Knowing Christ

As we continue on our journey to the cross with Christ, we encountered a scene where Jesus is weak, and Simon is commissioned to carry the cross. At first glance one might assume that Simon loves Jesus, is a follower of Jesus that has come to his aid. But most likely Simon is simply a Jew in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, not a close acquaintance to Jesus. Probably unknowingly Simon was carrying out Jesus' teaching. Jesus taught that if a soldier asks you to carry his gear for a mile, then carry it two. It is ironic that Jesus is now the beneficiary of such teaching.

I see in this a danger that can be a reality for every Christian. The danger is that we substitute doing the things that Jesus taught for actually knowing Jesus. We can take our relationship with Christ for granted and get caught up in creating a long list of good deeds to the neglect of our relationship with Jesus. It is one thing to do what Jesus says, but an entirely different thing to know the Jesus who says it.

We know that Jesus should be at the center of all we do, so we hold onto him as we reach out with the other hand to do his work in the world. But soon there is so much to do, so much life responsibility, so many deadlines, etc, that we have to use both hands to all the work. The problem is, using both hands means letting go of Jesus. And if Jesus is at the center, then to use both hands we have to turn our backs on Jesus.

I pray that we would never take our relationship with Christ for granted, and that we would never do anything in this world without first and foremost getting connected to Jesus, the source out of which true and holy work will flow. There is no point to anything unless Christ is in it. May we, individually and as a community, seek to put Christ at the center of it all every day, and continue that habit on into eternity.

Blessings in Christ.

See you next week at the Gathering!
-Tim