Recently, our church went through the Book of Acts together, and several times it mentions they gathered the church together and reported all the things God had done. I haven’t shared a “report” in a long time but we want you to join us in praising God for His goodness.
Deb and I are still living in San Antonio. We’ve been here over 12 years now. We spent two and a half years renting a place in the middle of the city. Deb’s folks rented the duplex right next to us. Then we moved to the Southside of San Antonio, which everyone tells you not to do. We spent a year there and sharing the gospel with our neighbors. We affectionately called that time our tour in “Antoniostan.” Now, we’ve been living in a house for eight and a half years, and it’s the longest either of us has stayed in one house in our lives. It’s fully handicapped accessible and more than we ever deserve. One of our dear friends nicknamed it the “fancy pants house,” and that name has stuck to this day.
Chuck, our oldest son, and Jessica are in Dallas. Chuck is a systems engineer for a big company and has really come into his own as a valued asset. Jessica is a talented artist and has sold some of her pieces. Blake is in Middle School, while Charles and Ava are in Elementary School.
Wes and Tina are in Alaska. Wes is a Major working in Military Intelligence, and Tina is a talented photographer. Calvin, Addie, and Owen are being homeschooled. Samuel enjoys getting in the mix, acting like he’s in school too. (Your time will come, little one, your time will come.) They enjoy being the church in their home with their neighbors and making disciples for Jesus.
For the past 12 years, we’ve been working both locally and globally, making disciples of Jesus. Some have coined this approach as “Glocal.” Throughout these years, we’ve experienced seasons where one emphasis was stronger than the other, but now we’re about 50/50.
We host a church in our home, and everyone actively participates in making disciples. Additionally, we’re involved in planting churches that prioritize multiplying disciples for Jesus. Our goal is to see multiple spiritual generations in different relational streams. We like to say, “We seek out 4th Soil people to the 4th generation and beyond.”
Leadership Development for Churches Downstream
Our ministry extends beyond borders. We mentor leaders on Zoom who have their own ministries across the world. These leaders have established networks of multiplying churches in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and, of course, North America. It’s truly an amazing answer to our prayers, especially during our early years when we were asking God to use us to spread the gospel globally.
If you’re interested, I’ve put links at the bottom you can click on for our Top 12 Lessons we’ve learned during this remarkable journey over the past 12 years. I’ll be updating this list in weeks to come so stay tuned. If you’re listening, the Lessons Learned link is in the video description below. I will also be posting each of these on my Blog.
Most of you know that Chuck has been dealing with a disease called Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS). We’re happy to report that after our last visit to the neurologist, his lung capacity has improved by 50%, and he’s grown stronger since last year’s visit. This is very good news. Our neurologist, who is also a believer, said, “You’re a miracle! Keep praying!” So all glory to God, and thanks to all of you who have been praying all these years. God is hearing your prayers. Life is still challenging, but it’s become a very manageable rhythm and has opened many doors for the gospel.
Deb has recently struggled with chronic laryngitis. For four months, she could barely talk above a whisper. She underwent a procedure by an ENT for a temporary fix, but unfortunately, it only lasted a few weeks. There may be a more extensive surgery in her future. Please keep her in your prayers.
We’ve slowed down quite a bit. Our travels are mostly to see family, and we’re off the training and conference circuit. Chuck even takes a nap every day. So, we’re trying to act our age (and our disease).
A Gathering of Churches to Send Merari to Egypt
As we look to the future, there is a promise from God that He will “Fill our living room, it will multiply, and you will see My hand.” So it’s from our Living Room to the Nations. This has already been happening. We have one single woman headed to Egypt in March, a couple headed to St Louis in July, and a young couple possibly headed to Pakistan in a couple of years. And of course, we’ll keep plugging away at our city. We don’t see any major changes for the two of us but want to keep Jesus’ Great Commission in front of us and finish well. We want to keep pressing disciple-makers into the harvest every step of the way. We’ll just keep doing what we’re doing; loving Jesus and His people.
All for Jesus,
Chuck & Deb
Top 12 Lessons Learned Over the Last 12 Years (Click the Link)
Then one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume. When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!”
But Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, Teacher,” he said. “Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?” “I suppose the one who was forgiven more,” Simon replied. “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not greet Me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing My feet since I arrived. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume. Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” But those at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” And Jesus told the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
My Thoughts
Do you think Simon got the “punchline” of the story Jesus told? I doubt it. It seems the woman was a notorious sinner. She humble herself and comes to Jesus with a lavish gift of repentance. She is acknowledging her sin and Jesus says “He who is forgiven much, loves much.”
And here’s the punchline Simon missed; Who of us has not sinned much? Who of us can stand before God and say with a straight face, “Well, I wasn’t that bad.” No, I think if we were standing in the Judge’s presence, Simon and the rest of us would quickly fall to our knees and confess our absolute depravity. We would clearly see our need for His forgiveness and comparisons would not even enter our minds.
But this is what religion without relationship does to people. We forget that there is nothing we could do to merit our salvation. We begin to compare ourselves to other “sinners” and use them to elevate ourselves. Pretty soon we are thinking God loves us because we are so “good.” We have no need for grace and mercy and extend very little to those around us.
But as disciple-makers, not only are we carefully watching for self-righteousness to rear its ugly head in our own lives, we are guarding against it in those we mentor as well. Jesus had to deal with this in His own crew several times.
Who was the greatest? (Luke 22:24-30)
Wanting to call down fire on a town. (Luke 9:51-56)
Stopping others from casting out demons. (Luke 9:49-50)
And the list goes on. As disciple-makers we have to spot it and call it out before the poison of self-righteousness sets in.
My Story
I have friends I love and respect dearly but there’s one thing that annoys them about me. I refuse to quit calling myself a “sinner.” Now, I usually include “saved by grace.” But that doesn’t matter. It still bothers them that I include being a “sinner” as part of my identity. I understand where they are coming from. They are accentuating the fact that they are new creatures in Christ and have left the old life behind. They are no longer slaves to sin and as children of God they have a new identity. They don’t want to be associated with the old life that no longer exists in their justified state.
But in my mind, maintaining the moniker of being a sinner is a state of reality. I sin every single day (much to my chagrin). And I believe I’m in good (or not so good) company. Recognizing this does not rattle my confidence in my identity in Christ. In fact, it intensifies it!
When I admit “I’m a sinner saved by grace” it brings two things in to clear focus;
I have sinned much
Therefore, I’m forgiven much
And what does Jesus say about those who are forgiven much? They love much! To me, admitting the fact that sin is still a very real part of my daily struggle and that Jesus loves me enough to die for all that wickedness within me, makes grace all that much more amazing. Reminding myself I’m a “sinner” also keeps me humble. I’m not as tempted to play the comparison game.
As a disciple-maker, I want to own my condition and make sure everyone I mentor knows I’m under no illusions that I’m any better than them. I also want them to know they are no better than anyone else either!
So I stand with the Apostle Paul under the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ when he says;
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15 KJV)
I have been forgiven much and I love the Forgiver much!
Our Action Plan
Now we’ll look at some ideas on how to help us avoid self-righteousness and model humility for the people we are discipling.
Study 1 John together with a special focus on what John says about sin
Admit your short-comings to those you are discipling
Spend a special time of confessing your sins to one another (James 5:16)
Self-righteousness is a very dangerous sin in itself. Let’s learn to recognize it in ourselves and those we disciple and nip it in the bud.
¡Bienvenido! Hoy, veremos el Evangelio de Lucas para ver cómo Jesús aborda el tema de la justicia propia.
Así que comencemos.
Lucas 7:36-50
Uno de los fariseos rogó a Jesús que comiese con él. Y habiendo entrado en casa del fariseo, se sentó a la mesa.Entonces una mujer de la ciudad, que era pecadora, al saber que Jesús estaba a la mesa en casa del fariseo, trajo un frasco de alabastro con perfume; y estando detrás de él a sus pies, llorando, comenzó a regar con lágrimas sus pies, y los enjugaba con sus cabellos; y besaba sus pies, y los ungía con el perfume. Cuando vio esto el fariseo que le había invitado, dijo para sí: Este, si fuera profeta, conocería quién y qué clase de mujer es la que le toca, que es pecadora.
Entonces respondiendo Jesús, le dijo: Simón, una cosa tengo que decirte. Y él le dijo: Di, Maestro.”Un acreedor tenía dos deudores: el uno le debía quinientos denarios, y el otro cincuenta; y no teniendo ellos con qué pagar, perdonó a ambos. Di, pues, ¿cuál de ellos le amará más?” Respondiendo Simón, dijo:” Pienso que aquel a quien perdonó más.” Y él le dijo: Rectamente has juzgado.
Y volvíendo a la mujer, dijo a Simón: “¿Ves esta mujer? Entré en tu casa, y no me diste agua para mis pies; mas esta ha regado mis pies con lágrimas, y los ha enjugado con sus cabellos. No me diste beso; mas esta, desde que entré, no ha cesado de besar mis pies. No ungiste mi cabeza con aceite; mas esta ha ungido con perfume mis pies.Por lo cual te digo que sus muchos pecados le son perdonados, porque amó mucho; mas aquel a quien se le perdona poco, poco ama.” Y a ella le dijo: Tus pecados te son perdonados. Y los que estaban juntamente sentados a la mesa, comenzaron a decir entre sí: ¿Quién es este, que también perdona pecados? Pero él dijo a la mujer: “Tu fe te ha salvado, ve en paz.”
Mis Pensamientos
¿Crees que Simón entendió la “conclusión” de la historia que Jesús contó? Lo dudo. Parece que la mujer era una pecadora notoria. Ella se humilla y se acerca a Jesús con un generoso regalo de arrepentimiento. Ella está reconociendo su pecado y Jesús dice: “Al que se le perdona mucho, mucho ama”.
Y aquí está la conclusión que Simón se perdió; ¿Quién de nosotros no ha pecado mucho? ¿Quién de nosotros puede pararse delante de Dios y decir con cara seria: “Bueno, yo no era tan malo”? No. Creo que si estuviéramos en presencia del Juez, Simón y el resto de nosotros caeríamos rápidamente de rodillas y confesaríamos nuestra absoluta depravación. Veríamos claramente nuestra necesidad de Su perdón y las comparaciones ni siquiera entrarían en nuestras mentes.
Pero esto es lo que la religión sin relación hace a las personas. Olvidamos que no hay nada que podamos hacer para merecer nuestra salvación. Comenzamos a compararnos con otros “pecadores” y los usamos para elevarnos. Muy pronto pensamos que Dios nos ama porque somos tan “buenos”. No tenemos necesidad de gracia y misericordia y nos extendemos muy poco de ésta a los que nos rodean.
Pero como hacedores de discípulos, no solo estamos vigilando cuidadosamente si la justicia propia asoma su fea cabeza en nuestras propias vidas, sino que también nos estamos protegiendo contra ella a aquellos a quienes asesoramos. Jesús tuvo que lidiar con esto en sus propios discípulos varias veces.
– ¿Quién fue el más grande?
– Querer provocar fuego sobre una ciudad.
– Impedir que otros expulsen demonios.
Y la lista continúa. Como hacedores de discípulos, tenemos que detectarlo y denunciarlo antes de que el veneno de la justicia propia se establezca.
Mi Historia
Tengo amigos a los que quiero y respeto mucho, pero hay una cosa que les molesta de mí. Me niego a dejar de llamarme a mí mismo un “pecador”. Ahora, por lo general incluyo “salvados por gracia”. Pero eso no importa. Todavía les molesta que incluya ser un “pecador” como parte de mi identidad. Entiendo de dónde vienen. Están acentuando el hecho de que son nuevas criaturas en Cristo y han dejado atrás la vieja vida. Ya no son esclavos del pecado y, como hijos de Dios, tienen una nueva identidad. No quieren ser asociados con la vieja vida que ya no existe en su estado justificado.
Pero en mi mente, mantener el apodo de ser un pecador es un estado de realidad. Peco todos los días (muy a mi pesar). Y creo que estoy en buena (o no tan buena) compañía. Reconocer esto no hace tambalear mi confianza en mi identidad en Cristo. De hecho, ¡lo intensifica!
Cuando admito que “soy un pecador salvado por la gracia”, esto pone dos cosas en claro;
– He pecado mucho
– Por lo tanto, se me ha perdonado mucho
¿Y qué dice Jesús acerca de aquellos a quienes se les perdona mucho? ¡Aman mucho! Para mí, admitir el hecho de que el pecado sigue siendo una parte muy real de mi lucha diaria y que Jesús me ama lo suficiente como para morir por toda esa maldad dentro de mí, hace que la gracia sea mucho más asombrosa. Recordarme a mí mismo que soy un “pecador” también me mantiene humilde. No estoy tan tentado a jugar el juego de la comparación.
Como hacedor de discípulos, quiero ser dueño de mi condición y asegurarme de que todos los que asesoro sepan que no me hago ilusiones de que soy mejor que ellos. ¡También quiero que sepan que tampoco son mejores que los demás!
Así que estoy con el apóstol Pablo bajo la gracia del Señor Jesucristo cuando dice;
Este mensaje es digno de crédito y merece ser aceptado por todos: que Cristo Jesús vino al mundo a salvar a los pecadores, de los cuales yo soy el primero. (1 Timoteo 1:15 NIV)
¡He sido perdonado mucho y amo mucho al Perdonador!
Nuestro Plan de Acción
Ahora veremos algunas ideas sobre cómo ayudarnos a evitar la justicia propia y modelar la humildad para las personas a las que estamos discipulando.
– Estudie 1 Juan juntos, enfócate especialmente en lo que Juan dice acerca del pecado
– Admite tus defectos a aquellos a quienes estás discipulando
– Dediquen un tiempo especial a confesar sus pecados unos a otros (Santiago 5:16)
La justicia propia es un pecado muy peligroso en sí mismo. Aprendamos a reconocerlo en nosotros mismos y en aquellos a quienes discipulamos y cortemosle hasta la raíz misma.
My daughter-in-law is a gifted artist. We recently toured her in-home studio and there was a particular abstract style I really liked. The characters, although nondescript, exhibit different personalities. The earth tone she used made me reflect on what I would imagine ancient Palestine to be like. Then an idea popped into my head. “Why not commission her to do a painting of Jesus and the Twelve?” I would love the style and study the individual apostle and match them with the actual Biblical character as I reflected on their personalities. So not only did she put her skills to work but our granddaughter, Ava, helped as well! Here’s the wonderful piece of art they painted for me. Now to study and draw out the Master and His twelve Apostles. Here’s a brief description of how I will tackle each character in the painting;
Outline for each character
Short description
Why I chose that particular character in the painting
Longer description
What I admire about the character
Scripture references used
Jesus is at the center of all the disciples but I will save the best for last and why I chose this particular character to represent Him. A list of the Apostles is given in Matthew’s Gospel.
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him. (Matthew 10:2-4)
We have a lot of information about a few Apostles, a little on a few more and almost none on the rest. I’m going to stick to information found in the Bible and let you research the archives on tradition on your own. I hope you find this interesting and informative as we reflect on the Biblical descriptions of those who literally changed the course of history and use Jessica and Ava’s painting to open the windows of our imagination.
One last note before we start in earnest; I’m going to use a writing style that will be both understood and enjoyed by my nine year old granddaughter. Ava, I hope you enjoy my description of your painting.
Thank you so much Jessica and Ava!
Simon Peter: The Bold and Impulsive Disciple
Simon Peter was a fisherman by trade, casting his nets into the Sea of Galilee. But when Jesus came into his life, everything changed. Jesus saw something special in Simon and gave him a new name: Peter, which means “rock.” Peter was a mix of boldness and blunders, making him one of the most colorful characters among Jesus’ disciples. I picked this character to show Simon Peter because, if you squint your eyes a little, it seems like his mouth is wide open. Peter was a talkative guy who sometimes got himself into hot water. He’d say things that made people cheer and other times made them scratch their heads.
Peter had moments of great insight and moments when he stumbled. One day, Jesus asked the disciples who they thought He was. Peter boldly declared, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus commended him for this revelation, saying that it came from God Himself. Peter was like a super hero, standing on the rock of faith.
But then, just moments later, Peter’s impulsiveness got the better of him. When Jesus explained that He would suffer and die, Peter objected, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” Jesus responded sternly, calling Peter “Satan” because he was not thinking about God’s plan but human concerns.
Peter also witnessed a remarkable event on the Mount of Transfiguration. There, he saw Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah. Excited, Peter suggested building three shelters for them. It’s as if he couldn’t contain his awe and enthusiasm. Peter’s journey was a rollercoaster of faith, doubt, and passion—a reminder that even flawed individuals can play significant roles in God’s story.
I really like Peter because he was a brave person. Although he made plenty of mistakes, he was not afraid to try new things and follow Jesus. He was willing to lead even if people didn’t understand him. I think this is what Jesus noticed and why He picked Peter to lead the other apostles.
(Matthew 4:18, 10:2, 16:16-23, 17:1-9, Mark 3:16, 8:29-33, 9:1-8, Luke 9:19-36)
Andrew: The First Follower
Andrew was the brother of Peter. But before he met Jesus, he was already seeking spiritual truth. He had been a disciple of John the Baptist, which shows his hunger for God even before encountering Christ. One day, John pointed at Jesus and declared, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Andrew and another disciple immediately started following Jesus. He was one of Jesus’ first followers. That’s why I picked the character just to the right of Jesus to represent Andrew.
Andrew wasted no time. He found his brother, Peter, and introduced him to Jesus. Imagine the excitement of following a great teacher! Both Andrew and Peter were fishermen, working together in their family business. They lived in a place called Bethsaida, and their family was tight-knit—they all shared a house, which even included Peter’s mother-in-law.
When Jesus called, Andrew and Peter left everything behind. They dropped their nets and followed Him. Andrew was part of some private discussions with Jesus, like when Jesus explained the end of the world. But he wasn’t as chatty as his brother Peter. After Jesus’ resurrection, Andrew was among those who received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
What I admire most about Andrew is that he took Jesus’ initial invitation seriously. Jesus had said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Andrew lived up to that promise. He was always bringing people to Jesus.
Andrew’s story reminds us that we don’t need to be perfect to play a significant role in God’s plan. Sometimes, it’s the quiet ones who make the biggest waves.
(Matthew 4:18; 10:2, Mark 1:16, 29; 3:18; 13:3, Luke 6:14; John 1:40, 44; 6:8-9; 12:22. Act 1:13-2:4)
James: The son of Zebedee
James was also one of the twelve Apostles, which means he was part of a group chosen by Jesus to help spread His teachings. I chose this figure in your painting because he seems to have a strong face. Like someone who is determined to be faithful to Jesus.
James had a brother named John. They were like two peas in a pod! They were both fishermen, just like their dad, Zebedee. One day, Jesus came along and said to James and John, “Follow me!” It was like an exciting adventure. Jesus wanted them to be fishers of men, which meant they would help bring people closer to God. James and John left their fishing nets behind and followed Jesus everywhere.
On one occasion Jesus healed a sick girl. She was the daughter of a man named Jarius. James watched in wonder as Jesus touched her and made her well. It was another miracle!
James and John were known as the “Sons of Thunder.” Maybe they were called that because they were bold and full of energy! One time they asked Jesus if they could sit next to Him in His kingdom. The other disciples got a little upset because they thought it was very arrogant. Truth be told, they were probably mad because they didn’t ask first.
After Jesus rose from the dead, James saw Him! Can you imagine the joy? James became even bolder. He told everyone about Jesus, even when it was dangerous. Sadly, James was the first Apostle to die for his faith. But he knew that Jesus was worth it.
I like James because he was loyal to Jesus even when it cost him his life. He was committed to his teacher and friend Jesus.
(Matthew 4:21, 10:2, 17:1, 20:20, 26:37; Mark 1:19-20, 3:17, 5:37, 9:2, 10:35, 41, 13:3, 14:33; Luke 5:10, 6:14, 8:51, 9:28, 54; John 21:2; Acts 1:13,12:2)
John: The Apostle of Love
John was the younger brother of James, another special friend of Jesus. He wrote some important books about Jesus, like the Gospel of John and a few letters called Epistles. John loved to talk about loving God and other people. Because of this, people started calling him the “Apostle of Love.”
I picked the character that stands right next to Jesus. His robe is white, covering his heart. It’s like he’s saying, “I love Jesus with all my heart!”
But how did John become so close to Jesus? Well, it all started when Jesus met John by the Sea of Galilee. John was a fisherman, and Jesus invited him to join His special group of followers. John, along with his brother James, became part of Jesus’ inner circle. They saw amazing things together, like healing miracles and even a special prayer in a garden.
John and James were sometimes called the “Sons of Thunder.” Why? Well, they were a bit like firecrackers—full of energy and passion! John had to learn from Jesus how to love people the way He did. Once, they wanted to bring down fire on a village that didn’t welcome Jesus. He corrected John and told him that He came to save people, not destroy them. Another time, they stopped people from casting out demons in Jesus’ name. Jesus told him, “Don’t do that. If people use my name for good, they can’t be against me.” John made his share of mistakes but Jesus was patient with him and taught him how to love people better.
At a very sad moment, when Jesus was crucified (which means He was killed on a cross), John was there. He stood by Jesus’ side, along with some other women, including Mary, Jesus’ mother. Jesus trusted John so much that He asked him to take care of Mary. Even though Jesus had brothers, John was the one who looked after Jesus’ mom.
I like to remember John as the Apostle who learned to love from Jesus before he was called the Apostle of Love. His courage, love, and commitment to Jesus shine brightly in the pages of the Bible. So, whenever I look at your painting, I see John, and think about love, bravery, and a heart for God and people.
(Matthew 27:56, Mark 1:19-20, 3:17, 5:37, 9:2; 14:33, John 13:23, 19:26-27, 20:2-8, 20, 21:7, 20, 24; 1 John 1:1-4; Revelation 1:1-2, 9)
Philip: The Friendly Apostle
Philip was a special person chosen by Jesus to be one of His messengers. I picked the character who is standing at the end, looking friendly with his long hair and a beard like your dad’s.
Jesus walked a long way to find Philip. He already knew some other friends—John, Andrew, and Peter. But Jesus wanted Philip to be His friend too. When Jesus asked Philip to join Him, Philip said yes right away! He was great at making new friends.
Later, Jesus gave Philip and the other friends a special job. They had to go around helping people who were sick or scared. Their message was simple: “God loves you and His kingdom is here!” Philip saw Jesus do amazing things, like making blind people see and even bringing dead people back to life!
One day, there were lots of hungry people listening to Jesus. Jesus turned to Philip and asked, “Where can we get food for all these people?” Jesus already knew what He would do, but He wanted to see how Philip would respond. Philip said, “We don’t have enough money to buy food for everyone. Even if we did, it wouldn’t be enough.” But then Jesus did something incredible. He took a little bit of bread and fish and made it multiply until there was plenty for everyone to eat. He fed 5000 people with just a small amount of food!
As Jesus’ time on earth was ending, some Greek guys came to Philip. They wanted to talk to Jesus, but they weren’t Jewish, so they didn’t know if they could. Philip was kind and helpful. He took them to Jesus, connecting them with the amazing teachings of Jesus.
And that’s why we remember Philip as the friendly guy at the end of the picture—always ready to help and connect people with Jesus!
(Matthew 10:1-3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:14, John 1:43-46, 48; 6:5, 7; 12:21-22)
Bartholomew: The Hungry Apostle
Bartholomew was one of Jesus’ special friends. His name means “son of a farmer.” I picked the character who looks like he’s wearing a brown robe, looking a bit like he has dirt on him from working in the fields. Maybe Bartholomew was a farmer, or maybe not—we’re not sure. But let’s explore some stories about him and the other friends of Jesus.
Once, Bartholomew and the others were very hungry. They walked through a field of wheat and picked some to eat. But some people who thought they knew everything about God got upset. They said to Jesus, “Your friends are breaking the rules! They’re not supposed to work on the day of rest!” Jesus stood up for his friends and said, “You don’t really understand God’s rules or how to love people.”
Another time, Bartholomew witnessed a miracle at a wedding. Jesus and his friends were at a party when they ran out of wine. Jesus’ mom asked for his help. At first, Jesus hesitated, but then he decided to do something amazing. He took eight big pots of water and turned them into wine. And guess what? It was the best wine ever! The person in charge of the party was so surprised that they told everyone how special the wine was.
Bartholomew was part of these incredible moments with Jesus. He learned about love, kindness, and miracles. Even though we don’t know much about him, we remember Bartholomew as a friend who walked, ate, and drank wine with Jesus.
(Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:1-19, John 2:1-12, Acts 1:13)
Thomas: The Brave but Doubting Apostle
Thomas was a special friend of Jesus. He followed Jesus everywhere, like a loyal companion. Thomas had two remarkable qualities: he was very brave, and he loved asking questions. I chose the character that looks like he has a white patch over one eye. Maybe it was hard for him to see clearly. Sometimes he felt confident and strong, but other times he worried and wasn’t sure.
One day, Jesus wanted to visit His sick friend Lazarus. But the other friends warned Jesus that it was dangerous because some bad people wanted to hurt Him. Despite the risk, Jesus decided to help Lazarus. Thomas boldly said to the others, “Let’s go with Him. If we die, we die!” He wasn’t afraid at all.
Later, after Jesus died and miraculously came back to life, He appeared to His friends. But Thomas didn’t believe them. He insisted, “Unless I see the marks on His hands and touch them, I won’t believe.” Thomas needed proof. Then, one amazing day, Jesus stood before Thomas. He showed Thomas the scars where He was hurt. Thomas saw that Jesus was truly alive again. It was a moment of wonder and faith.
What’s great about Thomas is that he’s like many of us. Sometimes we’re brave and faithful, just like Thomas when he stood up for Jesus. Other times, we doubt and worry. But in the end, Jesus showed Thomas that He was real and that He loved him—even when he had questions.
(Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15, John 14:5, 20:24-28, 21:2)
Matthew: The Radically Changed Apostle
Matthew was one of Jesus’ friends. He used to collect money from people for the bad guys who ruled the land. People did not like him because he took more money than he should. I picked this guy on the far right because he was the last person you would think Jesus would choose. He also had many friends who did bad things. But Jesus loved him and his friends just as much as the other disciples.
One day, Jesus asked Matthew to come with Him. Matthew said yes and left everything behind. He invited Jesus and his friends to his house for dinner. The religious leaders were mad at Jesus for this. They thought they were better than Matthew and his friends. They did not want to be around them. But Jesus told them that He came to help people who needed Him, not people who thought they were perfect. He said, “People who are well do not need a doctor, but people who are sick do; I did not come to invite good people, but bad people.” This reminds us that we should love everyone and tell them about Jesus.
I admire Matthew for his loyalty and for giving up his old life to follow Jesus. He was probably the richest and most comfortable of Jesus’ friends. But he was ready to give it all up for Jesus.
(Matthew 9:9-10, 10:3, Mark 2:14-17, 3:18, Luke 5:27-32, 6:15)
James: The son of Alphaeus
James was one of the twelve friends of Jesus who helped him spread God’s message of love. He was also called James the younger because he was younger than another James who was also Jesus’ friend. He was not the same as Jesus’ brother who also had the same name. I picked the friend who is next to the last one on the right. We don’t know a lot about him and the Bible only talks about him a few times. Sometimes it’s really about his mom who also loved Jesus. Since there is not much to say about him I will tell you some amazing things that he and the other friends saw.
The first thing was when Jesus walked on water. Jesus had just finished telling many people about God and it was getting dark. He told his friends to get in a boat and go to the other side of the lake. But Jesus stayed there to talk to God in his heart. Later that night the friends saw something scary on the water. They thought it was a ghost coming to their boat. But it was actually Jesus walking on the water. He told them not to be afraid and got in the boat with them. They were all so amazed!
Another thing was when a man with a very bad skin problem came to Jesus and asked him to make him better. The friends were all very scared because the skin problem could spread to anyone who touched the man. But do you know what Jesus did? He actually reached out and touched the man and made him better. Jesus was not scared and trusted that God could make him better.
I like James because he got to see some amazing miracles that Jesus did. Can you imagine hanging out with Jesus and seeing some of the things James did?!
(Matthew 10:3, 27:56, Mark 3:18, 15:40, 16:1, Luke 6:15, Acts 1:13)
Thaddaeus: The Curious Apostle
Thaddaeus, also known as Judas (not the same as Judas Iscariot), was one of Jesus’ close followers and messengers. In your painting I chose this character because he has a unique way of standing next to Jesus—his head is slightly tilted, like he is curious about everything.
Now, let’s explore why Thaddaeus is interesting. When Jesus told stories called “parables,” Thaddaeus was always eager to learn. These parables were like mysterious messages, waiting to be understood. But not everyone got them right away.
Thaddaeus loved asking questions. And guess what? Jesus loved answering them! He said, “To you, my friends, I reveal the mysteries of God’s kingdom. But those who don’t ask questions get stories in riddles.”
So, every time Thaddaeus wondered, “Why did Jesus say that?” or “What does this mean?” Jesus patiently explained. Thaddaeus felt like he was unwrapping precious gifts.
After Jesus came back to life (yes, that’s a whole other adventure!), Thaddaeus and the other disciples had another question. They asked Jesus, “Are you going to make our land better now? Will You get rid of all our enemies?”
Jesus smiled and replied, “My dear friends, it’s not for you to know exactly when things will change. But listen carefully. You’ll receive a special power from God—the Holy Spirit. And you’ll become my messengers, spreading love and good news everywhere—from our hometown to faraway lands.”
So, Thaddaeus was always asking questions and being curious. He became a special messenger of Jesus with his heart full of love for God and people.
Remember, my granddaughter, asking questions is like an amazing key unlocking the best mysteries and secrets. Keep asking lots of questions but keep a simple faith. Maybe you’ll discover some of the secrets of the Kingdom of God too!
(Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 1:10-12, 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16; John 14:22, Acts 1:6-8, 13)
Simon the Zealot: The Apostle Who Loved His Enemies
Simon was also a special friend of Jesus and helped spread His teachings. But Simon didn’t agree with the way Jesus treated His enemies. I picked this character because it looks like his hair is sticking straight up like an angry cat. Let’s find out more about him!
Simon belonged to a group called the “Zealots.” They were like under-cover soldiers who fought for what they believed in. They had a strong faith in God and were very patriotic. These Zealots didn’t like the Romans, who ruled their land. They wanted their country to be free and peaceful.
Simon used to be really angry at the Romans. He thought they were bad and wanted to get rid of them. But then something amazing happened. Jesus came into Simon’s life. Jesus taught everyone about love, kindness, forgiveness, and even love for their enemies. He said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who treat you badly.” This was a big deal because most people didn’t think that way.
One day, some religious leaders tried to trick Jesus. They asked Him, “Should we pay taxes to the Roman Emperor?” Jesus was clever. He asked for a coin and said, “Whose picture is on this coin?” They said, “It’s Caesar’s.” Jesus replied, “Give Caesar what belongs to him, and give God what belongs to God.” It was like saying, “Be a good citizen, but also remember to love God.” That had to blow Simon’s and everyone else in the crowd’s minds.
I like Simon because he listened to Jesus and changed his ways. Instead of hating the Romans, he started loving everyone. He even taught others to do the same. Simon’s devotion turned from anger to love. He became a hero in a different way. Simon the Zealot learned that love is stronger than hate.
(Matthew 5:43-44, 10:4, 22:20-21, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:1, Acts 1:13 )
Judas Iscariot: The Apostle of Betrayal
Judas Iscariot is a name you might have heard before. He’s famous for something not-so-great: betraying Jesus. But let’s start from the beginning.
Jesus had a special group of followers called the Twelve Apostles. They were like his closest friends and helpers. Judas was one of them. Imagine being part of this special team, traveling with Jesus, and learning from him! Judas was a bit different from the others. He was probably more sophisticated (fancy word for “fancy”) and not from the same place as the rest. But here’s the thing: Judas was pretending. That’s why I chose this character. It looks like he’s wearing a mask. He acted like a good friend of Jesus, but deep down, he had other plans.
One day, Judas made a secret deal with some important religious leaders. He agreed to help them catch Jesus. Can you believe it? The person who followed Jesus, saw his miracles, and listened to his teachings was now going to betray him! The religious leaders gave Judas 30 pieces of silver (that’s like getting paid for doing something bad). Imagine having a bag of shiny coins, but they felt heavy with guilt. Judas led the leaders to Jesus. And how did he do it? With a kiss! Imagine your friend coming up to you and giving you a friendly kiss, but secretly planning something hurtful. That’s what Judas did.
Even when Judas betrayed him, Jesus didn’t get angry. He called Judas “friend.” Jesus loved everyone, even those who hurt him. He showed us how to love our enemies, just like he taught. After the betrayal, Judas felt terrible. He tried to give back the silver coins, but it was too late. He couldn’t undo what he had done. Judas’ story reminds us that actions have consequences. It’s important that we stay true to God, our family, and our friends. And even when someone we think is our friend betrays us, we should follow Jesus’ example of kindness and forgiveness.
(Matthew 10:4, 26:14-16, 47-50, Mark 3:19, 14:10-11, 45, Luke 22:3, 47-48, John 6:71)
Jesus Christ: The Son of God
I’ve saved the best for last, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. I chose the character in the middle. He is not only at the center but He appears to be in front of His followers. He is also called the Son of God because God sent Him to earth with a special mission. Let’s explore His story!
God loved us so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to Earth. Jesus was born in a miraculous way. And just like you, Jesus grew up as a child, playing and learning.
When Jesus turned 30 years old, He left His job as a carpenter and began traveling through places around Galilee and Judea. His message was exciting: God’s kingdom is near! People were curious. Was Jesus a king? But Jesus was different—he healed the sick, showed kindness, and taught important lessons.
Long before Jesus arrived, God had told special messengers called prophets that a Messiah (a chosen One) would come to save His people. People thought the Messiah would fight against their enemies, the Romans. But Jesus surprised everyone. He said He came to save them from God’s judgment for the wrong things they had done.
Jesus had a group of close friends called the Twelve Apostles. They learned from Him and helped spread the good news about God’s love. These are the men you and mom painted in this wonderful painting.
Sadly, some religious leaders and the Romans didn’t like Jesus’ message. They arrested Him and hung Him on a cross. But here’s the amazing part: God knew this would happen. He wanted Jesus to take the punishment for all our wrongs. Jesus died on that cross to pay the price for our mistakes so we wouldn’t have to. But He didn’t stay dead! In three days He rose from the dead and proved He is King over all creation.
The Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” This means that if we believe in Jesus and follow Him, we can have eternal life with God.
I love Jesus so much because He took on the punishment I deserved and is a great example for how to live life. I’ve been His follower for over 40 years and although it hasn’t been easy, it has been extremely rewarding. I love telling others about Him.
And that is the story of Jesus and His Twelve Apostles that you and your mom painted. Thank you so much for helping to create this. It hangs in my office so I can look at it everyday. This is to remind Nana and I that we are God’s special messengers of Jesus and His love. I hope one day you will become one too.
(Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7, Micah 5:2, Matthew 1:18-25, 4:23, 9:35, 21:5, 23:3-4, Mark 6:3, 15:1-47, Luke 1:26-38, 2:1-20, 40, 3:23, 24:1-12, John 3:16, 12:15, Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, Revelation 17:14, 19:16)
Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be discussing the Gospel of Matthew to discover how Jesus loved people so much, He was willing to warn them of coming judgment.
Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
My Thoughts
Inclusivism is the religion of the day. We are so careful not to offend people that anything goes. Political correctness has graduated to the level of the absurd and the macabre. We have to be careful not to call a “he” a “him” and a “she” a “her.” We think it’s ok for a child to have the right to have body parts removed but the unborn have no rights at all. Our culture, who long ago rejected the true Creator for materialism, has now even kicked “Mother Nature” to the curb. Our appetite for sex not only defies God, it defies our very biological design. We are in a tailspin of ridiculous thinking that we can do as we please and have no immediate or even eternal consequences. And even some in the “evangelical community” are embracing this craziness. We are so afraid to marginalize or disenfranchise someone, we bless them with a “ticket to heaven” because “God loves everyone.” So everyone gets a trophy, everyone gets to “do you” except anyone who stands up and drops the “God card” that requires any semblance of Divine accountability. Why? Because it’s considered “unloving” to tell someone the truth about their sin and their coming judgment.
But who was the most loving person to ever live? Who desires everyone to join the party and will celebrate every single member added to the family. You guessed it, JESUS! And yet He did not fear the fall out of telling people the truth. He flat out told people they were headed to hell on a fast moving freight train if they didn’t repent. And He did it out of love! He was warning people that not only was God a God of love but He is equally a God of justice. He can not allow unrepented souls in His presence. Jesus (God in the flesh) gave people an ample heads up that there would be eternal consequences. He first came as the Lamb but there is a day of judgment when we will meet the Lion.
I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead… (2 Timothy 4:1)
In light of our observation about the way Jesus shared the gospel, can we afford not to warn people? I like to make this comparison. The bridge over the river has collapsed and you are driving at 60mph. You are unaware that there is no longer a bridge and you encounter two men on the side of the road. The first gives you a casual wave and would warn you if you stopped to ask questions. But because he doesn’t want to inconvenience or offend you, he doesn’t make much of an effort to flag you down. On the other hand, the second man is frantically waving his arms in the air and is almost in the middle of the road trying to get you to stop and warn you the bridge is out. Which one is more loving?
So let’s train people to share the gospel more like Jesus. Let’s help them see that giving people a warning that the “bridge is out” is actually the most loving thing to do.
My Story
Full disclosure. I struggle with telling people why they need to repent. I struggle with telling people that there is a judgment day coming. I struggle with telling a person that Hell is a very real place for very real people. I’d rather be a nice guy and not ruffle any feathers. But more than anything else, I want to become more like my King, Jesus. So as I was writing this, I decided that when I share the gospel this week, I was going to talk about Hell.
So today in the Fort Sam food court I talked to two young Army medics and included the judgment of Hell in my gospel presentation. I made it clear that Jesus said; “I’m the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6). One of the guys said he believed in Hell and that Jesus was the only way to avoid it. The other guy squirmed and couldn’t get out of the discussion fast enough. We were both uncomfortable but it brings to mind two sobering thoughts. First, I’m sure the cross was pretty uncomfortable for Jesus when He died on my behalf. And secondly, I’m sure Hell is going to be much more uncomfortable for my unbelieving friend. I was willing to get out of my “comfort zone” in order to love people like Jesus does.
Our Action Plan
Now it’s time for application. Here’s some ideas.
Assessment: Is judgment and Hell a part of your gospel presentation?
Do a Bible study on how Jesus shared the gospel.
Train others to share the gospel the way Jesus did.
If we truly want to love people, we need to give them the bad news along with the good news.
¡Bienvenido! Hoy, hablaremos del Evangelio de Mateo para descubrir cómo Jesús amaba tanto a las personas que estaba dispuesto a advertirles del juicio venidero.
Así que comencemos
Mateo 11:20–30
Entonces Jesús comenzó a denunciar a las ciudades en las que se habían realizado la mayoría de sus milagros, porque no se arrepentían. “¡Ay de ti, Corazín! ¡Ay de ti, Betsaida! Porque si los milagros que se hicieron en vosotros se hubieran hecho en Tiro y en Sidón, se habrían arrepentido hace mucho tiempo con cilicio y ceniza. Pero yo os digo que el día del juicio será más llevadero para Tiro y Sidón que para vosotros. Y tú, Cafarnaúm, ¿serás elevada al cielo? ¡No, serás llevado al Hades! Porque si los milagros que se hicieron en ti se hubieran hecho en Sodoma, habría permanecido hasta el día de hoy. Pero yo les digo que será más llevadero para Sodoma en el día del juicio que para ustedes”.
En ese momento, Jesús declaró: “Te alabo, Padre, Señor del cielo y de la tierra, porque has ocultado estas cosas a los sabios y entendidos, y las has revelado a los niños. Sí, Padre, porque esto era agradable a Tus ojos. Todas las cosas me han sido confiadas por Mi Padre. Nadie conoce al Hijo sino el Padre, y nadie conoce al Padre sino el Hijo y aquellos a quienes el Hijo decide revelárselo. Venid a Mí todos los que estáis cansados y agobiados, y os haré descansar. Toma Mi yugo sobre ti y aprende de Mí. porque soy manso y humilde de corazón, y hallaréis descanso para vuestras almas. Porque Mi yugo es fácil y ligera Mi carga”.
Mis Pensamientos
El inclusivismo es la religión del día. Tenemos tanto cuidado de no ofender a la gente que todo vale. La corrección política se ha graduado al nivel de lo absurdo y lo macabro. Tenemos que tener cuidado de no llamar a un “él” un “él” y a un “ella” un “ella”. Creemos que está bien que un niño tenga derecho a que le extirpen partes del cuerpo, pero el que no ha nacido no tiene ningún derecho. Nuestra cultura, que hace mucho tiempo rechazó al verdadero Creador por el materialismo, ahora incluso ha pateado a la “Madre Naturaleza” a la acera. Nuestro apetito por el sexo no solo desafía a Dios, sino que desafía nuestro propio diseño biológico. Estamos en una espiral de pensamiento ridículo de que podemos hacer lo que nos plazca y no tener consecuencias inmediatas o incluso eternas. E incluso algunos en la “comunidad evangélica” están abrazando esta locura. Tenemos tanto miedo de marginar o privar a alguien de sus derechos, que lo bendecimos con un “boleto al cielo” porque “Dios ama a todos”. Así que todos reciben un trofeo, todos pueden “hacer lo que quieras” excepto cualquiera que se levante y deje caer la “carta de Dios” la cual requiere cualquier apariencia de responsabilidad Divina. ¿Por qué? Porque hoy día se considera “falta de amor” decirle a alguien la verdad sobre su pecado y su juicio venidero.
Pero, ¿quién fue la persona más amorosa que ha existido? Que desea que todos se unan a la fiesta y celebren a cada miembro agregado a la familia. ¡Lo has adivinado, JESÚS! Y, sin embargo, no temía a la consecuencia de decirle a la gente la verdad. Le dijo rotundamente a la gente que se dirigían al infierno como en un tren de carga moviéndose a gran velocidad si no se arrepentían. ¡Y lo hizo por amor! Él estaba advirtiendo a la gente que Dios no solo era un Dios de amor, sino que también es un Dios de justicia. Él no puede permitir que almas no arrepentidas estén en Su presencia. Jesús (Dios en la carne) le dio a la gente un amplio aviso de que habría consecuencias eternas. Él vino primero como el Cordero, pero hay un día de juicio cuando nos encontraremos con el León.
Te encarezco delante de Dios y del Señor Jesucristo, que juzgará a los vivos y a los muertos en su manifestación y en su reino. (2 Timoteo 4:1)
A la luz de nuestra observación sobre la forma en que Jesús compartió el Evangelio, ¿podemos darnos el lujo de no advertir a la gente? Me gusta hacer esta comparación. El puente sobre el río se ha derrumbado y usted conduce a 60 mph. No te das cuenta de que el puente ya no está y te encuentras con dos hombres al costado de la carretera. El primero te da un saludo casual y te avisa si te detienes a hacer preguntas. Pero debido a que no quiere incomodarte u ofenderte, no hace mucho esfuerzo por hacerte señas para que te detengas. Por otro lado, el segundo hombre agita frenéticamente los brazos en el aire y está casi en medio de la carretera tratando de que te detengas y te advierta que el puente se ha derrumbado. ¿Cuál es más amoroso?
Así que entrenemos a las personas para que compartan el Evangelio más como Jesús. Ayudémosles a ver que advertir a la gente de que “el puente está cerrado” es en realidad lo más amoroso que se puede hacer.
Mi Historia
Divulgación completa. Me cuesta decirle a la gente por qué necesita arrepentirse. Me cuesta decirle a la gente que se acerca el día del juicio. Me cuesta decirle a una persona que el infierno es un lugar muy real para personas muy reales. Prefiero ser un buen tipo y no alborotar las plumas. Pero más que cualquier otra cosa, quiero llegar a ser más como mi Rey, Jesús. Así que mientras escribía esto, decidí que cuando compartiera el Evangelio esta semana, iba a hablar sobre el infierno.
Así que hoy, en el patio de comidas de Fort Sam, hablé con dos jóvenes médicos del ejército e incluí el juicio del infierno en mi presentación del evangelio. Dejé claro que Jesús dijo; “Yo soy el camino, la verdad y la vida. Nadie viene al Padre sino por mí”. (Juan 14:6). Uno de los chicos dijo que creía en el infierno y que Jesús era la única manera de evitarlo. El otro chico se retorció y no pudo salir de la discusión lo suficientemente rápido. Los dos estábamos incómodos, pero esto trajo a mi mente dos pensamientos aleccionadores. Primero, estoy seguro de que la cruz fue bastante incómoda para Jesús cuando murió por mí. Y en segundo lugar, estoy seguro de que el infierno va a ser mucho más incómodo para mi amigo incrédulo. Estuve dispuesto a salir de mi “zona de comodidad” para amar a las personas como lo hace Jesús.
Nuestro Plan de Acción
Ahora es el momento de la aplicación. Aquí tienes algunas ideas.
– Evaluación: ¿El juicio y el infierno son parte de tu presentación del Evangelio?
– Haz un estudio bíblico sobre cómo Jesús compartió el Evangelio.
– Entrena a otros para compartir el Evangelio de la manera que Jesús lo hizo.
Si realmente queremos amar a las personas, tenemos que darles las malas noticias junto con las buenas.
Meanwhile John’s disciples informed him in prison about all the works of Christ, and he sent his disciples. So John called two of his disciples and sent them to ask the Lord, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?” When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?’” At that very hour Jesus healed many people of their diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and He gave sight to many who were blind.
Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”
As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear elegant clothing and live in luxury are found in palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’ Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to violence, and the violent lay claim to it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. He who has ears, let him hear.
All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.
Then Jesus said, “To what can I compare the men of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep and mourn.’ For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions and all her children.”
My Thoughts
Deb and I talk about this passage all the time. It kind of sticks out to us as a prime example of human frailty. Here the great John the Baptist, and I truly mean great, is asking questions about Jesus’ identity. “Are you really the Messiah or not?” But wait a minute! Is this the same John the Baptist that so confidently heralded Jesus into His ministry? Did we hear him say;
“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:30-34)
That sounds pretty confident to me! John had pinned the rose squarely on Jesus as being the Messiah. But what happened to all that conviction? Now when John was in prison the doubts started to creep in. Perhaps John had expectations of the Messiah’s mission that had gone unfulfilled. Maybe John had expectations of God that weren’t being met. If I had to guess, I would say this is exactly what is causing John to question Jesus’ Messiahship.
We’ve all heard of the “Divine Appointment” but have you ever heard of the “Divine Disappointment?” Even if you haven’t, I bet ten dollars and a doughnut you’ve experienced it! It’s when you have put your confidence in God and start to develop expectations that don’t align with His will and WHAM! You’re in a prison cell wondering what happened. You may say something like, “Wait a minute God. I’ve been reading Your Bible, and had believed you would do X, Y, and Z! What happened? Are You really there?” I think we’ve all been there. And we have to believe that all the major Bible characters from Abraham to the Apostle Paul had to go through a similar crisis of faith.
So how does Jesus handle John’s question? He answers the inquiry about His Messiahship by pointing to the evidence. People are being healed, demons are being cast out, the dead are raised, the gospel is preached. These were the true indicators of Jesus’ Messiahship in fulfillment of the Scriptures. It was not bringing heaven to earth (yet). It was not to overthrow the Roman occupation. It was not breaking John out of jail. It was not all the things the Children of Israel and even us today, add to the laundry list of things we think the Christ ought to do for us. No, Jesus was doing exactly what the Father had willed Him to do before the foundation of the world.
But we also have to notice that Jesus didn’t berate John for his question or maybe even a lack of faith. He answers another question; “What does God think about our hard questions when we’re going through tough times?” Jesus affirms John as a person and his ministry. He recognizes before others that even though John is going through a rough patch right now, he is the greatest of the prophets under the Old Covenant. Jesus praises John publicly! He doesn’t throw him under the bus.
I think, if we’ve been walking with Jesus for more than a day, we can relate to John’s circumstances. But how is it possible to swing so wildly in our convictions? One sure fire way to experience doubts in our faith is through suffering and persecution. These two things can wear us down over time and we start to wonder if God somehow missed the reality of our miserable circumstances. I think John’s imprisonment played a huge role in his doubts. It’s like he got a spiritual knock in the head and now he’s dazed and confused.
My Story
Recently Deb and I attended a healing service. Most of you know about the debilitating disease I’ve struggled with for years. But what you may not know is that Deb has been battling chronic laryngitis for months. She had a tumultuous procedure done by the doctors and was told it may only be a temporary fix. Sure enough, after a few weeks, Deb started to lose her voice again. So when we were invited to a healing service, we enthusiastically accepted the invitation.
So in faith and with a bit of humility we got to the church building early, anticipating that we would donate my walker to the congregation and Deb would be able to sing like a robin. Nope. We walked out in the same physical condition we entered. Were we mad at God or the person who performed the healing service? No. Were we angry at the kind lady who invited us? No. (In fact, afterward, we thanked her profusely.) Were we angry with ourselves for, yet again, having hope that God would perform a miracle that we could all praise Him for? No. Were we disappointed? Were there questions? To be honest, yes. We fully expected to be healed as we have been commanded to believe by the Lord Himself. And yet it didn’t happen.
So how did Deb and I navigate these tricky shoals? We have learned how to keep a strong faith and manage our expectations in alignment with God’s will and sovereignty. We’ve also memorized several verses on the subject of God’s will and plan for our lives. His Word has become the anchor in stormy times when we are blown this way and that. It’s ok to be disappointed that God didn’t heal us. But I’m not going to shake my fist at Him, accuse Him of not loving us, and leave the faith. Nope. I’m thanking Him for His choice to do in and through our lives what He chooses to bring Him most glory. Besides, people who shake their fist at God should probably be outfitted with a full Kevlar suit and underwear.
You know Jesus modeled this for us in the Garden of Gethsemane when He prayed;
“My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39)
So let’s admit we are disappointed but keep a strong faith and manage our expectations in accordance with His will.
Our Action Plan
How do we help disciples prepare for the Divine Disappointments which are bound to come? Here’s some ideas;
Do a topical Bible study with them on suffering and persecution
Be open and honest with those you are discipling with your own disappointments
When people are struggling with disappointment, comfort and take them back to the Word
It’s hard to maintain perspective in the midst of the storm. Prepare the disciples of Jesus well in advance for suffering with the rock solid assurance of God’s Word.
¡Bienvenido! Hoy, combinaremos los Evangelios de Mateo y Lucas para ver cómo Jesús manejó las dudas de Juan el Bautista.
Así que comencemos
Mateo 11:2-19, Lucas 7:18-35
Mientras tanto, los discípulos de Juan le informaron en la cárcel de todas las obras de Cristo. Entonces Juan llamó a dos de sus discípulos y los envió a preguntar al Señor: «¿Eres tú el que había de venir, o debemos buscar a otro?» Cuando los hombres se acercaron a Jesús, dijeron: “Juan el Bautista nos envió a preguntar: ‘¿Eres tú el que había de venir, o debemos buscar a otro?'” En esa misma hora, Jesús sanó a muchas personas de sus enfermedades, aflicciones y espíritus malignos, y dio la vista a muchos que estaban ciegos.
Jesús le respondió: “Vuelve y di a Juan lo que oyes y ves: Los ciegos ven, los cojos andan, los leprosos quedan limpios, los sordos oyen, los muertos resucitan y a los pobres se les anuncia el Evangelio. Bienaventurado el que no se aparta por causa de mí”.
Cuando los discípulos de Juan se iban, Jesús comenzó a hablar a las multitudes acerca de Juan: “¿Qué salieron a ver al desierto? ¿Una caña mecida por el viento? De lo contrario, ¿qué saliste a ver? ¿Un hombre vestido con ropas finas? Mira, los que visten ropa elegante y viven en el lujo se encuentran en los palacios. ¿Qué, pues, saliste a ver? ¿Un profeta? Sí, os lo digo, y más que un profeta. Éste es aquel de quien está escrito: ‘He aquí, yo enviaré a mi mensajero delante de ti, el cual preparará tu camino delante de ti’. En verdad os digo que entre los nacidos de mujer no se ha levantado nadie mayor que Juan el Bautista. Sin embargo, aun el más pequeño en el reino de Dios es mayor que él. Desde los días de Juan el Bautista hasta ahora, el reino de los cielos ha estado sujeto a la violencia, y los violentos lo reclaman. Porque todos los Profetas y la Ley profetizaron hasta Juan. Y si estás dispuesto a aceptarlo, él es el Elías que había de venir. El que tenga oídos, que oiga.
Todo el pueblo que oyó esto, incluso los recaudadores de impuestos, reconoció la justicia de Dios. Porque habían recibido el bautismo de Juan. Pero los fariseos y los expertos en la ley rechazaron el propósito de Dios para sí mismos, porque no habían sido bautizados por Juan.
Entonces Jesús dijo: “¿Con qué puedo comparar a los hombres de esta generación? ¿Cómo son? Son como niños sentados en la plaza y se gritan unos a otros: ‘Tocamos la flauta para ti, y no bailaste; Cantamos un canto fúnebre, y tú no lloraste ni te lamentaste. Porque Juan el Bautista no vino ni comiendo pan ni bebiendo vino, y vosotros decís: “Tiene un demonio”. El Hijo del Hombre vino comiendo y bebiendo, y dijeron: ‘¡Mira a este glotón y borracho, amigo de publicanos y pecadores!’ Pero la sabiduría se demuestra justa por sus obras”.
Mis Pensamientos
Deb y yo hablamos de este pasaje todo el tiempo. De alguna manera se nos presenta como un excelente ejemplo de la fragilidad humana. Aquí el gran Juan el Bautista, y realmente quiero decir grande, está haciendo preguntas sobre la identidad de Jesús. “¿Eres realmente el Mesías o no?” ¡Pero espera un minuto! ¿Es este el mismo Juan el Bautista que con tanta confianza anunció a Jesús en su ministerio? ¿Le oímos decir;
“Este es aquel de quien yo dije: Después de mí viene un varón, el cual es antes de mí; porque era primero que yo.Y yo no le conocía; mas para que fuese manifestado a Israel, por esto vine yo bautizando con agua. También dio Juan testimonio, diciendo: Vi al Espíritu que descendía del cielo como paloma, y permaneció sobre élY yo no le conocía; pero el que me envió a bautizar con agua, aquel me dijo: Sobre quien veas descender el Espíritu y que permanece sobre él, ese es el que bautiza con el Espíritu Santo. Y yo le vi, y he dado testimonio de que este es el Hijo de Dios.” (John 1:30-34)
¡Eso me parece bastante seguro! Juan había puesto la rosa directamente sobre Jesús como el Mesías. Pero, ¿qué pasó con toda esa convicción? Ahora, cuando Juan estaba en prisión, las dudas comenzaron a aparecer. Tal vez Juan tenía expectativas de la misión del Mesías que no se habían cumplido. Tal vez Juan tenía expectativas de Dios que no se estaban cumpliendo. Si tuviera que adivinar, diría que esto es exactamente lo que está causando que Juan cuestione el mesianismo de Jesús.
Todos hemos oído hablar de la “Divina Cita”, pero ¿alguna vez has oído hablar de la “Divina Decepción”? Incluso si no lo has hecho, ¡apuesto diez dólares y una rosquilla a que lo has experimentado! Es cuando has puesto tu confianza en Dios y comienzas a desarrollar expectativas que no se alinean con Su voluntad y ¡WHAM! Estás en una celda de prisión preguntándote qué pasó. Puedes decir algo como: “Espera un momento, Dios. ¡He estado leyendo Tu Biblia y había creído que harías X, Y y Z! ¿¿Qué pasó? ¿De verdad estás ahí? Creo que a todos nos ha pasado. Y tenemos que creer que todos los personajes principales de la Biblia, desde Abraham hasta el apóstol Pablo, tuvieron que pasar por una crisis de fe similar.
Entonces, ¿cómo maneja Jesús la pregunta de Juan? Él responde a la pregunta acerca de Su mesianismo señalando la evidencia. Las personas están siendo sanadas, los demonios están siendo expulsados, los muertos son resucitados, el evangelio es predicado. Estos eran los verdaderos indicadores del mesianismo de Jesús en cumplimiento de las Escrituras. No traía el cielo a la tierra (todavía). No se trataba de derrocar la ocupación romana. No se trataba de sacar a John de la cárcel. No fueron todas las cosas que los Hijos de Israel, e incluso nosotros hoy, añadimos a la larga lista de cosas que pensamos que Cristo debería hacer por nosotros. No, Jesús estaba haciendo exactamente lo que el Padre había querido que hiciera antes de la fundación del mundo.
Pero también tenemos que notar que Jesús no reprendió a Juan por su pregunta o tal vez incluso por su falta de fe. Responde a otra pregunta; “¿Qué piensa Dios acerca de nuestras preguntas difíciles cuando estamos pasando por tiempos difíciles?” Jesús afirma a Juan como persona y como su ministerio. Él reconoce ante los demás que a pesar de que Juan está pasando por una mala racha en este momento, él es el más grande de los profetas bajo el Antiguo Pacto. ¡Jesús alaba a Juan públicamente! No lo tira debajo del autobús.
Creo que, si hemos estado caminando con Jesús por más de un día, podemos relacionarnos con las circunstancias de Juan. Pero, ¿cómo es posible oscilar tan salvajemente en nuestras convicciones? Una forma segura de experimentar dudas en nuestra fe es a través del sufrimiento y la persecución. Estas dos cosas pueden desgastarnos con el tiempo y comenzamos a preguntarnos si Dios de alguna manera pasó por alto la realidad de nuestras miserables circunstancias. Creo que el encarcelamiento de John jugó un papel muy importante en sus dudas. Es como si hubiera recibido un golpe espiritual en la cabeza y ahora está aturdido y confundido.
Mi Historia
Recientemente, Deb y yo asistimos a un servicio de sanación. La mayoría de ustedes conocen la enfermedad debilitante con la que he luchado durante años. Pero lo que quizás no sepas es que Deb ha estado luchando contra la laringitis crónica durante meses. Los médicos le hicieron un procedimiento tumultuoso y le dijeron que podría ser solo una solución temporal. Efectivamente, después de unas semanas, Deb comenzó a perder la voz nuevamente. Así que cuando nos invitaron a un servicio de sanación, aceptamos con entusiasmo la invitación.
Así que con fe y con un poco de humildad llegamos temprano al edificio de la iglesia, anticipando que donaríamos mi andador a la congregación y Deb podría cantar como un petirrojo. No. Salimos en las mismas condiciones físicas en las que entramos. ¿Estábamos enojados con Dios o con la persona que realizó el servicio de sanidad? No. ¿Estábamos enojados con la amable señora que nos invitó? No. (De hecho, después, le agradecimos profusamente). ¿Estábamos enojados con nosotros mismos por, una vez más, tener esperanza de que Dios realizaría un milagro por el que todos podríamos alabarlo? No. ¿Nos decepcionó? ¿Hubo preguntas? Para ser honesto, sí. Esperábamos plenamente ser sanados como el Señor mismo nos ha ordenado creer. Y, sin embargo, no sucedió.
Entonces, ¿cómo navegamos Deb y yo por estos complicados bajíos? Hemos aprendido a mantener una fe fuerte y a manejar nuestras expectativas de acuerdo con la voluntad y la soberanía de Dios. También hemos memorizado varios versículos sobre el tema de la voluntad y el plan de Dios para nuestras vidas. Su Palabra se ha convertido en el ancla en tiempos tormentosos cuando somos soplados de una manera y de otra. Está bien estar decepcionado de que Dios no nos haya sanado. Pero no voy a agitar mi puño contra Él, acusarlo de no amarnos y dejar la fe. No. Le agradezco por Su decisión de hacer en y a través de nuestras vidas lo que Él escoge para darle la mayor gloria. Además, las personas que agitan su puño a Dios probablemente deberían estar equipadas con un traje completo de Kevlar y ropa interior.
Usted sabe que Jesús modeló esto para nosotros en el Huerto de Getsemaní cuando oró;
“Padre mío, si es posible, pase de mí esta copa; pero no sea como yo quiero, sino como tú.” (Mateo 26:39)
Así que admitamos que estamos decepcionados, pero mantengamos una fe fuerte y manejemos nuestras expectativas de acuerdo con Su voluntad.
Nuestro Plan de Acción
¿Cómo ayudamos a los discípulos a prepararse para las Decepciones Divinas que están por venir? Aquí hay algunas ideas;
– Haga un estudio bíblico temático con los que discípulas sobre el sufrimiento y la persecución
– Sé abierto y honesto con aquellos a quienes estás discipulando con tus propias decepciones
– Cuando las personas están luchando con la decepción, consuélalos y llévalos de regreso a la Palabra
Es difícil mantener la perspectiva en medio de la tormenta. Prepare a los discípulos de Jesús con mucha anticipación para el sufrimiento con la sólida seguridad de la Palabra.
Andrew: The First Follower
James: The son of Zebedee
John: The Apostle of Love
Philip: The Friendly Apostle
Bartholomew: The Hungry Apostle
Thomas: The Brave but Doubting Apostle
Matthew: The Radically Changed Apostle 
James: The son of Alphaeus
Thaddaeus: The Curious Apostle
Judas Iscariot: The Apostle of Betrayal
Jesus Christ: The Son of God
ToBeLikeJesus 