August 17, 2006
An exercise in which I imagined that I was in the story of Luke 9:10-17. I focus on the first two verses of this passage.
Walk into this story. What do I feel? What do I taste? What do I say? What is said to me?
Who exactly in this Jesus? I’ve heard some incredible stories about him. I heard that he is in Bethsaida today. That’s only a forty-five minute walk! I’ll go right now. I’ve got to see who this Jesus is.
As I near Bethsaida, I’m amazed by the number of people that are walking with me. There are hundreds! Apparently I’m not the only one who heard that he was here. I had worried whether I would be able to find him. I needn’t have, I just follow the crowds and they lead me there. As I approach the massive crowd that is there, I start looking for Jesus. “Have you seen him?” “Where is he?” As I am inquiring, a man starts speaking from a nearby rooftop. Oh good, he must be about to introduce Jesus. But where is he? I don’t see anyone that looks that distinguished. He must be inside, getting ready to make his entrance. Surely someone this popular is well protected, he would certainly need to be if he’s really talking about establishing a kingdom here. The Romans can’t be happy about that, can they?!
Wait a minute, that guy that’s supposed to be introducing Jesus is still talking. What’s taking him so long? What’s he saying? That’s weird; he’s talking about the kingdom of God. He seems to be taking the main part of Jesus’ speech. Hold on, that can’t be him, can it? There’s nothing spectacular about him. He’s not that tall, really. I wouldn’t even have noticed him if it hadn’t been for all these people here. How can this guy be establishing a kingdom? No one would follow him, would they? But there are all these people here.
All of a sudden, he looks at me.
Right into me.
Time seems to stop.
Those eyes!
The ones that pierce to the depths of my soul and the love,
Oh, what love, that looks at me and sees me, really sees me.
I’ve never experienced anything like that gaze before.
He knows me and loves me, that much is now clear. I don’t know how, but this Jesus whom I’ve never met, knows and loves me more than my closest friend, or even my own mother! How can this be?!? And the other thing is, I now know this all from just His gaze into me. This is wild!
He wants me to follow Him.
I know that too. Well, how can I refuse?
I will.
I will follow this Jesus. This makes sense. It makes more sense than anything I’ve ever known before. I must follow Him, for truly this is what I was made for…