A devotional thought presented originally to Swift Current Men’s Prayer Breakfast, Thursday 13 November 2014. Presented to River Street Cafe, 26 June 2017 and the Inner City Toronto Men's Breakfast, 21 October 2017
Read Luke 24:28-34
James V, the King of Scotland used to go
around the country disguised as a common person. That is because he wanted to
meet the everyday people of the country not just the rich and powerful. He
wanted to see how the normal people lived.
One day he was dressed in very old
clothes and was going by a place known as Cramond Brig, when he is attacked by
robbers who don’t know who he is. There is a fierce struggle and he is nearly
overcome when, at just the right moment, a poor farm worker - Jock Howieson -
hears the commotion comes to the disguised king’s aid.
Now Jock, the poor labourer, who works on
this portion of the King’s land, Cramond Brig, unawares takes the undercover
king home and gives him a dinner of broth and Jock - as the king is recouping –
naturally asks the man who he is.
The King responds ‘I’m a good man of
Edinburgh.’
‘And where do you live in that city and
where do you work?’
‘Well,’ says James, ‘I live at the palace
and I work there too.’
‘The palace, is it? I’d like to see the
palace; if I could see the King, I’d tell him a thing or two…’
‘About what?’ asks the man.
‘I’d tell him that I should own this land
that I am on. I work it every day and he never comes here & gets his hands
dirty working this land.’
‘You’re right enough’, says the man. ‘You
come tomorrow to the palace at Holy Rood and I’ll show you around. Come at
two.’
So the next day at two o’clock, Jock
Howieson, is washed, dressed and at the palace to meet his new friend at the
back door. The good man, whom Jock had saved the day before, shows him around
the kitchen, the dining room, the bedrooms – the whole palace. Then, at last,
the two of them come to the great rooms of the State.
‘Do you want to see the King?’ the man
asks Jock.
‘Oh yes indeed’, says Jock, ‘I do. I do
want to see the King.’
So they enter the great hall and as they
come in, men bow and ladies curtsey. It is really quite a thing to see.
So Jock whispers to his friend, ‘How will
I know who the king is?’
‘He’s the only one who keeps his hat on’
Jock says, ‘But… there’s only us two with
our hats…’ and Jock immediately takes off his hat as he realises that James is
indeed the King of Scotland.
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