“Worthy of the task.” Often, the scope of a task can overshadow our ability to do it. Most Biblical characters can relate. Many of them are less than ideal candidates for the Lord’s work. There is Moses, a disgraced and inarticulate shepherd who believes he is well beneath the task of leading God’s people out of Egypt. Even Jesus’ own disciples don’t exactly look the part, either. After his death, which he had foretold, they are unwilling to believe he has risen again, though he had prophesied about that, too.
Unbelief clings to the myth that God sees what we see. By this measure, only the special get called. And so, when God calls the ordinary person to do his glorious work, we reason that there must be some mistake; we presume to know better than God himself. We insist that God send someone else. We refuse to believe that the risen Lord is right in front of us. Against this God’s anger is kindled.
It is true that we aren’t worthy, but Jesus is. His glory is shown at the gory cross of humiliation. For us, he has passed through insults and death and damnation to rise again. And the revelation of his glory through the unworthy continues. His people are liberated from the darkness of Egypt. He brings his feuding and unbelieving disciples into the ministry of his Gospel, sending them out into the world to bear his news of salvation to all people.
It shouldn’t surprise us, then, that while we struggle on this earth, our Lord chooses the weak to serve him and demonstrate his greatness. The one crucified has risen, and he blesses his church. The one humiliated as a pretend king sits at the right hand of the Father. So, let us, the unworthy, labor in earthly weakness, live by faith, and glorify our Lord.
