Day 247: Matthew 8:18-34; 9:18-38; Mark 4:35-5:43; Luke 8:22-56; 9:57-62

It seems to me that the way we talk to people about the gospel and becoming a Christ-follower is way different than Jesus' approach. We spend a lot of time trying to make people feel comfortable and selling them on the benefits of being a Christian while Jesus always seems to lead with the challenge...

When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
   Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 
   Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
   But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” (Matthew 8:18-22)

Luke adds this tidbit...

Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)

Are there benefits to following Christ? Well, sure...I suppose so. But the benefits aren't really reaped until the price of discipleship has been paid. What is the price? Only our very lives. I think maybe we set people up for disappointment if we allow them to begin their relationship with Jesus expecting some immediate positive changes in their experiences. I'm not saying miraculous things never happen when a person becomes a Christian, I know they do. What I am saying is that when we choose to follow Jesus we're choosing to follow Jesus...whatever He has in mind for us and wherever he may lead. And it often (always?) involves sacrifice. The blessings will come...but it may not be until after death. People need to know that going in.

It seems to me that fear is a real theme in today's reading. Once again, we see that the soft, tender Jesus we often see depicted isn't the whole picture.

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
    He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
    They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:39-41)

Isn't it interesting that the disciples were afraid of the storm...but they were TERRIFIED when it was calmed. The storm is a known thing...they've experienced storms before. But a man (God) who speaks and the weather obeys him is sort of a new thing. They like the calm weather...but they are uncertain about the power of the person who controls it.

The same sort of thing happens when Jesus heals the demoniac in the region of the Gerasenes. This man was apparently a known fixture in the area. He was wild and scary...but familiar. Jesus has compassion on the man and heals him...casts out the demons. Oddly, the calm they see in the man scares them...

When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. (Mark 5:15)

In fact, while they had put up with the antics of this demon possessed man for years they just weren't comfortable having Jesus around.

Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region. (Matthew 8:34)

Have you ever been afraid of Jesus?

Have I ever been afraid of Jesus?

If not, I wonder if we really know him.