URC Daily Devotion 18th January 2019

Today’s Scripture reading is significant for several reasons. Initially, it reads as a Who’s Who of Jesus’ disciples. This is the road-crew who supported Jesus through three years of ministry. Everyone is mentioned by name, bringing in their family histories – largely unknown to us – into the mix of relationships. Some of these relationships were already established, while other relationships were starting to crystallize. By listing each disciple by name, it is as if the Gospel writer, and Jesus himself, is recognising the significance of each person’s family background.

But this list of motley disciples takes shape in other ways. Jesus called them into a specific sort of relationship, one of new sisters and brothers, mothers and fathers brought together in the unique union as family bound together in the union and love of Christ. The old family history is still significant, but is complimented by this new layering of family.

Therefore, to simply see this list as some form of management hierarchy does it a disservice. Instead, it reshapes itself as as a new family tree, with different people organically coming together through Jesus acting as its trunk.

So, Jesus calls us also to join this family. He calls us by the name of our birth and family. In some cases, he will even give us a new name. But he calls us to join this new family – defined by faith, hope and love – with its unique heritage and mission to carry on branching out.