The reed was straight and slender, growing in a deep marshy place along the banks of the Jordan. The abundance of many thick reeds stretched out on all sides of the slender reed, closer to the dry beaten path of many footsteps.

On occasions, the wind blew hard bending the head of the slender reed under the heavens of the great Creator. The young reed would cry out in prayer, "O LORD use me! Make me into what I am purposed to be, even if it breaks me!"

The tender reed knew that before it's life could account for something it had to be moved from the position it was stuck in. It had to be released from the mire and the muddy waters which surrounded it.

Along the beaten path travelers often stopped to rest, sometimes soaking their tired dusty feet in the warm waters. Many times the slender reed would hear the snapping of other reeds, broken for the purpose of making staffs.

With envy it watched as many others were uprooted and used to help stabilize the shaky steps of the elderly, the injured, and the handicap. The reed, aware of it's deep position in the marsh, was often dismayed that it was overlooked. Many would look upon it, but none dared to tread the murky waters for it.

The reed's desire to find purpose and usefulness grew with every season until it's slinder frame was thick and strong.

One day a drunken soldier of the governor fell overboard from a passenger vessel. In desperation, because of his heavy breastplate and sword, the soldier clung to the once slinder reed until it was uprooted!

The soldier, upon making it to shore, realized he still had the reed in his hand. Upon close examination he saw the strength of the reed and decided to make a staff of it.

The next morning the drunken soldier was reprimanded by his high commander and ordered to the Common Hall for guard duty. A trial was soon under way outside in the palace courtyard.

The soldiers of the governor, along with the drunken soldier, were ordered to take an arrested man into the Common Hall where unto him a band of soldiers were gathered. With sore, blood shot eyes, the Roman soldier with the staff glanced around at the whole band of legionaries. They totaled between four to six hundred men.

The arrested man was led by the soldiers away from the public within the palace where they then subjected him to their profane mockery and sport.

They took off the upper garments of the man in question. They then clothed him in a purple robe that had a mixture of red in it, once worn by a distinguished officer. It was placed on the man's shoulders and was bound around his body so as to leave his right arm at liberty.

They plucked up a large thorn bush growing nearby, and twisted it into something resembling a royal crown, so as to correspond with the purple robe in ridicule and pretensions of this man others claimed was a king.

To complete their mockery the high commander shouted, "Kings commonly carry a scepter made of ivory or gold as a sign of their office! We must give this KING a scepter worthy of his rank!"

Looking around, the officer's eyes scanned the damp uniform of the hung-over soldier on duty. "Ha! Did you finally dry out from your midnight swim private?" he scorned! Others joined in with laughter and for a moment the mockery was targeted at the soldier.

Noticing the staff in the soldier's leather waist band the officer added, "Great Caesars' ghost! What have we here? You're out of uniform soldier! Pass me that staff for one more worthier than thee!" The uprooted reed was then passed until it was placed in the right hand of a man called Jesus, and they bowed the knee.

They spit in his face, while others slugged him with their fists. A few smote him from behind with the palms of their hands, saying, "Prophesy to us oh great Messiah! Who struck you that time? Hehehe"

"Let us pay our adoration," said the commander. He then took the staff and smote Jesus to press the thorns into his head, striking him until the staff nearly broke and was covered with His blood!

The reed had found it's place in history at the sight of a spectacle which faith alone renders credible, and which our senses would hardly endure.

The reed that had once been rooted in the mire of murky waters had touched the head of Jesus Christ as an instrument which would help to bring about the salvation of all mankind. For without the shedding of blood there could be no forgiveness of sin. Before the spikes were pounded into his flesh; before the spear had pierced his side; the staff and thrones had their part in the "first blood" of such a complete and perfect sacrifice.

Although it was not in the manner as the reed had expected, it did account for something grand as an example for all today!

Jesus Christ, in this condition, silently preached to the kings and leaders of the earth then, now, and for all time this truth: The scepters of men are but mere reeds, with which themselves shall be smitten with at the day of His tribunal if they do not use them here to the advancement of his kingdom! For whatever promotes the pride of man here, will smite with shame over there!

When we cry, "Use me LORD!," we take into account that the stone which the builders rejected then is now the head of the corner. Whoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whom ever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

But those of us who now belong to Christ Jesus, though we were once far away from God, now we have been brought very near to him because of what Jesus Christ has done for us with his blood. For Christ himself is our way of peace.

We need not fear if we fall on Him, uprooted from the mire, and are covered with His blood.

THE UPROOTED REED, © Copyright 2001 by Chaplain Scott.
All rights reserved to www.chaplainscott.com _~ "Inspiration with an Attitude!"

Non commercial copies only permitted with the above copyrighted notice.
Written January 23, 2001. For Dad, "A.B. Campbell, SR." (Revised Nov. 22, 2001)

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