When Carmen and I travel, even if it is business, we always like staying somewhere fun or different. The inside of this one, the Barn, is really cozy and cute. Points for me – the wife loves it. Okay, so I thought we could reflect on barns as words of encouragement.
Barns in biblical times represent abundance and in Jesus’s parables and other biblical stories. A good, well-stocked barn can serve as a metaphor for peace, prosperity, and shelter.
People pay big bucks for barn wood now. The beams and the side planks, especially if it is hand-hewn.
The Barn Party
I remember my early ministry days. One of our biggest outreaches to lost teens in our area was the annual Barn Party! I had an old hand-hewn barn with a great loft with a well-house outside. The well-house had an antique two-stroke motor that pumped water out of the well.
So as a part of the barn party, we would plow the yard up in front of the barn. And then flood it with the well pump. That created the Mud Bowl with lots of activities. We had sliding contests, volleyball, and the featured food fight (raw eggs, baked beans, and flour). Prior to all of that, we had square dancing and donkey rides. Yes, I had two donkeys, Hunky and Dorey. And don’t forget the hay ride.
Washed Clean
After the Mud Bowl, we had a big farm truck with a large tankard filled to the brim with water. The kids would line up behind the big truck. And then with a big 3-inch (dia.) hose, we washed the mud off of each kid.
Leviticus 16:30
…for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the Lord.
The Barn Games
Then we stuffed over 100 kids up into the loft of that grand ole barn. That’s where we had pumpkin pie-eating contests and apple bobbing.
After all that crazy fun, we would share how the mud represents sin. And how Jesus, like the farm truck with water, could wash all their crud (sin) away. And what was more appropriate as Jesus Himself was born in a barn? Ever had a parent yell at you and say, “Close that door, were you raised in a barn?!” If so, next time they do just say, “No, but Jesus was born in one!” 😊
Killing The Opportunity
Then the bonfire, with wieners, marshmallows, and IBC Root beer in galvanized tubs filled with ice.
One year the cops were called because the neighbor swore we were serving the kids beer (the IBC Root beer bottles). Of course, the kids got a kick out of that. But the police officer wasn’t laughing. He was about to break the party up and he thought he was going to be taking me away! Yikes.
Cleaning Up
So just a fun story to share, but allow the story to take you away to different clouds of thoughts. Like:
- Jesus being born in a barn and how even then God had you in mind.
- Jesus growing up and living His life so he could wash you clean by His shed blood
- different travels of your journey through life
- through the mud, on the wagon of hay, or on the back of a donkey like Jesus did
- or the simple, peaceful life that the barn represents.
1 John 1:7b ESV
and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
No matter what part of the story of your life you might be in, Jesus is faithful to walk you through it. Even when people are throwing all kinds of things at you. Like getting egg on your face. Or going through slimy times of your life like getting baked beans slathered all over you. Being buried in the mud, stuck, with seemingly no way to get out. Jesus is the way (out). He is the truth. And Jesus is the life.
John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Can’t get into heaven if you have mud on your face. But that baby, born in a barn, lived a perfect life. Thus He is able to wash you clean and proudly present you to the Heavenly Father. And that with a promise to live eternally, here and now, and forever in His presence.
Challenge of the Week
Live the barn-kind-of-life. It’s a simple life. Just follow Him. So be it!
