Whoever serves me must follow me… –John 12:26a
Watch a group of children play for very long and you’re bound to see them play the game “Follow the Leader.” The rules are easy. One person is the leader and the rest of the children follow, doing the same things the leader does. The leader often takes the group running, skipping, jumping over obstacles, spinning, rolling down the hill, and, most of the time, they end up in some type of laughing mess. Grins on their faces reveal the sheer joy of the game.
Jesus invites us similarly. “Come, follow me,” He says. Unfortunately, most adults have lost the love of following the leader. Instead of frolicking in the mystery of the unknown, we require information like, where are we going? How long will it take to get there? What do I need to bring? How long will we be gone? And, without affirmation of the answer, we refuse to budge. In turn, we miss the adventure altogether.
The invitation to follow Jesus is open-ended. Anyone can come. Anyone can participate, but only if they follow His lead. Answers aren’t guaranteed, the path is often hidden, but if we want to enjoy the game, we must follow the Leader.
GOING DEEPER:
1. What is it that keeps you on the sidelines and not in the game?
2. Are you willing to follow Jesus even without all the answers?
FURTHER READING:
John 14:6