Called to Follow

March 31, 2019 Background Scripture: Matthew 4:12 – 22 Lesson Passage: Matthew 4:12 – 22 Today’s lesson passage gives a sketch of Jesus’ movements and activities after his baptism by John the Baptist and temptation in the wilderness. Jesus left the region of Galilee to go to John the Baptist and later he returned to Nazareth. From Nazareth, Jesus traveled northeast to Capernaum, on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, which was close to the edge of the northern border of the region primarily occupied by the Jews. While in the area in and surrounding Capernaum, Jesus preached repentance and announced the good news of the presence of the kingdom of heaven. John the Baptist preached repentance and baptism for the remission of sins in preparation for the coming of the kingdom of heaven. The good news Jesus preached was that the kingdom of heaven was at hand—or present. Jesus encountered many people during that time. Some he encountered more than once. There were four he interacted with on more than one occasion. They were Simon, his brother Andrew, and two sons of Zebedee, James and John. Strikingly, their activities at the time of the encounters in this passage suggest something about their future work. All of them were fishermen. Simon and Andrew were casting their net into the waters as Jesus passed by, and Jesus asked them to follow him and he would make them fishers of men. When Jesus came to James and John, they were in a ship mending their nets. Likewise, he called them to follow him. All four men followed Jesus the day he asked them to. However, the picture that unfolds as one weave together the fragments from the different accounts of the gospel suggests that it was on again and off again. In other words, they followed him that day but not necessarily every day thereafter. Sometimes, we need to be asked more than once. As far as their activities relative to their future work was concerned, Simon and Andrew were casting a net into the sea. Early church history records Simon, then called Peter, as an evangelistic preacher. He cast the net of evangelism first into the sea of Jews on the Day of Pentecost and later into the sea of Gentiles in the house of Cornelius. Peter became a fisher of men. James and John were in a ship mending their nets. James was one of the first martyrs in the church. John became the elder statesman who outlived the other apostles. Over the years, many have referred to John’s writings whenever there was strife within the body of Christ. His doctrine has been used to mend much that was torn within Christendom. All four men followed Jesus as requested by him, and their work on the day of their calling became their future ministry for the kingdom of God. We are called to follow Jesus. Sometimes it means that our heart’s desire is in the right direction, but it may not be in the right place. True ministry can take place when Jesus shows us how to take what we love and make it an asset for the kingdom. Before we can lead, we are called to follow. Robert C. Hudson February 14, 2019

Called to Remember

April 14, 2019 Background Scripture: Matthew 26:1 – 13 Lesson Passage: Matthew 26:1 – 13 People need something to jog their memory. There are some things that should not be forgotten. Some out of gratitude and others as a warning to not allow something unpleasant to be repeated. Memory joggers can range from simple handwritten notes to a listing in the registry of the National Archives. They may be something only the person can see, a group can participate in, or it can be made visible to all who care to look upon it. Memorials are a special category that serve a very specific purpose. Often, they are to convey intergenerational knowledge to ensure a lasting legacy. Such is the case in today’s lesson. As Jesus approached the impending dark hours of arrest, interrogation, and crucifixion, he repeatedly warned his disciples that the hour was at hand. His warning seemed to have gone over their heads. Things were going great so why should Jesus keep dampening their spirits by bringing up something they thought would not happen. However, there was a woman who came to Jesus in Bethany who knew that Jesus’ death was approaching. God had revealed to her that the time of Jesus’ earthly life was coming to an end. Remarkably, she was not a prophetess or even what we might consider a spiritual person. While Jesus and his disciples were dining at the table in Simon’s house, this woman came in and poured very expensive perfume on Jesus’ head. Jesus’ disciples seemed to have immediately called out her actions as a waste. She could have sold the perfume for a tidy sum of money to provide benevolent support to the poor. Jesus knew that her actions were not the actions of a wasteful person but rather that of a worshiper of him. Jesus rebuked his disciples and reminded them that the poor would always inhabit the land. They would have ample opportunity to assist the poor among them. This woman was providing some “pre-need” services prior to his burial. His disciples would not have time to do this at the time of his death. They would have to rush to stay ahead of the onset of the Sabbath. This woman was taking care of the anointing of his body days in advance of his death. What she did was so significant that Jesus turned her actions into a memorial. Jesus declared that wherever the gospel is preached, her story must be told also as a memorial to her. Christians are admonished to share the good news of salvation that God provides to all who will accept Jesus’ death as a sacrifice for sin, in their stead. God’s love invites all of us to accept eternal life through Jesus Christ. Wherever this message reaches across the globe, or even beyond, the memorial must also be erected in the telling of the deeds of this woman. Sinners are called to repent and be saved and Christians are called to share the story of the woman who provided Jesus’ “pre-need” arrangements for his burial. Robert C. Hudson February 21, 2019