by James Prette, teaching pastor
We are almost in the middle of our seven-month journey through “The Good New According to Mark”. Mark shows us Jesus bursting on to the world scene establishing a new Kingdom. This Kingdom is not based on the values of this world. In fact, it clashes with every other kind of rule one might find in this world.
In chapter three, Randy showed us that there is a profound picture of the Kingdom in the very group that Jesus called around himself to be the first members of his new community, the twelve disciples. His choosing of twelve men was an obvious, deliberate sign of a renewal of the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel. There were twelve sons of Jacob (who’s name became “Israel”). This new community, the Church of Jesus Christ, is a new tribe, a new nation, a new race, and a new family.
One does not choose one’s birth family. One finds oneself growing up among these strangers whom one may or may not like. There is a common feeling among human beings when one thinks, “Maybe I was adopted” Some people think, “Please tell me I’m adopted!” But we are in the family we are in, whether we like the other members of our families, or are like the other members of our families.
These disciples, these first members of this new family, called “Christians”, were a community like a nuclear family. They were a community not based on being alike or necessarily liking each other. This new family included Peter (the rough country fisherman who was always making brash mistakes) and Nathaniel (the refined, intellectual Israelite snob). There was Matthew (the rich, big city tax collector capitalist) and Judas (the radical Zealot agitator). There was also James and John (the impetuous “Sons of Thunder”) as well as Thomas (the cautious doubter). I like to imagine them being at some of their early gatherings. Maybe Judas the Zealot sidled up to Matthew around the campfire. They are wearing their “Hello. My name is…” stickers. Judas says, “So, you’re one of those Roman collaborator, eh? You know, we killed a lot of you guys back in ‘04. Are you sure Jesus meant to pick you?”
This new community was not based on anything we might associate with a group getting along. It was not based on them liking each other. It was not based on them agreeing with each other. It was not based on a common morality. It was not based on them all being good at following Jesus. It was not based on their never making mistakes. It was not based on certain shared qualifications. It was not based on them looking alike. It was not based on their common age or economy. It was not based on their shared taste in worship music.
This is a picture of the Kingdom of God: A bunch of people who do not naturally belong together, being together, actually loving each other, because they are circled around a common centre. We are circled up around our common centre of Jesus Christ. This is what makes us God’s children - receiving Jesus Christ. This is what makes us brothers and sisters - believing in Jesus Christ. This is what gives us our common tribal calling - to circle up around Jesus Christ, learning to know, love and serve him together.
After Christmas we will circle up back around Mark’s portrayal of our Lord until Easter, that other great recognition of his work of revealing himself and reconciling the world to himself. Remember, we are doing this to get to know him better, and learn to be his family better as we learn to love and obey him more, and learn to love each other more.
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