“Uncertainty provides rescue from being stuck in the familiar ways of life that keep us from moving forward into the purposes of God. Wandering into the wilderness of the unknown is God’s divine reorientation, from what we know in the present to what God knows about the future.” – Sherry Miller
There’s a lot more to following Jesus than what meets the eye. And this is exactly where we find the blessing in uncertainty. To understand this, let’s look back to an intimate, private gathering with Jesus and His inner circle of followers, nearly two centuries ago. The dramatic events surrounding what is known as the Last Supper are recorded in all four of the Gospel letters of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Particularly in John’s gospel letter, the dialogue, largely before the actual meal itself, revealed so much about those twelve men that had left everything behind and risked so much to be in the same room with their teacher, eye-to-eye. They must’ve been carefully selected for the inner circle because they were a powerful, confident and worthy group of followers, right?
A surprising truth
The answer to the question above: definitely not. Let’s listen in on the conversation to find out what the musings and questions of these followers actually revealed. Thanks to the scriptures, we get to step inside, within the walls of that room. It was not any ordinary get-together, this fellowship and meal. On the precipice of a history-altering event and during a very significant annual religious observance called Passover, the air in the room perhaps heavy with tension, Jesus said and did some things that frankly startled His students and set the stage for a future yet unknown to them. There, in the intimacy of their private meeting, the words of three disciples exposed a surprising truth.
First was Peter. If you open your Bible and read John 13:1-9, the first inklings of Peter’s awkward uncertainty and albeit some anxiety during a surprise foot-washing ceremony, come to light. He was a “powerful, confident and worthy” student, right? Not so much. Eye-to-eye with Jesus, he was, well, quite uncertain of many things, including his worthiness to be eye-to-eye with Jesus. He was willing, yes, but filled with uncertainty.
This was only the beginning. Jesus was just getting started. Next He would lay bare some difficult truths about loyalty and betrayal, about pride, about faith. Not only did all believers struggle in these areas, Jesus’s closest disciples – known as the Apostles – clearly did as well. Chapter 14 of John’s gospel opens with Jesus’s ominous yet strangely comforting exhortation that hints at the insecure and conflicted condition of His listeners, probably shuffling in their seats:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.” – John 14:1a
In John chapter 14 you’ll hear Thomas and Philip confess their own uncertainties. Seems to be contagious. In short, these two were also anxious about increasingly troubling news. Jesus was unpacking a lot of difficult stuff, including something they didn’t want to hear – that He would be leaving them soon!
Given this new understanding about the underlying uncertainties, conflicts and flaws of history’s closest followers of Jesus – those men who by divine inspiration later wrote many New Testament letters – could it be that you harbor anxiety, fears and uncertainties about following Jesus? You may sense that He’s keeping a distance from you because you have just too many nagging doubts, fears and insecurities. Not only that, you may have betrayed Him in the past. The truth may be that beneath all your insecurities is the fear of exposing all the things you’ve done in the past that would deem you unworthy. Why would Jesus have time for you, only to disappoint Him with your wavering faith?
Maybe you just can’t believe that Jesus, the perfect God-man, totally free of sin, the Savior of the world, would have even the slightest interest in such insecure, doubtful, fearful people as you and me. Hold on for a second. Just take in the following words from Isaiah in scripture, an astounding prophetic passage about the “suffering servant,” widely understood to be a foretelling of the earthly experience of Jesus. Based on these words, the Master Teacher would’ve had every reason to feel anxious, uncertain and fearful:
“There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.” – Isaiah 53:2
Who Jesus calls
Even from scripture itself, as in the remarkable prophecy above, the astonishing fact is indisputable, that Jesus Himself completely identifies with even the most unworthy, insecure, and uncertain people, you and me included.
No need to be surprised then about who Jesus called to follow Him. While Jesus was living in the early first century, people drawn to Jesus – those willing to follow Him – were simple folks with anxieties, weaknesses and fears of their own – not unlike the Apostles. They had all the baggage from battered lives and the scars from internal battles fought. Just the kind of folks to whom Jesus gravitated! He had no interest in their outward qualifications or credentials, and was not offended in the least by their insecurities. These things had absolutely no bearing on what really mattered – their desperate need for Him, and willingness to take that first step.
He’s still calling wounded, weary people with childlike faith today that recognize their need for him and are simply willing to seek a better way. He is drawn to you, friend. And He longs for you to be drawn to Him, to come sit at the feet of the Master Teacher. Oh, and bring all your baggage, your doubting questions and fears. Not only can He handle it, He graciously welcomes you, the whole package.
“When I finally reach the edge of my need and know my own limitations, then Jesus says, “Blessed are you…” (Matthew 5:11). But I must get to that point. God cannot put into me… the nature that was in Jesus Christ unless I am aware of my need for it.” – Oswald Chambers
“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” – written by the Apostle Paul in a letter to the body of believers in the city of Corinth, Corinthians 1:26-29
You’re in His class
Let’s go back to Jesus with His original inner circle (including Peter, Thomas and Philip), but much earlier in their relationship. Jesus was teaching, encouraging and preparing these needy followers in one of the most profound discourses He ever spoke regarding their willingness to follow Him. Here’s a brief introduction to it from The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Hopefully you’ll read the scripture passage below as if He’s speaking directly to you…because He is.
“Here Jesus stands at the height of his popularity. Although his ministry touched the masses, he saw the need to teach his ‘disciples’ closely,… His words are just as applicable for Christ followers today as they were when they rolled off of His divine tongue as the Son of God briefly wrapped in humanity on this earth. Those who especially wanted to attach themselves to him, Jesus takes aside to instruct.” – Expositor’s Bible Commentary
This discourse, entitled “The Beatitudes,” can be found in the Gospel of Matthew, in chapters 5:1-12:
“When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:
‘You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought. You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat. You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for. You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God...”
– Matthew 5:1-8, The Message Bible
The Teacher’s heart
This rendering of The Beatitudes passage beautifully portrays the heart of the Master Teacher for people that surely doubted their worthiness, while He saw through all of that to their desperate willingness. It’s encouraging to recognize that even those closest to Jesus had their deep uncertainties in life, making them all the more willing to follow Him. No matter where you are or where you’ve been, you’re in good company.
There is one distinction between those early followers and those of us who believe in Jesus today. The early first century followers of Jesus could see Him, in person! He lived among many of them. His public ministry was only about three years but many, including those twelve Apostles, experienced face-to-face interaction with the Master Teacher. Can you imagine? But even then, as we’ve learned from that Last Supper meeting, those closest to Jesus, eye-to-eye, would soon learn about an entirely different way of seeing. Not only would their beloved teacher be physically leaving them, they would come to understand spiritual sight. In other words, they would learn about faith. Faith is the blessing in uncertainty, because of the Source of our faith.
Key takeaways:
- Jesus calls believers to follow Him, regardless of status or merit, that humbly recognize their need for Him.
- Uncertainties never disqualified anyone from following Jesus. In fact, everyone has them, and Jesus welcomes us with uncertainties and all of our baggage.
- The Biblical passage of The Beatitudes was primarily addressing His closest students known as the twelve apostles to underscore the most desirable conditions for discipleship.
For reflection or discussion:
- The quote at the top of the page, by Sherry Miller, is packed with meaning. What is the value of uncertainty, and “wandering into the wilderness?”
- Take some time to open your Bible to John’s Gospel, specifically chapters 13 and 14. Read them in their entirety. What uncertainties can you identify with when reading these chapters, in relation to the interactions between Jesus and his closest inner circle?
- Discuss with your group, or journal relating to your uncertainties about following Jesus today.
- In the Beatitudes passage from Matthew 5:1-8 above, from Jesus’ encouraging words, what do you find most comforting?
Photo by Gabriel Meinert
Proudly powered by WordPress