Follow
John 14:7 says, "If you had known me, you would have known my Father also." Is Jesus here telling his disciples that they do not know him? Yet? Just add this to the list of examples where the disciples got it wrong. It is obvious, from even a basic reading of the gospels, that Judas is not the only one who does not get it. Here is a quick test - before you continue reading the rest of this post think of as many instances you can of times in the gospels where an apostle or group of apostles was praised by Jesus or is praised by history as doing or saying something commendable.
How many did you come up with? In the three years of Jesus’ ministry where he is followed by his disciples we see (could this be right?) maybe a handful of things that the disciples (collectively, all 12 of them) do or say that is commendable?
1. Perhaps the greatest moment we see from these disciples is at the very beginning. Jesus calls on them to follow him, and Peter, Andrew, James, and John all “immediately” (Mat. 4:18ff) leave their nets to follow Jesus.
2. We later see another account where Andrew brings his brother Peter to follow Jesus (not necessarily contradictory with the previous passage) and Philip brings Nathanael along for the adventure (Jn. 1:35ff). They do little else right in the next three years, until Pentecost.
3. I can only think of Peter getting out of the boat (and then sinking, so it gets half a point), and
4. Peter’s declaration of Jesus in Matthew 16:18, as “the Christ, the son of the living God” (and then he is rebuked and called “Satan” just seven verses later). Actually, Peter is pretty good at saying the right thing. He also...
5. Tells Jesus he will die for him (John 13:37). Of course Jesus tells Peter how empty his words truly are.
6. But there is one thing they do that is never expressly written in the gospels but is understood and is commendable - the disciples, all 12 of them, continued to follow Jesus. Even in the midst of difficulties, even in spite of Jesus‘ straight forward warnings like, “I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles” (Mat. 10:16-18), they continued to follow.
This might be the most important lesson for us, followers of Jesus, to learn. If you are like me then you can relate to the Peter of gospels much better than you can relate to the Peter of Acts. The guilt inducing sound of the rooster’s crow and the sinking in the water are more my story than speaking in faith and seeing a lame man walk or 3,000 come to salvation. This can lead us to discouragement, spiritual impotence, weak faith, and an overemphasis of that theological crutch of total depravity. But maybe, just maybe, the greatest thing that Peter and the other 11 did was to simply follow. In following they sank - and were lifted up by the hand of Jesus. In following they displayed fear which, for Peter, led to denying Jesus - and he was restored. In following they also received the power of the Holy Spirit, and through them that Spirit moved mightily, set captives free, brought reconciliation, changed the world - all this not because the apostles were exempt from depravity - but because in the midst of their depravity the followed Jesus.
How many did you come up with? In the three years of Jesus’ ministry where he is followed by his disciples we see (could this be right?) maybe a handful of things that the disciples (collectively, all 12 of them) do or say that is commendable?
1. Perhaps the greatest moment we see from these disciples is at the very beginning. Jesus calls on them to follow him, and Peter, Andrew, James, and John all “immediately” (Mat. 4:18ff) leave their nets to follow Jesus.
2. We later see another account where Andrew brings his brother Peter to follow Jesus (not necessarily contradictory with the previous passage) and Philip brings Nathanael along for the adventure (Jn. 1:35ff). They do little else right in the next three years, until Pentecost.
3. I can only think of Peter getting out of the boat (and then sinking, so it gets half a point), and
4. Peter’s declaration of Jesus in Matthew 16:18, as “the Christ, the son of the living God” (and then he is rebuked and called “Satan” just seven verses later). Actually, Peter is pretty good at saying the right thing. He also...
5. Tells Jesus he will die for him (John 13:37). Of course Jesus tells Peter how empty his words truly are.
6. But there is one thing they do that is never expressly written in the gospels but is understood and is commendable - the disciples, all 12 of them, continued to follow Jesus. Even in the midst of difficulties, even in spite of Jesus‘ straight forward warnings like, “I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles” (Mat. 10:16-18), they continued to follow.
This might be the most important lesson for us, followers of Jesus, to learn. If you are like me then you can relate to the Peter of gospels much better than you can relate to the Peter of Acts. The guilt inducing sound of the rooster’s crow and the sinking in the water are more my story than speaking in faith and seeing a lame man walk or 3,000 come to salvation. This can lead us to discouragement, spiritual impotence, weak faith, and an overemphasis of that theological crutch of total depravity. But maybe, just maybe, the greatest thing that Peter and the other 11 did was to simply follow. In following they sank - and were lifted up by the hand of Jesus. In following they displayed fear which, for Peter, led to denying Jesus - and he was restored. In following they also received the power of the Holy Spirit, and through them that Spirit moved mightily, set captives free, brought reconciliation, changed the world - all this not because the apostles were exempt from depravity - but because in the midst of their depravity the followed Jesus.
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