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 21^st 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^©

Holy Week on Tuesday

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                                                                                                 Tuesday, March 22, 2016

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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^(NLT) 

It was a simple enough request; it’s hard to understand why Philip just didn’t take the Greeks to Jesus.

This passage has always seemed to me a microcosm of what is sometimes the biggest problem we have in the church – an “organizational-bog” nightmare.  The travelers who came to Jerusalem wanted to see Jesus, so they made their request to one of the organization’s insiders, Philip.  Philip turned it into a committee project, telling Andrew, and together they brought it to Jesus, chair of the board, for approval.

Jesus’ answer must have confused the disciples, because he didn’t give them an answer they could take back to the delegation who wanted to meet the carpenter from Galilee.  Instead, with a wistful look in his eyes, Jesus starts talking about seed-planting and harvests, loving and hating life, and servants his Father will honor.

How could the disciples make sense of responses like these in the face of an important request to which the board must give an answer?  Was the chairman losing it?

One day, more than thirty years ago, our youngest daughter, Carrie gave me an answer to that question.  Think wide-open baby blue eyes, blonde pigtails and a smile that melts even the coldest heart. She was only three, and overheard Elizabeth and I talking about the bills, and my whining about how there just wasn’t enough money this month.  Carrie went to her room and then showed up at the table where I’d been agonizing over the budget.  “Here, Daddy, you can use my money.”  She held up a pudgy little opened hand containing three pennies. 

The answer to my money woes was not to be found in the income and outgo of a budget and checkbook, but a different way of thinking about God’s supply and demand.  I had been thinking in terms of “covering the bills” while my child understood the greater principle of how love gives everything.

And that’s what Jesus was talking about to Andrew and Philip.  They were concerned about the schedule of appearances and whether Jesus would have time to meet another request on his time.  But Jesus wanted them to lift their eyes higher to a cross and the sacrifice of the ages.

Jesus knew you don’t build a kingdom with tweet-followers, elections or donations; it’s a matter of making yourself available for God’s altar.

For You Today

It’s a good principle to remember today (and always) when you get a somewhat confusing answer…God’s ways are a little higher than yours.  When it doesn’t seem to make sense, look up!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road today…and have a blessed day!

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[1] Title Image:  By Andrew A. Shenouda from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (It's the Holy Week!), via Wikimedia Commons

Finding Our Way to Jesus

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Wednesday, April 1, 2015

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 (NLT)

There are enough confusing issues in life today to destroy just about anyone’s sense of direction and purpose. 

In today’s text we have the two foundational truths for followers of Jesus that give both direction and eternal purpose. 

The first truth is that following Jesus means telling others.  Philip and Andrew found themselves in conversation with others who were curious about Jesus.  They went together to ask Jesus what to do.  This example is “Christianity-101”; we always take our questions and issues to Jesus in prayer.  A servant always seeks the Master’s will; we always seek to honor the Master.

The second truth is that serving Jesus won’t necessarily make you popular or rich.  Jesus’ response to Philip and Andrew was a glimpse of the passion to come, Christ’s arrest, crucifixion, death and resurrection.  In this answer the Lord was setting the tone for all true Christian living – unselfish serving is life in God.

There is much good being done by the Church in this world – true ministry that reaches many for the kingdom of God; much of it is done in unselfish submission to the will of God.

Then again, there is much done that is driven by worldly agenda; selfishness dies hard!

Some preach a so-called “Gospel” who are really proclaiming the opposite of these two foundational truths.  The preachers of personal prosperity point you in a direction away from unselfishness, and toward greed.  Of necessity this violates both foundational issues.  When “following Jesus” means amassing personal wealth and popularity, you can hardly be concerned about telling others about Jesus, or giving unselfishly.

But, let me say it one more time, selfishness dies hard.

If you’re interested in following the real Jesus, you have to kill the selfishness within.  That’s what He did in Gethsemane the night before the crucifixion:

“My Father!  If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me.  Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”  Matthew 26:39b (NLT)

If you’re interested in following the real Jesus, it has got to be HIS will, not mine.

For You Today

I have a probing question I must answer every day when I first wake up, and I recommend it if you want to be a follower of Jesus Christ – whose will am I seeking today?

This question will renew your purposes to live a life honoring to God, and set your direction for the day to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

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[1] Title Image: Peter McDermott, via Wikimedia Commons

Life in Paradox

Monday, January 26, 2015

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 (NLT)

A paradox, according to Funk & Wagnall’s dictionary is "a statement seemingly absurd or contradictory, yet in fact true."  We don't understand something, yet it works anyway.  

A man sitting in his office late one evening needed some help spelling a word. He went to the corridor and yelled. "Is anyone out there?"  A voice came back.  "I'm here."  The man asked, "How do you spell simultaneous?"  After a pause the voice answered, sounding farther away; "there's nobody out here."

The gospel itself IS a paradox – it seems absurd that God would die for his creation.  The Gospel is full of paradoxes, and we are called to live LIFE IN PARADOX.

We may be like the disciples, willing to see what we prefer, and what we hoped-for, while we ignore the point Jesus really wants us to see.  In the disciples’ case, Jesus had just entered town and cleaned house at the temple. The disciples and the crowds saw a "Son of Man" - conqueror of men.  The Greeks were noted for their thirst for knowing ...they wanted to see this ruler.  Palm Sunday was a triumph, and Jesus was a hot commodity.  Had the kingdom of God really come to Jerusalem?  

This is the picture of paradox ... the disciples expected a crown; the rabbi from Nazareth kept talking about a CROSS.  

Our text is a continuation of the terms of Jesus' paradox - absurd statements that are absolutely true; in this case, life only comes through death!

Jesus helped them understand this paradox with an illustration of wheat “dying to the ground”. It is more than an agricultural lesson; it’s the whole basis for spiritual life.  The fact is that wheat is ineffective when it is stored-up in a barn somewhere; it must be planted in order to bring forth fruit.  

And the application, spiritually-speaking, is that new life in Christ comes only when we bury our personal control over life.  The word Jesus used for what happens to the seed, being “planted" is strongly-connected to the word "prostrate" as in the humble, worshipping soul bowing before his superior.  If we wish to have eternal life there must be (through faith) an eternal death of the pride of life.  And that death, says our faith, is in the life-giving power of Jesus Christ.  

It is something you “release”.  And it’s similar to the banking system. You have some money and wish to open a bank account.  You decide on a local bank.  You look it over; you study its' financial statement.  You check the references of its board and officers.

Up to this point you have been operating on reason and intellect.  But then you take the plunge and hand your money to the teller.  The teller gives you a receipt.  THAT takes faith (especially with some banks)!  

The leap of faith is to count the old life dead: to say with Paul that you crucify the old life, and accept Christ’ finished work of salvation, His offer of new life to those who believe; His death - your new life.

What I have attempted to describe is the very beginning of eternal life as you entrust yourself to Christ for eternity.

What is simpler and clearer to say – but incredibly harder to do – is remember that we not only start-out the Christian life that way – but we live every single day in that paradox of death-bringing-life for the rest of eternity.  Trusting Jesus never ends!

For You Today

Live the paradox; it’s how you stay close to Jesus!