You did not
choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear
fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name
the Father will give you. John 15:16 (NIV)
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| Image by Ged Carroll via Flickr |
Jesus
taught his disciples many things in the three years that he was with them. But
when he spoke to them for the final time before his death, we can be sure that
he didn’t waste words. What he told them over supper in that upstairs room was
of utmost importance. And one of the things that he really wanted them to know
was that they did not choose him, but he chose them.
Why was
that? Three possible reasons come to mind. First, he wanted to ensure that the
disciples would never become arrogant about their position. They would never come to believe that God owed them something for having dedicated their lives to him.
They were disciples by his choice, not theirs.
Second, he
wanted to avoid becoming a commodity or package, something the disciples would
sell to others as ‘a good choice in life’. The person who is called by Christ
does not make ‘a decision for Christ’ in order to get the spiritual goods. They
are already chosen and can only humbly submit to him as Lord. The disciples
were called to bear witness to Christ, not to sell Christianity.
Thirdly,
he wanted to give the disciples reassurance in those times when they were
tempted to believe that they were not committed enough, not dedicated enough,
and therefore not acceptable to God. Peter was about to deny Jesus. Thomas would doubt
him. All would abandon him. But that didn’t negate the bond between the disciples and Jesus, because
he had chosen them. If it was by their own choice that they followed him, their failure could
suggest that they had not been sincere enough in their decision. But if he had
chosen them, they were secure.
That is not to say that following Christ doesn't involve a striving to become a better disciple. But knowing that we are Christ's by his choice, not ours, sets us free from constantly questioning our level of commitment based on our performance. We will avoid the trap of frequently dissecting our past motivation while grimly trying to improve on the commitment we made last week, last month, last year.
When we fall down, it is our reliance on Christ, not our resolution to follow him, that we need to review. "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." is commitment. (Matthew 26:35) "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness." is reliance on Christ. (Acts 4:29) We are his, he has chosen us, and he is committed to seeing us bear lasting fruit.
