Called to go: CTG 0024

Continued from previous blog post CTG 0023 ...

Collaborators, Terrorists and Persecutors

Matthew's place of occupation was a customs booth situated on a major trade route that passed through Capernaum in Galilee. He collected taxes for Herod Antipas who ruled subserviently on Rome's behalf, whose empire extended beyond the eastern coastline of their sea (the Mediterranean).

In those days tax collectors often took advantage of their people's predicament, for their own personal gain. And their ill gotten gain attracted the company of prostitutes. There is no doubt that many Jews would have looked on Matthew as being a collaborator. A traitor. One day Jesus called Matthew (Levi) to become one of his disciples.

Simon (not Simon Peter) possessed a totally different ideology. Matthew, Mark, and Luke in their records describe him as being known as Simon the Zealot. When these documents were written their readers would have understood that Simon had belonged to a mindset that was diametrically opposed to Roman influence and control. Even to the point of violence. Those of this persuasion would have been considered to have been either freedom fighters (at least supporters of the freedom movement) or terrorists, depending on one's viewpoint.

Both Matthew and Simon became followers of Jesus and experienced the step-by-step transformation that he brings to one's life and outlook. And amazingly he chose them both to belong to his group of apostles. Can you imagine the conflict of interests that this could precipitate? And yet Jesus prepared them for a ministry that overrode those tendencies. Enabled by the Holy Spirit they became effective proclaimers of the gospel of Christ. People received forgiveness and a new life, as they listened, repented and believed the good news.

Saul (also known as Paul) was a Jew and a Roman citizen. He was born in Tarsus in the Roman province of Cilicia (Turkey) and was later educated in Jerusalem. Committed to the religious views of his ancestors, Saul possessed knowledge of the holy scriptures and the traditions of his people.

After the ascension of Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit the community of believers increased in Jerusalem and subsequently spread to other places. Saul’s anger became violently focussed against those of his own ethnic race who believed that Jesus is the Son of God and he sought to stamp out the church in Jerusalem. But this only scattered the believers and they evangelised as they fled the persecution. Saul was on his way to Damascus (Syria) to cause havoc among the believers there, when the risen ascended Christ dramatically revealed himself to him. His life was never the same again. It was as if a veil had been removed from his eyes and he now saw for the first time that Jesus of Nazareth was in fact the promised Saviour prophesied about in the sacred writings of his people.

This persecutor of the followers of Jesus had now become a follower himself. And in response to the call of Christ upon his life he dedicated himself to proclaim the gospel and plant communities of believers progressively across the Mediterranean.

Is it possible for the same kind of transformation to take place today? Yes it is! Is anything too hard for the Lord?

Thank God, he wants everyone, everywhere, to have the opportunity to experience his forgiveness and transforming power. Including the most radicalised.

Just imagine. Those who were messengers of death becoming messengers of life. Bringing the good news about Jesus to their own people and then spreading it among many other people groups. Peoples who had been hostile to each other. Instead of hating and causing each other pain and suffering, now loving each other ... because of Christ’s love for us all.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16 ESV).

Called to go

Tuesday, 4 September 2018

CTG 0024

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