There is a gospel pop song that begs the question - - "What would Jesus drive?".

"What Would Jesus Do?" has become "What Would Jesus Drive?"

From my boyhood days cars have always fascinated me. When I was in my early teens I could identify every car on the road from a block or more away. In those days there was real distinction among the choices - - nowadays they all seem to look alike!

During our Annual Conference I noticed that the transportation of choice among our clergy is no longer a good horse - - but a good pick up truck!

A retired pastor once told me that when he bought a new car - - his primary concern is how it would look in front of a funeral procession. Never anything bright or gaudy - - just a simple preachers car. You could have it in any color as long as it was black.

Brother Bubba says his bright red Ford F150 looks just fine thank you - - while Brother Junior swears that his cool blue Dodge Ram with a Hemi will get him out of any cemetery every time. It ain't never got him in a hole he couldn't get out of. Times, they are a changin'.

Well, just what would Jesus drive, anyway - -

The Director of Music Ministries at my church, John Jarboe, conjured on that for some time, after his daughter ask him about Jesus= car, and put pen to paper and wrote the following and set a tune to it - -

"What Kind of a Car Would Jesus Drive" *

Our little Maria picked up The Book
And suddenly a puzzled look
Came into her baby eyes
And then, to my surprise,
"Where Jesus car?" Maria said
I just smiled and shook my head.
"Honey, Jesus didn't...." then
I thought of the question again.

What Kind of a Car Would Jesus Drive?
If He came back in disguise.
What would be the make and year
Of the car that Christ would steer?
What Kind of a Car Would Jesus Drive?
Would it have three speeds, four , or five?
Just what kind, I ask you now.

What kind would his Dad allow?

I put the question to wife and friends and
One said "A Mercedes Benz".
"No car at all", my dear wife said.
"He'd hitch-hike instead."
One voice said "It's my bet
That the Lord would drive a white Corvette."
Another thought the color black
And the car a Cadillac.
What Kind of a Car Would Jesus Drive

The teenage boy who lives next door said
"Christ would drive a four-by-four".
His father said "A Lincoln Continental"
His mother said " A Budget Rental"
No one else would be so bold
To ask this but a two-year-old.
Wondering the make and kind
Of car that Christ would drive.

I think the car that Christ would use
Would not have seats but, rather, pews.
Lots of room would be inside
To give lost souls a ride.
In place of stereo hi-fi sound
A noble organ would be found.
A car wouldn't do for the Blessed Healer.
Christ would drive an eighteen wheeler!

What kind of a rig would Jesus drive?
If He came back in disguise?
Just what kind, I ask you now,
What kind would his Dad allow?

( * copyright © 2001 John C. Jarboe (501) 771-2310 (jarboe@aristotle.net).
Used by permission)

We do, in fact, have Biblical record of Jesus driving a vehicle of transportation - -

"Matthew 21: 6-8 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.........."

Jesus did not come into Jerusalem in a chariot or on a charging white stallion, or with legions of troops or even in an 18-wheeler with horns blaring - - he came in driving a borrowed lowly donkey with his feet almost touching the ground.

What kind of a car would Jesus drive you ask - - I think he will stick with the borrowed, lowly Donkey. It seemed to work just fine!



A Jim Lane Commentary
July 2, 2003