Tag Archives: with Him

The Patience Of Jesus

Christian Life, , , ,

THE PATIENCE OF JESUS

Jesus spent many hours with them, on the road, around the fire at night, in the villages and in the country, in formal and informal teaching sessions, explaining the meaning of parables, teaching them about the kingdom of God, demonstrating how the kingdom worked by doing miracles and showing mercy to all people, especially those whom society in general and the religious people in particular, despised and marginalised.

They watched in amazement at what He did, and at times were dismayed by the things He said, especially to His opponents whom they knew were gunning for Him and looking for an opportunity to get rid of Him. On one occasion they tackled Him after He had been particularly explicit about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees:

Then the disciples came to Him and asked, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?’  (Matt. 15: 12)

Jesus was not perturbed.

‘Leave them; they are blind guides.’ (Matt. 15: 14a), He responded.

Time after time He had to go over the same thing with the disciples. They just did not get it that the kingdom He was introducing was not the revived kingdom of David, free from the Romans and under their own rule. They were continually at it, squabbling about positions in this new kingdom. Every time He overheard them, He patiently taught them about the difference between worldly authority and the true authority which came from submission to God’s authority.

Did they finally get it? No. Not until after Pentecost when the promised Holy Spirit fell on them in such power that they were completely renewed in their understanding, and began to live out their new authority, conferred on them by Jesus before He left them.

Every rabbi chose disciples in whom he had confidence that they would become replicas of him, both living and teaching his yoke. It was no different with Jesus. When we look at the men He chose, we wonder whether He really knew what He was doing. But Luke assured us that He chose His disciples after a night of prayer.

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them whom He also designated apostles. (Luke 6: 12-13)

Either both He and God the Father were wrong, or they could see the potential in these men which no one else could see, and chose them for what they would become.

After an extended period of teaching and training, He sent them out to do what He was doing.

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (Luke 9: 1-2)

Later on, they returned with great excitement to report that even the demons were subject to them. Jesus was as excited as they were. They had finally got it. His confidence in them had not been misplaced.

He always spoke to them as though He trusted them. He spoke of the future and told them what they would do. The only one who would fail Him completely was Judas, although He gave him opportunity to change his mind. Even Peter would come back after his denial and become a leader among the disciples.

He coaxed and urged them to trust Him even when they showed their mistrust time and again. He knew that, in the end they would come to the party because the Holy Spirit was coming.

Scripture is taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Unlikely Ones

Bible Study, ,

UNLIKELY ONES

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to Him those He wanted, and they came to Him. He appointed twelve that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means ‘sons of thunder’), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alpheus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Him (Mark 3: 13-19).

How well did Jesus read these men? Why did He choose men who, from our point of view at least, seem so unsuitable? Why did He include a guy like Matthew – a thief and a sell-out to Rome? What about James and John? They had no idea how to show compassion. Weren’t they the ones who wanted to call down fire on a Samaritan village for not offering Jesus hospitality? Of what use where they to Him with an attitude like that?

And Simon the Zealot? He was a political activist – the last kind of person Jesus needed in His band. He had enough trouble trying to convince the rest of them that the kingdom of God was not a restored Davidic kingdom, without having a stirrer in His group. And as for Peter! Jesus didn’t even connect him with Andrew his brother because they were two completely different characters. He was very good at putting his foot in his mouth every time he opened it.

Who was Bartholomew? Was he the Nathaniel of John’s gospel? Thomas? He was famous for his scepticism and pessimism. Philip at least tried to believe, now and then, but his puny efforts didn’t get him very far. James son of Alpheus didn’t even make a blip on the radar. And Judas Iscariot? Was he Jesus’ biggest mistake?

Luke even tells us that Jesus spent the night in prayer before He chose His men. That makes it even worse, doesn’t it? He and the Father were in it together. And of course the Holy Spirit was there because He was the one who was on Him from His baptism, leading and empowering Him to do what He did. So the Trinity were all in agreement that these were the men whom Jesus was to train to be disciples and to take over from where He left off when He had fulfilled His mission on earth.

How did Jesus propose to train them? They were not even schooled in the Beth Talmid – “discipleship school” of their day. They were drop-outs from elementary school because they didn’t have it in them to become rabbis or disciples of rabbis. They were raw labourers of one kind or another. Jesus chose a “hands-on” method of honing these rough guys to become just like Him.

The essence of a disciple was to become a replica of his rabbi – not just learning and teaching what he taught but being like him in every way. He had to stick close by him, day and night, learn his language, and copy his gestures, his actions, his words and even his thoughts and attitudes. That took very close association. It must have been tough for both rabbi and his disciples to be so “joined at the hip” that they could not escape each other. No time out for a breather! Not even a moment to let their hair down and be “normal”.

In those two little words “with Him” lay the key to their mission. Unless they learned the lessons from their association with Him, every moment, every situation, every event, every incident, absorbing His actions and reactions, soaking up His attitudes and emotions, listening to His words and His heartbeat, they would never become true followers. Jesus was to be to them like a fish in a fishbowl, exposed every moment from every side. Not only were they expected to watch and listen to Him – He also invited them to scrutinise Him. What other human being would have the courage to do that – to make himself completely vulnerable knowing that his followers would pounce on every flaw and hold him accountable – because they were supposed to replicate him.

How do the so-called “disciples” of Jesus measure up today? How much time to we take to be “with Him”? If that is the key to being a true copy of our rabbi, how badly do we misrepresent Him because of our pathetically impoverished knowledge and understanding of who Jesus really is? His penetrating question to His disciples was “Who do you say that I am?” That was the crux of their confession. If we are not convinced that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, we may as well pack our bags and go home.

It was exactly because of who He is, that He could choose them (and us), not because of who they were but because of what they would become through Him. No other rabbi could offer them that! That’s why He can be so confident when He calls, “Follow me,” because He knows what can happen if we do just that – stick with Him, listen and learn.

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Have you read my new book, Learning to be a Son – The Way to the Father’s Heart (copyright 2015, Partridge Publishing)? You’ll love it!

Available on www.amazon.com in paperback, e-book or kindle version or order directly from the publisher at www.partridgepublishing.com.

Check out my Blog site – www.learningtobeason.wordpress.com