A Minor Player

Luke 11

For this reason the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ so that this generation may be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. (Luke 11)

I have never thought of myself as anything but ordinary. Surely, no one could accuse me of being a prophet, much less an apostle, one of the inner circle of Jesus. And you should know that I have never sought fame or glory, and have always lived with my share of self-doubt and insecurity.

But something of Jesus has gotten into me. Or maybe a better way to say it is that something of Jesus has awakened something in me. Yes, something that was perhaps always there, waiting to be discovered and given birth.

And, when you think about it, that’s exactly what Jesus does: he brings life, a new life, a formerly hidden life, a life that was once asleep but which now comes alive, fed by what he called “living water.” And in so many words, Jesus has satisfied a thirst, an inner yearning in me. It’s a thirst that has no name, one that, for me, was always there, quietly waiting for the Son of God to come along and wake it up.

Well, enough introduction, let me get to the point. First of all, who am I? My name is Simon, not THE Simon who became famous as the apostle Peter, but to you in your century, an obscure Simon, a Simon in the background, and as my title says, a “minor player” in the Jesus movement of what you call the first century.

Jesus has left us, ascended to our YHWH God after he was raised from the dead. And those of us who followed him still think of ourselves as followers. We are part of a small but growing movement that we call The Way. In time, we will be called “Christians.”

And so, yes, Jesus did awaken “living water” in me. But I have to say that following Jesus also awakened opposition and even hate. Because, you see, the words of Jesus about prophets and apostles have turned out to be true. Every Jew and every Jewish Christian of our time knows this. It’s no secret that those who speak for God have always run afoul of those in power. As Jesus said, the violence suffered by the righteous seems endemic to our human nature.

And of course, the worst was the cruelty inflicted on Jesus himself. Nothing can or ever will compare. And I have lived long enough to see his closest followers, including THE Simon Peter, killed for their faith. In fact, virtually all of the prominent leaders of our movement have been persecuted, many even killed.

Crucifixion of St. Peter

Caravaggio, 1600

So, where does that leave me, as I said, just a minor player in this new faith? And another thing: when will it stop? I mean, will you, in your time, still see the opposition that Jesus predicted? And if so, what will be the source? I mean, for us, it’s clear that the opposition comes from the people of power in our Jewish nation. Even the Romans permit us to follow our faith, as long as we stay peaceful and pay our taxes. But the powerful of Israel felt threatened by Jesus, just as they had felt threatened by Elijah, Elisha and Zechariah generations ago. And they still feel threatened by us, the followers of The Way.

So, let me answer my own question. For me, as a self-styled minor player, I can say that I have felt, if not persecution, at least a share of rejection for my faith. No, my blood has not been spilled. But still, my identity as a Jesus-follower has made me suspect in many circles. In fact, I would say that some folks actually do hate me because I follow Jesus. It’s true, I have felt it.

I’m reminded of these words of Jesus:

If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you, ‘Slaves are not greater than their master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you. (John 15)

Why is this happening? For me, it’s because I speak out. No, I’m not a preacher and I don’t travel from village to village as a missionary. But I do make it known that I hold Jesus as the Son of God. I do not hide it and in our local synagogue, I make it clear. And more, it’s also evident from my actions that I follow Jesus.

Yes, now that Jesus has awakened me, I follow him in reaching out to the outcasts. Jesus called them “the least of these”-- the poor, the sick, even those who have broken the law, and yes, including our local tax collector. In fact, it’s my association with such undesirable people that causes the most negative responses from “respectable” folks. They seem to think that I have taken a side, one which opposes and undermines a power structure that has lasted for generations. In a way, I have attacked their authority and their security, values that they hold dear, and ones that keep undesirable people in their place.

And so, I am no longer invited to weddings. My list of friends has dwindled to the few who believe like I do. There are whispers about me and in some cases, accusations that I am breaking the Law of Moses. I have been called to account by the leader of our synagogue, to explain my speech and my charity for the poor. Stop speaking about Jesus, I am told! Stay away from those disreputable people!

Consequences have been threatened, including expulsion from our synagogue. You must understand that such an action would render me as an outcast, and my family would be reduced to poverty.

So, let me ask: if this can happen to a minor player like me, is there any limit to the rejection and persecution?

And while I wonder if I should tone it down, I also wonder if I should be even bolder, to accept the risk of even more hate. Yes, I do remember John the Baptizer, who spoke truth to Herod and lost his head for it. Am I ready to become a prophet like John?

And I remember these words from Jesus:

Everyone, therefore, who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven, but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 10)

I could be bolder. I could call out the hypocrisy of the very power structure that could isolate me as an outsider, or could even have me stoned for blasphemy. I could do more for the poor, and do it even more openly, in the public view of those who could condemn me. I could evangelize my neighbors, inviting them to join me in following Jesus.

The final words of Jesus to his disciples remind me of what he wants me to do:

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28)

I’m not doing that. So far, I haven’t even left my village. How can I be obedient to this command of Jesus when I am so fearful of rejection and hate?

Can you, in your time, offer me words of hope and encouragement? Are you finding it easier? I mean, in your day, have the opposition and persecution finally ended?

The final words of Jesus have stuck with me: I am with you always, to the end of the age. Jesus has predicted, you see, that the opposition will not get better, but instead, will get worse.

Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24)

It may surprise you, but those words are comforting to me. Why? Because in the end, Jesus will prevail. I need to hold on to that in great hope. And in your time, I expect so will you. We must endure, as Jesus said. We simply cannot afford to allow our love to “grow cold.” We’ve been given too much by Jesus and I don’t know about you, but even in the face of rejection and persecution, allowing the love of Christ to “grow cold” is the worst thing that could happen to me. I’m not giving that love back and I pray that in your time, neither will you.

So, I may forever be a “minor player” in the Jesus movement. But, to the best of my ability, I am going to endure, as Jesus said. Why? Why will I risk not only rejection, but persecution and hatred? Because of the surpassing blessing of life in Jesus Christ. Life in him is the greatest treasure that I can imagine and I could never give it up.

So, let me close this letter to you with this: if you, in your time, think of yourself as a “minor player” in the Jesus movement, remember me. Remember me and all of the other nameless minor players who follow Jesus in the best way that we can, and who endure in the faith that in the end, he will prevail.