Cocooned

COCOONED

Scripture Reading: Luke 19: 1- 9

Closing Hymn # 573 1’11 go where you want me to go

INTRODUCTION

Have you noticed, there are fewer butterflies than before? I remember the time when everywhere you look you could see butterflies: butterflies of various shades and colours: yellow, brown, green, white and even multicoloured ones. Nowadays one can hardly see any. Yet caterpillars seem to be present in abundance.

Just the other day I was inspecting a tree and to my surprise the leaves were filled with holes. This tree had an abundance of caterpillars. I could not help but wonder how come there were so many caterpillars but so few butterflies.

This led me to examine the life cycle of a butterfly. I found out that the cycle started by the laying of an egg by the adult butterfly. This egg hatches and a larva is produced.

The larva is called the caterpillar. After some time the caterpillar becomes a pupa and is wrapped up in a cocoon. Eventually it comes out of the cocoon as a beautiful butterfly. The conversion of a sinner can be likened to a similar process.

Caterpillars can be compared to men under the influence of Satan. They only desire is to fulfill their need even if it means the destruction of whatever is in their path. The butterfly however, can be likened onto men after they have been converted by the Holy Spirit. They bring with them a sense of beauty and wonderment. Rather than destruction they bring life to the earth by helping to pollinate the plant’s flowers so that fruit can be produced.

Then they are the pupa of the butterfly which lie in a cocoon and does nothing. These are those whom the Holy Spirit have touched but would not allow the Holy Spirit to do his full work. They do not bring destruction neither do they bring joy.

To which do you liken yourself? Are you a caterpillar? Are enclosed in a cocoon or are you a butterfly?

LET US PRAY

Mark 5:22 -24 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

Jairus was in a sad state, his daughter was ill and he had to leave her side. Where were all the well wishers. Where were all the concerned friends who wanted the best for his daughter. So often the words “I hope she gets better” are merely words pronounced with the tongue but they are complete strangers to the heart. People do not have the time to care. It is easier to say a few flowery words that to allow your heart to become involved.

Some people adopt the attitude, ‘well life goes on,’ people are still getting married, babies are being born, parties are being held. The world will not stop for you!! The world will not stop but the child of God must!!

Jairus could have used a sincere community service’s person. Some one who would take on the burden of going to fetch Jesus, allowing him to remain by his daughter’s side. Someone who could empathized with him and feel his pain so that his urgency would be their urgency. His pain would be their pain. But there was no one. It is times like these that a butterfly can make a big difference!!

Remember Martha and Mary, they did not have to go to fetch Jesus, someone was willing to go for them.

In John 11:1-3 ¶Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

What amazes about the Jairus account is that there was no one willing to fetch Jesus while the daughter was alive but there was someone to bring the message that she had passed away. The bible tells us in Mk.5:35

35 ¶While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

That someone was able to run ahead to tell him do not bother the master. Where was this guy when he needed someone to go and fetch the master? Was it that mush easier to be the bearer of bad news than to be the one who sought the help that was needed?