Get ready

THIS month sees us travelling through Lent. It is far more than the time we give up chocolates! It is when we remember how our Lord turned from ministry in Galilee, to focus his attention on his forthcoming death in Jerusalem. He changes role from being the prophet who teaches and heals, to being a priest who suffers and dies. From now on he will spend less time with the crowds and more time with his followers.

He tries to warn his disciples about what lies ahead, but it does not fit in with their plans and ambitions. So they airbrush his comments from their minds. However he persists and speaks openly about the need to count the cost of discipleship. It will not be a stroll in the park but a climb in the hills. As such it will be exhausting as well as exhilarating.

In the gospels we read of three people who drew back from following Jesus (Luke 9:56-62) For them following Jesus was one step too far. They are not the last to think that.

The first was a naïve volunteer who wanted to follow Jesus for what he could get out of it. Many jobs look glamorous from a distance. Only close up can you see the cost paid to get there, the hard work needed to maintain standards, and its unappealing aspects. Only then are you fit to make a proper assessment. The idea of being one of the in-people around a celebrity, with a ringside seat to miracles, could be very attractive, but it is not what following Jesus is like. Blessing others did not mean feather-bedding themselves. Without a base, Jesus and his followers could get exhausted. Better to stay at home and dream if you would miss your comfy bed.

“The Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

The second hesitated, prevaricated and then pleaded an excuse. We never need to be taught how to make excuses. They arise naturally to avoid something hard or inconvenient. The tragedy is we are often the ones who miss out. So this person declined, claiming home responsibilities. “I have a family funeral, my father.” Of course a death in the family takes priority. But the point seems to be that his father had not yet died. Rather he wanted to postpone his commitment, until some indefinite date in the future. It is always tempting to postpone what ought to be done today.

The call of Jesus quickly gets muffled or distorted if not responded to at once. Good intentions are not the same as good actions.

The third person seems most plausible. Any major life-change needs preparation. Things have to be put in order. “Let me say goodbye to my family.” Proper leave-taking is required before embarking on such an uncertain future. Jesus, however, sees what we cannot. He picks up the hesitation. He senses the competing tugs of faith and family. A ploughman looks straight ahead to ensure a straight furrow. To look over his shoulder would spell disaster. There is a necessary single-mindedness to all commitment. A married couple are asked to “forsake all others.” A choice must be made. Your love must be shown in loyalty and your faith in faithfulness.

As we travel through Lent perhaps this is the time to review our commitment both to Jesus and his Church. There was a proverb I heard when working in Zambia. “You can’t paddle a canoe with one foot on the bank!” That says it all really. Let’s use Lent to get ready for Good Friday and Easter Day. ¤

The Rt Rev Colin Sinclair is Moderator of the General Assembly in 2019/20 and is minister at Edinburgh: Palmerston Place.

This article appears in the March 2020 Issue of Life and Work

Click here to view the article in the magazine.

To view other articles in this issue Click here.

If you would like to view other issues of Life and Work, you can see the full archive here.