¹³ Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. ¹⁴ Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach, ¹⁵ giving them authority to cast out demons. ¹⁶ These are the twelve he chose:

Simon (whom he named Peter),
¹⁷ James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”),
¹⁸ Andrew,
Philip,
Bartholomew,
Matthew,
Thomas,
James (son of Alphaeus),
Thaddaeus,
Simon (the zealot),
¹⁹ Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).

Mark 3:13-19

Dear God, I’ve never watched The Chosen, but I come across clips and I saw that interview between Jonathan Roumie and Fr. Mike Schmitz a couple of weeks ago and now some clips are showing up on my YouTube feed. I saw this one yesterday, and I found it interesting. I thought of it again as I saw the New Testament reading for today.

This exchange between Judas and Jesus is fascinating. Here’s the part that grabbed me:

Judas: I trust you. Do you trust me?

Jesus: I do.

Judas: Then why won’t you take my advice and let me help you?

Jesus: I never asked for your advice.

Judas: Then what am I here for?!?

That last question. And I know that is historical fiction. I know this is a writer’s imagination of what Judas might have said. So I’m not confused on that. But I can imagine Judas saying it. More importantly, I can imagine myself saying it. I’m not Disney Princess. I see myself in the bad guys in the Bible. I see myself in the sin of the good guys. And I can see myself expressing to Jesus that I think I know how things should be done. The question is, when I do that, what itch of sin am I scratching?

For Judas, he wanted to lead a revolution. He wanted Jesus to be large and in charge and then, for himself, he wanted the power and glory that would come from being one of the twelve. I love that the screenwriter had Jesus say, “I never asked for your advice.” That’s great. No, you didn’t. You never asked for mine either. You don’t need it.

For me, I can see where you might be calling me to step out of my comfort zone and do something that might cost me time, money, career, security, or even just embarrassment, and I “advise” you against that. Maybe it’s me thinking the church should or shouldn’t do something. Even now, I have a thing I’ve been a part of at church for over 13 years, and it might be coming to an end. Is it your desire that it come to an end, or am I advising you that it should come to an end? I am one of the people who has some influence on what happens next. What do you want to happen next?

Father, you never asked for my advice and you never will. You know…well, everything. Help me to worship and love you in everything I do. I know that answer to the question Judas shouts at Jesus at the end of my quote: “Then what am I here for?!?” It’s in verse 14 and 15: They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach, ¹⁵ giving them authority to cast out demons. I don’t know how much authority you’ve given to me, and I don’t quite understand all of that, but I know you called me to be your ambassador to the world and to everyone around me. So here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, here I am to say that you’re my God. I have no advice. Only my life, my love, and my service to offer you. Please forgive me for being like Judas sometimes.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen