“While most people are aware that Jesus was Jewish (as were the apostles), the significance and implications of this identity marker are often left unexplored. These founders of Christianity worshiped in the Jerusalem temple, lived in booths during the holiday of Sukkot, and upheld the statutes of the Torah. They were wholly committed to the Jewish faith, and this context influenced how the apostles understood who Jesus was and what following him entailed.” Excerpt: Finding Messiah by Jennifer M Rosner.

 

When I first became a Christian and heard Christ’s clarion call, “Follow me,” I was challenged to obey immediately, as did the apostles when they were called. They left everything immediately. I always marvelled at their faith. But it took on new significance a while back.

 

Having shared about the strained relationship with Jesus and his siblings, Jesus’ familial connection with these men might surprise you as it did me. It stands to reason that, as Jewish men, they belonged to the people descended from the twelve patriarchs.

 

Yet, David Pawson’s observation in "Unlocking the Bible" in confirmation blew my mind: “Few realize that at least five, and possibly seven, of the twelve apostles were Jesus’ cousins, which explains why so many of them were present at a private wedding at Cana in Galilee.”

 

Incredibly, apart from Judas Iscariot, Christian tradition holds that most of them were martyred for Jesus’ sake. And Apostle John is widely believed to have lived to an old age, taking care of Jesus’ mother, Mary, and identified by early church fathers as penning Revelation. Their legacy definitely lives on in the new Jerusalem to come.

 

"It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Revelation 21:12-14)

 

God chose to make Israel the apple of his eye, and “tabernacle” with his special people in more ways than one. Jesus’ coming to Galilee, specifically Nazareth, and finding men connected to his own extended family who agreed wholeheartedly to accept the call and follow him sits differently now.

 

The timing of Jesus’ coming tells of a God who leaves nothing to chance. God also puts believers in families. How can you and I be effective members of God’s household?

 

Prayer: Father God, nothing is random with You. Thank you for our salvation. You chose a nation under heaven to be your olive tree and then grafted us all in. We praise your name. Amen.

 

 

Geliefdes, moenie verbaas wees oor die vuurproef waaraan julle onderwerp word nie. Dit is nie iets vreemds wat met julle gebeur nie. 1 Petrus 4:12, 1983-vertaling

 

“Alhoewel die meeste mense bewus is dat Jesus, sowel as die apostels, Joods was, word die belangrikheid van hierdie identiteit dikwels nie ondersoek nie. Hierdie stigters van die Christendom het in die tempel in Jerusalem aanbid, gedurende die Loofhuttefees in hutte gebly en die verordeninge van die Tora onderhou. Hulle was toegewyd aan die Joodse geloof, en dié konteks het die apostels se begrip van wie Jesus was en wat dit beteken om Hom te volg, beïnvloed." [Vrye vertaling van 'n uittreksel uit "Finding Messiah" deur Jennifer M Rosner]

 

Toe ek 'n Christen geword en Jesus se duidelike roepstem, "Volg My" gehoor het, is ek uitgedaag om Hom onmiddellik te gehoorsaam. So was dit ook met die apostels toe hulle geroep is. Hulle het onmiddellik alles agtergelaat. Ek verwonder my altyd oor hulle geloof. Dit het egter onlangs vir my nuwe betekenis gekry.

 

Ek het reeds verwys na die stram verhouding tussen Jesus en sy broers en susters, en daarom sal sy familieband met hierdie mans julle dalk ook verras soos dit my verras het. Dit is duidelik dat as Joodse mans hulle afstammelinge van die 12 aartsvaders was.

 

Tog het 'n waarneming van David Pawsons in "Unlocking the Bible" my verstom: "Min mense besef dat ten minste vyf, moontlik sewe, van die twaalf apostels Jesus se neefs was. Dit verduidelik ook hoekom so baie van hulle by 'n privaat troue in Kana in Galilea teenwoordig was." [Vry vertaal]

 

Dit is ongelooflik, maar volgens Christentradisie is die meeste van hulle, behalwe Judas Iskariot, ter wille van Jesus gemartel. Daar word geglo dat die apostel Johannes baie oud geword het, na Jesus se moeder, Maria, omgesien het en hy is reeds deur die vroeë kerkvaders geïdentifiseer as die een wat Openbaring neergepen het. Hulle erfenis leef definitief voort in die nuwe Jerusalem wat sal kom.

 

"Die stad het 'n groot hoë muur met twaalf poorte. By die poorte is daar twaalf engele, en op die poorte is daar name geskrywe, dié van die twaalf stamme van die volk Israel. 13Aan die oostekant is daar drie poorte, aan die noordekant drie, aan die suidekant drie en aan die westekant drie. 14Die stad se muur het twaalf fondamente, en daarop is daar ook twaalf name, dié van die twaalf apostels van die Lam." (Openbaring 21:12-14)

 

God het gekies om Israel die appel van sy oog te maak en op meer as een manier met sy spesiale mense te verkeer. Ek kyk nou ietwat anders na Jesus se koms na Galilea, veral na Nasaret, en hoe hy manne uit sy eie uitgebreide familie gekies het wat volkome ingestem het om die roeping te aanvaar en Hom te volg.

 

Die tydsberekening van Jesus se koms getuig van 'n God wat niks aan die toeval oorlaat nie. God plaas gelowiges in families. Hoe kan ek en jy effektiewe lede van God se huishouding wees?

 

Gebed: Hemelse Vader, niks is toeval by U nie. Dankie vir ons verlossing. U het 'n nasie gekies om u olyfboom te wees en tons almal toe daarby ingeënt. Ons prys u Naam. Amen