Junkyard Jesus

"I don't like it here, Jesus," Peter said. "Why bring us to this old junkyard, anyway?"
"Look at it, Peter," Jesus encouraged. "What do you see?"
"Nothing. Just a bunch of old cars. Rusty, dead, worthless old cars."
Jesus called Nathanael over. "Look - isn't that a '66 Mustang?"
Nathanael liked to work on cars. He was instantly excited.
"Yeah. That's a classic!"
"Could you fix it up?"
"I don't know. It's pretty far gone. Would take a lot of work." But Nathanael knew it would be worth it. His eyes showed that every moment he would spend working on that old car would be sheer pleasure. The grease stains, even the unavoidable cuts on his hands would be worn as badges of honor.
"Now," Jesus spoke to the whole group, "somebody tell me what junk is." He didn't have to look directly at Philip when he asked. But Philip was always ready with the complete, technically correct definition.
"Junk is part or all of a mechanical contrivance which is somehow separated from its original intent," the disciple answered. These cars are junk because, although they were once used for the transportation of one or more individuals, they are no longer suitable for that purpose."
"Perfect," James grunted.
"However," Philip continued, "while the cars are junk, they are far from worthless. Junk is not the same as trash, because it is conceivable that junk may be recovered. In the right hands, such as those of our friend Nathanael here, junk cars can be restored."
Then Jesus began to teach them, saying, "Truly I tell you, you are junk. I found you here, in this junkyard of a world, not living up to your intended purpose. I could have left you to rust into trash. But I love you. So I have come into this world to recover you, and to restore you to your original purpose."
Judas had a vague feeling he'd just been insulted. The others only looked at Jesus blankly. Finally Peter's hand shot up.
"Yes?"
"Jesus, could we go now? These junkyards just aren't safe."