Who are we called to be?

As the church, as those who claim to love Jesus, to follow Him, to trust Him...who are we called to be?

To those that we like and those that we don’t?
Those who look like us, speak the same language, and those who don’t?
To our neighbors and those on the other side of town, to those on the other side of the world?

The picture this morning begins with two individuals who knew Jesus very well, in fact, Jesus chose them each specifically.
Of all the people who Jesus would have invited to be his disciples, he chose these two. And yet their inclusion and participation in the kingdom of God speaks volumes to us today.

Zealots were an aggressive political party who had such a deep concern for the Jewish people that they would despise anyone who sought peace with Rome or tolerated them in any way.
They fiercely opposed anything and anyone that diminished their culture, religion or their desire for self-government.

Among the zealots there were those extremists who turned to terrorism and assassination. This group became known as the Sicarii or ‘the dagger men’. They were known for their hidden daggers ready to strike down anyone friendly to Rome.

And yet Jesus chooses one of them? A zealot?

Of all the people Jesus could choose, he chose him? Matthew, a tax collector?

Tax collectors were hated by everyone. The Jews, their own people, reviled them because they collaborated with the enemy. They worked for Rome and carried out their orders.
But even worse, tax collectors like Matthew gained wealth by padding their own pockets, demanding more than what was due, and keeping it for themselves.
They represented the enemy, and got rich by over-taxing their own people.

And yet Jesus chooses him, “follow me”.

So why in the world would Jesus choose both of them to be His followers?

First, He loved them. Jesus had a way of seeing through the exterior, even when it was controversial or unpopular. He demonstrated the love of God – He IS the love of God.

But there's an even more compelling reason: why did Jesus choose Matthew, Simon, among others? Why did he choose two individuals who clearly stood in opposition to one another?

To demonstrate the incredible power of this prayer in action: ‘May they be one, Father. Make them one’

Jesus prays that these disciples, this rag tag group, which included two of the more opposite and different people you could imagine, would be ONE.

And He prays the same for us today..."that ALL of them would be one"