Positive Elements in Discipleship (Contd).
Faith: Many a time, Peter has taken upon himself the obligation of being the official spokesperson for the group of disciples vis-a-vis Jesus. In Luke 8: 45 we read: "All disclaimed it, and Peter and his companions said, "Master, the crowds are hemming you in and pressing upon you!'" This was the occasion of Jesus' query as to who touched him in the crowd when the woman with the issue of blood was cured on touching the edge of his cloak. If it was any other ordinary person who asked such a question in similar conditions, Peter would have definitely snapped back with words something like these: "What a senseless question to ask when the whole multitude of people is pressing upon you?!". Jesus knew that like anyone else Peter too was slow in understanding the power of God and discerning the different kinds of touches. The issue of blood was stopped because power went out of Jesus that was the result of a touch with faith. There were so many jostling and falling upon Jesus in the crowd without producing any effect and they were never noticed by Jesus. Because Jesus never felt their presence as power did not go out of him to people without faith. The thinking of Peter was materialistic and superficial that could not take in the deeper spiritual reality happening right in front of him. Thus, the third condition of discipleship is not only that one should always be with Jesus but also that it should be with deep faith.
An example of the operation of faith is vividly reported by Matthew in chapter 14: 28-32. Peter wanted to walk over the water just as Jesus did when all the disciples took him for a ghost. It was meant as verification for Peter of the reality of Jesus and Jesus invited him to do so. Without hesitation "Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked over the water towards Jesus" (Matthew, 14: 29). Here we see faith in action. If Peter looked at the water and his surroundings and pondered over them instead of fixing his gaze on Jesus, he would never have taken that plunge. Unlike Peter, who thought only of reaching Jesus as fast as he could, it would be sheer foolishness for anyone to do as he did, but without faith. In this sense we say that faith is irrational and more than that it is meant to be irrational. The believer has seen a gem of great value hidden from the eyes of non-believers that prompts him or her to sell all the possessions and buy the field where the gem lies hidden. Thus the foolishness of the believers turns out to be the real wisdom from a wider perspective of reality unbounded by a narrow definition of reality. "But when he saw the strength of the gale he was seized with fear; and beginning to sink, he cried, 'Save me, Lord' " (Matthew, 14: 30). The moment Peter took his gaze off Jesus and reverted to his ordinary ways of looking at the world, he was overwhelmed with fright seeing the violent situation of his surroundings. Automatically he began to sink, because now Peter depended on his own observations and judgments leaving aside the power of faith. At least he had the courage to let out a cry, which is a most beautiful prayer; "Save me, Lord". Jesus tells Peter that his lack of faith was the cause of his near ruin.
Attraction by the Father: It was a great challenge for people in general, including the religious and civil authorities to understand the true nature of Jesus Christ. They took him for John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets (Matthew, 16: 14). In this background, Jesus wanted to know whether at least his disciples understood him. Simon Peter gave the correct answer which was a revelation to him by the Father without which no one would be able to understand Jesus (Matthew, 16: 17-18). Thus, the fourth and last condition (which is logically the first condition) of discipleship is that the Father Himself should draw the potential disciple to Jesus without which there cannot be a true disciple of Jesus Christ (See John, 6: 37, 44,65). In the discourse on the true bread from heaven which the Father gives to those who believe in Jesus, the need of revelation and inspiration from the Father is stressed by Jesus (See John, 6: 28 - 71). Again we see the mark of genuine discipleship in the words of Peter "Lord, to whom shall we go? Your words are words of eternal life. We have faith, and we know that you are the Holy One of God (John, 6: 68 - 69).
However, we see how the raw human nature of Peter got the better of him in his friendly advice to Jesus to shun all sorts of sufferings and death he had to undergo in Jerusalem.
For Jesus, it was a necessity to suffer and die a violent death as he knew the prophecies about the suffering servant, a destiny fixed by God the Father Himself. Whoever tries to dissuade him from his mission is moved by Satan and is a stumbling block. The reason is: "You think as the humans think, not as God thinks" (Matthew, 16: 23). (To be Contd).
Faith: Many a time, Peter has taken upon himself the obligation of being the official spokesperson for the group of disciples vis-a-vis Jesus. In Luke 8: 45 we read: "All disclaimed it, and Peter and his companions said, "Master, the crowds are hemming you in and pressing upon you!'" This was the occasion of Jesus' query as to who touched him in the crowd when the woman with the issue of blood was cured on touching the edge of his cloak. If it was any other ordinary person who asked such a question in similar conditions, Peter would have definitely snapped back with words something like these: "What a senseless question to ask when the whole multitude of people is pressing upon you?!". Jesus knew that like anyone else Peter too was slow in understanding the power of God and discerning the different kinds of touches. The issue of blood was stopped because power went out of Jesus that was the result of a touch with faith. There were so many jostling and falling upon Jesus in the crowd without producing any effect and they were never noticed by Jesus. Because Jesus never felt their presence as power did not go out of him to people without faith. The thinking of Peter was materialistic and superficial that could not take in the deeper spiritual reality happening right in front of him. Thus, the third condition of discipleship is not only that one should always be with Jesus but also that it should be with deep faith.
An example of the operation of faith is vividly reported by Matthew in chapter 14: 28-32. Peter wanted to walk over the water just as Jesus did when all the disciples took him for a ghost. It was meant as verification for Peter of the reality of Jesus and Jesus invited him to do so. Without hesitation "Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked over the water towards Jesus" (Matthew, 14: 29). Here we see faith in action. If Peter looked at the water and his surroundings and pondered over them instead of fixing his gaze on Jesus, he would never have taken that plunge. Unlike Peter, who thought only of reaching Jesus as fast as he could, it would be sheer foolishness for anyone to do as he did, but without faith. In this sense we say that faith is irrational and more than that it is meant to be irrational. The believer has seen a gem of great value hidden from the eyes of non-believers that prompts him or her to sell all the possessions and buy the field where the gem lies hidden. Thus the foolishness of the believers turns out to be the real wisdom from a wider perspective of reality unbounded by a narrow definition of reality. "But when he saw the strength of the gale he was seized with fear; and beginning to sink, he cried, 'Save me, Lord' " (Matthew, 14: 30). The moment Peter took his gaze off Jesus and reverted to his ordinary ways of looking at the world, he was overwhelmed with fright seeing the violent situation of his surroundings. Automatically he began to sink, because now Peter depended on his own observations and judgments leaving aside the power of faith. At least he had the courage to let out a cry, which is a most beautiful prayer; "Save me, Lord". Jesus tells Peter that his lack of faith was the cause of his near ruin.
Attraction by the Father: It was a great challenge for people in general, including the religious and civil authorities to understand the true nature of Jesus Christ. They took him for John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets (Matthew, 16: 14). In this background, Jesus wanted to know whether at least his disciples understood him. Simon Peter gave the correct answer which was a revelation to him by the Father without which no one would be able to understand Jesus (Matthew, 16: 17-18). Thus, the fourth and last condition (which is logically the first condition) of discipleship is that the Father Himself should draw the potential disciple to Jesus without which there cannot be a true disciple of Jesus Christ (See John, 6: 37, 44,65). In the discourse on the true bread from heaven which the Father gives to those who believe in Jesus, the need of revelation and inspiration from the Father is stressed by Jesus (See John, 6: 28 - 71). Again we see the mark of genuine discipleship in the words of Peter "Lord, to whom shall we go? Your words are words of eternal life. We have faith, and we know that you are the Holy One of God (John, 6: 68 - 69).
However, we see how the raw human nature of Peter got the better of him in his friendly advice to Jesus to shun all sorts of sufferings and death he had to undergo in Jerusalem.
For Jesus, it was a necessity to suffer and die a violent death as he knew the prophecies about the suffering servant, a destiny fixed by God the Father Himself. Whoever tries to dissuade him from his mission is moved by Satan and is a stumbling block. The reason is: "You think as the humans think, not as God thinks" (Matthew, 16: 23). (To be Contd).
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