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Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

If a man washes a dish, but his wife doesn’t see it, did it ever happen? Why we do things matters. When we pray, when we give, when we serve… it’s only natural to seek affirmation “you’re doing a good job…” and there’s nothing wrong with that, just be sure you do those things whether or not those encouragements are spoken. Don’t think you’re prayers are better because you say the right words, or the right people hear them, God hears your heart. Give because of what God’s given to you… Jesus. Love (serve) others because of God’s love. That’s not easy… God knows every single thing you do, when you don’t get an “atta boy” he remembers. One day, he will say “remember back when you cared for this person in my name and no one said ‘good job?’ well, well done good and faithful servant.” I’d rather have God notice than people anyway. 🙂

In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Just like yesterday’s reading, Jesus calls the faithful to follow him…

• Peter
• Andrew
• James
• John
• Philip
• Bartholomew
• Matthew
• Thomas
• James
• Simon (the zealot)
• Judas (James’ boy)
• Judas (the bad one)

What’s interesting is to compare these two lists, they’re in a bit of a different order (Andrew is by his brother Peter, Simon was placed before Thaddeus, and Thaddeus is called by his other name “Judas” with the other Judas).

Peter is always first, and Judas is always last, and I think that says something about who they were, but I think the fact that the order does change tells us they are not “ranked,” they all followed Jesus.

I do like how Luke describes the last Judas “who became a traitor.” It’s not that he was always evil, but he became that, Judas made the choice. Obviously Jesus knew the end from the beginning, yet Judas really did follow Jesus. There came a point in his life when he was presented with a choice, will I follow Jesus or will I go my own way. Is my faith real or was I just “playing church?” Peter faced the same choice after he denied Jesus 3 times. Peter went out and wept bitterly, Judas wen’t out and gave up.

Don’t stop following Jesus. Go back up the mountain. You get to determine how you end up when you don’t give up!

I love the Gospel of Mark, it’s so “raw” and fast paced (as compared to the other Gospels). Listen to how Jesus calls the 12:

And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

There is a lot here by way of example of how we choose whom we do ministry and live life with.

Jesus went away to see who’d follow and he called the ones he could see something in. He didn’t just put an announcement in the bulletin 😉

The point of their “discipleship program” was to spend time, but for a purpose. It wasn’t to “deepen their walk” but to prepare them to become disciple makers. They didn’t have a curriculum or a schedule to follow, they spent time with Jesus so they could become equipped to share the gospel with others. That’s the goal of any good discipleship program, not “deeper life” but witness, to draw others in. Any “discipleship” that doesn’t lead to more and more disciples, isn’t.

• Simon (Peter “Rocky”)
• James (Zebedee’s boy, the first Beaneries brother)
• John (the second of the “Sons of Thunder”)
• Andrew
• Philip
• Bartholomew
• Matthew (Levi)
• Thomas (“show me”)
• James (Alphas’ boy)
• Thaddeus (also another “Judas”)
• Simon (even more intense than Peter)
• Judas (11 out of 12 ain’t bad)

What’s interesting is, Jesus does call many of them in pairs, friends, family, those who already live life together… this makes discipleship more natural. If Andrew wants to follow Jesus, it’s easter to get Philip as well…

I love how Jesus goes home and his family thinks he’s nuts. “You’re doing what!? Are you part of some cult?” It’s much easier to only follow the prescribed norm of faith, but really making a difference requires more, you’ve got to make intentional connections with people for a purpose. You’ve got to gather a group willing to reach others for Jesus, spend time with them, and spend time with him.

Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.

Jesus is the “real deal.” Being a Christian isn’t about which political candidate you choose, what your ethics are like, where you live, or a list of dos and don’ts… It’s all (and only) about Jesus. Listen to who he is…

He was chosen by God… trust him.

He is pleasing to God… he did well.

He is empowered by God… he won’t lose.

He is a preacher for us… listen to him.

He is just… what he does is right.

He doesn’t need to stir-up noise and bluster to distract and convince us… he is our only hope.

May we follow Jesus and not ourselves.