Lesson Learned

Jesus had: fascists, anarchists, loyalists to the opposition, roughnecks, religious, self-righteous, prideful, intimidated, young, old, traitors—for disciples. 

Yet He chose them. He used them. He breathed on them the Holy Spirit. He sent them out.  He took them to teach them. He led and worked with them even though he knew they would abandon Him in His time of need. He prayed for them that when that happened, their faith would not completely fail. 

He used them before they were vetted. He used them before they were ready. He used them before they were ordained. He used them even though no one wanted to listen to them. He used them even though they failed. He used them even though they had attitudes. He used them even though they were full of pride. 

He had many more disciples than 12. In fact His base was much more and much less at times. We cannot depend on a certain number of disciples, rather a certain quality.  Luke 6.13 says as much— “And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;”. Notice “of them” is referring to a larger number of followers who “of them” Jesus chose 12. Either some didn’t make the cut or didn’t want to follow. In both cases the same conclusion is true. This holds true to the principle of Matthew 22.14— “For many are called, but few are chosen.” This references the parable of the wedding banquet and salvation. What we see though is the free-will of people.  They can chose to endure or cut and run.  

This principle of endurance is also seen in Luke 6. We find it to be the principled concept that Jesus uses in discipling. When Jesus was preparing to die, He warned Peter that Satan had desired to have possession of him. Just before Peter made his famous and yet awful statement of fidelity Jesus said, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22.32). Jesus did nothing more than pray for Peter, knowing he (Peter) was going to deny and then bail on Jesus. Peter had to make up his own mind and make his own mistakes and therefore feel the weight of his own shame. In that passage though, Jesus had hope that Peter would come back. So Jesus instructs Peter on what to do when you come back—“strengthen thy brethren.” Peter did eventually but had to walk away and drag them with him into their old life first—“Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.” (John 21.3). How could Jesus put that level of confidence on a man who would do that? Well—He his God!  Jesus knew what Peter would do and what choices would be made. The fact of the matter is—we don’t! I cannot know the decisions a disciple is going to make or if they will turn on me in a Judas manner. Either way, I am called to the process of discipleship and grow those disciples. They are called to follow the Lord and from there we will just have to see. It is more about faithfulness and fruit, and not so much results and goals. 

Should we do likewise? Should we do the same and see who endures? Those that do, get ordained, those that don’t will simply walk away? Is that really the case here?

Can you find a better method than the methodology of the Son of God?  …me neither.