Do you find JESUS’ TEAM MEETING (the Upper Room Discourse) to be inspiring OR alarming? In John 13, Jesus exemplifies humble service when he washes the feet of his disciples. In John 14, He assures us that he will prepare for us an eternal home. How can we not like John 15’s description of Jesus as a vibrant Vine nurturing us, its fruitful branches? The Holy Spirit is promised to us in John 16. Finally, John 17 allows us to listen io Jesus’ final, prayerful accounting to the Father. If we look past these jewels, however, a careful read of these five chapters also reveals a “team” of very confused disciples. Jesus continued in obedience to the Father even though his “support team” was clueless.
JESUS’ TEAM DID NOT UNDERSTAND that Jesus, their Messiah, was about to be crucified and rise again. However, each of the synoptic gospels record three separate times when Jesus informed his disciples that he was purposefully going to Jerusalem to die (Matthew 16: 21-28, 17:22-23, and 20:17-19; Mark 8:31, 9:30-32, 10:32-34; Luke 9:21-22, 9:44-45, 18:31-34). The twelve could not comprehend or accept this input. It seems their faith in Jesus had been skewed by their cultural and/or ambitious expectations. The common belief of the day was that the Messiah would free them from Roman dominion. In Jesus’ Team Meeting, however, he demonstrated foot washing NOT a battle plan.
THE UPPER ROOM DISCOURSE IS OUR MODEL OF A TEAM MEETING. Jesus conducted his team meeting even though his men were not willing to discuss his death. The twelve had other expectations and fears as revealed by Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denials. They had invested three years of their lives into a ministry whose leader was now talking about dying?! Jesus persevered and gave this team the input that they would need as events unfolded. Jesus was not sidetracked. As Hospice workers will tell you, many families are afraid to acknowledge an eminent death, “to give up,” so opportunities for blessings, expressions of love, last words, and passing the baton are lost. Like Jesus, however, we can persevere and say what needs to be said. We can lovingly provide input that may be received and processed at a later time.
AS JESUS MODELED, TEAM MEETINGS ARE HOSTED TO INFORM AND EQUIP, NOT TO SEEK CONSENSUS. We are serving the Father first, not our families. Our support teams may or may not approve of our exit strategies or stewardship decisions. By hosting a team meeting, however, we may alleviate surprises at the time of our departure and give them time to adjust their expectations accordingly. Ultimate cooperation and teamwork is much more feasible if everyone is aware of our game plan.
TEAM MEETINGS ARE NOT ABOUT US BUT GEARED FOR THOSE WHO WILL BE LEFT BEHIND. Jesus washed their feet. He reassured them of their heavenly destination. Jesus promised an ongoing, supportive relationship by means of the Holy Spirit. He prayed. How can we emulate this example in our team meetings? Jesus’ perseverance worked. Later, the disciples recalled his words and John recorded them. Ultimately, the disciples came to understand the nature of Jesus’ kingdom and their role in it. After Jesus’ resurrection, the faith of his disciples was renewed, they accepted their commission, they received the Holy Spirit, and they changed the world.
IF YOU HAVE NOT HELD TEAM MEETINGS, WHAT INCORRECT EXPECTATIONS might your family or support team hold? A hefty inheritance? Leadership? Acquisition of certain family treasures? Like Jesus, you and I may run into some resistance when we try to discuss our death and exit strategies. We may also experience our own inner resistance if relationships are not cooperative or particularly respectful. We are not the Messiah, but we can follow his example and discuss our end-of-this-life plans with family and those who will be our support team. To serve us well, our team needs to know our goals, how our estate will be dispersed, and who we have asked to do what.
PRAYER: May our team meetings become a safe place in which we are able to share our faith as well as our plans, and instigate helpful relationships between the folks we have asked to carry out those plans. Amen.
