Hi First Presbyterian,
It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up. When I was in high school, I played the cello and the guitar and sang in the school chorus. For one of my school’s Spring concerts, my name was listed among the singers in the chorus. After the concert, someone I had never met before approached me and said, “You’re Aaron Neff, aren’t you?” I said, “Yes. Do I know you?” He said, “No. We’ve never met before, but my last name is Neff. I can tell you’re a Neff, too, because you have ‘the Neff nose.’” Naturally, I fixed my attention on his nose, and, sure enough, there it was – a nose that looked like mine! We chatted for a little while about where our families lived and discovered that we were probably not-too-distantly related. What a surprise! It’s true, though, too. The Neffs in my family have a distinctive nose. I never met my grandfather Robert, who died before I was born. But I have often looked at photos of him and felt a sense of connection, because his nose looked like mine. His brothers Elmer, Donnie, and Jim each had the same nose. My father has the same nose, too. As strange as it may sound to be picked out of a crowd because of the way my nose looks, that experience actually gave me a warm sense of belonging.
I think this personal story came to my mind, because I’m thinking about the topic for my Bible Study tonight, which is: Who is the “beloved disciples?” In the Gospel of John, a follower of Jesus who is never named but only referred to as “the one whom Jesus loved” repeatedly shows up, like in John 13:23: “One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him.” It’s a bit of a mystery as to the identity of this person, but scholars have offered many theories over time. It dawned on me as I have been thinking about the possibility of that disciple’s identity: we may never know with certainty who that person was, but Jesus does. Think about it. That disciple was loved by Jesus, so Jesus obviously knew who he was.
There are times in life when we feel alone and like no one even sees or notices us. We may even be surrounded by lots of people – at home, at work, or at school – and still feel alone. Perhaps, like my experience in high school singing in the chorus, we feel like we just blend in to the other faces and voices. Yet, there is someone who sees and says, “I know who you are! You’re part of my family!” Friends, you are a beloved disciple of the Lord! Even when it seems like no one knows who you are, Jesus knows exactly who you are and loves you. “I know my own and my own know me” (John 10:14).
Peace to you,
Pastor Neff