Discipleship as Partnership

The story I tell is from Matthew 14:13-21.

He was tired and sad. Such bad news he’d heard. His beloved cousin,  John, beheaded by the corrupt Herod Antipas, Herodias, and Salome. He rowed  a boat to a lonely place away from the towns of the Lake of Galilee.

“Thank God” he says to himself, having rowed alone for a while. It did his heart good to mourn the loss.  He saw that day when corrupt power would try to silence the truth! And dampen hope!

He emerged from the Sea of Galilee into a sea of shattered, bewildered, broken men, women, and children . His eyes welled up with tears, and his heart filled up with compassion ready to act.

Right away he started healing, comforting, encouraging and loving. It’s what he does best.

I was in the crowd that day. I studied him at a distance. After he fed everyone miraculously, I spent a moment talking with him. He’s changed me!

“What’s your name, son ,” he asked?

“I’m Georges,” I replied. “A farmer from Capernaum.”

He smiled. “I know; I’ve watched you watching me.”

“I’m friends with Peter and Andrew? They told me about you. We attended Hebrew school together.”

“You don’t look sick, son, what do you want me to do for you?”

“Teach me what you did and why you did it that way,” I explained. “You took 5 pieces of bread, and 2 fishes and you fed what? – 5000 families? – with plenty left for a second helping.” 

“I did. It’s a mystery to you, yes. One day you’ll understand.”

“Forgive me for pressing you.”

“It’s OK. Press. 

“Why use your disciples to distribute the food? Couldn’t you give it to us directly?”

“Ah, you’re asking why I chose to partner with my disciples?”

 “Yes.”

“You see, I’m teaching my disciples to do what I do. I call it partnership discipleship.”

“But that’s not the way other rabbis act. Why are you so different?”

“Because I am training them to be my coworkers. The ministry they’ll do after I leave will be to disciple others in partnership with me .”

“So you were painting a picture of discipleship?”

“Well put, Georges. It’s not a common image today, but it’s the right and good one [PJ11] they’ll needed to remember. It’s the good and right picture of discipleship.”

“I noticed the surprise on your disciples’ faces, so priceless when you said matter-of-factly: ‘You feed them.’”

“I did too,” Jesus smiled.

“I’m puzzled. Was it you or the disciples who did the feeding?”

“Yes.”

Before I could ask him to explain, a mother intruded tearfully, babe in arms. It wasn’t breathing. Her eyes met his. Her broken heart was mended by the look of compassion.

Tenderly he placed his right hand on the baby’s head. In my mind’s eye I can still see a calloused, carpenter’s palm caressing the baby’s soft head. Life-giving hands!

Sobs of sorrow turned into shouts of amazement. They laughed together for joy! Then, “Go, tell the good news to all your relatives. Thrill them them with what I did.” 

“This way,” he said, “they may believe because of your report. And don’t fret; I’ll be with you always.”

I left his company a new disciple, pondering how to partner with him in active discipleship.