Tag: christ’s disciples

Wednesday of Holy Week (John 13:21-32)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
The Lord’s Supper, by Rubem Zevallos Técnica

After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining close to his heart; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 

Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” 

Now no one knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. (New Revised Standard Version)

In some Christian traditions, Wednesday of Holy Week is known as “Spy Wednesday.” It’s a reference to Judas Iscariot, and recalls his betrayal of Jesus to the religious authorities. Historically, the association of Wednesday with this betrayal of Jesus led to Wednesdays being observed as fast days in the church, a tradition still observed by some. 

Jesus was gathered with his disciples for the meal we know as the “Last Supper.” Jesus had just taken a towel and a bowl of water and washed the feet of those gathered with him. Peter, predictably, protested to Christ doing such a thing. Yet, Jesus told Peter that if there’s no foot washing, there’s no Christ. 

The Lord Jesus then went on to say that not all the disciples are clean. Christ knew he was about to be betrayed. Since Judas was there with the other disciples, that meant Jesus knelt to wash his feet, as well. Hence, the heightened reason why Jesus was so troubled in the moment.

The clueless men didn’t know what or who in the world Jesus was talking about. Nobody around the table suspected Judas as a betrayer. That’s how much Judas was a part of the group. He was trusted enough to be the purse holder who handled the common money account.

It appears that only Jesus and Judas know what’s going on when Judas is handed the piece of bread; then Jesus told him to do quickly what he must do. Sadly and unfortunately, Judas made his own free and deliberate choice, without any coercion – except perhaps with some satanic nudging.

The Last Supper, by Unknown artist, c.1400 C.E.

To betray the Son of God seems unthinkable. What could ever motivate a person to sell out Jesus? What reasoning is there behind such a foul decision? Why would anyone choose to be a turncoat toward an innocent man?

Although we may be interested in answers to such questions, and even though I myself have my own thoughts about the matter, the Apostle John gives us no motive for the decision of Judas. He simply did what he did, with no other comment than that.

With Judas out of the room, Jesus began speaking of glory – of the glorious relationship between the Father and the Son, and the divine love which comes tumbling out on Christ’s followers. And the divine choice is for love.

We also have a choice. We can choose to be self-aware, to be attentive to our emotions, to recognize the consequences of behaviors and choices, to avoid unhealthy and harmful patterns of living. These choices help us to have love tumble out of us when it’s needed.

Faith can, and ought, to play a leading role in life. It is when folks refuse to listen to their conscience and ignore their gut feelings, that questionable decision-making of the head and heart can take over.

There’s a lot that’s out of our control. Yet, we always have the choice of self-control concerning our words and actions. Things like kindness, empathy, and love are within our ability to choose. And we are always free to live into our spiritual identity as loved by Jesus and belonging to God.

It’s hard, though. Making such choices in the face of such betrayal. Christ was troubled in his spirit, not because of his upcoming humiliation and torture, but because he knew that one in his inner circle would betray him.

A mosaic of The Last Supper, in Monreale Cathedral, Palermo, Sicily, Italy

If you have ever had someone very close turn on you, then you well understand why this troubled Jesus and wounded him more than a physical cross. It is terribly disheartening to know that someone is not who they seem.

Remember, Jesus chose Judas as a disciple. And Judas chose to follow Jesus. As such, Judas was privy to all of Christ’s private explanations of parables and events. Judas was entrusted with the money; he knew everything on the event itinerary.

In other words, Judas was trusted to be a faithful follower. But instead, he sold out Jesus. It really must have been weird for Judas when Jesus brought up the matter before everyone – that he was going to be betrayed by one of them.

An outright naming of the scoundrel, however, was not the purpose of Christ’s raising the issue. This was no mystery game to be played around the table. A simple sharing of bread and wine was the only tip Jesus gave as to who it was. John caught on to what was happening, at least later, if not at the time.

The symbolism happening was packed with meaning. Bread, wine, and sharing them together symbolized the blood about to be spilled; a body about to be broken. And, ironically, Judas is the one who set it in motion. He did his part in making the blood flow and breaking the body.

There is, however, for the Christian, even more going on than that. These very symbols have become for us reminders of radical grace and forgiveness. The elements become the means of gathering together to remember and partake of that original event.

So, when Judas left to enact his betrayal, Jesus spoke not of the bad apple in the bushel, but of God’s glory. For it is soon to be revealed. And none of it will really be about Judas. It is now about demonstrating the purpose of God, the heart of Jesus, and the power of the Spirit.

Creator of the universe, you made the world in beauty, and restore all things in glory through the victory of Jesus Christ. We pray that, wherever your image is still disfigured by selfishness, greed, and betrayal, the new creation in Jesus Christ may appear in justice, love, and peace, to the glory of your name. Amen.

Monday of Holy Week (John 12:1-11)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
Mary Anoints the Feet of Jesus, by Wayne Forte

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 

But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 

Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus. (New Revised Standard Version)

Sharing a meal around a table is much more than just eating some food together. There is the chance to look one another in the eye. An opportunity is afforded to truly see one another and find acceptance. The conditions are ripe for receiving the blessing of blessings.

Please notice with me that on this last week of Christ’s earthly life and ministry, the people who are around the table with Jesus. He shares his cup with his disciples, including both women and men. Mary and Martha are there, along with Peter, James, and John, and, of course, Judas Iscariot, as well.

Jesus, those various people, and others, had the great privilege of looking into the eyes of Jesus, and having Jesus look directly into theirs. It appears, however, that not everyone took advantage of this situation. But Mary did. She evidences having looked into the face of Jesus, and having Jesus gaze into her eyes with divine love.

To look, to see, to gaze, is to connect. To look away and not see, is to disconnect. It is the difference between acceptance and rejection. Jesus looked as long as he could at the friend he loved.

Let us never forget that the presence of God needs to be experienced – not just in the mind, nor even only in the heart – but as a feeling in every cell of the body.

Christ’s divine gaze communicated more than words ever could. Mary knew she belonged with God, and became convinced she was accepted and loved. So, she did what a person who has been touched with the eyes does: Mary responded with the most heartfelt devotion she could, with what she had at the time.

Mary Anointing the Feet of Jesus, by David Finley

Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with expensive perfume by using her own hair to apply it. She shared in the presence and in the love of Christ.

This really ought to make complete sense to the one reading this story whose life has been seen and touched by Jesus. For through such divine love, we become a witness in testifying to the light, much like John the Baptist. The one devoted to Jesus understands that they are not even worthy to untie the thong of Christ’s sandal.

Women never touch a rabbi. Yet, long ago in the town of Bethany in Judea, a woman was worthy to do even more than untie a sandal – Mary was permitted to anoint Christ’s feet. The house became filled not only with the fragrance of the perfume, but also with the aroma of Mary’s witness to us of Jesus and his incredible work in her life as a disciple.

In considering such a story on this Monday of Holy Week, it’s easy to focus on what Mary did, how much it truly cost her, and even on the pathetic and judgmental reaction of Judas to it all. Yet, here we see, if we are looking, what Jesus does for Mary.

The love of Jesus turned Mary into a witness. Jesus lifted her up, even above all the men. And that is what Christ continually did for the lowly, the outcast, the ostracized, the poor. For to them belongs the dominion of God.

Through a simple heartfelt response to Christ’s love, we are filled with the aroma of God, experience a cup of blessing, and see the light of Jesus for us. What’s more, the world’s judgmental spirit is undone. Judas is silenced, along with all of our petty selfish agendas.

Mary directs us to Jesus, and to all those who were previously unseen, unloved, and rejected. Mercy simultaneously puts away the judgmental spirit so it is not seen, while bringing the poor in spirit into the light of God’s grace and love.

Merciful and loving God, Your name is glorified even in the anguish of your Son’s death. Grant us the courage to receive your anointed servant who embodies a wisdom and love that is foolishness to the world. Empower us in witness so that all the world may recognize in the scandal of the cross the mystery of reconciliation. Amen.

Jesus the Mentor (Mark 3:13-19)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Exploring Church Ministry Blog, Year BLeave a comment
Jesus and the Disciples, by Rudolph Bostic

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 preachand 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 Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealotand Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. (New International Version)

For me, every place in Holy Scripture is significant, even the seemingly mundane portions of it. Today’s verses might appear rather insignificant. However, there is some important meaning to recording who Christ called as his disciples and why he did it.

Jesus appointed twelve Jewish men to be his close disciples, his apostles. In choosing them, let’s not read into it something that isn’t there. This choosing, in no way, is meant to convey that church leadership boards are always supposed to have twelve men. It seems to me, that if such churches believe this, they ought to go all the way by insisting that they ought also to be Jewish Christians – no Gentiles on the election ballot at the annual meeting!

Excluding women, maintaining a particular number of people to a group, or considering only one ethnicity to leadership is nowhere to be interpreted in this text of Scripture. I can imagine Jesus sitting at the right hand of the Father raising a Spock-like eyebrow to such hermeneutical gymnastics and stating the lone word, “fascinating!”

A disciple is a follower. An apostle is one who is sent out with a specific purpose. Jesus called these particular people in order to send them out with a mission. In other words, Christ’s disciples are really missionaries. And these apostles, these missionaries, are appointed in order that they might be with Jesus, follow him everywhere, learn from him, and then have the received authority to go out and accomplish the mission given them to do.

An apostle can only properly carry out the instructions of the Teacher by first being a disciple who spends copious amounts of time in that Teacher’s presence. Indeed, if we are looking for some contemporary application in these more mundane texts of Scripture, let us find here an insight into our own Christian formation.

Jesus and the Disciples, by John Mathews

Christian ministry is rightly patterned after the Teacher we follow, Jesus our Lord. Christ himself demonstrated for us the way of mentoring or discipling, through his own words and actions. He called particular individuals, taught them, and equipped them for spiritual warfare in this world by granting them authority to do the work.

If we need a pattern, there it is. It’s a model of mentoring others in the ways of Christian mission and ministry. The idea is that we call, teach, equip, and authorize others in the words and ways of Jesus. I really don’t much care what you call it: Christian discipling, relational mentoring, small group teaching, spiritually forming, or any other word or phrase.

The important thing is to actually understand and do this very Christ-like work of developing mature followers of Jesus who can do the important work of spiritual warfare and ministry, then in turn, develop others. We are to pass on a body of faith and doctrine, of mission and ministry, to a group of people who will do the work. And they then do the same for others.

I rather like the word “mentoring” because for most people it evokes the idea of putting time and effort into some relationships for a specific purpose. And when we look at Christianity as a great mentoring project, perhaps we will see why church is becoming a byword in many parts of the Western world. This also ought to perhaps clue us into how we might move forward as Christians.

I am suggesting that, generally speaking, we have neglected this pattern of Jesus in calling, teaching, equipping, and authorizing. It is one large reason why there is such a decline in church attendance (and participation) in the West. And until we collectively take up this mantle of mentoring ministry, we shall continue to lessen, because we are irrelevant to people’s daily lives – both inside and outside the church.

As a first course of action, I invite you – no matter your age or stage in life – to make it a priority to simply “hang out” with individuals and groups of people. Maybe that sounds like an extrovertish sort of thing to do. However, this invitation is coming from me, an introvert. I didn’t say you have to be the life of the party, or engage in a lot of talking. But I am saying that mature followers of Jesus ought to strongly consider some intentional relationships with people other than family and a few friends.

Hang out around any given church, on any given Sunday, after any given worship service, and you are likely to see small groups of people talking with each other. Those groups typically center around friends according to age. What is often lacking are intentional interactions between the generations.  

Ethiopian Orthodox Church depiction of Christ and his disciples

The younger generations (particularly persons aged 18-29) often need and want to have relationships with more experienced (older!) believers in the faith. Younger adults, however, tend to lack the confidence to go after older adults in order to be mentored or influenced by them. I believe the onus is on the older generations to go after the younger.  

Maybe I’m just old, but it seems like younger generations have an incredible array of relationships, differing levels of friendship, and a complexity to their interactions that I didn’t have “back in my day.” What’s different, it seems, is that their relationships are more gray, and less black and white. And they appear to do a solid amount of hanging out.

Hanging out is typically sitting around with a group of people, eating and drinking, watching movies, studying (or doing bible study) or any other activity. Its doing just about anything, but doing it together with others. And this is the perfect environment for initially establishing how to begin living into the words and ways of Jesus to mentor others.

One of the things we older folks can do is to really understand the reality of younger generations’ relational interactions. For example, when I lived in a university town I used to often just “hang out” with college students, with no agenda other than just being with them. The local Perkins restaurant was at its busiest at midnight, filled with college students hanging out.

There are places in every town and city where young adults go, especially the bar scene. Bars aren’t just places to drink, but are locations of conviviality where persons have the chance to be around one another in a kind of secular church where fellowship happens, looking for a chance to relate meaningfully with others.

All people desire intimacy and want to know that someone else cares about them. This is a very real and felt need. How that need is going to be met can be either legitimate or illegitimate. And we can help with that.

One of the best things we can do for others is to communicate to them that we “have their back,” that we care, love, and genuinely like them.

No one can sniff out a disingenuous attitude quite like a young adult. So, our interactions have to be an authentic desire to be around them. Also, this does not mean we have to pretend to be younger than we are. Instead, one of the greatest needs a young person has is to be in a mentoring relationship with someone older and wiser who can help them navigate life and bring some sort of definition to relationships that they may lack.

The older generations could learn to “hang out” with younger generations and find individuals for whom they can build a solid one on one or group relationship with. If they can have such relationships now, it will serve them for a lifetime.

It seems to me that, as I look at the biblical text, being a mentor, and walking alongside another with love, grace, and wisdom, is built into Christianity by Jesus himself. So, let’s consider how we might best go about this important work.

May your love overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what really matters, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 3:9-11, NRSV)

Follow Me (Mark 1:14-20)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
Come Follow Me, by Jorge Cocco Santángelo 

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the good news of God and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea, for they were fishers. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. (New Revised Standard Version)

For all the talk of leadership, developing leaders, and being a leader, there is precious little conversation these days about becoming a follower. Perhaps we have such a dearth of leadership for this very reason, because one can only become a good leader if they experientially know what being a follower is.

The Call of Jesus

The call of Jesus is to pursue him, and he will develop us. Follow Jesus, and he’ll show you how to fish for people. All of Christ’s original disciples listened to Jesus, dropped everything they were doing, and immediately followed him.

I am wondering what would make you drop literally everything you are presently doing to pursue an entirely new life. I am curious what would cause you to follow Jesus without any conditions attached whatsoever. 

I am impressed that Peter and Andrew immediately responded to Jesus. They didn’t question Jesus as to whether this was a short term project or a long term assignment he was calling them to. They did not seek a contract with Jesus or ask how he would impact their stock portfolio. 

The first disciples simply dropped everything and left with Jesus.

I suspect they followed Jesus for the same reason I originally decided to follow him – because Jesus is such a compelling person, so gracious, interesting, and loving, that it was really no decision at all. Everything else pales in comparison with Jesus.

Read all four Gospels and the book of Acts and you will find that believers in Jesus follow Jesus; and those who do not follow Jesus are not believers. Followers follow, and those who do not follow are not Christ’s followers.

Jesus still calls people. He calls us to follow him and he will make us fishers of humanity. Maybe you are concerned about this and say, “I have no idea how to fish for people.” The good news is that Jesus said he would make us fishers of people. Jesus is not looking for people with skills he can use; instead, he calls, then develops people into fishers.

Christ always forms people with the ability to follow his call. Jesus will train us; we only need to answer the call to follow. 

When I was five years old my Dad took the training wheels off my bike and told me to ride it. I told him I couldn’t. He told me to get on the bike and he would run beside me. I got on the bike and started to ride with him holding it. When I began to panic, approaching a tree, I started talking to my Dad. But he didn’t answer… because he wasn’t beside me. He dropped out from shagging me a long way back.

We are not called to follow Jesus based on our skills, but on the lack of them so that Jesus will do in us a work of total allegiance and loyalty to the kingdom of God. 

Jesus will make sure to develop the skills we need in order to do what he has called us to do. We only need to hear and answer the call of Jesus to follow. The following is a parable about the church and being fishers of people: 

“Now it came to pass that a group existed who called themselves fishermen. Week after week those who called themselves fishermen met in meetings and talked about their call to fish, the abundance of fish, and how they might go about fishing. They discussed the importance of fishing and that fishing is the task of every fisherman.  They listened to special speakers talk about fishing and they promoted fishing and looked at all the latest equipment for fishing. They built large buildings called ‘Fishing Headquarters’ so that they could tell as many people as possible about fishing. They organized boards of people to send out fishermen to other places. They offered teaching and classes on how to fish and the best and latest fishing methods. With much training a good many persons got their fishing licenses and became upstanding members of Fishing Headquarters. There was just one thing that they did not do: They didn’t fish. When one person dared to suggest that those who do not catch fish are really not fishermen, the group became angry and kicked that crazy person out their group.”

The Message of Jesus

Jesus said the kingdom of God is near, so repent and believe the good news. For Jesus, the word “kingdom” means God’s intentions and will for this world to come true. Jesus was saying that he is creating a new society – which meant Caesar was not Lord and that people’s loyalty was not ultimately to the Roman Empire. 

The kingdom of heaven, God’s dream society, will eventually spread across the entire earth so that the whole world is God’s sacred space, devoted to love, shaped by justice, living in peace, and abounding with wisdom.  Jesus encouraged us to pray consistent with this idea saying, “May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

If we find ourselves not really working toward Christ’s idea of kingdom, then we need to “repent and believe the good news” that God is working toward restoring all things to their original beauty and luster. The word “repent” means a change of mind which leads to a change of behavior. And “believe” means to put all your eggs in God’s kingdom basket.

None of this is a suggestion, but is rather a straightforward call to follow Jesus in his kingdom building enterprise on this earth. It would, therefore, be a travesty to simply think about the message for a while and follow Jesus if we feel like it, or get around to it.

Jesus wants to make fishers within family systems, workplaces, neighborhoods, and all the places within a typical sphere of living: This requires the following:

  1. Go where the fish are. Fishing would be easy if we could put a basket by the water and have the fish jump into them! But that is not how it works. Rather, it takes intentional activities that connect people together.
  2. Cast the nets. Peter and Andrew did more than take their boat out to the middle of the lake. To catch fish, they threw their nets into the water. Here is what I believe this means for us: We do what is fair and just to our neighbors. We extend compassion to them and are steadfast in our love, even when others are unlovely. And we do not take ourselves too seriously.
  3. Obey Jesus and walk with him. After Christ’s resurrection, Jesus came to some of the disciples, who had fished unsuccessfully all night. He told them to throw their nets on the other side of the boat – which seemed like nonsense, but they did it anyway. It resulted in a great catch (John 21:1-14). During the three years of Christ’s earthly ministry, the disciples did everything with him – they walked, talked, and ate with Jesus. And when he ascended to heaven, they acted on the Great Commission given to them by Jesus to make other disciples.

May God cleanse our lips and our lives so that we might proclaim the good news of Christ’s kingdom with glad and sincere hearts to the glory of Father, Son, and Spirit.

Eternal God, the refuge and help of all your children, we praise you for all you have given us, for all you have done for us, for all that you are to us. In our weakness, you are strength, in our darkness, you are light, in our sorrow, you are comfort and peace. We cannot number your blessings; we cannot declare your love: For all your blessings we bless you. May we live as in your presence, and love the things that you love, and serve you in our daily lives, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.