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Bartholomew, Apostle
Today’s Reading: Luke 22:24-30
Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 5:1-16; 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:17
Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. (Luke 22:24)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus’ apostles often got into this argument about who was greatest. From what we read in the Scriptures, guys like Peter, James, and John seem like Jesus’ favorites or the greatest of the apostles. But Bartholomew? Most of us can’t even spell his name without looking! What did Bartholomew ever do? What was he ever known for? Answer: He was sent by Jesus into the world to preach repentance and the forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ Name.
The greatest, of course, is Jesus, but not for the reasons we usually think. Jesus isn’t great because He’s powerful and can create the universe and because He knows everything. He’s great because He is the least. He is the lightning rod of sin. He is the crucified Savior who did not come to show everyone how mighty He is, but to be mighty by being made as nothing, a criminal, a sinner, nailed to a tree. That’s greatness the apostles don’t know, until the Lord sends them to lay down their lives for Him in the preaching of His Word to a hostile world that kills them.
Your pastor may not seem like a great guy. But He is if He preaches Jesus. Your pastor has been called, just as St. Bartholomew was, to deliver Jesus to you. He may never have 10,000 people in a stadium church, or write a “Christian” bestselling book. But He baptized you or reminds you of your Baptism. He calls you to repentance and faith in Jesus by the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. He feeds you with the Body and Blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins. You can’t be a greater guy than that, even though the world thinks your pastor is nothing and doesn’t understand what he’s about.
St. Bartholomew, Peter, James, and John, and the men Jesus calls to be pastors aren’t great in and of themselves. But what they have is great, for they deliver Jesus by the Word and Sacraments. And by those gifts, He who is least, Jesus, makes you into the greatest in His kingdom. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
[Of Bartholomew, also called Nathanael]All praise for for him whose candor Through all his doubt You saw When Philip at the fig tree Disclosed you in the law. Discern, beneath our surface, O Lord, what we can be, That by Your truth made guileless, Your glory we may see. (LSB 518:23)
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By Higher Things®Today’s Reading: Luke 22:24-30
Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 5:1-16; 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:17
Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. (Luke 22:24)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus’ apostles often got into this argument about who was greatest. From what we read in the Scriptures, guys like Peter, James, and John seem like Jesus’ favorites or the greatest of the apostles. But Bartholomew? Most of us can’t even spell his name without looking! What did Bartholomew ever do? What was he ever known for? Answer: He was sent by Jesus into the world to preach repentance and the forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ Name.
The greatest, of course, is Jesus, but not for the reasons we usually think. Jesus isn’t great because He’s powerful and can create the universe and because He knows everything. He’s great because He is the least. He is the lightning rod of sin. He is the crucified Savior who did not come to show everyone how mighty He is, but to be mighty by being made as nothing, a criminal, a sinner, nailed to a tree. That’s greatness the apostles don’t know, until the Lord sends them to lay down their lives for Him in the preaching of His Word to a hostile world that kills them.
Your pastor may not seem like a great guy. But He is if He preaches Jesus. Your pastor has been called, just as St. Bartholomew was, to deliver Jesus to you. He may never have 10,000 people in a stadium church, or write a “Christian” bestselling book. But He baptized you or reminds you of your Baptism. He calls you to repentance and faith in Jesus by the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. He feeds you with the Body and Blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins. You can’t be a greater guy than that, even though the world thinks your pastor is nothing and doesn’t understand what he’s about.
St. Bartholomew, Peter, James, and John, and the men Jesus calls to be pastors aren’t great in and of themselves. But what they have is great, for they deliver Jesus by the Word and Sacraments. And by those gifts, He who is least, Jesus, makes you into the greatest in His kingdom. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
[Of Bartholomew, also called Nathanael]All praise for for him whose candor Through all his doubt You saw When Philip at the fig tree Disclosed you in the law. Discern, beneath our surface, O Lord, what we can be, That by Your truth made guileless, Your glory we may see. (LSB 518:23)