Following

Over the last few weeks we have been working through a series on a Sunday morning called Walking in His Footsteps. We launched the series by saying that Jesus isn't looking for religious converts, pious believers or even duty bound church goers, he is looking for followers...people who are prepared to follow in his footsteps, learn from him and live as he lived.

When Steph (our Assistant Minister) was speaking a couple of weeks ago she used this reading about Jesus' first followers.

"We often forget that the people Jesus chose to form the leadership of his church were neither spiritually or emotionally mature. Like us, they had a great deal to learn. Peter, the point leader, had a big problem with his mouth and was a bundle of contradictions. Andrew, his brother, was quiet and behind the scenes. James and John were given the names "sons of thunder" because they were aggressive, hot-headed, ambitious and intolerant. Philip was skeptical and negative. He had limited vision. Nathanael Bartholemew was prejudiced and opinionated. Matthew was the most hated person in Capernaum, working in a profession that abused innocent people. Thomas was melancholy, mildly depressive and pessimistic. James, son on Alphaeus, and Jduas, son of James, were nobodies. The Bible says nothing about them. Simon the Zealot was a freedom fighter and terrorist in his day. Judas, the treasurer, was a thief and a loner. He pretended to be loyal to Jesus before finally betraying him."

What a motley crew! If we ever wonder about whether we are worthy or able to follow in Jesus' footsteps, this should encourage us.

That reading ends like this: "Most of them, however, did have one great quality. They were willing. That is all he asks of us."

Are we willing to really be followers of Jesus? A question worth pondering!

Chris