(With inspiration from David McCasland’s Pinstripe Parables)
The social divide between the rural and urban communities had grown so wide that no one could see their way clear to conceptualize a bridge between them, much less build it. And yet, no one wanted that bridge more than him.
The leaders of the rural communities had only wanted to be left alone by the urban leaders. Instead, they had been the target of fierce attacks and slander. The leaders of the urban communities had embraced their own social order to distract away from any national good works the rural communities had plainly seen from him.
And he understood what was happening from the earliest days. But all the people had grown complacent and unaware of what was happening around them. They hadn’t been educated very well and instead had been told what to believe by the urban party and their spokespeople. All of the media platforms came from the urban centers of the nation. And when the entire nation talked about him, they grew even more divided.
At an urban party meeting, one of the leaders said, “We know this man. He’s not cut out to be a community leader and he’s dangerous to lead the people like he does. Besides, he’s a pompous show-off.” Still another party leader chimed in. “We know where he comes from and leaders don’t come out of his background.” And yet another wanted to get rid of him any way possible. And once he was out of the way, they would make him and all of his followers pay. And yet, no one could bring an allegation forward that seemed to stick. He was like Teflon with the people.
Finally, some of the urban elites came in to the meeting and demanded that he be brought to task. “We want him out now! Do what you have to do.” And there was great pressure placed on the urban ruling class to comply. The elites continued, “What does it take to get him out of here? Has he deceived even you that you are powerless to eliminate him?”
The urban party leaders responded indignantly. “Are you kidding? Man, we have tried. But these rural communities are like a disease on our progress. We can’t get anything done with that crowd on the other side.”
One of the older, wise urban leaders spoke up. He sat quietly, watched the meeting drag on to no good end and decided to add his voice to the discussion. “Maybe we should hear them out. Bring in their leader and listen to what he’s got to say. Maybe we could find some middle ground.”
“You must be out of your mind,” one of the elites answered. “You sound out of touch to me. Are you from his community, too? You must be. Because you’d know the man he is and what he’s capable of. Check him out for yourself and you’ll see that he just doesn’t make sense in our economy.”
John 7:40 – 52:
On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.” Others said, “He is the Christ.” Still others asked, “How can the Christ come from Galilee? Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David’s family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?”
Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.
Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards declared.
“You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. “Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”
Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, “Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?”
They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”