Follow On
Date of original journal entry: September 28, 2010
Sometimes the way going isn’t so smooth and clear as we might like
Mark 10:32 (a) “And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid.”
This portion is a blessing this morning. It greatly helps me to see the humanness of these sturdy men who left all to follow Jesus. Like them, I too am in the way going, following Jesus, and amazed at what the Lord allows us to do for and with Him. Yet often, as with the disciples, I shrink from fear. I can’t see ahead, circumstances cloud my vision, things aren’t going the way I expected, fear sets in and I begin to doubt. But I’m in the way going; I’m following and Jesus is going before me; I’m right where I’m supposed to be. Why the fear? It can be confusing sometimes.
Sometimes the way going might be more challenging than we would like
Then I consider verse 33 and Jesus’ answer to the fearful disciples. “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death…” It hardly seems like the gentle encouragement they would have liked; in fact, it probably added to their fears. Why such an response to their fear? It almost seems callous and uncaring of Jesus to respond thusly.
But the way going, following Jesus, is always the best place to be
But Hosea 6:3 gives me the answer. “Then shall we know, if we follow on…” The operative word here is IF. I can hear Jesus saying, “Don’t quit on me now guys! Trust me. Follow on.” In time of doubt or confusion or fear – follow on. In the following comes the understanding. The disciples lacked understanding at that point; in fact, most of their understanding came after Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. But they followed on. Had they quit when they were afraid, they never would have come to the place of understanding.
It helps me to know that, like the disciples, I can be right where the Lord wants me to be and yet be afraid. In this passage I am reminded that quitting is not an option. Follow on.
Lord, strengthen me to follow on in sunshine or storm, foggy morning, blazing noon-day heat, or darkest of moonless nights.
And the way going always leads to great places of service. Follow on!
