The "Duh-sciple" story
Okay, here's how I came up with the term"duh-sciple." Say "duh-sciple" out loud and it's pretty close to "disciple".
A disciple is an apprentice or follower or student of Jesus. By just walking around with Jesus in the Gospels, the disciples experience intensive, ongoing training. You would think that by walking with Jesus, talking with Jesus, sitting down & eating a meal with Jesus, arguing with Jesus, hanging around with Jesus, observing his clashes with his opponents, spying his grace towards the outcast, and soaking up his glory day after day that they would mature into spiritual giants. BAMP! That's not what happened.
According to the Gospel of Mark, the disciples just didn't get it.
Mark 8:22-26= Blind Man Healed #1= Jesus heals a blind man. However, it takes Jesus two tries before the man can see clearly- first the man sees "trees walking," then his vision is normal after a second attempt. What follows will be three predictions by Jesus, three examples of the "duh-sciples" blindness, and three attempts by Jesus to help them see better.
Mark 8:31= Prediction #1= Jesus predicts his arrest, suffering, his death on the cross, followed by his Resurrection on the third day
What happens after Prediction #1?
Peter tells Jesus to stop talking about this crucifixion business. Jesus reacts with blunt words, "Get behind me, Satan! You are thinking as human beings think, not as God thinks." Wow, imagine Jesus calling you "Satan." Next, Jesus goes on to clarify that to be a disciple means to take up one's cross. See it? Peter is a "duh-sciple." He doesn't get it, at least not completely. He's still somewhat blind- doesn't really see what Jesus is all about or what he should be about.
Mark 9:30-32= Prediction #2= Jesus predicts his betrayal, his death, and his Resurrection on the third day
What happens after Prediction #2?
The "duh-sciples" get into a huge argument with each other about which one of them was the greatest. Give me a break! Jesus has just finished baring his soul about the suffering he faces, and these knuckleheads argue about who's Number One. Jesus has to clarify, "If you want to be Number One, then you must be last of all and servant of all."
Mark 10:35-37= Prediction #3= Jesus predicts his betrayal, death sentence, torture, death on the cross, followed by his Resurrection on the third day
What happens after Prediction #3?
The ten overhear or eavesdrop on a coversation where James and John were asking Jesus for positions at our Lord's right and left when he enters his kingdom. The ten go nuts. [Notice that James and John didn't know what they were asking. Think it through. Jesus' right and left in his kingdom? Right and left on his throne? That's the cross... and that would put them both on crosses to Jesus' right and left!] Anyway, there's a big stink. Duh! They don't get it.
Once again, Jesus must clarify, "The Gentiles use force to dominate and control others. I don't want you guys to be like that. Instead the greatest must become a servant. If you want to be Number One, then you must be slave to all. For I didn't come to be served, but to serve, and to give my life as a ransom for many." Where does that leave us?
Mark 10:46-52= Blind Man Healed #2= Jesus heals the blind man named Bartimeaus. And Bartimaeus, after receiving new vision, follows Jesus "on the way".
What happens after "blind man healed, part two"?
Bartimeaus follows Jesus "on the way" to the cross. See it? On the way. What this suggests to me is that only after the cross do we receive the vision of who Jesus really is and what Jesus is really about. After the cross, then we move from being "duh-sciples" [who don't get it] to "disciples" [who follow Jesus "on the way"].
Well, if I haven't lost you by now, this is what I see. In Mark the disciples are "duh-sciples". Time after time they are so clueless it's almost funny. And you know what? Time after time I'm clueless. But Jesus doesn't give up on me. He's doing "laser surgery" to improve my vision.
For now my spirutality is messy, my steps are bumbling, my words are fumbling- I don't have my act together. More often than not I see things from a "human point of view" instead of "God's point of view." But it's not over. The Lord is still working on me- and perhaps you, too. I struggle to follow Jesus as a disciples. Usually I'm a duh-sciple!
Let us pray. Loving Jesus, when they crucified you on the cross, Satan got nailed. You drove out the "serve us" spirit of the "duh-sciples." You replaced our demons with the "service" Spirit so that we might follow you "on the way". Help us to become Number One- by serving others, by giving our lives away, by impacting the lives of those who have not yet tasted your love. Amen.
I look forward to your comments. Does this make sense? Or does it all sound crazy?
Mungu awabariki [= "the Lord bless you all' in Kiswahili],
Duh-sciple Tim
A disciple is an apprentice or follower or student of Jesus. By just walking around with Jesus in the Gospels, the disciples experience intensive, ongoing training. You would think that by walking with Jesus, talking with Jesus, sitting down & eating a meal with Jesus, arguing with Jesus, hanging around with Jesus, observing his clashes with his opponents, spying his grace towards the outcast, and soaking up his glory day after day that they would mature into spiritual giants. BAMP! That's not what happened.
According to the Gospel of Mark, the disciples just didn't get it.
Mark 8:22-26= Blind Man Healed #1= Jesus heals a blind man. However, it takes Jesus two tries before the man can see clearly- first the man sees "trees walking," then his vision is normal after a second attempt. What follows will be three predictions by Jesus, three examples of the "duh-sciples" blindness, and three attempts by Jesus to help them see better.
Mark 8:31= Prediction #1= Jesus predicts his arrest, suffering, his death on the cross, followed by his Resurrection on the third day
What happens after Prediction #1?
Peter tells Jesus to stop talking about this crucifixion business. Jesus reacts with blunt words, "Get behind me, Satan! You are thinking as human beings think, not as God thinks." Wow, imagine Jesus calling you "Satan." Next, Jesus goes on to clarify that to be a disciple means to take up one's cross. See it? Peter is a "duh-sciple." He doesn't get it, at least not completely. He's still somewhat blind- doesn't really see what Jesus is all about or what he should be about.
Mark 9:30-32= Prediction #2= Jesus predicts his betrayal, his death, and his Resurrection on the third day
What happens after Prediction #2?
The "duh-sciples" get into a huge argument with each other about which one of them was the greatest. Give me a break! Jesus has just finished baring his soul about the suffering he faces, and these knuckleheads argue about who's Number One. Jesus has to clarify, "If you want to be Number One, then you must be last of all and servant of all."
Mark 10:35-37= Prediction #3= Jesus predicts his betrayal, death sentence, torture, death on the cross, followed by his Resurrection on the third day
What happens after Prediction #3?
The ten overhear or eavesdrop on a coversation where James and John were asking Jesus for positions at our Lord's right and left when he enters his kingdom. The ten go nuts. [Notice that James and John didn't know what they were asking. Think it through. Jesus' right and left in his kingdom? Right and left on his throne? That's the cross... and that would put them both on crosses to Jesus' right and left!] Anyway, there's a big stink. Duh! They don't get it.
Once again, Jesus must clarify, "The Gentiles use force to dominate and control others. I don't want you guys to be like that. Instead the greatest must become a servant. If you want to be Number One, then you must be slave to all. For I didn't come to be served, but to serve, and to give my life as a ransom for many." Where does that leave us?
Mark 10:46-52= Blind Man Healed #2= Jesus heals the blind man named Bartimeaus. And Bartimaeus, after receiving new vision, follows Jesus "on the way".
What happens after "blind man healed, part two"?
Bartimeaus follows Jesus "on the way" to the cross. See it? On the way. What this suggests to me is that only after the cross do we receive the vision of who Jesus really is and what Jesus is really about. After the cross, then we move from being "duh-sciples" [who don't get it] to "disciples" [who follow Jesus "on the way"].
Well, if I haven't lost you by now, this is what I see. In Mark the disciples are "duh-sciples". Time after time they are so clueless it's almost funny. And you know what? Time after time I'm clueless. But Jesus doesn't give up on me. He's doing "laser surgery" to improve my vision.
For now my spirutality is messy, my steps are bumbling, my words are fumbling- I don't have my act together. More often than not I see things from a "human point of view" instead of "God's point of view." But it's not over. The Lord is still working on me- and perhaps you, too. I struggle to follow Jesus as a disciples. Usually I'm a duh-sciple!
Let us pray. Loving Jesus, when they crucified you on the cross, Satan got nailed. You drove out the "serve us" spirit of the "duh-sciples." You replaced our demons with the "service" Spirit so that we might follow you "on the way". Help us to become Number One- by serving others, by giving our lives away, by impacting the lives of those who have not yet tasted your love. Amen.
I look forward to your comments. Does this make sense? Or does it all sound crazy?
Mungu awabariki [= "the Lord bless you all' in Kiswahili],
Duh-sciple Tim
posted by Duh-sciple Tim at 6:54 PM
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