Monday, March 29, 2021

Fans, Friends & Followers

 

Monday of Holy Week, March 29, 2021

Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee.  They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.”  Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.  Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory.  I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone.  But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.  Those who love their life in this world will lose it.  Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.  Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am.  And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.  John 12:20-26

Nobody wants to be stuck in a category, labeled like a cut of beef in a grocery store display.  But the fact remains we label ourselves by our actions.  When it comes to Jesus Christ, the labels are fans, friends, and followers.  Sometimes the line between these is a little blurry.  Let’s clear the air.

Fans are those who read the press reports and box scores.  They’re interested, in a curiosity sense, wanting to know all about what this sensation, Jesus is up to.  It is, after all, quite a fascinating thing to see people, who were lame for 38 years, jump-up and dance into the temple.

Friends are those who want to be a little closer, like the Greeks who talked with Philip.  They wanted to know more.  Today we would call them seekers.  They want to meet Jesus.  There might be a motive in the background, a thought that connects their dots on what life holds for those who follow Jesus around.

Followers move a little closer, hanging around to see what happens.  They choose to get involved so they won’t miss a single tweet, text, or email.  There’s a sense that there might be some great benefit just around the next miracle that will put them in a higher category…some new membership bonus.  Something like Frequent Flyer Miles that you want to pack-away for a spiritually rainy day; just in case!

Now, if that isn’t enough in the categories of spiritual life choices, there is one more, but it is something of a hot-to-the-touch variety; the label is Christian. 

Whoa…time-out; what’s so out there about Christian?  Aren’t there a lot of them?  Well, yes, but not as many as are reported on the census-taker’s final tally.  There are quite a few fans, friends, and followers, but it takes more than being raised in a preacher or deacon’s home to actually qualify as Christian.  It takes the transformation Jesus offers when a person choses to lay-aside all his prerogatives and serve Jesus. 

Another word for this category is disciple.  It is that willingness to take the back seat, rather than jump in the pilot’s chair.  It’s choosing to serve, rather than be-served.  It’s the cross, rather than being chief.  Without the pro-active decision to give up my way for His way, no one is a Christian.  Jesus said so:

Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Mark 10:43b-45

In 21st century culture we’re big on having choices…iPhones or Androids, virtual or in-person; even Burger King offers to have it your way.  One way that culture and Christ agree is that, whether or not we become disciples of Jesus Christ is definitely a matter of choice. 

There are those who choose to go to church, sing in a choir, give some money into the offering plate, and even preach a sermon.  That doesn’t make one a Christian, any more than a cat living in an abandoned field and sleeping in an old rusted stove make him a biscuit.  That’s just a matter of location and activity, not answering the call to serve the Master.

For You Today

So, the question almost begs itself, are you a fan…a friend…a follower… or a disciple?  Choose.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!  

[1] Title Image:  Courtesy of Pixabay.com    Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation©

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