The first step of Apocalyptic-Discpleship is to begin asking Jesus what IMPRESSES HIM. The second step is to become aware what impresses us most and why?
A model of Herod’s Temple created by Israeli historian and archaeologist Michael Avi-Yonah in 1966. This view would be a probable look from the slope of the Mount of Olives before the Romans destroyed the Temple in 70 AD.
41 And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. 43 Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”
Mark 12:41-44 (NASB)
“As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”
Mark 13:1 (NIV)
The prime directive of Jesus is to “IMPRESS US WITH HIS IMAGE”…that is to say, “conform us to His image”! A “First Impression” is what we think about a person when we first encounter them or meet them. This First Impression can be an evaluation based on a brief conversation, a physical glimpse or distant gaze. Anyone who reads the Gospels for the first time would come to a First Impression about Jesus that He is a contemplative, a friend of sinners, a great communicator, compassionate, good, loving, forgiving, intense at times and He does not trust religious leaders. His First Impression brings us back to Him as Lord and Savior to make an Eternal-Impression on us!
Basically, God in Jesus has employed all His knowledge and all His power toward one essential mission… ‘pour all the broken pieces of Jeff’s________(add your name) spirit, soul and body into the perfect mold of Jesus Christ’. The real kicker is you have to create a hot enough fire to melt down all the broken pieces until Jeff_______(add your name) becomes purified molten liquid, fluid enough to be transformed from the inside out…unfortunately this refining process is repeated over and over again! Apocalyptic-Discipleship is a call to pressure and fire…metamorphosis (Rom.8:29; 2 Cor.3:18)!
We become what we behold, what we behold, we eventually worship.
‘Apolcalyptic-Discipleship’ is Jesus calling a small group of men or women to Himself to share life together with a common mission. However, AD(Apocalyptic-Discipleship/Disciple) is a two-way street. Jesus calls us to Himself to “observe” and “learn” what is important to Him…giving secretly, cheerfully and giving our all! The keen penetrating insight of Jesus into religious life is the perspective we need to cultivate. Jesus is a people-watcher, a people-person. The Master already taught you can’t serve God and Mammon (money) because you will despise one or the other. The problem is the “love of money” not money in and of itself. Now Jesus was intensely contemplating all the people giving offerings at the treasury-boxes. When large gifts were given trumpets would be sounded and all heads would turn to see who exactly just gave a big donation to the Temple Foundation.
Click Link below for a Short Clip on the Widow’s Mite
Conversely, the two-way street of following Jesus, involves us calling out to Jesus to get His attention in order to “look” at what impresses or influences us. This crucial second level communication of AD’s is where we learn ‘discernment’ to determine how we best steward our time, talents and treasures. The many good things begin to fade as the most excellent ways of God emerge for us! Discernment for wise choices and “discernment of spirits” is a critical apocalyptic discipline and spiritual-gift to be developed for the end of the age because religious deception will be so prevalent.
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Phil.1:9-11)
A wise man once said to me, “we build churches and then they build us.” If I understood him correctly, he was saying to me be careful Jeff to not allow church buildings, budgets, projects, programs capture your attention more than the people they are meant to serve and help. I confess I like things, I appreciate architecture, I enjoy observing nature at all levels of flora, fauna and geology. When bored, one of my favorite things to do is watch predators hunt prey on YouTube. Currently, I am desperately trying to be more powerful in my love as a son, a father, a friend, a husband and a brother!
Jesus points out people…”this widow”, we tend to point out things “Look at these massive stones and wonderful buildings”. AD’s are more focused on loving people by using things, as opposed to, loving things and using people. All the “things”…all the stuff in this world is falling apart day by day. Our bodies are becoming tattered tents destined to ashes and dust. The human race is created in the likeness of God, therefore, human beings are ‘eternal’. As Apocalyptic-Disciples (AD’s) we must bring a quality of being to them born of God’s Spirit. We must seek to observe people and determine exactly what it is that they need from God and then seek to bring that to them in a spirit of servanthood and love. We must first learn to observe, then to listen, then to speak life-giving words and serve with Holy Spirit strength.
The Lord God has given Me the tongue of disciples,
That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
The Lord God has opened My ear;
And I was not disobedient
Nor did I turn back. (Isa.50:4-5)
The most important ‘temple treasury’ is the one located in your heart…in your spirit. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Our body may or may not be ‘impressive’ by the world’s standard, but the Holy Spirit desires to fill our hearts with the eternal treasures of heaven, of wisdom, of knowledge, of love, compassion, forgiveness etc. The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve us and lay his life down as a ransom for us (Mk.10:45).
Lenten Reflection:
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Shake-up/down: Pray your eyes will be opened to what ‘impresses’ Jesus. Talk to Him about what is influencing you and ask for His perspective.
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Shake-off: What experience or endeavor or accomplishment have you allowed to heavily influence your behavior or lifestyle that is temporal in nature? This may or may not be your endeavor or accomplishment.
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Shake-out: Go and find someone and tell them about how they impressed you with a Christ-like action. Further, ask God to help you “give your all” for Him like the poor widow.