Committing a distasteful act.
The bile in the back of Jesse Carter’s throat came all the way up into his mouth as he walked through the stench of the street. It wasn’t just the unwashed bodies, horse dung, and stale alcohol. It wasn’t the vomit from the drunks in the alley either.
No, it was the first time in his sixty-one years, Jesse, born and raised in Natchez, Mississippi, known for the largest slave auction in the state, had been here. The auction. With cash to buy. A living, breathing human life. Fortunately, as a wealthy trial attorney, he had cash enough in his pocket to accomplish his mission quickly and depart, hopefully without any fanfare or significant events. In fact, it would be better not to be noticed at all.
The next person dragged up to the auction block certainly was no prize, at least based on the reactions of the masses. It was a woman who, by all appearances, was about Jesse’s age but obviously malnourished and otherwise in poor health. The auctioneer tried to open the bidding anyway.
“Up next, we have a more mature specimen. Not a lot of years left but certainly able to be a mammy to your yungins. I’ll open the bidding at $500.00”.
Nobody budged. Upset that there was no interest, the bid was lowered once and then again. When it was at half the original price, Jesse piped up, “I will pay your original asking price if I can get a guarantee that no other bids will be entertained.” The hammer came slamming down as Jesse Carter officially became a slave owner.
An unusual turn of events
Having never been involved in such dealings, Jesse wasn’t exactly sure how to proceed except to go to where he had seen others go to pay for and “collect” their merchandise. As he did, he noticed the woman, who he now realized was no more than about thirty, was standing with her head down weeping. She was, however, close enough to hear his name when he gave it to the man to record the transaction. Leading her away, he took advantage of the first moment when they were a good distance from anyone else to address her.
Looking both ways as well as over his shoulder, Carter gently took the woman by her shoulders and lightly yet firmly turned her toward himself. In a moment mixed with anxiety, doubt, anticipation, and conviction, he began what had started as a well-rehearsed speech.
“My dear lady,” he started, looking into a tearful gaze of confusion. “My dear lady, I came to the auction with one purpose today. To purchase your freedom,” then reaching into his pocket and extracting a wad of bills, probably totaling over two hundred dollars; more than the woman had ever seen in her life.
“I have bought you your freedom. Now I want you to take this and start a new life. It won’t last you long, but it will get you someplace where you can start over.” With that, he walked away, leaving the woman to start her life anew.
We were slaves till Jesus paid for our freedom!
Since the fall of man, we have all been slaves to sin. No one has been exempted from that.
Jesus even warned that he who commits sin is a servant of sin.
“Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” John 8:34 KJV
Paul discusses this more in Romans chapter 6. In this way, we are born in the slavery of sin and can have our freedom purchased if we only believe that Jesus has paid the ultimate price.
The name “Jesse” means “God’s Gift”. The man in the story, while fiction, was indeed a gift from God to the unnamed slave woman. Jesus, having died for your sins, offers a much greater gift to you today. If you are still a slave to your sins, accept His sacrifice as payment and be free. Living Faith by James M. Dakis is dedicated to bringing written messages of faith to those seeking truth and growth in their Christian lives. Please subscribe and follow for more content.
Jim