Last week I spoke about how God can use ordinary things to carry His plans. Today I will focus of how “ordinary” people can make a difference.
Jesus drew His followers from a broad spectrum of society, but most were “ordinary.”
One example is Zacchaeus, who we find in Luke 19: 1- 10:
“Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Here is a man who is physically short in stature, and also a social pariah because he was a tax official working for the Romans. But even such a man as this was able to be transformed by Christ.
It is interesting to note that none of Jesus’ apostles (with the exception of the “untimely born” Paul) were trained rabbis. Jesus chose tax – collectors, fisherman, and others on the margin of society to be His messengers.
We find the call of Matthew in Mark 2: 13-14, “Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.”
Here again we have a man of at least comfortable circumstance being called to follow Jesus, and he does, leaving his job and livelihood behind. This is despite the fact that Jesus said the following about himself:
“When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head (Matthew 8: 18-20).”
This Matthew, followed Jesus, and was a witness of the resurrection. Tradition teaches that he carried the gospel to Ethiopia where he was stabbed to death for his testimony by a king’s bodyguard.
The Apostle Thomas, “The questioner,” was another unlikely servant. He was like his fellows – ordinary. His doubting nature is what comes down to us, but we should also see his faith. John 20:24-29 tells us, “Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
According to tradition, this questioner and witness was Martyred in India on the orders of a Hindu religious leader.
Then there is Peter. He had a journey in his service. This common fisherman is found in Matthew 4: 18-20 “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Pete,r and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.”
This man was willing to leave his livelihood when beckoned to come. Later at Caesarea Philippi, Peter shows his mental commitment as well when he identifies Jesus as the Son of God. It is in this center part of Jesus’ ministry that Peter answers another call of Jesus. Matthew 14: 22-33 says, “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
He followed, in body and mind, but still had some growing to do. We see this when he denies Jesus after His arrest. He is later given yet another call by Jesus after the resurrection. In his response he finds forgiveness, and completes his growth journey. John 21: 15-19 notes, “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
“Follow me” – at the beginning, middle and end of the journey. And tradition says Peter followed all the way to Rome where he was crucified (upside down by his own request as he felt unworthy a death like Jesus’). Peter loved and served with his body (strength) when left his nets and followed; mind at Caesarea Philippi, and the water walk; with heart with “Do you love me?” In so doing he fulfilled the “Greatest Commandment of the Law.”
These apostles literally took up their crosses and followed Jesus. But is martyrdom a requirement? No, just the willingness to sacrifice as we are called to.
The Widow of Luke 21:1-4 is an example of such “cost of discipleship.” Jesus observed those giving offerings in the temple. While many were putting in large sums, she put in two mites. A mite is 1/8 of a Roman penny, more practically in today’s terms is that the value of enough for mere subsistence. Yet, she offered what she had, not just what she could spare.
We are called to take up our own cross. This has to be more than offering an hour on Sunday – that would be cheap grace. We need to give as our examples gave – “of themselves.”
We may be ordinary. We may not have the wealth or position of others. But we can serve. 2 Timothy 2: 20-21 notes, “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves . . . will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” While the metaphor is primarily about sound and false doctrine, it has an application, that those with sound doctrine, even if “common” can be of use to God.
Ordinary People we may be, but “The time of the super star is passed” as Brother Wiley reminded us a couple of weeks ago. We are the body of Christ. It isn’t about Vince as a pastor, or me as a teacher. Each of you has purpose, no one is a spiritual appendix. You have necessary gifts.
In John 16:7-8 Jesus said, “But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment . . . .” We are benefited by Jesus’ departure as it allows us, like the apostles, to fulfill God’s mission of going into all the world.
But here is a new reflection for you: While we in ourselves may not be “superstars,” we are Christ’s image bearers. We the Body of Christ are the way the world will see Jesus. In that we, though ordinary, are beyond superstars.
Padre's Ramblings 