Across the Pastor’s Desk by Mark Boorsma

Some years ago I spoke with a dispirited group of missionary supporters who sadly observed that their numbers were down and their financial resources had shrunk. They fondly remembered glory days of great enthusiasm, dozens of people united in the work and plenty of contributions to fund the missionaries for whom they prayed and whose living expenses they paid. But now their low mood was bringing their own good work into increasing peril.

After a quick head count, I pointed out that the twelve of them corresponded exactly to the number of Jesus’ disciples. With twelve people gathered together and joined in Christ’s own work, they could interpret their mission as winding down or gearing up, whichever they chose. What would Jesus choose?

And whom would Jesus choose? Among the twelve Jesus did choose were two sons of a fisherman named Zebedee. Jesus nicknamed James and John “sons of thunder,” but we aren’t told why.  Did they have stormy tempers or voices unusually rumbling and loud?  Or did the “thunder” reference attach not to them but their father? We can only guess.  Some suppose the “sons of thunder” reputation connects with a single incident in Luke 9:54 when these two brothers proposed fire from heaven to punish inhospitable villagers.

Mark 10:35-45 tells a story about James and John desiring seats of honor by Jesus’ side, likely because they imagine this as more a privilege than a challenge. Jesus had, after all, in just the chapter before included James and John in the elite few he takes to the summit of his transfiguration. Perhaps they feel entitled to special honors or recognition. They don’t yet know about the cross and the cost of discipleship. They don’t yet fully appreciate how hard the journey of following Jesus can get.

Acts 12:1-2 records the ultimate price paid by James as he followed Jesus. His death by the sword on the order of Herod Agrippa might certainly discourage other would-be followers of Jesus. Maybe this whole discipleship thing is just too dangerous. Is this a mission gearing up, or winding down?

Nearly two thousand years later, faithful friends of Jesus still take up the cross and follow. And James? Was he forgotten and cast aside?  No, his bones are believed to rest in Santiago, Spain — a resting place to which the faithful have walked countless miles in veneration and homage by the hundreds of thousands, century after century, still following Jesus, still walking, still praying, still trusting God and still encouraging one another along the way.

Draw your church together, O God, into one great company of disciples, together following Jesus Christ into every walk of life, together serving in Christ’s mission to the world, and together witnessing to your love wherever you will send us, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

The Rev. Mark Boorsma is the pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in Albert Lea.