January 27-February 2

DON'T BE AFRAID
Bob Rahrle
Jonesboro, Arkansas

Matthew 17 begins with a real mountain-top experience, the transfiguration of Jesus. It was at this time that the disciples' inner circle was allowed to see the true glory of the one they had been following. Peter, James, and John were nearly overwhelmed by the sight, but Jesus comforted them with the most commonly uttered command from God, "Don't be afraid!" If we don't have to be afraid of the God who created us and who possesses the glory displayed here, of what shall we be afraid? Following this incredible incident, the four were dragged back to the mundane with squabbling about whether Jesus ought to pay the temple tax and a fuss about "Who is the greatest in the kingdom?" among the apostles.

Jesus takes the opportunity to teach using some parables. He includes some very practical teachings about interaction among brothers that is too frequently ignored today. Read 18:15-17 carefully and incorporate it into your life! If everyone understood and practiced that and if husbands and wives understood the marriage commitment described in the first part of chapter 19, this would be a much more pleasant world.

One of my favorite teachings involves the rich young man of 19:16-26. If we understand that he asked Jesus the wrong question, "What good thing MUST I DO to get eternal life," we can understand the teaching. It didn't take Jesus long to find out what the man was unwilling or unable to do to fulfill the law that he was living under. Only God's grace can get eternal life for any of us.

The parable of the eleventh hour follows and so does yet another round of "Who is greatest," instigated this time by James's and John's mother.

The final week of Jesus' ministry on earth is begun by the "triumphal entry" of Jesus into Jerusalem. Again, Jesus is misunderstood by both His opponents and His followers. So many assumed He was coming to drive the Romans out of Jerusalem to begin an earthly reign. Instead, he drove the real enemy, the Jewish religious establishment, out of the temple to purify it so that the true kingdom of God could be established.

[Bob Rahrle serves as a shepherd with the Southwest church of Christ in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He is married to the former Lin Earls with two children and, more importantly, four grandchildren. Bob is employed as Technology Coordinator for the Brookland (Arkansas) Public Schools.]