People of faith put disciples into context
Today's Easter story looks at what if Jesus had been born 30 years ago and was into his earthly ministry today.
As part of that, local faith leaders were asked to take one of the 12 Disciples and to put him in perspective, especially for today - is he the person in the congregation who questions every decision but whose heart is in the right place or the once rough-around-the-edges guy who found Jesus and changed his ways?
Read on for an intriguing look at the 12:
PHILIP
I saw Philip the other day. Oh, you remember Philip, one of the twelve. Didn’t really stand out in the crowd, except when he served as a kind of middle-man between Jesus and others who needed something from Jesus.
 Peeples |
Told Nathanael Jesus was the one, the real deal. Later on, he couldn’t see how in the world they were going to feed all those hungry people by the lakeshore. "Six months wages would not be enough to feed this crowd . . ." Yeah, that down-to-earth, take things at face value, call it like you see it guy.
I spotted Philip recently at the garden store. He was that beautiful five-year-old asking, "But daddy, how do these seeds get to be lettuce? Tell me, Daddy, how?" I overheard Philip last week in the young woman quietly reading the psalms to her bed-ridden grandmother, helping the dying woman stay connected with her faith in a simple, loving way. Philip was that repair man who shared his faith and his love for people with me, not knowing I was having a tough day and needed to hear it.
I like Philip – asking the obvious questions, keeping it real and simple. And offering the best invitation to discover the source of grace: "Come and see . . ."
- The Rev. Julie Peeples
Congregational United Church of Christ, Greensboro
THADDEUS
Somewhere out there is a friend of mine from high school. His name is Mike and I have no idea where he is, what he is doing, or what his life is like. All I know is that he probably making a difference for Christ somewhere in this world.
 Hutchinson |
I know this because even in high school, he lived out his faith in practical ways to the rest of us. He was the one who found time to keep up with the kids on the outside. the ones who were different, or who were ignored, or who seemed invisible. He didn't need to follow the crowd to fit in with the rest of us, instead we found ourselves wanting him to be with us because he had something that we admired and desired. We all knew he was a Christian, not because he stood on a soapbox, or because he was overly pious, or because he wore a t-shirt that reminded us. We knew because he loved us.
Thaddeus was a disciple of Jesus who is only mentioned in the Bible within a list of the disciples of Jesus. Jesus doesn’t ever talk about him and his name doesn't surface anywhere else in the biblical record of the early church. The Bible doesn’t tell us where he went or what happened to him.
It is pure conjecture on my part, but I would like to think that since Thaddeus was a disciple of Jesus, he went out into the world and made a difference. His life and ministry may not have been recorded into the biblical record, but who really cares if that is the case? After all, most of what the Spirit of the Living Christ has done and is doing in this world is not written about, recorded onto video tape, or handed down in story and lore to our children. Jesus was, is, and will be a part of our everyday lives, whether we recognize it or not.
I have no idea where Mike is today, but I know that Jesus used him to hold me, shape me, and fill me in ways that I am just beginning to understand and appreciate. The bible gives us no indication where Thaddeus went to after Jesus went up into heaven, but I am certain that wherever he went, Jesus changed people in very real ways through Thaddeus and his ministry. Jesus would have it no other way.
There is, there always has been, and there always will be a Thaddeus in all of our lives. Who is the Thaddeus in yours?
- The Rev. Rob Hutchinson
FaithWalk United Methodist Church, Whitsett
SIMON, THE EAGER ONE
When Jesus chose disciples nearly 2000 years ago, one was a Zealot named Simon. The historian Josephus uses the term zealot to describe Jews who resisted the Roman occupation during the war of AD 66-73. Zealots were more than willing to use violence in pursuit of their political and religious goals.
 Massey |
If Jesus chose someone of similar political passion today, we would protest. Simon the Zealot today might be someone like Gerry Adams, a politician with ties to the Irish Republican Army. Jesus might choose someone like Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, a leader of Hezbollah. Jesus might call a well-known "hawk" in American government or the military.
But Jesus called Simon in spite of not because of his politics and violence. Jesus taught Simon a different kind of zeal. He taught him that the cross had greater power than the sword. Today, he teaches his disciples the same thing.
- The Rev. Ken Massey
First Baptist Church, Greensboro
PETER
Aye! You’re looking at him! Peter’s the name . . . .
 Crotts |
But it ain’t long been so. My old man named me Simon bar Jona. In my tongue “Simon” means “hearing” and “bar Jona” “Son of a dove.” My rowdy fishing buddies said the name suited me because I was deaf to advice, had to learn everything the hard way. And like a dove I was erratic, excitable, here and there – All over the place! Why I had a temperament like the Sea o’ Galilee itself. Could be calm as a harbor one minute and ornery as a lake lightning storm the next.
I guess life just got to me. One day fishing was good. Next day, it was awful. A wife prone to illness. A Roman tax man with his hand in my purse. What was the meaning of it all? Seems like I fished to get money to buy food so’s I could get energy to fish.
And then I met Jesus. His words came to me like sunrise on a dark ocean. He took to callin' me "Peter" which means "Rock". Was an ill-fitting name. An amusement at first. But the longer I walked with Jesus the more I settled down strong and dependable.
Sure, I messed up a plenty. Tried to walk on water and sunk up to my armpits. Forbade Jesus to go to Jerusalem and die. Took a sword and lopped off a guard’s ear. Even denied Jesus in His hardest night.
I’m not proud of all this. But it is my story. All about how a dove of a man became a rock.
It’s all there for the readin' in the New Testament. More's written 'bout me than any of the other disciples. I reckon God did that to show you there’s hope for the likes of you . . . .
When the Lord reared up that day of Resurrection He met me on the beach at Bethsaida. Shared breakfast, we did. Took a walk. And He asked me plain, "Peter, do you love me?" My life since then's been one long yes.
- The Rev. Stephen M. Crotts
teaching pastor, Adams Farm Community Church, Jamestown, and director and minister at-large, The Carolina Study Center, Burlington
www.carolinastudycenter@msn.com
JUDAS
Who in our society would we call a "Judas?" A fascinating question. Judas was Jesus' disciple and close companion. He traveled with Jesus, supported Jesus, and I think it is fair to assume Judas loved Jesus. So why did Judas betray Jesus? Was it simply for the money? Or was it to gain some prestige and personal influence?
 Kroohs |
Who in our society would fit the description of someone who is extremely close to Jesus, walks with Jesus, and then betrays Jesus for personal gain?
Certainly we can name various church leaders, clergy and lay, who have violated their trust in ways which betray Jesus for personal gain.
Or we can name others who may not so obviously betray Jesus, but do betray a trust given to them: business leaders who cheat the stock holders, people who abuse or cheat on their spouses, doctors who do not look first to their patient's welfare.
The list is long.
However, I find it difficult to condemn others without first admitting the many ways each of us behave like Judas. We all betray Jesus in our daily lives. In fact, the real question is who is like Judas when we consider the entire story. When Judas realized what he had done, he attempted to make restitution and eventually hanged himself. (Matthew 27). Is there anyone who was walked as closely with Jesus as Judas did, and then been willing to admit our failures.
- The Rev. Ken Kroohs
St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, High Point
JAMES, SON OF ALPHAEUS
It's interesting that the News and Record called to ask me about our movement. They said they got my name from a list of Jesus’ followers. I really have done little to deserve the name of "follower."
 Palmer |
Basically, I just make sure that we have the donuts ready for the prayer breakfasts and bread and cheese to hand out when the homeless people won’t leave and Jesus invites them to stay for lunch. Sometimes I think Jesus was thinking about my mamma's famous fried chicken when he asked me to work with him. That's not completely fair, though, 'cause he keeps saying he believes I'll make a difference in Greensboro.
Lately, Jesus’s been talking about dying for justice and God’s kingdom. I'm not interested in dying. I don’t even have insurance, and my family can’t pay for my funeral. People did want to kill JC last Sunday. We were at a big church, in their well-known Super Singles Sunday School. They are studying Amos, and the lesson was really well done. Jesus was getting all into the lesson, offering ideas, so then the teacher asks us visitors—looking at JC like she would do anything for him—how we could apply the teaching of Amos to our life in Greensboro. What does JC do? He asks her a question: “Well, what do you do for a living?” She got a little tense. “I’m a National Board Certified Teacher and I work with gifted students at Country Club Lane School,” she said. Jesus said “Great! What about working in a low-performing school. I hear they have problems recruiting good teachers.”
If looks could kill, Jesus would be a dead man. She didn’t even invite us to stay for the service. Now I would teach anywhere. I’m just a lowly teacher assistant and I don’t know if I’ll ever finish my degree and get to teach like my dad. Everyone thinks it’s a given, they even call me “little Alphaeus,” since my dad was such a beloved teacher. Jesus insists I’ll be remembered. That may be good or bad. The other day he said, “James, you will be a great educator. I can see you putting your career on the line to do what’s right for children. I can see you speaking out against resegregation; against suspending kids instead of helping them; against celebrating test scores and forgetting the whole child and the communities our schools are supposed to be serving.” God bless me if Jesus is right. I’ve got my work cut out for me.
- The Rev. Maria Palmer
Iglesia Unida De Christo (United Church of Christ), Chapel Hill
THOMAS
I really like Thomas...and so will you. But not if we keep believing his bad press.
 Miller |
If Thomas were alive today, he would represent those who get labeled all too quickly. “Doubting Thomas.” What an unfair label. Every other disciple fled, afraid for his life. None of the other disciples believed Jesus was alive... until they first saw him.
Yet historically, Thomas wears the label.
But here’s the good news. That’s not how Jesus saw Thomas. While others saw Thomas’ pessimism, Jesus saw his courage. Others only heard his questions. Jesus observed his honesty. Most saw outward doubt, Jesus perceived Thomas’ inward love.
Jesus knows our hearts. He knew what set Thomas apart from the others — was not that his doubt was greater, but that his sorrow was greater. No one could feel the way Thomas felt unless he loved Jesus the way Thomas loved him.
When the risen Jesus appeared to Thomas there were no harsh words. No labels. As a result, Thomas responded, “My Lord and my God.”
For those who have been labeled unfairly, there’s good news this Easter. To all who believe Jesus rose from the dead, He removes the label every one of us ears, sinner...and gives us a new label, saint.
- The Rev. Don Miller
Westover Church, Greensboro
MATTHEW
Matthew, a tax collector by trade, had the responsibility of charging the people taxes and was allowed to keep a significant portion back for himself. Matthew in our society would be likened unto America.
 Johnson |
I will let you draw your own inferences.
I think it important to note that after Matthew’s commitment to follow Christ many of his tax buddies began to believe in Jesus (Mark 2:14-17). Imagine the impact we as a country could have on other tax collectors (countries) if we as a country followed God.
- The Rev. Marcus Johnson
Mount Zion Baptist Church, Greensboro
BARTHOLOMEW
People of today are very much like the people of Jesus’ day. Consider one of Jesus’ disciples with me, Bartholomew. Not much is written of him — but enough to see similarities in many of us to him.
 Brown |
Many bible scholars believe that Bartholomew was the same person who in John’s gospel is called Nathanael (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14). If this may be taken as true, Philip, having accepted Jesus, told Bartholomew that he had “found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth.”
To his question, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip replied, “Come and see.” His fastidious reluctance was much like others of today. Too often we are consumed by a belief that where you are born and who you are born to determine where you are going and who you will become. Many times God has taken what was considered nothing and made something out of it. Let us not be so quick to make conclusions. You can’t judge a book by looking at the cover.
- The Rev. Cardes Brown
New Light Missionary Baptist Church, Greensboro
ANDREW
His name is only mentioned a few times in the Gospels and always with an added description. One way or another, without fail, readers are reminded that Andrew is the brother of Simon Peter. And with that “tag,” Andrew joins the long line of siblings, spouses and co-workers who spend their lives standing in the shadow of another — literally identified by their relationship with someone else.
 Brittain |
Thankfully, we encounter Andrews around us everyday, only we rarely know their names. They are the ones who quietly make things happen. Andrews are the support staff at school, the office help at the clinic, the volunteers at the hospital.
We meet Andrews at church – usually in the hallways or back rooms rather than in the pulpit or in front of the class. Andrews stand in the parking lot to greet visitors. Andrews are assistant Sunday School Teachers. Andrews are the ones who prepare the elements for communion and work in the kitchen on Wed. nights. The Church can get along with only a few Simon Peters (in fact most churches can only stand a few) but the Church needs lots and lots of Andrews.
According to the Gospel of John, it was Andrew who brought his brother to Jesus. And, Andrew was the one who brought to Jesus the little boy who offered his five loaves and two fish so that thousands might be fed. The Church needs lots and lots of Andrews — lots of people who quietly bring others to Jesus — lots of people who happily do their work in the shadows of another — lots of people who are joyfully identified by their relationship with someone else — by their relationship with Jesus Christ. Let’s thank God for the Andrews in our lives.
- The Rev. Jan Brittain
Christ United Methodist Church, Greensboro
JAMES, SON OF ZEBEDEE
There are hints in the Gospel stories that Papa Zebedee, the father of James and John, was a man of means and had a well-established fishing business.
 Partington |
Perhaps that kind of security impacts the Gospel stories about James? Those stories invite me to imagine a man who had a strong sense of self and who could be described as one without guile – direct, frank, not deceitful. Perhaps he had a temper? Or perhaps he was a person who moved with such a sure sense of disciple authority that he was impatient with those who resisted the new message? James was one of those inner circle people whose expectations for a permanent inner circle life were tempered by the Master. Legends abound! However his being without guile led to his martyrdom, which is well documented in scripture. Who in my generation is one without guile? Who would be willing to be put at personal risk for the sake of a gospel? A few names come to mind: Desmond Tutu? Jim Wallis? Dorothy Day?
- The Rev. David Partington
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Greensboro
JOHN, SON OF ZEBEDEE
John began following Jesus as a young man, and he spent almost all of his long adult life as a Christian
 McCullough |
religious leader. From his Gospel and other writings, the rest of the New Testament and some notes from other early Church fathers, we could describe him this way:
• Strong personality (a 'Son of Thunder’ ambitious, demanding, and unyielding)
• Charismatic teacher in the Lord’s inner circle of leaders, a 'pillar of the Church’
• Repeatedly counseled Christians to love
• Twice survived attempts to kill him, and died, very old, in his bed
• Devoted to Jesus’ mother, whom he took into his home
• Steeped in Jesus’ real Presence Word and Sacrament (John 6) and the self-giving servant implications of that Eucharist (John 13).
He reminds me of a Christian leader today who has also taken the name “John.”
- Jim McCullough
Our Lady of Grace, director of religious education, Greensboro
Comments (1)
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We literally have Jesus walking in our time. The History Channel presentation today read Scripture explaining that fact.
"Christ in us" is compelling us to do, live, act, and sometimes even speak.
Now...
If we were doing our job, there would not be shooting in HS. There would not be a feeding tube controversy. So now, it's up to me to be what I'm writing about.
Posted on March 27, 2005 5:31 PM