I’ve had disappointments as a teacher and discipler. But none nearly as great as the one I am going to tell you about.
I won’t give you this prof’s name, because you would recognize it right away. Suffice it to say, he took on a very promising young man to disciple in the faith. The teacher’s reputation was such that if he were to let it be known that he was looking for someone to mentor, most people would drop everything to volunteer for the position. There was nothing this prof wouldn’t do for his student. He took his protégé along on trips so the student could observe how the teacher handled some of the most challenging situations. The young man not only had the opportunity to hear many hours of teaching, but in private moments also had opportunities to ask his mentor any question and expect an answer.
Not surprisingly, the teacher had enemies. For some it was professional jealousy, others were offended by things he said. Perhaps his greatest mistake was in letting anyone, even his young student, get so close to him. Then again, maybe he saw it coming all along.
For it was through this student that the professor’s enemies found their opportunity and quite literally, crucified him.
OK, by now you know who I’m talking about and how it all turns out.
If you’re a teacher, if you’ve ever discipled anyone, what makes you think you might not have a failure or two? If you, as a discipler, make yourself vulnerable, why should you expect to not experience hurt, even deep hurt, on occasion?
“For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort, too.” (2 Cor. 1:5, ESV)
Remember, you and I trace our spiritual lineage back to the 11 disciples who did NOT betray Jesus. We pass along that legacy of love to those we disciple, who will in turn pass it along to their protégés.
And if you have a Judas in your life, remember, Jesus had one, too.
