His Web Of Relationships

by Merchant, Paul | Category: Jesus' Relationships | Apr 2009

These days we tend to describe people in different ways from people in Bible times. We tend to apply psychological words to people such as extrovert / introvert, optimist / pessimist or anxious / easygoing. We understand character primarily in terms of psychological development. Yet when we read about people in Jesus' time, the Bible reveals character through what a person does rather than their personality traits. We are not given a character reference, but instead descriptions of how Jesus behaved in His relationships with people. There are single incidents such as the woman at the well, or a growing relationship as in the Lord's frequent interactions with Peter.

From the gospel accounts, there seem to be four primary groups that comprise the web of Jesus' relationships. There were the disciples - the twelve disciples and then the 72. There was his family. Then there were the Jewish authorities and members of the crowds.

Jesus formed long-term relationships with his small group of disciples within which there was an inner circle of Peter, James and John. Jesus appears to have taught the disciples mostly as a group rather than in smaller groups or by one-to-one teaching. He created a small, close-knit discipling community for whom he provided growth experiences for their spiritual formation. During the early days of His ministry there was clear teaching, shared experiences and teamwork in preparation for when He sent them on their itinerant ministry around the country. He valued their shared life and also continuity over the years until He reached the point when He had shared with them everything He had learned from His Father and called them 'my friends'.(1) By the time of Gethsemane, trust within the group and with the Lord had become such a strong bond that the Lord could reveal His own vulnerability to them in His hour of testing. 'He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled'.(2)

In contrast, His relationship with the third group, the Jewish authorities, is beset with conflict early on. This is highlighted in Mark's account. As early as chapter 2 conflict arises when the paralysed man is healed and Jesus exposes the inner thoughts of the religious men who were present. His altercations with the Jewish authorities are a recurring thread throughout the gospel, reaching their climax with his arrest and crucifixion.(3) There are exceptions as with Jairus, Joseph of Arimathea and Zacchaeus.

Unusually, it appears that during his ministry Jesus had a distant relationship with His family as His itinerant preaching of the kingdom of God took Him away from the family home. He also defines His 'family' in wider terms than blood relations(4) and constantly refers to the primacy above all things of His relationship with God, His Father. He was always welcome at the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus in Bethany and wept for the grieving women when Lazarus died. He spent every night of the week at their home during His last week of ministry in Jerusalem prior to His death.

There is a common feature in the broad web of relationships that Jesus had with both members of the crowd and with religious Jewish religious leaders: Jesus valued talking with individuals. There are detailed accounts of His encounters with the woman at the well,(5) with the woman with haemorrhages(6) and with the rich young man(7) which show how He gives his undivided attention to them, for their good. Similarly, He relates to members of the Jewish hierarchy such as Nicodemus,(8) has a meal with a prominent Pharisee(9) and invites himself for a private conversation with Zacchaeus.(10) In this way the Lord reveals how He does not dismiss religious groups with popular stereotypes but instead seeks out individuals who are prepared to change.

The Lord brought to His relationships profound insights into the spiritual condition of those He met, sometimes confronting and at other times persuading, seeking to bring the person to reconciliation, truth and integrity in their relationship to God.

He was a demanding Master to His disciples, a combative preacher to the Jewish authorities, an inspirational teacher of the crowds and obedient to His heavenly Father whilst honouring His human parents.

Ref. - Christopher Pain, Towards an understanding of Jesus' relationships (Jubilee Centre, UK, 2007).

(1) John 15:14-15 (2) Mark 14:33 (3) Mark 14:43; 15:11 (4) Mark 3:31-35 (5) John 4 (6) Luke 8:40 (7) Mark 10:17 (8) John 3 (9) Luke 14 (10) Luke 19

Merchant, Paul | Apr 2009
Jesus' Relationships