Select your ending ......................... Parables 123

As the bus jolts along the narrow street, the strap overhead digs into my hand. The shifty-eyed man in front of me reaches into his pocket pulling out a handkerchief. His wallet comes with it. It looks just like the one my dad reported missing. For a moment I wonder what to do. Then I:

a] pull his sleeve, telling him he dropped something   (go to page 10)

b] kick the wallet under the seat, hoping no one notices (go to page 14)

c] turn the other way and forget my suspicions      (go to page 20)

A line of children’s books have fiction stories with several pivotal points or places of decision. Depending on the choices the reader makes, the story continues with variations on the plot and final outcome. The author involves the child in the story by giving him decisions to make yet still has control over what happens, regardless of the reader’s choices.

The outcome of our history (nonfiction!) also corresponds with the choices made, with the Author of life writing the alternate endings. Using a little imagination with just one of His true stores . . .

The original scene goes something like this: Jesus returns to home base after ministry across the lake. The crowds gather. He preaches. Four men bring a paralyzed friend. The crowds are so think they can’t enter the house. They go up to the roof and create an opening. They lower their friend down into the room, right in front of Jesus. He looks at him saying, “Your sins are forgiven.”

The religious skeptics in the crowd begin to think: This is blasphemy. No one can forgive sins but God. Jesus, proving His deity, reads their minds. He says, “Which is easier, to forgive his sins or to heal him?” At that, He turns to the man still lying on his mat, and says, “Rise up and walk.” The man gets up, rolls up his mat, and walks out. The people are astonished. They have never seen anything like this. God is glorified by their praise. (Mark 2:1-12, the scene closes)

Some alternate choices, and their endings . . .

A: Jesus returns to home base after ministry across the lake . . . (continues the same as original scene up until . . . ) Jesus turns to the man still lying on his mat, and says, “Rise up and walk.”

The man looks at Him and says, “I don’t believe you are anyone important.” He dangles his impotent legs, sighs, and lays back on the mat, demanding someone carry him out of the house and back home where he can get some sleep.

“If you refuse to believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins.” (John 8:24) (scene closes)

B: Jesus returns to home base after ministry across the lake . . . (continues the same as original scene up until . . . ) Jesus turns to the man still lying on his mat, and says, “Your sins are forgiven . . . ”

The man looks up at Him and says, “That is ridiculous. I’m not a sinner. I have nothing to forgive8.” He lies back on his mat and asks his friends to take him out, angry at them for bringing him in the first place.

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us . . . I (Jesus) am . . . the truth, no one comes to the Father but by me.” (1 John 1:8 and John 14:6) (scene closes)

C: Jesus returns to home base after ministry across the lake. The crowds gather. He preaches. Four men bring a paralyzed friend. The crowds are so thick they can’t enter the house. The four are tired. They decide it is not worth the time and effort. They drop the man’s mat on the ground, him with it, and go to the beach for the day.

“And how can they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14) (scene closes)