Clergy Corner: What Would Jesus Drive?

Recently a minister from outside of Boston posed the following question, “What would Jesus drive?” He was stating his opinion, based on an anti-SUV campaign. He said “Sport utility vehicles are wasteful, and not in keeping with God’s teachings.” A few other ministers joined in this campaign, asking their congregations not to buy gas-guzzling four-wheel drive vehicles. They wanted people to ask themselves before they made a purchase, “What would Jesus drive?”

So, what would Jesus drive in today’s market if He were to shop for the right vehicle to meet His transportation needs? It would necessitate one large enough to carry Him and His twelve disciples. It would need to be extremely rugged, dependable, and, given the terrain He faced during His ministry travels throughout Israel, would call for all-wheel drive, enabling Him to traverse mountains, valleys, deserts, and cross rivers. Just the thought of seeing Jesus broken down on a road in Samaria doesn’t compute.

Jim Jack

Seeing Jesus cruising in a convertible or in a fast Ferrari seems foolish, as does riding full speed on a camel all around Jerusalem (although He once rode in on a donkey). He had a specific plan for each of His journeys, so it wasn’t the other vehicles or road conditions that were important, it was the untold number of people that needed His gentle touch of love and mercy. With them in mind, He spent all of His time ministering along the road of life, not concerned about comfort and conservation, or how much chow camels consumed per mile.

Spiritually speaking, the value of the lives of these people during those God-ordained encounters was the passion that drove Him, not what He was riding. History tells us that people followed Jesus by the thousands—many for the wrong reasons—so whether He traveled by foot or wheel wasn’t the issue. It was Who He was, and what He had to offer.

Anyway, you get the picture. So, with that in mind, what would Jesus drive? Or better yet, what kind of drag boat would Jesus have driven? Would it be the fastest? The prettiest? The best engineered? How would Jesus use it to accomplish what He came to do—bring salvation to mankind, and glorify God in the process?

Taking into account that God created the heavens and the earth, He would only build a boat out of the best materials available. Then, of course, He would have to assemble it Himself, bearing in mind it would be perfect—as everything good and perfect comes from above. Remember we are talking Deity here, so no blemished parts allowed on this craft.

The hull would start out with a humble beginning—no pomp or parade—but there would be plenty of advance notice about why He would build this vessel and then sacrifice it for the good of the sport. The process would be slow and deliberate, clearly identifying its purpose as a far-reaching, yet on-going compulsion to secure a personal relationship with all people who believed in His project. This belief would then equate to providing them with an eternal pit space—designed and built by God—in Paradise.

The paint could only be one color, consisting of twelve coats of “Pearlie Gate White.” Because of the Builder’s purity and holiness—which white represents—it would be the most dazzling, bright as the sun, and incredibly pristine white paint job ever applied by any Artist … indisputably taking home the best appearing award.

Its name, “Faithful and True” would be characteristic of its Owner. This name representing the Lamb of God would be a perfect match for the color of a pure white innocent lamb. This spotless Lamb would symbolize its submission to God’s will, but would have the authority and power of a mighty Lion. This name would express the fact that Christ the Lion is victorious because Christ the Lamb died for our sins.

The motive for launching this boat would be to proclaim God’s grace through faith to all who see its striking beauty or come within earshot of its celebrated sound. Not by might nor by power, but through its captivating inner spiritual qualities, resonating with the understanding that faith comes from hearing the message, and its message is heard through the Word of its Divine Driver. Once your ears hear this perfectly tuned masterpiece, you’ll never switch back to a conventional power source again.

This magnificent craft would be used to transport people from their life of sin, and separation from God, to another side of life where love, joy, and peace abound. Having enough power to raise the dead, this vessel still boasts the safest ride in the universe. With Jesus in the driver’s seat, it’s an awesome and quick ride to victory lane.

God’s goal is to give every man and woman the opportunity to ride in a vintage vessel … to the destination of their choice. By choosing to ride with Christ, they would be satisfying an internal yearning for the perfect pass that was instilled in the hearts of men by their Creator. This craft equipped with its own personal Chauffeur, is the only one in existence that guarantees its passengers comfort and security every time they set foot in it.

The only other graphics on this boat would be a bone-chilling picture of an old rugged cross depicting the Pilot’s place on a piece of wood with the inscription “When I am lifted up, I will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32). Even with its incredible power, this thing would never lift the blower—but it would lift the spirits of mankind to unparalleled heights.

You’re probably wondering what I suggest you drive? “It’s whatever you need to fulfill your personal calling in life.” But, at this very second, it’s neither a car nor a boat. Step inside your mind, close your eyes, and picture you and your family and crew together. Now think ahead to the future, not just a few minutes or hours, but thousands of years into eternity, and honestly ask yourself … “Will we all be riding in the same boat together in Paradise?”

Instead of worrying about what Jesus would be driving, I believe it’s time we all started thinking about what is actually driving us? Are we passengers in a craft capable of securing our eternal destination? Or are we only concerned about today’s trendy 2001 models? Think about it … eternal value needs to be standard equipment on everything we get behind the wheel of.

If promoting safety is our main concern, we should be endorsing the model described above. Let’s not allow brand names, or styles, to become the focus of our life’s attention. Jesus will appear again one day on a white horse symbolizing His ultimate victory. When that day arrives, my prayer is that everyone who reads this will have already made their personal decision of transportation … recorded in God’s Book of Life with the invoice (our sin) stamped, “paid in full.”