This week I have working on my "Calling the Disciple" BLOGS. It has not only been an inspirational study of the Disciple's lives, but I have also discovered some wonderful WORSHIP; both in the music and the reviewing of the "CHOSEN" series.
So lets continue as we move on with Jesus, as He calls Matthew and Thomas to join his followers.
"What is a disciple? A standard definition of a "disciple" is someone who adheres to the teachings of Jesus . It means to FOLLOW HIM. A disciple of Jesus is someone who learns from Him in order to LIVE LIKE HIM." Tim Gardener
Andrew, Peter, John and James followed Jesus when he called them:
"Come, follow me, and I will show you how to make FISH FOR PEOPLLE." Matthew 4:19 (NLT)
Philip and Nathanael's primary purpose was to "reach out" to people with the Gospel, so they could have a personal relationship with Jesus, just as He did.
"Therefore, go and make disciples of the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE." Matthew 28:19&20 (NLT)
MATTHEW (LEVI)
"As He walked along, He saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at a Tax Collector's booth. "Follow me", Jesus told Him and Levi got up and FOLLOWED HIM." Mark 2:14 (NIV)
Matthew (Levi) was a Tax Collector, actually doing his job for the Romans, when Jesus called him. The Jews and other disciples would may have rejected him because he was working for their enemies. Yes, he was "despised", and he probably not liked becaused he overcharged people with their taxes. He may have been "wicked and greedy", yet Jesus said:
"It is not the heaslthy who need a doctor; but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous but the sinners TO REPENTANCE." Mark 2:17 (NIV)
This time Jesus invited a sinner to follow Him, and this was especially difficult for the Pharisees, when Jesus went home to his house. Zaccheaus was another Tax Collector, not a young man like Matthew, but he felt rejected too. Both men had felt trapped in their job and in their lives, but they wanted to meet with Jesus and to invite Hin unto their homes to meet their friends and families.
"Jesus responded: "Salvation has come too this home today, for this man has shown himseld to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost." Luke 19:9&10 (NIV)
Matthew was a gifted mathematician and a writer, with social challenges, but still great honesty, humility and faith. One of my favourite parts of "The Chosen" series was in meeting the disciples, and learning why Jesus accepted them.
"An autistic Matthew reminds us that Jesus even calls the disabled to LEAD and to uniquely participate in HIS MISSION." Andrew Abernathy
We know that Jesus was familiar with suffering and he related to the disabled. Like Jesus, there were times when Matthewe was anxious and socially rejected, but we know that He was loved and accepted by Jesus and His Father.
THOMAS
The specific calling of Thomas is not recorded in the Scriptures. Little is known of his early life. In "The Chosen" it tells a story of his engagement to a young woman, Ramah, who was killed, but we do not read this in the Bible. We know he was one of the 12 disciples, with a journey of doubt and later a confession of faith.
Thomas is well known as "the doubter", yet he was devoted to Jesus. Thomas is mentioned only in name in the book of John. He was a man who needed to see things for himself.
"A week later His disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said: "Peace be with you". Then he said to Thomas: "Put your finger here, see my hands. Reach put your hand and put it into my side. STOPAND DOUBT AND BELIEVE."
Thomas said to Him: "My Lord and my God!"
Then Jesus told him: "Because you have seen, you believe. Blessed are those who have not seen, yet have believed." John 20:26-29 (NIV)
Unlike the other disciples, after the resurrection of Jesus, Thomas waited a week, before seeing Jesus again. When Jesus offered to show Thomas His wounds, he was overcome with awe. Jesus was not angry or condemning, He did not "reject him", even with his doubts. He simply showed grace and mercy.
Christians today still have doubts, especially when our prayers may not be answered the way we want them to. My husband Mark and son Aaron have always been men who have needed to see the Word of God in action. They have always asked a lot of questions. I have simply always believed becaused I watched my parents live out their their faith. Yet, even when things haven't always gone OUR WAY, we have NEVER ABANDONED OUR FAITH. Why? Because Jesus is our SAVIOUR AND FRIEND.
Both Matthew and Thomas were Apostles and evangelists in the early Church. Matthew stayed in Judea and then went out as a missionary in the Middle East; Thomas went out to minstered in India, a founder of the Marthoma Christian Community. Matthew was martyrd in Ethiopia, probably by stoning or beheading; while Thomas was speared by four soldiers around 72AD. Both were great men of faith!
"The Holy Bible - New Living Translation", 2011, Biblica
"The Holy Bible - New Living Translation", 2015, Tyndale House Publishers
"Worship Song - Lord I Trust You," 2024, Graceful Sounds/You Tube
"My Jesus, My Saviour", 1993, Darlene Zschech (Composer/Performer), Hillsong/Music Ministry
"THE CHOSEN - Season 1-4, "Jesus Calls Matthew", "Matthew is Autistic", "Jesus Comforts Thomas in His Grief", Parais Patel (Matthew), Joey Valedi (Thomas), 2021,
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