Prayers

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I continue to be mystified by the tendency I see in Jesus in the gospels to reprove and even rebuke where we would expect him to affirm his disciples. I first noticed this phenomenon when I read of Peter getting out of the boat to walk toward Jesus on water.  (Matthew 14, v.27-33)  When Peter was distracted by the wind and the waves and began to sink Jesus rescued him as he cried out for help. But instead of complimenting Peter for having taken a few steps on the water he questioned his lack of faith! On another occasion in Mark chapter 7 when the disciples ask him to elaborate on a parable he had presented, Jesus confronts what he sees as their lack of understanding instead of affirming them for seeking that understanding by asking. It seems the disciples in their religious mindset were not as far removed from the Pharisees as it first appears. And since Jesus sternly and severely rebukes the Pharisees for their attitudes of religiosity it can’t help but overflow to the disciples who were partakers of the weaknesses of the same fallen human nature. But the general difference (with some exceptions) is that the disciples, out of their love and respect (even awe) for Jesus, were more willing to confront their own flaws and weaknesses as Jesus put his finger on them. Still many turned back from following Him as the sayings became harder. (John 6,v.66) This that we are discussing may have been one of the chief reasons so many turned away from following Him. If they were waiting to be congratulated for seeking Him and imitating Him, they had another thing coming, and coming very soon. We could say the same of ourselves today.
Probably I have not yet cited the main reason the disciples endured the kinds of “cross”-examining challenges that Jesus issued them; however severe his words might seem at times, they sensed how deeply he loved them, a love which gave him the right to say the kinds of things he said in the kind of way he said them. May we develop that same sense of being loved by Him today, more and more.  And may we cultivate that depth of love toward others.

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