𝓐𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓵𝓸𝓫𝓼𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓮𝓭

This episode

wow

This one got me. There were so many details about it that were just stunning

The theme of this one I think is distraction. The focus, of course, is on the brothers, the younger being Simon the Zealot and the older his crippled brother Jesse. They both know the scriptures, that much you can tell. But they each have a different way of coping with their lives in ways that fail to put God at the center.

Jesse puts his hope for his future and healing in a pagan legend, that the “angel” “stirring up the water” will heal him. This then distracts him twofold: He’s focused on 1. the water; and 2. the injustice of everyone else around being able to get to it before he can every time, with no one (namely his brother) to help him. It’s these distractions that Jesus looks him in the eye and does away with when he approaches him with true healing that only comes from God.

In Simon’s case, distraction came in the form of literal religious terrorism (i’m taking a class on terrorism rn and hoo boy they actually did a really good job with the theory and tactics; like they did their research) born from a resentment of the foreign occupiers. I know I can see myself a little in Simon the Zealot, maybe too cavalier for the truth at the expense of kindness sometimes. Still a sin.

Both of them were only saved by their shared hope in the Messiah’s coming.

Also I can’t get over the scene where Jesus, Matthew, John, and Simon are walking up to Jerusalem and see the people being crucified, and Jesus just stares

More often than not, when we share our stories, we're criticized and met with only judgement. Malek understood that better than anyone. He didn't want to admit to the wrong he'd done because he knew what was coming if he did -- or so he thought and, really, he was half right.

Jesus comforted him, while in the background the disciples judged.

And, unfortunately, we still judge more than we seek to understand and connect.

We pass judgment on others, telling them gladly that they are living in sin -- and we stop there, forgetting to say that Jesus offers forgiveness to them as much as He already has to us.

We forget that we are no better.

We are all sinners saved by grace.

“𝘏𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘦𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵, 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶.”

“I’m just going to do a little warm up,” I say. Two hours later... 😅

“𝘍𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 ‘𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦𝘯…”

jesus: did you think much of your childhood friends?

simon peter: no, he didn’t have any.

andrew: that’s not true!