Being in Tune with Jesus: Preparing the Way.
In our spiritual journey, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life, losing sight of our true purpose as followers of Christ. So, ask yourself: what does it really mean to be a Christian? How can we ensure that we're not just going through the motions, but truly living out our faith in a way that aligns with Jesus' teachings?
The key lies in being in tune with Jesus—both on a personal level and as part of the larger Christian community. This concept of alignment with Christ is fundamental to our faith. If we can't be on the same page with Jesus and His calling for us, we need to seriously examine the authenticity of our faith. Are we following Jesus on His terms, or are we creating our own version of Christianity that suits our preferences?
The Gospel of Luke provides a powerful illustration of this principle. As Jesus set His face towards Jerusalem, knowing the crucifixion awaited Him, He began to prepare His disciples for what was to come. This preparation wasn't just about informing them of future events; it was about aligning their hearts and minds with God's plan.
Jesus sent His disciples ahead to prepare the way for Him—a role previously reserved for John the Baptist. This passing of the torch signifies an important shift: the responsibility of preparing the way for the Lord now extends to all believers. Just as John prepared the way for Jesus' ministry, and the disciples prepared for His passion in Jerusalem, we are now called to prepare for Christ's return.
This preparation, however, isn't always straightforward or easy. The story of Jesus sending messengers to a Samaritan village in Luke 9:51-56 illustrates this perfectly. When the Samaritans rejected Jesus, James and John—the "Sons of Thunder"—reacted with fiery indignation. They asked Jesus if they should call down fire from heaven to consume the village, much like the prophet Elijah had done in the Old Testament.
Jesus' response to this suggestion is both surprising and enlightening. He rebuked James and John, telling them, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of." This rebuke reveals three crucial errors we must avoid in our own spiritual lives:
1. Misunderstanding Jesus' mission: Jesus didn't come to destroy lives, but to save them. His path to accomplishing God's will wasn't through force or violence, but through suffering, rejection, and ultimately, resurrection.
2. Misjudging others: James and John were quick to write off the Samaritans as unworthy of God's kingdom. Yet, throughout the Gospels and Acts, we see Samaritans playing crucial roles in Jesus' ministry and the early church.
3. Misinterpreting discipleship: As followers of Christ, we're not called to be God's enforcers or judges. Our role is to serve and emulate Jesus, whose face was set towards Jerusalem and the cross.
So how can we avoid these pitfalls and truly prepare the way for Jesus in our lives and communities? Here are three key steps:
1. Get to know Jesus intimately: This means devoting ourselves to Scripture. The Bible is our primary source for understanding who Jesus is and what He calls us to do. Without a solid grounding in God's Word, we risk creating a false image of Christ that aligns more with our preferences than with reality.
2. Get to know people: We're called to love others, not judge them. This includes those who are different from us, those on the margins of society, and even those who oppose us. By genuinely seeking to understand and love others, we reflect Christ's love to the world.
3. Be His disciples: Knowledge alone isn't enough. Even demons believe in God, as James 2:19 reminds us. True discipleship means putting our knowledge into action, allowing Christ's teachings to transform our lives from the inside out.
It's crucial to remember that knowledge of Jesus, while important, doesn't equate to salvation. There are scholars who study the Bible and teach about Jesus without believing in Him as Lord and Savior. Salvation comes through a living relationship with Christ, one that changes us and compels us to live differently.
As we strive to be in tune with Jesus, we must constantly check our hearts and actions. Are we, like James and John, quick to judge and condemn those who don't align with our expectations? Or are we, like Jesus, patient, loving, and focused on the ultimate goal of salvation for all?
Preparing the way for Jesus in today's world means embodying His love, grace, and mission in our daily lives. It means being willing to step out of our comfort zones to reach those who might seem unreachable. It means recognizing that God's ways are often different from our initial impulses, and being willing to adjust our attitudes and actions accordingly.
Let's challenge ourselves to grow in our understanding of Jesus through diligent study of Scripture. Let's push ourselves to truly get to know and love the people God has placed in our lives, especially those we might naturally avoid. And let's commit to being doers of the Word, not just hearers.
As we align ourselves with Jesus' mission and methods, we become better prepared for His return. We become living testimonies of His transformative power, beacons of hope in a world that desperately needs it. May we all strive to be so in tune with Jesus that our lives become a constant preparation for His coming, inviting others to join us in this beautiful journey of faith.
Rev. Joshua Ryu
