The Jewish Butterfly
“The Jewish Butterfly”
A Short Christian Story
The day was hot as Jesus walked over the sandy and
pebbly ground. His human feet were getting a little
sore. The Jewish morning was filled with a mist from
the long watercourses He had passed. He stopped
and saw a gentle rock ledge He could rest upon.
He reached down and unlaced the thong on His left
sandal. “If only I had dipped earlier into the cool water
to soothe my feet,” He mused. Oh, He knew that all
He had to do was look upon the rock ledge, and ask
His Heavenly Father for a cool stream of water to flow,
and it would be there for Him. But He also knew that
His Father wanted Him to “suffer” along with all His
Disciples with the Jewish malady of “traveler’s foot”!
Jesus chuckled to Himself as He listened to His
Father chide His heart a little about that thought!
Simon Peter came up to his Master with his hands
cupped around something. Of course Jesus knew
what was inside that precious hand! He was all-knowing
and all-seeing, so it was no surprise to Him when
Peter uncurled his palm and Jesus saw the lifeless form
of a beautiful Jewish butterfly!
Peter looked sorrowfully at the lifeless butterfly. Then
he looked up into the ultimate loving eyes of Jesus of
Nazareth, the man he had chosen to follow, to learn from,
and to love as he loved no other! His eyes pleaded
with Jesus, silently asking Him to help this little
creature of the One True God!
Jesus recognized this little creature as a direct
descendant of the pair Noah took upon his Ark many
aeons ago! He was saddened that its life was violently
taken. It had been bruised and beaten. Its little wings
had been whipped with cruel lashes. Its little body
was naked to the sun, and the little feelers were
encircling its tine head as if it were a crown. On the
“crown”, thistle burrs had attached themselves,
catching all sorts of debris within them.
Jesus knew what would happen to the Son of Man. He
would be beaten and whipped. Laying in the “palm”
of His captor’s hands, He would also suffer the weapons
of pain and destruction to His naked body! He foresaw
the “crown” of thistles and thorns, placed so fiercely
upon His head, encircling His brow!
He looked upon the once beautiful butterfly and asked
Peter, “Peter, where did you find this creature?”
Peter replied. “Oh, Master, it was impaled upon the
Broom Tree back on the side of the road. I was trying to
find a little shade under it. I thought it was a beautiful
flower until I looked more closely and discerned that
it was a butterfly cruelly placed there! It was being
held fast in two places on its upper wings, and two
places on the lower ones! Someone had pinned it in
place with thorns of the thistle plant! Can You save
it, Master?”
Jesus knew His time was near. He saw the little
butterfly as a reminder from His Heavenly Father of
what He would have to go through. His human body
began to quake. But He quickly controlled His
tremors. He was immediately aware of His Father’s
words.
“Yes, Son, the butterfly is dead. But it will
rise again, just as You will rise, My beloved Son!
It has been three days since the creature was placed
there by the passing pilgrims. There was mocking and
derision. Cruel hands defiled the creature.
They scourged its beauty with their whips, flicking it
across the small body, and finally, they impaled it
upon the broom tree with the thorns of the thistle plant.”
“But it is not like You, My Beloved Son! It did not die
for all. It was not born to take all the sins
of the world on its wings. Not like you My Son!”
“The sins of the world will soon be your burden. But
RIGHT now Son, set the butterfly free! Show Peter
how it will be when You are raised from death! Show
Peter the beauty that will fly up into the Heavenlies to
be with Me! Give him a glimpse of what His Heavenly
Father can do for all believers in the One True God!”
With His Father’s permission, Jesus gently touched the
lifeless butterfly and said in a soft voice, “After three
days, I will rise again, like you little one. Then, I tell you
the truth, you will be with Me in Paradise!”
The butterfly slowly lifted his broken wings, now healed
and strong! While Jesus was blessing it, the lovely
creature was taken up into the Heavenlies on a breath
of Jewish morning mist!!
Author's Resource Box
© Copyright 2001
by Kathlene R. Amerine
All Rights Reserved