When I first got married, my father-in-law gave me an old charcoal grill which we affectionately called “Ol’ Smokey.” From afar, it looked like a silver WWII bomb sitting upright on its fins, ready to detonate at any moment as the smoke seeped out from the sides. Before bringing out the meat, I would start the fire by piling a heap of coals into a crumbling pyramid and light newspaper underneath. Inevitably, a piece or two of charcoal always rolled off the pile and never fully lit. Until I picked up the rogue charcoal and put it back in the pile, it merely sat there alone with great potential, but no meaningful output of heat.
Charcoal burns at its best when it is huddled with others – the same is true for disciples of Jesus Christ. It is critical to be in authentic fellowship with one another in order to reach our full potential – maturity in Christ. A short study on the disciple Thomas illustrates this well, as we see both the power of fellowship to overcome fear and the danger of isolation in moments of crisis.
The Power of Fellowship
In John chapter eleven, Jesus is calling his disciples to go with him to Bethany because their friend Lazarus just passed away. Bethany was in close proximity to Jerusalem, where they had just escaped two attempted stonings of Jesus. As you can imagine from the disciple’s perspective, this decision to go back toward Jerusalem probably triggered concern as Jesus’ polarizing reputation was turning violent. It is in this life-threatening context that we hear words of Thomas for the first time in scripture. “Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.” This is the first and only time “fellowdisciples” is used in scripture and denotes a close union of these young learners who left everything to follow Jesus. As they were being called once again to take up their cross and follow him, Thomas was standing in the gap and getting them psyched. Was one of the disciples paralyzed with fear at that moment? Was someone reconsidering the cost of discipleship? We can only speculate. What does stand here as we compare scripture with scripture is that Jesus did not deflate Thomas’ rallying cry of martyrdom, as he would later do with Peter’s heroic boast to follow Jesus to his death (John 13:36-38). I suspect one of Thomas’ fellowdisciples needed the affirmation that they were not alone in the mission. If others were willing to walk back toward danger, so could they. Like Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah preparing their hearts to step into the fiery furnace for not bowing the knee to Nebechadnezzar, all twelve disciples followed Jesus back toward Jerusalem. Because of this decision, they were among the many eyewitnesses who saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead.
It is in fellowship with disciples that we dig deeper into the mission, bringing others along who are struggling with fear. As Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, “Two [are] better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. (10) For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him [that is] alone when he falleth; for [he hath] not another to help him up. (11) Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm [alone]? (12) And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” This is reinforced throughout scripture with the concept of being sent out two by two – there is both accountability and encouragement in numbers. Fellowdisciples provoke one another to rise above their fear to follow the Lord Jesus, wherever He may lead.
The Danger of Isolation
After Jesus was crucified, His disciples were in hiding for fear of the Jews (John 20:19). We don’t know exactly what Thomas was doing at that time, but for whatever reason, he was away from the disciples when Jesus appeared behind closed doors. Those in Jesus’ presence were instilled with peace and empowered with the Holy Ghost, but Thomas returned faithless (John 20:25, 27), willing only to believe if he could see and touch Jesus himself. Unfortunately, the testimony of the other disciples was not enough.
A disciple’s faith can easily wane in moments of crisis when isolated from fellowdisciples. God allows these trials – for Thomas, it was over a week of waiting. When Jesus returned after eight days (eight is the number of new beginnings), this time Thomas was with the disciples. Jesus commanded Thomas to touch him and believe. In that moment, like a lone coal brought back to the heap, he confessed “my Lord and my God.”
We can protect ourselves and others from disillusionment and faithlessness by drawing near to one another as we wait on the Lord. We would do well to heed Hebrews 10:23-25, which says, “Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;) (24) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” May we, as fellowdisciples, draw near to one another like burning coals, on fire for the Lord and his mission.
Brian Bustos is a worship leader at Midtown Baptist Temple in Kansas City.
