By David Barker
The last twelve months has been quite stressful in work and now as we step into spring I look forward to getting back into the garden as it’s a place where I can relax and unwind.
Recently, I was clearing up in the shed and came across a brand new clay plant pot and as I cleaned it up ready to take a new plant, the more I looked at it reminded me of Jesus right there in my garden.
In the time of Jesus clay was an everyday material, easily obtained and the items that he would have seen in daily life from cookware, storage jars for grain, water vessels all long before the modern day pot. The local potter would have had a thriving business selling his wares in the market places in every town and city. Remains of clay items are often found in archaeology digs and are dated as thousands of years old.
In the bible we are familiar of stories of people going to the well for water, eating at weddings, drinking wine, washing feet and so forth, all with clay cookware etc.
As I held this small pot admiring its shape and perfectness I noticed that the smooth sides were not so smooth after all and that the clay had lots of miniature imperfections. No two clay pots are identical just as we in our human form, similar but not identical and unique. Clay pots just like us need looking after and don’t last for ever.
The shape also reminded me of the discipleship funnel, wide at the top and narrow at the bottom.
What Jesus did:
1. Jesus met needs of many people
2. He preached
3. He taught believers
4. Trained others
How people responded:
1. Crowds gathered
2. Some believed
3. Some committed
4. Those that were trained were sent out to proclaim the good news
I see this humble clay pot every day and admire the plant it beholds, watered and fed regularly, and with enough light as it grows into a thing of beauty and brings me and many others much joy.
Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and said to them, “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.”
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