When we were growing up, Jesus used to irritate us boys to distraction by His thoughtfulness. Once, he and I were hot on the trail of a wayward donkey. The beast was nowhere in town, so we headed out across a field. Suddenly, Jesus stopped and said, “But we haven’t told our mothers where we’re going!”
I groaned. “Come on, Jesus, don’t be such a mama’s boy!”
But he turned and started back toward town. All of a sudden, I decided I couldn’t take it any more! I snatched the cloth cap from his head and dashed back into the field.
I had a head start, but Jesus was in hot pursuit. At the top of a hill, he tackled me and we rolled down together. When we hit the bottom, he was on top. His eyes were sparkling with merriment. He was sitting lightly on my chest, but my arms were pinned tight to the ground.
“How about it?” he asked. “Do I get my cap?”
“Oh take your old cap,” I growled. But when he released his grip on my arms, I threw it into a bush.
Jesus just laughed, recovered his cap, and went to report to Mary.
I always remembered that afternoon after we had grown up, and Jesus left Nazareth. The villagers said he must be deranged for leaving a good carpenter business to wander around like a beggar. One time, when he returned for a visit, I looked him up.
“Dave, how are you?” He greeted me eagerly.
“Great! And You?”
“Never better.” His voice was sincere. “Say, do you remember the time you snatched my cap, and I had to take it away from you?”
“Sure, I remember. Think you could still do it?”
He grinned. “Of course, just as easy as ever!”
But I was in no mood for light talk that day. “Jesus, the townspeople are talking about you.”
His tone became serious, too. “Yes, Dave, so I’ve heard.”
“Well, what do you think about it?”
He smiled slowly. “It is to be expected. Perhaps a better question is – what do you think about it?”
His eyes pierced me, as if he were looking straight through me. I ducked my head and turned away. I didn’t know what I thought about him. Not any more.
After that day, I kept up with Jesus and hoarded reports about his preaching. There was something about his words that stirred my heart.
I was there at his crucifixion – thoroughly mystified. How strange it seemed that one of the old gang should be hanging there like a thief on a cross. And strangest of all – that it should be Jesus.
Mary knew of my interest in her son, so she looked me up one day. “Dave,” she said with eyes like stars, “we have seen Jesus alive. He has risen from the dead. He is the Son of God.”
Then she told me many strange and wonderful things about Jesus’ birth, childhood, and youth. Her excitement captured my heart.
After she left, I sat still in wonder, remembering that I had snatched His cap and wrestled with GOD. Imagine that! A God who was a lively, eager little boy. A God whose cap you can snatch, and He will wrestle you in the dirt for it. Why, that’s the kind of God a man can live with!
But, even then, He had not forced me. Sitting on my chest in full control, He had asked, “Do I get my cap?”
That’s how Jesus is – never using force, always giving a choice.
As I sat there remembering, I suddenly felt that Jesus was with me. Somehow, I knew He was grinning, as He, too, remembered our boyhood romps.
I smiled as I pictured Jesus. Except for His eyes, His most striking feature was His wide, friendly grin. Somehow, it always said to me, “Hello, pal. I think you’re great company! Come on out, and let’s conquer a world today.”
And that’s another thing I like about Jesus. When He says, “Let’s conquer a world today,” He can actually do it!
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