This sort of explains why Jesus returns to Galilee after his encounter with Andrew and Peter near Bethabara (verse 28), where John is often found baptizing the masses of penitent people. Is it possible that now Andrew and Peter are instrumental in connecting Jesus with one of their hometown buddies in Bethsaida?
Or is it possible that Jesus is the initiator
and he is the one that leads Andrew and Peter to their hometown in search of
Phillip? Is it Jesus that saw Phillip
before the brothers got a chance to introduce them to each other? What common denominator existed between these
three Bethsaidans? These are undoubtedly
tough and rugged men, raised in this seedy settlement on the northeast side of
the Sea of Galilee. People in Bethsaida
are either fishermen or involved in the fish business. Beyond that we do not know any reason why
Jesus would focus on these men from this otherwise unremarkable town.
But isn’t that the point? It could have been any town. It just as well might have been Bethany. Even Jerusalem would have been a more logical
choice. But the Spirit of God is leading
the Lamb of God in a very peculiar way in search of those he would endeavor to
empower for a very special task. The
pattern of Jesus going to the most surprising places in search of disciples is
beginning to reveal a disconcerting trend—but only if considered from the human
perspective, and not through the eyes of the One sent in the power of the
Spirit of God. This is to be a work of
God from start to end—working through very common and coarse men of little
means. In the end it is the One calling
them and not their inherent talents and training that makes all the difference. It is grace at work, “so that no one should
boast.” (Ephesians 2:9)
No comments:
Post a Comment