Cross View Blog

 

Each one of the original 12 apostles was unique. Some, no doubt, were quiet and reflective; others assertive and loud. Some were meek and gentle, others rough and tumble.

Even though they were all young male Jews who grew up in synagogues, each had their own ambition and goals in life. They came from distinct families, had different parents and siblings, and were raised in different communities in Galilee.

Even the differences between the blood brothers Peter and Andrew, James and John were significant. The political views between Matthew the tax gatherer and Simon the Zealot would have been significant.  At times, the natural tensions between their strong opinions must have been unbearable and even explosive.

However, two things this ragtag band of brothers had in common:

1) They all had accepted Jesus' invitation to follow Him as their rabbi, and later were commissioned by him and sent to proclaim the Kingdom.

2) They all had been eyewitnesses of Jesus after His resurrection. This was their unique claim as members of Jesus' inner circle, His original first disciples.

In the master plan of Jesus, these twelve men were the twelve pillars upon which God would form the New Israel. Jesus breathed on them His Holy Spirit and sent them into the world to form The New Jerusalem built upon the New Covenant of His blood.

The miracle of the resurrection empowered and emboldened them to be the nucleus in the explosion of Christianity throughout the Mediterranean world. Jesus entrusted His Father's master plan of salvation into the hands of these disparate twelve followers!

Because we revere The Twelve with the title of "Saints," we tend to think of them as less human than they actually were. We picture them as statutes, figures in church windows and lovely paintings, with a special aura of holiness.

In reality, they were common people as we see on the street today, unsophisticated, unimpressive guys whom we would never give a second look. They would have been low on the draft list of any head coach or itinerant teacher.

None of them had special status as theologians or advanced rabbinical training. Instead, they were regular laborers and fishermen, stumbling men who were trying to find their way in difficult times, facing daunting obstacles. I doubt that few would have been chosen "most likely to succeed."

This commonness of the Twelve Apostles is vitally important for modern day followers of Jesus. We tend to denigrate ourselves as less than important disciples. Our deep sense of inadequacy in dealing with God becomes our worst enemy. We suffer from an "I'm just a layman" complex.

At the same time, we classify professional preachers and other attractive religious authorities as being more qualified to be first string disciples. After all, they are "the experts." In doing so, we underestimate what Jesus can accomplish through us.

We must soon learn to see ourselves vitally important to the Kingdom of God, each of us within our own particular sphere of influence. He calls  us one by one to be on the frontlines of His Kingdom.

In our baptisms, He gives us the same Spirit as he gave to the original Twelve. In the Eucharist, He feeds us with the same body and blood as He did the Twelve in the upper room. The Father inspires us with the same power of the resurrection that motivated the Twelve. We are as fully equipped as they were when He sent them out two by two.

Consequently, we are not second class disciples. Even in our utter insecurity and in our sense of inadequacy, we are called to be first-class disciples. He has given us a world-class message and sent us on a world-class mission. We are called to be His special people to extend the Kingdom.

I appeal to all who would be Jesus' followers to lift up the vision of yourself as a disciple of Jesus. Stop apologizing for being weak and ineffective. For Christ's sake, stop putting yourself down!

Instead of focusing on your inadequacy, grab the hand of the Man from Galilee. Get out there and follow Him!

Jesus does not usually call the rock stars of the world to follow Him. They are often too busy with their own careers. Rather, He calls the Marys, the Davids, the Bartholomews, the Andrews, the Philips, the Phoebes, the Hannahs, and those of lower estate. He sends the weak into the world to do His heavy lifting.

You might be surprised by what He can accomplish through you, His modern, first class disciple.

Paul Emmel
Cross View Lutheran Church
Third Week of Easter 2020

Paul Emmel is a retired pastor in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, having served as a parish pastor, a correctional chaplain for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, and a hospital chaplain and a community counselor. As a retired pastor, Paul continues to serve the Lord and His people, including establishing the Minnesota South District’s “Pastors to Prisoners” ministry.