Where Is Jesus Leading Us?

When I was in high school, I tried out for a role in play, and to my surprise, I made the cast! I was excited for a moment, until it dawned on me that I knew very little about acting. Fortunately, our director knew what he was doing, and he had us go through different exercises to help us improve. One exercise in particular sticks out in my mind.

The director split the cast up into pairs and then one of us was blindfolded. Our partner had to guide us through the book stacks in the library without hitting anything, but they could only use words to guide us. I was one of the "lucky" ones to be blindfolded, and at first I was starting to reconsider this whole acting thing, but as my partner gave me directions, my trust in that person began to grow. It was an exercise in trust and teamwork, things that were probably more important to the success of the play than the ability of any one actor. It was scary to let someone else lead me around, but trust was built as I followed the guiding words of my partner.

Have you ever wondered what went on in the minds and hearts of Jesus' first disciples? Have you ever wondered what compelled them to obey the man who said, "Come, follow me?" What moved them to immediately leave it all behind and answer the calling of the Lord? As you think about those questions, and the response of Peter, Andrew, James, and John, I'd also like for you to ask yourself, "Could I have followed Jesus that way?" Or maybe more to the point, "Am I following Jesus that way?" Do I put all of my trust in Jesus to lead me? Is following Him really the number one priority in my life?

It is crucial that we listen to the teaching Jesus does here in this passage. This first sermon Jesus preaches in Matthew's gospel begins like this: "Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is near." It was the same message John the Baptist came preaching, except now it was being delivered by the one John had prepared the way for. The content, however was the same: repent!

Jesus began his mission by announcing that it was not OK to keep on living comfortably in sin. His words apply to you and me today. Jesus says to you, turn away from your sin. Turn away from your self-reliance. Turn away from your trust in self. Turn away from a messed-up set of priorities. Turn to me and follow me, Jesus says. Why? Because the kingdom of heaven is near. And Jesus is the only way to enter that kingdom. Turn to Jesus, because His suffering and death on the cross and His victory of the grave was for you. Every single way that you have sinned and fallen short has been forgotten by God, because of Jesus' willingness to stand in the way of our punishment. As we keep on turning to God, every day, every hour, confessing our need for Him, He forgives us and renews our desire to follow Him all the way to heaven. The lifestyle of the Christian person is one of repentance leading to the forgiveness of sins; a continuous loop of saving grace.

Now make no mistake, as you follow Jesus through life, you may wonder, "Where is He leading me?" The disciples had the same concern. The same men who seemed to answer Jesus' call so perfectly didn't really understand His mission; they would worry about who was the greatest disciple; they would prevent little children from coming to see Jesus; a few even betrayed the One who had called them. They didn't always trust Jesus to lead them. But the loop of saving grace continued—Jesus forgave and they followed.

They followed him to Jerusalem. They followed Him to an upper room, to a dark garden, to a judgment hall, and finally a select few followed him to Golgotha, the hill of the skull where Jesus was nailed to a cross. It was there that Jesus showed his disciples just how much He loved them.

Jesus led His disciples to another hilltop, after his defeat of death on Easter. The disciples followed the living Son of God to the top of this hill, and there He made them fishers of men. Just before ascending into heaven, Jesus gave this command: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always." They had followed Jesus through good times and bad; now it was time for the disciples to become disciplers; to become fishers of men, drawing people up out of the depths of sin and death; catching them in the great net of God's grace in Jesus.

So when you begin to wonder, "Where is Jesus leading me?" Remember where He led His disciples. He led them to His cross. He leads you there too, when you are burdened and beaten down by sin. He leads you through repentance to the refreshing forgiveness of sins, reminding you of just how much He loves you.

And remember, Jesus led His disciples to a mountain where He made them disciplers; he commissioned them to go fish for people; so keep in mind that wherever Jesus takes you, He wants the same for you. Wherever God has put you, cast your net out; catch people with kindness; grab them with grace; let them see Jesus in you. Let them know that He has opened the gate to the kingdom of heaven. Let Him lead you there.