Summary
A tent city begins to form on the outskirts of Capernaum, and Simon Z is concerned about the attention that it is bringing to Jesus. Gaius and Atticus go before Quintus to inform him of the homeless population, and Atticus suggests to Quintus that he could redraw the city boundary lines and tax the people residing in the tent city.
Matthew reconciles with his parents, and they are overjoyed when they learn that Matthew is one of Jesus’s trusted students. Matthew seems to even temporarily overcome one of his social tics caused by his autism when embracing his mother.
Atticus confronts Simon Z, and informs him that Simon needs to deal with the zealots that are pursuing him or he will be forced to kill them. It is apparent that Atticus’ curiosity about Jesus and how he was able to turn Simon away from the zealots is still nagging at him.
Simon and Eden decide that they are ready to start a family. Jesus meets with His students and informs them that He will be sending them out two by two to different regions to exorcise demons, heal the sick, and prepare the way for Jesus’s ministry to come. They have many questions and concerns, but Jesus comforts them and assures them that they will succeed. During this meeting, Judas is assigned the responsibility of being the ministry’s treasurer. Eden is visibly upset when learning that Simon is being sent to a dangerous city after her and Simon agreed to start a family.
Thomas reveals to Jesus his intention to marry Ramah, which Ramah has already discovered through Mary and Tamar. Little James finally confronts Jesus about why He has not healed his physical ailment. Jesus reveals that by showing people that James praises God and glorifies Him despite the fact that he has not been healed is far more powerful of a story. He assures James that his suffering will only last a little longer, and that he will find peace and healing in Heaven. The Apostles meet at Matthew’s old house to sleep before departing on their mission.
Megan’s Insight
The scene with Little James and Jesus is hard to beat but I found the most thought-provoking scene to be the one between Eden and Simon. She confesses to Simon that she felt lost, and struggles to explain the feelings of anger and sadness she experienced while Simon was away. The couple reflects on the encounter between Jesus and Eden back in Season 1 Episode 8, when Jesus tells Eden, “I told Simon to make sacrifices and leave things behind in order to follow me. You are one flesh with Simon. He cannot make sacrifices that are not also yours. You have a role to play in all of this… You will know in time. I can’t make everything about this easier for you… But I see you. Do you understand? I know it is not easy to be at home when your husband is out doing all of this, even when you’re excited about it and proud of him.” Eden admits that she reflects fondly on that moment often when she is feeling alone, but then she makes a striking comment, “but sometimes in the memory I forget what His face looks like.”
Eden is so conflicted in this scene. She knows the love of Jesus, she is proud of her husband, but their absence is a daily burden. Sometimes our calling, or the calling of our spouse (ministry in Eden’s case and military in my personal experience), comes with a heavy burden. We are honored to take up our cross and do God’s work, but that doesn’t mean that it is easy. When we forget to unite our cross with Christ’s, we will struggle under its weight. Focusing on our own suffering will only pull us away from Him and we can forget what His face looks like. We can forget what His loving gaze feels like. It’s important to know intellectually that God loves us and wants a relationship with us, but it’s even more important to live this reality in our hearts. When Christ gazes upon us with love, we should return His gaze and remain there so to never forget His face.
Michael’s Insight
There are many great moments in this episode to highlight, the part with Little James in particular is very impactful. But for me, one of the most important aspects of this episode is the growing sense of danger that the Apostles are feeling. In the meeting at Simon’s, Jesus’s followers for the first time actually confront the idea that this ministry could result in their death. In fact they are so overwhelmed by this revelation that I’m pretty sure it goes right over most of their heads when Jesus pretty much reveals to them that they will in fact be put to death, just like Him.
The mission that Jesus is sending his followers on is scary to all of them (except Z of course) because it is their first time going out on their own without Jesus accompanying them. One of my favorite moments of the episode is the ending scene when the Apostles are gathering at Matthew’s old house the night before they depart for their mission. You can sense that the conversation from earlier is still weighing heavily on them and has them all fearful for their journey. So Simon gathers them all in a circle, and he has them pray a Psalm that David prayed when fleeing for his life from his son Absalom. It feels like a football team in the locker room, getting each other hyped up before they play in the Super Bowl (only with much higher stakes of course). It really feels like this is the moment where Jesus’s disciples know that there is no turning back, they are with Him until the end.
Mitchell’s Insight
To follow on from last week’s insight regarding Matthew’s betrayal of his parents and his father’s proclamation of his death, we get to witness the family reunite. Matthew has been convicted by Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount from last episode and has gone to reconcile for his past harms. Despite this conviction, Matthew’s personal quirks initially prevent him from seeing the radical change in his parents. Matthew’s father then does one of the most difficult things I have experienced in my life, apologize to my children for my mistakes. Matthew’s father says that even with the mistakes Matthew made he had no right to disown Matthew as a son.
Even though my children are very young, I have found apologizing to them for my mistakes both challenging and rewarding. When it is so clear that the other was clearly in the wrong and that our treatment was unjustified, we, in turn, have little difficulty in justifying our uncharitable or harsh response. This is often the case when my son refuses to listen after the 1 millionth command, shouts and screams when he fails to get his way, or hit my wife or me when we have refused his request. Losing our tempers and bringing down the wrath of Dad is the easy response. Christians are called to rise above our emotions and prevent them from ruling us. We recognize the injustice while offering forgiveness and asking for it in times we have failed. This reunion in Matthew’s family in a wonderful depiction of forgiveness and shows the joy that can spring from possessing a heart of forgiveness!
Take to Prayer
Pray for the strength and courage to proclaim the Gospel, even when you are scared to do so out of fear of reproof. Are you dealing with a sickness or injury that is causing you great pain? Remember that this pain is only temporary, and we will find eternal comfort with our Father in Heaven.
Bible Verses
Sending the Apostles
Mark 6:7-11
Luke 9:1-5