Would you leave?

Luke 5:27-32 Jesus Calls Levi - Click here to read passage

Reflection:

Have you ever wondered why the folks in the Bible seem so ready to just walk away from their professions to follow Jesus?

I mean, if you trained for years to be a mechanic, let’s say – and your livelihood depended on what you brought in from that work…and then some wandering preacher comes and tells you to follow him, learn from him, and be part of his movement – would you leave it all, trusting that this was the right thing to do? Of course not!

This highlights the difference between the culture of Jesus’ day and our own. Back then, rabbis were well-respected members of the community…and to be a “follower” of one of the rabbis was a distinct honor. It meant that you had excelled past your classmates in knowledge of the Scriptures. It meant that you had memorized the Scriptures. It meant that you were the best of the best. Only the ‘cream of the crop’ got called to be a rabbi’s disciples.

Except this rabbi did things differently.

He went to those who were ‘not good enough.’

He went to those who had not excelled past their peers.

He called regular, everyday folks like you and I to be part of his radical movement of good news, joy, and peace.

That’s why the disciples dropped everything and followed him – because it meant that before they even believed in him, he believed in them. He believed in their ability to carry his message. He believed in their ability to be a vehicle for his love. He believed that this rag-tag group of “anybodies” could change the world. And they did.

They still do. Now you and I are a part of that rag-tag group as well. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: God of all people, you call us to be your followers and to echo the love you show to us. Help us to rest secure in the fact that before we even believe in you, you believe in us and our power to let your love flow through us to others. Amen.