Is
He Safe?
READ:
John 11:1-16
Let us also go, that we may die with Him.
An often-quoted portion of C. S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the response of Mr. and Mrs. Beaver as the children ask about Aslan the lion. When Susan wants to know if Aslan is "quite safe," Mrs. Beaver tells her, "If there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly."
"Then he isn't safe?" asks Lucy. "Safe?" replies Mr. Beaver. "Don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."
Their misgivings about Aslan, the Christ-figure of the book, mirror our own questions about Jesus and what will happen if we follow Him.
Is He safe? Will He lead me into danger? Will anything bad happen if I follow Him?
Jesus' own disciples discovered that their Lord was completely unpredictable, untamed, and free in doing the will of His heavenly Father.
When Jesus was told that His friend Lazarus was sick (John 11:1-4), He inexplicably waited 2 days, then said to His disciples, "Let us go back to Judea" (v.7). Their response was amazement, and it was immediate: "A short while ago the Jews tried to stone You, and yet You are going back there?" (v.8).
Even after Jesus explained the situation to them, Thomas saw only one outcome. He said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him" (v.16).
If we want a safe, predictable Savior who always acts according to our expectations, we'll have to find someone other than Jesus. But when we come to the end of ourselves and cry out for mercy and forgiveness, we turn to Christ--wild, untamed, and free--because of His love for us.
Will following Jesus guarantee me safety in this life? No, thank God, He is not necessarily safe. But He's good. He's the King! --DM
REFLECTION
A "safe" leader is no leader.
Risking It All
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Why are growing numbers of seemingly rational people turning to high-risk sports? What's the lure of back-country snowboarding, kayaking over a 30-foot waterfall, or skysurfing--doing aerial acrobatics while strapped to a graphite board and freefalling from 13,000 feet? The author of a book on extreme sports says: "The trend in society is to eliminate risk. It's gotten to the point where there are no more swings on playgrounds. At the same time, people are saying, 'Where's Indiana Jones?' People need adventure in their lives." More than a recent phenomenon, the need to live fully and freely seems to have its roots in our very nature. More than a century ago, the psychologist and philosopher William James wrote: "It is only by risking our persons from one hour to another that we live at all." It shouldn't seem surprising that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ calls us to the ultimate adventure in following Him. "He called the crowd to Him along with His disciples and said: 'If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me and for the gospel will save it'" (Mark 8:34-35). Whoa! What does it mean to let those familiar words permeate everything I do today? Could it be that satisfaction depends less on what I do than on why I do it? Is it possible that excitement is a product of my attitude more than my activities? Can I live fully for Christ where I am today instead of wishing I were somewhere else? Jesus calls us to stake our lives on His promise. The circumstances we see as ordinary and humdrum, He sees as the setting for great exploits for Him. Are you ready for the adventure? --DM |
REFLECTION
· What is the difference between adventurous faith and spiritual thrill-seeking as a Christian?
· How do I think Jesus wants me to lose my life for His sake?
· What risks do I face in accepting Christ's challenge in Mark 8?
Following Jesus is the ultimate adventure.