Emphasis Preaching Journal

In the 10th chapter of Acts, Peter learns a very important lesson that is contrary to his cultural and religious experience: God's love is not exclusive. Peter's new understanding prepares the way for his preaching among the Gentiles, opening him to opportunities that were previously blocked by his own limited view of God's work in the world. An old Greek folktale about a boy and a dragon speaks to the power of love and loyalty between unlikely companions. Long ago when Greece was still young and dragons roamed freely across the land, there lived a young shepherd boy who loved to wander on his own, exploring the mountains and the secret caves hidden high upon their steep and rocky slopes. One day, when he had climbed very high indeed, he was surprised to see a baby dragon lying on a rocky ledge. It appeared weak and near death, as if it had fallen down the cliff from somewhere far above, and had not found food or drink for a long time. Though the boy knew dragons and shepherds were mortal enemies, he was moved by the baby dragon's plight. The boy gently carried the dragon back to his own home and cared for it, giving it fruit to eat and wine to drink. The boy's family wanted to kill the dragon immediately. They insisted that when it grew larger it would return to devour their sheep or threaten their own lives. But the boy pleaded for the young dragon's life, and finally, reluctantly, his family agreed to spare this strange and unwelcome pet -- at least for the time being. But as the days passed and the dragon began to grow more each day, they grew more and more anxious for their own safety and the safety of their flocks. One night, motivated by their fear, the boy's father and uncles decided to drug the wine the boy shared with the dragon. When the two fell into a deep sleep, they carried the dragon far away into the mountains and left it there, only sparing its life because of their promise to the boy. Many years later, when the boy was a young man, he was attacked by a band of robbers as he travelled along a lonely stretch of road. When he cried out for help, it was the dragon -- who was now full grown and could hear the cries even in his high mountain cave -- who came quickly to his rescue. This time, it was the dragon's turn to carry the young man back to safety and then care for him until he recovered from his wounds. The dragon never forgot his human friend. -- Parker