12/25/2002 03:59:00 AM

hangin' 'round downtown by myself
and I had too much caffeine
-mpg

Jesus did not desire to make everyone his disciple. Jesus was a friend and master to but a few women and men who themselves, like him, became friend and master to but a few. Jesus was a story teller, religious activist and social healer who shared himself in ever receding circles of influence.

Zaccheus was not his disciple though the encounter they shared was spectacularly real.

the Roman Centurion was not his disciple though the faith exemplified by this violent man of Rome was not only commended, but a pivotal teaching moment taken up by Jesus.

the promiscuous Samaritan woman was no disciple of Jesus though the honor he pays her with his attention, acceptance and instruction would never be forgotten.

the drunk partiers at the wedding party in Canaa were not numbered among Jesus followers, neither was Nicodemus, nor the vast majority of those who came into contact with this man and his disciples. the point of Jesus and his band was not conversion! the point was the kingdom's announcement, enactment and subversion.

not everyone is called to be a disciple. though everyone is called to teshuvah and emunah... more later.

neither party conversion nor inch deep discipleship were the spiritual way of the man called Yesh'uah. perhaps, we should begin to think of the way of Jesus as open community and closed discipleship... more later. maybe.