I Gotta Fever!

“As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy” (2Tim 1:4).

It’s okay to be human. There are times you just have to let your guard down and let people in. Times when you have to stop pretending to be bulletproof and show your friends you’re mortal. Times we you have to admit you’re lonely and desperately need a friend.

That includes Paul. Yeah, THAT Paul. The Apostle Paul. We’re talking about the guy Jesus handpicked to tell non-Jews around the world all about God’s incredible invitation into His kingdom. The same Paul who would make three tours of the Roman Empire sharing the Good News with anyone who would listen. The same apostle so devoted to God’s mission that he experienced prison, beatings, floggings, stonings, three shipwrecks, and even bitten by a poisonous snake. This dude who would write a grand total of 13 books making up a nearly a quarter of the New Testament. 

The same man Jesus used to change the course of history sits in a Roman dungeon. Specifically, the notorious Mamertine Prison in the capital city. Paul is on Death Row. He knows he’s only got a short time before he faces the executioner. So he writes a very personal plea to his very dear friend Timothy. As the clock ticks down, the apostle desperately needs a visit. “As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy” (v4). God brought the two of them together several years ago in Lystra, a city in what we now know as Turkey (Acts 16:1). Since then, they’ve always been there for each other. Paul is not too tough to admit he needs his buddy, right here and right now. He’s gotta fever. And the only prescription is more Timothy.

In the opening lines of this little letter to his close friend, Paul flips through the mental scrapbook of their relationship. “I remember you constantly in my prayers day and night…I remember your tears…I am reminded of your sincere faith” (1Tim 1:3, 4, 5). Memories. Prayers. Tears. Faith. The kind of stuff a deep friendship between believers is based on.

Here in verse 4, he remembers the time he was there for Tim’s tears. He’s probably talking about the last time they saw each other. It may have been when Paul left for his Macedonian assignment he mentions in his previous note (1Tim 1:3). The man from Tarsus knows all about heartbreaking goodbyes. Dr. Luke writes about how the apostle met with the Ephesian leadership when they thought they would be the last time they ever saw each other. “And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again” (Acts 20:27-38).

What a powerful reminder that real men cry real tears. Jesus certainly did (Jn 11:35). Paul tells his friends in Rome that true friends have deep empathy for each other no matter what they’re going through. “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Rom 12:15). No doubt these two friends have shared both gut-busting laughs as well as gut-wrenching cries. You can bet when Tim shed tears, Paul did too.

Who have you laughed with and weeped with? Who’s that close friend who celebrate with you and also walked the darkest parts of the path with you? Who’s that person you’ve cried with? Hopefully God has placed someone in your life with a tender heart, a soft shoulder, and a fresh Kleenex. Paul needs that. Tim needs that. You need that. And I most certainly need that.

As Paul walks the Green Mile of Mamertine, he doesn’t want to walk it alone. The good news is that his good friend the good doctor is at his side. “Luke alone is with me” (2Tim 4:11). But the apostle yearns that Tim can join them. “I long to see you” (v4). He uses a Greek word (Gr. epipotheo) which means to yearn passionately, deeply desire, experience an affectionate yearning for someone or something. It’s the same term Paul drops when he desperately wants to see folks (Rom 1:1; Phil 1:8) or when he describes his burning desire to be with Jesus forever (2Cor 5:2).

Just like the Blues Brothers, the apostle wants to get the band back together one last time. Starting in chapter 16, these three men are pretty much side-by-side-by-side throughout the Book of Acts. After drafting Tim onto his team in Lystra (Acts 16:1-3), it seems clear Luke joins the party in Troas (Acts 16:10). As the author of Acts, the good doctor never mentions his own name but that’s where the pronouns change. That’s where “they” suddenly becomes “we.” In his final days in the slammer, Paul wants to reunite the Three Amigos one last time on this side of eternity. He’s gotta fever. And the only prescription is more Timothy.

The apostle knows if he can lay his eyes on Tim one last time, “I may be filled with joy” (v4). Remember, Paul knows death is right around the corner. He makes that clear. “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2Tim 4:6-7). Despite certain death, he still has joy in the joint. And he’s sure a visit from his boy Tim will top off the tank. 

So Paul pleads with him to get his tail to Rome ASAP. Toward the end of this letter, he comes out and says it, not once but two more times. “Do you best to come to me soon” (2Tim 4:9). The apostle begs Tim drop everything and get there before it gets cold. “Do your best to come before winter” (2Tim 4:21). Do you need to see someone? Don’t beat around the bush. Don’t just drop passive/aggressive hints. Come right out and say it.

So what do Paul’s words to his friend Timothy back in the first century have to do with you and me 2,000 years later? They challenge us to stop pretending to be tough when we’re really not. As followers of Jesus, it’s okay to cry. It’s okay to need each other. It’s okay to be not okay. So take off the mask. That means finding some fellow believers where you can dump your garbage and be transparent. Who do you have in your life to do that?

This verse reminds us that following Jesus is a team sport. Don’t buy the lie that the Christian life transforms you into some sort of lone wolf for the Lord. Pop culture continually glorifies heroes going it alone against the enemy. Guys like Mad Max, Rambo, and (one of my personal faves) Billy Jack. Even the seemingly loner heroes had some covering their backside. Jack Bauer had Chloe. Sherlock Holmes had Dr. Watson. The Lone Ranger had Tonto. Don’t make the mistake of seeing Paul as a High Plains Drifter for Christ. He always had partners and teammates. Who’s the Robin to your Dark Knight?

Finally, who can you fill with joy? Who needs a visit? A call? An email? A text? Who’s in the middle of a mess and could use some encouragement? Maybe you’re joy tank is running on empty. Do you need a friend to reach out to you? Remember, this is at the very heart of the Gospel. Jesus didn’t just feel sorry for us when we trashed God’s perfect universe and rebelled against His kingdom. He left the posh comforts of the heavenly palace and dove headfirst into the dumpster of sin we call Earth. When we couldn’t get to Him, He made a holy house call. That’s how He earned the nickname Immanuel which simply means “God is with us” (Mt 1:23). Because Christ did it for us, let’s do it for others.

Paul is in prison. The clock is ticking down. He really wants to see Tim one last time. He's gotta fever. And the only prescription is more Timothy.

Turning Enemies into Friends

“though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief” (1Tim 1:13)

I need you to use your imagination for a moment. And I need you to crank it up to 11. Picture the number one enemy of the Christian faith suddenly switching sides and becoming a spokesperson for the Son of God. Try to wrap your brain around the idea of an enemy like Osama bin Laden unexpectedly spreading the love of Jesus across the planet instead of trying to wipe His followers from the face of the earth. Hard to imagine, right?

That’s EXACTLY the kind of guy that Jesus chose not only use to spread His Gospel throughout the Roman Empire but write most of the New Testament. In a letter to Timothy, Paul reflects on his wrap sheet. “Though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief” (v13). The apostle knows without a doubt he didn’t make a mistake. He realizes he wasn’t simply misguided. He didn’t just say “my bad.” He was a rebel with a cause against Christ. Despite all of that, Jesus overwhelmed His enemy in His amazing mercy. What a great reminder that our Savior loves to qualify the disqualified. That means me. That means you.

It’s easy to loose sight of Paul’s background when we see him at this point in his life. He’s Christ’s handpicked apostle to non-Jews everywhere. When he’s not in jail for upsetting local authorities with the Gospel, he’s always on the road telling everyone who will listen that the resurrected Jesus is the Hero sent straight from heaven to save the world. But before he was Paul, he was Saul. Before he was an apostle, he was an assassin. Before he was a missionary, he was a murderer. Before he was Jesus’ biggest proponent, he was Jesus’ biggest opponent. It’s a great reminder of the turnarounds our Savior loves to pull. He’s not looking to make good people better. The Son of God didn’t just water in to wine. You've heard of frenemies. Jesus loves turning His enemies into His friends.

Paul has nothing to hide from his spiritual son. He’s left Tim in Ephesus to pastor the growing megachurch there while he heads off the Macedonia (1Tim 1:3). The apostle gives his protege specific instructions to shut down a team of false teachers who are stirring up trouble (1Tim 1:3-7). The man from Tarsus knows all about what it means to be against the Gospel. He devoted himself to that cause for years. At the time, he sincerely believed he was doing the right thing. He was sincerely wrong. What did it get him? The realization that he was “blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent” (v13) of God. Just in case you were wondering, God beats His enemies. Every. Single. Time. The Generals have a better chance against the Globetrotters.

The apostle readily admits that he once was a “blasphemer (Gr. blasphemos)” (v13). This is a person who defames another in general and someone who speaks against God more specifically. But this is the idea of someone who openly insults another. A slanderer who trashes your reputation. In today’s culture, we call it hate speech. It’s literally someone who hurts another with their words. Now you can’t really injure Almighty God with what you say. The truth is the only person you’re really hurting is yourself. 

Paul also transparently tells Tim that he was a “persecutor” (v13) in the past. He uses a Greek term (Gr. dioktes) that paints portrait of a person preoccupied with causing others to pain (say THAT three times fast!). It comes from a verb that means to chase swiftly or hunt down. The book of Acts doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to Paul’s relentless pursuit of Jesus’ followers. He led house-to-house raids (Acts 8:3; 9:1). He mercilessly tortured many right in the synagogue (Acts 26:11). He had martyrs’ blood on his hands as well (Acts 22:4; 26:10). Paul comes clean to the Galatians about how he “persecuted the church God violently” (Gal 1:13). The apostle doesn’t shy away from his days as a Christian hunter.

If that doesn’t make your skin crawl, the apostle formerly known as Saul lays his cards on the table as a former “insolent opponent” (v13). This describes someone who is a violent aggressor. But it’s even worse than that. There’s arrogance and superiority involved. It’s someone with a superior attitude who mistreats others out of their own rebellion against God’s truth. Think hate groups like the KKK who intentionally look down on their enemies and do what they can to wipe them off the map. Before Jesus saved him, Paul saw little to no value in anyone below him in the religious pecking order. 

Oh, how times and hearts have changed. The jaw-dropping turnaround started a few years back when this Hebrew up-and-comer was on one of his patented search-and-destroy missions to Damascus. That’s when the resurrected Christ made it clear to Saul that when he persecutes His church, he persecutes Jesus personally (Acts 9:4-5; 22:7-8; 26:14-15). Once God shined his holy light of truth on Paul’s life, he saw his sin for what it really was. He saw himself for who he really was.

That was the very moment when Paul “obtained mercy” (v13) from His Savior. He uses a verb (Gr. ele’eo) that is less about a judicial ruling in his favor but receiving compassion or pity. Over and over, it’s what people tossed aside by society would plead Christ for. Two visually impaired men chased after Jesus and shouted, “Have mercy (Gr. ele’eo) on us, Son of David” (Mt 9:27). You and I would probably put this torturer and terrorist at the top of the most wanted list, NOT God’s mercy list. But in a letter to the Roman church, Paul reminds believers of what God said to Moses. “I will have mercy on (Gr. ele’eo) whom I have mercy (Gr. ele’eo)…So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy (Gr. ele’eo)” (Rom 9:15, 16). We need to remember that God showers His compassion on those He chooses. We don’t earn it. We can’t earn it. Our man Paul knows that better than most.

Saul/Paul quite simply did not understand who Jesus was and what He had done, or in his words, “because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief” (v13). As a member of the Pharisees, he believed it was up to him to save himself by building up a religious resume so impressive that God had to accept him (Phil 3:4-7). His admission of ignorance is not an excuse or an attempt to rationalize all he had done. Until Jesus blindsided him on the highway outside Damascus, this rising Jewish rock star was defending his religion against these whacky radicals. 

Like so many people around the world today, he mistakenly believed HE was on a mission from God. He was convinced this movement called the Way was clearly headed the wrong way. But the confrontation with Christ flipped on the light switch. Paul then realized that the only thing that matters is a personal relationship with Jesus and everything else was nothing more than a big steaming pile (Phil 3:7-9).

So what can we take from these words written from a mentor to his protege more than 2,000 years ago? What can we learn from this verse? Don’t miss the fact that Paul confessed. Throughout the New Testament, we see that he confessed early and often. Once Jesus shines His holy light on his life, the apostle understood exactly who he was and what he had done. Then he said it out loud. His sin was all out in the open.    

Confession brings our sin out from hiding. Funny thing. What seems so scary and mean in the dark becomes kinda wimpy when we drag it into the light. Horror movies are so horrible in the daytime. When we keep our sin secret, we carry it alone. Jesus’ little brother James knew the importance of confessing our sins to our closest spiritual brothers and sisters (James 5:16). Find a trusted crew of believers and open up. Reveal your mess. Disclose your dirt. Divulge your darkness. Stop carrying your secret crap all alone. Owning up to our sin also puts the focus on Jesus and His goodness…as it should be. In case you forgot, it’s not about you. Don’t impress. Confess. It’s what happens when Jesus turns us from one of His enemies into a friend.

Greetings from Caesar's Palace

“Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especial those of Caesar’s household” (Philippians 4:21-22).

Back in a previous millennium before the days of email, texting, Facetime, and Facebook, you would drop a postcard in the mail and let folks back home know about your vacation. These handy dandy cards came with some sort chamber of commerce picture of the place and a “wish you were here!” cheesy greeting. Let’s face it, most of the time you didn’t REALLY wish they were on vacation with you. The point was to make people insanely jealous. 

Well our man Paul may be in Rome, but this is no vacation. He may be staying in Caesar’s Palace, but he’s not in the penthouse. Most likely, the apostle is in the basement. In the dungeon. He writes to his friends back in Philippi to make sure they tell everyone there that he says “hello!” He wants them to know that he’s far from lonely. Despite being in a Roman prison, but God has placed all sorts of fellow Christ followers around Paul. Greet believers wherever you are. There are more around you than you realize. The simple act of reaching out to fellow followers will let you know you’re never really alone.

Remember the scene. The apostle has spent nearly five years locked up after an angry mob nearly kills him at the temple in Jerusalem (Acts 21:27-36). He does time in Jerusalem (Acts 21:37), Caesarea Maritima (Acts 23:33-35), and, after one of the worst Mediterranean cruises on record, Rome (Acts 28:14-30). While he’s there, Paul writes a series of letters to churches in Colossae, Ephesus, and his buddy Philemon. Sometime before his release, he fires off one more note to some of his favorite folks on the planet. The church in Philippi. He’ll never forget his first crazy days when he brought the message of Jesus to Europe (Acts 16:12-40). He wants to make sure everyone there knows he’s doing just fine, thank you.

Paul wraps up this letter by telling the Philippians to “greet every saint in Christ Jesus” (v21). He certainly wants to make sure all his friends know that he says “hey” from Rome. But there’s more here than a generic shout out to his buddies in Macedonia. The apostle actually commands the church to make a point of greeting and building a relationship with each and every saint. The grammar in the original language is very specific. He could have very easily told them to greet all the believers. But he didn’t. The man from Tarsus instructs them to individually interact with each follower of Jesus. 

It’s important to remember that churches are made up of individuals. Jesus lived and died for every person who walk through the front doors of your foyer. Every. Single. One. For you. For me. For the lady in the Lexus. For the dude in the Dodge. For the weird woman and strange man who sit in the back. Paul tells us to “greet every saint in Christ Jesus” (v21). The verb “greet” (Gr. aspazomai) means to literally embrace or draw to oneself. It’s the idea of treating someone affectionately. We’re not talking about some casual, mail-it-in kind of “howdy.” Interestingly, in his letter to the Roman church, the apostle instructs them, “Greet (Gr. aspazomai) one another with a holy kiss” (Rom 16:16). You can argue all you want about cultural context, but it seems pretty clear to me that public displays of affection among the followers of Jesus should be the standard. 

If someone is a fellow believer, reach out to them. We’re not to pick and choose who we’re to greet. We’re not scouting the room, trying to pick out who we’re going to hug. If they’ve placed their faith in who Jesus is and what He’s done, that’s all we need to know. Don’t leave anyone out. This isn’t just about the people who like you or look like you. Jesus has bulldozed all the racial barriers. He’s crushed all the cultural walls. He’s knocked down every economic roadblock. If they’re saints, greet ’em up! And we’re not just talking about the awkward “meet and greet” part of the worship service.

Paul’s not the only one who sends his best. “The brothers who are with me greet you” (v21). We already know that his protege Tim is hanging with him in the Eternal City (Phil 1:1; 2:19-23). No surprise there. The apostle met the young gun in Lystra (Acts 16:1-3) on his second tour of the Mediterranean Rim. Tim joined Paul’s posse just before rolling into Philippi. These bros may include Epaphroditus, the fellow the Philippians sent to help the apostle in prison (Phil 2:25-29). There’s a good chance there are probably more guys than are mentioned by name. Paul writes about “most of the brothers” with him (Phil 1:14). This could include Aristarchus, John Mark, and Jesus Justus (Col 4:9-11). Chances are Tychicus and Onesimus would have already hit the road delivering letters to Colossae, Ephesus, and Philemon. 

“All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household” (v22). It’s also clear that there are other followers of Jesus there. Now that they’ve greeted the saints back in Philippi, Paul passes along the greetings of the other saints in Rome. When he describes “those of Caesar’s household” (v22), he’s not just talking about members of the royal family. According to John MacArthur, this also “would include courtiers, princes, judges, cooks, food-tasters, musicians, custodians, builders, stablemen, soldiers, and accountants.” This would include the very prison guards assigned to keep an eye on the apostle. Earlier, he talked about the irony of how God is using his time behind bars as a means to spread the grace of Jesus in Rome. “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the Gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear” (Phil 1:12-14). 

When Saint Paul talks about saints, he’s not talking about Drew Brees and the Who Dats in New Orleans. “Saints” literally means “holy ones.” While holiness certainly carries the idea of sinlessness and purity, the best idea here is that these followers of Jesus are different. You can tell them apart from everyone else in the Roman world. They live differently. They love differently. They work differently. How about you? Are you a “saint?” Are you a “holy one?” Do you stand out from the rest of the culture? When folks look at you, do they say “who dat?”

So how in the world has Paul made so many friends in Rome? Sure, he’s been in the slammer for a couple of years in the city, but that’s not the entire reason God has provided a wonderful support system for His apostle. You see, Paul has already written a letter to the church in Rome a few years back. Ironically, he told the Roman church that visiting the capital of the Empire was on his bucket list (Rom 15:22-29). He has a boatload of friends in Rome. In his letter to the Roman church, he says “hey” to not just Prisca and Aquila, but to 24 other individuals as well as two full families (Rom 16:3-15). No doubt that a lot of these same folks were wanted to send their greetings to folks back in Philippi.

There’s an old joke that asks about the difference between Presbyterians and Baptists. According to the punch line, Presbyterians will say “hello” to you in the liquor store. Paul encourages you and me to reach out and embrace the support structure that God has placed all around us. We don’t do life alone. We have brothers and sisters to encourage us, love us, and hold us accountable. Remember, following Jesus is a team sport. We’re not flying solo. There are no Lone Rangers for Christ. Reach out. They need you. You need them.

A Cow's Opinion

“Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation” (v20).

Joey Tribbiani will not go down as a one of great thinkers of the modern era. On the other hand, this dude occasionally dropped some serious knowledge as a character on the TV show “Friends.” One of those was when Joey talked to Rachel about something that just doesn’t matter. “It’s a moo point…Yeah, it’s like a cow’s opinion. It just doesn’t matter. It’s moo.” Joey will never be considered a prophet or the son of a prophet. But it applies perfectly when it comes to what Pete writes here. When can be sure that what we read in the Bible is straight from God. This isn’t the prophet’s opinion. It doesn’t matter what you think it. It doesn’t matter what I think. Anything other than God’s intention is like a cow’s opinion. It’s a moo point.

Look back up the page to verse 16. Pete started this section by reassuring us that he and the boys weren’t chasing a bunch of “cleverly devised myths” (1:16). They hadn’t fallen for a fairy tale. Jesus is real. They saw Him. They heard Him. They followed Him. And if that’s not good enough for you, three of them were eyewitnesses to the mountaintop meet up between Christ, Moses and Elijah (1:17). The even heard God the Father boom the ultimate “That’s My Boy” (1:18). The apostle says that as life-changing as that event was, there’s “something even more sure” (1:19). God’s Word. You may not have gotten the personal invite to the Transfiguration, but can trust that what you read in the Bible is legit. This is VERY important to Peter’s readers. A team of spiritual hucksters have gotten their ear and are trying to tear the church apart from the inside out (2:1). The former fisherman tells us to ignore false teachers and pay attention to the truth. God’s truth.

“Knowing this first of all” (v20). This is Pete’s point. This is the lead story. This the most important idea he’s trying to get across here. The whole Transfiguration was awesome. Hearing Father God through the heavenly subwoofers was something they will never forget. But here’s what is first and foremost. This is big idea. Here’s the takeaway. Ready? Are you paying attention? OK. Here we go.

The apostle tells us that “no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation” (v20). Pete’s literally talking about a message from God that has been written down. He’s reassuring us that what we read in the Bible is straight from God’s lips. He’s specifically talking about the Old Testament. Remember, the NT is still in production. But the apostle clearly believes that these new writings are prophetic as well. Later, Pete refers to parts of Paul’s letters as “hard to understand” but equal to “other Scriptures (Gr. graphes)” (3:16). He wants you count on what you read in the OT and NT as legit. Take it to the bank. 

You don’t have to worry that this is just “someone’s own interpretation” (v20). The apostle uses the Greek word epilusis. It describes a disclosure, explanation, exposition, meaning or solution. This is the only time the term appears in the Bible. The word literally means a release or an unloosening. Pete wants us to know without a shadow of a doubt that what we read in Scripture isn’t like a nasty knot that someone has finally untangled. Never forget the Big Story of God’s Word. God created beautifully and perfectly. We jacked it up completely. He’s coming back on the greatest rescue mission the universe has ever seen to fix His creation and save us in the process. Nobody’s making this stuff up. God holds the copyright on what you read in His Word. If you don’t like it, don’t blame dudes like Pete and Paul. They’re only making the delivery.

Be VERY careful when reading passages from the Bible. Don’t sit back and say, “I think that this means…” If someone says that in your small group, run. Run far. Run fast. Can we be blunt among friends? Their opinion doesn’t matter. Your opinion doesn’t matter. My opinion doesn’t matter. As the great philosopher and theologian Joey Tribbiani from “Friends” would say, “It’s like a cow’s opinion. It’s a moo point. It doesn’t matter.” Our opinion doesn’t matter. What DOES matter is what the prophet had to say originally when he was writing. What DOES matters is what God has to say through His handpicked spokesman. Everything else is just a cow’s opinion. It’s a moo point.

That includes the prophet who wrote what you’re reading in 2 Peter. These guys weren’t just throwing ideas against the wall to see what would stick. They weren’t writing down some random daydreams. This is GOD’s Word. This is GOD’s message. This is GOD’s Gospel. You can trust God to get His Good News out. He used His Holy Spirit to inspire the writers of the Bible and say EXACTLY what He wanted them to say (1:21; 2Tim 3:16). So if you don’t like what you’re reading in the Bible, don’t blame boys like Pete, Paul, Luke and John. This isn’t their opinion. They’re just delivering the mail. If you’ve got an issue with Scripture, take that up with God. Let me know how that goes for you.

Everything else is just a cow’s opinion. It’s a moo point.

The Mail Man

So that you may also know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything (Eph 6:21).

There’s a mystic about the image of the High Plains Drifter.  You know, the character that Clint Eastwood made famous.  That lone dude who roams the land alone.  Relying on no one.  Solitary.  Self-sufficient.  Bringing law and order to every town along the trail.  There’s an image of the Apostle Paul that’s a lot like that.  Rolling into the city.  Kicking butt.  Taking names.  All in the name of Jesus, of course.  Then mysteriously moving on to the next town as everyone wonders, “Who was that man?”  

There’s only one problem with that picture of Paul.  It’s not true!  He was no Lone Ranger.  He was no High Plains Drifter.  He was rarely alone on his divine assignments.  You’ve probably heard of his partners, guys like Barnabas, Silas, Timothy and Titus.  But there’s another “go to” guy that doesn’t get the headlines.  Tychicus.  In several key situations, the apostle counts on Mr. T to get the job done.  This is one of those instances.  “So that you may also know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything” (v21).

Call him the Mail Man.  Because he always delivers.

Let’s set the scene once again.  Paul’s locked up in a Roman joint waiting for his appeal to be heard by Caesar.  He’s just gotten a surprise visit from Epaphras, the dude who planted a multisite church in Colossae, Hierapolis and Laodicea.  A group of spiritual hucksters have duped Jesus’ followers there into believing a lie.  They’ve fooled folks into thinking Jesus might be good but He’s not God.  According to these goobers, to ensure your place in God’s kingdom, you must save yourself by following a complicated list of religious rules and regs.  After writing a letter correcting the Colossians, he fires off another one to his friends in Ephesus, just 100 miles down the road.  The apostle knows that if we truly know our identity in Jesus, who He is and what He’s done for us, we won’t fall buy any spiritual snake oil.  

In a dark prison cell, Paul licks the envelopes of these letters and hands them to Tychicus.  The Mail Man.  He counts on Mr. T to deliver these crucial communications.  It will be Tychicus who will tell the Ephesians of the apostle’s situation.  “So that you may also know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything” (v21).  Writing under the influence of God’s Spirit, the apostle instructs and encourages his readers.  Meanwhile Tychicus will tell the folks in Ephesus how Paul is doing, what he looks like and his hopes for release.  

Paul gives the Mail Man quite a reference.  He gives him the apostolic seal of approval by calling him “the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord” (v21).  When you’ve got the Paul telling folks you’re legit, then you certainly must be the real deal.  He makes it clear to the Ephesians that he loves him some Tychicus.  As a matter of fact, he loves him like a brother.  This is a great reminder of just what it means to be a member of God’s family.  Paul and his handpicked courier come from completely different backgrounds.  The apostle grew up as a hardcore Pharisee in Tarsus.  He admits to being a former first-team all star in the Jewish big leagues (Phil 3:5-6).  There’s a better than even chance that Tychicus is a Gentile from Ephesus.  We see a couple of clues in Scripture.  First of all, he’s from Asia (Acts 20:4).  In that same verse, Dr. Luke describes Mr. T and Trophimus as some sort of Asian Dynamic Duo.  Back in Jerusalem, things went nuclear when Jewish hardliners thought the non-Jewish Trophimus went to “Hebrew Only” section of the temple (Acts 21:28-29).  So his buddy Tychicus is also probably a Gentile follower of Jesus.

Let that sink in for just a moment.  Paul and Tychicus, the former Pharisee and the foreign non-Jew, are best buds.  Or in the apostle’s words, “the beloved brother” (v21).  Despite all of the racial and religious discrimination that was a big part of the day, Paul loves this dude like a brother.  A brother in Christ.  Do all your friends look like you?  Do they all have the same background?  Jesus is up to something crazy in His kingdom.  He’s busting down walls between races, religions, cultures, genders and nations (Eph 2:13-14).  He’s making insiders out of outsiders.  He’s bringing folks who are far apart and making them family.  He did it for Paul and Tychicus.  Let Him do it for you too.  You can almost see the big bear hug between these two before the Mail Man hit the road.  “Love ya, bro.”

The apostle also wants the Ephesians to know what an awesome servant of Jesus their letter carrier is.  He’s “the faithful minister” (21).  While we don’t know exactly what Tychicus’ ministry is, he seems to be some sort of special projects guy.  Whenever something big comes up, the Mail Man is on Paul’s short list.  And we see why.  He’s faithful.  That means a couple of things.  He’s placed his faith in who Jesus is and what He’s done for him.  Tychicus is a man of faith.  It also describes his never-give-up-never-say-die devotion to his assignment.  When the going gets tough, he gets going.  Paul sends him to Crete to relieve Titus (Titus 1:5; 3:12).  And in the months before his death, the apostle sends him to Ephesus one more time (2Tim 4:12).  There’s no doubt that’s why the man from Tarsus counts on the Mail Man.  Because he always delivers.

Flip back a few years and you’ll see when these two friends got acquainted.  During Paul’s second missionary journey, he was collecting money for the church in Jerusalem that had fallen on very hard times.  As each church contributed to the cause, they also sent along men to accompany the apostle for security and accountability.  “Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Seconds; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus (Acts 20:4).  So the T-Man was part of the bigger posse that traveled with Paul as he delivered the financial support from the churches of Asia, Macedonia and Greece to the home office in Jerusalem.  Like his mentor, Tychicus rarely traveled alone.  Here he makes the trip to Crete with Artemas.  Previously he rolled with Paul’s big posse to Jerusalem.  On the assignment to Ephesus and Colossae, the runaway slave Onesimus was his partner (Col 4:9).

As I mentioned earlier, Tychicus is the courier who delivers not just this note to Ephesus but letters to the church at Colossae as well as one to Paul’s buddy Philemon.  The apostle gives him a very similar glowing recommendation to the Colossians.  “Tychicus will tell you all about my activities.  He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.  I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts” (Col 4:3-4).  When the Apostle Paul vouches for you not once but twice, you must be the real deal.

Do you have a brother or sister in Christ that you can lean on?  Someone that you can count on?  Someone who’ll always deliver?  And are there folks who can count on you?  Are you a “beloved brother?”  Are you a “faithful minister?”  Are you someone who will always deliver?  Following Jesus is a team sport.  Paul and his boy Mr. T are proof of that.