Wednesday 18 June 2025

Psalm 144

Background
As I write this I am also preparing for Vocations Sunday, which is the third Sunday after Easter. In my sermon I will consider Jesus’ encounters with Peter on the beach and Paul on the road to Damascus, both of which could be calling 'commissioning narratives'. Jesus tells Peter to "tend my sheep" (John 21:16-17) and he says to Paul "But get up and enter the city [Damascus], and you will be told what you are to do." (Acts 9:6)

Christianity relies on us telling people about Jesus, fulfilling the great commission. Other ways of saying this are hearing God’s call and following our vocation. The passage today starts with the disciples going to Galilee and the mountain. Why did they do this? It was because Jesus had appeared to Mary Magdalene after his resurrection, instructing her to tell the disciples to go to Galilee (Matthew 28:10).

Paul did as Jesus said and went to Damascus. He had a reputation for persecuting Jews and Ananias had to screw his courage to the sticking place to go to Straight Street as the Lord instructed and lay his hands on Paul and pray. Only then could Paul see again (Acts 9:11-17).

As he commissions the 11 disciples, Jesus assures them (and us) of his power. He commissioned them (and us) to make 'disciples of all nations'. He promises them (and us) his presence but it's still not an easy instruction to follow – we’re told that ‘some doubted’ (Matthew 28:17).

In the modern era, when Christianity has been associated with colonialism 'making disciples’ may not feel right. I think a more appropriate translation than 'making disciples' is David Bentley Hart’s New Testament translation, which renders the words as ‘go, therefore, instruct all nations…’

To refine this a little further I was struck by the Revd Professor David Wilkinson of Durham University who spoke about 'a calling' in relation to politics on a recent BBC Radio 4 'Thought for the Day'. He suggested that politics is not a profession but a calling. He encouraged us to think of calling and vocation in terms of a priesthood of all believers. Whatever job we have and whatever our role in life, when we do it well we are doing it for God.

Much of Jesus’ time after his resurrection was given to instruction; talking to his disciples on the Emmaus Road (Luke 24:27) and opening their minds (Luke 24:45). If we think in terms of helping all people to hear God’s call perhaps we can be more confident in answering Jesus’ great commission.

To Ponder:

• What first led you to hear God’s call for your life? And when did you most recently hear God calling you?
• Comparing 'converting people to Christianity' with helping individuals to hear God’s call – which do you think seems more appropriate in today’s culture?

Prayer
God of all, be with me always. Lord Jesus, give me courage. Holy Spirit, inspire me to hear and share what you are saying to me. Amen.

Bible notes author: Dr Tom Lunt
Dr Tom Lunt is a Methodist local preacher, prison chaplain and lecturer. He lives with his wife Liz in East Sussex.