WALDROP: A post-election Thanksgiving communion

The Rev. Russell G. Waldrop, D. Min., LPC, is a pastoral counselor and is chaplain of Western State Hospital. Contact him at 332-8004 or at .
Published: November 27, 2008

Many of Jesus’ disciples did not get along because of their politics. Take Simon the Zealot, for example. “Zealot” was not his personal nickname. The Zealots were a revolutionary, “right wing” political faction that plotted the violent overthrow of the government. Scholars “credit” them with igniting the wrath of Rome that destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D. If campaign buttons existed then, his would likely have said: “Not peace, but a Sword.” How would he get along with Jesus’ other disciples, like Matthew, for example?

Matthew was a “big government” employee whose career depended upon high taxes which he collected at his street level office where people could do their paperwork, pay up and have their names checked off the revenue list (Matt. 9:9-11). Likewise, many of us pay our taxes in the offices of professionals who help us with the paperwork. Matthew, though, would have been despised by fellow Jews and Romans alike, especially Simon; no one respects a traitor.
There was rivalry between Simon Peter, a.k.a., “the Rock” and John, “The Beloved Disciple.” We know Simon Peter’s fame as a swordsman. If he had worn a political button, it might have said: “I’ll give up my sword when they pry it from my cold, dead fingers.” John’s button would likely have said: “Jesus loves Me the Most!”

While Peter’s weapon quickly deafened people to the gospel (John 18:10), John’s quill was just as sharp but more subtle. In writing scripture, he repeatedly placed himself in the best possible light and Peter in the worst. Consider the digs he took at Peter. Who won the footrace between them to the Empty Tomb (John 20:2-5)? Which one recognized Jesus after his Resurrection and which one jumped in the lake (John 21:7)? After that, who was ahead of the other in following Jesus and who did Jesus fuss at (John 21:20-24). John is thrilled to “set the record straight,” isn’t he?

But Peter took digs in Scripture, too. He says that “our dear brother Paul” (the Apostle) wrote Scripture so poorly that their enemies easily twisted it into wrongful interpretations (2Peter 3:15-16)!

Other factions existed among the disciples: the “Women for Jesus” caucus in Jerusalem (Luke 23:28); “Skeptics United,” led briefly by Thomas (John 20:24-29); “Physicians and Healers for Jesus,” led by Dr. Luke (Col. 4:14); even the elusive “Secret Believers’ Party,” led by Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:38).
Some modern representatives of these groups probably sat around your Thanksgiving table yesterday. How did they get along? (That stressful, huh?)
How did Jesus keep such feuding people together? He did it with a meal, one that they wrote down for our use today. Let’s return to that scene, shall we? First, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet (though John is happy to say that that Peter hesitated — John 13:8).

After the foot washing, the Scripture says: “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying: ‘This is my body, broken for you. Take it and eat. Do this in remembrance of me.’ Then he took a cup, gave thanks for it, and said: ‘This is my blood poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sin. Take it and drink.’”
Look who can eat and get along together at “the Lord’s Supper”: men and women, conservatives and liberals, professionals and lay people, even radicals and honest skeptics. One condition, though, and only one. Jesus said: “Do this in remembrance of me.” Have we?