Sermon for St Edward’s Sun 24 August / Bartholomew
Readings: Luke 22:24-30, Isaiah 43:8-13
Today the church traditionally remembers one of the apostles, Bartholomew.
Now let me ask you what do you know about Bartholomew?
Nothing?
Well yes, we don’t read anything about him, other than his name, in the Bible, in Mark 3 and Luke 6 where Jesus names the disciples, and in Matt 10 Jesus summons the disciples and Bartholomew is among them.
As an example in Mark 3:13-14
He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message…
…and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and..
As with many things in the Bible, there is disagreement amongst scholars, but he is usually associated with Philip, because in 3 of the mentions he is named along with Philip. But that may mean nothing! His name might be what’s called a patronymic, meaning son of – in this case Son of Tolomai. But it also might not!
He is also often thought to be the same person as Nathanael as mentioned in John 1. This is possible, it was common to have 2 names e.g. Simon Peter, Saul/Paul.
If that is the case, Nathanael met Jesus having been introduced by Philip (again that association, perhaps they were brothers or cousins?). Nathanael was initially sceptical saying of Jesus: ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ but when Jesus saw Nathanael he prophesied over him saying,
‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!’ and that he had seen him sat under a fig tree. Nathanael is convinced and says v49, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’
Bartholomew is thought to have died by being flayed – i.e. having his skin removed, and then beheaded. Charming. And that led to him rather sardonically, becoming the patron saint of tanners, leatherworkers, bookbinders, farmers, butchers, tailors, and glove makers.
The one thing we do know about Bartholomew for sure is that he was an apostle/ a disciple.
We hear about some of the disciples in more detail than others, Peter for example. But all 12 were chosen and walked with Jesus, learned from him, saw him perform miracles, signs and wonders. Bartholomew was every much a disciple as Peter even though we hear less about him.
And here in our passage today from Luke, we see them all gathered for the Passover. It’s Jesus’ last chance to teach them before he is arrested and put to death.
Here he reminds them they are called to be different. That their way of life must be counter cultural and spiritually focussed on him. In this passage we see him pointing to the leaders of the day, the religious way of life and Satan’s spiritual plan, all of which they are called to counter.
Counter cultural …
They are called to be different to the prevailing culture. We see them arguing in v 24 about who is the greatest. In a society where value was put on status, deeds, power, money, they were just doing what others did.
We know that there were several Jewish sects, who also carried great power. The Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Essenes were the most influential. In a society that valued debating and philosophy, we can imagine the debates/ arguments about which sect had it right, which had the most influence, the most political power.
We know also that the leaders of the day ruled harshly, both religiously and politically. Laws and rules were to be followed to the letter.
But Jesus says, look you need to be different –
‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors.
i.e. he’s saying look the political leaders of this world, the pagan rulers, relish their power, they want to show the power they have. They call themselves benefactors to disguise the oppressive nature of the way they lead.
Leaders who are full of themselves and their own brilliance, who lie about their accomplishments to make people think they are better than they are. Hmmm… I wonder… sound familiar in this day and age…?
Jesus says this is not the way to be. He says to them: v26
…rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves.
He recognises that they are leaders, they would be apostles, that they had influence, and he knows they will have more so after his death, but they must be different.
You must serve one another he says, you must become like the least of people – the youngest was the one with the least influence and authority. Don’t lord it over people.
Not to make any comparison whatsoever… but Jimmy Carter was US President in the late 1970s and who died at the end of last year. In human terms his presidency was not hugely successful. But he devoted his life post presidency to matters of justice, human rights and peace. He won the Nobel peace prize in 2022, he developed non-profit housing, even being part of teams building those houses until not long before his death, at the age of 100. And he lived in a modest house, the same one he had since the 1960s
When he died his son said this about him:
My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love,”. “My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.”
Carter lived counter culturally, he didn’t lord his power over others or big himself up. He served the least of society.
That is what Jesus was calling his disciples to do. To be different, to fight against the status quo. He was their example, he said to them the one who serves is greater than the one who sits at the table – I am among you as someone who serves, follow my example…
Religiosity
And he also calls them too to be different to the spiritual leaders of the day.
In v 2 of this chapter we read that the chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death. They are still faithful people, they are celebrating Passover together, Jesus was a faithful Jew. But the Pharisees, Sadducees, priests and so on were symbolic of the old way of spiritual life. Jesus is offering something new. When Judas betrays Jesus it is in conjunction with the chief priests and officers of the temple police we read in v4. And they were greatly pleased and agreed to give him money (v5).
There was something fundamentally wrong with the religious system, and the way the rulers lead the people. Jesus says we must be focussed on God, in being faithful servants, not on enforcing the rules.
At the end of this section Jesus says to them: 22:29-30
I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
He is showing them a different way to lead, where power and authority is given away. The Father gives you his kingdom, and I do the same. I don’t keep my power and wealth for myself, I share it with you. Imagine a King or a President doing that? giving away his possessions and his power? it is extraordinary.
And he makes this comparison with the 12 tribes of Israel – you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
It is no coincidence there are 12 disciples.
The 12 tribes formed the nation of Israel, each descended from one of Jacob’s sons, great patriarchs of the Jewish faith, but now Jesus says, in eternity the disciples will sit with him and be the ones who judge those great tribes, the whole of Israel. They will be far greater than the Jewish leaders who here on the earth are judging people here and now.
Spiritually
And finally, they must think spiritually in terms of the Kingdom of God. This whole chapter is showing an alternative to Satan’s plans.
in v3 we read that Satan entered Judas, infiltrated Jesus’ team, and infiltrated the religious leaders, to fight a spiritual battle against the kingdom of God.
Jesus teaches them the way to remember him, the Lord’s supper, a ritual, a way of remembering that celebrates the overcoming of Satan’s plans.
and he tells them that they will be part of God’s kingdom in the end, that death is nothing, because for those who believe the destination is everything. What is on offer here and now, pales into comparison… They must live a spiritual life counter to that of the day.
And all this is the same for each of us. We too are called to be counter cultural. When society values fame, celebrity, money, power, influence, we are called to value others, to give away, to quietly get on with the work of the kingdom.
We are called to live out our faith truly, wholeheartedly, generously. To offer an open door, not to judge but to build up others, to reveal Jesus, to welcome and to love.
And to live as citizens of the Kingdom of God. To recognise there are spiritual forces at work, greater things going on than can always be seen. To look at the world through Christ’s eyes and walking in the authority he gives to us.
Let us not be swayed by the things of this world, but always be focussed on the ways of Jesus.
Amen
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