THE family had arrived back from the falconry centre. Excitedly they began to tell me about their visit. Among the interesting things they had seen was an owl with only one leg. I forget the kind of owl it was. It was one which only hunts for food as and when it needs to eat. It may not eat for several days and so will lose weight. This loss in body weight is the mechanism which triggers its instinct to hunt again.

It was not hard to imagine that, through an accident, this owl had become very vulnerable. The loss of a limb had upset the balance of its life in more ways than one. Its instincts were not running true. It was disorientated. It didn't know when to hunt or eat. Left out in the wild it would certainly have died. In captivity it was fed, healthy and safe.
The disciples were often very vulnerable without Jesus. Early in his ministry Jesus had chosen twelve disciples. From those who followed him, these were to be specially close and with him all the time.

Choosing Twelve
Jesus chose them carefully. He spent many hours in prayer first. He wanted the choice to be his Father's. Among them would be one who would eventually I betray his master.

The disciples were far from perfect. They had many faults. They argued I amongst themselves. They even debated who was the greatest while Jesus was still with them! They let him down. Yet they were company and help to him.

"But you are those who have continued with me in my trials."
(Luke 22:28)

Matthew had been a tax collector. He would be hated by most Jews and regarded as a traitor. He collected the taxes for Rome. It was a job that was usually very lucrative through extortion.

Simon had been a zealot. They were rebels, anxious to overthrow the Romans. They wanted to regain control of their own country and destiny.

Peter and several others were fishermen. They were simple and trusting, but rugged and strong. They all had this in common that they had left everything to follow Jesus.

They were all teachable too. They had been chosen with a very great work in mind. They did not know it then, but they were to be trained for a most important destiny.

"Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit everlasting life."
(Matthew 19:28-29)

The words disciple and discipline are closely related. This is what their calling was about. They had much to learn. They were to be trained for the kingdom of God. Men hardened and set in their ways would have been no use.

Peter had been out fishing all night when Jesus first called him. He had caught nothing. Jesus told him to try again and a miraculous haul of fish was the result. If Peter had doubted whether Jesus knew anything about fish, his doubts were removed. He felt inadequate in the presence of this one who appeared to know all things.

"When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!' For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken;"
(Luke 5:8-9)

Jesus did not depart. Peter and the others learnt that Jesus was able to supply their need. The ferocity of the storm on the Sea of Galilee made them afraid. They woke their sleeping master in panic. They marvelled at his faith and power in stilling the wind and calming the sea. Fear was replaced by confidence, as long as he was with them.

Where Else Shall We Go?
Later, when others found the going too hard, Jesus gave the twelve the chance to leave him. It was Peter who, this time, would not depart from his Lord:-

"Then Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.'"
(John 6:68)

Peter knew they could not just "go". It was unthinkable that they should drift. Life needs an anchor, a destination. They must have somewhere or someone to go to. For them that destination was Jesus Christ.

There were times when being a disciple of Jesus was hard. The crowd were often enthusiastic about Jesus' work and the disciples glad to be involved. At other times Jesus' teaching and actions brought them into contact with the Jewish authorities.

For example, Jesus' attitude to the sabbath caused them problems. Jesus did not break the sabbath, though many felt he did. He showed men its true purpose. He showed that it was the best day of all for doing God's work. He often chose the sabbath for the work of healing and salvation. It was the day that pointed forward to the "rest" from sin that Jesus would obtain. In Jesus the sabbath was fulfilled. He is our rest and the sabbath no longer needs to be kept.

Yet the religious leaders of those days murmured at the disciples. Afraid often to speak against Jesus, they would criticise his followers. The disciples could not always answer. They did not always understand.
They did not understand when Jesus told them of his death. He said plainly that he was to be killed, but they could not see how this was to be.

The Transfiguration
On a mountain away from the crowds, Jesus received great glory from God. Peter, James and John only were with him as he was transfigured into the beauty of an age to come. Moses and Elijah also appeared in glory and talked with him about his decease.

Jesus must have found this occasion one of great strength. It was "for the joy that was set before him (that) he endured the cross, despising the shame". He saw beyond the cross to the glory that awaited him.
The incident provided a teaching situation for the disciples too. Moses had died outside the promised land. He could not enter the kingdom immediately, j at the end of his life. The disciples had to learn that Jesus was not to establish his kingdom immediately. He must die first.
Elijah had been taken away towards heaven so that no-one knew of his death or burial. The disciples needed to know that Jesus also must go away to heaven and come again to fulfil what the prophets had said.

The Last Supper
The night he was arrested Jesus had a last meal with his disciples. It was a few hours before the Jews were celebrating the feast of passover. That feast was a reminder of the way God had brought His people out of the slavery of Egypt.

The feast Jesus ate with his disciples was not a passover. He made radical alterations to show that they should remember something more important. They were to remember that, through him, God would deliver them from being slaves to sin.

At one point in the meal Jesus took a basin and towel. He began to wash the feet of his disciples. Though he was greater than they, he humbled himself to perform this common courtesy for them. Peter was ashamed. He realised then that they should have done this for Jesus. He refused to allow Jesus to wash his feet. Jesus pointed out that it was essential if Peter was to have any close association with him. Peter relented.

The Betrayer
Judas did not. He did allow Jesus to wash his feet. Jesus no doubt bestowed the same tender care on his feet as on all the others. Even at this late stage, Jesus would wish still that Judas would repent of his intentions. Judas was determined however. He left the gathering to betray his master.

After the main meal, Jesus took a piece of bread. He shared it with his disciples saying that it represented his body. It was given for them. He shared his cup of wine with them too. He said that it was his blood, poured out, to take away sins. Jesus commanded that these emblems of his death should be used to remember him.

"...do this in remembrance of me."
(Luke 22:19)

"For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till he comes."
(1 Corinthians 11:26)

Jesus prayed for his disciples too. He prayed that they should continue in what was true. He asked God to guard them and keep them from the world.

Then Jesus prayed for others who would believe right down the centuries to our day. We too need to be teachable if we are to follow him. We must be willing to let our lives be moulded and shaped by his teaching. Disciples, by definition, are learners.

Out of the city and across the valley the little group made its way. At the garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed. The disciples fell asleep.
Jesus wrestled with his will. His natural desire was to escape the crucifixion. He toiled to bring his own feelings into subjection to God's will. It was no easy battle. It was no pretend conflict. Jesus was not God. His perspiration came like great drops of blood, so real and so hard was the conflict. Still the disciples were unaware.

They were awake when the soldiers came. No doubt from the best motives, Peter lashed out with a sword. The Lord condemned his action:-

"Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword."
(Matthew 26:52)

And the disciples forsook him and fled. 