I learned this song in Sunday School.

There were Twelve Disciples Jesus called to help him.
Simon Peter, Andrew, James, his brother John,
Phillip, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alpheus,
Thaddeus, Simon, Judas, and Bartholomew.    

We always got louder when we can to Bartholomew as an expression of glee that we had remembered all the names. (I’m somewhat chagrined to say, it’s still the only way I can remember the names of the Twelve.) Who was this Bartholomew? One of the Twelve Disciples, of course. Didn’t you listen to the song. Yes, but who was he, what did he do? We don’t have a clue. There are no Bible stories about him. He’s just a name that appears in the lists in Matthew, Mark, Luke and Acts. His name is Aramaic and means “Son of Talmai” which isn’t much help since we don’t know who Talmai was either.

The fourth century Christian historian Eusebius said Bartholomew preached in India. Some traditions say he was martyred in Armenia by being flayed alive and beheaded. Yuck!

Leaving aside the gruesome legend, let me turn again to the song. The chorus says:

Jesus calls us too, Jesus calls us too;
We are His disciples, I am one and you.

We are disciples, people who learns from Jesus.  But learning is more that getting the knowledge. It’s living what we learn. Can people tell from the way we live that we are Jesus’ disciples? I hope so, because the best way to teach others to be disciples is by example.

Read John 13:35 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne