The Parable of the Sculptor

Saturday, May 7th, 2011

Today's Passage: Luke 20: 9-26
Memory Verse(s):Lk. 20:17

Jesus was an amazing storyteller. If I may, I'd like to translate what He was communicating in our terms. This story is about a Sculptor Who shaped and loved a lump of marble into a magnificent statue of a man. He breathed into it the breath from His being, and the statue took on a life of its own. The Master Sculptor placed His creation in a beautiful garden, where He gave him the freedom to enjoy the other living things He had created.

Pretty soon the man grew a little restless. But because he loved his Master, he didn't reveal this to Him. Nevertheless, the Sculptor, Who knows all things, created a partner for the man, and the two became one flesh. A jealous and not-very-talented blacksmith who lived nearby saw this interchange between them and decided to destroy the special bond between the Master Sculptor and His creation. He managed to insert doubt and suspicion in the heart of the former statues so that they would rebel against their Beloved Creator.

For a while, the plan seemed to be working. Everytime the Creator came near to spend some time with them they pushed Him away. They wanted the blessing of playing in and enjoying His garden with no connection to the One Who provided it. With a deep sadness, the Sculptor closed His garden, never to let any other created ones occupy that space. Until the Sculptor's Apprentice, Who had learned everything He knew from His Master, cried out to Him. "Let me go win the hearts of Your created ones back to You," He suggested.

"But You don't understand; they will not receive You.". Still the Apprentice insisted every sacrifice would be worth it. He fought His way until He got to the land of fear and disenchantment, where the blacksmith lived. There, He wrestled with this evil tyrant who had been holding the former statues hostage with the heavy chains he had created. Immediately, some statues felt drawn back to the One Who created and loved them. But for others, time spent away from that garden had proven detrimental. They ignored, cursed and told Him to leave them alone. But to this day the Master Sculptor calls to us. His ultimate desire is to draw us all back to His heart. And one day He will destroy the works of the blacksmith, and nothing will be left of him.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.