Endorsing the Right Leader – Part 11: Readings – 1
The authorities banned Jesus from teaching in the synagogue for his flagrant breach of Sabbath regulations. They did not excommunicate him nor sentence him to be whipped, but they marked him publicly as in disgrace. Privately, they began to think of ways to murder him. Those who kept him company would lose their good names and perhaps their lives.
A few evenings later Jesus instructed Peter and John to pass the word that early next morning he would teach at a lonely spot above Capernaum. He went away by himself, ordering them on no account to follow him into the hills, while they visited or sent messages to all in the neighborhood who regularly sat at his feet. At first light they found that some had excused themselves, but seventy or eighty of the more eager were walking up the mountain, unaware why Jesus wanted them.
When they breasted the rise to the chosen little plateau, John saw Jesus on a rock looking out across the lake below, which sparkled in the summer morning sun before the heat haze blurred the view. He seemed bathed in sunshine, but as they came closer, John realized that Jesus’ face and eyes shone with an inner light; he must have spent the night in prayer.
Once they had gathered round him, Jesus explained his purpose. He was about to choose twelve men to work at his side, or occasionally to go elsewhere on his behalf and learn more than he could impart to crowds.
John’s heart missed a beat or two as he waited to hear whether he would be one of the Twelve. First Jesus called out Simon Peter’s name, and immediately, with a characteristic touch, put Andrew’s fear at rest by telling him to join his brother. When John heard his own older brother named, his doubts dissolved, and a few moments later he was with James at Jesus’ side. Jesus next called the friends of the walk to Cana from Jordan’s bank, Philip and Bartholomew-Nathanael; then Matthew, and five more. Only one of the Twelve was not a Galilean. His name was Judas Iscariot, “the man from Kerioth,” a town on the plateau to the east of the Dead Sea. Nothing about Judas gave a hint to the eleven others that the seeds of treachery were in him.
John was almost overcome by excitement, by feelings of privilege and gratitude, and a determination to be worthy. On the other hand, Jesus conveyed the unspoken sense that the privilege of having the Twelve was his, that each was a gift entrusted to him for their sake as much as for his.
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The Master, John Pollock, Victor Books, 1983, pages 47-48.
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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about?
Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?
David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Saturday or Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions.
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For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.
You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.
