WINNING ON THE WRONG HORSE
In Kentucky there were two farmers who owned racing stables – and these men were great rivals. One spring, both of them entered a horse in a local steeplechase. One of the farmers hired a professional jockey, thinking that this might just give him an edge.
The race started – and at the last fence the horses of the two farmers were leading the race. But it proved too tough for them and both horses fell, unseating their riders. But this didn’t stop the professional jockey. He quickly remounted and won the race.
Returning triumphant to the paddock, the jockey found the farmer who had hired him fuming with rage. "What’s the matter?" the jockey asked. "I won, didn’t I?"
"Oh, yes," roared the farmer. "You won all right, but, you fool, you won the race riding the wrong horse."
In our reading from the book of Acts today, St Paul comes across a dozen believers who are on the wrong horse. They are followers of John the Baptist and not followers of Jesus – the one whom John the Baptist pointed to.