The Company

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves.  Matthew 17:1  

The end was near and there were things to teach the disciples.  Six days after Peter said “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” “Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves”.  He took them when he went to raise Jairus’s daughter, when he was transfigured and when the agonized in Gethsemane. On all three occasions death was in the air. In Jairus’s home he triumphed over it. On the mountain he talked about it. In the Garden he confronted it.

According to Mark he took them as witnesses. Note however that at the raising of Jairus’ daughter there was nothing they could do. On the mountain they were bewildered spectators of His glory. In Gethsemane they were asleep. I believe they were also there as partners. They must be present to share his conflict, struggles, pain, hurts, sorrows, joys and his victory. The cup that he drank they would drink. There are certain times and experiences when we need to have or to know someone in near. We need company.

I learnt the value of company in 1979. I was a member of the Irish Young People in Mission team to Germany. During a friendly football match between the Irish (plus a Jamaican) and the German youth I got injured. Back at the camp, I was in pain. I remained in bed, unable to participle in the closing bar-b-que. Beside my bed, all evening, was a German young lady. She sat beside my bed. She never said much and I was in too much pain to speak. She sat there until the bar-b-que was over.  Back in Ireland I spent two weeks in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. I can and will never forget the silent but present company of that young lady who sacrificially and silently shared my pain even while others were having a good time outside.

The singling out of the three disciples points to the disconcerting belief that not all Jesus’ followers are called to equal intimacy with Jesus. Neither are all Christians called to the same awful responsibilities on behalf of others. Is this favouritism or exclusiveness? I think not. In the Christian life there are differences of vocation, some are chosen to experience more, to suffer more and to do more than others. Although we are disciples we will not all called to be a Desmond Tutu, Mother Theresa, or John Wesley or Sam Sharpe or Mary Wilkinson. 

Jesus took three disciples with him. He has promised to and he goes with us into every situation  . . .  “Lo I am with you always” He goes with us into the operating theatre, slums, prisons, street corners, palaces and parliaments; into every place of sorrow and darkness. In homes where there is pain, bereavement, confusion, where violence, sordidness and cruelty prevail the company of the Living Christ is with us.  Our presence and the presence of Jesus can transform every situation.

THINK ON THIS “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” Phil. 3:10

PRAYER:       Ask God for wisdom and courage to be someone’s company.

Everald Galbraith

10 March 2011