Saturday, June 13, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
My first random thought in the blogosphere!
I find that I am often fascinated when reading Scripture by what might be termed minor characters. Lately, I have found myself pondering the significance of two such characters - Matthias and Joseph Justus.
Matthias, of course, was the disciple who was chosen to take Judas's place among the Twelve, and then is never mentioned in Scripture again (relegating him to trivia question) and Joseph Justus (who was the other possible replacement - relegating him, at best, to footnote status)
What must have been the emotions and the experiences for these two men. Both were obviously faithful followers - the requirement for being considered to join the twelve was to have been among the believers from the time of 'John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us'
So here are two faithful disciples - they've never quite made the cut though - they're not among the 'elite' leadership, but now they are discerned to possibly step into leadership. So what's happening around them - are others jealous? - "Well, why him?" , incredulous? "Really - him?"
Less than generous? "Huh, who does he think he is?"
What must Matthias and Justus have been thinking? Were either of them thinking "oh please let it be me" or alternatively "Please, DON'T let it be me"
And then, the lots are cast and it's Matthias. What happens next? What happens to the relationships Matthias has with the people he has traveled with for so long? Does it change the relationships? How? Is he now less approachable? What is expected from him? Do his friends think he is now somehow 'different'? Will he always primarily be seen as 'the replacement for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named'? Does he now not really fit in in either group - the chosen twelve or the group from which he was pulled?
And what of Joseph Justus - what does he do? Does he simply go back to whatever role he had prior to all of this? How does it change things? Is he viewed by some as a failure - how does he view himself? What's changed? Does he look back all his life and wonder why?
Hmmm...
Matthias, of course, was the disciple who was chosen to take Judas's place among the Twelve, and then is never mentioned in Scripture again (relegating him to trivia question) and Joseph Justus (who was the other possible replacement - relegating him, at best, to footnote status)
What must have been the emotions and the experiences for these two men. Both were obviously faithful followers - the requirement for being considered to join the twelve was to have been among the believers from the time of 'John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us'
So here are two faithful disciples - they've never quite made the cut though - they're not among the 'elite' leadership, but now they are discerned to possibly step into leadership. So what's happening around them - are others jealous? - "Well, why him?" , incredulous? "Really - him?"
Less than generous? "Huh, who does he think he is?"
What must Matthias and Justus have been thinking? Were either of them thinking "oh please let it be me" or alternatively "Please, DON'T let it be me"
And then, the lots are cast and it's Matthias. What happens next? What happens to the relationships Matthias has with the people he has traveled with for so long? Does it change the relationships? How? Is he now less approachable? What is expected from him? Do his friends think he is now somehow 'different'? Will he always primarily be seen as 'the replacement for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named'? Does he now not really fit in in either group - the chosen twelve or the group from which he was pulled?
And what of Joseph Justus - what does he do? Does he simply go back to whatever role he had prior to all of this? How does it change things? Is he viewed by some as a failure - how does he view himself? What's changed? Does he look back all his life and wonder why?
Hmmm...
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