A Cup of Cold Water

In his teachings, Jesus describes the proper response to himself; receiving Jesus is equivalent to receiving God but not all will meet Jesus in the flesh. Others must respond to him as they see him in his disciples.

But, how could this be, that the world will receive Jesus because of their experience with his disciples as well as ordinary people like you and me?

Jesus’ words provide a simple but difficult charge to those who wish to be disciples: to recognize Jesus and other prophetic voices in the most marginalized people in society, and to choose generosity.

In the first part of this chapter, Jesus called his disciples to him. He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and disease.

However, the world receives Jesus through their experience with the disciples, not because the disciples were good enough or spiritual enough, but because of the power of the Holy Spirit.

The role of the Holy Spirit in all God’s mission and ministry is to remind, to guide and to strengthen all who accept the call to be the hearts, hands, and healer, for those who are in need, physically, mentally, and spiritually.

The action Jesus suggests – to offer a cup of cold water to another – is quite small and insignificant, but often feels impossibly difficult in our daily lives.

Our love of wealth, security, and social acceptance can often drown out our braver love of family, community, strangers, and marginalised people.

Love has always been, in some ways, countercultural and dangerous. Early followers of Christ themselves were targeted by authorities to upset social structures within their places of worship, calling slaves and masters equal.

The cup of cold water is a symbol of humble genuine love, that allows the power of Jesus Christ to reveal God’s all-inclusive plan, power, and purpose to all humanity.

In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he encourages the church, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness. So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me” (2 Cor 12:9).

As followers of Christ, we may be discouraged by our limitations, shortcomings, frailty, or weaknesses, but offering our all, regardless of its quality or quantity, God’s sufficient grace and mercy completes it.

Jesus seems to encourage us to offer our weak, insufficient, simple life, like the cup of cold water as our humble genuine love through Christ. And as a result, Jesus Christ’s grace and mercy are sufficient for everybody to experience Jesus anew.