you? You want to ride for the brand?"But the man said, "As soon as my father dies, I will ride with you wherever you go."

Jesus told him, "Let the dead bury the dead. You ride out and gather folks for the brand."

Still someone else hollered out, "I'll ride for ya Boss! Let me go tell my family goodbye, and I'll be right back."

Jesus shook his head sadly, "Anyone who saddles up, but looks back at what they are leaving, is not fit to ride for the brand."

Then Jesus found seventy other day workers willing to ride for him and sent them out in pairs to prepare all the places he would go.

He told them, "There's plenty of strays to be gathered, but there ain't many cowboys. Pray to the Lord of the roundup for cowboys to come help.

"You're gonna regret your choices, you cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida. If I'd done the miracles I did for you in Tyre or Sidon, they would have changed their sorry ways and already be saddled up and riding for God's outfit. They would be wearing burlap, and ashes would cover their heads in remorse for their wicked ways.

At that moment, the Holy Spirit filled Jesus with joy, and he prayed, "Boss, you're Lord over heaven and this big ball of dirt and water. Thank you for hiding the truth from those who think they are smart and showing it to those who have a childlike faith in you. I know this was your plan, Dad, and I know you like it."

Jesus sat down and began a story, "A Jewish fellow was riding down the trail from Jerusalem to Jericho and was bushwhacked by outlaws. They stripped all his clothes, beat him nearly to death, and left him for the buzzards beside the trail.

"Then one of those despised half-breed Jews saw the man and felt sorry for him.

The Samaritan covered him and did what he could for his wounds. He then lifted the guy onto his horse and took him to a hotel. The Samaritan stayed in the room with him and cared for him.

But Martha worked herself into a tizzy and went and asked Jesus, "Do you even care that I'm bustin' my butt for y'all and Mary is just sitting there? Tell her to get up and help."

"If you're a dad and your son asks for some jerky, are you going to hand him a live rattlesnake?

If your kid asks for eggs in his sandwich are you going to put a scorpion in there?

Some folks started a rumor that said, "He can kick demons out of people because he rides for the devil."

You say I ride for the devil, but if I'm fightin' the one I ride for, how can his crew succeed?

And if I'm ridin' for Satan, then what about your people who cast out demons too? Are they ridin' for the devil also? If they hear what you're saying they ain't gonna like it much,

but if I am working for the Boss in heaven, then his outfit has arrived on earth.