PPic: Oberon Golf Course - Links Pro Am 2006

PGA Chaplain Bible Studies

Study 7 – February 25th to March 2nd 2008.
Reading – John Chapter Ch13: verses 31 to 38.

Mateship!

Jesus said to the disciples, “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this will all men know that you are my disciples, that you love one another? Simon Peter asked Jesus, “Lord where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later. Peter asked Jesus, “Lord why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you. Then Jesus answered Peter, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”  John Chapter 13: verses 34 to 38. (New International Version)

Australians are very strong on the idea of mateship. We call our friends mates. Mates stick together through thick and thin, we are told. While there is a lot of truth to this, I know of many cases where mates have had a disagreement and now they no longer talk to each other. We are funny creatures like this; our hearts are big, but limited in what we can accept. In my experience it is a loss of trust, money and girlfriends that are at the heart of many mates breaking up.

I have many golfers I now call mates, however I try very hard not to get into small groups of people I play with all the time. In the type of employment I have in the church and in golf, it is hard to have mates without developing favouritism. Once I leave a church I tend to develop a closer friendship with those I keep in touch with. I once heard what I thought was a wise comment from a golf Pro giving a talk about his relationship to the members of the Golf Club where he worked; saying that where he worked he had no mates, preferring to think of everyone as his clients.

In our last study we noted the betrayal of Judas. Judas left the meal table to set up the place where Jesus will be arrested. The other 11 disciples remained with Jesus as the meal continues. As Jesus speaks of his departure, Peter wishes to demonstrate his mateship with Jesus by saying he would give his life for Jesus. Jesus tells Peter that before morning he will disown Jesus three times. When Jesus is arrested during the night, Peter follows, and is noticed by the crowds. In the heat of the moment he denies knowing Jesus 3 times. Peter is a betrayer as well, but unlike Judas will seek restoration after Jesus rises from the dead. This is a good example of the way God forgives and that we all let our friends down at times.

As Jesus anticipates his arrest in the near future, he tells his disciples to love each other in the same way he has loved them. Or; to put it in Australian language; to be a fair-dinkum mate to each other. We don’t have favourites among our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are called to love each other in the same way Christ loved us.
It takes real discipline not to slip into the habit of living with and relating to those who are easy for us to relate to, or our mates in particular.
One of the greatest positives of life is when you make the effort to broaden your mates to include everyone that is possible. It is this kind of life that Jesus calls us to.

Prayer.
Lord Jesus you have called us your friends, because you have died for us and restored us to life. Give us strength to love others as much as you have loved us. Amen.

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Wyong Trainee Pro-Am.

Venue: Wyong Golf Cub
Date: Monday 17th November.
Cost: $50
Tee Time: 7:30am and
12 noon shotgun start.
Contact: Graham on 02 9740 9069
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