Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. (1 Peter 3.13-16)
In our previous meditation we considered the importance of the “ultimate question.” How then should we live so that we are always prepared to give a reason for the hope that is within us? We might begin with asking, “What was it about Jesus that attracted people to him?” The Synoptic Gospels paint a composite sketch of Jesus’ life and ministry. In chapters eight and nine of Luke’s Gospel he records a number of events that give the reader an insight into Jesus’ life. He opens with an account of Jesus traveling from village to village proclaiming the good news. He was accompanied by the twelve and an inner coterie of women who financially supported his ministry. Along with the “twelve” several women traveled with him including Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means (Luke 8.2). What was it about Jesus that attracted people from all walks of life to attach themselves to him?
The twelve were drawn to Jesus by the expectation that he was the promised Messiah and by the unique authority of his teaching (cf. John 1.35-51); others were drawn to him because of his miraculous deeds. People from every social and economic level followed Jesus. Indeed, there is an irony that Jesus’ ministry was partly underwritten by the wife of Herod’s household manager; although Herod opposed Jesus politically, yet the income supplied from Herod’s own household helped support the ministry of the Son of Man. People were attracted to Jesus because of the uniqueness of his person. Consider these attributes:
It is interesting, though not surprising, that the character of the early church’s leaders closely resembles the character of Christ. Paul’s great ambition was to know Christ, and he urged others to imitate him as he sought to imitate Christ.Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us (Philippians 3.17; cf. 4.8-9; and 2 Timothy 3.14). Likewise, the apostle John writes that the believer ought to be like Jesus in their behavior, … whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked (1 John 2.5-6; cf. 1 John 3.1-3).
Our understanding of the coming kingdom is incomplete; yet Jesus offers more than a glimpse of the future. As heaven’s reigning King, he gives his people the assurance of their inheritance (Ephesians 1.13-14). Moreover, he is the means by which men and women are to be saved (John 10.7). The Word of God is like seed, which when scattered in the field, will produce a great harvest. This good news of the kingdom consists of a message that declares: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve (1 Corinthians 15.3-5). This is the word of God’s grace, which can build up the saints and give them an inheritance along with all who are called of God (cp. Acts 20.32).
When the truth of this gospel takes root in your fertile heart it will be unrestrained. Like the seed of a bristlecone pine tree sown in a small fissure of a granite mountain, when it takes root, the rock will split before the tree dies. One can no more silence the testimony of one who has been delivered from sin than suppress the laughter of a child. This is the good news: Jesus brings to life those who are dead in their sins. Such people cannot be constrained. They possess a great treasure in a jar of clay (2 Corinthians 4.7); they rejoice to speak in the name of Jesus and take every opportunity to teach and declare the good news. There is salvation in no other name but Jesus who is the savior (Acts 4.12; cp. 5.40-42).
Jesus went from one town and village to another proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. He modeled for his disciples what he would commission them to do (Matthew 28.18-20; cf. 2 Timothy 2.2). In Jesus’ parable of the sower the focal point is neither the sower nor the seed being sown, though both are certainly important. Jesus focused on the soil. Farmers contemporaneous with Jesus plowed their fields only after the seed was sown. Some parts of the field might have rocky subsoil, other parts might be contaminated with seeds from thorn bushes and yet other parts would be shallow, but overall there would be a harvest from that part of the field that was fertile and productive. This is not to say that there was an attempt to discriminate between the various soils prior to sowing the seed, but the emphasis was on covering the entire field with seed. So too with the Word of God–it is to be sown generously in every corner of the field.
The condition of the heart ultimately belongs to God. Your responsibility is to sow faithfully. You do not need to worry about the suitability of the soil. The seed is good, and if you faithfully spread it around the landscape there will be a harvest. Paul writes of this in a different context, but with a similar intent in his letter to the Corinthians: What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe – as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow (1 Corinthians 3.5-9).
In a similar vein, in a personal letter to Timothy Paul encourages him to do the work of an evangelist. Paul’s primary charge to his young protégé was to preach the Word; to be prepared in season and out of season; to correct, rebuke and encourage and to do all this with great patience. But he goes on to specifically remind him to do the work of an evangelist (2 Timothy 4.2 & 5). To be sure, there is an office of evangelist which Paul lists among the gifts to the church in Ephesians 4.11; however, all Christians are entrusted with the message of reconciliation. We are ambassadors for Christ; God makes his appeal to the world through you (cf. 2 Corinthians 5.19-20). Moreover, Jesus’ last word of instruction to the disciples is also a word of instruction to us: therefore go and make disciples of all nations… (Matthew 28.19). The Holy Spirit has equipped you and commissioned you; therefore, be confident he will use you for his own purpose in grace.
The twelve were drawn to Jesus by the expectation that he was the promised Messiah and by the unique authority of his teaching (cf. John 1.35-51); others were drawn to him because of his miraculous deeds. People from every social and economic level followed Jesus. Indeed, there is an irony that Jesus’ ministry was partly underwritten by the wife of Herod’s household manager; although Herod opposed Jesus politically, yet the income supplied from Herod’s own household helped support the ministry of the Son of Man. People were attracted to Jesus because of the uniqueness of his person. Consider these attributes:
- He made God known to mankind.
- He addressed man’s enslavement to sin.
- He revealed himself as the true Son of Man.
- He spoke the truth without regard to consequences.
- He loved those to whom he ministered.
- He healed and delivered people from physical infirmities and spiritual bondage.
- He dealt with the real issues facing people (sickness, fear of death, death itself, poverty, wealth, taxes, relationships, hate, love, forgiveness…)
- He offered hope in place of despair.
It is interesting, though not surprising, that the character of the early church’s leaders closely resembles the character of Christ. Paul’s great ambition was to know Christ, and he urged others to imitate him as he sought to imitate Christ.Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us (Philippians 3.17; cf. 4.8-9; and 2 Timothy 3.14). Likewise, the apostle John writes that the believer ought to be like Jesus in their behavior, … whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked (1 John 2.5-6; cf. 1 John 3.1-3).
Our understanding of the coming kingdom is incomplete; yet Jesus offers more than a glimpse of the future. As heaven’s reigning King, he gives his people the assurance of their inheritance (Ephesians 1.13-14). Moreover, he is the means by which men and women are to be saved (John 10.7). The Word of God is like seed, which when scattered in the field, will produce a great harvest. This good news of the kingdom consists of a message that declares: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve (1 Corinthians 15.3-5). This is the word of God’s grace, which can build up the saints and give them an inheritance along with all who are called of God (cp. Acts 20.32).
When the truth of this gospel takes root in your fertile heart it will be unrestrained. Like the seed of a bristlecone pine tree sown in a small fissure of a granite mountain, when it takes root, the rock will split before the tree dies. One can no more silence the testimony of one who has been delivered from sin than suppress the laughter of a child. This is the good news: Jesus brings to life those who are dead in their sins. Such people cannot be constrained. They possess a great treasure in a jar of clay (2 Corinthians 4.7); they rejoice to speak in the name of Jesus and take every opportunity to teach and declare the good news. There is salvation in no other name but Jesus who is the savior (Acts 4.12; cp. 5.40-42).
Jesus went from one town and village to another proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. He modeled for his disciples what he would commission them to do (Matthew 28.18-20; cf. 2 Timothy 2.2). In Jesus’ parable of the sower the focal point is neither the sower nor the seed being sown, though both are certainly important. Jesus focused on the soil. Farmers contemporaneous with Jesus plowed their fields only after the seed was sown. Some parts of the field might have rocky subsoil, other parts might be contaminated with seeds from thorn bushes and yet other parts would be shallow, but overall there would be a harvest from that part of the field that was fertile and productive. This is not to say that there was an attempt to discriminate between the various soils prior to sowing the seed, but the emphasis was on covering the entire field with seed. So too with the Word of God–it is to be sown generously in every corner of the field.
The condition of the heart ultimately belongs to God. Your responsibility is to sow faithfully. You do not need to worry about the suitability of the soil. The seed is good, and if you faithfully spread it around the landscape there will be a harvest. Paul writes of this in a different context, but with a similar intent in his letter to the Corinthians: What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe – as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow (1 Corinthians 3.5-9).
In a similar vein, in a personal letter to Timothy Paul encourages him to do the work of an evangelist. Paul’s primary charge to his young protégé was to preach the Word; to be prepared in season and out of season; to correct, rebuke and encourage and to do all this with great patience. But he goes on to specifically remind him to do the work of an evangelist (2 Timothy 4.2 & 5). To be sure, there is an office of evangelist which Paul lists among the gifts to the church in Ephesians 4.11; however, all Christians are entrusted with the message of reconciliation. We are ambassadors for Christ; God makes his appeal to the world through you (cf. 2 Corinthians 5.19-20). Moreover, Jesus’ last word of instruction to the disciples is also a word of instruction to us: therefore go and make disciples of all nations… (Matthew 28.19). The Holy Spirit has equipped you and commissioned you; therefore, be confident he will use you for his own purpose in grace.
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