Growing up, my best friend in the wide world was a girl with bright red pigtails, freckles covering her nose like constellations, and the frailest bones of anyone I knew; she was always in a cast.
Okay, I had to giggle about the "naivety" story and determine that you meant "nativity". Naivety is cute and could explain a lot. 😆🥰 Definitely not trying to be a grammar not-see.
I enjoyed this and the new perspective. I'd always wondered about why the disciples would drop everything and everyone from their lives immediately and take off for other adventures. I'd really like to know their families' perspectives on what seems like desertion by them.
It's also quite possible that it's an autocorrect "correction", Karen (your name's appropriate). I was absolutely not making a joke about dyslexia. But here I am defending my thoughts and wasting energy with an internet stranger. Have the day you deserve.
I'm with you on the new perspective, but I don't think the disciples deserted their families. Some of them might have deserted their families long before they were called, but then returned home and reunited with their loved ones after a change of heart brought about by Jesus. Others might have had no family until they were called into a new family. We know that Peter was married because when his mother-in-law fell ill, Jesus went and healed her, we are told. The geographical area were Jesus' ministry took place was fairly small and we know that He returned to His hometown from time to time. I'd bet that His calling of the disciples was more of a career change than an abandonment of all that had gone before. He know that Jesus' mother was an integral part of His life from beginning to end and I don't see Him expecting His disciples to desert their families any more than He did. Yes, dynamics would have changed and perhaps some of the families turned their backs on His disciples after they answered the call, that we don't know. Like you, there is much that I wish we knew...
I had zero interest in ever doing bible study again after all the church trauma… and here you are, making bible study cool again! It’s almost like everything we were taught Christianity was supposed to be about is actually… possible.
Nathan, dear, at 75 I am so grateful to have you in my life. I loved the absolutely intentional “naivety” story. And the commenter above nailed the reference to modern day cults and followers. Thank you!😊
I think I know how Peter felt. Since I was the skinny kid who was also forever and always the new kid on the block, I was always last to be chosen when divvying up the neighborhood or school kids into teams for baseball or football or whatever else we were playing. Oh to have been one of the first ones chosen! Just once... But I feel like Peter these days- Rough around the edges, hands calloused, stinky at times even, and oftimes a cusser of the first magnitude. But also chosen to love my neighbor as myself, to live like Jesus tells me to, not judging those around me as if I had some moral superiority (Lord knows I am no better than the next guy!). Chosen to be salt and light and even blessed, not so I can hoard when I've been given but so that I can use it to help those in need. Thank you for your words, padre!
A question: wouldn't this mean that Jesus already had a reputation as a priest and be known to them? My modern sensibilities can't fathom a sane, responsible adult person just dropping everything and going when some random person says "follow me". The modern equivalent is the boogeyman in the van offering a kid candy if they'll get in the van.
Jesus was reportedly around 30 years of age when He began His ministry. At age 12, we are told that He sat in the temple and carried on a weighty conversation with the temple leaders and priests and they marveled at His teachings then, so we can only surmise that He was well-known by the time He was 30. The area He spend most of His adulthood in was tiny, arguably the size of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, but with fewer people. Most folks had at least heard of Him, many had probably sat under His teachings many times.
This is the best Bible study ever.
Okay, I had to giggle about the "naivety" story and determine that you meant "nativity". Naivety is cute and could explain a lot. 😆🥰 Definitely not trying to be a grammar not-see.
I enjoyed this and the new perspective. I'd always wondered about why the disciples would drop everything and everyone from their lives immediately and take off for other adventures. I'd really like to know their families' perspectives on what seems like desertion by them.
The fact that he prefaced this essay with the story about his dyslexia should preclude any jokes about spelling mistakes.
It's also quite possible that it's an autocorrect "correction", Karen (your name's appropriate). I was absolutely not making a joke about dyslexia. But here I am defending my thoughts and wasting energy with an internet stranger. Have the day you deserve.
I'm with you on the new perspective, but I don't think the disciples deserted their families. Some of them might have deserted their families long before they were called, but then returned home and reunited with their loved ones after a change of heart brought about by Jesus. Others might have had no family until they were called into a new family. We know that Peter was married because when his mother-in-law fell ill, Jesus went and healed her, we are told. The geographical area were Jesus' ministry took place was fairly small and we know that He returned to His hometown from time to time. I'd bet that His calling of the disciples was more of a career change than an abandonment of all that had gone before. He know that Jesus' mother was an integral part of His life from beginning to end and I don't see Him expecting His disciples to desert their families any more than He did. Yes, dynamics would have changed and perhaps some of the families turned their backs on His disciples after they answered the call, that we don't know. Like you, there is much that I wish we knew...
I had zero interest in ever doing bible study again after all the church trauma… and here you are, making bible study cool again! It’s almost like everything we were taught Christianity was supposed to be about is actually… possible.
(Thinking) If I had a friend like Patty, I would have hung onto her until I was old enough to propose to her. A keeper if I've ever heard of one.
Nathan, dear, at 75 I am so grateful to have you in my life. I loved the absolutely intentional “naivety” story. And the commenter above nailed the reference to modern day cults and followers. Thank you!😊
I think I know how Peter felt. Since I was the skinny kid who was also forever and always the new kid on the block, I was always last to be chosen when divvying up the neighborhood or school kids into teams for baseball or football or whatever else we were playing. Oh to have been one of the first ones chosen! Just once... But I feel like Peter these days- Rough around the edges, hands calloused, stinky at times even, and oftimes a cusser of the first magnitude. But also chosen to love my neighbor as myself, to live like Jesus tells me to, not judging those around me as if I had some moral superiority (Lord knows I am no better than the next guy!). Chosen to be salt and light and even blessed, not so I can hoard when I've been given but so that I can use it to help those in need. Thank you for your words, padre!
This is so beautiful. Thank you.
A question: wouldn't this mean that Jesus already had a reputation as a priest and be known to them? My modern sensibilities can't fathom a sane, responsible adult person just dropping everything and going when some random person says "follow me". The modern equivalent is the boogeyman in the van offering a kid candy if they'll get in the van.
Yet cults and their followers do literally the same almost daily. 🤷♀️
Jesus was reportedly around 30 years of age when He began His ministry. At age 12, we are told that He sat in the temple and carried on a weighty conversation with the temple leaders and priests and they marveled at His teachings then, so we can only surmise that He was well-known by the time He was 30. The area He spend most of His adulthood in was tiny, arguably the size of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, but with fewer people. Most folks had at least heard of Him, many had probably sat under His teachings many times.
I always learn something. Context makes the story much richer and more meaningful
Well, that explains a mystery.