It's a unique privilege to dedicate this book to Kenneth Wyatt, an accomplished artist who hails from Tulia, Texas. I have been inspired by his exquisite and very striking portraits of the apostles. I first saw these beautiful paintings while visiting a church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They graced the walls of the sanctuary, reminding me that Christians are “members of God's household” and that we are “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone” (Eph. 2:19-20).

Since viewing these large portraits, I also secured a copy of Wyatt's book entitled The Apostles, which contains 81/2 × 11” full color lithographs of these New Testament personalities— an inspiring collection for personal reflection and meditation. Now that I have researched and written about their lives, I can say without equivocation that Kenneth Wyatt marvelously captured reality when he painted the apostles—what they were when Christ called them as well as what they became after spending time with Jesus Christ.

Contents

Introduction: A Life-Changing Adventure

1. Peter: A Tough-Minded BusinessmanWho Became One of God's Greatest Servants

2. James: A Power-Hungry Man Who Gave Up Everything

3. John: A Self-Centered Man Who Learned to Love

4. Andrew: A Prominent Man Who Was Willing to Put Others First

5. Philip: A Pragmatist Who Became a True Believer

6. Nathanael Bartholomew: A Man Who Discovered That Honesty Is Not Enough

7. Matthew: A First-Century Businessman Who Learned to Put God First

8. Thomas: A Pessimist Who Was Transformed

9. James, Simon, and Judas: Three Men Who Helped Change the Course of World History

10. Judas Iscariot: A Covetous Man Whose Life Ended in Disaster

11. Matthias: A Private Man Who Suddenly Became Prominent

12. Paul: A Murderer Who Became a Missionary

Endnotes

Foreword

To pick up a brush, touch it to a dab of paint, reach up to the canvas, and then begin to create an image, is always a moment of real challenge and excitement. First, as I began painting the apostles, I felt the exuberance of actually starting and a determination to do my best. Next came my complete commitment to the long months of involvement with these paintings and yet a fear of doing this holy task. Most important of all, I felt joy for the opportunity of serving God in His church.

That moment of beginning is a lot of dabs of paint and many prayers ago, but all fourteen paintings are finished—my concept of Jesus and the first ones He drew around himself:

Bartholomew—the gentle one,

Simon—full of fire,

Andrew—quiet and steady … and, so they went.

Each one different, each one a challenge, each one taking shape on the woven threads of cloth, with layer upon layer of paint until that apostle looked out from the canvas onto the world that he was called by Christ to save and serve.

And now, Dr. Gene Getz has written about these men. His portraits are verbal but he helps all of us visualize who they really were when Christ called them and what they truly became after their incredible experiences watching and listening to the Master. You'll enjoy this study. Hopefully, it will change your life.

Kenneth Wyatt

Tulia, Texas

Other books in the Men of Character series:

Elijah: Remaining Steadfast through Uncertainty

Joshua: Living as a Consistent Role Model

Nehemiah: Becoming a Disciplined Leader

Jacob: Following God without Looking Back

Moses: Freeing Yourself to Know God

Joseph: Overcoming Obstacles through Faithfulness

Abraham: Holding Fast to the Will of God

David: Seeking God Faithfully

Samuel: A Lifetime Serving God

Daniel: Standing Firm for God

Paul: Living for the Call of Christ

Introduction

A Life-Changing Adventure

I first began to study the lives of the apostles when I was asked to write a number of character sketches for the Promise Keepers' Study Bible. A rather brief look at each of these men intrigued and motivated me to do a much more in-depth study—which resulted in this book in the Men of Character series.

Diversity

I was fascinated with the variety of personalities that Jesus chose to be His disciples—and then His apostles. Though approximately half of them were fishermen, the others came from different cultural backgrounds. I saw in a small group of men a microcosm of the church—the body of Jesus Christ. Each man was unique, but each had a special place in carrying out God's kingdom work. Even Judas would have made a great contribution had he not been captivated by greed and motivated to betray Jesus Christ and to sell his own soul for thirty pieces of silver. His life also illustrates that not everyone who claims to be a Christian is a true member of the family of God.

Transformation

I was also encouraged to see how Jesus Christ chose men who were, for the most part, egocentric and self-serving, but then transformed them into disciples who were sold-out servants. We know from Scripture that James, the son of Zebedee, was killed at the hands of King Herod because of his commitment to the gospel (Acts 12:1-2). Beyond the biblical record, tradition reports that Peter was crucified upside down in Rome, requesting this kind of death since he did not feel worthy to be crucified in the same way as Jesus Christ. We're told that Paul was beheaded three miles outside of Rome. His final letter to Timothy indicates that he believed he was going to give his life as a martyr (2 Tim. 4:6-18).

Regarding the human destiny of the other apostles, what we know is more tenuous and speculative. However, some believe that most of these men literally were killed because of the message they believed in so firmly. We certainly know they refused to compromise their message and may have paid the ultimate price. If so, they fleshed out John's powerful words: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” (1 John 3:16).

Regardless of what happened to them as they disappeared off the pages of the New Testament, we know for certain their ministries changed the course of history. They were transformed into dynamic witnesses and laid the foundation of the church—upon which we are built as “living stones” (Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:4-5).

Evaluation

I was also challenged as I did this study to look carefully at my own life and commitment to Jesus Christ. As I outlined principles that flow from the lives of these men and then prepared exercises to help us “personalize these principles,” I had to look carefully at my own attitudes and actions as a Christian man. The question I faced—and still do—is: To what extent am I practicing what I am preaching?

I also came across a fascinating interpretation of the way we think in the twentieth century regarding how to select people for strategic positions—both for ministry and in the corporate world. It's an “E-mail” from the “Jordan Management Consultants” sent to Jesus in response to His request for an assessment of the men He was thinking about choosing to be His apostles. It reads as follows:

To:

Jesus, Son of Joseph

Woodcrafter's Carpenter Shop Nazareth 35922

E-mail: Jesuscarpenter.com

From:

Jordan Management Consultants

Jerusalem 26544

E-mail: JMC.org

Thank you for submitting the resumes of the twelve men you have picked for management positions in your new organization. All of them have now taken our battery of tests; and we have not only run the results through our computer, but also arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant.

It is the staff's opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education, and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking.

Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has no qualities of leadership. The two brothers, James and John, sons of Zebedee, place personal interests above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale. We feel it our duty to tell you that Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau. James, the son of Alphaeus, and particularly Simon the Zealot have radical leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale. Thaddaeus is definitely sensitive, but he wants to make everyone happy.

One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind, and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious, and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man. All of the other profiles are self explanatory.

We wish you every success in your new venture.[1]

These profiles are “tongue in cheek” and in no way invalidate all evaluation techniques and tools, which can be very useful in discovering personality traits, abilities, skills, and leadership styles. However, the implication is clear and accurate. Most of these men would have been disqualified for service if they had been chosen based on what they were when Christ called them. The important lesson is what they became because of Jesus Christ's discipleship program and the power of the Holy Spirit in bringing about the new birth in each of their lives and empowering them to carry out the Great Commission.

This certainly doesn't imply that we should select people for key positions in the church who are self-centered and immature. But it does say that we must think long range in preparing men to become good husbands and fathers, good deacons and elders, and good employees and employers.

These life stories are also a great source of encouragement. Jesus demonstrates that He can use us in spite of our weaknesses. He has the power to enable us to become men of God!

Intercession

It's my prayer that you'll be as inspired as I have been as you reflect on the lives of these men and what they can teach us. Though God will never choose one of us to be among those who laid the foundation of the church of Jesus Christ, He has chosen all of us to become men of God. These New Testament personalities certainly point the way, no matter what our position and profession. The apostle Paul spoke for them all when he wrote to the Corinthians, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1).

Chapter 1

Peter: A Tough-Minded

Businessman Who Became One

of God's Greatest Servants

The year was 1972. Richard Nixon was president, and the Watergate scandal was spreading throughout the world. Damaging evidence was piling higher with each passing day. It was a cover-up! And Nixon, the most powerful man alive, was caught “with his hand in the cookie jar"—an enormous one at that! Some who were closest to the president urged him to confess his wrongdoing publicly and to ask the American people for forgiveness.

Nixon was a tough, prideful man—even in the midst of his anxiety and fear. Though he knelt in prayer on one occasion and wept over his embarrassing situation, when he arose from his knees, he couldn't bring himself to admit his failures. Rather, he resigned as president of the United States. He denied any wrongdoing, hoping that history would be good to him.[1]

A Lesson in Humility (Luke 5:1—11)

When was the last time you were under such conviction because of sin that you literally fell on your knees before God?

Unfortunately, Richard Nixon fell to his knees because he was caught—and humiliated. It was a last desperate attempt to acknowledge the God of his youth.

Centuries earlier, another tough-minded, prideful man went to his knees because he knew he was a sinful man—and confessed it. Though he had a lot of changes to make in his life, this was a sincere beginning point.

A Miracle Catch

As He often did, Jesus stood by the Sea of Galilee and began to teach. People came from miles around, demonstrating His growing popularity. As whole families pressed against Him, He saw two vacated boats that had been pulled up on shore. Nearby, Peter and his fellow fishermen were “washing their nets.” Suddenly, without asking, Jesus stepped into Peter's rig and asked him “to put out a little from shore.” Irritated, Peter cooperated—but reluctantly. Jesus then “sat down and taught the people from the boat” (Luke 5:3). Once Jesus had spoken, He turned to Peter and asked him to “put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch” (5:4).

This was too much! Peter was in no mood to respond to Jesus' order. He and his partners—his brother Andrew and two other brothers, James and John—had been fishing all night long. All they had to show were empty nets. They were tired, discouraged, and ready to call it quits!

Though Peter resisted Jesus' command, he finally consented. He and his partners pushed off from shore and navigated their boats into deeper water.

Down deep, Peter knew that this man was no ordinary rabbi. He couldn't escape this reality ever since Andrew had introduced him to Jesus on a trip to Jerusalem months before. And when Jesus eventually came into this area of Galilee, Peter had listened to Him teach many times. His lessons were profound and convicting.

But on this particular day, Peter reverted to his old ways. Nevertheless, he and his partners generated enough energy to cast their nets overboard once again. The results were dramatic and shocking. They caught so many fish that both boats began to sink! The whole crew was astonished and amazed.

True Brokenness

Peter's resistance melted. Suddenly, the churning sea became a mirror to his troubled soul. He saw himself as he really was. He literally “fell at Jesus' knees and said, 'Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!'” (5:8).

Obviously, there are some details missing in Luke's account. We're not told specifically why Peter was so broken, but we can be sure that his stubbornness followed by this miraculous catch of fish combined to bring this dynamic leader under intense conviction. He was greatly impressed— and terribly humbled.

This fascinating story poses some probing questions. What did Jesus teach the crowds that day as they pressed against Him? What kind of message did He deliver from Peter's boat before they pushed out to sea? Could it be that the Lord had spoken clearly about the importance of faith? Or perhaps Jesus borrowed some lines from another message He would deliver in the future—His Sermon on the Mount:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:19—21)

Whatever Jesus taught that day, Peter's negative attitudes were changed when the Lord combined His penetrating message with this early morning miracle. Jesus could have included any number of teachings from the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7), and at this moment in Peter's life any part of that profound message could have brought him to his knees.

A New Name (John 1:40-42)

What were your thoughts the first time you heard about Jesus Christ?

If you were reared in a Christian home or a Bible-teaching church, you may not be able to answer this question. But Peter never forgot his first encounter with the Savior. He must have been puzzled, wondering who this man really was.

Prior to Peter's dynamic lesson in humility on the shore of Galilee, he had first met Jesus months earlier on the northern shore of the Dead Sea. He had made the 100-mile trip south to Jerusalem, perhaps to do business and at the same time to visit with his brother, Andrew, who had become a disciple of John the Baptist.

A Hard-Hitting Message

Though anxious to see his brother, when Peter arrived in the area, he evidently spent some time in Jerusalem, perhaps making his way through the fish markets to see what kind of deal he could make with the vendors. However, he soon discovered that everyone was talking about a wilderness prophet who was preaching in Bethany, a small town “on the other side of the Jordan” (John 1:28).

Evidently following the crowds, Peter was soon to discover that his brother had become more and more intrigued with John the Baptist's message. What really grabbed Andrew's attention were John's statements about another teacher, a man named Jesus who had arrived on the scene. John called Him “the Lamb of God!” (John 1:29, 36). Could this be the promised Messiah?

Good News

Andrew was so captivated, he spent an entire day listening to Jesus teach. Something dramatic and miraculous must have happened—something we're not told about—since Andrew ended this relatively brief encounter absolutely convinced he had “found the Messiah” (1:41).

This was incredibly good news for any Jew who took seriously Old Testament prophecies regarding the coming King of Israel. Andrew was ecstatic. He rushed to find Peter, who had arrived in this wilderness area after hearing the reports in the vicinity of Jerusalem about John's pointed sermons (Mark 1:5).

A Cause for Concern

Peter certainly must have wondered what his brother had bought into. Was this some kind of Jewish cult? Furthermore, there was an aura of hostility building among the religious leaders in Jerusalem and the surrounding area. John's message condemning their lifestyle had definitely reached their ears (Luke 3:7-9). It would be natural for Peter to wonder if Andrew was in some kind of danger. After all, it wasn't considered wise to attack the religious hierarchy or to be associated with someone who had.

Whatever Peter's preconceived thoughts, he consented to meet Jesus. When the Lord saw Andrew approaching with Peter at his side, He saw right into the heart of this rugged and opinionated fisherman. He knew, of course, His ultimate goals for Peter. But at this moment, what He saw deep in his soul were certainly a lot of doubts and questions. This explains at least partially why Jesus did what He did. Though they had never had a face-to-face conversation, the Lord simply looked at Peter, identified him as “Simon, son of John,” and then changed his name to Cephas, which, when translated from Aramaic into Greek, is “Peter” (John 1:42).

We're not told what ensued at that moment. Peter must have been terribly curious. But there is no biblical evidence that Jesus explained what He had in mind until a couple of years later when Peter had become one of the apostles. Then one day Jesus explained the name change. Petros means “rock,” which indicates the Lord had a great plan for this rugged fisherman whose crusty and sunburned skin matched his attitudes. Peter would become the primary leader of the apostles, and together they would lay the foundation for the church, a new and dynamic entity, with “Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone” (Matt. 16:17-19; Eph. 2:20). However, this is getting ahead of the story. Peter had a lot to learn before he was ready for this world-changing position, and he learned one of his most important lessons the morning his nets miraculously filled with fish.

A Brilliant Strategy (Matt. 4:18-20; Mark 1:16-18; Luke 5:10b-11)

How would you respond if Jesus Christ suddenly called you to leave your chosen profession and to become a traveling evangelist?

For most of us, full-time ministry of any kind is not God's will. But for Peter, this was in God's plan before He created the world.

Following Peter's “name-changing” experience with Jesus in Bethany, John the Baptist was eventually imprisoned because of his powerful and uncompromising message. Since the Jerusalem area was anything but a warm, accepting environment, Jesus also returned to Galilee (Mark 1:14). It was there He performed His breathtaking miracle with the huge “catch of fish” and taught Peter his great lesson in humility— and then called him to leave his fishing business (Luke 5:10b).

The new role Jesus had for Peter was incredibly different. But in some respects, it was uniquely similar. When Jesus met Peter in Bethany, he was president of a fishing business. But now the Lord called him to lead a group of men who would “fish for men.” His brother, Andrew, and his friends, James and John, had been his business partners. But these men now became Peter's partners in a whole new arena, probably leaving their fishing business in the hands of Zebedee, the father of James and John. More than likely, Zebedee owned this large and lucrative operation and had simply hired Peter to be his CEO.[2]

When these four men made their decision to follow Christ, it was natural for Peter to continue to be their leader. From a human point of view, this reflects unusual administrative ingenuity on the part of Jesus. The infrastructure for this new, mobile “organization” was already in place. These men were already relatively comfortable working with each other and reporting to Peter. This was a brilliant strategy that shouldn't surprise us in view of who called them to this new role.

A New Leadership Style

What helped you the most in developing and refining your leadership skills?

For most of us, we've learned to lead from real-life episodes, not from what we heard from a professor in a classroom or a lecturer at a seminar. The same was true for Peter. He was taught by his hands-on experience walking side by side with Jesus Christ, learning from what he saw and heard as well as from his own personal involvement. Peter certainly had a lot of opportunities to learn how to lead and administer in a thriving fishing business. Jesus did not ignore this valuable experience. But these skills were not enough to enable Peter to lead as a servant of Jesus Christ and of others. In fact, he had to unlearn some things, particularly in the areas of meekness and humility.

A Quick Transition

From his point of view, it was easy and natural for Peter to operate in this new role—to move from being a leader in the business world to being a ministry leader. He was used to being number one, and he jumped in with both feet. The Gospels verify this again and again.

One of the first recorded times Peter exerted his “spokesman” role happened when a woman who had been afflicted with a disease and who had been following Jesus reached out and “touched the edge of his cloak” (Luke 8:43-44). Suddenly without any verbal communication between her and Jesus, she was healed. Jesus quickly turned His head and asked who had touched Him. Overhearing Jesus' question, Peter quickly informed the Lord that His question was rather absurd since so many people were crowding around Him and pressing against Him (8:45).

In this new but rather familiar role, Peter often spoke out boldly (Mark 5:31) and, in this case, arrogantly! Without being asked, he became the other apostles' spokesman—the number one man. This was characteristic of Peter from the very moment he left his fishing business.

A Natural Design

Note the following additional illustrations, which vividly demonstrate Peter's leadership style:

- Jesus shared a parable about what makes a man clean or unclean. When everyone was confused, Peter demanded, “Explain the parable to us” (Matt. 15:15).

- When Jesus traveled into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Peter promptly replied—perhaps with head held high—"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God"(Matt. 16:16; Mark 8:29b; Luke 9:20b; John 6:69).

- When Jesus informed the disciples that He was going to be killed, Peter actually confronted Christ for daring to claim such a thing. Mark recorded that he “took him aside and began to rebuke him” (Mark 8:32).

- When Jesus taught another parable about being a watchful servant, Peter pointedly asked for clarification: “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?” (Luke 12:41).

- When Jesus spoke about forgiveness, again it was Peter who asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” (Matt. 18:21).

- When Jesus warned a wealthy young man that it was difficult for rich people to enter the kingdom of heaven, Peter, on behalf of all the apostles, made a very direct statement and then asked a very bold, materialistic question: “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” (Matt. 19:27; Mark 10:28; Luke 18:28).

- When Jesus cursed a fig tree in order to teach His disciples a lesson in faith, Peter expressed amazement the next morning: “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” (Mark 11:21).

- When Jesus predicted that all the apostles would forsake Him, Peter sincerely but proudly retorted, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will… . Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you” (Matt. 26:33, 35; Mark 14:27-31; Luke 22:31-34; John 13:36-38).

All of these up-front responses by Peter indicate he had already assumed the leadership role among the other apostles—and had done so from the moment he and his partners left the fishing business. No other man among the Twelve stood out this way in the Gospel records.

Peter definitely responded according to his natural giftedness. However, he had a lot more to learn about true leadership. Bold statements, direct questions, and self-confidence in themselves do not make a godly servant-leader.

Penetrating Accountability Questions (Mark 14:32-38)

Do you have someone who holds you accountable for your attitudes and actions?

All of us need a face-to-face relationship with another man or group of men. For Peter, it was the Lord Himself. When Peter failed to carry out his responsibilities, particularly toward the end of his divine curriculum experience, Jesus confronted him—lovingly but directly. Imagine what it would have been like to encounter the God-man—a leader who could read the very thoughts and intents of your heart!

With responsibility goes accountability, and Peter learned what this really meant a short time before Jesus died on the cross. Judas had already parted company to plan Christ's betrayal. Knowing what lay ahead, Jesus, with the eleven, made His way toward the Garden of Gethsemane. When they arrived, the Lord instructed the larger group to remain behind and asked Peter, James, and John to join Him further along the trail. Later, He went on ahead of these three men a short distance and agonized in prayer.

When Jesus returned, He found each man in this inner circle “sound asleep.” Obviously disappointed, Jesus singled out Peter. John Mark has captured what must have been an excruciatingly painful and embarrassing moment. Note carefully what he recorded in his Gospel: “Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. 'Simon,' he said to Peter, 'are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?'” (Mark 14:37; Matt. 26:40-41).

During this intense and sobering confrontation, Jesus reverted to Peter's original name, “Simon,” sending His “leader-to-be” a penetrating message. A day or so earlier, Peter had boldly declared in front of all the other apostles that if all of them forsook the Lord, he would not! (Mark 14:29). That night in the Garden, Jesus simply but pointedly reminded Peter that if he were so strong and determined and such a great leader, why couldn't he stay awake for a brief time while his Lord and Master was agonizing in prayer. Peter was not the “rock” he claimed to be. But there was even more to come. His most momentous challenge and difficult test still lay ahead. Jesus' “rock” was about to crumble!

Peter's Ultimate Failure (Luke 22:54—60)

What would you consider to be your greatest failure as a follower of Jesus Christ?

Because of our wayward hearts, all of us have stumbled and fallen in our Christian walk. I don't know about you, but some of my failures have made me painfully aware of how vulnerable and weak I really am. For Peter, his greatest fall came on the night he actually denied that he ever knew the Lord. He had boasted this would never happen—but it did! However, this was also Peter's greatest learning experience.

Divine Preparation

Jesus had prepared Peter for this dreadful moment by once again using his original name—and twice in succession to make his point: “'Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you've turned back, strengthen your brothers'” (Luke 22:31-32).

This time, the Lord used an agricultural metaphor—"to be sifted like wheat"—but He was also reminding Peter that His chosen “rock” would crumble. If Peter was listening, Jesus also brought him hope. This horrific experience would not disqualify Peter from becoming the leader he should become, could be, and would be. What better encouragement for Peter than to know that Jesus Christ Himself had prayed he would not fail ultimately but once again have the opportunity to lead and comfort his “brothers.”

I personally believe the Lord was referring here to the other eleven apostles. Obviously, Jesus' statement applies to future disciples as well; but at this time in Peter's life, Jesus was reassuring him he would once again become the leader of the Twelve following his failure when he denied the Lord and fled the scene.

A Noble Effort

In spite of Jesus' predictive statements, Peter went on to fail the Lord miserably. However, we see his true grit when he desperately tried to keep his commitment to Jesus Christ. When the Roman soldiers arrived on the scene, Peter boldly attempted to protect the Lord, actually taking his own life in his hands. Singlehandedly, he wielded his sword, no doubt attempting to decapitate one of the armed soldiers. Fortunately, the man ducked and lost his ear instead.

Imagine the look on Peter's face when Jesus rebuked him and replaced the soldier's ear. What an embarrassment for this tough fisherman-turned-preacher! Feeling the penetrating and painful sting from this intense rejection, Peter's determination to protect the Lord turned to anger. He cut and ran, disappearing into the darkness.

Down, but Not Out

Though overwhelmed and controlled by negative emotions, Peter regained his composure, even though he still felt intensely hurt and frustrated. Somewhere along the path, he rendezvoused with John, who had also fled, and together they followed the Roman entourage and flickering torches at a safe distance (John 18:15).

When everyone arrived at the high priest's headquarters, Peter and John emerged from the darkness and were able to enter because John knew the high priest personally. But when they passed through the door, a servant girl recognized Peter, specifically identifying him as one of Jesus' followers. Overcome by fear that was blended with lingering anger, Peter lied outright and blatantly denied that he was a disciple of Christ. Later, he was questioned two more times. Again Peter denied that he knew the Lord. Imagine the look on his face when “at that moment a rooster began to crow” (18:27).

Instantly, Jesus, who was standing nearby, “turned and looked straight at Peter” (Luke 22:61). Like a blazing arrow that found its mark, Jesus' penetrating gaze touched his soul. He remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times” (John 13:38). In one quivering and heartrending moment, Peter's anger and fear turned to shame. He slipped out of the high priest's quarters and “wept bitterly” (Luke 22:62). His heart was broken. He knew he had failed the Lord miserably.

Though this was Peter's lowest point, he actually took a major step closer to becoming the man Jesus Christ wanted him to become. He would “strengthen his brothers,” but first he had another experience that took him back mentally and emotionally to that day when he “fell at Jesus' knees and said, 'Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!'” (Luke 5:8).

Brokenness and Restoration (Luke 22:61-62; John 21:15-19)

When was the last time you really felt broken before the Lord?

Unfortunately, for most of us it seems to take a series of failures to get our attention. For Peter, it happened following his “three-time” denial. Ironically, it took place on the Galilean seashore in the same general area where Christ taught him his first lesson in humility almost three years earlier and then called him to leave his nets and to fish for men.

An Old Comfort Zone

Following Christ's death and resurrection, Peter was still confused and bewildered. Understandably, he felt terribly embarrassed and overwhelmingly guilty regarding his failure to do what he so confidently claimed he would do. Retreating to his old “fishing territory” in Galilee with his former “partners,” he decided to throw his nets into the sea once again— something he hadn't done for nearly three years. It's when we face insecure moments such as this that most of us gravitate to our old comfort zones. For Peter, it was the open sea, a boat, his fishing gear—with his old fishing buddies.

The other apostles who were with Peter—Thomas, Nathanael, James, John, and probably Andrew and Philip— eagerly joined him when he said: “I'm going out to fish” (John 21:3). Peter was still their leader, in spite of his failure—and theirs. No one could throw stones. In the midst of their disillusionment, they all sensed more than ever that they needed some decisive direction. As always, Peter offered that kind of leadership. Though discouraged and disillusioned, he once again rose to the occasion.

No Déjà Vu

What happened next must have appeared to be an illusion; but for Peter, it was a sobering reality. It was a genuine experience that was hauntingly similar to what happened when Jesus called him to leave his fishing business (Luke 5:1-11). After these men had fished all night long and had “caught nothing,” Jesus appeared on the shore and asked them if they had been successful. In the early morning mist, they didn't recognize the Lord—until He told them to throw their net “on the right side of the boat.” And when they obeyed, it happened once again! They caught so many fish they were unable to pull in the net.

At first Peter didn't seem to “believe his ears,” but he couldn't deny what he saw. The man on the shore was Jesus. The Lord had issued basically the same command He had given nearly three years earlier. Who could forget those words?

Eager to once again prove his loyalty to his Master and Teacher, Peter jumped overboard and waded to shore while the other disciples pulled in “the net full of fish” (John 21:8). When they all gathered on dry land, Jesus had another surprise. He had already cooked some fish but invited them to add their own on the burning coals. They were all overwhelmed with emotion since they “knew it was the Lord” (21:12). What an awkward but incredible reunion!

Another Humbling Experience

Jesus used this miraculous and awesome moment to teach Peter his greatest lesson in leadership. As before, it was a very humbling experience. Jesus asked Peter three times—using his original name—if he really loved Him. The first time Jesus asked the question, it was like a two-edged sword. “Do you truly love me more than these?” (21:15). Jesus probably gestured to the other apostles, as well as the boats, the nets, and the fish. Jesus was reminding Peter that approximately three years before he had decided to leave these boats and nets. But Jesus was also reminding Peter of his boastful statement that if all of the other apostles forsook Him, he would not (Matt. 26:33-35).

It was Jesus' final question, however, that brought Peter to a point of brokenness, perhaps to tears. Acknowledging that Jesus Christ had predicted his denial, he said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you” (21:17). Peter was confessing before all of these other men that Jesus had prophesied his “three-time” denial—and, even though he really loved the Lord, he had failed just as Jesus said he would. But this sincere confession was his greatest leap forward in becoming the leader Jesus wanted him to be. All great leaders acknowledge their failures rather than trying to cover them up. Peter was well on his way to becoming one of the greatest leaders of all time.

Lingering Prejudice (Acts 10:1—36)

Have you ever stopped to consider that you may have some deep-rooted prejudice that you're not even aware of?

Many of us grow up feeling that we're better than others, and it usually takes a serious psychological crisis to unveil what we may have hidden from ourselves. For Peter, this piercing insight came almost five years after the church was born on the day of Pentecost.

When Jesus returned to heaven, Peter became the official leader of the apostles. His enrollment in the “school of hard knocks” paid off. His sermons were powerful and penetrating, came straight to the point, and were from the heart! The Holy Spirit used Peter in a special way to launch the church in Jerusalem. After listening to his message on Joel's prophecy, thousands of Jews acknowledged that the Lord Jesus Christ was the true Messiah and their Savior (Acts 2:14-41).

A Subtle Sin

In spite of his success as a dynamic Christian leader, Peter had another “skeleton in his closet"—a serious character flaw. He failed to remember something Jesus had taught all of His followers. “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen,” Jesus had said, referring to the Gentiles. “I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16).

Strange as it may seem, it took this great spiritual giant several years to understand and believe that Gentiles could be saved. This demonstrates how subtle prejudice really is. Here was a man chosen by Jesus Christ and used by God to bring multitudes of people to eternal salvation, yet he believed that people who were not “like him” were beyond redemption.

A Rude Awakening

Peter's personal crisis came while he was praying. He fell into a deep sleep and had a vision. He saw a “large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners” (Acts 10:11) that contained all kinds of animals. According to Jewish law, many were unclean. At the same time, Peter heard a voice that told him to “kill and eat.” In his dream, Peter resisted. But the voice told him not to “call anything impure that God has made clean” (10:15).

This scene occurred three times—perhaps another reminder of his “three-time” denial. Suddenly, Peter came to his senses and realized it was a dream. But in his emotional blindness, he still didn't understand what was happening— that God was telling him that all people could be saved, not just Jews. He didn't comprehend this great truth until the Lord directed him to meet a prominent Gentile named Cornelius. When representatives from Cornelius arrived that same day and invited him to meet their master in Caesarea, Peter could not deny that something supernatural was happening, and he obeyed the Lord.

Arriving in Caesarea, Peter was still nervous about entering a Gentile's home. But again, he obeyed the Lord and proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ to Cornelius and his family. To Peter's amazement, the Holy Spirit came on this household just as He had on the Day of Pentecost (10:44-48)—miraculous evidence that the gospel of Jesus Christ was for all people, not just for God-fearing Jews.

In this setting—approximately five years after the church had been born in Jerusalem—Peter made his second greatest confession. He made his first confession when he told Jesus: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). He made his second great confession when he fully understood and acknowledged his prejudice: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right” (Acts 10:34-35).

Yes, Jesus took a tough-minded, successful businessman with a lot of raw talent and many rough edges and eventually changed him into a man of God. It took time, but it happened. Underneath all that coarse exterior was a soft heart and a lot of love. Jesus had changed him from the inside out.

Becoming God's Man Today

Principles to Live By

Jesus also wants to change you—and all of us who claim to be His followers. Following are divine principles that flow from Peter's experience that the Holy Spirit wants to help us apply in our daily walk with God.

Principle 1. No matter what your previous experience, Jesus Christ can use you to serve Him.

God specializes in transforming our hearts, redirecting our self-centered energy, and reshaping our raw talent and abilities to achieve His purposes in this world. This He did for Peter and, as we'll see, for the other men who followed Him. They were all different and unique. Only Judas Iscariot turned his back on Jesus Christ.

Each one of us is created in the image of God but with distinct reflections of His unfathomable and indescribable personality. However, when sin entered this world through our great ancestor, Adam, it distorted in all of us what God had planned to be perfect unity with diversity among His highest creation. God then made it possible through Jesus Christ for us to become new creations (2 Cor. 5:17) and to refocus our self-centered goals for His glory.

However, when each of us was born again, God didn't change our uniqueness, which He wants to use to make us special members of His church, the body of Christ. This diversity with unity is to continue, but under the control of the Holy Spirit. As we look at all of the apostles in the chapters to follow, all unique personalities, we'll see this plan unfold in the lives of these men.

When I think of what God did for Peter, I think of what He did for Bill McCartney, a successful football coach at the University of Colorado. Bill quit at the height of his professional career. When he made this decision, he had begun to understand for the first time that football had become his life. He had climbed to the top, but his relationship with his wife had disintegrated. In fact, by his own confession he had not really learned to love Lyndi as Christ loved the church. But when Bill caught a glimpse of what he had done by putting his exciting career before his marriage, he resigned.

When Bill McCartney became a Christian, he was born again. But when he gave up his career to devote his energies first to his marriage and then to Promise Keepers, he refocused his priorities. When he made this decision, God began to change him in a unique way—just as He did Peter.[3]

Don't misunderstand. God does not lead most men to change professions and to go into Christian ministry when they become Christians and dedicate their lives to Christ. Rather, He wants to change them where they are and to use them for His glory.

What Jesus Christ did for Peter, for the other apostles, and for men throughout the centuries, He wants to do for us today. However, we must allow Him to accomplish this in our lives— first, through the new birth, and then through the process of transformation into His image. If we'll follow Him, listen to His teachings, and, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, learn the lessons He wants us to learn, we'll become men He can use to change the world. We'll become men of God who walk in His “good, pleasing and perfect will” (Rom. 12:2).

Principle 2. It takes time to become the man God wants you to become.

Becoming like Christ is a process. It will only end when we are transported to heaven—either when Christ comes again or when we die and go to be with Him. But there is a level of maturity God expects from us all, a time when we “put childish ways behind” (1 Cor. 13:11). For most of us, this takes time, even if we have been reared in good Christian homes.

Peter illustrated this principle in a unique way. As far as we know, he and his brother, Andrew, grew up in a good Jewish family. They had been taught the Law of Moses. The promise of the coming Messiah was not a strange doctrine to these men. But after Peter began to follow Christ, it took several years to deal with his self-sufficiency, pride, and prejudice. Thankfully, the Lord could use him during this “growing up” period—when he “talked like a child,” “thought like a child,” and “reasoned like a child” (1 Cor. 13:11). But, when Peter “became a man,” God used him to the full.

Paul used the word man in his letter to the Corinthians to refer to “maturity in Christ,” not gender or chronological maturity. It's possible for all Christians to be up in years yet to be childish when it comes to spiritual growth. Conversely, it's possible to be relatively young and to be a mature Christian. Timothy certainly demonstrated this reality (1 Tim. 4:12). But the fact still remains: it takes time to become a man of God.

But don't get discouraged. Even when Peter failed Jesus Christ the most, he didn't allow Satan to keep him in a state of defeat and despair. The important question is, What steps are you taking to forget “what is behind” and to press on “toward what is ahead,” the “goal to win the prize for which God has called” you “heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14)?

Don't forget: Just as Jesus had prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail, so He is praying for you and me every moment of every day at the Father's right hand (Heb. 7:25). Jesus Christ is our perfect High Priest (Heb. 4:14-16).

Principle 3. Prejudice is one of the most difficult challenges many men face in their Christian lives.

At this point, I can identify with Peter. I was reared in a very exclusive religious community. In fact, I had been taught from a small child that our particular church group included the only true followers of Jesus Christ. Eventually, I realized this was not true and decided to leave this environment. Little did I realize, however, that what I had learned as a child formed deep roots in my soul—roots of prejudice that I thought had been eliminated when I became a Christian. Eventually, the Lord allowed me to face a “crisis of faith” that caused me to see the lingering effects of this prejudice. It was then, and only then, that God destroyed the “root system.”

Ironically, as I look back, I've had to acknowledge that it took approximately five years for me to deal with the prejudice in my life—the same period of time it took Peter to deal with prejudice following his experience at Pentecost. Don't be surprised, then, to discover that you may have prejudice lingering in your own soul. And don't be surprised if God allows you to experience a “crisis of faith” in order to deal with it. Two things are certain: No man is mature in Christ who is prejudiced against others, and God cannot use a man to the full if he allows this sin to continue and to affect his attitudes and actions toward others.

Personalizing These Principles

The following questions will help you apply the above principles to your own life. Think through the answers carefully. Prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to bring to your attention any areas in your life where you need to grow spiritually.

1. Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? If not, why not? Does this question even make sense to you?

2. As a Christian, what changes does He still need to make in your life? Your goals? Your approach to people? Your priorities? Your ego? Your basic motivation? Your attitudes towards people who are different from you?

3. Can you identify with Peter's prejudice—even after he became a man whom God used to launch the church? What steps can you take to discover if you are prejudiced and then to overcome it?

Set a Goal

As you reflect on the answers to the above questions, ask the Holy Spirit to point out one area where you need to set a personal goal:

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Memorize the Following Scripture

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14

Growing Together

The following questions are designed for small group discussion:

1. Would you feel free to share with us the changes that have taken place in your life since you became a Christian?

2. What additional changes would you like to see in your life?

3. How can we overcome prejudice against people who are different from us? How is God already dealing with this problem in your own life?

4. What can we pray for you specifically?

Chapter 2

James: A Power-Hungry Man

Who Gave Up Everything

I have a Christian friend who at one point accepted an invitation to become the CEO of a large media firm that specialized in distributing in-house movies to hotel rooms. Ironically, his name is James—Jim for short. In spite of the fact that seventy-five percent of this organization's multimillion-dollar income came from adult movies, he accepted the position, even though he was a Christian.

The day Jim made this decision he knew that he had seriously violated the will of God; and as the months went by, he became even more and more miserable. I vividly remember the day I met Jim for breakfast. He had just come from home and had opened his Bible to Jesus' words, “Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!” (Matt. 18:7; emphasis mine).

When Jim had read these words, he had literally become sick to his stomach. He knew this business caused many men to engage in sinful lust every night as they stayed in hotels, not only in the United States but in other parts of the world. Jim had only one choice if he wanted to be free in his own conscience. He had to resign. That morning as we prayed together, Jim made the decision to leave this organization.

I'm sure your concern is the same as mine: Why and how could a Christian man accept this kind of position? I'll never forget Jim's comment when I posed that very question. Though he was earning an enormous annual salary, more than some people make in a lifetime, what excited and energized him the most was the sense of power he knew he would have in this position: flying in a private jet, making decisions involving millions and millions of dollars, managing a large staff of people where he had the responsibility to hire and fire, and helping his boss—one of the richest men in the world— make even more money! He described this experience as “addictive” and “intoxicating.” He loved the power!

A First-Century “Jim”

One day Jim and I were discussing our tendency as men, even as Christians, to deceive ourselves, to justify our actions, and to make decisions that violate the will of God. “Gene,” he said, “I wrote the book on rationalization!”

In many respects, the apostle James was this kind of man, even after Jesus called him to leave his boats and nets to fish for men. Jesus had chosen Peter to be the primary leader of the apostles, but even so, James and his brother, John, tried to do an end-run around their former boss. This was particularly brash and audacious in view of their relationship with Peter in the fishing business. Unfortunately, when it comes to position and power, even friendships can take a backseat. It's easy to throw our ethics and even our principles of morality out the window. And as with my friend, Jim, even some Christians compromise biblical values in order to experience this kind of ego trip.

Let's not confuse this James with the half-brother of Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:19), the James who wrote the prominent New Testament letter (James 1:1) and served as the primary leader in the church of Jerusalem (Acts 15:13). Neither was he the other James, the “son of Alphaeus,” who was also an apostle (Matt. 10:3; Acts 1:13) and who may have been Matthew's brother (Mark 2:14). Rather, this James was John's brother— both were sons of Zebedee. His mother's name was Salome.

A Chip off the Old Block

How have your parents affected the way you live your life—either positively or negatively?

Like many of us, James's parents influenced him in two directions. Positively, he had drive and ambition. This was his natural bent. But negatively, he was power hungry! He loved to be first. Let's look more specifically at this man's family life and how it impacted his character.

A Firstborn Son

James was older than his brother John, which is why his name usually appears first when they're mentioned together in the biblical record. Even when the Gospel writers listed the Twelve that Jesus called to be apostles, they mentioned these two men in this order: “James son of Zebedee, and his brother John” (Matt. 10:2; Mark 3:17; Luke 6:14). The fact that James was identified as the “son of Zebedee” and John was simply called “his brother” indicates his position in the family. In this sense, he was first—from the time he was born.

Being the eldest, James had family rights that were well-known traditions in Israel. James understood these privileges and used them to the full. Though he always seemed to respect John, he took the lead naturally. He grew up knowing that this was expected of him.

Even in our culture, being the oldest boy in a family sets the stage for prominence. I can identify. I'm a firstborn, with three younger brothers and two sisters. Just being the eldest chronologically lends itself to having both more responsibility and greater opportunities. Since there are four years between my first brother and me, I naturally took the lead. It was assumed—and accepted. For James, having this lead role was intensified enormously by the Jewish culture. What eldest son in Israel would forget the incredible family tension over this very issue in the lives of Esau and Jacob?[1]

An Influential Father

A second factor that influenced James was the way his father, Zebedee, wielded influence in the Jewish community, which means he was also very wealthy. This most likely explains why James's family knew the high priest in Jerusalem. In fact, his brother John knew this religious leader so well that when Jesus was taken captive, he was allowed to enter the high priest's courtyard while “Peter had to wait outside the door” (John 18:15-16). Only people with money had this kind of access to the most powerful man in the Jewish community.

A Shrewd Mother

Salome, James's mother, was no wallflower since she had the audacity to ask if her two sons could sit at Jesus' right hand and at His left when He ascended the throne in Israel (Matt. 20:20-21). If Jesus had granted this request, James would have been on the right because of his family position.

Understand, of course, that Salome's idea of Jesus' kingship was purely earthly. At this point in her life, she and Zebedee did not in any way comprehend that Jesus was building a heavenly kingdom. Her motives were purely self-oriented and her methods genuinely political—which definitely affected her son, James. He was a chip off of “both blocks,” his dad and his mom. Zebedee's capabilities and leadership skills as an astute and successful businessman and Salome's own manipulative personality certainly contributed to what James became.

A Mixture of Good and Bad

It's clear then that both James and John were a reflection of their parents: uninhibited, bold, self-confident, and highly motivated—all good qualities. But they were also brazen, self-centered, and materialistic. The whole family was, without doubt, well versed on how to take advantage of other people in order to enhance their own position—socially, economically, and religiously.

Let's face it: Jesus did not choose spiritually and emotionally mature men to enroll in His training program. As we'll see throughout this study, they were all immensely flawed as human beings. In fact, there probably weren't any men in Israel who measured up to God's standard for leaders. Jesus had to work with what He had. Knowing it would take men with backbone and determination, He looked for strong personalities that He could mold and shape into His image. James was definitely one of those men.

The Big “I” and “Me”

How well do you handle position and power?

For many of us, even as Christians, to keep our desire for prominence in check is a day-by-day struggle. For James, this was definitely one of his serious weaknesses.

A Circle of Three

Early on in this new relationship with Christ, James had difficulty handling a key position the Lord gave him among the Twelve. He very quickly became part of a tight, inner circle that included Peter and his brother, John. Needless to say, these three men had a very special and unique position. For example, when the Lord healed Jairus's daughter, He allowed only Peter, James, and John to enter the synagogue ruler's home while the other men were on the outside looking in (Mark 5:37; Luke 8:51). This was before He even called and identified the Twelve as apostles. As we follow James's journey with Jesus over the next couple of years, it's very clear this position of prominence went straight to his head.

James loved the limelight. Before he left his fishing business to follow Christ, he had enjoyed being the center of attention in his family and no doubt flaunted his prominent position in his father's business. And if John knew Caiaphas, the high priest, personally, how much more so James—something he no doubt crowed about on numerous occasions. When Jesus called him to be a disciple and then to become a part of the inner circle, how often he must have let others know about this favored position! To hear him tell it, he was on the way to the top. He was traveling alongside the future “King of Israel.” How often he must have fantasized about what it would be like to sit at Jesus' right hand!

A Mountaintop Experience

James's position and power reached its zenith one day when Jesus chose the inner circle to share in the glorious “transfiguration” experience, an incredible manifestation of Christ's glory. Matthew reported that Christ's face “shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light” (Matt. 17:2). While basking in this incredible experience, they actually saw Moses and Elijah materialize before their very eyes as they stood “talking with Jesus.”

To top things off, they heard God speak—an awesome experience and a rare privilege even in biblical history. As “a bright cloud enveloped them,” a voice came “from the cloud” and said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (17:5).

Think about it! This was a very heady experience for a man who already had a problem with arrogance. Predictably, he didn't handle it well. Nevertheless, Jesus had a plan for James; and strange as it seems, this was part of the divine curriculum.

Alone in the Garden

Before Jesus went to the cross, James had another incredible and—this time—a humbling experience along with Peter and John. When the Lord entered the Garden of Gethsemane to pour out His spiritual and emotional agony regarding His forthcoming death, He once again chose Peter, James, and John to accompany Him, another high but sobering honor. Unfortunately, they could not stay awake for just one hour while Jesus was in such anguish that “his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:44-45; Mark 14:32-42). All three of these men were exhilarated and excited on the Mount of Transfiguration, but they lost interest and fell asleep when Jesus went alone to pray. What a contrast with the way they responded on the Mount of Transfiguration!

Playing the Right Cards

How do you handle the temptation to be opportunistic—to adjust your attitudes and actions in order to further your own interests regardless of how it affects others?

Most of us struggle to keep our motives pure when it comes to creating positive opportunities for ourselves. If we're not careful, we'll become extremely self-centered and “opportunistic.”

For James, this kind of behavior was second nature. It was in his genes. But he had also seen it modeled in his family—a lethal combination.

Early on when Jesus called the twelve men out of the larger circle of disciples to be His apostles, He labeled James and John with the name “Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17). The Lord was not caught by surprise by their bombastic personalities—which He also knew He would eventually redirect and empower for the Father's glory.

Luke recorded an event that allows us to see how these two brothers reflected this impetuous and haughty character trait. It happened while Jesus was making His way to Jerusalem, knowing that He would soon be crucified. He sent several of the apostles ahead to prepare the way. Perhaps planning to stay overnight in a Samaritan village, they faced strong resistance, particularly when the locals discovered that Jesus was headed for Jerusalem. This is not surprising since prejudice and tension had existed between the Samaritans and Jews for years. In spite of the fact that they were partially Jewish by birth, the Samaritans adamantly rejected Jerusalem as a place of worship (John 4:19-20).

When James and John heard what had happened, they were furious. Fulfilling his firstborn role, James must have shouted with disgust and anger, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” (Luke 9:54). Perhaps they were role-playing Elijah's experience when the king of Samaria twice sent a captain and fifty men to meet Elijah and he called down fire and destroyed them (2 Kings 1:3-12). After all, they had recently seen Elijah reappear on the Mount of Transfiguration, an experience that once again went straight to their heads. At this point, they were terribly blind to their spiritual weaknesses. What should have been a humbling event fed their prideful personalities.

In His humanness, Jesus must have been terribly disheartened with this immature behavior. After all, they had often heard Jesus teach that God blesses “the meek” and “the merciful” and “the peacemakers” (Matt. 5:5, 7, 9). Unfortunately, these great truths had gone in one ear and out the other. They completely missed the Father's message when Christ was transfigured: they were to listen to the Son of God. What's more, the Lord's three-year training period was almost over. He was headed for the cross. Visibly disturbed by their behavior, Jesus “rebuked” both of them and then moved on “to another village” (Luke 9:51-56).

We must remember that at this moment in their lives, neither James nor John understood why Jesus had come into this world. They were still wrapped up in themselves. Neither could they handle the prominence and power Jesus had given them. They used it selfishly in order to enhance their own opportunistic goals. But Jesus also knew that these men would change dramatically once He returned to heaven. At that time, the Holy Spirit would descend on them and “remind” them “of everything” Jesus had taught them (John 14:26). Then they would listen to God's Son, understand, and obey God's will.

Winning at Any Cost

Why do we want to “beat others to the draw"—to always be “first in line"?

Not every man is competitive, but most of us are. We don't like to lose—on the athletic field or in business. This tendency creates double trouble when we are driven by self-centeredness.

Both James and John were competitive as well as selfish. In their minds, only those who position themselves so they can outsmart others rise to the top.

Unfortunately, Jesus' rebuke regarding their arrogant verbal attack on the Samaritans didn't cool these men's ardor to climb the corporate ladder. In fact, they only became more determined. Knowing their mother's shrewd nature, they got their heads together and devised a plan to reach their selfish goal. Since Matthew and Mark give us different perspectives on what actually happened, we're not sure of the specific details. Matthew has recorded that Salome came with her sons and knelt before Jesus with a very specific request: “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom” (Matt. 20:21). But Mark has reported that James and John spoke for themselves, asking the same basic question (Mark 10:37).

Both of these Gospel writers were clearly describing the same event in two separate but identical conversations. But who approached Jesus first—Salome or her sons? Since Matthew states that she came to Jesus with her sons (Matt. 20:20), she may have approached Jesus initially—with her sons either standing behind her or strategically planted outside the door ready to make a bold and preplanned entrance just at the right moment and then to ask the same question. But whatever the sequence and verbal dynamics, when the other apostles heard about this “end-run,” they were livid. Since Peter was already the recognized leader, he must have been particularly angry. We can only imagine the heated shouting match that ensued.

Though Jesus must have once again been extremely discouraged by the boyish antics of these two men and the immature way the others responded, He turned this raucous scene into another opportunity to teach them a very important lesson in servant leadership. Listen to His powerful words:

'"You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.'” (Mark 10:42-45; Matt. 20:25-28)

Servant or King?

How much do you really understand about serving others? More specifically, if you are a leader, are you also a servant?

We're not told specifically when James turned the corner in his own leadership style, but as with his fellow apostles, the big change came at Pentecost when he finally understood why Jesus Christ came into this world.

Ironically, James had a very short ministry career. He died a martyr's death, approximately five years after the church was born. Luke gave us a clear picture of what happened in Jerusalem. Intense “persecution” had hit the church, “and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria” (Acts 8:1). King Herod (Agrippa I), who ruled Palestine as a Roman, was also partly Jewish. In order to ingratiate himself with the Hebrews, he joined the religious community in persecuting Christians and had James arrested and “put to death with the sword” (Acts 12:1-2). Sadly, his motives were solely political. It doesn't appear that James was even tried—just sentenced and killed.

This tragic event leads to a very thought-provoking question: Why James and not John? After all, John had become very prominent in Jerusalem as Peter's right-hand man. Together they had confronted the Jewish leaders both publicly and privately—and evidently on numerous occasions (Acts 4:1-22).

Could it be that James, as the eldest and perhaps the most passionate, had been known all along as a bold spokesman for the sons of Zebedee? Was he even more daring as a witness for Christ than John? Is it possible that the high priest in Israel, who knew James's family well, favored John over his brother and instigated this attack on James? What possible political antics and selfish motives lay behind this evil deed?

Let's not forget that Caiaphas was a wicked man who revealed his evil motives when he sought to conjure up “false evidence against Jesus” in order to “put him to death” (Matt. 26:59). In view of this unscrupulous act, he would certainly not hesitate to be a part of a conspiracy to have James arrested and sentenced. In fact, Caiaphas and Herod may have collaborated and simply decided to choose one apostle for the guillotine, hoping it would intimidate the rest of the zealous evangelists and stop the church from growing. If so, “the lot” may simply have fallen on James. In the world of wicked politicians, the reason for this decision could have been just that simple—and heartless.

The Ultimate Sacrifice

What price are you willing to pay to be loyal to Jesus Christ?

In our own culture, many of us have thought very little about experiencing true sacrifice for what we believe. In the early days of the church, the apostles faced this issue every day—and James died for what he believed. He was miraculously and marvelously transformed from a man who thought only of himself and his family into a dynamic and steadfast Christian who was willing to give his life for the One who gave His life for him.

When James and John came to Jesus and asked to sit on His right and left when He became king of Israel, the Lord asked them a question. Since James was the oldest and the spokesman, Jesus may have looked directly at him and asked: “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” More than likely, James responded to that question for both brothers with a bold and arrogant answer: “We can” (Matt. 20:22). Again, Jesus more than likely peered into James's eyes and with great compassion and uttered these words: '"You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father'” (Matt. 20:23).

The “cup” Jesus referred to was His own painful death, and James was definitely the first apostle to literally die for the cause of Christ. In stark contrast, John lived to be an old man. Tradition tells us that he died a natural death. But for James, Jesus' prophecy literally came true. He gave his life in order to be true to Jesus Christ and His teachings. When James died, he literally drank from Jesus' cup.

I feel certain that when James faced death, he remembered Jesus' penetrating words that day when he told the Lord that he and John could “drink the cup” He was going to drink. I'm also confident that the Holy Spirit gave him the supernatural power and inner strength to face death victoriously with a pure and upright heart—just as his friend Stephen had done in the early days of the church. Who can forget this evangelist's powerful example: “While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' Then he fell on his knees and cried out, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them.' When he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:59-60).

Becoming God's Man Today

Principles to Live By

James's family background, his arrogant early years, and his subsequent amazing transformation all combine to give us divine principles that can impact our lives. Allow the Holy Spirit to penetrate your own heart as you reflect on the way you're presently living your Christian life.

Principle 1. No matter what our family background, Jesus Christ can mold our lives into His image.

Jesus not only did this for James but also for his brother John and for all of the apostles except one. The original “Eleven” chose to respond to God's grace. Judas rejected the opportunity and suffered the dreadful and serious consequences.

All of us have been impacted by our family backgrounds. Unfortunately, many parents have not always been the best models. For example, many children today are reared in an environment that is intensely materialistic. Even Christian parents do not model generosity. They don't teach their children to give regularly and systematically, primarily because they are not regular, systematic givers themselves. In reality, they're rearing their children to keep everything for themselves. In this sense, they are worshiping at the shrine of money and material things.

In addition, more and more little boys grow up in families where they've never seen what God intended a good husband to be. They've never seen their father love their mother as God has commanded. And they've not experienced love themselves. How then can they become good husbands and “love” their wives, “just as Christ loved the church” (Eph. 5:25)? How can they become good fathers who bring their children “up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (6:4)?

This is the primary reason why God designed the church to be a “re-parenting” organism. When Christians love one another as Jesus taught His disciples (John 13:34-35), not only will the world sit up and take notice, but Christians who have not learned what love is from their parents will experience it in their relationships with their pastors and their brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.

How long it takes to become mature in Christ depends on what we bring to our initial relationship with the Lord and how well we respond to the opportunities we have for change. For James, it took over three years, even though he walked and talked with the Master, heard His dynamite messages, and saw Him perform powerful miracles. It shouldn't surprise us that it takes time for us to conform our lives to the way Jesus lived, especially since we've not had the privilege to walk and talk with Him face to face like the apostles.

So, don't be discouraged! Present your body to the Lord today and begin to renew your mind with the Word of God (Rom. 12:1-2). And don't resist reaching out to other mature Christians for help. We all need encouragers and those who will hold us accountable.

Principle 2. God is looking for dedicated men with natural leadership abilities who will become servant leaders.

All honest men will admit that they are naturally endowed with strong egos. This can be our greatest strength and our greatest weakness. Initially James used his God-created energy to be opportunistic—to further his own self-centered interests. When he was in the limelight on the Mount of Transfiguration, he was highly motivated, and when he had to operate “behind the scenes” in the Garden of Gethsemane, he “went to sleep.”

How true of all of us! We love the glitz and excitement that accompany “mountaintop experiences” that elevate our own prominence and position. We never have difficulty “staying awake” during these “moments of glory.” But how easy it is to lose our motivation and to “fall asleep” and become lethargic during those quiet and less obvious moments. It's at those moments we can catch a glimpse of our hearts and why we get excited. If we're honest, it's usually because of our own vested interests.

Jesus Christ wants to use our ego strength to achieve His goals. He wants men to follow Him who will allow their God-created energies to be brought under the control of the Holy Spirit. He wants to help us shed our self-centered pride and become humble but self-confident men who are relying on God and at the same time, using all of the abilities He has given us. Jesus Christ wants us to learn to serve others in love no matter what our earthly position. He wants us to comprehend and apply the greatest lesson He ever taught the apostles: the person who is greatest is to be servant of all (John 13:12-17).

King or Servant?

One of the great tragedies in the Christian community today is the way we have developed a “king leadership” mentality rather than the “servant-leadership” approach modeled by Jesus. Unfortunately, this happens among Christian men, both in the secular community as well as in the church. This does not mean we cannot become strong and dynamic leaders. Rather, it means following the example of Christ, who was both “strong and meek.”

The apostle Peter wrote very specifically about becoming this kind of leader. Even though he was speaking to those of us who serve as elders and pastors, the same principles apply even though our “flock” may be “goats” rather than “sheep” (Matt. 25:31-33):

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. (1 Pet. 5:1-4)

These qualities are what also make good husbands and good fathers. They make good CEOs and supervisors. How do you measure up?

Principle 3. Jesus Christ wants to use our competitive tendencies to build His kingdom, not our own.

It just so happens that the very night I penned these words, I watched a little league baseball game. It was the last game of the season—the championship match. My grandson was playing—and his team won. I'm still feeling the warm glow.

No one would say it is wrong to feel this way. However, as I glanced about at most of the parents and grandparents, I have to admit that we had more ego involved in the game than the eight-year-old boys themselves. Having played sports most of my life, I readily admit this was certainly true of me. I wanted our boys to win!

Unfortunately, this tendency can become very self-centered. If we're not careful, we really won't care about the losers and how they feel. Frankly, I had to check myself. When those little boys—the opponents—came up to bat, I was tempted to want them to strike out or hit poorly. And when they were in the field, I was tempted to want them to miss catches, to drop the ball, and to throw badly. It was a rather shameful temptation, and at times, I found myself yielding to those urges, which was reflected in the way I responded when they failed.

This natural bent causes a lot of tension for those of us who want to behave like Christians yet be competitive and do our best. In business, we all want to move up—to better our financial position or to enjoy the rewards of doing a good job. However, when we achieve these goals, there will often be those who will have to “move over,” to step aside.

How can we do our best, have a winning spirit, “climb the corporate ladder,” and yet be servants? This is not an easy question to answer, but I believe it's possible.

First, we need to be reminded that it's not wrong to do our very best and to be rewarded. However, we must always reflect the fruit of the Holy Spirit in all of our relationships: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Gal. 5:22).

Second, our motivation should always be to honor and glorify Jesus Christ. When we succeed, we must always remember to thank God and to use our new position ultimately to build His kingdom, not ours. If God blesses us with more money, we should give generously and proportionately to carry out His work in the world.

Third, we must never use our prominent position to lord it over others. In business, this means serving others and helping them to achieve their goals in the organization, in their families, and in their personal lives.

Personalizing These Principles

Meditate on the following Scriptures to help you practice these principles:

Conforming to Christ's Image

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Eph. 4:22-24)

Becoming Servant-Leaders

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. “ (John 13:12—15)

Building Christ's Kingdom

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death—

even death on a cross! (Phil. 2:3—8)

Set a Goal

As you've reflected on the principles that flow out of James's life and experience as well as the related scriptural exhortations, what one need has the Holy Spirit surfaced in your own life? Formulate this need into a specific goal:

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Memorize the Following Scripture

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17

Growing Together

The following questions are designed for small group discussion:

1. How has your family background affected you—both in a positive and negative sense?

2. Why is it difficult to be a servant-leader, especially in the business world? Can you give examples of how this can be done?

3. How have you been able to keep your competitive tendencies from becoming self-oriented, opportunistic, prideful, and hurtful to others?

4. What is the greatest lesson you've learned from this study on James's life?

5. What can we pray for you specifically?

Chapter 3

John: A Self-Centered Man

Who Learned to Love

Chuck Colson was a special assistant to Richard Nixon. He was a tough-minded Marine turned politician. He would do anything to “serve” the president—and in the process, feather his own nest. Colson understood power—and he loved it!

And then something happened that he hadn't counted on. He along with several other “Watergate conspirators,” shall we say, “pushed the envelope.” They were charged and sentenced to do time in prison. The president they served resigned in disgrace.

But before Chuck Colson went to prison, something else happened in his life. It was supernatural and dramatic. He was born again by the Spirit of God. Many people wouldn't believe it was real—but it was! He wrote a remarkable and inspiring book detailing his experiences. It was simply entitled Born Again.

Colson then served his sentence in prison. But while he was there, he developed a burden for other inmates. Sensing God's call on his life, he made a commitment to help these men find Christ and launched an organization called Prison Fellowship. Again, he wrote about his own commitment to a prison ministry in a book entitled Life Sentence. God took a rugged, dishonest, and self-serving politician and turned him into a man who has reflected the love and compassion of Jesus Christ.

Transformed Men

Chuck Colson's story shouldn't surprise us. Jesus Christ is looking for men who have drive and ambition. If our motives and goals are selfish, He wants to change our hearts and redirect our energies to carry out His purposes in this world. He doesn't want to change our basic personalities and giftedness, but He wants to transform the way we live our lives.

This is what Jesus Christ did when He chose the apostles and spent several years preparing them to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19). They were all self-centered men and, as far as we know, very successful in what they did. But they were in it for themselves.

This certainly describes the apostle John. Like his brother James, he was bombastic, self-centered, insensitive, and power-hungry. Yet he would eventually become known as the “apostle of love.” What a transformation—another miracle of God's grace!

Next to Peter, John's name appears in the New Testament more than any of the other apostles, approximately fifty times.[1] However, his association and encounters with Jesus are usually mentioned alongside other apostles—with two exceptions. These two occasions are very unique and altogether different.

A Plan That Backfired (Mark 9:38-41; Luke 9:49)

Can you recall a time when you thought you were going to be complimented but instead you were admonished?

Being reproved when we are expecting commendation becomes even more embarrassing when we are trying to redeem ourselves and we end up setting ourselves up for another failure.

This happened to John when an unidentified man was driving out demons in Christ's name. Several of the apostles issued an order for him to stop. Seeing this as his opportunistic moment, John took it on himself to inform Jesus regarding this episode: “'Teacher,' said John, 'we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us'” (Mark 9:38).

It's more than obvious that John relished the opportunity to let Jesus know why they silenced this man. He was not a part of their elite group.

An Unexpected Rebuke

John didn't anticipate Jesus' negative response. Rather than complimenting John for what he thought would be interpreted as wise and loyal behavior, Jesus made it abundantly clear to John, and to all the other apostles, that this was not a valid reason to stop this man. He saw right through John's self-serving and, perhaps, jealous behavior (Mark 9:39). Jesus rebuked John!

Knowing John's innate and sensitive personality—even though Jesus identified him as one of the “sons of thunder"— John's behavior may have also been motivated by guilt and embarrassment. Perhaps he was trying to redeem himself. Just prior to this event, the disciples had been arguing “as to which of them would be the greatest” (Luke 9:46). When this argument broke out, John and his brother James were without doubt square in the middle of this squabble. In fact, some time later, they had the audacity to ask Jesus very directly if one of them could sit on Jesus' right hand and the other on His left when He became king of Israel (Mark 10:37).

Jesus was very disappointed in this woefully immature behavior, and He lectured them on humility. He made it clear that if anyone wanted “to be first,” he must be willing to “be the very last, and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35). To make sure His point penetrated their hearts, Jesus “took a little child and had him stand beside him” and then relayed this very powerful but embarrassing message: “'Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest'” (Luke 9:48).

Ouch! No matter how arrogant and spiritually blind John and his brother had become, they couldn't have missed this barbed and convicting message!

Compensating for Failure

When John reported that he had stopped an “outsider” from casting out demons in Jesus' name, was he trying to get on the Lord's “good side” by attempting to prove what a good disciple he really was?

This makes sense. I know it does in my life. When I feel I have failed those I respect and want to impress them, my temptation is to work harder to prove myself and to be accepted. Unfortunately, when we're motivated in this way, we tend to lose perspective and “tip our hand.”

Whatever John's motives were, Jesus knew. He saw right into his heart. As almost always happens when we try to prove ourselves without making changes from the inside out, we only blow our cover and make matters worse. In this instance, John had set himself up for another rebuke. It had to be one of his most humiliating moments. But, unfortunately, John still didn't get the message—at least not at the heart level. He still wanted to be first!

Undeserved Love (John 19:25—27)

How do you feel when someone loves and trusts you in spite of your self centered and even obnoxious behavior?

When someone accepts us in spite of our blunders, it's disarming, humbling, and life-changing. I remember a professor who did this for me when I was just a late teenager beginning my college work. He accepted and loved me unconditionally in spite of some very youthful immaturity. I didn't fully realize it then, but I do now—and it changed my life.

This is what Jesus did for John, and eventually John got the message. However, it didn't happen without a lot of unconditional love and acceptance and at least three years.

The Disciple Jesus Loved

The next and only time John was the sole center of attention in the Gospel records—without his fellow disciples being named—happened at the cross. John himself recalled and recorded a very heartrending scene in his own Gospel. As he wrote, he identified himself indirectly, as he did all the way through this marvelous historical account. He called himself “the disciple Jesus loved.” On the surface, this may appear to be a mark of spiritual pride, but in reality, it was John's effort to be factual, honest, yet humble. When he wrote these words, he was a transformed man. The biblical record speaks for itself:

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son, “and to the disciple, “Here is your mother. “ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:25—27)

A Dramatic Change Point

It's impossible to identify fully what happened. It was an intensely emotional scene. Kneeling at the foot of the cross were four women, three of them named Mary. Groaning in deep despair, they were wiping tears from their eyes. Jesus' mother was one of the four and certainly felt the deepest pain. It was her son who hung there, blood dripping from His open wounds and His bruised and beaten body. Imagine Mary's emotional response when Jesus, barely able to speak, instructed John to take care of her. We can only assume that Joseph, Jesus' earthly father, had already died.

Imagine too how John must have felt to be entrusted with this very personal and intimate responsibility, especially in view of his previous antics that were so selfish and irresponsible. This had to be a great change point in his life. How could he ever forget that moment at the foot of the cross.

A Unique Relationship

Have you ever had a deep, Christ-centered, and loving relationship with another man that is extraordinary?

In today's world, close relationships between two men make some of us feel uncomfortable and suspicious because of the open homosexual liaisons among so many. This development in our society is unfortunate since God designed both men and women to have deep, holy, and pure relationships with their own gender void of any sexual feelings and activity that the Lord uniquely created for marriage between a man and a woman. King David illustrated this with his close friend Jonathan, and Paul certainly had this kind of relationship with Timothy. But even more significantly, Jesus had this kind of relationship with the apostle John.

Agapao Love

Even though John had been a self-centered and power-hungry man, Jesus had loved him unconditionally. Though He rebuked John for his sinful attitudes and actions, Jesus cared deeply for this rugged and self-oriented fisherman, just as He still cares deeply for all of us today in spite of our weaknesses. It was John himself who had the wonderful privilege to record some of the most immortal words Jesus ever spoke— words that John understood more than some people do: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Jesus had loved John when he was still a man of this world—what he himself later described as “the cravings of sinful man, the lusts of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does” (1 John 2:16). Consequently, when John penned his Gospel and recorded that “God so loved the world,” these words came, not just from his head, but from his heart. Here he used the term agape, often used in the New Testament to describe unconditional love. What a thrill this must have been for this old apostle to record not only the words the Holy Spirit was speaking through him but to express the words that he felt very deeply. He had experienced this love as no other apostle.

Phileo Love

But Jesus' love for John went beyond the agapao love described in John 3:16—the “love” that took Jesus Christ to the cross in spite of the deep pain it caused Him. Jesus feared the cross, but because of His agape love for all of us, He paid the required price for our sins—death (Rom. 6:23). Jesus had this kind of love for John, but He also had a special place in His heart for this rough, outspoken, and insensitive man. This was “brotherly love"—a phileo experience described by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans. We are to “be devoted to one another in brotherly love [philadelphia]” (Rom. 12:10). John experienced this kind of love relationship with Jesus in a special way.

This intense feeling was no secret among the other apostles. It was John who was reclining next to Jesus at the Passover meal. It was John who asked Jesus to whom He was referring when He shared that one of them would betray Him. It was John who leaned “back against Jesus” and asked, “Lord, who is it?” It was John who was called “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23-25).

Were the other men jealous of Jesus' unusual friendship with John—especially before the Holy Spirit changed their lives? Without doubt! In fact, while Jesus was actually passing the bread and the cup during the Passover meal, another argument broke out over “who was considered to be greatest” (Luke 22:24). Again, John was probably square in the middle of this squabble and perhaps even caused the argument. But, in spite of everything, Jesus' relationship with John was still different from the love He had for all the apostles. Though He loved them all—including Judas—He had a special love for John.

Accepting Second Place (John 13:12—15)

Have you ever been asked to set aside your ambition to be number one in order to assume a supportive role to someone else?

To be bypassed positionally is a very difficult experience for most men to handle, especially when we have had our eye on a top position. It often causes deep feelings of anger that linger and turn into bitterness.

These feelings of jealousy run deep—like an underground river that slowly erodes away the earth above it. Eventually, these churning emotions can destroy not only our relationships with others but can hurt our relationship with God. When this kind of fellowship is broken at both the horizontal and vertical levels, we are in a very vulnerable position. We have serious chinks in our armor and Satan's fiery darts can penetrate our souls (Eph. 6:11-18).

John's Desire to Be Number One

The record is clear: When Jesus called John to be one of the Twelve, this man, along with his brother James, wanted to be at the top. Though John recognized that James was his elder brother, he still wanted to sit next to Jesus in His kingdom. In this sense, both James and John wanted to be number one.

Jesus understood John's motives even before He called him to “fish for men.” But the Lord also saw what this man could become—not what he was. Jesus knew that once this bombastic and “rough-edged” fisherman had experienced “the new birth"—which John himself describes so eloquently in his Gospel (John 3:1-15)—he would become a very humble and caring man.

Jesus' Plan Was Number Two

Jesus had begun to prepare John for a secondary role even before either he or Peter understood what the Lord had in mind. We're not told when the other apostles got this message, but it must have become very apparent what the Lord intended when He sent both “Peter and John” to prepare the Passover meal (Luke 22:7-13). This must have been a very bitter pill for James to swallow—to see his younger brother emerge to this position of prominence.

Other followers of Christ could also see this plan unfolding. When Mary Magdalene discovered that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb and Jesus' body was missing, she ran quickly and found both “Peter and John” and reported that someone must have stolen Christ's body (John 20:1-2). In other words, Mary knew these two men had a special leadership role among all the apostles—that Peter was number one and John was number two. We can assume that if Mary knew this, so did most of the other disciples who followed Christ and the apostles.

Once the church was founded on the Day of Pentecost, this leadership pattern was definitely established by the Holy Spirit. Peter became the official and primary leader of these men. John was second in command, serving as Peter's associate. It's not an accident that John's name is always mentioned second. For example, Luke has recorded that it was “Peter and John” who went “up to the temple at the time of prayer” (Acts 3:1), and when they encountered a crippled man, Peter became the spokesman (3:4). Later, the religious leaders “seized Peter and John” and “put them in jail” (4:3). The next day when they were interrogated, once again it was Peter who spoke up and explained their mission (4:8-12).

As the church in Jerusalem expanded and grew rapidly, this dynamic duo continued to serve as an apostolic leadership team. And when Philip carried the gospel message to Samaria, the apostles “sent Peter and John” to help establish these new Christians in the faith (8:14-17). There was no question as to who was the primary leader and who was his associate. But since they were sent out by the other apostles, this also indicates accountability. These two men were not making unilateral decisions.

He That Is Greatest Is to Be Servant

When all of the apostles (except Judas) finally understood who Jesus really was and why He had come and what their role was once the Lord had returned to heaven, they weren't concerned about position and power. They began to practice what Jesus had taught them: that he who is greatest should be servant of all! Consequently, when John officially became Peter's associate, he had already learned to be a servant-leader. Along with the other apostles, he had only one goal in mind: to serve Jesus Christ and build His kingdom. He now understood that Jesus came to serve rather than to be served, and he wanted to be like his master.

“The Greatest of These” (1 Cor. 13:13; John 13:34-35; 1 John 3:16)

To what extent do you really understand what it means to love others as Christ loved us?

Few Christians actually comprehend the depth of Christ's love and still fewer have paid the ultimate price to demonstrate this kind of love. More than any of us, John understood Christ's love even though he never demonstrated this love like his brother James, who literally gave his life for the sake of the gospel.

But one thing is certain about John. He never forgot the lesson that Jesus taught the apostles at the Passover meal when He humbled Himself and washed their dirty feet—and then told them to “wash one another's feet” (John 13:12-15). And he never forgot Jesus' words following that humbling experience: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another'” (John 13:34-35).

Nearly sixty years later—and probably after several of his fellow apostles had given their lives as martyrs—John reiterated Jesus' exact command to “love one another” five times in his first letter (1 John 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11-12). In addition, he used the word love forty times.

More importantly, John learned what Jesus really meant when He washed their feet. This experience pointed to the cross. Consequently, John wrote: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” (1 John 3:16).

Ironically, tradition tells us that John was the only apostle who died a natural death. All the others literally lost their lives communicating the good news regarding Christ's death and resurrection. Nevertheless, John was ready and willing to “drink this cup” along with James. He had become a “man of love” and never forgot his brother's selfless example.

A Literary Masterpiece (John 20:30—31)

What do you really believe about Jesus Christ? Do you know who He actually is?

Even though John traveled with the Lord, heard Him speak, and saw Him work many miracles, it took time for him to believe that Jesus Christ was God. But once he did, he wrote an unequaled masterpiece in order to convince people that Jesus Christ was God who had come to earth in human flesh, and that through faith in this God-man, we can inherit eternal life.

I'm particularly thankful for John's writings. After several months of painful disillusionment, which led me to doubt the reality of Christianity, I read and studied what John recorded in the fourth Gospel. It changed my life. In fact, from that point forward, I've never doubted that Jesus Christ is “the way, and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).

Near the end of this marvelous treatise, John succinctly summarized his purpose for writing this Gospel:

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30-31)

The Holy Spirit led John to write this Gospel in order to convince us that Jesus Christ is who He claimed to be—and that if we put our faith in Him, we will inherit eternal life.

Seven Selected Signs

To prove that Jesus Christ was God in human flesh, John selected and shared seven dynamic miracles he had personally witnessed—each one different and each one demonstrating Christ's power over a different aspect of life and nature:

1. He changed water to wine, demonstrating that He is the master of quality (John 2:1-11).

2. He healed the official's son while remaining in Canaan; the boy was in Capernaum, demonstrating that He is the master of distance (4:43-54).

3. He healed the man at the pool in Jerusalem who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years, demonstrating He is the master of time (5:1-15).

4. He fed five thousand men and their wives and children with five small barley loaves and two small fish, demonstrating that He is the master of quantity (6:1-15).

5. He walked on the Sea of Galilee and stilled the storm, demonstrating that He is the master of nature (6:16-21).

6. He healed an innocent man who had been born blind in order that He might reveal God's power, demonstrating that He is the master of misfortune (9:1-41).

7. He raised Lazarus from the dead after he had been in the tomb for four days, demonstrating that He is the master of death (11:1-44).[2]

Against the backdrop of these seven “selected signs,” we can now understand why John began his Gospel record with these words:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:1—3)

John then told us who the “Word” is. He “became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We [including all of the disciples] have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (1:14).

The Supreme Sign

In addition to these seven “selected signs,” John also included the supreme sign: the resurrection of Christ. This miracle demonstrates that Jesus is master over His own life. One day He became very angry with His fellow Jews who were using the temple in Jerusalem as a place to sell merchandise and to take advantage of people who had come to worship. He took a whip and drove all of the animals out of the temple and overturned the money changers' tables, scattering coins all over the floor. Understandably, the Jews resented Jesus' actions and demanded that He show them a “miraculous sign” in order to prove that He had the authority to do what He had just done.

Jesus answered them, but they totally misunderstood what He meant. He told them that if they “destroyed this temple,” He would raise it up again in three days (2:19). His enemies thought He was referring to the literal temple in Jerusalem. However, John later told us what Jesus really had in mind. He was referring to “the temple” of His body. Once He had been crucified and placed in a tomb, Jesus Christ actually came forth from the tomb by His own power (2:22). He raised Himself—the “temple of His body"—from the dead.

When John outran Peter to check on Mary Magdalene's report that Christ's body had been stolen, he “still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead” (20:9). However, after Jesus suddenly appeared to him and the other apostles through locked doors, John knew and understood for the first time that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing” we all “may have life in his name” (20:31). And that is why he wrote this glorious Gospel.

Becoming God's Man Today

Principles to Live By

There are some very encouraging lessons that we can learn from John's life. If you learn these lessons and apply them in your own experience, you too will be a unique disciple whom Jesus loves.

Principle 1. Jesus Christ loves all of us unconditionally, no matter how selfish and arrogant we are.

John demonstrated this principle for us in a marvelous way. He was a very self-centered man who had a terrible temper. But Jesus loved him dearly even when he was obnoxious and self-serving.

John not only understood personally what it means to be loved unconditionally, but he saw this happen to others. This is one reason why the Holy Spirit chose him to record Jesus' story. He witnessed firsthand that the Lord could save a self-righteous Pharisee named Nicodemus (3:1-21). He saw Jesus transform an immoral Samaritan woman when she put her faith in the Savior (4:1-42). He heard the man born blind cry out, “Lord, I believe,” and then saw him worship Jesus Christ (9:38). He also looked on in amazement when Thomas, a real skeptic, proclaimed, “My Lord and my God” (20:28). What made this testimony so powerful was that Thomas had stated earlier that he would never believe that Jesus Christ had been raised from the dead unless he saw it for himself (20:25).

Jesus Christ loves you no matter what your religious or pagan background, no matter what your sin or your unbelief. If you put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and believe that He died and rose again for you personally, you'll pass from death to life (3:36; 5:24). It was John who also gave us this wonderful statement and promise:

He came to that which was his own [the Jews], but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (1:11—13)

Principle 2. Jesus Christ wants to have a unique, ongoing, and reciprocal love relationship with all of His children.

When Jesus walked this earth, He had a special relationship with John. But once He fulfilled His purpose, He made it possible for all of us to have that kind of relationship with Him, even though He has returned to heaven. Because of Jesus Christ, we are God's children. Listen to the words of John in his first epistle: “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1a).

No Partiality

Today, Jesus Christ has no favorites. He loves us all the same. To demonstrate that it's only human to have unique relationships while on earth, He allowed this to happen as the God-man. In His humanity, He loved John in a special way. But as the great high priest and mediator who now sits at the right hand of God the Father, He shows no partiality. Furthermore, He desires to have a warm, loving relationship with all of His children.

Damaged Emotions

Please understand that the Lord wants this relationship to be more than something we know with our heads. He wants us to think and feel His love in our hearts. However, some Christians have had such traumatic experiences with parents and other adults growing up that they have a difficult time accepting and feeling God's love at the emotional level.

I remember leading a young woman to Christ who could not verbalize the words “heavenly Father.” I thought she misunderstood when I asked her to use these words in a prayer inviting Christ into her life. However, she explained her inability to use the word Father because of her relationship with her earthly father, who had abused her sexually over a lengthy period of time. Needless to say, it took time for this young woman to overcome the feelings of pain associated with the words “Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (Matt. 6:9).

God wants all of us to be able to relate to Him, not just with head knowledge but with heart experience. He is our heavenly Father—and He wants us to walk with Him day by day in deep and abiding fellowship.

There's a great lesson in this truth for all of us as fathers. How our children relate to us often determines how they will relate to God. I'll never forget a conversation I heard between my two daughters when they were only four and five years of age. “Hey,” one said with a stroke of insight, “God is our heavenly Daddy.” Overhearing this little girl conversation marked my life. Their image of me—their father—was their image of God.

Principle 3. Jesus Christ has made it possible for us to be a part of a dynamic community of love that not only meets our own needs but demonstrates to the world that Jesus Christ is the incarnate Son of God.

When Jesus walked among men and women working miracles, He was demonstrating His deity. But when He returned to heaven, He left His people to demonstrate that He was one with the Father. This is why He taught His disciples, following the foot-washing experience, to love one another as He had loved them (John 13:34-35). This is why He also prayed for unity as He was walking with His disciples following that event, heading toward the Kidron Valley—and the cross. Christian love produces unity, and that unity is what God wants to use to prove to unbelievers that He is God come in human flesh.

The apostle John heard this prayer—and never forgot it. The Holy Spirit brought the exact words to his memory, and he has recorded them for us since Christ's prayer is for all believers of all time:

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. “ (John 17:20-21)

More than any other apostle, John understood and experienced the concept of fellowship, both with God and with other believers. This is why he wrote in his first epistle:

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. (1 John 1:3—4)

Personalizing These Principles

1. Have you received the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior from sin, realizing that no matter what your failures, Jesus loves you unconditionally? If you haven't made this very important decision, would you sincerely pray this simple prayer?

Dear Father, I acknowledge that I have sinned and that I have fallen short of your perfect standard of righteousness (Rom. 3:23). I realize that the wages of my sin is eternal death and separation from God (Rom. 6:23), but I also understand that your gift is eternal life to all of those who put their personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8—9). I personally believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for me and was raised again. I desire to turn from my sins and to become a new creation in Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). Because of Christ's redeeming power and this sincere statement of faith, I now believe I have been placed in Christ's family by the Holy Spirit and that I now have eternal life (Eph. 1:13—14).

2. Since you have become a Christian, are you experiencing day-by-day fellowship with God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son and the blessed Holy Spirit?

You can if you make the decision to do what Paul asked all believers to do when he wrote to the Roman Christians:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God— this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Rom. 12:1—2)

3. If you are a member of the family of God, what are you doing to contribute to the love and unity in that family?

Evaluate your life in the light of Paul's words to the Philippians:

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Phil. 2:1—4)

Set a Goal

As you have studied John's life and considered the principles that flow from his own experience, what one goal do you need to set for your own life? Ask the Holy Spirit to make this need clear and then prayerfully record it:

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Memorize the Following Scripture

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

1 JOHN 3:16

Growing Together

The following questions are designed for small-group discussion:

1. Would you share when and how you came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?

2. Why do many of us have difficulty believing that Jesus Christ loves us unconditionally?

3. How have you experienced Jesus Christ's ongoing love in your own life?

4. Why do we sometimes have difficulty experiencing God's love at the feeling level?

5. What one thing meant the most to you as you studied John's life?

6. What can we pray for you specifically?

Chapter 4

Andrew: A Prominent Man Who

Was Willing to Put Others First

I'll never forget meeting and talking with Henry Coleman Crowell. His father was Henry Parsons Crowell, a very well-known businessman at the turn of the century. He served as chairman of the board of Quaker Oats, but because of his spiritual commitments, he devoted much of his time to chairing the board at Moody Bible Institute. His son, Henry Coleman, eventually became a vice president at Moody. As a young engineering graduate from Yale, he was responsible for launching the radio ministry in the early 1930s. His efforts are a remarkable story of behind-the-scenes perseverance.

I had the privilege of researching and writing the official history of Moody Bible Institute. When I explored the far-reaching radio ministry of this organization, I spent hours reading the annual reports submitted by Henry Coleman Crowell. To my surprise, I found he had personally made ten trips by train from Chicago to Washington, D.C., over a two-year period to appear before the Radio Commission in order to give reasons why they should allow the Moody Bible Institute radio station in Chicago to stay on the air—especially when so many secular stations were coming into existence. Because of his knowledge in the field and his extensive efforts, he finally convinced the commission to allow radio station WMBI to continue to broadcast in the Chicago area from daylight to sunset, an amazing accomplishment that has affected Moody Bible Institute's far-reaching radio ministry to this very day.

Frankly, I also discovered that very few people really knew about this faithful behind-the-scenes effort. In fact, in a personal conversation with Henry Coleman Crowell, he shared that he shied away from prominence since he had seen so many up-front people allow prestige and popularity to go to their heads. He was satisfied to operate behind the scenes— even giving credit for his own accomplishments to others. In my way of thinking, this man was a modern-day Andrew.

As we'll see, Andrew went further than just operating behind the scenes. He was actually demoted, moving from second place to fourth place in Christ's scheme of things and evidently accepted this reality without becoming bitter.

Big Brother's Shadow

Have you ever lived in someone else's shadow? How did you feel?

It's not a very comfortable feeling to always be second, especially when you're often compared with someone else. Andrew faced this emotional dynamic most of his life. Long before “people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by” (Acts 5:15), this powerful man had cast “his shadow” on those who knew him well. No one felt the impact more strongly than his brother, Andrew.

Big Shoes to Fill

I vividly remember my first semester as a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. I had taught at Moody Bible Institute for a number of years before Dr. Howard Hendricks invited me to join the faculty of DTS. He was going on sabbatical and wanted me to take over the department in his absence. When he returned a year later, I would continue as his associate.

When I accepted the position, I knew I had “big shoes” to fill. But I wasn't quite prepared for the “huge shadow” that followed me everywhere I went on campus. As a teacher and administrator at Moody Bible Institute, I had established my own identity. But it was a different feeling, to say the least, to be ministering as the associate of Dr. Howard Hendricks in a new set of circumstances.

This rather intimidating experience taught me a lot about my own self-image, my motives, and my willingness to accept the fact that I was serving with a man who was a very gifted teacher and was greatly respected by his students. In retrospect, this was one of the greatest growth experiences in my professional career. I learned to be comfortable with who I am as a person, even though I was often identified as “Howard Hendricks's associate.”

Simon Peter's Brother

Though Andrew's ministry position was many times more significant than mine, he had to learn the same lesson. He had been known as “Simon Peter's brother” from the time he was born (John 6:8; Matt. 4:18, 10:2; Luke 6:14). Like John's relationship with James, Andrew was in second place … if not in the “backseat.”

However, this relationship was different in one respect. Both James and John had bombastic personalities—which is why Jesus called them the “Sons of Thunder.” But Andrew was a different personality than Peter. He was not as outspoken and brash. Peter was the natural leader, the man out front, the one who evidently had been hired by Zebedee to manage his fishing business. By nature, Andrew was more quiet and reserved, and, as we'll see, definitely more spiritual when Jesus called these men to “fish for men.”

Though Peter's shadow was enormous, Andrew faced his greatest challenge to maintain his spiritual and psychological equilibrium when Jesus made James and John a part of the inner circle. When this happened, Andrew moved from second place to fourth place and was often on the “outside looking in.”

Though Andrew must have chafed and struggled with these appointments, especially when James and John tried to make an “end-run” around Peter, there is no evidence he allowed his feelings to turn into bitterness. Though he may not have respected James and John at this juncture, he trusted and loved his divine leader, the man he believed was the Messiah—which takes us back to Andrew's first encounter with Jesus Christ.

A Life-Changing Experience

Have you ever heard a message that changed your life forever?

For most of us, dramatic life changes happen gradually, but for Andrew, it happened quickly—in one day's time (John 1:35-42). This should not surprise us since the message and the man who delivered the message were virtually one. He was the “Word” who had become “flesh” (John 1:1, 14). Andrew met the God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ.

We first meet Andrew near Bethany, a small town located in a wilderness area east of the Jordan River (John 1:28). He lived in Bethsaida, a small town in Galilee, where he had worked in the fishing business. But why would he be in the vicinity of Jerusalem, an area nearly one hundred miles south of his own hometown? And why was he near Bethany?[1]

A Disciple of John the Baptist

This was not the first time Andrew had been in this area. In fact, he may have taken a leave of absence from the fishing business for a period of time since he had already become a disciple of John the Baptist (John 1:35, 40). During one of his journeys to the Jerusalem area, he had heard John preach. Mark recorded that the whole Jerusalem countryside and “all the people of Jerusalem” went out to hear this fiery, wilderness preacher named John the Baptist. It is not surprising that Andrew would hear about this eccentric man who was “baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4). He was curious and joined the crowd to see and hear for himself.

Andrew was drawn to this strange-looking preacher dressed in clothes made from camel's hair (Mark 1:6). We're not told how long it took him to decide to become one of John's disciples, but at some point in time, he made that decision (John 1:35, 40).

The Coming Messiah

John's message was powerful and penetrating. He claimed to be “'the voice of one calling in the desert, “Make straight the way for the Lord"'” (1:23). Earlier he had testified by saying, “'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me'” (1:15).

When Andrew heard these statements, questions must have swept his mind. Who was John talking about? Where is this man? What does he look like? Could this be a reference to the promised Messiah?

Andrew soon discovered the answers to his questions. The man John was referring to was Jesus, whom John identified as the “Lamb of God!” (1:35). When Andrew and another unnamed disciple of John the Baptist[2] heard this fascinating description, they started following Jesus. Noticing these two new followers, Jesus turned and asked them what they wanted. Obviously surprised at this immediate attention, they asked Jesus where He was staying. Imagine their feelings when Jesus invited them to come along. They followed immediately—and spent an entire day with Him (1:39)—a day that was destined to change the direction of their lives.

We're not told specifically what Jesus taught these two men on that memorable day, but we do know that Andrew was ecstatic! Wasting no time, “the first thing” he “did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, 'We have found the Messiah'” (1:41). In one day's time, Jesus had convinced Andrew that He was the Christ—the One spoken about so frequently by Old Testament prophets. We're not told what Jesus said or did that day, but we can speculate that He probably performed a miracle—something that only a true prophet could do![3]

Simon Peter's Presence

We're not told why Peter was in the Jerusalem area at this time. He may have been on some kind of business-related trip. Perhaps he was seeking new markets for their fish, or maybe he needed supplies they couldn't find in the smaller cities of Galilee. It's also possible he had combined business with pleasure and with worship in the temple.

More likely, Peter had heard that his brother Andrew had joined what he suspicioned was a Jewish cult and had come to the Jerusalem area to check on Andrew. After all, they were in the fishing business together; and since Andrew had to have been absent for a period of time, he must have told Peter about his decision to become a disciple of John the Baptist. But, whatever the reason Peter was in this area, on the day Andrew found him and introduced him to Jesus, he was destined to meet the man who would eventually change his life as well.

A Bold Decision

What price are you willing to pay to learn more about God's will for your life?

When it comes to wanting to follow God's plans, from day one Andrew is a sterling example. We know enough about this man to help us understand some impressive aspects of his spiritual convictions. He was deeply religious, which may be a primary reason he traveled from Bethsaida to Jerusalem. All God-fearing Jews made regular trips to worship in the temple. But more specifically, Andrew would not have become a disciple of John the Baptist if he were not deeply committed to doing the will of God. After all, John's message cut straight to the heart. He called for repentance from sins. He condemned the heresy of Andrew's religious leaders, calling them a “brood of vipers” (Matt. 3:7). This fisherman from Bethsaida had to be dead serious about eternal issues. To become one of John's disciples called for commitment, boldness, and risk. It appears that Andrew did not waver whatsoever when he made his decision.

Andrew's spiritual fervor is also evidenced by his quick response to Christ's invitation to come and see where He was staying and, more importantly, to spend a whole day listening to Jesus. Furthermore, it only took that brief period of time to convince Andrew that Jesus was the true Messiah. Even if Jesus had worked a miracle, only an openhearted, sincere religious Jew who had a knowledge of the Old Testament would have made this kind of decision. Furthermore, only a God-fearing man would become so excited that he would immediately introduce his own brother to Jesus, identifying this teacher as the Christ. Of all the future apostles, Andrew was probably the most spiritual when he first met Jesus Christ.

A Painful Personal Experience

As I reflect on Andrew's decision to become a disciple of John the Baptist, I can't help but remember some of my own experiences as a young Christian. When I was still in my teens, I made a decision that led to my excommunication from a religious system in which I had been born and reared. My parents, grandparents, and even my great-grandparents were deeply committed to this group. When I decided to study for the ministry at Moody Bible Institute, I was accused of “leaving the fold” and being disobedient to “my own spiritual leaders.” Eventually, the elders asked me to leave this religious community and to disassociate myself from some of my closest and dearest friends.

This was a painful period in my life. However, because of what I knew about the true message of the Bible, I felt I had no choice if I wanted to walk in the will of God. Please understand that I realize it would be presumptuous of me to equate my own decision with Andrew's. However, in some respects, I can appreciate his decision when he decided to become a disciple of John the Baptist. He knew he would bring the wrath of the religious leaders in the Jewish community down on his own head. This wilderness preacher was not one of their favorite people. However, Andrew was willing to pay the price to be able to follow Jesus Christ.

A Traumatic Experience

How would you feel if your spiritual mentor was sentenced to prison because of his stand for righteousness?

The King's Hatred

Andrew faced a very traumatic experience when John the Baptist went to prison because of his stand for righteousness. This fearless teacher was eventually incarcerated by Herod. John had boldly confronted the king with sin in his life—his adulterous affair with Herodius. Herod was so angry, he wanted to take this preacher's life but imprisoned him instead since so many people believed that John was a true prophet.

From a human point of view, Herod's attack was successful in squelching John's ministry. His disciples were evidently scattered. Andrew himself returned to Galilee and once again devoted his time to fishing. It must have been an intensely disillusioning time in his life. Just sharing his experience with his brother Peter, and his business partners, James and John, would have been traumatic. Though Peter was probably sympathetic, James and John were no doubt sarcastic and often responded with an “I-told-you-so” attitude.

Back in Galilee

Things were destined to change. Even Jesus left this hostile environment and returned to Galilee after John's imprisonment (Mark 1:14). When He eventually took up residence in Capernaum, He must have strolled many times along the seashore leading toward Bethsaida. As He did, He probably stopped often to chat with Andrew and his brother Peter, as well as Andrew's partners, James and John. By this time, all of these men would have heard Jesus preach on numerous occasions, and even James and John had become close friends with this nomadic teacher who claimed to be the Messiah. We can also be sure that when Jesus appeared on the scene, Andrew had often talked to James and John about the day he had spent with Jesus months earlier. And though Peter didn't understand much of what was happening the day he met Jesus in Bethany, he would have certainly described how Jesus had changed his name from Simon to Cephas (or Peter)—even before they had a conversation (John 1:42). How could he forget that day!

A Personal Invitation

On one occasion, when Jesus was once again teaching on the seashore, He took these four men by surprise. Knowing their curiosity and receptivity, He spoke first to Peter and Andrew, inviting them to follow Him on a permanent basis. “'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men'” (Matt. 4:18-19). By this time they were so convinced that they could trust Jesus, they walked away from their fishing business and followed the Lord. A little further along the shore, Jesus approached the sons of Zebedee—James and John—who were also partners in the same corporation. Though probably more skeptical at this moment, they also left their boats and followed Jesus.

Though we're not told what Andrew's motives were, we can definitely assume they were quite different from those of Peter, James, and John. Andrew had already been John's disciple because of religious convictions and had become convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. The other men—including Peter—later demonstrated that their motives were primarily materialistic combined with a desire for power and position and what they believed would be Christ's kingdom on earth.

A Gradual Demotion

How well do you think you would handle a demotion, especially if you were replaced by men who were egotistical, opportunistic, and anything but spiritual?

This is exactly what happened to Andrew after Jesus called him and his fishing buddies to leave their business. As we'll see, Andrew nobly handled what must have been a very disappointing experience.

The Setting

One day Peter, James, John, and Andrew followed Jesus into the synagogue in Capernaum. The Lord not only spoke with dynamic power and authority, but He miraculously cast out an evil spirit. Predictably, everyone was so amazed that they began to spread the word throughout Galilee (Mark 1:21-28).

After what must have been a very busy and emotionally draining day, they made their way through the crowds and left the synagogue. Since Jesus had been staying in Andrew's home, they traveled along the seashore toward Bethsaida. Hordes of people followed. When they arrived, they found that Peter's mother-in-law had become seriously ill. Feeling a deep sense of compassion for this woman, Jesus healed her, and she got up immediately and once again began to serve.

This healing only advanced Jesus' expanding reputation and popularity. That very evening, after the sun had disappeared against the western sky, people converged en masse outside Andrew's home from all over the area, bringing their relatives and friends who were both sick and demon-possessed.

Jesus would not turn them away and once again demonstrated His power and His mercy.

We're not told how long this healing experience went on into the night. However, we know that Jesus arose early in the morning, even before daylight, and slipped away to find a place of quietness where He could pray (Mark 1:35). Predictably, when everyone else awakened, they discovered that Jesus was missing and hurriedly went to look for Him.

Peter Takes Charge

Though Andrew had met Jesus first and had become convinced that He was the Messiah, and in turn had introduced his brother to Jesus, Peter quickly took the reigns of leadership. He organized a search party to look for Jesus. Mark recorded specifically that “Simon and his companions [namely Andrew and James and John] went to look for Him” (1:36).

Perhaps Andrew readily and graciously accepted the fact that his brother was destined to be the leader of this new missionary team. After all, Peter had been the leader in their fishing business. Andrew was accustomed to reporting to him. And he certainly never forgot Jesus' words to Peter the day he introduced him to Jesus: “'You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas' (which, when translated, is Peter)” (John 1:42b). Andrew certainly knew there was something very significant about a name that meant “rock.”

The Inner Circle

Though Andrew may have had mixed emotions when his big brother took charge of this new group, he must have struggled much more intensely when Jesus bypassed him and selected James and John to be a part of the inner circle.

Try to identify with Andrew. He was the first of all of the apostles to become convinced that Jesus Christ was the Messiah. All along, his motives were more spiritual.

What must have made this a difficult and irksome challenge for Andrew is that this arrangement evolved over a period of time. He saw it happening. It's one thing to accept the fact emotionally that your brother is the primary leader. But it's another to accept the reality that “two other brothers” have replaced you whose motives were definitely focused on themselves. You see, both Matthew and Luke indicated in their Gospel records that when Jesus called these twelve men to be apostles, Andrew was second in line. The order in which names are listed in Scripture very consistently indicate seniority. Consequently, it's very significant that Matthew recorded: “These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John” (Matt. 10:2; Luke 6:14).

In other words, it took time for this “inner circle” to emerge, and when someone has been “second in line"—as Andrew was—it's always difficult to accept the fact that you've been moved to “fourth in line.” It's especially difficult when we are more often than not on the outside of the inner circle. And make no mistake about it: Andrew knew James and John intimately. They were business partners, and he knew firsthand how self-serving and opportunistic these men could be. It probably was no surprise to Andrew when they connived together with their mother to try to convince Jesus to give them positions of power in His kingdom. In addition to having feelings of disgust, he must have felt some deep emotional pain. However, even before Andrew understood why Jesus came, he demonstrated a lot of class. He had more true character than any of these other men.

Andrew's Growing Faith

In spite of his demotion, Andrew continued to mature spiritually. We see this illustrated when Jesus fed the five thousand, plus women and children. Jesus first tested Philip by asking him where they could buy enough bread to feed this incredible multitude. Philip didn't do too well with his response. In fact, from a divine perspective, he flunked the Lord's test. He was skeptical and cynical. “'Eight months' wages,'” he responded, “'would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!'” (John 6:7). Loosely interpreted, he was saying: “Lord, you must be out of your mind,” or at least “out of touch with reality.”

Andrew was far more positive than Philip. He at least tried to see the cup “half full” rather than “half empty.” “'Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish,'” he reported to Jesus, “'but how far will they go among so many?'” (6:8-9).

Andrew's faith was weak, but he hadn't forgotten that Jesus claimed to be the Messiah. He hadn't failed to remember Jesus' previous miracles. But, he simply couldn't imagine Jesus feeding all these people with a little boy's lunch. However, he at least entertained the possibility—something the others failed to do. Perhaps this is why Jesus responded immediately, building on Andrew's simple but faltering faith.

Serving Faithfully

How does a demotion in responsibility affect your motivation to be a diligent employee?

If we're honest, a demotion can be a very demoralizing experience and cause us to lose our motivation to be faithful and consistent. Though Andrew may have been tempted to respond this way, it doesn't seem to have affected his desire to do his very best.

As we've seen, Andrew was not chosen by Christ to be a part of the inner circle with Peter, James, and John—even though he was the first apostle to discover who Jesus really was and to declare that He was the Messiah! He also introduced his brother, Peter, to Jesus but clearly ended up as fourth in the Lord's leadership structure. However, at times he was allowed to sit in on the Lord's intimate discussions with the inner circle—which could have accentuated the temptation to be jealous. After all, these moments would certainly remind him of what it used to be like to be close to Jesus at all times.

We're not told how often this happened, but Mark reported that on one occasion several of the disciples commented to Jesus about the “massive stones” and “magnificent buildings” that formed the temple in Jerusalem. As Jesus did so frequently, He seized this moment to teach His men a valuable lesson. “'Do you see all these great buildings?'” replied Jesus. “'Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down'” (Mark 13:2).

Later while Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives, with the splendid temple still visible, “Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, 'Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?'” (13:3-4; emphasis mine).

Though Andrew was not always excluded from private conversations, being included seemed to be the exception, not the rule. He, along with Philip, seemed to be assigned more administrative and public relations duties. For example, when some God-fearing Gentiles came to Jerusalem to worship, they first approached Philip and asked if they could see Jesus. Philip, in turn, discussed their request with Andrew, indicating that these two men were probably assigned this kind of screening responsibility. Agreeing this was something they should pursue, together, they “told Jesus” (John 12:20-22).

What is notable and praiseworthy is that there is no indication that Andrew resented his demotion and his new responsibilities. Even if he had these feelings, he didn't allow his disappointment to show. This indicates that he was even more mature than the men in the inner circle—especially the sons of Zebedee. He seemingly understood more quickly than all of the other apostles the lesson Jesus taught them after James and John requested to sit on His right and His left when He became king of Israel:

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with

you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:25—28)

Becoming God's Man Today

Principles to Live By

Andrew illustrates some very basic principles for successful Christian living—not only for leaders but for all Christians. These biblical guidelines will enable all of us to become more godly husbands, fathers, and Christian brothers.

Principle 1. Jesus Christ needs multiplied millions of men like Andrew—true servant-leaders who will build His church.

Few of us as men are willing to step aside when we see someone emerge who has more leadership abilities and skills than we do. Ego and pride are powerful deterrents when it comes to admitting another person may be able to outperform us or accomplish things we cannot.

As we've seen, James and John faced this reality. When the Holy Spirit transformed their lives and they finally understood the spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom, both of them willingly took a backseat to Peter. They no longer needed to be number one. How often they must have reflected on their immaturity and regretted their egotistical behavior.

Andrew faced the same challenge but to an even greater degree. He not only played “second fiddle” all of his life to his brother, Peter, but also to James and John. What is amazing is that he accepted his role, seemingly with a positive and cooperative attitude. Though he must have struggled with the self-serving antics of James and John, he still accepted the wisdom of his Master, Jesus Christ.

John the Baptist's Example

Perhaps Andrew learned this powerful lesson from John the Baptist. Prior to his imprisonment, John was baptizing in one area while Jesus was baptizing in another. Some of John's disciples came and reported that people were flocking to Jesus—obviously more than were coming to John. Andrew— who at that time was a disciple of John—no doubt overheard this report, but also heard John's meek and humble reply: “'He must become greater; I must become less'” (John 3:30).

John, of course, was speaking of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. He knew that he had only come to prepare the way for the Lord. However, Andrew learned a principle from John that the rest of the apostles didn't learn from Jesus until a couple of years later: he who is greatest must be a servant.

Paul's Exhortation

Jesus Himself not only taught this principle, but He modeled it. Paul underscored this truth for all Christians when he held up Jesus as the example for all of us. He wrote:

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! (Phil. 2:5—8)

Servant Leadership

Paul's exhortation leads to a very practical question: How can we be leaders yet practice this principle? It's possible when we understand true servant-leadership. The more responsibility we have, the more we're obligated to use that responsibility to help others achieve their goals, not ours. When we honor others above ourselves (which Christians are to do: Rom. 12:10), we'll be honored too. We cannot lose our lives without finding them again. But when we honor others in order to be honored, we'll spoil what God wanted to be a wonderful, reciprocal process.

The concept of servant-leadership is why a husband can be the head of his wife yet be a servant, loving as Christ loved. This is why a father can be the leader in his household, yet be a humble servant and provider. This is why pastors and elders can lead others, yet be servants to other members of the body of Christ. This unique leadership style is possible among all Christians when we follow Jesus Christ's example in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Principle 2. Some of the strongest and most effective leaders in Christian ministry are men who are not up-front but who are operating behind the scenes.

In many respects, Andrew was this kind of man. If he hadn't been there, he would have been terribly missed. Yet, even though he was there, he often went unnoticed. And so it is today in God's work. Support people are very important. They're the people who help prominent leaders succeed. In fact, we need far more “Andrews” than we do “apostle Peters.” Putting it another way, some ministries fail because there are too many “chiefs” and not enough “Indians.” When we practice this aspect of servant-leadership, we are applying in a very special way what Paul taught the Roman Christians—to honor others above ourselves (Rom. 12:10).

When I think of this exhortation, I'm always reminded of the goal of a good piano accompanist. Accomplished accompanists never overshadow a vocalist—no matter how skilled they may be. They never draw attention to themselves. They have one major goal: to make the person they are accompanying “look and sound good.” In some respects, this is what every Christian is to do for other Christians—honor others above themselves.

Andrew also reminds me of one of my associates. His name is David. His specialization is “sound.” He is my engineer in helping me produce my daily radio program we call “Renewal.” He also operates the sound board in the church where I serve as senior pastor.

Dave has an incredible ability to tweak and adjust his equipment to make all of us—speakers and musicians— sound good. And yet, he is a “behind-the-scenes” servant.

Few men in Dave's role can outperform him when he sits in front of his digital workstation in our Renewal studios. Obviously, he is unseen and unheard by our listeners. Yet he performs his task with a spirit of commitment and dedication as if he were seen and heard by millions.

I needn't tell you that if Dave were not doing his job, none of us could do ours—especially yours truly. Do you understand why Andrew reminds me of Dave?

Principle 3. When we introduce others to Christ who become strong, successful leaders, we will share in their rewards.

When Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, thousands put their faith in Jesus Christ. However, the Lord used Andrew to introduce Peter to Jesus; and I'm confident that when both men stand before the judgment seat of Christ and receive rewards for their faithfulness, Andrew will share in all of Peter's accomplishments.

Paul made this principle clear when he thanked the Philippians for their monetary gifts when he was in prison. He reminded them that what they had done was being credited to their account in heaven (Phil. 4:17).

I'm reminded of Edward Kimball, a Sunday school teacher who led D. L. Moody to Christ in the back of a Boston shoe store. Young Moody was a shoe salesman, but because of the influence of a faithful layman, D. L. Moody became a great “salesman” for the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's my personal opinion that this virtually unknown man will share in all of the rewards for every person who came to believe in Jesus Christ because of D. L. Moody's preaching. He will also share in the rewards of those thousands of missionaries who were trained at Moody Bible Institute—the school D. L. Moody founded. And think of the additional eternal rewards that will come to this man because of the many other ministries of Moody Bible Institute—radio, publishing, film and video production, and so forth. We must remember that God is omniscient, and He will not forget our faithfulness. The author of Hebrews verified this truth when he wrote, “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them” (Heb. 6:10).

Personalizing These Principles

1. What is your attitude toward those who are more prominent than you are? Do you pray for them? Are you giving them words of encouragement? Are you demonstrating support and loyalty?

2. How many men do you know who are faithfully operating behind the scenes, even though they are hardly noticed? If you are in a position to do so, what could you do to give them encouragement? How are you rewarding them for their faithfulness?

3. To what extent do you really believe that eternal rewards are more important than earthly recognition? How does your behavior reflect what you really believe?

Set a Goal

What has the Holy Spirit taught you as you have studied Andrew's life? Set at least one goal for your own life:

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Memorize the Following Scripture

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

PHILIPPIANS 2:3-4

Growing Together

The following questions are designed for small group discussion:

1. Why is it difficult in today's workaday world to demonstrate Andrew's servant spirit?

2. How can we live with the fact that some men who have self-serving motives (like James and John) are promoted and men with more noble motives are bypassed?

3. Can you think of men who have demonstrated Andrew's attitudes and actions? Would you tell us about the one who has impressed you the most?

4. What is the greatest lesson you've learned from the study of Andrew's life?

5. What can we pray for you specifically?

Chapter 5

Philip: A Pragmatist Who

Became a True Believer

The very week I was reflecting on Philip's life and ministry, my wife and I sat in a quaint pub in Oxford, England. Looking up, we saw various photographs on the wall. Among those pictured was C. S. Lewis, a brilliant Englishman who sat in that very location week after week discussing philosophy and religion with several friends.

At one point in time, Lewis was an atheist. He denied what he later came to believe with all his heart. His skepticism turned into a strong faith in the God of the Bible and His plan to reach all people with the gospel.

“Mere Christianity”

C. S. Lewis went on to become one of the great Christian thinkers of the twentieth century. Perhaps one of his most significant contributions is a small but powerful book entitled Mere Christianity, in which he described how God set in motion His plan to provide a way for all people to experience salvation:

He selected one single people and spent several centuries hammering into their heads the sort of God He was—that there was only one of Him and that He cared about right conduct. Those people were the Jews, and the Old Testament gives an account of the hammering process.

Then comes the real shock. Among these Jews there suddenly turns up a man who goes about talking as if He was God. He claims to forgive sins. He says He has always existed. He says He is coming to judge the world at the end of time.[1]

Lewis graphically explains what happened when Jesus suddenly appeared and began to bring into formation a group of men who would eventually be called “apostles.” These men were all Galilean Jews, some more devoted to their religion than others. All of them, however, were looking for the Messiah. But not one of them understood His redemptive purpose, especially as it related to being a blessing to all nations (Gen. 12:3). Furthermore, they didn't have a clue regarding the incarnation—that Jesus Christ was God who “became flesh” (John 1:1, 14).

When Jesus Christ invited Philip to become His disciple, this Jew from Bethsaida often grappled with this great theological truth, trying to understand Christ's deity. On the one hand, he was a religious man. Like Andrew, he evidently became a disciple of John the Baptist (1:37, 40).[2] This indicates his commitment to obeying the Mosaic Law and his belief in a coming Messiah. On the other hand, when he was introduced to Jesus Christ, he had difficulty comprehending and accepting Christ's claim to be “one with the Father” (14:8).

“The Son of Joseph” (John 1:45)

When you first heard about Jesus Christ, how did you respond intellectually, emotionally, and volitionally?

Most of us will describe our first response to the claims of Jesus Christ in different ways, depending on our religious background and education. C. S. Lewis didn't believe in God—let alone the Son of God. It took a lot of intellectual exploration and searching before he put his faith in Jesus Christ.

By contrast, many of us have been taught from childhood that the Lord Jesus Christ is really who He claimed to be—the Savior of the world. Like Timothy, we have “known the holy Scriptures,” which have made us “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15). For many of us, when we were old enough to understand—the age of accountability— we responded to the gospel message, but there also came a time in our lives when some of us questioned our faith. Maybe it happened in college when we were challenged by an unbelieving professor. Perhaps it happened during a period of disillusionment and disappointment in fellow Christians. Questions may have flooded our minds. Why are we followers of Jesus Christ rather than Mohammed or Buddha? Is Jesus Christ really who He claimed to be? How can we be sure what we believe is really true?

In some respects, Philip was this kind of man. He too had a godly heritage. He was certainly reared in a good Jewish home. What John the Baptist proclaimed struck a familiar chord in his heart and soul. After he and Andrew spent an entire day with Jesus, Philip couldn't help but respond positively. But he still had a lot of questions and didn't take this experience as seriously as Andrew until the Lord challenged him to transfer his loyalty from John the Baptist to Himself. The very next day, Jesus actually went looking for Philip and asked him straight out to follow Him (John 1:43).

But even after Jesus issued this invitation, Philip's response was different from Andrew's. Rather than telling his friend, Nathanael, that he had “found the Messiah,” as Andrew had done, he simply stated, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote— Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (1:45).

Though Philip's reaction to that day-long experience with Jesus was far from being negative, it didn't ring with the same positive enthusiasm as Andrew's, who was quickly convinced that Jesus Christ was the Messiah and hurriedly shared this good news with his brother, Peter. Philip seemed more reluctant to identify Jesus with the same level of confidence, particularly as it related to the Lord's messianic claims.

Why didn't Philip refer to Jesus as “the Messiah” as Andrew had done? Why didn't he call Him “the Son of God” like John the Baptist? In other words, why did he focus on the “human” dimension of Jesus' heritage rather than the “divine” dimension? More specifically, why did he refer to Jesus' earthly father rather than His heavenly Father? As we'll see in the following events, the answers to these questions are probably related to Philip's pragmatic nature. It was his tendency to see the human aspects in an event before he even considered the divine elements.

Time to Reflect (John 1:43)

How much time passed by in your own experience before you took Jesus' claims seriously?

Personally, I was reared in a Christian home and believed that Jesus Christ was God's Son from the time I was a small child. However, I didn't personalize Christ's claims until I was a teenager. What about you? The answers to this question will vary depending upon our basic personalities, as well as our religious and educational backgrounds.

We're not told when Philip actually accepted Jesus' invitation to leave his profession and “follow him.” We do know, however, that the Lord traveled to Galilee after Herod imprisoned John the Baptist (Mark 1:14). It makes sense to assume that Philip returned to his hometown, Bethsaida, at the same time.

It's actually possible that both Philip and Andrew traveled with Jesus. If so, we can easily imagine what transpired during their conversations on this one-hundred-mile journey. Questions would have flooded their minds. For example, if Jesus was the true Messiah, who then was John? (John 1:19-28). What would happen to him in prison? What about John's other disciples who were committed to following this wilderness preacher? What would happen to them? When would Jesus become king of Israel? What would happen to Herod? What about the Roman emperor? How would he view King Jesus? Would there be a bloody war? Would God deliver Israel from their enemies just as He did when Joshua led their forefathers across the Jordan and into the land of Canaan?

Even if Jesus had answered these questions directly and explicitly, much of what He would have said would have gone straight over their heads. They weren't spiritually ready to understand Jesus' real purpose in coming into the world. It would be at least another three years before they would clearly comprehend the reason for the death and resurrection of their Messiah.

The Gospel records don't supply us with specific details regarding the time that passed after Jesus left the Jerusalem area, entered Galilee, and then eventually called Peter, Andrew, James, and John to leave their fishing business and to follow Him (Mark 1:16-20). Some believe that as much as a year could have gone by. However, when Jesus invited Philip to follow Him when they were in Bethany, we can only assume that he eventually took this invitation seriously— probably at the same time as the other four men. In fact, some believe Philip may have actually been a partner in the same fishing business with “Simon and his brother Andrew” and “James son of Zebedee and his brother John.” If so, when Philip returned to Bethsaida in Galilee, he probably carried out his normal duties in the fishing business—until that day Jesus Christ called these men to pull their nets upon shore and to begin to “fish for men.”

A Test of Faith (John 6:1-13)

When was the last time Jesus provided you with a unique opportunity to grow in your faith?

If we're sincerely investigating Christ's claims to be God in the flesh, we can be sure we will be given divine opportunities to discover answers to our questions. This certainly happened to Philip—as well as to all of the other apostles.

One of these opportunities came after Jesus had called Philip to become one of the apostles (Mark 3:13-19).[3] Jesus had “crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee” (John 6:1). As the sun was setting in the western sky, “Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd” of people “coming toward him"—five thousand men plus women and children (6:5; Matt. 14:21). While some of the apostles were encouraging Jesus to send the crowds into the surrounding villages to buy food, Jesus surprised them all by telling them to provide food for these people (Mark 6:37). He then zeroed in on Philip and point-blank asked him, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” (John 6:5).

Jesus was testing Philip's faith. He knew his intellectual questions and emotional struggles regarding who He really was. Philip's pragmatic approach to life surfaced immediately. What Jesus had asked was ridiculous from a human point of view. Unfortunately, at this moment, Philip couldn't get beyond the human response. “Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Philip responded with what had to be a sarcastic answer (6:7). In other words, Philip was telling Jesus that His question was irrational. In the first place, they didn't come close to having enough money to buy food for this huge company. Second, if they had nearly three-quarters of a year's salary accumulated—which they didn't—they couldn't even buy enough food to give each person in this large crowd a small morsel of food.

This response may seem strange in view of the fact that Philip had seen Jesus change the water to wine in Cana (John 2:1-11), and later saw Him heal a young boy in Capernaum while they remained in Cana (4:43-54). And he certainly hadn't forgotten what happened in Jerusalem a short time before when Jesus healed the man who had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years. The religious leaders were livid because He healed this man on the Sabbath. And when Jesus claimed to be “equal with God,” they became even more hostile (5:18).

Now here they were on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Though John recorded that this event took place “some time after” this incredible Jerusalem experience, as well as numerous other miraculous healings (6:1-2), Philip was still in a state of unbelief regarding who Jesus really was.

In spite of all of this divine activity, Philip still had no clue regarding Jesus' intent when He asked him to provide food for the multitude that had followed them to this wilderness place. He flunked the test royally! Rather than indicating he had faith in Jesus to work some sort of miracle—as He had done so often before—he responded to Christ's challenge with a purely rational and logical point of view.

In this event, we see another comparison with Andrew, who was listening in on this conversation. He at least offered a possible solution—but one that would call for a miracle of multiplication. Andrew reported to Jesus that they had located a boy with some food—but he only had “five small barley loaves and two small fish” (6:9a). In his heart, he probably believed Jesus could multiply this food, but perhaps he was intimidated by Philip's sarcasm. Thus, he quickly added, “'But how far will they go among so many?'” (6:9b).

“Lord, Show Us the Father” (John 14:1—11)

When did you actually believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is God?

Many people have learned the Apostles' Creed and have quoted it every week. They declare that they believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, their Lord. Yet if they were questioned regarding Christ's deity—that He and the Father are one—they would hesitate. They don't understand this great biblical truth. Some, of course, would accept it intellectually, but they've not allowed this marvelous reality to penetrate their hearts.

As we've seen, even God-fearing Jews who had been taught the messianic promises in the Old Testament and who had seen Jesus work many miracles had difficulty understanding and accepting the fact that Jesus Christ was and is God. Philip stands out as Exhibit A. To be fair, however, it's clear from Scripture that he really wanted to know the truth in spite of his pragmatic and skeptical approach to spiritual issues. In this sense, he was a first-century C. S. Lewis! This was his greatest asset—and the reason he eventually came to true faith in Jesus Christ.

A Shocking Announcement

This brings us to the most significant event John recorded in his Gospel, when Philip emerged as the focus of the conversation. It happened nearly three and a half years after Jesus called this man to follow Him that day in Bethany. They were all back in Jerusalem and the apostles were in the upper room with Jesus. Suddenly, after they had followed Him from one end of Palestine to the other, thinking their teacher was going to become the official king and set them free from Roman bondage, Jesus informed them that He was going to leave them. They all panicked! To add to their growing anxiety and fear, Jesus also made it clear that they couldn't come with Him (John 13:33). Understandably, they were baffled and terribly confused. They were so focused on Christ's earthly reign and their part in this “dream come true” that any thought of His departure created intense insecurity.

Seeing their countenance fall, Jesus attempted to put the apostles at ease:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” (14:1—4)

Thomas spoke up next, probably reflecting the thoughts that were passing through the minds of all the apostles. He wanted more clarification. “'Lord,'” he responded, “'we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?'” (14:5).

It was no accident that Jesus' response to Thomas set the stage for another dialogue with Philip:

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (14:6—7)

Though Jesus was responding to Thomas, His words were aimed directly at Philip—who immediately wanted proof regarding Jesus' claim. “'Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us,'” (14:8) he retorted. His sarcasm had turned to agitation.

The Essence of Christianity

Jesus' response to Philip is what John's Gospel is all about:

“Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. “ (John 14:9—11; emphasis mine)

It's obvious from Jesus' powerful mini-sermon to Philip that at this point in time, he still didn't understand who Jesus really was. He certainly believed He was “the son of Joseph” and he probably was quite sure Jesus was the promised Messiah. But was He God? Clearly, Philip had no concept of Christ's true nature—that He was both God and man. He had seen Jesus work numerous miracles, but he still didn't comprehend the great truth he would later proclaim to others—a wonderful and mysterious reality that John shared right at the beginning of his Gospel:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… . The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1, 14, emphasis mine)

Following the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the church, tradition tells us that Philip eventually spent the rest of his life preaching the good news in the provinces of Galatia and Phrygia in Asia Minor. We're also told that he died at Hierapolis, a city near Colossae and Laodicea. Though we don't know whether he was martyred or died a natural death, we can be sure that his message focused on who Jesus Christ really was. There came a time in his life when he truly believed that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing” in Him we have “life in his name” (John 20:31).

Becoming God's Man Today

Principles to Live By

Philip's intellectual and spiritual struggles and ultimate victory touches all of us, but some more than others. Note the principles that flow from his spiritual journey with Jesus Christ.

Principle 1. In view of His claims, Jesus Christ cannot be just a great moral teacher.

Even in his atheistic state, C. S. Lewis, because he was an honest man, came to this conclusion: He knew that Jesus claimed to be God, that He claimed to forgive sins, and to exist before Abraham was born. Could this be just a great moral teacher? In response to this logic, Lewis wrote:

Christ says that He is “humble and meek” and we believe Him; not noticing that if He were merely a man, humility and meekness are the very last characteristics we could attribute to some of His sayings.

I'm trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him. “I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.” That is the one thing we must not say. A man who is merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else He would be the devil of hell. You must make the choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him or kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.[4]

Lewis's honest pragmatism opened his heart to the gospel and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He came to faith in Jesus Christ. Like Philip, he was a sincere seeker. He could not deny the logic inherent in what we learn about the Lord Jesus Christ from the historical records.

Principle 2. Every person who sincerely and humbly seeks to know who Jesus Christ really is will discover a satisfactory answer.

The key words in this principle are sincerely, humbly, and seeks. When Moses recorded what God wanted Israel to know about His unconditional love and concern, he penned these words, referring to a future time when the children of Israel would deny that the one true God exists and “worship man-made gods of wood and stone” (Deut. 4:28):

“But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul."(Deut. 4:29)

Centuries later, Jesus Christ elaborated on this same promise:

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:9—10)

I have a friend who is a devoted humanist. In fact, he does not even believe in a personal God. One day I asked him if he had ever sincerely asked “whatever” or “whoever” might exist in the universe as an all-powerful being to reveal Himself—if He indeed existed. Without a moment's hesitation, my friend told me he had never prayed this prayer. I then asked him if he would consider praying this prayer. For a moment he hesitated—but then said he didn't feel it was necessary to pray this kind of prayer. He was satisfied with his own belief system.

Beyond this I could not go—except to pray that he might change his mind. To refuse to acknowledge that there may be an all-powerful God who wants to reveal Himself to us is really an act of pride and arrogance. On the other hand, if we humble ourselves before God, sincerely seek to know Him, we will indeed discover the truth—just like C. S. Lewis. This is my prayer for my friend.

Principle 3. Doubts and questions are normal, even for true Christians, particularly at certain points in our lives.

All of the apostles demonstrate that doubt and unbelief are normal weaknesses in all human beings. This is particularly true for young people who grow up in Christian homes, go away to college, and face questions and challenges they've never encountered before. Most of us can identify with those moments in our lives when we've had to internalize what we've been taught—to make biblical truth our own rather than what has been our parents' and pastors' convictions. However, if we parent our children well, answer their questions as honestly as we can, and live our lives consistently with what we have taught, they will plow through these rough waters and emerge on the other side with their feet on solid ground.

Perhaps the greatest reason for doubt among young and old alike is disillusionment that results from observing Christians who preach one thing and live something else. This happened to me in my early twenties. Several well-known Christian leaders I had come to trust began to attack each other's character. To top it off, they shared these conflicting reports with me personally—trying to win my support for their particular points of view.

Needless to say, I was caught square in the middle— which threw me into a tailspin, spiritually and emotionally. I began to doubt the reality of Christianity. Even when I prayed for answers, God seemed far away. The walls and ceilings in my room seemed like brass. Even when I tried to read some of the biblical prayers in the Psalms, the words seemed to stick in my throat.

Fortunately, the Lord led me to enter a graduate program at Wheaton College, where I was exposed to the Gospel of John. My professor was the late Dr. Merrill Tenney. God used this man's Christian character, scholarship, and ability to teach this Gospel to clearly work a miracle in my heart. The Holy Spirit definitely achieved John's purpose in my life and restored my faith. I experienced what this apostle had in mind when he penned these words:

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30—31)

Personalizing These Principles

1. Do you really believe that Jesus Christ is God who came in human flesh? This is the essence of Christianity. This is the message of John's Gospel—and the whole Bible. The apostle Paul penned the same message to the Corinthians—and to us all—"that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ” (2 Cor. 5:19).

2. Are you a true believer—a person who has sincerely received the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior from sin (John 1:12; 3:16)? If you have, you are “born again” (John 3:1-8). If not, you are still in your sins and need a Savior.

3. Are you having the same struggle as Philip—having difficulty believing that Jesus Christ is God who came in the flesh? If so, sincerely ask the Holy Spirit to make this great truth real to you. God is willing and waiting to help you understand and accept this wonderful message of redemption. Only your unwillingness to respond to this grace and love stands in your way. Remember the words of Jesus:

“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.” (Matt. 11:28-30)

Set a Goal

Once you have honestly asked and answered the above questions and reviewed the principles that flow from Philip's life, ask the Lord to help you set a personal goal based on your most significant need:

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Memorize the Following Scripture

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

LUKE 11:9-10

Growing Together

The following questions are designed for small group discussion:

1. Why do so many people have difficulty accepting the fact that Jesus Christ claimed to be God?

2. When did you really come to understand and believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is God in human form, and when did you receive Him as your personal Savior from sin? Would you share this experience with us?

3. Have you ever experienced a period of doubt since you became a Christian? If so, share when and why this happened and how your faith was restored. Please feel free to share if you're still struggling with this issue.

4. How can we prove to people that Jesus Christ is really who He claimed to be? (see John 13:34-35; 17:20-23.)

5. What can we pray for you specifically?

Chapter 6

Nathanael Bartholomew:

A Man Who Discovered That

Honesty Is Not Enough

As I probed into Nathanael's attitudes and actions, I couldn't help but think of a good friend named Harry Dent. Harry served as special counsel to President Richard Nixon from 1968 to 1972. He narrowly escaped involvement in the Watergate debacle because he was basically an honest and moral man. Though he was captivated and energized by the sense of power that he felt by working so closely with the president, he maintained his ethical and moral bearings. In fact, his “Boy Scout” image protected him from more direct involvement in the scandalous mess that led to Nixon's shameful downfall and humiliation.

Religious but Lost

Harry Dent was a religious man. He had attended Sunday school most of his life and at age thirteen became a member of the First Baptist Church in his hometown. He even attended a Christian college, and when he graduated, he received the founder's medal—the highest award given to the student who represented the “institution's ideals for young manhood.” He had also earned the highest position as a Boy Scout—the rank of eagle.

His religious achievements extended all the way to the United States Capitol. When he served as a chief aide to Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, he established a prayer breakfast for staff members in the United States Senate. When he became a special counsel to the United States president, he formed another similar prayer group.

In his own local church, Harry Dent taught Sunday school, eventually became Sunday school superintendent, a deacon, a church trustee, and chairman of the stewardship committee. To quote Dent himself, he “was becoming more and more self-righteous.”[1] But in the midst of the Watergate scandal, something happened to Harry Dent he had not expected. Like Nathanael, he personally met the man Christ Jesus.

“You Won't Want to Miss This!”

One day when Dent was in his home in South Carolina, he received a telephone call from his former White House assistant, suggesting that he fly to Washington to attend a prayer breakfast the next Wednesday morning. “Harry, you won't believe what happened at the prayer breakfast this morning,” Peter continued. “Charles Colson and Democratic Senator Harold Hughes came into the breakfast professing— with tears—to be born-again brothers in Jesus Christ!”

Harry Dent couldn't believe his ears. “It was really something, Harry!” his friend continued on the other end of the line. “In fact, it was so good we're having them back next Wednesday morning; so come on up. You won't want to miss this!”[2]

Harry Dent attended the meeting and was so impressed with what he saw and heard that it launched him on his own search for truth. By his own testimony, he came to the meeting as a skeptic and a cynic. But when he saw Colson actually weep as he told about his born-again experience, he left the meeting convinced that something supernatural had happened to this tough-minded man who had the reputation that he would do anything for the president of the United States— including walking over his own grandmother.

To make a long, exciting story short, Harry Dent had the same encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ as Chuck Colson had. Though he was honest and moral and a regular churchgoer, he discovered he needed to be born again.

Meet Another Honest Man

When Jesus first met Nathanael, He quickly identified him as “a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false” (John 1:47). This was a great tribute, but as we'll see, Jesus used this information to penetrate Nathanael's heart with his need to put his faith in Christ for salvation rather than in his own self-righteousness.

God's Gift

Nathanael had two names. Matthew, Mark, and Luke used the name Bartholomew (Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13). However, John used the name Nathanael (John 1:43-51).

We're not told why the Holy Spirit inspired John to use the name Nathanael, which means “God's gift.” However, we have a clue. Since John supplies us with our only insight into this man's background and character, the Holy Spirit may be giving us a subtle but powerful message. When we understand more fully what John reported, we're able to see a definite correlation between the meaning of his name and “God's gift of salvation"—a spiritual lesson not only to the “Nathanaels” of this world, but to all of us.

Philip's Declaration

For some unstated reason, Nathanael was in the region where John the Baptist was preaching in the wilderness near “Bethany on the other side of the Jordan” (John 1:28). His friend Philip met Christ there and had already decided to become a disciple. In turn, he introduced Nathanael to Jesus. Excitedly, he reported: “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote— Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (1:45).

Brilliant but Blind

Why is it possible to have a lot of religious knowledge, yet not understand God's plan of salvation?

There are many men today, just like Harry Dent, who can quote the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Yet they do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They do not understand what it means to be “born again.” They have not received the Lord into their hearts (John 1:12). Their experience is only theological and cerebral.

Nathanael had this kind of blind spot. Though subtle, John made it very clear in his Gospel that he was a diligent student of the Old Testament. Yet Nathanael would not believe Jesus Christ was the Messiah—until he had a divine encounter with the Savior.

A Religious Skeptic

When Philip reported to Nathanael that they had found the man whom Moses and the prophets had written about, he also mentioned that Jesus was from “Nazareth” (1:45). Nathanael's response gives us our first clue regarding his Old Testament knowledge. He was puzzled by this report. “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked (1:46).

Some believe that Nathanael was simply being sarcastic, since he was from Cana and most of his peers looked down on people who lived in Nazareth. However, Nathanael's concerns probably ran much deeper than mere pride and prejudice. Nazareth was also a very immoral town. Being a stopping-off place for caravans, brothels were everywhere, which could explain why Nathanael appeared surprised and asked Philip if “anything good” could “come from” Nazareth.

But there may have been another reason Nathanael appeared skeptical. He evidently recalled instantly that Nazareth is never mentioned in the Old Testament—an off-the-cuff observation only an astute student of the Scriptures could make. “If Jesus were the promised Messiah,” he may have been thinking, “why wasn't He identified at this moment with Bethlehem?” After all, Micah had made a very clear prophetic statement regarding the coming King:

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Mic. 5:2)

An Open Mind

Though Nathanael was skeptical regarding Philip's report, he had an open mind. Furthermore, he respected his friend, who responded to Nathanael's skeptical question regarding Nazareth by asking him to check it out for himself—to “come and see” (John 1:46b)—which he did. As Nathanael approached Jesus, the Lord called out, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false” (1:47). In other words, Jesus identified Nathanael as an honest man before they ever had a face-to-face conversation.

Nathanael was shocked—but for a reason that is even more subtle in John's record. “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked in surprise (1:48a). But Jesus surprised him even more when He responded and said, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you” (1:48b). Strange as it may seem, this simple statement by Jesus brought an immediate “faith response.” In a state of obvious excitement and surprise, Nathanael “declared, 'Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel'” (1:49).

To understand what happened, we need to review an Old Testament story. You see, before they ever met, Jesus knew what Nathanael had been thinking while he was meditating under that fig tree. He was reflecting on an Old Testament event, one that correlates very specifically with the rest of Jesus' comments to Nathanael:

“You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that… . I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (1:50—51)

An Awesome Experience

Clearly, Nathanael had been sitting under a fig tree reflecting on the story of Jacob when he was running for his life because of his brother Esau's death threats. With the help of his mother, Jacob had deceived his father, Isaac, into thinking he was Esau, and had stolen the blessing that ordinarily went to the eldest son. Esau was so angry that he determined to kill Jacob.

Jacob spent his first night away from home in Bethel, a place nearly fifty miles north of where he lived in Beersheba. Alone in the wilderness, he “stopped for the night” and used a stone for a pillow (Gen. 28:11). While he was sleeping, Jacob had a dream—in actuality, a vision. It was a direct revelation from God.

There were three important features of this dream. First, Jacob saw a ladder or stairway. It was “resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven” (28:12a). We are not sure what kind of “ladder” this was, but it no doubt related to the religious culture of his day. The important thing to note is that this ladder reached from where Jacob was on earth to the very presence of God.

The second feature involved the “angels of God.” They were “ascending and descending” on this ladder (28:12b). It's obvious God wanted Jacob to know that He was accessible and that He was initiating direct contact with Jacob. The Lord was reaching out to this man who had been living a sinful life—a man who had just a day or two before been a part of a deceitful plot, bringing the wrath of his brother, Esau, down on his head.

The third feature of this vision involved God Himself. Above the ladder “stood the Lord” (28:13)—definitely the most important aspect of this experience. God, in His loving grace, revealed Himself to Jacob in spite of his dishonest and deceptive heart.

Evidently, Jacob awakened from his dream while it was still night. Shrouded in darkness, he must have been startled when he suddenly opened his eyes and peered into the night sky. Jacob knew instantly that God had revealed Himself. His thoughts were racing! “Surely,” he thought to himself, “the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it” (Gen. 28:16).

Realizing what had happened, Jacob “was afraid.” Verbalizing his fear, he no doubt spoke in a quivering but audible voice: “How awesome is this place!” (28:17). Overwhelmed with God's holy presence, Jacob whispered, “This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”

At this point in time, Jacob did not understand the aspect of this dream in which God promised to bless all peoples of the earth through him. What he did understand was that he had personally encountered a holy God. Against the backdrop of his own sinful, dishonest, and deceitful behavior, he became aware of his unworthiness to receive a direct revelation from the God of his fathers.[3]

The Gate of Heaven

When did you first understand that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven?

One of the common thoughts today, even among so-called Christians, is that there are many ways to get to heaven. This is not true. Jesus Christ Himself said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Private Thoughts

This brings us full-circle back to what happened when Jesus first met Nathanael. Against this Old Testament backdrop—the story of Jacob—we can now vividly see what happened. Nathanael had been meditating on this very event in Jacob's life. He may have been surprised and puzzled that God would have this kind of mercy on such a dishonest man. Perhaps he had made a new commitment to God never to allow this kind of dishonesty to creep into his own life. Perhaps he was “spiritually proud” that he was not like Jacob. After all, he believed firmly in keeping the commandment to “honor your father and your mother” (Exod. 20:12)—a commandment that Jacob had violated terribly when he deceived his own father. Nathanael also believed in never giving “false testimony against” anyone (Exod. 20:16)—which Jacob had done. He was a liar and a deceiver.

Nathanael was definitely an honest man. But Jesus shocked him by interpreting the very thoughts he had been thinking while sitting under the fig tree meditating on the life of Jacob. Though we're not told specifically what those thoughts were, at that moment Nathanael knew that Jesus Christ had done something supernatural. Consequently, he acknowledged Him not only as “the King of Israel” but as “the Son of God.” In essence, he was saying something very similar to Jacob when he opened his eyes that night and proclaimed, “'Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was unaware of it… . This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven'” (Gen. 28:16-17).

Jesus put the finishing touches on his encounter with Nathanael when He added some more details—and definitely let us in on what this conversation was really all about. Rather than simply reading and meditating about Jacob's experience where he saw the angels of God ascending and descending on a ladder from earth to heaven, Nathanael would have the privilege of seeing “the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” (John 1:51). With this wonderful statement, Jesus was declaring that He was the “gate of heaven"— which He later described more fully when He used the “sheep pen” as a metaphor. “I am the gate,” He taught those listening to Him; “whoever enters through me will be saved” (10:9). Becoming more literal, He later said to doubting Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (14:6).

Personal Lessons

Knowing Jesus as we do, we realize He must have commended Nathanael for his positive response to the “fig tree” experience. Jesus may have told him that he would see many examples of fellow Jews who would reject His teachings, particularly some day when they returned to Jerusalem. Jesus may have also shared that He would eventually confront the unbelieving Jews, telling them they belonged to their father, the devil (John 8:44). Though Nathanael and the others who followed were not yet ready to hear Jesus say, “Before Abraham was born, I am” (8:58), He definitely began sowing the seed of faith in their hearts.

Public Conversations

Nathanael became a disciple of Jesus Christ. Since he was also from Galilee (Cana, John 21:2), he probably joined Andrew and Philip as they returned to Bethsaida. If so, he would have joined in the conversations with Jesus as they traveled together. More than once during this one-hundred-mile journey, Nathanael must have scratched his head in wonderment as he reflected on his initial encounter with the Lord. In His humanness, Jesus must have smiled as He also reflected on the shocked expression He saw on Nathanael's face when He read his mind and told him his thoughts as he sat under a fig tree.

However, there must have been many serious moments as Jesus elaborated and commented on Jacob's experience and how it applied to all Jews who are proud of their self-righteousness. Even an honest man needs a Savior.

When they arrived in Galilee, Nathanael with Philip and Andrew went about their business. Andrew, of course, was already in a partnership with Peter, James, and John. It's possible that Philip and Nathanael were employees in the same business—perhaps as common laborers rather than partners. Though we're not given specific details, it is worth noting that when Peter decided to go fishing following Christ's death and resurrection, Nathanael decided to go too (John 21:2). We can assume he at least knew how to fish.

Becoming God's Man Today

Principles to Live By

Principle 1. No matter how many good things we do, we cannot save ourselves by doing good works.

Nathanael was a God-fearing Jew—and Harry Dent was a devoted member of a Bible-believing church. Though separated by nearly two thousand years, both were honest men. But they both were relying on their own good works and self-righteousness in order to earn eternal life.

Both men were dangerously wrong. However, both Nathanael and Harry discovered that the only way to heaven is to put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. When they took this spiritual step, they experienced the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. They were “born again” and passed from death to life (John 3:3).

The apostle Paul explained this truth succinctly but clearly in his letter to the Ephesians:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. (Eph. 2:8—9)

As a God-fearing Jew, Nathanael discovered that even his ancestor Abraham was saved by faith—that he was justified and made righteous when he believed God's promise that he and Sarah would have a son in their old age (Rom. 4:3-5). Harry Dent, a God-fearing Gentile, discovered the same truth. Though all of us today look back to the death and resurrection of Christ, Abraham who looked forward to this great event “is the father of us all” (4:16). Paul made this point wonderfully clear to the Roman Christians when he wrote:

Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all… . Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom. 4:16; 5:1)

Principle 2. Having a true salvation experience begins by recognizing God's holiness and our sinfulness.

Nathanael was impressed with Jacob's experience at Bethel. God revealed His greatness and holiness to this Old Testament scoundrel in a dream; and when he awoke, he could only whisper, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it” (Gen. 28:16). It was an awesome experience.

Personally, I believe this was Jacob's conversion experience. Just as Abraham saw the stars in the heavens and believed God's promise that his offspring would be like the multitude of twinkling lights that were visible to the naked eye, so Jacob awakened to the same phenomenon. At that moment, God reiterated the promise He made to Abraham (Gen. 28:13-16).

When Jacob caught a glimpse of God's greatness and holiness, he recognized his sinful condition. He saw himself as a deceiver and a manipulator. Though it would take another dramatic encounter with the living God nearly fifteen years later before he presented himself to God as a living sacrifice (Gen. 32:22-30), I believe he experienced “justification by faith” that night at Bethel.

And so it is today. God is a holy God, and “without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). Since we cannot earn eternal life by “doing good works"—making ourselves holy—then how can we be saved?

There is a way, and God began to unveil His redemptive plan to the children of Israel on Mount Sinai. It was there He revealed His holiness to this pagan and idolatrous group of people, most of whom had both internalized and externalized all of the pagan beliefs and practices of the Egyptians. In fact, no one even dared touch the holy mountain lest they die (Exod. 19:23). When the “LORD descended” on Sinai “in fire"—otherwise just a normal mountain—"smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace” and “the whole mountain trembled violently” (19:18).

Needless to say, God had the Israelites' attention. It was there He revealed the Ten Commandments—first of all, verbalizing them so all could hear (20:1-17) and then inscribing them on tablets of stone (31:18). These commandments reflected God's holiness and clearly spelled out how the children of Israel could be holy.

However, there was a problem. Everyone decided rather quickly they could not keep these laws perfectly, always falling short of God's standard for righteousness. This is why the Lord instituted a temporary plan to atone for sin—sacrifice and worship in the tabernacle. But all this pointed ahead to the culmination of God's wonderful salvation plan—the coming of the great high priest, Jesus Christ, who appeared as the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Paul explained the purpose of the law. It was given to make all mankind aware of God's holiness and our sinfulness—and our inability to earn salvation by doing good works. In other words, the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ (Gal. 3:24).

Though Nathanael was an honest man, he discovered he needed a Savior. Even though he was not a deceiver and manipulator like Jacob, he was still among those who “fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Furthermore, his own self-righteousness could not earn him a place in heaven.

Principle 3. Recognizing and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior from sin is the only way to inherit eternal life.

When God revealed Himself in a dream at Bethel, Jacob saw a “stairway” or “ladder reaching to heaven” and “the angels of God were ascending and descending on it” (Gen. 28:12). And when Jesus shocked Nathanael by reiterating these very thoughts he had been thinking, the Lord was interpreting this Old Testament event in all its glory. Clearly, God was pointing to His Son who is far greater than the angels Jacob saw in his dream. This is why Jesus told Nathanael he would “see heaven open"—just like Jacob—but he would see “the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” (John 1:51). In other words, Jesus Himself was the “stairway.” To quote Jacob, he was describing—even in his ignorance—that Jesus “is the gate of Heaven.”

The Bible teaches there is only one way to heaven— whether described in the Old Testament through symbolism (the sacrifices in the tabernacle) or revealed through miraculous manifestations (such as appearing in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego), or fulfilled in the New Testament through the incarnation. When God became a man, He left no room for speculation. His message to the apostles was crystal clear: He was “the way and the truth and the life.” He went on to say that not one individual anywhere on planet Earth would be able to come to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).

After Billy Graham's book entitled Just As I Am was released, he appeared on national television. I watched and listened carefully when he was asked about people who believe there are many roads to God. Billy answered by quoting Jesus' claim to be the only way to heaven. When he was then asked what would happen to all other religious people who don't agree or who don't know about Jesus Christ, Billy responded with wisdom and tact: “God,” he said, “is a righteous judge.”

The facts are that both Jesus' claim and Billy's reference regarding God's fairness are true. In that day when all people stand before the Lord, no one will be able to accuse God of being unrighteous or unjust in His judgments. But in the meantime, the question we all must face is focused on Christ's divine claim. Have you received the Lord Jesus, the Son of God, as your personal Savior from sin? He is the only way to God!

Personalizing These Principles

Carefully consider the answers to the following questions:

1. Are you trusting in your good works to get you to heaven, or have you put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to save you from your sins?

2. When you think about God's holiness and righteousness—that He is absolutely perfect and without sin— have you done enough good works to make you like Him in every respect? Do you measure up to His glory and perfection every moment of every day? If not, how do you expect to inherit eternal life?

3. Even if you don't believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to God, what if Christ's statement is true? Suppose you're right? In the end, what would a person lose if he or she believed it? Suppose you're wrong and Jesus' statement is true—what would you lose? Is it worth the risk?

A Personal Note: When I was experiencing doubts in my own life regarding Christ's claim to be the only way to heaven, I thought about these questions. Though they represent a rather human approach to dealing with skepticism, the answers to these questions penetrated my heart and mind. At that moment in my life, I was able to cope with the questions that were gnawing at my soul. Eventually, my doubts dissipated. The Holy Spirit used Nathanael's experience in a particular way to reassure me that Jesus Christ is the only way to God! In my own experience, God used natural thoughts and questions blended with God's supernatural truth to believe once again firmly the historic Christian message—that the Lord Jesus Christ is indeed the Savior of the world for all those who believe in His death and resurrection.

Set a Goal

As you've reflected on these principles and questions, what has the Holy Spirit impressed on your mind and heart? What one goal do you need to set for your life?

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Memorize the Following Scripture

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

EPHESIANS 2:8-9

Growing Together

The following questions are designed for small group discussion:

1. Why is it difficult for people to accept the fact that Jesus Christ is the only way to God?

2. If someone challenged you regarding this belief, how would you answer?

3. Why do so many people believe we can be saved by works?

4. When all is said and done, what is the source of saving faith? (Rom. 10:17; 1 Cor. 12:3; Titus 1:1-3)

5. What can we pray for you specifically?

Chapter 7

Matthew: A First-Century

Businessman Who Learned to

Put God First

I have a Christian friend who inherited a very successful business. Being an astute and highly motivated businessman himself, he made his inheritance even more successful—in fact, very lucrative. At age thirty-one, Bob Buford became president of his company and then immediately set some very lofty goals. His chief ambition was to grow his company and himself. He soon had all the money he needed—and much more!

However, something dramatic happened about ten years later. “It hit me with a blunt object—my slavish devotion to the art of the deal and thrill of the kill,” Bob explains. “How much was enough?”

This question led Bob to what he calls his “half-time” experience—and to ask himself some very penetrating questions, such as: Where should I invest my own talents, time, and treasures? What are the values that give purpose to my life? What is the overarching vision that shapes me? Who am I? Where am I? Where am I going? How do I get there?

“What's in the Box?”

Strange as it may seem, the Lord used an atheist—a strategic planning consultant—to change Bob's focus. After hearing Bob's “jumbled dreams and desires,” Mike Kami asked a pointed question: “What's in the box?” After listening for a couple of hours, he told Bob he had to make a choice between money or Jesus Christ—a rather startling statement coming from an unbeliever. “If you can't tell me which it is,” Kami continued, “you are going to vacillate between these two values as I've seen you do for years and be confused.”

Since Bob is a Christian, he knew in his heart the answer to Mike's question. Jesus Christ had to become his “primary loyalty"—but “not my exclusive loyalty,” Bob explains in his book Half-Time. He still had his loyalties to his wife, his work, his friends, and to various projects. But he put Christ at the center of all these things in order to have “balance and wholeness” in his life.

An Unexpected Tragedy

Shortly after Bob made this decision, he faced one of life's greatest tragedies. He lost his only son who was attempting to swim the Rio Grande River. Because the water was colder and the current swifter than expected, this energetic young man drowned. The boy's body wasn't recovered until four months later.

Few of us can identify with Bob's grief—losing his only son, whom he adored. But rather than reneging on his new commitments, this painful experience solidified his decision to put Christ at the center of all of his activities. He was even more determined to reorder his priorities in terms of the time he invested building the kingdom of God. To achieve his new goals, Bob established Leadership Network, a Christian organization that continues to have a powerful impact on the church of Jesus Christ. Using an athletic metaphor, he now explains that he spent the “first half” of his adult life getting ready for an even more exciting “second half.”

Don't misunderstand! Bob still manages a thriving business, devoting about twenty-five percent of his time to setting vision, picking key executives, setting standards, and monitoring performance. Without apology, he and his wife, Linda, live very well! He still enjoys making money—and he's good at it. But when challenged one day with the reality that he had to choose between “making money” as the focus of his life and “building Christ's kingdom,” he chose the latter and began devoting seventy-five percent of his time to “serving those who serve others, helping them to be more effective in their work.” When Bob made that decision, he was taking Christ's words seriously—to “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matt. 6:33, KJV). He has become one of the growing number of Christian men who have determined not to allow success and making money to take control of their lives.[1]

The Rich and the Infamous

There are many rich and famous men today who are Christians. Some of these men—like my friend Bob—have ordered their business priorities around the principles of the Word of God. Others have become “Christian materialists.” Some would never cheat or lie, but they're spending most of their energy becoming successful and accumulating material possessions without seriously considering that great portions of it (not just ten percent) could be invested in building God's kingdom. Some of these men could even invest more than fifty percent on a regular basis and yet live more than well.

Most of these men have made their money in the last twenty or thirty years. To their credit, they've taken advantage of the economic window in the American culture. Some have started with virtually nothing and have become multimillionaires—an opportunity that has never been equaled in the history of humanity.

Many of these men, however, are not Christians. A few are philanthropists and generous, but most are never satisfied. They want more. To them it means power and prestige, even when they give their money to charitable causes. Unfortunately, many are willing to sacrifice ethical values, moral principles, and even their own families to achieve their materialistic goals. They've allowed the world's system to shape them and control them. They're definitely twentieth-century materialists in the true sense of that word.

This describes Matthew. He was a wealthy man—a first-century entrepreneur—who earned his living in a dishonorable way. He was a tax collector, a well-known profession that promoted graft and greed! Those who had dealings with Matthew would definitely identify him with “the rich and the infamous"!

Corruption Personified

Have you ever stopped to think what it would be like to live in a country where corruption and graft are a way of life?

The Roman government was well known for dishonesty, underhandedness, and bribery. Predictably, much of this evil focused in the tax-collecting dimension of this gigantic political system.

Matthew both served and used this system to his own advantage. As a tax collector, he aligned himself with men who cheated people.

We first meet Matthew when Jesus challenged him to leave his profession and become one of His disciples. In fact, he was sitting at a “tax collector's booth” (Matt. 9:9). Jesus had probably passed that way often, since He lived in Capernaum (Mark 2:1) and had spent many days teaching in that city (John 6:59; Mark 1:21; Luke 4:31-37).

An Opportunity to “Get Rich Quick”

Normally, a tax collector's job in the Roman government went to the highest bidder. Furthermore, this kind of position had a built-in mechanism to take advantage of people and to get rich quick. Beyond the amount that he was required to collect for the government, a tax collector could pad his own pockets with as much money as he could accumulate. Understandably, ordinary citizens despised them. Imagine running a business where your dishonesty is so blatant you're actually identified as a “sinner.” This is the common label they used to describe these men (Matt. 9:10).

To make the system even more corrupt—and profitable— a successful tax collector could develop his own infrastructure. Hiring other corrupt men to work for him, the main collector would receive a cut of everything taken in by those in “his down-line.”

A Chief Tax Collector

Zacchaeus illustrates this point. When this man responded to Christ's call on his life, he was transformed. But he was a “chief tax collector” and very “wealthy,” which is obvious from his willingness to “give half of his possessions to the poor” and to even “pay back four times the amount” to those he had cheated! (Luke 19:2, 8; emphasis mine). This is not hyperbole. I believe Zacchaeus meant every word, and to be able to return this amount of money, his resources would need to be almost limitless!

Though Matthew is not identified as a “chief collector,” he too was wealthy. His toll booth was probably located on the northern end of the Sea of Galilee near the Syrian border and on a heavily traveled trade route that came from Damascus. If so, Matthew collected taxes on both imports and exports, which included the mounds of fish caught by Peter and Andrew and their partners, James and John. In other words, these four men probably paid enormous amounts of both legal and illegal money to Matthew prior to the time they joined together as disciples of Jesus Christ. It's no wonder it took these men time to develop trust and unity in their relationships.

A Decision Few Men Make

What kind of commitment to biblical values does it take to give up a dishonest, lucrative position in order to practice the principles Jesus Christ taught?

Unfortunately, even some Christian businessmen who are honest have difficulty focusing their efforts in building Christ's kingdom. Bob Buford, who was definitely committed to operating his business in an honorable way, confesses that he was “frightened by the idea of turning back toward the work of the church or works of service.”[2] Furthermore, he states, “It was an act of faith, it was a daunting challenge for me to be open to change and adventure. But,” Bob continues, “even more than that, it was a commitment to do something about the faith I already had. By acknowledging Christ as my guiding light, I had invoked the promise that He would direct my paths, no matter where they took me.”[3]

A Direct Invitation

When Matthew wrote his own Gospel, he very succinctly recorded his own response to Jesus' straightforward invitation to join Peter and Andrew and James and John. When Jesus said, “Follow me,” Matthew simply stated that he “followed him” (Matt. 9:9). Mark, however, has given us the context leading up to this decision—and some very enlightening details. Prior to this simple request of Matthew, we read that “once again Jesus went out beside the lake” and “a large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them” (Mark 2:13).

Remember that Jesus had taken up permanent residence in Capernaum and often walked along the Galilean seashore, stopping to teach those who would listen. By the time He stopped at Matthew's toll booth and invited him to leave his business, Matthew had heard Jesus teach many times. Imagine what must have gone through his mind when he repeatedly heard the following challenging and convicting exhortation, not only from the lips of Jesus but from those who had also heard Jesus teach:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:19—21)

A Universal Challenge

Though Jesus later delivered this message on a mountain on the other side of Jordan—commonly called the “Sermon on the Mount"— he had certainly shared similar thoughts with the crowds in Capernaum—and wherever He went. Remember, too, that by this time Peter and his brother Andrew, and James and John, the sons of Zebedee, had already accepted Jesus' invitation to leave their fishing business and to become His disciples. Their decision had to have impacted Matthew—both materially and spiritually—especially since these men were probably some of his best customers. That day when Jesus stopped and called to Matthew, challenging him to leave his business, too, he had probably thought hard and long as to what this kind of decision would really mean to his profession, his personal income, and his family.

Mixed Motives

Is it really possible to make business decisions with motives that are free from self-interests?

It's difficult to have one clear focus—even when we want to put Christ first in our lives. In fact, mixed motives are not necessarily wrong—depending upon our priorities. The apostle Paul recognized that we all have our own goals and ambitions when he exhorted the Philippians, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others” (Phil. 2:4). In other words, it's possible to “have the mind of Christ"—to put Jesus at the center of our lives—yet have other interests and priorities. However, these other things must always be secondary to Jesus Christ.

I believe Bob Buford has found this unique balance. For him, it means devoting seventy-five percent of his time to ministry and twenty-five percent to his business. For other men, the amount of time and money devoted to each will vary, but each should have the same focus. And, of course, the time factor often varies with age, experience, opportunity, success, and the degree other family members are involved.

Improper Motives

At this stage of his life, when Matthew decided to leave his business, his motives were definitely more self-centered than Christ-centered. His reasons for following Christ were similar to the motives of James and John, men who had decided to follow Jesus in order to secure positions of power. Though Matthew may have been under conviction for his dishonesty, he certainly saw this as an opportunity to “get rich” legitimately and hopefully to become the CFO for the future king of Israel. Even Peter, the man who eventually became the great leader of this apostolic band, at one point asked Jesus what he and the others were going to get because they had left everything and followed Christ. Obviously, Peter was thinking “dollar signs” and material possessions—a reflection of what most of these men were thinking (Matt. 19:27). Matthew was certainly not an exception.

A Great Banquet

Even though Matthew's motives may have been self-serving, there was definitely an element of sincerity in his decision. He took a bold step and staged a “great banquet” in his home to honor Jesus (Luke 5:29). Perhaps he engineered this event to defend his decision before his fellow collectors, who probably thought he was out of his mind.

Though we're not told how many people attended, Luke would not have used the word “great” if this were not a huge affair—which gives us a clue as to Matthew's wealth. He must have had a gigantic residence since Luke also noted that “a large crowd of tax collectors and sinners were eating with them” (5:29; emphasis mine).

Archaeologists have discovered homes in the New Testament world that could easily seat up to five hundred people—just in the garden room. It would not be surprising if at least this many people had gathered to meet this man who had convinced Matthew to leave his tax-collecting station to become a nomadic disciple. And the fact that so many of his cronies accepted his invitation to attend this banquet indicates Matthew's influence in the world of taxation. Needless to say, they would be very curious. In their minds, Matthew must have cut a better deal financially. Why else would he leave this lucrative position—unless he were crazy!

Reordering His Life

After Matthew made his decision to travel with Christ, we're not told what he did with his property. Assuming he had a wife and children, he probably kept his residence, perhaps “downsizing” to accommodate his new lifestyle. But Matthew's first priority was to learn all he could from his new Teacher, probably hoping for a “payoff” later on. Little did he realize that at this moment in his life what lay ahead—the price he and the others would ultimately have to pay to be disciples of Jesus Christ.

But let's be fair to Matthew. Even if his motives were mixed and self-serving, he was also committed to making changes in his life. He wanted all of the men in the same deceitful business to meet Jesus Christ. He was not ashamed of his new associations. Though we're not told specifically what he was trying to accomplish, we can safely assume that he wanted to share his decision with those who were in the same dirty business. He had decided to make a clean break, and he wanted everyone to know it.

Behind the Sacred Robes

Why are some religious leaders just as guilty of sin as men who have questionable business practices?

Unfortunately, today some so-called “men of the cloth” are guilty of the same evil they condemn. The world is filled with so-called evangelists who are taking advantage of others in the name of Christianity. Sadly, they have developed a “prosperity gospel” that is diametrically opposed to what Jesus taught.

These types also occupied positions of power in the New Testament world, beginning with the religious leaders in Jesus' day. And when Matthew made his decision to follow Christ, they were the first to criticize the Lord for associating with men like Matthew.

Ironically, these men should have been the most delighted with Matthew's decision to clean up his act. However, when Jesus accepted Matthew's invitation to attend this elaborate banquet, they immediately asked the other disciples, “'Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and “sinners"?'” (Matt. 9:11; emphasis mine).

When Jesus heard these criticisms, He seized the moment to unveil their own wicked motives. These Pharisees were not concerned about the souls of men. They were only dedicated to ritualistically keeping the law of Moses plus abiding by a number of other man-made restrictions. Many were outright dishonest when it came to their wealth. For example, they had set up human rules whereby they could classify their material possessions as being “devoted to God.” By making certain “religious decisions,” they believed they were legally “freed-up” from their responsibility to care for their parents. Sadly, they developed these traditions to inherit more money for themselves (Matt. 15:5-6).

When these men criticized Jesus for attending this banquet and mingling with these dishonest men, Jesus pointedly challenged their motives with a powerful metaphor: “'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners'” (Matt. 9:12).

Jesus was defending His association with these dishonest men. They were “spiritually sick” and needed to understand how to be saved from their sin.

Jesus next pulled the rug out from under the Pharisees by stating that their religious system and their own legalistic antics did not lead to holiness. If their own hearts were right, they would want to show mercy to people who needed to be spiritually healed.

Jesus next “dropped the other shoe” on their cold hearts! He made it clear that all of their “sacrifices” and their religious rituals meant absolutely nothing. At this moment, Jesus “leveled the playing floor.” These religious leaders were just as lost as the “sinners” they were judging. They, too, needed a Savior.

It Takes One to Know One

Why can God use transformed businessmen in unique ways to minister to other businessmen?

The answer to the above question is simple. People listen to people who can truly identify with their thoughts and actions.

A Period of Growth

Following Matthew's initial decision to leave his dishonorable business and to become one of Jesus' disciples, he began the process of learning who Jesus really was and why He had come into the world. Eventually, his new Master selected him to be one of the Twelve Apostles (Matt. 10:2-4). Even so, Matthew struggled spiritually for the next three years just like the other eleven men. When the pressure was on, he deserted Jesus just like the others (Matt. 26:56). But as Jesus promised, He did not forsake His men. He continued to prepare them to carry out the new commandment to “love one another” (John 13:34-35) as well as the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20), and eventually Matthew became a dynamic Christian whose priorities were completely changed.

Writing out of Experience

It's not surprising that the Holy Spirit chose Matthew to write the gospel that records much more about what Jesus taught regarding material possessions than Mark, Luke, and John.

This is by divine design. Matthew knew what it meant to be a materialist—and a dishonest one at that. It took one to know one! He could write from experience. Furthermore, he had learned to practice what he was preaching. He had earned the right to write and speak.

On one occasion, Jesus delivered a powerful message that has come to be known as the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew recorded much of what Jesus taught that day, particularly regarding the way we should use our material possessions. It's not an accident that Matthew—the transformed materialist—was chosen to record the following, penetrating words:

“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money… . But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt. 6:24, 33)

A New Name

It's not coincidental that some of God's greatest servants experienced name changes when they became followers of Jesus Christ. Jesus changed Simon's name to Peter, which means “rock"—and illustrates his foundational position as leader of the apostles. After Saul's conversion to Christ, he began to use the name “Paul,” perhaps to shed the painful memories associated with his Hebrew name. The apostles changed Joseph's name to Barnabas, which means “Son of Encouragement” and reflects this man's generous lifestyle (Acts 4:36). Just so, Levi's name was changed to Matthew.

We're not told why this happened, but we have some clues. Before he became a follower of Christ, both Mark and Luke identified Matthew with the name “Levi” (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27). But when he became an apostle, they both used the name “Matthew” (Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15). And, when Matthew wrote about his own actions, he used this new name exclusively in his Gospel, even when he described his life as a tax collector (Matt. 9:9).

Why this difference? Perhaps Matthew wanted to use his new name to testify to his new lifestyle. He may have been ashamed of the name “Levi” because of all of the bad associations from the past—his dishonesty and greed. It would not be surprising if he wanted his readers to completely disassociate his new motives from the materialistic ones that eventually drove Judas to betray the Lord.

We have another clue. The name Matthew actually means “gift of Jehovah"—a fitting description of what he learned when he became a true disciple of Jesus Christ. He discovered that the most important thing in life is the gift of eternal life, not what we accumulate for ourselves on this earth. He also learned that it is “more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

Becoming God's Man Today

Principles to Live By

There is a lot we can learn from Matthew, even though we thankfully may not be able to identify with the extent of his dishonesty and greed. We all face the challenge to put Jesus Christ at the center of our lives. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you apply the lessons we can learn from this first-century materialist who became a dynamic witness for Jesus Christ.

Principle 1. Jesus Christ wants all Christians to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.

Several years ago, a group of men in the church I serve as senior pastor joined me in an in-depth Bible study on the subject of material possessions and how Christians are to use them. After meeting several hours a week for six months, we discovered 126 supracultural principles that God wants us to apply in the use of our resources.

In one sense, we were all amazed. However, in retrospect, this should not surprise us since the way we use our material possessions determines our level of commitment to God and His work. As Jesus said—and as Matthew has recorded—"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21).[4]

One of these principles stands out boldly on the pages of the New Testament: All Christians are to give regularly, systematically, and proportionately—as God has blessed them (1 Cor. 16:1-2). Since the children of Israel were to give two tithes (20 percent) and another tithe every third year, it seems only reasonable that Christians who live under grace should give at least 10 percent of their income to help carry on God's work in the world. This it seems should be a minimum. Sadly, many Christians don't come close to giving this amount. In fact, many don't even have God in their budgets.

This is a sad commentary on the way the flood of materialism in our culture has flowed over into the lives of Christians. Jesus Christ has taught us—and again, Matthew has recorded it—that we should “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to” us “as well” (Matt. 6:33; emphasis mine).

Putting God first with our giving should be a priority. What we plan to give to the Lord's work should be the “top line” in our budgets—before food, transportation, clothes, housing (all “necessary things”). And what we give to God should definitely come before what we spend on entertainment and luxuries. If we maintain this priority, God has promised to meet our material needs (Phil. 4:19).

Many American Christians who claim they can't tithe pay their cable and satellite bills every month. In many instances, both husbands and wives have cellular or digital phones, and even their children have pagers. These families eat out regularly, shelling out anywhere from twenty to a hundred dollars—and more—each time. And some go to the theater at least once a week, often spending ten to twenty dollars on popcorn and drinks. Yet they don't set aside money to give to the Lord's work on a regular and proportional basis—because they say, “We just can't make it!”

Don't misunderstand. These things are not wrong in themselves. But in most instances, these are luxuries. They are wants, not needs. Think of what would happen if all Christians who claim they can't give (or at least who don't) would eliminate these luxuries and give the same amount they spend every week to God's work. Most would be “tithing,” and if they did, I'm confident God would honor this priority and might even choose to make it possible for them to actually reinstate these luxuries without robbing Him.

Principle 2. Jesus Christ is still looking for men of means who will faithfully use their resources to build the kingdom of God.

There is another category of Christians in our society— people who cannot only tithe but give up to 20, 30, 40, or 50 percent of their income and time to God's work (and even more), yet they can live well and at the same time enjoy all of the luxuries anyone would ever want. Claude Rosenberg Jr., social entrepreneur, set forth the bold premise in his book that 100-125 billion dollars of philanthropic capital in the United States goes untapped because of faulty perceptions about the concepts of net worth and affordability. Rosenberg believes that this money “could be given to charity without damaging anyone's financial status, lifestyle, or security.”[5]

Can you comprehend how much money this really is? To help you grasp the wealth involved, imagine a stack of one thousand dollar bills one foot high. This would total one million dollars. By contrast, one billion dollars would be a stack of one thousand bills twice the height of the Washington Monument—in others words, one thousand feet! Rosenberg is talking about 125 billion dollars, not one billion. This represents 125,000 feet of one thousand dollar bills (or approximately a stack twenty-four miles high, or three-and-a-half times higher than the average commercial jet flies from one city to the other).

What is mind-boggling is that among this group of affluent people are many Christians whom God has blessed materially, particularly in the last thirty or forty years. These are men and women who could help build the kingdom of God in ways that are beyond imagination. Every Christian should give regularly and systematically, but there are those who should give proportionately as God has prospered them. May God give us more “Bob Bufords” to help carry out God's redemptive plan at this moment in the history of the world.

Principle 3. Jesus Christ wants generous Christian businessmen to become models and examples to other businessmen who in turn will become generous Christians.

God used Matthew, a transformed materialist, to help us understand the “gospel of giving.” And those who make the decision to use their resources to the full to build the kingdom of God are great models. We need these examples.

At this moment, someone might quote Jesus who said, “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret” (Matt. 6:3-4). To understand what Jesus meant, we must understand that He was speaking to Pharisees and religious leaders who gave only to be seen of men. God issued this command to unveil what was in their hearts. In other words, these men only gave to be seen.

Second, in this context, Jesus told people not to pray publicly but to go into their closet and talk to God in secret (6:6a). His reasoning was the same for His admonition regarding giving. The only reason these religious hypocrites prayed was to be seen by others. Obviously, the Lord was not teaching that all prayer is to be in secret. Public prayer was an important aspect of the early church. In fact, it had a tremendous impact in attracting unbelievers to faith in Christ in Jerusalem (Acts 2:42-47).

The same principle is true relative to giving. Joseph was a great example to everyone in Jerusalem, unbelievers included, when he “sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet” (Acts 4:37). To add to the visibility of what Joseph had done, the apostles changed his name to Barnabas, which means “Son of Encouragement.” Everywhere this man went, he carried with him a new name that reflected his generous spirit.

God still wants men like Barnabas to be examples of generosity. It's possible to maintain pure hearts and right motives when sharing our personal philosophy of giving—just as it is possible to share other aspects of our commitment to Christ in order to be a model to other Christians (1 Thess. 1:7).

Personalizing These Principles

1. Are you putting Christ's work first when it comes to the way you use your material possessions?

To answer this question honestly, make a list of all the things you spend money on. Then, check those items that are obviously essential. When you do, also ask yourself if you could have met your needs by making more frugal financial decisions.

Second, mark an “X” by those items that are luxuries—those things you could live without. Then total the amount spent each month on these luxuries.

Third, total up the amount you give to the Lord's work each month. Compare it with your total income (before taxes). Does it total at least 10 percent? If not, how many luxuries would you need to remove in order to give at least a tithe? Are you willing to take this step?

2. How much of your money could you give to God's work each year (beyond 10 percent) and still live comfortably and securely, including an adequate amount for retirement? What about your time? Would you ask God to help you reorder your priorities to build God's kingdom and to lay up treasures in heaven?

3. What kind of model are you to your children and to other Christians when it comes to the way you use your money, possessions, and time? How could you become a better model?

Set a Goal

Based on Matthew's example and the principles that emerge from the study of his life, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your greatest need for change and then set a specific goal:

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Memorize the Following Scripture

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

MATTHEW 6:33

Growing Together

The following questions are designed for small group discussion:

1. Why do so many Christians get uncomfortable when they are confronted with God's principles of giving?

2. What has God taught you regarding the use of your material possessions?

3. What goals would you like to set in the area of generosity?

4. How can all of us become “Sons of Encouragement” to our own pastors and other Christian leaders as they fulfill their responsibilities to shepherd the church of God?

5. What can we pray for you specifically?

Chapter 8

Thomas: A Pessimist Who

Was Transformed

Have you ever worked with a man who seemed always to view the world through “dark-colored glasses"? I have. His environment—and everything in it—seemed to take on a pale hue. To him, the cup was always “half empty” rather than “half full.”

More specifically, this man always seemed to find reasons why something shouldn't be changed, why something won't work. His primary mind-set was negative and pessimistic. Unfortunately, this kind of person is also very rigid mentally and emotionally, which also affects his spiritual perceptions.

Even as Christian men we can be in bondage to this kind of attitude. It's not what we know about Christianity, but what we do with what we know. Unless we are committed to change, unless we are open to understanding ourselves and growing in all dimensions of our personalities, we can virtually get more rigid as the years go by. Our insecurities become like “cement” that is mixed with sand—the “dust” from which we're made (Gen. 2:7)—which gradually hardens our “categories.” Mental, emotional, and even spiritual rigor mortis sets in.

“I Will Not Believe It!”

We often call Thomas the “doubting disciple.” This is understandable since he appears that way in one of the most dramatic scenes recorded in the New Testament. Following the crucifixion, he refused to believe in the Resurrection, even though his fellow apostles had seen Jesus Christ. “I will not believe it!” he responded emotionally when they relayed their experience. However, to call him “the doubter” may be a simplistic label.

It's true that Thomas doubted—but so did all the other apostles until they had visually seen the Lord. This is why it's important to look at all of the scenes where Thomas appears in the Scriptures. When we do, we see a man who was very pessimistic. He tended to see the dark side of life—the shadows rather than the sun. Doubting was a reflection of that pessimism.

We're not sure why. He may have inherited this basic pattern from his parents. Some of us seem to be born with the tendency to see the cup half empty rather than half full. If this is true of Thomas, the environment he grew up in also added to this natural bent. It's never easy to determine what has influenced certain aspects of our basic personality traits—our heredity or our environment. Most behavioral and social scientists agree that both are uniquely involved.

But Thomas also demonstrates that we can change. We needn't be controlled by negative attitudes. Though we may never eliminate certain tendencies, Jesus Christ wants to transform us into His image so that we reflect the fruit of the Spirit in all of our relationships (Gal. 5:22-23).

A Sincere Pessimist

How many men do you know who reflect a pessimistic attitude yet are very sincere?

Personally, I believe the Christian world is filled with men who know the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior and want to do His will. However, they are in bondage to negative attitudes. They respond to situations with dark-colored glasses. This describes Thomas.

“Let Us Die With Him”

Apart from being mentioned in the list of disciples Jesus called to be apostles, we first meet Thomas in conjunction with the death of Lazarus, a dear friend of Jesus and a brother of Mary and Martha. These two sisters and Lazarus lived in Bethany, a small village only a “stone's throw” from Jerusalem (John 11:1-3).

When Jesus heard that Lazarus was seriously ill, He purposely delayed His trip in order to demonstrate His power over death. But when He informed His disciples that He was going to return to Judea and more specifically to Bethany, they were shocked and fearful. “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?” (11:8).

Jesus took this opportunity to be very specific in terms of His purpose in returning to the Jerusalem area. He told them that Lazarus was dead and that He was happy He was not there when His friend died so that they might believe. This was yet another opportunity for Jesus to demonstrate that He was indeed the Christ, the Son of God (20:30-31).

It was at this point Thomas spoke up, obviously not understanding what Jesus was talking about. “Let us also go,” Thomas said, “that we may die with Him” (11:16).

A Reason to Be Afraid

Some have speculated that Thomas's response to Jesus reflected sarcasm—implying that Jesus was “out of His mind” to want to return to Jerusalem. Frankly, I believe Thomas was trying to be realistic. However, his realism was laced with pessimism. He knew full well what had happened in Jerusalem when Jesus claimed to have lived “before Abraham was born” (8:58). More recently, the Lord had told the Jews that He “and the Father are one” and again they “picked up stones to stone Him” (10:30-31). Knowing all this, Thomas was fearful. However, rather than allowing his mind to dwell on the miracles Jesus had already performed—including His “disappearing act” in Jerusalem when they tried to kill Him (8:59)—he allowed his natural tendency to see the dark side of life capture and dominate his thinking.

There's no question—at least in my own mind—that Thomas was sincere. He was willing to follow Jesus to the front lines to do battle against evil men whom the Lord boldly proclaimed were children of Satan himself (8:44)—even if this meant sacrificing his own life. Heretofore, no other apostle had been so bold and courageous. Perhaps it was his response that later encouraged Peter to say that he too would be willing to die for Christ (13:37). Thomas was sincere, even though he was a pessimist.

Rational but Confused (John 14:1—7)

How many men do you know who are logical thinkers but spiritually confused because of their negative attitudes?

We all have a “mental and emotional grid” through which we process what is happening in our lives. Furthermore, we may be very logical and rational thinkers. However, this does not mean we'll arrive at correct conclusions. This is why we need to consult others with an open mind and teachable spirit.

“We Don't Know Where You Are Going, So How Can We Know the Way?” (14:5)

Our next encounter with Thomas took place in the upper room where Jesus had shared the Passover meal with His twelve disciples. Judas had already left, and Jesus had taught the eleven one of their greatest lessons—to love one another as He had loved them (John 13:34). And when He had informed them of His future plans to leave them for a while (13:36), He had also tried to dissipate their anxiety. Though He made it clear that they couldn't follow Him at that moment, He reassured them He was leaving “to prepare a place” for each of them and would return to take them to be with Him (14:1-3).

Even though they couldn't come with Him at this time, Jesus informed them that they knew “the way to the place where” He was “going” (14:4). At this point, Thomas's logic took over. Frustrated by what he had been hearing, he raised the same question they were all asking. “Lord,” he said, “we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (14:5).

Again, Thomas seems to be caustic, but he was not acting alone. He was reflecting Peter's frustration—particularly when he had already asked the same question: “Lord where are you going?” (13:35). Jesus had responded to his question with a statement that probably triggered Thomas's intense response. “Where I am going,” He had told Peter, “you cannot follow now, but you will follow later” (13:36b).

The facts are that Jesus had not yet given any definitive answer to Peter's question. Thomas was simply picking up on this nebulous reality, which drives negative people crazy. He then made the point that it's impossible to know the way to a certain place if you don't know the destination. His human perspective and rational approach to life blended with his tendency to be pessimistic blinded him to the spiritual dimensions Jesus had been sharing all along.

People with pessimistic attitudes are also normally direct and blunt and very cerebral—especially when they are frustrated. They rely heavily on logic and rational thinking in order to make sense out of difficult situations in life. Furthermore, they often find it hard to make the jump from human reasoning to faith. We've already seen Thomas take this approach when he faced the possibility of death if they returned to Jerusalem. He had very vivid memories of the terrible hatred they'd encountered. Unfortunately, at this moment, he had already forgotten that Jesus had been victorious over His enemies. When “they plotted to take his life,” Jesus simply removed Himself from the area (11:53-54).

This is another sign of Thomas's pessimism. People who think negatively also have short memories when it comes to remembering positive events. One negative experience seems to blot out the memorable ones.

“I Am the Way and the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6)

As Jesus so often did, He used this upper room experience to teach Thomas and all His disciples a lesson they had missed on previous occasions. “I am the way,” Jesus responded. Furthermore, He said that He was “the truth and the life” (14:6).

This is one of the most powerful statements in the New Testament. For centuries, men and women have sought to know how to be in contact with the supernatural. The essence of Jesus' whole message was that He was God in human form, and He had come into this world to make this divine contact possible—to provide people with eternal life. He was the way!

Philosophers have also spent a lifetime trying to determine what is really true. Jesus claimed to be—and is—the perfect embodiment of truth. At this point, He was definitely contrasting Himself with Satan “'who was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth'” (8:44; emphasis mine). Jesus went on to say, “'There is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” By contrast, Jesus always told the truth because He was God and God “does not lie” (Titus 1:2; Heb. 6:18).

When Jesus explained that He was “the life,” He was telling His disciples that He was providing them with an opportunity to spend eternity in fellowship with the One who was without beginning and without end. As John stated, “In Him [Jesus Christ] was life, and that life was the light of men” (John 1:4). Merrill Tenney captured this reality when he wrote: “Without the way, there is no going; without the truth, there is no knowing; without the life, there is no living.”[1]

Something happened in Thomas's life at that moment. We're not sure how much he understood, but he definitely took another step out of the pessimism that tended to control his life. Jesus, who knows the hearts of all men, testified to this change in Thomas's thinking when He said, “'If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him'” (John 14:7; emphasis mine). Perhaps this was actually the moment when Thomas was born again. Later, Jesus associated “knowing God” with salvation when He prayed, '"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent'” (17:3).

A Crisis of Faith

Have you ever met a Christian man who struggled with his faith following a disillusioning experience?

No matter how committed we are to Jesus Christ, a spiritual crisis can throw us into a state of doubt and even despair. And if our natural tendency is to be pessimistic, our doubts are accentuated. This certainly happened to Thomas.

“I Have Seen the Lord!” (20:18)

In our final major encounter with Thomas in John's Gospel, we see him move to total disillusionment and then to a dynamic and reassured faith in Jesus Christ. With all of the apostles, Thomas had heard from Mary Magdalene that she had “seen the Lord” (20:18). However, he must have turned his back and walked away in disgust, believing he had been duped into following a man who had been an imposter. What he had heard and what he had seen didn't make sense. The one who claimed to be “the way and the truth and the life” had just been crucified as a criminal. Even though he had come to know the Father through Jesus Christ, his natural tendency to be pessimistic hovered over his soul and dominated his thoughts. The pain he felt must have been unbearable.

Tension and fear permeated the environment in Jerusalem and the surrounding area, making Thomas's plight even worse. Understandably, anyone who had demonstrated any loyalty to Jesus Christ was suspect. Consequently, all of the apostles, except Thomas—who was noticeably absent—had gathered in someone's home and had bolted the doors “for fear of the Jews” (20:19).

Cowering in fear, these men must have been a pathetic lot. But then it happened! Imagine their surprise and emotional reactions when suddenly Jesus appeared, standing “among them.” Calming their fears, “he showed them his hands and side” (20:20). The disciples' anxiety suddenly turned to joy as they realized that they were face-to-face with the risen Christ. Mary's message was true!

“I Will Not Believe It” (John 20:25)

The Holy Spirit definitely wants all of us to know what was about to happen to this pessimistic and doubting disciple. This is why John next recorded very specifically that Thomas was not with the other men when Jesus made His first appearance. Perhaps he was so angry and disillusioned that he simply went off by himself to try to regain perspective. It would make sense that he would revert to his old ways of doing things—to try to figure this whole thing out at a rational level—and not to allow emotions to take over his behavior.

Whatever the reasons for Thomas's absence, he had not allowed himself to disassociate permanently from the other disciples. He reappears in the biblical account, only to be told he had missed out on an incredible experience. But Thomas had his mental and emotional guard up. He would not be deceived! He would not trust the report that his fellow disciples had given him: “'Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it'” (20:25; emphasis mine).

“My Lord and My God”

We're not told what happened during the week that followed. However, as the hours and days passed, Thomas must have become more and more entrenched in his own disillusionment and unbelief. He probably reiterated his personal conclusions and told the other men they were victims of their own wishful thinking and hallucinations.

But then it happened! Seven days later, the apostles were all together in the same place. They still kept the doors locked because hostility was mounting even more because of the incredible story that Jesus was no longer in the tomb. The religious leaders in Jerusalem were highly threatened, and to smoke-screen their own sins, they accused the apostles of stealing Jesus' body and perpetuating a myth that He had risen from the dead (Matt. 28:11-15).

Suddenly, Jesus once again appeared—and again, they must have quaked with anxiety. Compassionately, Jesus once again calmed their fears and then walked over to Thomas, whose countenance must have been ashen white. He invited His doubting disciple to put his fingers and his hands into the wounds that were still visible. He then told Thomas to “stop doubting and believe” (20:27).

We must remember that none of the disciples had seen Jesus since His last appearance. No one had been able to tell Him what Thomas had said—that he would not believe unless he had opportunity to see the nail marks in Jesus' hands and put his fingers where the nails were and put his hand into His side. How did Jesus know his exact words?

Thomas processed the answer to this question in a split second. He realized instantly that Jesus was doing with him what he had observed Him doing with others so many times before. He had reconstructed his very thoughts. How often Thomas must have heard Nathanael share his “fig tree” experience! (1:47-49). Now it had happened to him. Thomas knew this was another miracle that demonstrated Jesus Christ was who He claimed to be. His response says it all! He exclaimed with joy: “'My Lord and my God!'” (20:28). His rebound was sudden and sincere!

Becoming God's Man Today

Principles to Live By

Thomas was a man's man who became a dynamic follower of Jesus Christ. Tradition tells us that he became a great missionary to India, where he established the church and eventually died a martyr for the cause of Christ. Supposedly, he fell mortally wounded from a spear. If this is so, it is rather ironic in view of his demand to thrust his own hand into the wound in Jesus' side.

From Thomas's life also flow dynamic “principles to live by"—which leads to some intriguing questions. Why did God identify Thomas with the name “Didymus,” which means “twin” (11:16; 20:24)? This question becomes even more intriguing since it appears Thomas did not have a twin brother. Could it be that the Holy Spirit is speaking to men in a special way who are “twins” with Thomas—men who also tend to be pessimistic about life's situations?

Principle 1. It's possible to be a pessimistic personality yet a sincere follower of Jesus Christ.

All of us have basic tendencies that drive us and motivate us to react in certain ways. Some of these traits are innate. They form the basic pattern we're born with. Some of these traits are also developed in our environment. But whatever the source, it is important to understand that the Holy Spirit wants to transform us into the image of Jesus Christ.

Though Thomas was the kind of man who was affected by both his heredity and environment, he was still a very sincere follower of Jesus Christ—even being willing to die for the Lord before any of the other apostles. Even so, he battled pessimism. He allowed the realities of life to move him in the direction of being skeptical, negative, and untrusting. Consequently, his communication style often reflected sarcasm, arrogance, and a critical spirit. Furthermore, Thomas often put his faith in his own abilities, which also made him hesitant to trust others. As a result, he had difficulty understanding and accepting the supernatural dimensions of life.

Just so, you may have the same challenge. You are a sincere follower of Jesus Christ. Yet you're a negative thinker. You always think in terms of why something won't work rather than why it will work. Dark clouds usually obscure the sun, and you tend to see the cup half empty rather than half full. Without thinking, you're sarcastic and rub people the wrong way—and at times, you really don't understand why.

In spite of his pessimistic approach to life, Thomas brings us a message of hope. Though we'll never change the basic pattern with which we are born, we can change the way we respond to the circumstances in our lives. We can learn to reflect the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Thankfully, Jesus Christ changes lives. True, you may tend to be a pessimist. Perhaps you were born with this trait—and it may also be true that this is the kind of environment in which you grew up. Either your father or mother—or both—were pessimists. You had a double whammy. However, you need not allow your pessimism to keep you from developing a positive Christian attitude. You may have to always be on guard since this is a point of vulnerability, but you can reprogram your thinking by renewing your mind and heart, drawing upon the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 12:1-2).

Principle 2. It's possible to be a very logical and rational thinker yet be spiritually confused.

This principle also flows out of Thomas's life. Though he could function in a very logical and rational way, he didn't understand who Jesus really was. He was spiritually confused. Just so, you may be a clear thinker—from a human point of view. Yet you may have some unique blind spots spiritually and theologically. Unfortunately, you may not even recognize that this is true.

Spiritual truth is spiritually discerned. Paul addressed this reality when he wrote to the Corinthians. He spoke of the “wisdom of this age” and contrasted it with God's wisdom. He referred to the “rulers of this age” who were definitely brilliant men but who were spiritually blind. Paul underscored this point clearly when he said that if these men had spiritual wisdom, “they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Cor. 2:8).

In order to make sure that the Corinthians understood what he was saying, he added: “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned” (2:14).

I personally believe Thomas began to experience spiritual discernment the day he questioned Jesus about “the way to the Father.” At that moment, the Holy Spirit revealed to him who Jesus really was. Though he still entered a period of doubt and continued to battle his pessimistic tendencies, he became a new creation in Christ Jesus and eventually moved from being a carnal, worldly Christian to being a man controlled and directed by the Holy Spirit.

Principle 3. It's possible for a true believer to experience a crisis of faith that creates a complete state of doubt.

I remember having this kind of experience when I entered my early twenties. Though I was definitely a Christian, at times I wondered. I questioned everything I was ever taught about Christianity. For me, these doubts came because of inconsistent Christian leaders. Unfortunately, I had my eyes on them rather than on Jesus Christ—the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Like Thomas, I entered a period in my life where I wanted evidence for what I believed. It was a difficult time, but eventually God used Thomas to refocus my thoughts. More generally, the Holy Spirit used my study of the Gospel of John to reassure me that Jesus Christ is who He claimed to be—God in the flesh. Since then, Jesus' words to Thomas have become very meaningful to me: “'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed'” (John 20:29).

Yes, I had a crisis of faith. It left me in a terrible state of doubt—even though I do not classify myself as a pessimist. In fact, I usually see the cup half full rather than half empty. If I had been a negative thinker, I would have had an even more difficult time.

Even so, the clouds of despair that overshadowed me were very painful and oppressive. But once I passed through this difficult period, Jesus Christ became even more real to me than before. What a wonderful experience to be able to cry out to the Lord as Thomas did and say, “My Lord and my God!” (20:28).

Personalizing These Principles

The following questions will help you apply these principles to your own life:

1. Do I really know the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Savior?

All of us must remember that it is possible to be very committed to practicing the principles of Christianity yet to be a non-Christian. Most of the apostles began this way—dedicated to the values of Judeo-Christianity. They even professed to believe that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah. Yet each one had to come to that moment in his life where he was born again by the Holy Spirit (John 3:3).

Just so, you may be committed to the values of the Bible. You're an active and dedicated church member. You teach a Sunday school class. You may even give ten percent of your income to the Lord's work—which is commendable. But the fact is you've never experienced the new birth. You believe that your salvation is based on your good works and your commitment to the values of Christianity.

The bad news is that your good works can never save you. Paul made this clear in his letter to the Ephesians when he wrote: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).

Check yourself. Have you taken the following steps in your spiritual life?

Step 1

I have confessed that like all men, I have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23).

Step 2

I have acknowledged before God that I cannot save myself—no matter how many good works I do (Eph. 2:8-9).

Step 3

I have personally received the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior, realizing that “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23; John 1:12).

2. Do I rely on my rational and logical approach to life, not realizing that I may be spiritually confused and have theological blind spots?

In order to answer this question, consult with others you trust—men who are dedicated Christians. Ask them to give you honest feedback regarding your attitudes and actions. Address the issue of pessimism. How do they evaluate your life responses? Are you a positive or negative thinker? What do they think about your biblical and theological perspectives?

This is a threatening assignment—but life-changing. If these men are truly dedicated Christians, they will not only give you honest feedback, but they will also help you to change—if they sense you are open and teachable.

3. How do I respond to crises of faith, both in my own life and in the lives of others?

Jesus Christ understands our crises of faith. In fact, He may allow these experiences in our lives to help us refocus on who He really is. Furthermore, once we move through these experiences victoriously, we are in a much better position to understand and help others who are also experiencing crises of faith. Rather than being judgmental, we'll be sympathetic. I'm confident Thomas was able to help many Christians move through these dark “valleys of death” and to emerge victoriously and to once again operate in the sunlight of God's love.

Remember, too, that periods of darkness do not mean we have lost our faith. It simply means that our faith is being challenged and tested. It's at moments like these that we must “be still and know that he is God.” Listen to these words by Kelly James Clark from his thought-provoking book entitled When Faith Is Not Enough:

We must be still. We can rest in the comfort of knowing and trusting in the Lord of the universe… . There is a moral and spiritual center of the universe, and around that center our lives revolve. At the center of the universe is not an impersonal “It” dictated by a blind and fatal concourse of events but a personal “Thou"—a benevolent and wise creator and sustainer whose plans and purposes we may trust. We must be still in that knowledge. Our trust in God will falter at times. We are no more perfect in faith than we are in life. Yet the line has been drawn, and we have stepped over onto the side of Christ. We have taken the decisive first steps of faith, and now we are moving towards the light. We must be still.[2]

Set a Goal

As you review these “principles to live by,” what one goal do you need to set for your life? Ask the Holy Spirit to pinpoint your need and then to help you formulate a specific goal:

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Memorize the Following Scripture

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. JOHN 20:30-31

Growing Together

The following questions are designed for small group discussion:

1. Why is it possible to be a sincere follower of Jesus Christ yet not to be a true Christian? Has this ever been true in your own life?

2. Why is it often difficult for a man who is intelligent, rational, and logical to perceive his spiritual blind spots? Has this ever happened to you?

3. Why can pessimism be a difficult trait to change? Have any of you faced this challenge?

4. Have you ever experienced a crisis of faith? How did it affect your spiritual life?

5. What can we pray for you personally?

Chapter 9

James, Simon, and Judas:

Three Men Who Helped Change

the Course of World History

Just before Richard Nixon resigned following the Watergate fiasco, he was alone with Henry Kissinger. With a broken voice, the president asked Mr. Kissinger if he thought people would remember the good things he had done for America— and the world. Kissinger assured him that “history would be good to him.”

Generally speaking, history has been good to Richard Nixon. Fortunately, people tend to forget the bad and remember the good. This could be said of all American presidents. Volumes have been written about their lives and particularly their accomplishments. Even with the incredible revelations regarding John F. Kennedy's underworld connections, immorality, and other irresponsible behaviors, people still choose to remember “Camelot.”

History has also been good to Christ's apostles, even though very little has been written about their lives compared with other prominent men in the world. The facts are that they helped change the course of history more dramatically than all other world leaders combined.

Jesus chose these twelve men to help Him carry out the most significant task of all time. There never has been nor will there ever be a position as a head of state that even comes close to the nature of these men's responsibility. In fact, their task transcends history. Before time began, God designed a unique plan to provide a way of redemption for all mankind. Jesus Christ chose these twelve men to implement this plan. Writing to the Ephesians, Paul exclaimed: “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight” (Eph.1:4). Here Paul was writing specifically about the “mystery” of the church which, he said, “has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets” (3:5).

From Metaphor to Mission

Jesus used a metaphor to describe this apostolic task when He first challenged Peter and Andrew to leave their fishing business and follow Him. He told them He would make them “fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19). After His death and resurrection He spelled out this task in more concrete terms. On a mountain in Galilee, shortly before He ascended back to the Father, He met with “the eleven disciples” (Judas had already taken his life—Matt. 27:5) and told them to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19). It was there they began the great mission Jesus had called them to fulfill—to cast their nets “into the sea of humanity” and to see multiplied thousands become followers of Jesus Christ.

Stop and think for a moment who this Jesus was—the man who called these men to carry out this incredible task. Writing to the Colossians, Paul described Him as “the image of the invisible God.” He is “the firstborn over all creation. For by him,” Paul continued, “all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Col.1:15-17).

In view of who Jesus was—and is—and considering the incomparable task He gave these men, you would think we would know a great deal about them. The facts are that we really know next to nothing about any one of them compared with what we know about the presidents of the United States and other world leaders. And what we know directly and specifically from the Bible about “James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, [and] Judas son of James” (Luke 6:15-16) can be outlined in a single paragraph. This is ironic in view of whom they served as their “commander in chief,” the enormity of their task, and what they actually accomplished in a relatively brief period of time.

An Unsung Hero

How would you feel if at the end of your life on earth the only specific notation about you was your first name?

There are millions of people who can identify with the answer to this question. The only record you could find regarding their lives on earth is on their birth certificate and— if they are fortunate—on their tombstones. Unfortunately, there are many people who live and die without even this kind of recognition. For most of us, this is not a comfortable thought, especially if we've attempted to live our lives so as to make a significant contribution, at least in our own particular communities. It doesn't seem fair.

Four Simple Lists

In essence, this is what happened to “James son of Alphaeus.” This, of course, was not the James we know so well—the son of Zebedee and John's brother. All we know is his name, his father's name, and that after he became a disciple of Jesus Christ, he belonged to a group of men called the apostles. In spite of the fact that he helped launch the greatest movement in history—the church of Jesus Christ—and even though he probably died a martyr's death, this James is only mentioned specifically in four rather “cut and dried” lists that also include the names of eleven other men (Matt. 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:13-16; Acts 1:13).

But as we'll see, the names in this list were not “cut and dried” in God's sight. They will never be forgotten throughout eternity. Among those who inhabit the “new Jerusalem"—all believers of all time—James son of Alphaeus will be recognized and honored for his faithfulness.

Another James

In the meantime, we have a possible clue regarding this man's family background. Since he was a “son of Alphaeus,” this specific identification poses a very intriguing question. Could this be Matthew's brother, the former tax collector, who is also identified as a “son of Alphaeus” (Mark 2:14)? If so, James had a notorious sibling who was involved in a despised business, and he probably experienced a lot of the same rejection as if he were a tax collector himself.

On the other hand, James would have been positively impacted when Matthew turned his back on a lucrative business, walked away from his tax collector booth, and became a disciple of Jesus Christ. If all of this is true, it would make sense that James became a disciple of Jesus Christ because of Matthew's decision. But the fact remains, whoever he was and whatever his family background, when Jesus singled out twelve men from the larger group of disciples to become the apostles, James son of Alphaeus was there and became one of these men.[1]

A Rebel with a New Cause

How has Jesus Christ changed your life without changing your basic design—the way God created you?

I have a friend named Ruben Conner. Before he became a Christian, he was an angry young man who was on the verge of joining the Black Panthers. However, a friend invited him to a Bible study where he heard the gospel of God's grace in

Jesus Christ. Ruben became a Christian and the direction of his life was miraculously changed.

Ruben eventually became a church-planting pastor and then launched his own missionary organization. He became a pastor to pastors in helping plant churches all over the United States. Needless to say, Ruben's life was changed, but his basic drive to bring about spiritual and social renewal remained intact. His greatest change personally came when he was no longer motivated by anger, but by love. God has used him and his wife, Geneva, in unusual ways to carry out the Great Commission. In fact, the church that I pastor has had the privilege for a number of years of providing their full salary to carry out this ministry.

Simon, the Zealot

Simon is identified as a “Zealot.” By implication, this tells us far more about this man than we know about James son of Alphaeus. Zealots represented a factious group of men in Palestine who were fanatically opposed to Roman rule. They organized in A.D. 6 when a man called “Judah the Galilean” outlined their two guiding principles. First, they refused to pay taxes to Rome. They believed firmly that the land of Israel was a “holy land” and that what they produced and the resources they accumulated were never to be given to a foreign ruler—not even a portion of it.

Second, true Zealots never acknowledged the emperor as their master. To them Israel was a theocracy. They recognized the Lord God and Him only. He was their king. In no way would they worship the Roman emperor.

The Zealots were a powerful group. Known also as assassins, they took control of Jerusalem in A.D. 66, an action that eventually led to its destruction in A.D. 70 when Titus and his Roman army completely leveled and burned the city. Their last stronghold was Masada, a mountain fortress, which fell to Rome in May, A.D. 73. Before they were captured, most of them committed suicide rather than surrender to a pagan army.

A New Allegiance

The fact that Simon was a Zealot tells us a great deal about his basic personality and his philosophy of life. In some respects, he was like Simon Peter. Simon the Zealot was also tough-minded, but no doubt much more so than Peter. When he decided to follow Jesus Christ and His teachings, Simon probably still belonged to this rebel group.

We're not told when he decided to leave these malcontents and become a disciple of Jesus Christ. Obviously, he changed his approach to life dramatically since Jesus taught His followers to be peaceful in their relationships with the Roman government. In terms of taxes, He encouraged everyone to “give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's” (Matt. 22:21). Regarding abuse by Roman soldiers, He said, “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles” (5:41). He taught His disciples to love their enemies and to pray for those who persecuted them (5:44).

Obviously, Jesus Christ changed Simon's motives and ways of doing things—but not his zealous nature. As with the apostle Paul, the Lord rechanneled this man's drive, ambition, and enthusiasm to serve God rather than men and himself.

In the same manner, the Lord wants all of us to be zealous because of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Just before the apostle Paul encouraged all Christians to submit themselves “to the governing authorities” (Rom. 13:1), and to “give everyone” what they owed them (including taxes and revenues, 13:7), he had already exhorted them to “never be lacking in zeal, but keep” their “spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (12:11).

Both the Lord Jesus and the apostle Paul have taught us to be loyal even to a pagan government, yet never to compromise our spiritual values. We must maintain our zeal to serve Jesus Christ. This does not mean we'll always be delivered from persecution, but in the most part, if we conduct ourselves properly and respectfully and do those things that are not contradictory to our faith, we'll be granted mercy even by pagan leaders (Rom. 13:3-5; 1 Pet. 3:13).

An Embarrassing Association

How would you like to be named Hitler, Mussolini, or Stalin?

Our names are very important to each of us personally. But sometimes it becomes a curse rather than a blessing. This happens when someone with our name becomes notorious and infamous. Imagine how “Judas son of James” felt when his fellow apostle, also named Judas, betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ for thirty pieces of silver. Since that time, few parents would name their sons Judas, even though the name itself is a good name. Unfortunately, it brings to mind one of the most shameful events in recorded history.

Judas, Son of James

Both Luke and John used the name Judas to identify this apostle. However, Luke added his father's name, James, both in his Gospel and in the Book of Acts. His purpose seems clear. He wanted to distinguish “this Judas” from the one who betrayed Jesus Christ (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13). On the other hand, when John identified Judas, he used another distinction that makes the separation even clearer. When he referred to Judas, he quickly added that this was “not Judas Iscariot” (John 14:22).

Both Matthew and Mark took a different approach entirely. They used another name altogether, probably to avoid any confusion whatsoever. These two Gospel writers called him “Thaddaeus"—no doubt to protect the image of their fellow apostle (Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18).[2]

Though our knowledge of Judas Thaddaeus is also limited, we do have a helpful insight from one event where he responded to Jesus' teachings.

A Humble Man

When Jesus met with the apostles in the upper room and shared with them that He was going to leave them for a while, He got various responses. Thomas was pessimistic and sarcastic (John 14:5). Philip was skeptical (14:8). However, Judas Thaddaeus seemed amazed and overwhelmed with the idea that Jesus was going to reveal Himself to them and not to the world (14:22). He had difficulty understanding why he and the others had been favored and the other disciples left out. This definitely represents humility—a very obvious contrast to the attitude of Judas who betrayed Jesus. This may be why the apostle John at this moment made it crystal clear in his Gospel record that this Judas was “not Judas Iscariot” (14:22).

A Gentle Man

We are also given another clue regarding Judas's personality when Matthew and Mark identified him as “Thaddaeus,” a name which comes from the Aramaic language and means a “mother's breast.” This may allude to his gentle and kind “nurturing” approach to people, particularly “newborn babies” in Christ (1 Peter 2:2). In this sense, Judas Thaddaeus was also as different from his fellow apostle Simon the Zealot as night is from day!

Paul demonstrated this quality in his own life as a man's man when he used a “nursing mother” to illustrate and describe his ministry among the Thessalonian believers when they first received the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. Thus he wrote, speaking of himself as well as his fellow missionaries Silas and Timothy, “As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for [nursing] her little children” (1 Thess. 2:6b-7).

Three Foundation Stones

Though little is written about these three men in the Gospels and the Book of Acts, we can be sure of one thing. They helped form the foundation of the church. Jesus Christ is the “chief cornerstone,” but they were part of that foundation. They were present in the upper room where they had joined all of the apostles in prayer following Christ's ascension (Acts 1:13-14). After Matthias replaced Judas Iscariot, these three men experienced the “tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each one of them” (2:3). They also experienced being filled with the Holy Spirit. Though they were all Galileans (2:7), James, Simon, and Judas were able to share the gospel in one of several foreign languages, which are listed by Luke in the Book of Acts (2:7-11). They became part of that group of men who helped change the course of world history.

A Perspective from Eternity

When John received his revelation from Jesus Christ regarding the past, present, and future (Rev. 1:19), he saw an incredible scene. In the midst of the “new heaven and a new earth,” he “saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven” (21:1-2). It was a spectacular sight since it “shone with the glory of God” (21:11). John then saw what must have overwhelmed him. This glorious city “had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (21:14; emphasis mine).

There can be no mistake as to whose names these were. Among them were three that will shine brightly throughout eternity! Though James, Simon, and Judas are only mentioned primarily by name in the Gospels and the Book of Acts, we'll join a multitude of redeemed people in thanking God for them for ever and ever! God had ordained before the foundation of the world that we'll never forget these men. Like most of all the other apostles, tradition tells us that they literally gave their lives as martyrs in order to build the kingdom of God. However, their names will glow and radiate throughout eternity, reminding believers that God never forgets His faithful servants.

Becoming God's Man Today

Principles to Live By

What can we learn from a study of these three men that will encourage and motivate us to serve Jesus Christ more faithfully? Consider carefully the following principles:

Principle 1. God will not forget what we do to build His kingdom even though few people know who we are.

The author of Hebrews underscored this principle when he wrote that “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them” (Heb. 6:10). The Lord is omniscient and keeps perfect records. Jesus Himself has told us that “even the very hairs” on our heads “are all numbered” (Matt. 10:30). And in this same sermon, Jesus reassured His disciples that those who met His servants' physical needs would not lose their rewards if they gave them even “a cup of cold water” (10:42).

I think of my own mother. Few people beyond my immediate family and those in the community where I grew up would even know her name. She was a farmer's wife and spent long hours serving her family. But I'll never forget one event. I was only four or five years old. A drifter stopped by our farm home and asked for food. Mom's response is indelibly imprinted in my memory. Knowing this man would appreciate what she was about to give him if he did something to earn some food, she put him to work splitting wood. When he finished the task, she presented him with one of the biggest sandwiches I've ever seen! Even as a preschooler, I was impressed. But the Bible teaches us that God was more impressed—He would never forget what she did for this wandering vagabond.

And so it is with millions of Christians who have never preached a sermon, who have never written a book, and who have never appeared on radio or television—and who may only be known by a few people. They have served God faithfully. The Lord will never forget their work even though their own public recognition may be only the fact that their names appear in a local phone book!

Principle 2. God wants to use our unique personalities to do His kingdom work.

As we've seen in this study of the apostles, many of them came from different backgrounds, and each was unique in his own right. Peter was tough-minded, James the son of Zebedee was power hungry, and his brother John was self-centered. Yet these men would become humble servants using their God-created talents to “fish for men.”

Andrew and Philip seemed to be far more willing to serve others even before they understood God's divine call on their lives. And Nathanael was an honest man prior to his encounter with Jesus. The Lord simply built on these men's unique qualities and taught them to make disciples of all nations.

Unlike Nathanael, Matthew was dishonest and a materialist. Yet, after his conversion, God used his skills and abilities to build His kingdom. Thomas was pragmatic and a rationalist who wouldn't believe that Jesus Christ had been raised from the dead. Yet, once he was convinced it was true, he gave his life to spread the gospel.

So it is with the three men we've looked at in this chapter. Even though Simon the Zealot and Judas Thaddaeus were opposites, God used their unique personalities to help change the world.

No matter what our unique design and background, God has a special place for each of us in the body of Jesus Christ. True, He wants to mold all of us into His own image so that we reflect the fruit of the Holy Spirit. But at the same time He wants to use our uniqueness. This is why Paul wrote to the Ephesians: “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Eph. 4:16).

Principle 3. No matter what people call us, what we are in our hearts is what counts with God.

Sometimes a name change is in order. The apostles renamed Joseph and called him Barnabas, meaning “Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4:36). Jesus changed Simon's name to Peter or Cephas to indicate his leadership role among the apostles (John 1:42). Saul's name was changed to Paul—perhaps to help him shed his image as a persecutor of Christians. Levi became Matthew and Judas was called Thaddaeus. It seems all these name changes were made to give these men a new identity.

However, the principle is still true: What we are in our inner being is what counts before God. We must never forget what God said to Samuel when he was sent to anoint David as the future king of Israel: “'The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart'” (1 Sam. 16:7). So it is with our names. God does not evaluate our lives by what people call us but by our desire to serve Him and to walk in His will.

Principle 4. The most important recognition we can ever have is when our names appear in the Book of Life.

When all is said and done and the final chapter of history is written and eternity begins, “many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first” (Matt. 19:30). Furthermore, many people who are honored in this life will not be present in heaven. They will have had their reward on earth and spend eternity separated from Jesus Christ because they did not receive the free gift of salvation that He offered them (Eph. 2:8-9).

What a tragedy that will be! There will be men who have had volumes written about their accomplishments on earth, but they will miss the New Jerusalem. Their names and accomplishments will have been listed among “the most outstanding men in America.” However, their names will be missing from the Book of Life. They were only concerned about “history being good” to them. Their focus was on this life and not eternity.

The important question for you and me is: Am I ready to meet Jesus Christ? In that final day, the most important words we will hear from Jesus' lips will be “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matt. 25:21).

Personalizing These Principles

Use the following prayer to apply these principles in your own life:

My dear heavenly Father, I thank You that You know who I am even though few people recognize my name. I thank You that You measure success, not by popularity, but by the way I use the unique talents and resources at my disposal. And I'm thankful that You accept me no matter what people call me. I simply pray that I will serve you faithfully, remembering that You will reward me based on my faithfulness to You. And most importantly, I'm thankful my name is inscribed in the Book of Life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Set a Goal

What has the Holy Spirit taught you as you have reflected on the principles in this chapter? Set at least one goal for your own life:

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Memorize the Following Scripture

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

HEBREWS 6:IO

Growing Together

The following questions are designed for small group discussion:

1. Why is it sometimes difficult to be faithful when we have very little public recognition for our efforts?

2. What are the dangers and pitfalls when we do have a lot of public recognition?

3. What do you consider your unique talents and abilities that God has given you, and how are you attempting to use these unique qualities?

4. If you could change your name, what would it be and why?

5. What can we pray for you specifically?

Chapter 10

Judas Iscariot: A Covetous Man

Whose Life Ended in Disaster

Jesus Christ Superstar is a high-energy opera written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice and features Christ's three-and-a-half-year ministry with the apostles. Not surprising, the script often distorts the biblical text and the relationships Jesus Christ had with these men as well as some women who were His disciples. More tragically, the story ends with Christ's death as His followers remove His bruised and broken body from the cross. Predictably, there is no hint of a resurrection.

However, Webber and Rice capture a great deal of reality in their portrayal of Judas Iscariot. True to Scripture, Judas is driven by greed, and when he senses his hope of becoming wealthy as a close associate of “King Jesus,” he turns on Christ and betrays Him for thirty pieces of silver. But when Jesus is seized, beaten, and sentenced to death, Judas is overcome with remorse and takes his own life. The scene is powerful and deeply moving as Judas commits suicide.

Ironically, during a presentation of Jesus Christ Superstar in Greece, the actor who portrayed Judas accidentally hung himself during this dreadful scene. There was something terribly foreboding about this tragic event!

A Root of All Kinds of Evil (1 Tim. 6:10)

How many people have you seen—including Christians—who have been sidetracked by greed, particularly a desire to become wealthy?

We shouldn't be surprised when this happens. The Bible warns us against this possibility again and again. Paul “bottom-lined” the problem very succinctly in his first letter to Timothy when he wrote: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Tim. 6:10).

Exhibit F (for Failure)

Sadly, Paul's warning describes Judas Iscariot. Though he had various deficiencies in his character, what stands out boldly is avarice, greed, and covetousness. He not only “wandered from the faith” and “pierced” himself “with many griefs,” but his “love of money” kept him from the faith.

Judas's life story is not very uplifting and encouraging, but his actions are a serious warning to all of us. To ignore him is to refuse to face the realities of life and what can happen to any man who allows a temptation to develop into a sin pattern that controls and dominates every aspect of his thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Iscariot from Kerioth

Judas is called “Iscariot,” which simply identifies where he lived before he followed Jesus. His father's name was “Simon Iscariot” (John 6:71). Evidently they were inhabitants of Kerioth, a city in Southern Judea. Furthermore, the name “Iscariot” is used to distinguish this Judas from a number of other men by the same name. In fact, “Judas son of James” (Luke 6:16) who was also called Thaddaeus (Mark 3:18) was also one of the twelve apostles. John distinguished him from Judas Iscariot by saying he was “not Judas Iscariot” (John 14:22). I'm confident Thaddaeus was grateful for this rather conspicuous clarification. No one would want to take a chance on this kind of mistaken identity.

Other than where Judas and his family lived, we know nothing about him before Jesus called him to be one of the Twelve, except that he had been one of the many disciples who had followed this nomadic teacher before the Lord narrowed His inner circle to twelve men (Matt. 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16). He had heard Jesus teach, had traveled with Him, and had witnessed the miracles the Lord had performed. Think what must have gone through his mind when he heard Jesus say, “'The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matt. 6:22-23). Jesus made these statements when He was teaching that we “cannot serve both God and Money” (6:24). Judas, of course, had already made his choice. Greed became his god!

“This Is a Hard Teaching” (John 6:60)

Can you remember a time in your life when God's Word didn't seem to make sense?

The fact is, Jesus made some statements that are difficult for most of us to understand. For example, Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell everything he owned and to give the proceeds to the poor and then he could be saved (Luke 18:22). This appears to contradict all the New Testament statements that make it crystal clear that we are saved by grace through faith, not by works of any kind (Eph. 2:8-9).

Take another example. Jesus told men who were tempted to commit adultery because of their lust for women to gouge out their eyes. He then stated dramatically: “'It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell'” (Matt. 5:29). This statement taken literally also contradicts the rest of Scripture that never encourages this kind of self-mutilation.

The answer to these seeming contradictions is to look at the whole of Scripture. It's also necessary to understand Jesus' use of hyperbole to get our attention. Furthermore, it's important to see the real point Jesus is making. Oftentimes, people who are confused by His statements didn't stay around long enough to grasp His true meaning—to ask more questions and to hear more information. Just so, when Jesus claimed to be “the bread of life” and told His disciples in no uncertain terms that unless they ate His flesh and drank His blood they would not inherit eternal life, many jumped ship (John 6:35, 48, 53, 66).

The event that triggered this intense and perplexing statement was the awesome miracle Jesus performed when He multiplied the loaves and the fish and fed five thousand men and their families. Predictably, many of these people eagerly followed Jesus, listening to His sermons and lessons. But when they did, He questioned their motives, accusing them of simply wanting Him to meet their earthly needs (6:26). He then challenged them with these powerful words:

“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” (6:27)

Jesus went on to compare Himself with the manna that God miraculously provided for their forefathers centuries before when they wandered in the wilderness. However, Jesus explained that He was the “true bread from heaven” (6:32). Though the Old Testament manna gave the children of Israel physical life from day to day, if they “ate and drank of him,” they would have eternal life.

When they heard these words, Jesus' disciples were terribly confused, disillusioned, and disappointed. They didn't understand that He was challenging them to receive Him as their Messiah and Savior and truly believe He was the Son of God. The day before, the bread and fish Jesus had multiplied became a part of their physical bodies; this refreshed and sustained them. However, if they received the Lord by faith, He too would become a part of their inner beings by His Spirit and they would be sustained eternally (Eph. 3:16-17).

He Knew What Was in a Man (John 2:25)

When was the last time you considered the fact that God knows everything about you?

God knows our innermost thoughts—those that are good and those that are bad. This also means He not only knows what we're thinking in the present but what we will think in the future.

Because Jesus' disciples didn't understand and believe what He was saying, we read that “many… turned back and no longer followed him” (John 6:66)—which didn't surprise the Lord. In fact, “Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him” (6:64). John underscored this point earlier in his Gospel when he wrote that Jesus “knew what was in a man” (2:25). Since Jesus Christ was “the Word [that] became flesh” (1:14), He was also omniscient.

From a human perspective, Jesus must have been terribly saddened and very disappointed when many who had identified themselves as disciples turned their backs and walked away. Jesus then turned to the Twelve and asked them if they wanted to join those who were leaving. Simon Peter answered Jesus' question, speaking on behalf of all of the apostles: “'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God'” (6:68-69).

Distressed by the response of so many who had claimed to be loyal followers, Jesus was certainly encouraged by Peter's straightforward declaration. However, He responded with a sobering warning to all of them—and to one man particularly: “'Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” (6:70). John explained that Jesus “meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him” (6:71).

The Father of Lies

When was the last time you've seen a professing Christian betray the Lord because of the lure of power, prestige, and money?

Betray is a strong word and may not apply to our own temptations and failures as true Christians. However, the term can range in meaning from the way Judas violated Jesus' trust as a “professing disciple” to the way some Christians regularly break their promises to God. The magnetic pull of the “cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does” (1 John 2:16) can be a powerful force in our lives—even though we profess to be disciples of Jesus Christ.

We're not told how the Twelve reacted to Jesus' startling statement that one of them was a devil. Perhaps it “went in one ear and out the other” without registering in their minds. After all, most of us do selective listening, particularly when our heads are whirling with challenging and threatening thoughts. At this moment, all of these men were certainly experiencing an intense internal struggle as they tried to process everything Jesus had just taught them about being “the bread of life.” Their emotions must have also been in turmoil when they watched these “so-called disciples” walk away from Jesus Christ. Most of us tend to feel safe with the majority. These men certainly must have felt the insecurity that always comes when we take a stand against what is popular opinion.

However, one man certainly heard what Jesus said. That man, of course, was Judas. How could he miss this message? He knew he was a deceiver. When many of the other disciples turned and walked away, he was probably elated. The fewer the better in terms of carrying out his own selfish plan.

Judas's unbelief was in reality no different from the unbelief of those who decided to leave. They too were lost and trapped in sin. What was different is that the crowds who left were much more honest than Judas. At least they admitted their lack of faith. They publicly denied that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. Judas, however, continued to live a lie—which may explain why Jesus was so blunt in calling Judas “the devil,” the same word He used later to refer to Satan (John 8:44). Jesus knew that Satan was a “liar and the father of lies"—and Judas was speaking the devil's “native language” (8:44). With his silence, Judas allowed Peter to represent him as a true believer when in reality he saw Jesus as a way to achieve power, prestige, and wealth!

He Was a Thief (John 12:6)

Why do we sometimes inadvertently reveal the sinful thoughts and desires of our hearts?

What we really are in our hearts will eventually surface in our attitudes and actions. Even as Christians, we can only hide sinful motives so long. In the course of time, our deceit and sinful desires are reflected in our actions—even when we think we're covering our true thoughts and feelings.

This certainly happened to Judas. The next event John recorded about this pathetic man reveals his unbelieving heart and his true motives. It happened six days before the Passover in Jerusalem. Though Judas tried to hide what he was thinking, his words betrayed him.

After Jesus miraculously brought Lazarus back to life, the religious leaders actively plotted to kill Jesus (11:53). Too many people were believing He was the Son of God. Consequently, Jesus left Bethany with His disciples and stayed in Ephraim, a small desert village about fifteen miles or so northeast of Jerusalem (11:54). However, as the time for Passover drew near, Jesus once again returned to Bethany.

Predictably, Mary and Martha and their brother Lazarus were excited to see Jesus again. To honor Him, they prepared a special dinner. While He was eating and fellowshiping with His close friends, Mary expressed her adoration for the Lord by pouring a pint of very expensive perfume on Jesus' feet.

As the fragrance filled the house, Judas could remain silent no longer. His greed ignited the evil that already existed in his troubled soul. In his mind's eye, he saw money that he could pocket “going down the drain.” Unable to control his emotions, he tipped his hand with what appeared to be concern for the destitute. No doubt scoffing at Mary's act of love, and perhaps even getting into Jesus' face, he asked the question that was definitely a smoke screen to cover up his own sinful desires: “'Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages'” (12:5). As John later recorded this sad event, he explained Judas's real motives:

He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. (12:7)

We now have a clear picture of what motivated Judas. He saw Jesus as the man who could provide him with a high and lofty position in the kingdom of Israel—a powerful role that would make him prosperous and rich. As we know, selfish desires for status and money often run on the same track.

On the positive side, it's obvious that Lazarus and his sisters were wealthy people. Otherwise, how could they afford to have a single pint of perfume worth a year's wages? Ironically, this family had money—lots of it—but they didn't love it. They were generous people. Conversely, Judas was selfish and stingy while giving the appearance he cared for the poor—which was another hideous lie!

I Tell You the Truth (John 13:21)

Have you ever trusted someone so much you missed some very obvious clues regarding that person's sinful motives?

This is easy to do. All of us find it difficult to believe that a person who claims to be one thing could be the opposite—especially when they have an important position in the Christian community. This definitely happened to the apostles. They missed more than the obvious when it came to Judas's evil intentions.

“The Time Had Come”

The next event that John recorded unmasked Judas's true motives. It happened in a very intimate and solemn setting—at the Passover meal. Jesus knew “the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father” (John 13:1). The agony of the cross lay just ahead.

In his own evil mind, Judas saw what was happening. While the other apostles had not accepted the fact that Jesus was going to die, Judas was more in touch with reality than they were! His source of information was both natural and supernatural. From a human point of view, he knew the religious leaders were plotting His death. It was only a matter of time.

From a supernatural point of view, Judas had formed an alliance with Satan himself. John made this clear when he stated that “the devil had already prompted Judas … to betray Jesus” (13:2). In fact, both Matthew and Mark record that Judas had already approached the religious leaders and had negotiated a deal to betray Jesus (Matt. 26:14-16; Mark 14:10). Evidently, he had concluded that his hopes and dreams for a financial bonanza were about to be dashed on the rocks of reality. Consequently, he decided to get what he could—thirty pieces of silver—and at the same time, he would guarantee his own safety. From his self-centered point of view, it was time to bail out and run for cover. He knew full well he could lose his life by continuing to associate with a man who had become in the minds of the chief priests a hated criminal.

Unconditional Love

One of the reasons the other eleven apostles were deceived by “one of their own” is that Jesus had loved Judas just as He had loved all of them. He had washed this man's feet, humbling Himself before a man who had already accepted a bribe and who was going to “betray him” (John 13:11). But following that awesome act of servanthood, Jesus said for all of them to hear:

“A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you. “ (John 13:10; emphasis mine)

In His human spirit, Jesus was deeply troubled and saddened by what Judas had already done and what he was about to do. In the midst of His pain, He told them clearly, '"I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me'” (13:21).

The rest of the disciples were dumbfounded. They took Jesus' sorrow on themselves and predictably reflected a deep sense of paranoia, each one asking if it could be one of them (Matt. 26:22; Mark 14:19). Jesus responded to their questions by informing them that it would be the one He would give a “piece of bread” after He had “dipped it in the dish” (John 13:26). Ironically, Jesus served Judas first. By doing this, He was honoring Judas—a common practice for recognizing a very special guest!

This act alone probably added to the disciples' inability to believe that Judas was an evil person. But John recorded that the moment Judas accepted the bread, “Satan entered” his heart (13:27). To this point, Judas had been deeply influenced by Satan. But even after Jesus had washed his feet and treated him as an honored guest, Judas took his most devastating step downward into the slimy pit of sin. He accepted the honor Jesus gave him, knowing full well what he was about to do. He opened himself up to one of the most devastating things that can happen to any man. With this terrible act of treachery and hypocrisy, he unlatched the door of his heart and invited Satan in.

The Power of Denial

Even then the other disciples hadn't gotten the message. Jesus' words that the betrayer would be the one to whom He gave the bread didn't register in their minds. How could Jesus honor the man who was going to betray Him? Consequently, when Jesus told Judas to carry out his plans, they concluded that the Lord was “telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor” (13:29). Since he was “in charge of the money,” this seemed to be a logical conclusion. However, they were definitely in denial.

On the other hand, their reactions also reveal that they were naive regarding the way Judas had subtly deceived all of them. But it also demonstrates that Jesus had shown no prejudice toward Judas. Even though He knew about this man and what he was going to do, Jesus still loved him unconditionally just as He had loved them all.

When Judas left the Passover meal, he proceeded to carry out his diabolical plan (John 18:1-9). He led a contingent of Roman soldiers to the olive grove where he knew Jesus had often spent time with them. He had arranged ahead of time to let the soldiers know that the one he greeted with a kiss would be Jesus. (Matt. 26:48-49). What happened next is the most well-known event in all history. Jesus was taken into custody, tried before Pilate, and sentenced to die on a cross—a death reserved for the worst of criminals!

He Went Away and Hanged Himself (Matt. 27:5)

Have you ever watched people disintegrate and ultimately destroy themselves, and you couldn't do anything about it?

As a pastor, I've seen this happen. No matter what I and others have tried to do, some people seem bent on self-destruction. Though they may not commit suicide, they virtually destroy their lives.

We have to turn to Matthew's Gospel to discover what ultimately happened to Judas (Matt. 27:1-5). He realized what he had really done. When he saw Christ condemned to death, he “was seized with remorse” (27:3). Attempting to relieve his own guilt, perhaps even to save Jesus, he confessed to the religious leaders that he had sinned. He “returned the thirty pieces of silver” and admitted that he had “betrayed innocent blood” (27:3-4).

At that point, Judas paid the ultimate price. They rejected his offer and put the responsibility for what he had done squarely on his shoulders. Unable to cope, Judas tossed the money into the temple and left the scene. We then read some of the most tragic words recorded in Scripture: “He went away and hanged himself” (27:5).

This raises a very important question. Was Judas responsible for his actions? We can only answer yes. Judas was bright, intelligent, and he definitely had a conscience! He deliberately committed an act of sin—and ultimately admitted it.

Even then Jesus would have forgiven Judas, for He died for the sins of the world. Just as He forgave the thief who hung next to Him on the cross, so His blood could have covered Judas's sin as well.

Sadly, Judas chose to reject God's offer of forgiveness to all people—no matter what our sins. In his own heart, he seems to have taken a step beyond the point of no return. Ironically, Satan deceived Judas into believing there was no hope. He died at his own hands and entered a Christless eternity without crying out for mercy.

Becoming God's Man Today

Principles to Live By

Though Judas was never a true disciple of Jesus Christ, as Christians we can still learn dynamic lessons from his mistakes that will help us keep in step with the Holy Spirit.

Principle 1. Greed is a normal temptation that we all face, and we must be on guard against it.

When Paul wrote to Timothy, he was addressing the tendency for all Christians to be sidetracked by a love for money, which he said is a “root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim. 6:10). Simply knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior does not guarantee that we will not yield to the temptation to be greedy. Elaborating on this reality, Paul warned that “people who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction” (6:9).

Don't misunderstand. It's not sinful to be wealthy—or to even take advantage of the opportunities in our culture to make lots of money. However, with that opportunity goes a great deal of responsibility—and risk. Our natural inclination will be to accumulate wealth in order to please ourselves rather than God. This is why Jesus taught us to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,” realizing that when we do, God will give us what we need to care for our own needs (Matt. 6:33). Unless we keep this priority in clear focus, we are—even as Christians— opening ourselves to Satanic deception. To avoid this possibility, we must constantly remind ourselves that “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim. 6:6). Enduring satisfaction in this life can only be found in doing the will of God. Furthermore, nothing deflects Satan's darts faster than when we use our excess material possessions to build the kingdom of God. Generosity is definitely a part of the “breastplate of righteousness” (Eph. 6:14).

When it comes to non-Christians, wealth can be a definite barrier in keeping people from receiving God's gift of eternal life. When Jesus challenged the rich young ruler to sell all that he had and to give it to the poor—obviously testing the sincerity of his question when he asked Jesus how to “inherit eternal life” (Luke 18:18)—this very wealthy man turned and walked away (Matt. 19:22). He was not even willing to discuss the issue further. Jesus then made His point. Turning to His disciples, He said, “'I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven'” (19:23).

Perplexed, Jesus' followers—the majority who had not sold everything and given the proceeds to the poor—asked how anyone could be saved. Jesus' response gives hope when He said, “'With God all things are possible'” (19:26).

New Testament history verifies Jesus' statement. Many rich people put their faith in Jesus Christ. When the church was launched in Jerusalem, we meet men like Barnabas, a wealthy Christian businessman who sold one of the fields he owned and gave the proceeds to the apostles so they could buy food for needy Christians (Acts 4:36-37). Later, we meet the “Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians” (Acts 8:27). He, too, put his faith in Jesus Christ, and we can assume that he became a very generous Christian once he returned to his country.

As the gospel continued to spread, we also meet a Gentile named Cornelius who lived in Caesarea. Being a centurion, he was a very wealthy man. He, too, received the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Since he was a God-fearing man before he became a Christian and “gave generously to those in need” (10:2), we can only imagine the extent of his generosity once he became a Christian.

All of these men, and many others, became committed Christians who then used their wealth to build the kingdom of God. They did not allow their greed to keep them from putting their faith in Jesus Christ. Furthermore, they did not allow their wealth to control their lives as Christians. As Jesus said, with God all things are possible. In fact, God wants to use wealthy people in unique ways to do His work in the world. Without them, many worthy projects could never be realized.

Principle 2. When it comes to material possessions, Satan understands our vulnerability more than we do, and he targets us in this area of our lives.

Tragically, this principle is illustrated in Judas's life. Furthermore, Satan even tempted Jesus in this way when he offered Him “all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor” if He would only “bow down and worship” him (Matt. 4:8-9). If the enemy of our soul attacked the Son of God in the area of greed, it shouldn't surprise us that he will attack us as well.

Unfortunately, our Western culture is an environment that allows Satan to be very active. Our affluence has impacted not only those who don't claim to be religious, but born-again Christians as well. Never before have believers accumulated so much and never before have we given so little—proportionately speaking. The more we make, the more we should increase the percentage we give (1 Cor. 16:1-2). Unfortunately, the opposite is true among a majority of Christians (see chapter 7 on Matthew).

Thankfully, we do not have to yield to this temptation. We can be victorious, just as Jesus was victorious. But to do so, we must “put on the full armor of God.” When we do, we will be able to “stand against the devil's schemes” (Eph. 6:11).

Principle 3. Because God is patient with us when we violate His will, we must not interpret His unconditional love as approval of our sinful lifestyle.

Jesus loved Judas until the very end—so much so that even the other apostles did not know that he was a thief. However, eventually Judas paid a horrible price for his sin. “Do not be deceived,” Paul wrote to the Galatians. “God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows” (Gal. 6:7). This statement certainly applies to both Christians and non-Christians.

As true disciples, however, we have a reassuring promise. If we persist in sin, God will deal with us in order to draw us back into His will. He is our loving heavenly Father; and just as our earthly fathers who love us discipline us, so He will discipline us as well (Heb. 12:7-11).

However, again we must be cautious. God's “rope of mercy” is long. Sometimes He allows us to persist for a lengthy period of time in our sin before He “tightens the noose.” But one thing is sure. If we are indeed His children and not illegitimate, He will allow us to suffer the consequences of our sin in order to bring us back into His will.

Personally, I often think of Jacob who persisted in his sin. Eventually, however, God wrestled with him and put his hip out of joint, causing him to limp the rest of his life. From that point forward, Jacob sought to do God's will more perfectly. He buried the false gods in his household and returned to Bethel where he first met God in a personal way.[1]

There is a great lesson here. As a Christian, I do not need to wait until God puts my “hip out of joint” in order to confess my sins and seek His forgiveness. I can make that choice and experience the freedom in Christ without indulging my sinful nature (Gal. 5:1, 13; Rom. 6:1-2). Furthermore, I can make this choice because of the Holy Spirit who dwells within me and the power that is available. With His help, I can “live by the Spirit” so that I “will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Gal. 5:16).

There's one further lesson we can learn from the mistakes Judas made. We must never allow Satan to convince us it's too late to seek forgiveness. If he tries, it's a lie. The apostle John made his point clear when he wrote: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Personalizing These Principles

The following questions are designed to help you overcome the temptation to become greedy and materialistic:

1. Do you give God the firstfruits of all your income? More specifically, are you giving to God's work regularly and proportionately? In even more concrete terms, do you give at least a tenth of your income to the Lord? Personally, I believe this is a goal all Christians should set for their lives, and for most of us in our culture, this should be the minimum amount we give.

2. Are you using your excess money to help build the kingdom of God?

Admittedly, it is difficult to define excess. But the following questions will help:

- What is excessive in terms of the kinds of houses we live in, the kinds of cars we drive, or the clothes we wear?

- What is ample in terms of planning for future needs, including retirement?

- How much insurance should we have?

- How much should we plan to leave our children or even our grandchildren?

In some cultures, these questions are answered automatically. People live and die with just enough to meet their needs. However, in affluent areas of the world, sincere Christians face these issues every day.

There are no pat answers. These questions must be addressed at a personal level by every Christian or Christian couple. Each one of us should be able to develop creative ways to use the excess material possessions God has given us (beyond our tithe to our local churches) in order to further the kingdom of God without neglecting human responsibility. Most of all, we will find joy in this process because we are storing up for ourselves “treasures in heaven.”

3. Have you put on the whole armor of God so that you can defeat Satan when he tempts you to love money? More specifically,

- Have you put on the “belt of truth"?

- Do you have on the “breastplate of righteousness"?

- Are “your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace"?

- Have you taken up “the shield of faith"?

- Have you put on “the helmet of salvation"?

- Do you use “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God"?

- Do you “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests"? (Eph. 6:11-17).

4. Are you taking advantage of God's grace by continuing to live a materialistic lifestyle, assuming that since you're making a lot of money and keeping it for yourself that He is pleased with your behavior?

Set a Goal

As you reflect on what happened to Judas and what the Bible says about greediness and materialism, what one particular goal do you need to set for your life? Ask the Holy Spirit to pinpoint your area of need:

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Memorize the Following Scripture

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1 TIMOTHY 6:IO

Growing Together

The following questions are designed for small group discussion:

1. Without being judgmental, can you share an example where a man has allowed greed to destroy his life and perhaps his whole family?

2. How have you dealt with the temptation to love money?

3. Has there ever been a time in your life when you interpreted God's unconditional love as an indication that He has approved of your materialistic lifestyle? What caused you to stop taking advantage of God's grace?

4. Have you ever been tempted to believe that you have lived so long out of the will of God that He will not forgive you?

5. What can we pray for you specifically?

Chapter 11

Matthias: A Private Man Who

Suddenly Became Prominent

When Billy Graham was a young, unknown evangelist, he was conducting a tent campaign in Los Angeles. Several well-known Hollywood celebrities professed to come to know Christ under his ministry. Randolph Hearst, a newspaper magnate, became interested and sent some of his reporters to investigate Billy's ministry. As a result, Hearst gave the order to “puff Graham.”

Several weeks later, this young, unknown minister of the gospel was on the cover of major news magazines and was suddenly known around the world. In this case, God used a secular businessman to thrust one of his faithful servants into a prominent position he never thought possible!

In some respects, this is what happened to Matthias. However, his promoter was none other than Jesus Christ. A man who is never mentioned by name in the Gospels and only in one event in the Book of Acts suddenly became one of the Twelve Apostles and helped unveil a great mystery that “was not made known to men in other generations” (Eph. 3:5). That mystery embodied the church—the body of Jesus Christ (3:10)—a movement that has changed the course of human history.

The Mystery Revealed

Have you paused recently to think about the great privilege we have as Christians to be members of the body of Jesus Christ?

There is an even more basic and penetrating question. How often do you stop and reflect on what it means to have been chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world to be a part of God's eternal plan? This is an incredible reality— one that Paul spelled out clearly in his letter to the Ephesians (1:3-14). It was also in this letter that he explained the great mystery of the church that was “revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets” (Eph. 3:1-13). Matthias, of course, was one of those men. However, we don't meet him in the biblical record until Christ had ascended back to heaven.

An Electrifying Experience (Acts 1:9-11)

Surprises can be exciting—a birthday party, an anniversary banquet, an unexpected gift. But no moment was more overwhelming than when Jesus spent His final moments with the apostles on the Mount of Olives. They were still confused and posed a question. “Lord,” they asked, “are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). Jesus responded by telling them that it was not part of His plan to reveal “times or dates” that God has “set by his own authority.” But He assured them that they “would receive power when the Holy Spirit” came upon them and they would be His “witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (1:8).

This had to be one of the most electrifying experiences these men had ever had. Imagine what they thought and how they felt following this declaration when they saw Jesus gradually ascending into the heavens and disappearing into the clouds (1:9). What must have been even more overwhelming was to suddenly see two men dressed in white standing beside them, reassuring them that Jesus Christ would return (1:10).

Following Jesus' ascension, the eleven apostles obeyed the Lord's instructions to stay in Jerusalem and to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit (1:4). We're not told how long they lingered on the Mount of Olives looking up, trying to catch a glimpse of the One they now knew for certain was the Son of God. We do know, however, that the “two men dressed in white” suddenly appeared and “stood beside them” with some very reassuring words:

“Men of Galilee, “ they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)

A Dynamic Prayer Meeting (Acts 1:12-14)

When the apostles arrived back in Jerusalem, they went to an upper room to pray. It must have been large and spacious since all of them were staying in the same place. Furthermore, Peter later addressed a group that numbered at least 120 people—which seems to have been in the same quarters.

Normally, an “upper room” in a large city like Jerusalem was a choice place to meet. These rooms were above the noisy and busy streets and were relatively private. Furthermore, the upper room was often the “living room.”

Some believe this particular room may have been in Mary's home, the mother of Mark. Several years later, after an angel of the Lord had miraculously released Peter and John from prison, they went to a large home where “many people had gathered and were praying” (Acts 12:12). Perhaps this was the very same upper room described in the first chapter of the Book of Acts.

The primary purpose for this gathering was also prayer—a relatively new experience for the apostles. Though they had seen and heard Jesus pray, there is little evidence they often engaged in this practice. However, when Jesus returned to heaven, Luke stated that “they all joined together constantly in prayer” (1:14).

A Sobering Message (Acts 1:15-22)

We're not told how many days went by before Peter “stood up” and addressed the 120 believers who had gathered together, informing them they needed to replace Judas Iscariot. Quoting two Old Testament psalms that refer to the judgment that falls on evil men (1:20), Peter reminded them that Judas was one of their “number"—namely, one of the twelve apostles—a man who had actually “shared” in their ministry (1:17).

Judas's absence must have been an overwhelming reality at this moment in the lives of the eleven apostles. To think that he had actually “served as guide for those who arrested Jesus” (1:16) must have boggled their minds. They knew how immature they all had been—but to actually betray Jesus? They must have had a thousand discussions as they exchanged questions and made comments regarding how they could have been so deceived by this man over a period of three and a half years. And to think, they trusted him with the money bag! (John 12:6). “How naive could we be?” they must have asked themselves.

But Peter knew the time had come to replace Judas. Perhaps the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus had already “breathed on them” even prior to the “Pentecostal experience” (John 20:22), had reminded Peter of Jesus' words when He walked among them:

“I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. “ (Matt. 19:28; Luke 22:30; John 14:26; emphasis mine)

The number “twelve” was important in Israel's history as well as in prophecy. It's not surprising that Peter would have concluded that the “renewal of all things” was at hand and that Jesus would return as the “two men dressed in white” said He would in order to set up His earthly kingdom. Consequently, Peter must have concluded they needed twelve apostles to sit on the “twelve thrones.”

A Very Qualified Man (Acts 1:21—22)

Why is it so important to choose highly qualified men to serve as leaders in the church?

A casual evaluation regarding what we know about Matthias might lead to the conclusion that we know very little about this man's qualifications to serve as an apostle. However, Peter made it clear that the one chosen to replace Judas had to have known Jesus personally from the time He was baptized by John until the moment He ascended back to heaven (1:21).

In Bethany beyond the Jordan

Reflect for a moment what this requirement meant. The one who replaced Judas had to have been present when John baptized Jesus and when the Holy Spirit had come down from heaven, descending on Him “like a dove.” He would have heard the voice from heaven saying, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:10-11).

This also means that Matthias had heard Jesus teach even before most of the other apostles. As far as we know, only Peter, Andrew, Philip, and Nathanael had met Jesus while He was baptizing “at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan” (John 1:28-51). The rest of the apostles—all Galileans—seemingly hadn't met the Lord until He had returned to Galilee after John the Baptist had been put in prison (Matt. 4:12). It was then Jesus issued a call to Peter and Andrew to leave their fishing business and become His disciples. Later He issued the same call to James and John, the sons of Zebedee (Matt. 4:18-22).

A Devoted Disciple

Matthias had been a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ for three and a half years. He traveled with Jesus and no doubt saw Him change the water to wine in Cana (John 2:1-11). Consequently, he would have been in the group of disciples who had “put their faith” in Jesus Christ because of this miracle (2:11).

Matthias had seen Jesus work miracle after miracle, from Galilee to Judea. He would have eaten some of the loaves and fish that Jesus multiplied on the other side of Jordan when he fed five thousand men besides women and children. Who can imagine what went through his mind when he saw the apostles gather up “twelve baskets” of barley loaves that were left over after Jesus had multiplied a little boy's lunch? (John 6:1-15).

Following this incredible demonstration of Christ's power, Matthias would have heard Jesus' shocking statement “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (6:53). However, when many of Jesus' disciples had turned and walked away because they couldn't understand what Jesus was talking about, this man didn't! Matthias had stayed and followed Jesus (6:66). He had wanted to understand what Jesus really meant.

Matthias also had seen the intense hostility toward Jesus when He had called Himself God. He had heard Jesus say, “I tell you the truth … before Abraham was born, I am!” (8:58). Though this was a difficult claim to grasp, he had remained loyal to Jesus. His heart must have been gripped with fear when he saw the religious leaders pick up stones to kill his Master.

Matthias also had seen Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead and saw many of his fellow Jews “put their faith in him” (11:45). But he also had seen how threatened “the chief priests and the Pharisees” were when so many people believed in Christ—so much so that they “called a meeting of the Sanhedrin” and developed a plot to take Jesus' life (11:45-47, 53).

On the Outside … but Looking In

When the hostility continued to intensify and Jesus withdrew with the twelve apostles, Matthias must have remained close by. Perhaps he waited patiently in the street just outside the building in which Jesus met with His twelve men for the Passover meal and saw Judas descend the stairs from that upper room and disappear into the darkness. It's also conceivable that he joined them as they later descended into the street and headed toward the Kidrin Valley. If so, he heard Jesus teach about the vine and the branches, predicting that Judas was not a true branch and would be “thrown into the fire and burned” (15:6).

This man was yet to witness the most dramatic event of all. He must have been in the midst of “the whole crowd of disciples” who welcomed Jesus as He rode toward Jerusalem on a colt. He was probably among those who were joyfully praising God with “loud voices for all the miracles they had seen” saying, “'Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!' 'Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!'” (Luke 19:37-38).

However, Matthias must have been stunned when he saw some of these same people several days later cry out “with loud shouts,” demanding that Jesus Christ be crucified (23:23). He must have been terribly overwhelmed with such fickleness and inconsistency. Imagine his disillusionment as he stood among the people who witnessed the crucifixion. But what must have bewildered him the most was to see the twelve men he had admired and trusted forsake Jesus and run for their lives. And imagine his perplexity when he discovered that one of these twelve men—Judas Iscariot—actually betrayed the Lord for thirty pieces of silver. Had he known at this moment that he would be the one who would replace this deceiver, Matthias would have been paralyzed with fear!

The Resurrection and the Ascension

We're not told specifically how and when Matthias witnessed Christ's resurrection presence. However, we can be quite sure that he was among the “five hundred” brothers who all saw Jesus Christ at the same time (1 Cor. 15:6) The fact is that Paul states “that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve” (15:5). Was Paul using this number symbolically, or was he actually including Matthias in this number? If Paul was using the number in a literal sense, he was acknowledging Matthias as one of the Twelve Apostles and the Holy Spirit simply inspired him to identify him in this way. Whatever the facts, Matthias certainly saw Jesus in this glorious manifestation.

Finally, this man must have also been present when Jesus ascended back to heaven (Acts 1:22). Though Luke focused on the apostles in the opening paragraph in the Book of Acts, there must have been a larger group who followed Jesus to the Mount of Olives and witnessed the ascension. Included in this group must have been a number of women who had ministered to Jesus, including His mother, Mary, as well as his brothers (1:14). One thing for sure, he was among the “hundred and twenty” believers who heard Peter speak that day:

“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus—he was one of our number and shared in this ministry … therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection. “ (Acts 1:16-17, 21-22)

A Mystical Method (Acts 1:23-26)

Though God can use any method He wishes to reveal His will, why is it important to avoid trying to duplicate specific methods recorded in the Bible?

Some Christians have attempted to duplicate events and methods in the opening chapters of the Book of Acts, not realizing that this can lead to some very serious mistakes. One such method is “drawing lots” to determine God's will. As we'll see, the apostles used this method with God's blessing to choose Matthias, but as far as we know, God never again approved this method for selecting leaders or determining His will in any other area of our lives.

Following Peter's message, the apostles proposed two men who measured up to the criteria outlined by Peter. One was “Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus).” He too had witnessed all these things about Jesus. The second man proposed was “Matthias"—the man the Holy Spirit actually chose (Acts 1:23).

To decide between these two men, the apostles “cast lots"—but only after they had prayed for guidance. We're not told who led this prayer, but since Peter was the primary leader of the apostles, he no doubt voiced the words recorded by Luke:

“Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry.” (1:24-25a)

Regarding the procedure used (casting lots), we're not told specifically how this was done—even in the various Old Testament events where this method was used (Lev. 16:7-10; Num. 26:55ff; Josh. 14:2; 18:8; 19:1ff; 1 Sam. 10:21-22; 1 Chron. 24:5, and others). But when “they cast lots … the lot fell to Matthias,” and he replaced Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:26). As stated earlier, this method was never mentioned again in the biblical record. Rather, to determine God's will, Christian leaders relied on prayer, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and their own wisdom that was based on the qualifications for leadership outlined in the Word of God (Acts 6:3-5; 11:22-26; 13:1-3; 15:22-23; 15:36-41; 16:1-3; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9).

Note something very important in the scriptural record. Luke began his historical account in the Book of Acts by stating that Jesus Christ “had chosen” the original Twelve Apostles (1:2). In the event we've just looked at, those who prayed stated very clearly “Show us which of these two you have chosen” (1:24; emphasis mine). It is clear God had already selected Matthias. The apostles simply used this mystical method to determine what God had decided before the foundation of the world.

Becoming God's Man Today

Principles to Live By

Though Matthias is identified by name in only one passage of Scripture, we can learn at least two important lessons from this event.

Principle 1. God is an omniscient, sovereign Person who makes choices and uses methods and means that only He understands.

The Lord used newspaper magnate Randolph Hearst to “puff Graham.” In other words, He used a secularist and the world's system to launch a young evangelist into a ministry that has reached more people with the gospel message than anyone else in the twentieth century. No one could have orchestrated what happened except God Himself.

When the Lord chose Matthias to replace Judas, He blessed a method that was even used among the pagans. For example, Haman used this method to determine when to destroy the Jews when they were in bondage under King Xerxes (Esther 3:7). The Roman soldiers cast lots for Jesus' garments after He had been crucified (Matt. 27:35). But when the apostles used this method, they combined it with prayer, and God honored this approach and selected Matthias—the man He had already chosen before time began.

Some Cautions

This does not mean we should be careless in the methods we use to do God's work. However, we must never lock God into narrow patterns. How often I've heard Christians criticize other Christians for using the world's methods! True, I may have the same concerns if the method distorts the Word of God and becomes a distraction rather than a means to a divine end. But we must not limit God. He can use anyone and anything to achieve His purposes in this world.

Neither does this mean that “the end justifies the means.” Some methods are totally out of harmony with God's will. We can never justify sinful actions to achieve noble purposes. But even so, let's be careful! Remember that God honored the midwives who lied to the Egyptian taskmasters to save the newborn baby boys in Egypt (Exod. 1:17-21). The Lord also protected Rahab the harlot when she lied to the king of Jericho and saved the two men whom Joshua had sent to spy out the city (Josh. 2:4-5).

Does this mean God approves of lying when our motives are right? Not at all! This can be a complete rationalization and a violation of His will. But it does mean there are times when God achieves His purposes in unusual ways—simply because He is a sovereign God! He always knew that Judas would betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver and that he would end up in a Christless eternity. Yet He chose him to be one of the apostles. And He also knew that Matthias would replace Judas and had chosen him for this position before He ever created the world. Yet He chose to use human beings to whom He has given a free will in order that they can carry out His purposes in this world (Rom. 9:22-24). Only God understands these divine mysteries. Only He can make these decisions, yet be fair and just. Only He can operate in the world of paradox and antinomies yet be consistent.

Principle 2. Though God is omniscient and sovereign and makes eternal choices, He has designed that leaders be chosen on the basis of Christian character.

This was certainly true of Matthias. In fact, when God chose him to replace Judas, it illustrates a unique transitional moment. He was highly qualified in terms of character. But when Jesus chose the original Twelve, He worked with what He had. With a few exceptions, these men lacked character, and Jesus spent over three years “discipling them” and preparing them to carry out the Great Commission. Peter, who began as a tough-minded businessman, became one of God's greatest servants—a major “rock” or “stone” in the foundation. James was power-hungry but became the first Christian martyr. John was terribly self-centered and was transformed into the great apostle of love. Philip stopped allowing his pragmatic nature to interfere with his faith. Matthew turned from his materialism to seek God's kingdom first. Thomas became a transformed pessimist and operated as an eternal optimist. Simon left the Jewish Zealots and became a “zealot” for Jesus Christ.

A Man of Character

When the apostles chose Matthias, this man had already demonstrated unusual faithfulness to Jesus Christ all during those three and a half years, from John's baptism until the ascension. When other disciples turned away from the Lord because they interpreted His teaching as too difficult, Matthias stayed. With Peter, he must have been saying in his heart, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). Furthermore, he followed through on his commitment to Jesus Christ and was among the 120 who gathered in the upper room waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Earlier I mentioned Matthias's appointment was transitional. From this point forward, leaders were chosen because of their character. For example, the seven men designated to care for the Grecian widows were chosen by their fellow Christians first and then appointed by the apostles. The basis for this choice was that they were “full of the Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3). Later in the same passage, we read “they chose Stephen, a man full of faith” (6:5). Several years later when Barnabas was chosen by the apostles and the elders in the church in Jerusalem to go to Antioch to help establish the first Gentile church, we read that “he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith” (11:24).

Qualities That Reflect Character

Much later, after churches had been planted at Ephesus and Crete, Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus and outlined the character qualities that should be used to select and appoint spiritual leaders in the church (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). Elders were to be

- Above reproach (having a good reputation)

- A husband of one wife (maintaining moral purity)

- Temperate (exemplifying balance in words and actions)

- Prudent (being wise and humble)

- Respectable (serving as a good role model)

- Hospitable (demonstrating unselfishness and generosity)

- Able to teach (communicating sensitively in a nonthreatening and nondefensive manner)

- Not given to wine (not being addicted to chemical substances)

- Not self-willed (not being a self-centered and controlling personality)

- Not quick tempered (avoiding anger that becomes sinful)

- Not pugnacious (not abusive)

- Not contentious (not argumentative and divisive)

- Gentle (a sensitive, loving, and kind person)

- Free from the love of money (generous and nonmaterialistic)

- One who manages his own household well (a good husband and father)

- Having good reputation with those outside the church (a good testimony to unbelievers)

- One who loves what is good (pursuing godly activities)

- Just (wise, discerning, unprejudiced, and fair)

- Devout (holy and righteous)

- Not a new convert (not a new Christian)

Deacons—those chosen to assist the elders—were to be

- Men worthy of respect (having a good reputation)

- Sincere (honest and trustworthy)

- Not pursuing dishonest gain (honest in business)

- Possessing a clear conscience (committed to the values of Scripture)

- First tested (to engage in a trial period in leadership to make sure they are really qualified) [1]

Once Jesus Christ laid the foundation of the church by choosing and discipling the apostles, He then replaced Judas with a man who had passed the character test. From that point forward, leaders were chosen based on the character qualities they had developed after they had become Christians. God delegated to men of character the responsibility to discover and develop other godly men (Eph. 4:11-12; 2 Tim. 2:2).

Personalizing These Principles

With God's help, evaluate your perspectives on God's sovereign actions and our human responsibilities.

God's Sovereign Actions

Some Christians rely so much on God's divine choices that they neglect their responsibilities to use wisdom, to be diligent, and to make good decisions. When this happens, God's work does not get accomplished as He intended.

- To what extent are your church leaders practicing Paul's exhortation to Timothy: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Tim. 2:2)?

- To what extent are your church leaders selecting other leaders based on the character traits outlined by Paul in his pastoral letters to Timothy and Titus? To answer this question, review once again the character qualities outlined on pp. 193-194.

Human Responsibility

Some Christians rely too much on their human ingenuity to solve problems and to achieve goals. When they do, they neglect faith, prayer, and a sensitivity to God's direction through the power of the Holy Spirit.

- To what extent do the leaders in your church do God's work by relying on the supernatural elements in Paul's prayer for the Ephesians?

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. (Eph. 3:14—17a)

- To what extent can you identify with Paul's confession in his letter to the Philippians?

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Phil. 4:13)

Set a Goal

With the Holy Spirit's help, evaluate your modus operandi in the light of the principles and questions outlined in this chapter. Are you maintaining a proper balance between God's sovereign plans and actions and your human responsibility to carry out those divine plans? Based on your observations, set at least one goal:

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Memorize the Following Scripture

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever! Amen.

EPHESIANS 3:20-21

Growing Together

1. Why do we go to extremes when it comes to trusting God to do it all and trying to do it all by ourselves?

2. When we overemphasize God's sovereignty, what are the results?

3. When we overemphasize human responsibility, what are the results?

4. When it comes to the qualities of maturity outlined by Paul in his letters to Timothy and Titus (see pp. 193-194), to what extent are we personally responsible to develop these qualities? Note: These qualities should be goals for all Christians, not just those desiring to be spiritual leaders in the church. Paul simply outlined a “maturity profile” in these passages and stated that spiritual leaders, of all people, must measure up to this criteria.

5. What can we pray for you personally?

Chapter 12

Paul: A Murderer Who

Became a Missionary

Chuck Colson, former assistant to Richard Nixon, quickly became known as a “hatchet man"—one who did the “president's dirty work.” In fact, an unnamed author of an article in the Wall Street Journal stated that “Colson would walk over his own grandmother if he had to.” Someone else accused him of being “tough, wily, nasty, and tenaciously loyal to Richard Nixon.”[1]

But then came another headline a couple of years later in the midst of the Watergate scandal: “Colson makes decision for Christ.” Most everyone in Washington was startled—and suspicious. Could this be? Was it a gimmick, a personal ploy to seek leniency for Colson's involvement in Watergate? Even the Christian community was skeptical! But Charles Colson's conversion was real. He had become a born-again believer— and his life was dramatically changed.

The Worst of Sinners

The fact that both the secular world and the Christian community had difficulty accepting Chuck Colson's conversion as authentic is not the first time this has happened in church history. The most notable example involved one of the greatest missionaries of all time—the apostle Paul. Before he put his faith in Christ, he was known as a tough-minded, no-nonsense, self-righteous Pharisee. But when he professed to be a Christian and eventually returned to Jerusalem, even three years later, the disciples were still afraid of him. No one believed he was for real. In other words, they thought he was feigning his conversion so that he could get on the “inside” and continue to destroy the church.

Paul's own testimony in his first letter to Timothy graphically describes his attitudes and actions both before and after his born-again experience:

Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. (1 Tim. 1:13—16)

Paul never forgot the depth and miracle of God's mercy and grace in his life. It impacted and motivated him until the day he died.

Murderous Threats (Acts 9:1)

Have you ever encountered people who hated your witness for Christ so intensely that they wanted to kill you?

Thankfully, I have never faced this kind of persecution for my faith—and I trust I never will. However, I have met someone who has: Kefa Sempangi—a man who founded and pastored the fourteen-thousand-member Redeemed Church in Uganda when Idi Amin held control of this country as a ruthless dictator. Kefa and his family escaped death by the narrowest of margins and fled to America where I had the privilege of meeting him.

From the very beginning of Amin's reign of terror, his primary target was the Christian church. Here's Kefa's graphic account:

All of his victims suffered unspeakably. They were tortured and humiliated in front of families and friends. They were dismembered, decapitated, made to eat their own flesh. Their bodies were fed to crocodiles or left unburied in streets and forests. Perhaps worst of all, an entire generation of Uganda children was growing up having nothing but suffering, horror and terror.[2]

A Young Man Named Saul (Acts 7:58)

Ironically, Paul (whose original name was Saul) was a Jewish leader, not a pagan dictator. Yet, when we first meet him, he was approving Stephen's death! The church was approximately five years old and had expanded greatly. Thousands of Jews had put their faith in Jesus Christ as the true Messiah.

Stephen was one of the men who had been appointed to care for the Grecian widows who had been neglected because of the incredible growth of the church (Acts 6:5). However, he also became a flaming evangelist who openly and boldly proclaimed the gospel alongside the Twelve Apostles. His message was so threatening in the Jewish community that a group of men conspired against him and “secretly persuaded some men to say” that he was speaking “words of blasphemy against Moses and against God” (Acts 6:11).

Stephen was taken into custody to appear before the highest tribunal in Jerusalem, seventy men who formed the Sanhedrin. Given the opportunity to speak, he delivered a powerful message based on Old Testament history. Pointing out that Israel's leaders had consistently rejected the prophets of old, he accused them of now rejecting and killing the One these prophets foretold would come as the promised Messiah.

At this point, those whom Stephen had just called “stiffnecked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears” (7:51) responded with intense hatred. Luke vividly described their angry reactions:

At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. (Acts 7:57—58)

A Great Persecution (Acts 8:1)

It's clear that the man we now know as the apostle Paul, the author of thirteen New Testament letters, orchestrated and supervised this horrible event (7:58b; 8:1). But this was just the beginning. Paul next organized a concerted effort to literally “destroy the church.” He made his way “from house to house” and mercilessly “dragged off men and women and put them in prison” (8:3).

Paul's efforts went from bad to worse. He continued his rampage, “breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples” (9:1). Obsessed with both his success and what he believed was God's will—a lethal combination—Paul approached the high priest in Jerusalem and asked for official permission to go all the way to Damascus and take the followers of Christ into custody and bring them back to Jerusalem as prisoners (9:2).

Right About-Face (Acts 9:3-19)

Have you ever thought you were “dead right” and suddenly discovered you were “dead wrong"?

What makes Paul's conversion so ironic is that he strongly believed he was helping God by persecuting Christians. But Paul was in for the shock and surprise of his life!

“Why Do You Persecute Me?” (9:4)

In love, mercy, and grace that impacted Paul's life forever, Jesus Christ intervened and stopped him in his tracks. As he approached Damascus, the Lord appeared in a bright light and spoke to him directly from heaven, saying: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (9:4). The men with Paul heard the voice but saw nothing—except their leader lying prostrate on the ground, stone-blind.

During what must have seemed a long and incredible moment, Jesus Christ identified Himself to Paul and gave him specific instructions to stand up and make his way into Damascus. Still unable to see, his companions escorted him into the city to a house on Straight Street. There he met Ananias, a man the Lord had instructed ahead of time to meet Paul. Though fearful because of Paul's notorious reputation, Ananias obeyed. Reassured that this persecutor of Christians would become God's chosen vessel to carry the gospel in a special way to the Gentiles, Ananias laid his hands on Paul. Immediately, Paul could see again and he was filled with the Holy Spirit.

To demonstrate his new relationship with the one he had been persecuting, Paul obeyed the command Jesus gave in the Great Commission. Now that he had become one of Christ's disciples, he was baptized (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 9:18). With this public act, he bore witness to everyone that he had embraced the teachings of Jesus Christ, recognizing Him as the promised Messiah.

“Jesus Is the Son of God (9:20)”

The changes in Paul's life following his conversion were dramatic. He was just as zealous for Christ as he had been against Christ. He immediately “began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God” (9:20). Suddenly his vast knowledge of the Old Testament and all the prophesies regarding the coming Messiah took on new meaning. Just as what appeared to be “scales” fell from his “physical eyes” when Ananias prayed for him, so the “scales” were removed from his “spiritual eyes.”

Ironically, but predictably, Paul quickly encountered the same persecution he had directed at Christians. He was now one of them. His fellow Jews, feeling terribly betrayed, “conspired to kill him” (9:23). Although Paul would eventually become a martyr, just as Stephen had, this was not Paul's time. God had unique plans for this “murderer turned missionary” and used his fellow believers in Damascus to help him escape.

They Were All Afraid of Him (9:26)

After leaving Damascus, Paul spent at least three years in Arabia and then returned (Gal. 1:17-18).[3] He had grown “powerful” in his preaching and “baffled the Jews living in Damascus, by proving that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 9:22). But hostility from his fellow Jews became so intense they attempted to take his life. However, his faithful “followers came to him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall” that surrounded the city (9:25).

Paul then made a trip to Jerusalem, where he “tried to join the disciples.” However, as stated earlier, everyone was still “afraid of him” (9:26). Obviously, they had not heard about his conversion to Christ and what happened in Damascus once he became a believer. In fact, when he arrived in Jerusalem, they actually believed he was feigning conversion. They could not comprehend that a man so hostile to Christianity could now be one of them.

However, Paul met Barnabas, who became firmly convinced that he was for real. Barnabas defended Paul before the apostles and no doubt before a larger group of disciples. Because they knew Barnabas and his own commitment to Christ, they overcame their fear and skepticism and welcomed Paul, who in turn “moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord” (9:28).

While there, Paul spent fifteen days getting acquainted with Peter particularly (Gal. 1:18). And then it happened again! The Grecian Jews in Jerusalem were threatened and, as they had done in Damascus three years earlier, they “tried to kill him” (Acts 9:29). But once again his fellow believers helped him escape, this time to Tarsus, the place where Paul had been born and had lived until he had come to Jerusalem as a young zealous Jew to study under the great master teacher Gamaliel (Acts 22:3).[4]

Before and After

As you look back on your life, can you see how God prepared you for a special spiritual task—even before you became a Christian?

Once again we see God's sovereign plans unfolding in the lives of people. Even before Paul was converted on the road to Damascus, the Lord was preparing him for a great missionary task—particularly to the Gentile world.

A Multicultural Education

Paul's preparation for Christian ministry actually began the day he was born. He grew up in Tarsus, a Gentile city. His early religious education was intensely Jewish because of his family, but he was later educated in Greek culture and philosophy. In fact, Tarsus was noted in the Roman Empire as a great center for secular and pagan learning. Consequently, Paul had unique insights into a non-Jewish worldview.

Paul's education for ministry continued in Jerusalem, again before he was converted. He studied under Gamaliel, one of the greatest Jewish teachers who ever lived (Act 5:33-40; 22:3). Though he became steeped in pharisaical legalism, his knowledge of the Old Testament laid the foundation for instant insight into who Jesus Christ really was once Paul was born again.

Renewing His Mind

Following his conversion, Paul evidently spent three years in relative isolation, overcoming his feelings of prejudice and dealing with his incredible indoctrination into Judaism. After all, he was proud of his heritage, which he certainly alludes to in his letter to the Philippians. “If anyone else thinks he has reason to put confidence in the flesh,” he wrote, “I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless” (Phil. 3:4-6).

Even though Paul evidently overcame his prejudice more quickly than Peter (see chapter 1), he still had to go through a process of renewing his mind and his conscience— the very thing he years later taught the Roman Christians (Rom. 12:1-2). Furthermore, and most importantly, it was during this time that Paul received more direct revelations from Jesus Christ regarding the gospel of God's grace (Gal. 1:15-17). However, it would be another seven or eight years before he was ready to actually carry out the task God had chosen him to fulfill: to become the great apostle to the Gentiles.

A Dynamic Internship

Paul's final stage of preparation involved one year of intensive ministry experience working with a veteran leader who had already proven himself as a man of God (Acts 11:24). Barnabas became Paul's mentor as together they established the Gentile church that was planted in Antioch (11:25-26).

Ironically, this church was born shortly after Stephen's death, a murder that Paul had condoned. At that time, a number of men “who had been scattered by the persecution” traveled to Antioch in Syria and preached the gospel to Gentiles. This also means this church was born approximately the same time that Paul was miraculously converted. Little did he realize then that ten years later he would work alongside Barnabas, helping to establish this church and at the same time continuing his preparation to become a great missionary to the Gentile world.

The Time Had Come (Acts 13:1—3)

Can you remember a time when you sensed you were ready for a new spiritual opportunity and challenge in your life?

The Lord had designed a unique ministry for Paul. However, to carry out this plan in a very specific way, he had to go through a lengthy period of preparation. But then the day came—obviously unexpectedly. He and Barnabas and several other spiritually gifted men were worshiping the Lord together. As the Holy Spirit often did in those days, He spoke directly and made it clear that they were to commission Barnabas and Paul and send them off for an expanded ministry among the Gentiles. John Mark, a young disciple who lived with his mother in Jerusalem, accompanied Paul and Barnabas on this special mission trip.

Paul and Barnabas

Though Barnabas had been Paul's mentor, this murderer turned missionary very quickly emerged as the leader of the team. Following Paul's power encounter with Elymas the sorcerer on the island of Patmos, Luke mentioned Paul's name first in the biblical record. Prior to this time, we read about “Barnabas and Paul [or Saul],” but from this point forward, we read about “Paul and Barnabas.”[5]

Paul became a prolific church planter, carrying the gospel beyond the confines of Jerusalem, Judea, Galilee, and all over the Roman Empire. For the most part, Antioch in Syria was his home base following his journeys. He returned there to report on his activities and to be involved in the local ministry.

Paul was also destined to write more New Testament letters than any other apostle—thirteen in all. During his first imprisonment in Rome while he was under house arrest, he wrote letters to the church in Ephesus, Colossae, and Philippi. He wrote his fourth prison epistle to his good friend Philemon.

The Book of Acts ends with this imprisonment (Acts 28:16-31). However, it's clear from his later letters to Timothy and Titus that he was eventually set free from “house arrest” and allowed to continue his missionary activities. He described geographical details in these letters that do not coincide with Paul's missionary trips described by Luke in the Book of Acts. Paul's final letter to Timothy, which, as far as we know was the last letter he ever wrote on this earth, was also written from prison. This time Paul was in a more serious state of incarceration. The evil Nero was the emperor of Rome. Paul knew in his heart he was about to die for his commitment to Christ. This is clear from some of his closing words to Timothy:

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Tim. 4:6—8)

An Apostle to the Gentiles (Gal. 2:8)

When we use the term apostle today, why should we be careful to define what we mean?

The term apostle, virtually without exception, is used in the New Testament in a very distinct sense. The word refers primarily to the twelve men Jesus Christ selected out of the larger group of disciples and “named as apostles.” The Greek word apostolos means literally “a delegate, a messenger or one sent forth with orders.” As we've seen, when Judas turned his back on the Lord and later took his own life, Matthias was selected to replace him and was “added to the eleven apostles” (Acts 1:26).

Paul also classified himself as an apostle who was “abnormally born.” He described himself as one who was called to be an apostle, but who did “not even deserve to be called an apostle,” because he “persecuted the church of God” (1 Cor. 15:8-9). Luke's record in the Book of Acts verifies Paul's claim and testimony without question. He is presented as the great apostle to the Gentiles, who in a special way left the ranks of Judaism and penetrated the pagan world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

There is a second sense, however, in which the word apostle is used in the New Testament. Luke called Barnabas an apostle when referring to his “ministry” with Paul (Acts 14:4—14). In turn, Paul classified Silas and Timothy as fellow apostles (1 Thess. 2:6-7), and it's also possible he may have used the same description of Andronicus and Junias, who he said were “outstanding among the apostles” (Rom. 16:7). But it is quite clear from the Scriptures that these descriptions were used in a secondary sense. On the one hand, they were messengers and delegates sent forth by Jesus Christ as any missionary or Christian leader involved in proclaiming the gospel of Christ. But in a primary sense, apostles were those men who were eyewitnesses of Jesus Christ and who were taught by Him personally and particularly selected for initial ministry in bringing into being the body of Christ, His church.

Dr. George Peters recognized and has written about their unique calling. He stated: “The unique position of the apostles in the beginning ministries of the church is recognized throughout the New Testament—only they are known as the apostles of Jesus Christ, while others are known simply as apostles or as apostles of the church."[6]

Peter's Counterpart

Paul then is definitely an apostle in the primary sense of that word. The apostles themselves recognized his unique relationship to Peter. Paul testified to this fact in his letter to the Galatians:

For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. (Gal. 2:8—9)

Paul's unique apostleship is definitely affirmed in the New Testament. Both he and Peter are given almost equal space. Most importantly, their apostleship is verified by their ability to work miracles. This is why Paul wrote to the Corinthians and stated: “The things that mark an apostle—signs, wonders and miracles—were done among you with great perseverance” (2 Cor. 12:12).[7]

It's not an accident that in the Book of Acts, Luke described almost the same number of miraculous events performed by Peter as performed by Paul. Furthermore, the nature of these miracles was very similar. Note the following comparisons:

- Peter pronounced judgment on Ananias and Sapphira for their sin against the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-11). Paul struck Elymas blind because of his intense opposition in trying to keep others from believing the gospel (13:6-12).

- Peter's reputation as a healer was so great that people brought their sick relatives and friends into the streets “so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by” (5:15). Similarly, Paul healed the lame man in Lystra. As a result, the people were so impressed that they tried to worship Paul and Barnabas (14:8-18).

- When Peter was in Joppa, he actually raised Dorcas from the dead (9:36-42). When Paul was preaching in Troas, he raised Eutychus from the dead (20:7-12).

- It was Peter who received the vision from heaven regarding the need to visit Cornelius (10:1-48). Later, Paul had a vision of a man in Macedonia who was “standing and begging him” to “come over to Macedonia and help” them (16:9).

Clearly, “the things that mark an apostle—signs, wonders and miracles"—were clearly visible in both of these men's lives, and the Holy Spirit wanted us to know these “things.” This is why He inspired the authors of Scripture to record these unique similarities.

Becoming God's Man Today

Principles to Live By

As with the other apostles, Paul's life story yields some powerful principles that will become life-changing when we apply them to our lives:

Principle 1. No matter how sinful we are, God's grace extends to all humanity.

This is the primary message that rings loud and clear from Paul's experience. He classified himself as the worst of sinners because of his violent and cruel acts against Christians (1 Tim. 1:15). And he stated clearly that because God had mercy on him, He would have mercy on anyone—no matter how deep we may have fallen into the mire of sin (1:16).

Do you believe your sin is too great to be forgiven? If so, think again of the apostle Paul. Not only did God save this wretched man, but He used him to reach the world with the gospel as no other person. In fact, the reason I am writing this material and the reason you're reading it is because of Paul's faithful ministry to the Gentiles. Don't let Satan deceive you into believing you cannot be saved because of your sinful lifestyle. The only unpardonable sin is to reject Jesus Christ!

Principle 2. God works His greatest miracle when He transforms a practicing sinner into a godly saint.

This is what happened to Paul. He was a murderer who became one of the greatest missionaries who ever lived. He turned from his wicked ways and became a new creation in Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). He was “born again” and started a new life (John 3:3; Titus 3:4-6).

This is what God also did for Chuck Colson. Though he was an insensitive, self-oriented politician, he too was “born again.” His life was changed and his prison experience gave him a great burden to reach prisoners for Jesus Christ—leading him to start Prison Fellowship.

This is what God did for Bill McCartney. Though he was religious as a young man, he classified his life as a paradox. At the same time, he had one goal: to achieve in athletics. Eventually he allowed his drive, ambition, and addictions to nearly destroy his marriage. He often made a fool of himself by getting drunk! But he was changed. He too was born again and founded Promise Keepers, a great ministry to men. He turned his marriage around by being vulnerable and humble.

These are God's greatest miracles. True, it must have been wonderful to see Jesus multiply the loaves and fish to feed five thousand men and their families. But the greatest miracle took place when people received Jesus Christ as the “bread of life” and inherited eternal life.

In essence, this is what happened to all the apostles. They began as worldly men with carnal appetites and worldly ambitions but eventually became servants of Jesus Christ. And as we've seen, the miracle of miracles was Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.

Principle 3. Once we become Christians, we can often see how God has been at work in our lives even before we passed from death to life.

Before Paul was born, God had a plan for his life. This is a part of that great mystery we call election and predestination, which Paul himself described in detail in the opening chapter of his letter to the Ephesians.

On the other hand, God gave him a free will. He could have refused to respond to God's call in his life. The Holy Spirit did not force him to decide to believe that Jesus Christ was the true Messiah. Rather, he deliberately chose to respond to God's grace.

However, from God's point of view, He had a plan for Paul—to become the great apostle to the Gentiles. All of his early education in Judaism and later in Greek and Roman thought, and his studies under Gamaliel prepared him for this great task. Once he became a Christian, he was able to use these insights to communicate the gospel effectively to both Jews and Gentiles.

Can you see how God can use your preconversion experiences to serve Him? No matter how difficult your circumstances, He is able to make all things work “for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28). This too is a great mystery.

Principle 4. It takes time to become prepared to carry out God's highest purpose in our lives.

Paul was already a highly educated man when he became a Christian. He was skilled in many ways and was a great communicator. He had drive and ambition—even to serve God. However, he was not ready to become an apostle to the Gentiles until he spent nearly ten years both relearning what he already knew and learning new truth regarding God's great plan for the church. Only then “the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them'” (Acts 13:2).

This does not mean he didn't serve God during this period of preparation. In fact, after he was converted on the road to Damascus, “at once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God” (9:20). However, his ministry was limited. He wasn't ready to do God's will in the fullest sense of the word for nearly ten years, which culminated in an internship with Barnabas in Antioch, a Gentile church.

In a more limited sense, God is preparing all of us for greater service. The great lesson we can learn from Paul is that we must not get ahead of God in terms of what we personally want to achieve. On the other hand, we must not hesitate to serve Him with the opportunities God gives us.

Principle 5. The greatest motivation for serving Jesus Christ should be God's love and grace in saving us.

This is what motivated the apostle Paul. He never forgot God's mercy in saving him, the worst of sinners. Furthermore, he passed this “motivational message” on to all of us when he wrote the following to Titus:

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:11—14)

Personalizing These Principles

1. Have you received the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?

No matter what your past, God is willing to forgive you. Don't wait for a “Damascus road” experience. His call in your life may never happen the way it happened to Paul. In fact, Paul's personal conversion and his ministry experience as an apostle to the Gentiles may be the only major experience you will be exposed to as a non-Christian. Remember, God called Paul in a dramatic way to reach you and me!

2. Have you been born again?

You can experience the new birth by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Personalize Paul's words to Titus:

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4—7)

3. How has God prepared you to serve Him even before you became a Christian?

Even though you may have been a victim of others' failures and sins, God can use these experiences to make you a more effective servant. Personalize Paul's words to the Romans:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Rom. 8:28)

4. Can you see how God is preparing you for a future ministry that you are not ready to participate in at this time?

Try to discern how your present experiences can make you a more perceptive and effective Christian in ministering to others. Try to learn everything you can from these present experiences. If the future is not clear, simply trust God to use what you're learning now when the picture becomes more clear.

5. What motivates you to serve Jesus Christ?

God wants it to be His love and mercy in saving you. This is the basis of Paul's plea to the Roman Christians to dedicate their lives fully to God. With this in mind, read Paul's words:

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Rom. 12:1—2)

Set a Goal

As you reflect on Paul's life and the principles that grow out of his story, ask the Holy Spirit to help you set one goal for your own life:

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Memorize the Following Scripture

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

PROVERBS 3:5-6

Growing Together

The following questions are designed for small group discussion:

1. Why is it easy to believe God will not forgive our sins?

2. Would you share your personal experience in becoming a Christian?

3. Would you share with us how you believe God can use your preconversion experiences to make you a better servant of the Lord Jesus Christ?

4. Since you have become a Christian, how has God been preparing you for greater service?

5. What motivates you to serve God? What should motivate you to serve Him?

6. What can we pray for you specifically?

Endnotes

Introduction

1. Original source unknown.

Chapter 1

1. For a more extensive explanation of these events, see Harry Dent, Cover Up: The Watergate in Us All (San Bernadino: Here's Life Publishers, Inc., 1986), 55-57.

2. There is some evidence for the conclusion that Zebedee owned this fishing business, which is pointed out in the next chapter when we look carefully at the life of James, Zebedee's oldest son.

3. Bill McCartney and David Halbrook, Sold Out (Nashville: Word Publishing, 1997).

Chapter 2

1. See Gene A. Getz, Jacob: Following God Without Looking Back, another book in the Men of Character series (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1996).

Chapter 3

1. This includes the times that John referred to himself in his Gospel as “the disciple that Jesus loved.”

2. See Merrill C. Tenney, John: Gospel of Belief (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1953), 30-31.

Chapter 4

1. This was not the Bethany near Jerusalem where Mary and Martha and their brother Lazarus lived.

2. Many believe the unnamed disciple was John, James's brother. Personally, I believe it is a reference to Philip (see note 2, chapter 5).

3. In order to convince people He was the true Messiah, Jesus often revealed something in His conversations with people that only the true prophet could know. He frequently used this method to convince people that He was the Son of God. For example, read chapter 6 on Nathanael.

Chapter 5

1. C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: MacMillan, 1960), 54.

2. Many expositors believe that the unnamed disciple who joined Andrew in spending an entire day with Jesus was John (John 1:37, 40). However, it's my opinion that it was Philip, which is my basic assumption throughout this study. This premise is based on several observations. First, John recorded Philip's experience the day following Andrew's experience (1:43). Second, Philip used the pronoun “we” when he reported to Nathanael that he and someone else had found the Messiah. It's logical to conclude that with this plural pronoun he was referring to himself and Andrew. Third, John later reported on Jesus' conversation with both Philip and Andrew when He multiplied the loaves and the fish (6:5-9). Again, they are closely associated in this biblical account. Finally, in view of these observations, we can also conjecture that the two unnamed disciples who went fishing with Peter after the resurrection were also Philip and Andrew (21:2). Since these two men were equally prominent throughout the Gospels, it would be strange if they were not a part of this group at this particular time.

3. It's important to distinguish between Christ's invitation to these men to be disciples and the time He chose the Twelve and designated them as apostles (see Matt. 10:1-4; Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16).

4. Lewis, Mere Christianity, 55-56.

Chapter 6

1. Dent, Cover Up, 32.

2. Ibid, 35

3. For a detailed study of this event, see Getz, Jacob, 56-72.

Chapter 7

1. The complete story of Bob Buford's journey is contained in his book Half Time (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994). His second book, Game Plan (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997) contains “winning strategies for the second half on your life.”

2. Buford, Half Time, 46.

3. Ibid.

4. See Gene A. Getz, A Biblical Theology of Material Possessions (Chicago: Moody Press, 1990).

5. Ethan Watters, “The Gospel of Giving According to Claude Rosenberg, Jr.,” The American Benefactor, Spring 1997, 63.

Chapter 8

1. Merrill C. Tenney, New Testament Survey (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1961), 215-216.

2. Kelly James Clark, When Faith Is Not Enough (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 189.

Chapter 9

1. Some believe that “James son of Alphaeus” was the same “James” referred to at the end of Mark's Gospel. In this instance, this man was called “James the less” or “James the younger” (Mark 15:40). However, this man had a brother named Joseph, and their mother's name was Mary. It is highly improbable that this James was the same man as the apostle who was identified as “James son of Alphaeus.”

2. The Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia gives the following helpful information: “Lebbaeus. The name of one of Jesus' apostles, based on a variant reading of the Western text (D) and chosen by Textus Receptus in Matt. 10:3, instead of the better and tested reading Thaddaios given in the Gr. text of Nestle and Souter. Matthew, however, may have remembered the Heb. name of Thaddaeus. Mark (3:18) lists the name of this disciple as Thaddaeus, and later copyists seem to have made a composite reading in Matt: 10:3 by including both names: 'and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus' (KJV).” Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. II, K-Z (Chicago: Moody Press, 1975), 1024.

Chapter 10

1. See Getz, “Wrestling with God,” Chapter 11 in Jacob, 140-150.

Chapter 11

1. For an in-depth study of these qualities for leadership, see The Measure of A Man (Ventura, Calif.: Regal Books, 1995) and The Measure of a Woman (Ventura, Calif.: Regal Books, 1977), both written by Gene A. Getz. These books outline and explain these character traits and provide practical suggestions for developing these qualities in our lives.

Chapter 12

1. Charles W. Colson, Born Again (Old Tappan, N.J.: Chosen Books, 1976), 57.

2. Kefa Sempangi with Barbara R. Thompson, A Distant Grief (Glendale, Calif.: Regal Books, 1979).

3. It is difficult to state with certainty where Arabia was located.

4. It is difficult to reconcile certain factors in Luke's account in Acts 9:26-30 with Paul's personal account of this Jerusalem trip in Galatians 1:18-19. However, most Bible expositors believe that this is the same trip, though some details seem to be inconsistent. However, these details would probably be clearly reconciled if we had a larger perspective.

5. Name sequence is very important in the biblical record. Those who have primary responsibility are normally listed first. For example, Peter always appears at the top of the list of the apostles. Regarding Paul and Barnabas, this sequence is not only clear from the way these men are listed in the first missionary journey but from the way they functioned. Paul definitely became the primary leader on this trip and from this point forward in all of the missionary trips. This is why we call them “Paul's” missionary journeys.

6. George W. Peters, A Theology of Church Growth (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981), 17.

7. Following are references where Paul claimed apostolic authority that was equal in status to the other twelve apostles selected by Jesus Christ: Rom. 1:1, 11:13; 1 Cor. 1:1, 4:9, 9:1; 2 Cor. 1:1, 11:5, 12:11-12; Gal. 1:1, 17-19; Eph. 1:1; Col. 1:1; 1 Thess. 2:6; 1 Tim. 1:1, 2:7; 2 Tim. 1:1, 11.

Table of Contents

Introduction: A Life-Changing Adventure

1. Peter: A Tough-Minded BusinessmanWho Became One of God's Greatest Servants

2. James: A Power-Hungry Man Who Gave Up Everything

3. John: A Self-Centered Man Who Learned to Love

4. Andrew: A Prominent Man Who Was Willing to Put Others First

5. Philip: A Pragmatist Who Became a True Believer

6. Nathanael Bartholomew: A Man Who Discovered That Honesty Is Not Enough

7. Matthew: A First-Century Businessman Who Learned to Put God First

8. Thomas: A Pessimist Who Was Transformed

9. James, Simon, and Judas: Three Men Who Helped Change the Course of World History

10. Judas Iscariot: A Covetous Man Whose Life Ended in Disaster

11. Matthias: A Private Man Who Suddenly Became Prominent

12. Paul: A Murderer Who Became a Missionary

Endnotes