A high school teacher arrives at a new school for the first day of classes. He preps his classroom with subject essentials and waits for the arrival of his students. He notices with interest the posture, facial expression, the choosing of seats and whether any of his charges are trailing the rest while others have the bearing of a CEO and seem to have a posse in tow. All these things are duly noted. In the first few classes, it becomes apparent which students are eager, bright learners and which show signs of being out of their depth. Also noted, are the ones who are on the constant lookout for a prank to play (they’re typically the ones who have chosen a seat at the back of the room). This wide spectrum of interest and comprehension demands great skill to guarantee the most success for the most students.
Picture Jesus having chosen the twelve guys his Father had directed him to gather to himself. A motley array of apprentices faced him. One good look at those faces was motivation enough to keep Jesus in constant prayer connection with his Father (Seriously, Abba? These are the guys you want me to work with?). I picture Jesus’ three years of public ministry being as much private ministry, tutoring, and correction as anything else. He was assigned the task, in just over thirty-six months of shaping this raw material before him into a cohesive, humble, world-changing, Spirit-filled army. It was a job not for the faint-hearted, to say the least.
From the beginning, Jesus displayed an open heartedness about who he was, his relationship with his Father, the type of relationship he desired for all of them to have and enjoy. All this was most assuredly disarming. Never before had the disciples had or heard of, a Master teacher so self-revealing with his apprentices. He was even calling them friends! All his talk of love and intimacy was, at times, TMI, but they were too embarrassed to say how embarrassed they were. Of course, Jesus saw that and continued to drill down.
The entire duration of his time with the disciples, Jesus stressed the direction of his ministry, while the disciples kept looking for clues as to when he would take up his Messiah role and free Israel from the hated invader, Rome. Jesus talked love. The disciples thought warfare, rebellion, army, overthrow. Jesus displayed humility. The disciples agitated for action.
Jesus talked of leaving so he could be more present with them. He talked of the Father’s gift of Spirit power coming on them. The disciples, one more time, had to ask if that was the moment he would do the much-awaited restoring of freedom to Israel. This class now held the keys. I wonder what our ‘class’ looks like today as he scans our faces? Because y’all, we’re it. Looking forward to seeing all you bright-eyed students tomorrow, 10 AM, 3 PM UK, 4 PM FR, ES. PD
