Once upon a time a boy was born, and his parents named him Opherus. He was a very strong boy, and did not know what to do with all his strength. Even at a young age, he broke tools and agricultural equipment. His father often did not know how to occupy him because, in spite of his good will, he did more harm than his work was worth. All his father’s tools were too weak for his strong arms. You should have seen his muscles!

By the time he became a young man, Opherus looked like a giant. One day his father sent him to the fields to plough. Since the horses were too slow for Opherus, he set them loose and pushed the plough through the field himself at great speed. After a few hours, the plough fell to pieces. His father was sad because Opherus always meant well; he was simply too strong. He said to his son, “Opherus, you must serve a greater and stronger master where you can use your strength in a right and proper way.”

So Opherus left home. He went to the king of the land and offered to serve him. Since the king was at war with a powerful nation, he was glad to have such a strong servant. Opherus served his king faithfully for several years.

One day a visitor at the king’s court mentioned the name of the devil in a conversation. The king became uneasy. In fact, he was downright frightened. Opherus was surprised that his king could show such fear, since he had hoped that he was serving the strongest master. The king had to admit that he feared the devil. And so Opherus decided he must leave the king to seek this devil who was so powerful.

It did not take very long before Opherus found the devil. He came to Opherus in the form of a terrible warrior, and gladly took him into his service. And that is how Opherus became a faithful servant of the devil. In the service of evil he did terrible things, but he was glad because he had found a strong master.

One day, Opherus was riding with the devil over the countryside. At the wayside stood a cross. The devil looked frightened of the cross, and made a big detour around it. Opherus was startled. He began asking the devil about its meaning, and he found out that the man Jesus Christ, who had hung upon just such a cross, was even stronger than the devil.

Opherus left the devil that very moment and began seeking Christ. He inquired everywhere if anyone had heard of Christ, or knew where he could be found. As he was searching, lonely and burdened with many evil deeds, Opherus met a hermit who told him that if he wanted to find Christ, he must first find remorse and repentance. But Opherus had a different idea about life. He told the hermit he wanted to do more than just sit and repent.

Then the hermit showed him a great river which travelers had to cross. It had no bridge. The water was deep and the current strong. He said to Opherus, “If you carry poor wayfarers over this river out of love, you may find what you seek.”

For many years, Opherus did as the hermit said. He did not spare himself; day or night he was ready to help the travelers who passed. He built himself a little hut at the edge of the river, and if someone called he carried them across the dangerous waters. But in all this time, his one longing was to find Jesus Christ.

It happened once on a very stormy night that he heard a voice crying, “Opherus, carry me over.” He left his house and walked up and down the riverbank, but found no one. So he returned to his hut and fell asleep again. But the voice called again, a very small voice, saying, “Opherus, Opherus, carry me over.” Again he went out, but no one was there. So he thought it must be the wind, and he lay down again. It did not take long before he heard the voice a third time. It sounded at first like a cry, and then he heard his name through the wind, “Opherus, Opherus, come carry me over this water.”

This time he found a little child huddled on the riverbank. He lifted the little boy on his shoulder, where he seemed quite light, but when he entered the water the child became heavier and heavier. Soon he became such a burden that Opherus almost broke down under the weight. He cried out, “Oh, little child, you seem to be so very heavy–it is as if I were carrying the whole earth on my shoulders.”

Then the child answered, “You not only carry the world and the heavens, but you carry him who bears the whole need of the world upon himself. I am Jesus Christ, your King whom you serve and whom you seek.”

And the child spoke further to Opherus, “From now on you will fear neither death nor the devil. You will walk through the suffering of this world and your name will be Christopherus, which means ‘bearer of Christ.’ Your soul will be illuminated with the love of God, and you will show mercy to men.”

Then the child disappeared, but Christopherus followed his commandment and went out to the people of the earth. Wherever he went, he witnessed to the love and power of the child, his King.

Many of his old friends did not like the change in Opherus. They began to persecute him and drive him away, for they did not want to hear his message. Their hatred became so strong that they banded together and killed him. But his voice and his challenge to become carriers of Christ could not be killed.

Let us open our ears, so that we also may hear the voice calling us to carry the King over.