As If He Were I

In the gospels, more often than not, following Jesus meant picking up and turning and heading in a different direction - physically following Jesus the person.  But what does it mean now?  How do the sometimes strange and difficult lessons from Jesus' life among his first followers apply to us today?  How do we follow him?  When we hear Jesus announce to some of his would-be followers in Luke 9.57-62 that they don't have what it takes, shouldn't we wonder to ourselves if we have what it takes?  Or if maybe we've "missed" something since our discipleship doesn't seem to be nearly as costly as it does for them?  If one man turns away because the Son of Man has no place to lay his head, how are we to respond who live in the lap of luxury compared to most of the rest of the world?  In a culture where "family values" sometimes approach idolatry, what does it mean that Jesus turns those away who want to go back and take care of or merely say goodbye to their families?  How are we to follow Jesus in that sense?

In some ways, following Jesus now is more challenging than in the gospels.  I mean, let's face it, it might not be as convenient to physically drop whatever you were doing in the first century (or now) and tag along with Jesus wherever he went, but it would be simpler.  At least, once you had made the decision to follow him, it would be rather clear what that looked like, wouldn't it?  Go where Jesus goes.  Do what he did.  Follow his instructions in any given situation.  Simple.

But today, we do not follow Jesus physically.  We follow him in other, less simple ways, I think.  Dallas Willard tells us that to be a disciple of Jesus is to live and act and speak in the same way Jesus would if he were I (or you).  Not as simple.  Because now we have to get to know him through the pages of Scripture, sound teaching, prayer, community with others and the influence of his Holy Spirit dwelling within us.  We have to work on it a bit.  And we have to do it as imperfect people, among other imperfect people.  No, following Jesus is not as simple, or as neat.  Now we have to figure out how Jesus would be a student, a police officer, a teacher, a retired person, a sanitation worker, a bar tender, a sales clerk, a father or mother, a lawyer, a cook, an artist or a greeter at Walmart.  Now it's not as clear as it would have been if he were right in front of us, leading us on, showing us the way.

The would-be followers of Jesus in Luke 9 ought to cause us to reflect on the things that stand in our way today.  What values or customs in life today approach idol-status in our lives?  What things ought we to lay down and let go of in order to better follow Jesus?  What excuses would we be tempted to make if Jesus were to invite us to follow him in a new and frightening way this week?

Wherever and however Jesus calls to you, I pray you find the faith and humility to "set your face" to the task at hand, as Jesus has done for us.