( Matt.25:40b, Matt 25:42 ) - [ Deutsch ]
Sermon (Meditation):
"Stay with me, and keep watch with me, watch and pray", Jesus says - and his disciples sleep. Then Jesus is arrested, and his disciples run from him and flee, everyone by himself, all alone.
What might have happened to them that night? I see them in front of me, watching Jesus go. I hear them talking to themselves.
"Stay with me, remain here with me, watch and pray", Jesus asked them. Let us sing these words.
Peter
Who am I, Simon Peter, a fisherman from Bethsaida at the Sea of Galilee?
Am I still worthy to be called a disciple of Jesus? My brother Andrew and I were the first to be called by Jesus. We left everything and followed him. Full of hope. Jesus' words in our ears: “I will make you fishers of men”.
Peter, that means: the rock. Peter, the strong one. Jesus wanted to build his church on me. How proud I was! And now I ran away from Jesus.
Why did he need to go to Jerusalem? Why put himself in that dangerous situation? I don't understand Jesus anymore. Did I ever understand him? He has become a stranger to me.
I was tired tonight. Tired with sadness and disappointment. I could not stay awake and pray with this unfamiliar Jesus. My hope is gone. Maybe I'll go fishing again like I used to before. Or maybe I will follow Jesus a little while longer. Maybe.
Am I - are we still worthy to be called Jesus' disciples?
John:
How we all stand there! James, my brother, the others and I, John.
Yes, I am called Jesus' favourite disciple. I have always been close to him. I have listened to his words. I have learned his prayers. I have missed out on nothing. And then, when it really mattered, when it got serious… When Jesus needed us… When we were supposed to be there for once. We, who had been allowed to receive so much from him. We were asleep! I slept.
There they take Jesus away - and I wipe the sleep from my eyes. Was our mutual start into God's kingdom meant to end like this, in the dark of night?
I am called his favourite disciple.
Are we even still allowed to call ourselves Jesus' disciples?
Simon, the Zealot:
I never thought that Jesus' cause would end like this. I had other plans. I, Simon, called the Zealot, the liberation fighter. Jesus was meant to be our leader. With him we wanted to drive out the Romans and free Israel. We would have established the long-awaited kingdom of peace. God was on our side!
Oh yes, I would have fought; I was fully committed. I would have fought until I dropped. The kingdom of God has to come! Look at the world! The dominion of Peace is long overdue!
Watching and praying - there is still time for that.
Now it is time to work and fight. Well, I did take a short nap to be rested for the battle. --
And now Jesus allows himself be taken away just like that. He has forbidden us to draw the sword and fight for the New Kingdom. I did not expect that. How else can God's peace come? How much longer do I need to be patient?
Does Jesus have anything left to offer us? Now?! A new hope? New promise?
Hasn't it become pointless to want to be his disciple?
Matthew:
Who am I, if this night prevails? Who am I, Matthew the tax collector, when Jesus leaves and I remain here?
Back then, when Jesus called me at customs, my life was turned around. He called me, and I left everything and followed him. The past was behind me, and a new future opened. And what a future!
Do you remember, Thomas and Philip, do you remember how Jesus once asked us, "Will you also go away from me? Will you leave me?" And do you remember how Peter then answered, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life, and we have believed and known that you are the Holy One of God." We all nodded, we agreed because it was everyone’s answer and mine too.
Friends, where are we going tonight? Are we going our own way or Jesus' way? Do we follow him, or do we abandon him? Him, the Holy One of God?
Do his words of eternal life still have any value for us? Is there any value in this new future for us? How can we still serve Jesus now?
Am I useful to you, Jesus, when I am silent, when I flee, when I make myself invisible, when I hide? Am I useful to you when I speak out, when I shout words from the rooftops that you have inscribed deep into my soul?
Can you still use me, Lord? I am so lost.
We Christians today:
How can we serve Jesus? We Christians of today, almost 2000 years later? --
I remember the words Jesus told his disciples a few days before his arrest:
"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me."(Matt.25:40b)
I hear this: Where I have abandoned one of Jesus' least brothers and sisters, I have abandoned Jesus. Where I have not prayed with them or for them, I have not prayed with Jesus. Where I have not kept watch with them, where I have not been with them in difficult times, where I have not had a watchful mind and open eyes for them, I have not kept watch with Jesus.
And I hear Jesus say: " 42 For I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ (Matt 25:42).
We have to keep watch. We need to pray. And we must be there for the people who need us. Have we done that? Do we do it? Are we worthy to be called Jesus' disciples? Sometimes, I am not so sure….