imitation

Scripture:

A reading from Acts

³⁶Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. ³⁷At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. ³⁸Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” ³⁹So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. ⁴⁰Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. ⁴¹He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. ⁴²This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. ⁴³Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.

 A reading from Luke

 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. Just then there came a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying…

 While he was still speaking, someone came from the leader’s house to say, ‘Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.’ When Jesus heard this, he replied, ‘Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be saved.’ When he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him, except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. They were all weeping and wailing for her; but he said, ‘Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and called out, ‘Child, get up!’ Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then he directed them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astounded; but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.

Observation:

These two stories take place at different times and places.  The healer and the patient are different people.  A child and an adult woman are raised from the dead by Jesus and by Peter.  Though Peter is present in the Luke story, Jesus is not "present" in the Acts story.  And yet there are many things similar about these stories. Both Jesus and Peter are summoned to a home of a faithful person.  There has been a death in both places.  Both of the deceased are female.  Both Peter and Jesus say to the dead person, "_____, get up." In Mark's version of the story, Jesus says to the girl "Talitha, Cum" or "Tabitha Cum".  (The ancient manuscripts differ on the words).  Essentially, we can say that Peter and Jesus say the same words.   Both men lift up the woman/girl as she gets up.

Application
Why does Peter think he has the power to raise a dead woman?  Because Peter is audacious enough to believe that he is able to imitate his master.  Like an apprentice, Peter is learning how to act and live like his rabbi Jesus.  He has seen and heard Jesus do this before.  He is simply repeating what he has seen and heard!  And it works!  They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.  In this case, it is the practice of Jesus' disciples to do what Jesus did.  There are people whose lives are worth trying to emulate.  We can learn how to act, speak, react to failure, deal with stressors, celebrate, manage conflict, make healthy choices by watching and imitating good examples.  Jesus lived a life worth imitating.  Those of us who are learning his ways, hope to live that way too---developing habits, thoughts, and words worth repeating by others.  In this way we make disciples.  As we imitate Jesus and others imitate us, so Jesus' way is multiplied and the kingdom grows.  Wat are you doing in your life that is an imitation of something good you learned from someone?  In what ways are you seeking to imitate Jesus?  Ans what are you doing in your life that is worth imitating?

Prayer     
Jesus, you lived a life worth imitating.  Help me t learn yur ways and words and practice them for others to see and know you.  Amen. 

What's love got to do with it?

Scripture John 13

When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’

Observation:

This takes place on the night when Jesus was arrested.  In the Gospel of John, just before his arrest, he begins a long monologue to his disciples.  It is four chapters in length and ends in a long prayer, chapter 17.  These chapters serve as Jesus' last will and testament.  He is saying goodbye, leaving them with instructions, resources, promises, words of affection and love.  And finally he prays for them, for their ongoing mission, and for the people they will encounter on the way.  As Jesus says goodbye, he gives them a glimpse of what's next.  Its clear that what he started isn't ending with his death.  Its only just beginning there.   

Application:

Notice Jesus does not say:  By this everyone will know you are my disciples, that you are a member of a congregation.  Or that you go to worship on Sundays.  Or that you give a tithe. Or that you wear certain clothes and avoid certain foods.  Christianity has developed criteria for belonging that Jesus himself did not require.  Discipleship is characterized by love.  They'll know we are Christians by our love. Not romantic love.  Not even brotherly love.  But agape love.  Jesus kind of love.  He commands them to "Love one another just as I have loved you."  So how did Jesus love them?  With grace.  Patience.  Consistency.  Presence.  Generosity.  He chose them.  He identified them as people with the potential to learn and carry on his mission. He chose them not because they were special but because he recruited people who were generally overlooked, under appreciated, or even disregarded.  He chose them because they represent this movement of anybodies.  He chose unlikely disciples to build a church.  Maybe you're one of those, an unlikely participant in the movement of God in the world.  Maybe you don't even see yourself as part of something greater yet.  But you are!  You have been chosen, called, selected, and recruited to continue the love revolution!  The quality of our IN relationships is important.  We are stronger and more capable when we actually love each other.  We are called to do hard things sometimes.  And we need supportive, sustaining love to do them.  The great news is the only job we have to do together is to learn and enact Jesus' way of love.  It's a lifelong endeavor and I have a long way to go to love like him.  But we're learning.  Daily I am placed in the lives of people who need Jesus' love--mercy, compassion, hope, joy, peace, friendship, personal investment in their lives.  I can only love as much as I have been loved. Because of you all, I am able to love far more people better. When we take the walk together, the walk gets easier and the burdens get lighter.  When we push in and show up, Jesus appears.  So how can we love one another better as disciples and friends?

Prayer 
Lord, with patience, grace, and presence you loved your disciples.  Help us to love one another, to care for each other, to be real with each other, to encourage and support each other, to bless and serve each other.  So that they might know we belong to you and thirst for the love we share.   Amen.