Thought for Today
1 Kings 17:12 But she said, "As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die."
Mark 1:30 Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31 He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
Mark 14:16 So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.
Twice recently, I have encountered verses in scripture indicating that Jesus decided to return to Galilee. We know that Jesus’ life and ministry centered around 2 locales, Jerusalem and Galilee. The 2 were separated by ‘enemy territory,’ Samaria. Journeying between the regions was arduous by our modern standards..
When Greta and I journeyed from Texas to New England, we drove on paved highways, often Interstates. We were able to stop for meals at restaurants. We stayed overnight at modern, clean and comfortable hotels. Jesus and his disciples walked on mostly dirt tracks. The Roman occupation troops would have access to roads paved with cobblestones and/or gravel; but, they too would have traveled on foot. Armies and civilians would have camped overnight. Meals were cooked over open campfires, or consisted of dried foods that could be carried.
This morning, I am wondering: of those 12 disciples, who was the travel planner? Who was the cook? Who organized all the details and double-checked that everything was ready? There was no AAA to provide roadmaps; who was the navigator?
We know that Jesus sent the disciples ahead to “prepare the Passover meal.” But that word ‘prepare’ can include a host of different activities. Who did the shopping? Who booked the venue? Who actually cooked? Who set the table? Who cleaned up?
We also know that in those days women did most of the meal preparation. Elijah had the widow in Zarephath to prepare his meal. Peter’s mother-in-law got up immediately after being healed to prepare Jesus’ meal. Who was in charge of meals for the disciples?
John’s gospel tells us that “13:29 Judas had the common purse.” So, Judas was the treasurer and maybe even the bookkeeper. Jesus was the CEO and even the Marketing Director. Maybe they didn’t need an Event Planner or even a Transportation Director. Maybe the options for routes were limited to a single path. But, who was the cook?
Jesus fed the crowds with a limited supply of fish and loaves of bread. But, certainly the itinerant rabbi and disciples could not rely on miracles for all their meals. Almost assuredly, as the ministry grew and word about Jesus spread throughout both regions, there would have been followers in most cities who could be relied upon to offer food and shelter. Then and now, there are always those who will offer their homes and their sustenance to support the causes they champion. But, for the 12, who was the cook?
Scripture reveals to us that within the group of 12 there was an inner circle. Repeatedly, we see James, John and Peter included in special moments and events. Were they a sort of Executive Council? Maybe the others or some subset of them served as the Catering Department? Matthew, as a former tax collector, might have been useful as a chandler, a dealer in provisions, supplies and equipment. Maybe Simon the Zealot also had a zeal forcuisine?
Some mornings, I ponder on deep, philosophical thoughts. Some mornings, on complex issues of theology. This morning, I wonder . . . who was the cook? I believe that we are all called to God’s service. Some are called to pulpit ministries, some to missionary service, some to other clergy or lay work. Some are called to faithful service to God in their everyday lives, called to witness their love for God in their love for their neighbors. Twelve were called to be Jesus’ disciples. Then and now, some are called to be the cook, to toil in anonymity in service to God.
Stay safe, offer prayer of thanksgiving for the anonymous servants of God, trust God,
Pastor Ray