What comes to mind when you think of Jesus’ relationship with the disciples? Loving? Encouraging? Patient with their foibles? Rebuking doesn’t always rise to the top of such a list, but I’ve just seen four stories in a row in Luke 9 involving rebukes (and none of them is the famous “Get behind me, Satan!”). Jesus addresses:

• Their not being able to cast the demon out of the young boy while Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration. (Luke 9.37 – 43)
• Their arguing about who was the greatest among them (Luke 9.46 – 48)
• Their wanting to stop someone who was casting out demons. (Luke 9.49 – 50)
• Their wanting to call down fire on a Samaritan village. (Luke 9.51 – 56)

I may explore some of these in more detail over the next few days, but for now, let’s remember that Jesus wasn’t always “gentle, meek and mild” as the old Charles Wesley hymn suggests. There’s truth in “Gentle Jesus, Meek and Mild,” especially regarding his relationship with children, but as a complete picture of Jesus, it falls short.

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. (Revelation 3.19, ESV)

And don’t forget what his current appearance is. His friend John, who knew him as well as anyone, was terrified when he saw the risen Lord in Revelation 1:

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. (Revelation 1.12 – 17, ESV, emphasis mine)