Instead
What is it that keeps me from living the life that God has for me? What prevents me from following Jesus and seeing his power at work? One word…Instead.
A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.
Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere. Mark 1:40-45
Instead. The man, just healed of his terrible disease is told directly and firmly by Jesus to do certain things and not do other things…instead he does the opposite…exactly the opposite. It’s interesting to notice in the gospels how often people who have been healed by Jesus choose to “instead”. Wouldn’t you think these would be the one most likely to listen to Jesus, to trust Jesus, to obey what he tells them to do? These are the ones who have experienced his mercy, who are grateful for his goodness and power in their lives. Yet they choose “instead”….makes me wonder how often I “instead” with Jesus.
“As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. ” Jesus is hampered in what he would like to do by the choice of this man. “As a result”, another phrase that carries a lot of meaning. What is the deal? Why would Jesus give this man such power over him? Why would Jesus allow this man to affect his life in such a way? Why? Because Jesus allows this man to choose “instead”. Jesus allows you and me to choose. Jesus is serious about our responses to him. He is serious about our listening, trust and obedience, and the only way our obedience means anything is if we have the ability to choose another path, to choose…instead.
While many, even most, people that Jesus heals don’t do well in following his orders, some are different. Some listen, trust and obey. One man, possessed by a legion of demons is healed by Jesus. As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. Mark 5:18-20
Some come to Jesus in their need to find healing then go on their way. Others come to Jesus in order to follow him. These followers are more likely to listen, trust and obey, not perfectly (no one follows Jesus without an occasional “instead”) but it seems to make a difference if the choice is made to follow Jesus, not just to come to him for his help. There it is…this is the difference: am I willing to follow Jesus? Or do I simply want a savior, a helper in time of need?
For all of us who tend to “instead” there is another word, a word of grace…”yet”. “Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.” You see, even when the man disobeys Jesus and even though this changes the way Jesus does things, the people still come. Jesus will accomplish what he intends to do. “Yet” is a word of grace. It’s a reminder that we can start again. Even when I am stuck in a pattern of insteads, Jesus carries on with his mission and Jesus waits for me to follow, to listen, trust and obey.
And this is what really matters in life. So many things seem to matter…what I choose to do for a living, where I choose to live, what people I choose to relate to, which politician I root for…these all are important questions, but they are secondary or further down the list. The ultimate questions involve the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Is he my Master? If so, will I follow him?
Grace and glory,
Jay
Journey3 is a movement with three parts.
We Believe. We gather on Sunday afternoons at 4 in order to grow in our ability to believe Jesus. For now we are meeting at the home of Jay and Barb Braband, 4409 N Willamette Blvd in Portland. Check with me if you would like to come (and you are certainly welcome to do so!) as our meeting schedule occasionally changes.
We Build. We meet in triads to share life in a deeper way.
We Bless. We go into our beloved city of Portland to make a difference by serving people who need a touch from God.
Interested in living life the way God intended you to live? Email me…Jay@Journey3.org.
