Anyone who has been summoned before authority will have a feeling for the emotions aroused. A student, called to the Head's study, an employee called before the boss - there may be a degree of apprehension, and fear of what might be coming. On the other hand, it may be an occasion for praise, or to discuss the work in hand, or to be sent out to do some special task. There is a Greek word, 'proskaleo', used in the New Testament to refer to cases of this kind of summons, often when there are important issues at stake.

The centurion on duty at Calvary was summoned to Pilate (Mark 15.44), for him to be sure that Jesus was already dead. This incident is just one link in the chain of evidence that Jesus' death and resurrection were real historical events - and upon these events our faith is founded. On one occasion, as the apostles went out making these facts known, Paul and Barnabas were summoned to speak to the governor in Cyprus, one Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man who wanted to know about the word of God. Learning about the faith does involve taking the trouble to find out (Acts 13.7). The consequences may be unexpected. John the Baptist summoned two of his disciples (Luke 7.19), and sent them to make a check on Jesus - was He really the One that had been expected? Jesus showed them what He was doing, teaching the crowds about the kingdom of God, and demonstrating by his healings what sort of kingdom it is.

Jesus Himself would often call his disciples together for some special purpose. There must have been some excitement or apprehension perhaps among them, as word got round that 'the Master wants to see us'. He summoned those He wanted, choosing the 12 and then sending them out on mission (Mark 3.13) for the kingdom - change your hearts and your ways, be healed! Not that following Him was to be thought of as an easy option or something that would bring long term popularity - He summoned the crowd with his disciples, and told them emphatically that to follow Him means self denial and accepting suffering. In one of the stories Jesus told, a steward facing dismissal summoned his master's debtors one by one to falsify their debts and gain for himself their friendship - by contrast we are to conduct our lives to please the One who offers us friendship into eternity (Luke 16.5).

There were special occasions or incidents when Jesus called the disciples together. When there was a crowd of four thousand hungry people, He called them into conference and asked them what they were going to do about it (Mark 8.1). When He noticed a poor widow putting her 2 mite into the temple treasury, He called them - "See what she has just done!" - a lesson about sacrifice and stewardship and loyalty to God (Mark 12.43). When the disciples sent away the little children that threatened to pester Jesus, He summoned the children back. "Those who belong to the kingdom are like these kids!" (Luke 18.16). When the disciples got above themselves, He called a child into the middle of them - it was not a case of who is the most important, it is being humble as a child (Matthew 18.2). When the 10 got cross with James and John, he summoned them and explained that we are all called to be servants (Matthew 20.25) Once He called all the people together to explain about law and character; God is less interested in our keeping food rules than in the way we express His love in our outward lives (Matthew 15.10). He also called together the scribes from Jerusalem who had come to vet Him, and put them right about being consistent in their judgments about good and evil (Mark 3.23).

In the record of the early church, there are more instances of a summons. James at one stage faces the problem of believers who are ill. The solution is to summon the elders of the church, who will anoint with oil and pray. Faith is essential. (James 5.14). Another form of suffering was persecution. The Jewish Council imprisoned the disciples (Acts 5.40), then called them forth, and had them flogged, and forbade them to speak any more about Jesus. They rejoiced in their suffering for Christ. This was often Paul's experience, and there was that notable occasion of a riot in the great city of Ephesus, which made it necessary for Paul to leave. Those who had become believers were precious to him, and when he left he called them all together, and 'exhorted' them, one can imagine his reminders and his explanations of all the things he had been teaching them for two years, and the love and mutual concern with which they parted.

In Acts 13.2 we read of Paul and Barnabas being called by the Holy Spirit. They were part of a vibrant, capable Christian community, and the word was for them to be set apart for a special task, to which they had been summoned. The message came through a worshipping group of believers, who fasted and prayed and laid hands on Paul and Barnabas and sent them away, but the call was in the hearts of the two. Later, when Paul was working with Silas, Luke and Timothy, he had a vision of a man who was standing and appealing to him (Acts 16.10), "Come over to Macedonia and help us." This vision the group understood as a summons from God, which showed where they were to go and preach. It was all part of the work that God is doing, the calling to Himself of people who will believe.

Luke, when he records Peter's words on the day of Pentecost, uses the word 'proskaleo'. Peter had been explaining to the Jewish people around him that the actions of the disciples were a case of Joel's prophecy being fulfilled, "I will pour forth my Spirit upon all mankind"... ."Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" They had killed the Christ, but it was impossible for death to hold Him, and He was pouring forth the Holy Spirit, at that moment. "What shall we do?" "Repent.... be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins..., you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit for the promise is for you.... and for your children and for all who are far off.... as many as the Lord our God shall summon." (Acts 2.39)

Peter may not have realised the full universal implications of what he was saying, and later on he had to be persuaded again of the acceptability of non-Jews in God's purpose. Doubtless we too have our preconceived ideas of whom God finds acceptable. We need to trust that God knows what He is doing, have faith that his call is based on complete knowledge and leads to glory, and, for ourselves, as we live in His love, be ready to listen and to obey when He summons us.

GC