Once in a while a friend or two will send me clips off the internet.  Sometimes they are pictures of beautiful landscapes, flowers, etc. with music set to them and uplifting Scriptures.  Sometimes they are clips of people with amazing talents, singing, acting, art, even athletes, all caught on video demonstrating their phenomenal skills.  Sometimes they are humorous, sometimes they are sad.  And every once in a while, they are one of those annoying platitudes that states how much God loves you and then admonishes you to “pass this email on to someone you love for good luck”.   I tend to yell at the computer after reading one of those, “I don’t need LUCK!!  I have the LORD!”, and then happily hit the delete button.

            One time a friend sent me an email that read, SUBJECT: PARAPROSDOKIANS.  Now, that’s a mouthful!  But I learned something new (which I do enjoy!).  A paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter part of the sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected and frequently humorous.  According to the email, Winston Churchill loved them.  So here are a few examples:  Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.  You do not need a parachute to skydive; you only need a parachute to skydive twice.  I used to be indecisive; now, I’m not sure.  And my favorite:  Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

            As fun and humorous as paraprosdokians can be, that last one did make me think again.  For as silly as it sounds, there is also a great deal of truth in it.  The fact of the matter is that going to church, singing praise songs, saying the Lord’s Prayer or even putting a tithe in the offering plate so that God’s work can be carried on, does not make you a Christian.     Papa Ten Boom once replied to his daughter Corrie when she questioned him about the character of a “so-called” Christian, “Just because a mouse is in the cookie jar, that doesn’t mean it’s a cookie!”  So then, what does make you a Christian?

            The most fundamental aspect of being a Christian is believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Rom. 1:3-4; Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3) and that His sacrificial death on the cross has paid for the Sin (Rom. 5:12) which separates you from God (Ps. 14:1-3; Gal. 1:3-5; Heb. 9:11-12).  There are two aspects of Christ’s nature which are important here.  The first aspect is His humanity (Jn. 1:14; Gal. 4:4).  As God in the flesh, Jesus represents humankind (Heb. 7:26-27), however, unlike us, Jesus had no sin (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15).  That Jesus had no sin testifies to the second aspect of His nature- His Divinity (Jn. 20:30-31; Col. 2:9).  Because Jesus was God, His atoning death is eternal and because He is human it is possible for Jesus to take the punishment that each and every one of us deserves.  When we believe that Jesus has done this for us personally and say it is true, we are Christians because we have put our faith in Him (Rom. 5:6-21; Rom. 10:8-13; Tit. 3:4-5).  There is a second aspect to being a Christian which happens at the moment we put our faith in Jesus Christ.  The first component of this is that the Holy Spirit (who is called the “Spirit of Christ” in Rom. 8:9) dwells in us (1 Cor. 3:16, 6:19-20; Eph. 1:13-14).   And the second component is the work of the Holy Spirit Who helps us to become more like Jesus Christ in both our attitudes and actions (Jn. 15:26, 16:13-14; Gal. 5:22-23).

            Carbon atoms don’t start out looking like the beautiful gems they will become.  But with the right depth in the earth’s surface, along with the right amount of pressure and heat, carbon atoms will turn into a Diamonds.  Our initial proclamation of faith in Jesus may be a simple statement, “I believe Jesus is the Son of God and that He died to set me free from sin.”  We may not realize the Holy Spirit has “moved in” when we profess our new-found faith.  As the Holy Spirit works in our life we become more like Jesus every day and our perspective changes (Rom. 12:1-2).   That is what makes you a Christian.

            The Cross is not only a pivotal aspect of what makes you a Christian it is an important element of discipleship as well.  In Matthew 10:38 Jesus says that “anyone who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”  The image of a criminal carrying the heavy crossbar from which he would eventually hang to the crucifixion site was not uncommon in Israel under Roman rule in the first century A. D.  Jesus is saying that the evidence of one’s life, if one is truly a disciple, is enough to “convict” them.  That is the bottom line of discipleship- not only learning what the Master teaches, but living the way He does.  The Holy Spirit guides us in this task, but we must listen to and obey Him, so that the evidence of our faith is seen by others just as graphically as a man carrying his cross to his execution.  So, how about you?  What do people see when they look at you?  Do they see one of Jesus’ disciples?

Ann LeFevre, M. Div.  
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/, https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre/

            You’ve heard the saying, “Like mother, like daughter; like father, like son”.  It highlights the fact that although we may not always want to admit it, we bear a resemblance in either looks or behavior to our parents.  I can relate to the first part of that adage as a daughter and to the latter part as the mother of two sons.  I see my husband’s qualities in each of my “boys”.  My older son has the same analytical aptitude to figure out a mechanical problem and fix it as his father does.  My younger son has his father’s single-mindedness.  It’s sometimes humorous to see these personality traits in action.  Whether it’s Erick’s ingenuity in constructing a playhouse for his children or Christopher’s focus during a soccer game, each son has a characteristic they’ve inherited from their dad.  Thankfully each one of our sons is proud to have some of their father’s attributes.

            Jesus, as the Son of God, also demonstrated the same qualities and attributes of His Father.  But how do we know this?  In 1 John 4:14 John writes, “And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.”  The disciples had the unique privilege of living and traveling with Jesus during His earthly ministry.  John uses two key words to describe this relationship in this passage.  The first, “have beheld” is a verb meaning “to wonder, view attentively, contemplate, and consider with careful and deliberate vision in order to understand an object”.  In 1 Jn. 4:12, 14 it particularly means to perceive with the eyes with great vividness both physically and mentally”.  In other words, the disciples had more than a quick encounter with Jesus.  They had time invested into their relationship with Him which allowed them to know Him better than a mere acquaintance.  Secondly, because they had such a deep relationship with Him, the disciples were able to “bear witness” to His character.  Just like a witness who gives testimony at a trial, the disciples could offer an opinion on Jesus because they had an intimate relationship with Him.

            John testifies that Jesus as God’s Son was “sent”.  This particular word carries the nuance of being sent on a specific mission such as to preach (Mk. 3:14; Lk. 9:2), speak (Lk. 1:19), bless (Ac. 3:26), rule, redeem or propitiate (Ac. 7:35; 1 Jn. 4:10), or save (1 Jn. 4:14).  Spiros Zodhiates wrote, “The expression that Jesus was sent by God (Jn. 3:34) denotes the mission which Jesus had to fulfill and the authority which backed Him in doing so.  The importance of this mission is that God sent His own Son to accomplish it (Mk. 12:1-12; Mk. 20:9-19)”.  This thought is emphasized throughout all of John’s writing (Jn. 5:37; 6:57; 8:16, 18, 42; 17:21, 25).  Jesus Himself taught this (Jn. 10:36).  The significance here is that Jesus’ purpose in coming was not to fulfill some fantasy He had about “saving the world” like an action hero or a deluded and deranged lunatic.  Rather His mission was to fulfill a promise made by God after the Fall in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:15).

            There are somewhat negative connotations attached to the role of Savior today.  Our culture does not like recognizing that people get themselves into trouble and oftentimes do not have the wherewithal to get out of it- especially in the moral sense.  Needing Someone to rescue you is frowned upon.  The individual has the power to triumph over circumstances and struggles all within themselves.  But one look at the booming psychology industry and it’s easy to see that this is not so.  Humankind struggles with guilt, remorse, shame and fear.  While it’s taboo to say so, these conditions are a direct result of that tragic decision back in the Garden (Rom. 5:13-14).  But 1 John 4:14 declares there is hope in that God sent His Son to be the Savior of the world (a word that literally means the earth or the abode of man in the Biblical sense of the word).  The Bible boldly declares it is God’s desire and will to save His fallen creation (Jn. 3:16-17).  But no man is capable of saving everyone.  Enter the Son!

            How did Jesus demonstrate that He was truly the Son of God (Mt. 14:22-33; 27:50-54)?  Jesus said that His works testified that His Father sent Him (Jn. 5:36) and that the words He spoke were His Father’s words, not His alone (Jn. 12:49; 14:24).  These statements were confirmed by the reaction to His teaching (Mt. 7:28-29) and His ministry (Mt. 15:31; Lk. 4:16-22; 7:22).  What about you?  Do you recognize Him as Savior?  Do you listen to the authority of His word and acknowledge the purpose of His mission (1 Cor. 15:1-10; 2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Jn. 4:14-15)?  If so, the sending has not finished with Jesus.  He now sends you out into the world to carry His message (Jn. 20:21).  The question now is what words will you use and how will you demonstrate the attributes of your Heavenly Father to those around you?

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/, https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre/

            Our tour group walked into the ancient city of Philippi on a beautiful day.  The sky was a pleasant blue filled with puffy white clouds.  But, at first, we only recognized it as a good back drop for the pictures we were taking.  Underneath our feet was the weathered Roman road, the Via Egnatia (Vee-ah Egg-nay-she-uh), one of the key elements in the spread of the Gospel.  It was especially moving for me.  Not only did Paul, Silas, Timothy and Lydia walk along this road, but countless "no names"; the people who were touched by the Gospel, but whose names were never recorded across the pages of Scripture.   They were my "spiritual" ancestors who first spread the Good News on this very road.

            When most believers think about sharing their faith, they think in terms of Billy Graham Crusades, missionaries like Jim Elliot, and people they know who "have the gift of evangelism".  But these are more the exception than the rule.  The Via Egnatia is certainly proof of that.  While the activities of Philip, Peter and Paul are featured in the Book Acts, the unsung heroes are all the others who responded initially to their proclamation and then went on to share it with those they knew.  The spread of the Gospel was like the old commercial where an "average person" held up a bottle of shampoo and declared, "I was so pleased with this product, I told my friend!"  The screen continues to divide as friend after friend spreads the word about this fabulous product.  It was the same with the Gospel.  It was passed on to friend, after friend, after friend.

            At the beginning of Matthew 10 (vv. 1-15, particularly 1-7), Jesus calls together 12 disciples, but gives them a new title.  The word “disciple” signifies a student, a learner.  Disciples abounded in 1st c. Galilee.  They would follower a teacher (rabbi) and learn everything about the way that teacher lived, what they believed and taught, and in the end, the disciples’ goal was to become just like him in every facet of life.  In Mt. 10, Jesus inaugurates a new phase in His students’ education.  He calls them apostles and gives them an assignment:  go, preach, heal, and restore life (exactly what Jesus has been doing since they signed on with Him).  The difference between a disciple (student) is found in the meaning of the title “apostle” (sent one).  An apostle is someone who is sent as a representative of a superior with the authority and power of that superior.  They are not just a “stand-in”; they are the real deal.

            We often think that we must know at least 100 Scripture verses by memory, and have all the points of the Four Spiritual Laws memorized in order to adequately share our faith with others.  We think that God demands this, but we are wrong.  The model for sharing our faith is actually set in the Old Testament in the Book of Deuteronomy.  In chapter 6 the Lord admonishes the people of Israel to teach their children diligently to follow God's commands.  They are to make it a part of their daily routine: while at home, while walking along the road, while resting, and while they prepare to work.  In other words, it's a natural part of the conversation.  When Jesus sent out His disciples, He didn’t change this model.  He encouraged them to rely on the hospitality of those they spoke with, turn over their daily needs to the Lord, and proclaim Jesus’ message to anyone who would listen.

            Sharing our faith is as simple as that.  It's part of our natural conversation, because it is who we are as a disciple of Christ, but it is important to remember that we do so “in Jesus’ Name”.  We can't help but tell others about what we've discovered.  When Andrew met Jesus, he was so glad to have found the Messiah, he went and got Peter (Jn. 1:41).  Philip sought out Nathaniel in the same way (Jn. 1:45).  If you're hesitant about sharing your faith with others, remember you do not need to be a Bible scholar or debate team captain to share about your experiences as Jesus' disciple.  Many times you will be surprised at how receptive people can be.   Even Paul, whom we like to label as the greatest evangelist of all time, let the Gospel speak for itself (1 Cor. 2:1-5).

            I can honestly say that I am not bold when it comes to sharing what I believe with others.  I am constantly asking the Lord to step in and take over when I feel timid.  But I am never disappointed when I surrender those fears.  That trip to Greece during my seminary days proved to be a valuable lesson on this.  For later on, I stood with a classmate at Mars Hill in Athens, and as we discussed how the Gospel had spread along the Roman road system, a young woman from England overheard us.  She asked me to repeat it.  I was happy to oblige.  And while I recounted how the Gospel traveled along those ancient roads, I included its message and how it eventually came to me.  Who knows what seeds were planted that day but it was an amazing experience to spread the Good News in Jesus’ Name.  You are an apostle too.  So spread the Good News today!

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/, https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre/

            As a member of the Pocono Photo Club I have had the unique opportunity to meet and photograph several local farmers and their beautiful farms.  I am always interested in how they ended up doing what they do.  While the stories vary in particulars, there is always one constant among them- the farmers themselves.  They are passionate about what they do and how they do it!   You can hear it in their voices as they explain what’s growing in which field and the way they plant and cultivate each crop.  The proof is in their product; every bite is delicious.  While some machines have sped up the planting and harvesting process for the farmers I’ve met, there are still some crops which are hand-picked, such as garlic.  Last year several photographers and I watched the crew at Apple Ridge Farm bring in the garlic crop.  It took a team of 5 to uproot, gather and bunch up the garlic which was then brought to the barn and hung up to dry before being washed and brought to the market.

            Farmers in Biblical times operated in much the same way as my contemporary Monroe County counterparts.  Crops were planted, cultivated and harvested.  The farmer would tend to his crop and wait for the right moment to harvest it.  When the time came, he would assemble a team to help him bring it in.  Although a farmer in ancient Israel did not have the advantage of modern technology to plant or reap, the same attention was given to his crop.  His life and the lives of those he loved depended on it.  The fact that the farmer did not have technology in his favor made him more readily recognize that the outcome of his harvest was truly in God’s hands.

            Jesus as a master storyteller knew the close connection his audience had to farming.  Many of His parables and lessons are agriculturally based (Mt. 13:1-8; 20:1-16; 21:33-44; Mk. 12:1-12;Lk. 8:4-15; 13:6-9; 20:9-18).  In Matthew 9:35-38 Jesus uses the agricultural industry as a simile to the spreading of the Gospel.  He has been traveling through the Galilee region preaching the Good News and healing the sick.  Matthew notes in verse 36, that Jesus had a tremendous amount of compassion on the people who came to Him.  The verbs which describe this multitude accentuate the contrast in the way that Jesus saw the crowd over the perception of the Pharisees.  The people are distressed; a word derived from the verb “to skin, flay, or lacerate”.  It is used metaphorically here to signify their state of being.  The multitude is also down-trodden.  This verb brings forth the picture of something that has been dropped or scattered (such as a handful of marbles; once unified every piece has rolled off in its own direction).  While Jesus had compassion toward these people, the Pharisees in previous verses have demonstrated a different view of them.  John Barclay wrote, “The Pharisees saw the common people as chaff to be destroyed and burned up; Jesus saw them as a harvest to be reaped and saved.  The Pharisees in their pride looked for the destruction of sinners; Jesus in love died for their salvation.”

            We have no record of what prompted Jesus’ admonition to His disciples in verse 37, but I can imagine what may have preceded it.  With multitudes of needy people coming to Jesus day after day, I’m sure the disciples grew weary of it at times.  I’m also sure that some of those people were looking for what they could out of Jesus without any further commitment to Him.  I’m sure the disciples noticed this.  Perhaps they reflected on what they’d left behind to follow Jesus and resented the ones who were taking advantage of Him.  And I’m sure they felt obligated to point this out to Jesus!  It’s human nature.  But Jesus sees the behavior of the multitude as a direct result of their situation.  They are a flock without a shepherd (v. 36); a field ready for harvest with no workers to reap its bounty (v. 37).  I can almost guarantee that the disciples’ response to this was, “Well, Jesus, what do you want us to do about it?!”  So He tells them!

            Jesus says that the disciples are to “beseech the Lord of the Harvest”.  Most of us do not use this word today.   It is not merely “to ask” for something.  It means to make one’s needs known, particularly in the context of an inferior to a superior.  The request here is that the Lord of the Harvest would send out (literally “thrust forth”) workers (this Greek word is directly associated with farming).  Matthew relates this lesson as a rather brief moment in the ministry of Jesus.  But the parallel passage in Luke is connected to the sending out of 70 disciples to “every place where He Himself was going to come” (Lk. 10:1-12) moving the exhortation from His immediate disciples to all who follow Him.  Barclay wrote, “If the harvest of men is ever to be reaped, then every one of us must be a reaper, for there is someone whom each one of us could, and must, bring to God”.  What does the harvest look like to you?  Or perhaps I should say, “Who is your harvest?”
 
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/, https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre/

            The sun was heading toward the horizon when we boarded the boat which going to give us a short cruise around the Sea of Galilee.  With a bit of fanfare, the captain raised both the Israeli flag and the Stars and Stripes.  He explained that while his boat operated with a motor, the boats that Peter, Andrew, James and John used when they were fishermen were fairly similar in size and purpose.  In reality, the boats used by Galilean fishermen were much smaller since they didn’t have to accommodate tour groups! We often think of those first four disciples who were transformed from fishermen to “fishers of men” when we think of Jesus’ earthly ministry in that region.  We forget the other eight who came from an even broader spectrum of first century culture with the exception of those who had a few brief moments in the spotlight such as the calling of Matthew and Judas’ betrayal of Jesus.

            The Gospel writers did not provide us with a specific timetable as to how and when Jesus made these 12 men His closest companions for the three years leading up to His death and resurrection, but we do know from extra-biblical writings what that commitment looked like.  The word for disciple (mathetes) stressed the relationship between the teacher (rabbi or master) and the disciple (student).  Most disciples of Jesus’ day would separate themselves from their daily life to solely follow the teacher.  It was not enough to know what the rabbi said.  Rather, the foremost goal of any disciple was to become like the rabbi and do what the rabbi did (Lk. 6:40).  Jesus’ disciples were quite the assortment of personalities, but each chose to follow Him, and in the end, most of them lived and died just like the Master taught them.

Peter, whose Hebrew name is based on the verb “to hear” was impulsive and outspoken.  But Jesus gave him the name Peter, which means “rock” (Mt. 16:16-19; Jn. 1:42) and it came to more aptly describe his foundational role in the early church- an extensive ministry that reached from Jerusalem to Asia and Rome.  Like his brother Peter, Andrew, which means “manliness”, was a Galilean fisherman.  He was originally a disciple of John the Baptist.  According to John 1:35-42, it was Andrew who introduced Peter to Jesus.

James and John, the other brotherly pair in Jesus’ disciples, were apparently partners with Peter and Andrew (Lk. 5:1-11).  Matthew, Mark and Luke all note that their father’s name was Zebedee (Mt. 4:21-22), but it’s Mark who takes note that Jesus gave them a nick-name, “Boanerges”, which means “Sons of Thunder” (Mk. 3:17) and this ability to make noise apparently ran in the family (see Mt. 20:20-28).  While James eventually gave his life for the Gospel (Acts 12:2), John is noted as the only disciple not to see a martyr’s death.  He was exiled to the island of Patmos by the tyrannical Emperor Domitian and contributed 5 books to the New Testament including the Gospel that bears his name and the Book of Revelation.

            The most controversial disciple was Simon the Zealot.  Scholars debate over whether or not he actually belonged to the Zealots who were pledge to violently erase all Roman dominance, including Jews who were sympathetic to Rome, from society.  Many believe it is highly unlikely Jesus would call someone with such political aspirations.  Instead, they believe the tag-line describes his personality.  We have no further evidence either way, but we do know he followed Jesus.

            Judas Iscariot gets a few “scenes” as Jesus’ ministry moves forward but his actual embrace of Jesus’ teaching is questionable.  He is more known for his betrayal of Jesus and subsequent suicide than his adherence to the Gospel.  The remaining disciples, Philip, Nathanael (a. k. a. Bartholomew), Thomas, Matthew, James “the son of Alphaeus”, and Thaddaeus, range from being mentioned at their initial call to complete obscurity.  We know something about Philip, Nathanael, Thomas and Matthew, but the other two are barely mentioned except for being included any time the phrase “the disciples” is used.

            An interesting point to note is that at some point “the disciples” took on a new title, “apostles” (Mt. 10:1-2; Mk. 3:13-14; Lk. 16:13).  While a disciple is a student, an apostle is one who is sent to represent someone.   Jesus gave His disciples the task of representing Him by sending them off to continue His ministry.  Therefore, if we too are His disciples, He has done the same with us.  Although we do not have many details on most of the disciples, we know they made an impact and a difference wherever they landed because the Good News spread.  The question before you today is the same?  If you are His disciple, where has Jesus sent you to be His apostle?

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/

            The synagogue of Nazareth was filled with expectation.  The son of Joseph had come home and was about to read from the Prophets.  Word had spread of the wonderful and intriguing events which had taken place since He left the village.  The people stood anxiously as He ascended the platform and unrolled the scroll.  The words of Isaiah poured out of His mouth and flowed over the people like the Latter Rains on parched ground.  Such a great promise of the Messiah!  He would have God's Spirit on Him, bring good news, liberate the poor, set free the captives, give sight to the blind, and proclaim a year of Jubilee to God's people.  Their hearts, heavy as the Roman rule over them, dared to dream that such a Messiah would come, but the hope of this promised Deliverer, could never be fully torn from them in spite of the Romans' persistent attempts to do so.  They listened and watched Jesus, recognizing that there was something amazingly different about this Man, and not yet understanding what it was.  Jesus completed the reading, rolled the scroll closed and took the Seat of Moses, the place where visiting rabbis would sit and teach.  The room was quiet; not a soul dared to breath.  "Today," Jesus said with authority, "this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."  (Lk. 4:16-21)

            I'm sure we can imagine that a number of reactions were present that day when Jesus spoke those words.  The hope for a Messiah had a lengthy history in the Jewish mind, beginning with the promise to Eve in Gen. 3:15, on through the calling of Abraham in Gen. 12:1-3, and through the lineage of Judah (Gen. 49:8-12).  The identity and work of the Messiah took further shape and purpose in the words of the prophets, and while Matthew’s Gospel may not include that momentous day recorded by Luke in his, Matthew underscores Jesus’ fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy (Is. 61:1-2) by recording a lengthy description of Jesus’ healing ministry in the Galilee region (Mt. 8:1-9:35) and continues to make note of this aspect of the Messiah throughout the remainder of his Gospel (Mt. 12:9-14; 15:21-28; 17:14-20).  Matthew will often write, “This happened in order to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet,” (Mt, 2;15, 23; 4:14; 8:17; 12:17) but in these chapters he demonstrates to us that it did.

            There are 30 specific prophecies concerning the first advent of the Messiah.  Some of these prophecies include: that He would be born of a virgin (Is. 7:14), that He would be a descendant of Jesse (Is. 11:1-2), that He would be born in Bethlehem (Mi. 5:2), and that He would be God's Son (Ps. 2:7).  When Jesus stood before the congregation in the synagogue that day, He claimed that He fulfilled these prophecies.  But the fulfillment of Isaiah’s words concerning the healing ministry of the Messiah was perhaps the place where Jesus made the most impact during the initial days of His earthly ministry.  From a man with leprosy, the sickness of Peter’s mother-in-law, demoniacs whose oppressors were cast into a herd of pigs, to the healing of a paralytic, the revival of a synagogue ruler’s daughter, the healing of a hemorrhaging woman, and the restoration of sight and voice to the blind and mute, Matthew proves time and again, Jesus was indeed, The Messiah.

            Responses to this revelation were as varied as the healings Jesus performed.  Some were eager to experience healing for themselves (Mt. 8:16-17).  Some were amazed by His authority (8:27, 33).  But others, doubted and criticized the miracles because their own power and authority were threatened by Jesus (9:3, 34).  Jesus continued His ministry in spite of this (9:35) and demonstrated great compassion toward the crowds because He saw them as “sheep without a shepherd” (9:36).  He then informed His disciples there was a large task set before them- a harvest that was plentiful, but a workforce that was few (v. 37).  “Ask the Lord to send out workers,” Jesus compels His disciples.  He is asking the same of you and me. 

            There are many roads to healing today.  I have experienced both the advantages of modern medicine and the miracle of prayer as a survivor of one of the worst cases of Covid 19 in my county.  And I can tell you this with no hesitation or doubt, Jesus the Messiah still heals today.  Sometimes it is a physical ailment that He touches and cures, but at other times, He heals sorrow and heartbreak through workers like you and I, who speak love and compassion into the world of a lost and lonely sheep. Jesus is calling for workers and He is asking you to go into the field.  Are you ready to respond with the words, “Here I am.  Send me,”?  (Is. 6:8; Mt. 9:38; Jn. 21:15-17)

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/, https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre/

            It is a captivating painting even though the bulk of it is in dark chocolate and sepia tones.  A group of five men are gathered around a table and two stand across from it on the right.  One man at the table is intent on counting out some coins, another looks on and one has his back to us but he is looking at one of the men who is standing as if in conversation with him.  A swath of light falls dramatically across the group.  The fifth man at the table is pointing at himself and the other man who is standing is pointing at him too, but you barely see him when gazing at this painting.  Your eyes are constantly drawn to the man pointing at himself.  The look on his face is one of disbelief and surprise.  The Calling of Saint Matthew by Caravaggio perfectly captures what the moment when Jesus said, “Follow Me!”  and one could truly believe it may have looked like this but there’s one glitch- it’s not set in Capernaum circa New Testament times, it’s set in 16th century Rome.

            Sometimes we dive into a Bible study and get right into the verses- especially in the Gospels where the focus is on Jesus and His teaching ministry.  We want to know what He said and what He did so that we can live the way He taught us.  We never give much thought to who compiled that information and wrote it down because, after all, the Gospels are not autobiographies.  But the Gospel of Matthew contains one autobiographical moment that is both compelling and surprising in its brevity and simplicity.   One would also think this moment would be one of the first things Matthew records, but it doesn’t show up until chapter 9.  One would also think that Matthew would include a little more detail about himself but only Mark’s Gospel includes the name of his father (Mk. 2:14).  With the lack of specific information that our 21st century minds are accustomed to the focus remains solely on the action- that is the moment when Jesus called Matthew and how Matthew responded to that call.  However, that doesn’t mean some of those details are lost to us.  It just means we have to do a little research. 

            It is noted that Jesus comes upon Matthew working at a tax collector’s booth in Capernaum (either at the dock collecting customs or on the international road which ran through the city taking tolls).  Jesus sees him and gives a simple but direct command, “Follow Me” (Mt. 9:9).  There are no deliberations or excuses to put off a response as previously demonstrated by two would-be disciples in Mt. 8:18-22.  Matthew immediately gets up and follows.  There are two amazing aspects concerning this.  First, tax collectors were not welcome in most circles.  They were considered to be traitors working for the oppressive Roman government.  They were also distrusted as most added exorbitant surcharges on to the taxes they collected to pocket for themselves.  They were generally ostracized and barred from the synagogue and the Temple so it was a rather lonely life in many ways.  So, Jesus’ call to a despised tax collector should definitely raise a few eyebrows.  The second aspect which holds a great surprise is Matthew’s willingness to walk away from what might have been a very cushy lifestyle.  There was something so compelling, so inviting about Jesus’ invitation that Matthew knew then and there that Jesus was the answer to whatever he’d been searching and hoping for in life. 

            It probably took some major attitude adjusting for the other disciples to see Matthew as part of Jesus’ inner circle.  But Jesus was always stretching their comfort zone!  However, the talents and skills Matthew had as a tax collector (not the unlawful ones!) made him an accurate and detailed observer of Jesus’ ministry and a precise record-keeper.  And in spite of being distanced from the synagogue and Temple worship, he was a wealth of Scriptural knowledge, often recognizing the connection between Jesus and Scriptures pointing to the work and ministry of the Messiah.  His call and response was indeed, dynamic but so was his brand of discipleship.

            Matthew’s moment of decision is also ours.  No matter where we are or what we are doing, there is a point where Jesus says, “Follow Me!” and He waits for our response.  The Lord has given each of us the ability to be His servant and He invites us to join Him on an amazing adventure called discipleship.  Matthew didn’t know beforehand that the very skills he had used as a tax collector would become assets when it came to recording the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, but Jesus did.  The same is true for you and I.    So, how will you use your skills and abilities for Him today?

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/, https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre/

            In 2009 I was teaching Bible at a small Christian School just outside of Allentown, Pennsylvania.  Every Fall the High School volunteered their services at nearby camps.  We cleaned and painted cabins, cleared trails, and helped with some minor construction projects.  Apparently I made quite an impression on the students the first time I was able to participate in Service Week.  During one of the work sessions one of the students made a comment about my involvement with the job at hand.  “What do you mean?” I asked.  “Well,” she said, “The other teachers don’t usually help.  They just watch us work and tell us what to do.  We really like it that you work too.”  The students were not necessarily critical of the teachers who didn’t join in, they just liked it that I did.  It was one of those moments when I realized how much I loved my job and how my actions as a teacher taught lessons I wasn’t even aware of.

            The best teachers are always the ones who demonstrate what they teach.  My thought was if I wanted my students to be giving and helpful Christians, then I should demonstrate that for them by picking up a paintbrush too.  The best teachers are also people who demand excellence and commitment from their students.  In its day the movie To Sir with Love embodied this kind of teacher-student relationship.  The inexperienced Mr.Thackeray abandons a traditional teaching style after a confrontation with the raucous and undisciplined class he is assigned to teach.  Instead of textbooks, his lessons will now be based on life and from that point on he demands and expects his students to be the grown-ups they will be once they graduate.  The road to adulthood is a rocky road and some of his students seem destined to never grow-up but he never loosens his expectations or demands and it pays off.

            Jesus was that kind of teacher.  He expected complete and total dedication from his “talmidim”, disciples, that demanded the highest level of commitment from them.  Matthew takes note of two “talmidim" in Matthew 8:19-22 who initially express that kind of commitment, but eventually fall short of actually “going all-in” as we like to say.  The first is notable in that he is described as a “scribe” (teacher of the law).  In previous chapters of Matthew the scribes, like the pharisees, have not ranked high in Matthew’s opinion, so you would expect this person to also be an object of dissatisfaction, and he proves to fall short as all the others before him did. 

            He addresses Jesus as Teacher (didaskale)- a title given to Christ in Matthew only by those who do not fully believe in Him (cf. 12:38; 19:16; 22:16, 24. 36).  The scribe professes that he would like to fully commit to following Jesus, but Jesus realizes he does not really know what that means.  Jesus responds to his statement by explaining that following Him would mean a life even more austere than the lives of birds and foxes.  So, the unrecorded question put to the scribe is, “Are you willing to live like this?” 

            Matthew describes a second follower as “another disciple”.  The “official 12” won’t be introduced to us until 10:1-4 so at this stage the term “disciple” must be taken more loosely as anyone who follows along with Jesus and shows some kind of interest in Him.  He is in strong contrast to the previous disciple- the first, was overly eager; the second is quite lackluster!  In fact, he begins by telling Jesus what he must do first, before he follows Him!  His statement “Bury my father” implies at the very least that the man wishes to postpone discipleship until some sort of funeral takes place.  Some commentators say right away; others look at the grammar and say this phrase is an idiom which means the man’s father hasn’t died yet and he’d like to remain with the family until that happens.  One can’t tell either way- but the point is this- the man’s actual priorities lay elsewhere and not with Jesus.  Jesus’ reply to this would-be disciple could be taken as bitingly sarcastic if He is taken literally.  “Let the spiritually dead take care of the physically dead,” Jesus tells the man, “Are you really willing to put all that aside and follow Me?”

            Matthew does not record how either of these men reacted to Jesus’ response to their desire to follow Him.  Some have idealistically assumed they responded in faith, but without specifying any positive action, Matthew seems to imply that they refused Jesus’ terms.   It’s popular to call Jesus a “Good Teacher” these days.  But we tend to define that role as someone who merely imparts knowledge (as in a list of facts or mottos to live by).  Jesus the Master Teacher is not interested in you knowing a fact or two.  He is not interested in mottos.  He is interested in your level of commitment.  He demands to be first and foremost in every area of your life.  Are you willing to do that?  Your response will determine what kind of “talmid” you truly are.

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/, https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre/

            It has been said that there are two things which are inevitable in life.  They are death and taxes.  Although that may be true, I believe the number count is off by one.  The third thing every person must come to grips with is the answer to the question, "Who is Jesus?"  Throughout the Gospel of Matthew, people from a wide cross-section of society must answer this question and then decide how they will respond to the answer.  Here are some examples:

            Matthew 8:23-27.  Jesus Calms the Sea:  Jesus and His disciples board a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee.  One of the Sea’s infamous squalls kicks up while Jesus is sleeping in the boat.  The disciples wake Him in a panic questioning if He is going to let them perish in the storm.  Jesus rebukes the wind and settles the raging water which causes the disciples to ask, “What kind of man is this that even the wind and sea obey Him?”

            Matthew 14:13-21.   The Feeding of the 5,000:  Many people are now following Jesus but His opponents are also growing in number.  Jesus tries to withdraw from the public spotlight but the crowds find Him.  At the close of the day only a small amount of food is available.  The disciples advise Jesus to send the crowd away, but instead, Jesus blesses the food and has it distributed.  The supply multiplies beyond what is humanly possible.  The event must have caused many to ask, “Who else but God could do this?”

            Matthew 16:13-28.  Peter's Confession and Jesus' Teachings on the Cost of Discipleship:  Jesus and the disciples have retreated to a quiet place to pray.  Jesus asks the disciples about the crowd's opinion of Him.  They say the people perceive Him to be a prophet like Elijah or John the Baptist.  Jesus then asks the disciples, "Who do you say that I am?"  Peter speaks for the 12 and states they believe Jesus is the "Anointed of God" (Messiah).  Jesus recognizes the truth of this confession but admonishes His disciples not to reveal His identity at that time.  He affirms that Peter and the disciples will continue the proclamation of the Good News in spite of the opposition they will face.  He continues to warn them of the suffering both He and His disciples will encounter as they proclaim the Good News.  The cost of discipleship is high, but its rewards are even greater.  Whether or not you will accept the cost of discipleship depends on how you answer Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?”

            Matthew 17:1-13.  The Transfiguration:  Jesus takes Peter, John and James to a quiet mountain to pray.  During this time these disciples are introduced to a side of Jesus they have never seen before.  Elijah and Moses also make an appearance prompting Peter to offer temporary housing for the trio.  God the Father affirms Peter's confession in Matthew 16 by instructing the disciples to listen to "My Beloved Son" in a scene reminiscent of Jesus' baptism (Mt. 3:13-17).  The Transfiguration occurs after Peter's confession and the teaching on discipleship which demonstrates that Jesus is God and His glory far surpasses any earthly suffering.  Many people like to label Jesus as a great teacher, but that is only partially true.  He was not a misguided revolutionary either as some like to speculate in order to avoid some of the challenges He spoke concerning sin and personal accountability for it.  The Transfiguration proves that Jesus was more then that; more than a mere mortal and that He has every right to make the demands of His disciples that He does.

            The question of Jesus' identity is central to all the Gospels and to those who want to be His disciples.  It is similar in principle to the idea of an interpreter.  You wouldn't hire an interpreter who didn't know the language you wished to communicate in.  In the same way, you would not want to be the disciple of someone who was delusional or an all-out liar.  If you are to respond in faith, you must believe in something or someone who is completely trust-worthy.  When you read through the Gospel of Matthew (as well as Mark, Luke and John), watch for the ways Matthew authenticates Jesus' claims and proves them to be true.

            Discipleship, however, is more than a mental assent that Jesus is Who He claims to be.  If that were so, then centuries worth of creeds and faith statements, but even more importantly Jesus’ own words, would not have turned the world on its heels. Discipleship is a total lifestyle change and commitment.  It is reshaping the way we look at the world and interact with it.  It reorients our priorities, thoughts and actions.   And so, just as Jesus questioned the 12, He asks us today as well, "Who do you say that I am?" (Mt. 16:15)  How we live as His disciples answers that question every day.

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/, https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre/

            I have a picture in my mind, a memory actually, of my sisters and I gathered around the dining room table with our heads bowed and my mother saying “grace” with us.  My father and mother usually dined later when he arrived home from work, but “the girls” ate earlier so we’d be in bed on time.  While we had that prayer memorized, there was still something quite personal about it and it instilled in us the belief that we should be both thankful for the food on the table but unafraid to ask God to take care of us each and every day.  We truly believed He was listening and that He answered our prayers.  (And we were right!)    

            Prayer can be beautiful and poetic but routine if not kept honest, simple as bedtime prayers spoken by a child, or as desperate as someone facing a crisis they’re not sure they’ll survive.  Prayer can be taken lightly or seriously, spoken as part of a daily routine, or casually remembered as part of a yearly ritual.  The latter two forms are perhaps the most ineffective because they not only disregard the power of prayer, but they also disregard the One to whom the prayers are directed.  Whatever approach a person takes in their prayer life reflects and discloses what they truly believe about prayer itself. 

            Jesus introduced one of the most important perspectives on prayer in what we call the Sermon on the Mount which is more of a collection of His teachings than it is one discourse delivered on a hillside.  The traditional site which is located on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee is a beautiful setting and one can easily imagine Jesus there speaking to the crowd surrounding Him.  “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or what person is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?  So, if you, despite being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”  (Mt. 7:7-11)

            There are four prominent action verbs in this passage:  ask, seek, knock and give.  The first three are a special verb form in Greek which could literally be translated as, “the asking one, the seeking one, and the knocking one” and it’s obvious why our English translations smooth it out for us, but the tense drives home the aspect of prayer which is persistent and personal.  Spiros Zodhiates noted that this type of prayer is not demanding but humble.  It involves the same type of trust exhibited by a child when he/she asks for bread or fish (two basic staples of the audience in Jesus’ day). 

            The fourth verb, give, is a key word throughout the passage, appearing 5 times and relating back to the verses that appear just prior to this passage which speaks of the “good gifts” God gives to those who are seeking His kingdom and righteousness (6:33).  Jesus’ teaching here also corresponds with the prayer He taught at the beginning of chapter 6 whereupon faithful disciples ask the Lord for “daily bread” (6:7-8) with full assurance that the Lord will supply for their needs.  God’s good gifts do not necessarily match what we ask for word for word, but the teaching here implies that God will give us what is best for us.  The parallel passage in Luke adds further insight by replacing "good gifts” with “the Holy Spirit” (Lk. 11:13)-the preeminent example of a good and perfect gift coming down from heaven above.

            There are two other interesting aspects of prayer here.  First, the word “son” which we often think of as a child, is not a young child who might not know the difference between a “good” and “bad” morsel of food, but an older one who would naturally be able to distinguish that a stone and a snake were not edible.  Therefore, we can conclude the one asking, seeking and knocking will know when the answer is given or the answer is found and when the door is opened.  And secondly, the obvious contrast between a Heavenly Father and an earthly father.  Jesus assumes that an earthly father, even with his faults and failures, knows what is best to give his child when he needs food.  So, then, wouldn’t a Heavenly Father who is holy, just and loving, give gifts that were even better?

            The struggle we have is that we often think we know what God should give us!  We never ask with the idea of patiently waiting to see how God will answer our prayers, rather we basically send up a list of what God should do and then complain He hasn’t answered when that list is not fulfilled.  Jesus promotes that prayer is an action that God will respond to and that our trust in His ability to give good gifts should compel us to continually ask until we recognize the answer.  This approach to prayer is a powerfully dynamic one filled with complete trust.  God hears.  God answers.  We will see  and recognize it when the answer comes.  Is this how you are praying?

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/, https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre/