CAMINANDO WITH JESUS: Enough Evidence?

I love Bible study. I always find something new, something that was not visible the last time I read the passage. And I appreciate today’s challenge to look at this passage again because, although I did not go back to check, I suspect that every three years I jumped on the theme of being called by God. That’s an important, obvious and easy to preach theme. Some priests might even use it to recruit Sunday school teachers!

But let’s ask ourselves why the Gospel writer placed the calling of the disciples at this point in the story.

John the Baptist has been arrested and Jesus knows this is a turning point. The religious authorities have started to take this movement seriously. Jesus explains that by quoting from Isaiah, saying the people who have been in darkness have seen a great light. Jesus seems to be saying that the people had seen John and through John had seen the great light that Jesus was and is and will be. Furthermore it says Jesus goes throughout the area explaining what this means: Repent, for the kingdom of God has come near.

I find that a very comforting teaching. The time of God’s reign; the time of God’s peace and love throughout the world has come near. In the midst of all the evil we see around us, the time of God is near. That’s very comforting.

Jesus does provide comfort. But Jesus also has the unpleasant tendency to comfort us, then, when we are stronger, challenge us to be uncomfortable again.

That’s exactly what happens in this passage. Jesus comforts us by saying God’s light is shining brightly, and God’s reign has come near. Then the Gospel writer tells us about the calling of the disciples. The Gospel writer turns our attention from what will happen in this world, to our role in what will happen.

I think it is reasonable to speculate that the disciples had heard about Jesus. Maybe heard Him teach. It is unlikely they would have jumped up to follow a stranger. They had heard enough to follow Him.

So, a question: Have we heard enough about Jesus to follow Him? To truly follow Him into a messed up, scary world with lots of evil around us?

Let's set aside worship styles, prayer patterns and musical selections. Those are important, no question. They are important to each individual since they help each of us grow closer to God. But Jesus never speaks about them. Rather, Jesus emphasizes being a light to those in great darkness. In Luke, Jesus goes further and says: “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a basket. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.”

Years before "What would Jesus do?" was the question to ask, there was another question circulated: If you were arrested on the charge of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Would a person who followed you for a couple days see evidence you are Jesus’ disciple? (When I was preaching I would pause at this point and say, “Ouch! That one hurts!”)

When you are in a car with friends and drive past a man begging on the street corner, are you the light of Christ?

When the conversation gets heated over politics, are you the light of Christ? (Hint: Neither keeping quiet nor providing the overwhelmingly logical argument are likely to qualify.)

When there is the less-than-direct opportunity to speak about God and church, are you the light of Christ? (Example: Do anything interesting this weekend?)

When social media goes extremely dark, and I do not mean turned off, are you the light of Christ?

Allow me to point out that very frequently you will not influence the person being particularly nasty in any of those situations. In fact, the more important person is the person just standing and listening. They are the ones you can influence. They are the ones looking for the light of Christ. Take yours out from under the basket.

The Rev. Ken Kroohs is a retired priest living in High Point.