0315 BROTHERLY ADVICE

BROTHERLY ADVICE

One day in mid-fall, a group of young men came to Jesus in Capernaum. Walked into the house where he was staying and announced that they had a plan for him. The oldest one spoke for the rest: “Brother Jesus! We have come here today with an idea for you. We call ourselves The Little Brothers of Jesus, and we are here to help manage and promote your ministry. We have already created a for-profit agency for you to be the prophet who makes a profit. You like how that sounds? We are ready to sign you to a book deal where you can write your own memoirs and speeches, and we guarantee that you become a wealthy man overnight! Imagine it: No more living in obscurity and poverty, hopping from one small town to another up here in Galilee, begging for a living just to make ends meet. We will take care of your schedule and get you before the most important people around. Just sign this contract and head down with us to Jerusalem for the feast of booths. Now is the best strategic time to launch this new phase of your ministry, and we have just the right ideas to bless everyone while still protecting You.”

“Thanks, but no. My time has not yet come” answers Jesus.

“Consider this: Let all of your followers see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he wants to be known openly. If you are doing these miracles and signs, show yourself to the world!”

“You go on up to the feast. I’m going to stay in Galilee, for my time has not fully come.”

“We’ll leave you with this contract. It’s your chance to leave a lasting impact on the world, and to have everyone love you forever.”

“I think the world can love you boys. But the world hates me because I tell it that its works are evil. So, thanks but no thanks, Little Brothers of Jesus.”

“Suit yourself. We’re just trying to help. By the way, Mom says to tell you hi for her.”

“Tell her I love her, too, and that she is still most highly favored in the Lord’s sight.”

And the Little Brothers of Jesus headed to Judea to celebrate the Feast of Booths without their big half brother Jesus.

Then one of the twelve stepped forward.

“That does sound like a great idea, Lord. Think of it: if you charged people just one denarius for each healing, we could feed every hungry person in Galilee, and still make a handsome living for you and your followers. Charging a nominal fee would be good for everyone. Don’t you see?”

Jesus says, “If I have freely received from my Father, why not freely give?”

“Oh, but it DOES cost You, Jesus! It costs you in time and energy, and you deserve to be compensated for that.”

“Really?” says the Lord.

“Of course, really! You don’t want people to take advantage of you!”

“Why not?”

“Well, because. Because people will just take and take and then take some more. At some point, you have to have boundaries.”

“Who says?”

“I suppose God says it. Doesn’t it say somewhere, ‘Withhold gold from those who need it,’ or something like that?’”

“Does it?”

“Okay, maybe not directly. But the principal is there.”

“Is it?”

“I think–I think so, yeah. Anyway, Jesus, You know that people take for granted things they get that they don’t have to pay for. We’re only thinking of them.”

“Really?”

“OK, I’m also thinking of You.”

“Really?”

“All right! I’m thinking of us, as well. All of us who are sacrificing so much to follow you!”

“Truly?”

(pause. Silence.)

“Okay, okay, I’m mostly thinking about myself here. Does that make you happy?”

“What do you think?”

“Well, no. But listen to me, Jesus! You can’t do this itinerant ministry, serving others and bringing in no income for the rest of your life!”

“I can’t?”

“No, you can’t! You will burn out! People will only take advantage of You! You must shift the emphasis of your ministry to the movers and shakers of Judaism, if you want to have a lasting impact.”

“Really?”

“Sure! Influence the influencers. It does no good to pour yourself into a bunch of Galileeans and cripples and poor people. They will do nothing for you!”

“Nothing?”

“Well, next to nothing, I guess. They are pulling down your public image, Jesus! You change the world best by changing the power people. Instead, you have seemed to alienate those leaders at every turn.”

“Hmmmm.”

“Keep this up, and I’m telling you, someone will see to it that you are silenced and never heard from again!”

“Do you think so?”

“I know so! I only want what’s best for you, you understand.”

“I understand completely. Thank you, Judas.”

It turns out, Jesus did indeed go to Jerusalem for the feast of booths. But he went later, without drawing attention to himself. And the rest of the twelve followed along, scratching their pointy little heads in wonder.