Greatest Faith
Two things I'd like to jot down that a fellow chaplain pointed out to me today.
First, Matt 8:5-10, the story of a centurion that approaches Christ, asking that his servant be healed. Secondly, Matt 15:21-28, a Canaanite woman comes to Jesus, asking that her daughter be healed.
Things to note:
1) Both were well outside the Jewish circle
2) Both were approaching Jesus on behalf of another
3) Both were the only ones in the Gospels to be exaulted above all in regards to their faith.
This last point is key. Imagine being a Jew at the time, or one of the priests, or even one of Jesus's disciples, and have someone - well on the outside - be labeled has having the greatest faith. Its quite a thought to ponder, and I believe is still applicable today.
Secondly, and this started off a little humorus, but in the Gospels, there are basically 4-5 (pending how you want to sort) of the apostles that receive the most time in the text. Jesus seems to talk to them a lot, teach them constantly, and they seemingly play major roles. They are - what many would say - Jesus's inner circle; his "elite" learners.
But what if they weren't really the gifted ones? What if, as it was asked to me, they were "the remedial group?" That is, what if the reason they are focused on time and time again, was because they were the ones not getting it? The disciples that we hear nothing about other than a scant blurb, for the most part got it. They didn't need the lessons repeated constantly, or ask questions that had just been answered.
Just to end with an illustration, if we pretend we have a class of 12 students, and the teacher gives a lesson, and then say 6 of the class go right to work, and have little interaction with the teacher and complete their work, we assume that they caught on early. Now, in the same class, while they are doing their work, another 6 keep raising their hand, asking questions, and having the instructor look at their papers and say "No, you aren't doing this right. Try again." we naturally assume they weren't exactly leading the pack.
Just some food for thought.
posted by DD3123 @ 8:37 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
I really like both of these thoughts. Had never heard of the second one before, but that does make sense. I'll have to share it with my family members who are teachers!
I had never, ever considered the 2nd thought before either. But it does have some weight to it. Maybe its right and maybe its not - at the very least, its something to think about. And its always humorous.
Good eye for detail - I think it is an interesting thought - since the disciples do struggle with 'getting the ideas' quite often in the gospels. I think the stories of people outside the Jewish faith is written as a sign to say 'Gentiles are also accepted fully into the same kingdom'.
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