As I was reading about President Elect Obama's recent whistle stop train ride, I thought about the enormous amount of planning and money that it took to accomplish the relatively short trip from Philadelphia to Washington. Overlooking political affiliation, I think it would have been cool to be at one of the stops just to get a glimpse or hear a sound byte. What a spectacle it must have been for the town people as the whistle blew and the train pulled into their town (if you struggle with this image because of the politics - imagine in our country's past when one of your guys made the same style train ride across sections of the country). No matter how awesome a feeling you would have felt being there, can you imagine being one of the privileged people that accompanied him or the trusted people that were assigned to protect him?. What sights would you see, conversations would you hear, and how would you feel knowing of your close proximity and important role regarding the President Elect's journey. In the not so distant past, Doug May had the opportunity to drive a car in the President's motorcade while he was in Tulsa. I thought it was so cool (and yes I was a little envious of my close friend) because he got to meet people and get details that were not known by the general public (next time you see Doug, ask him about his experience driving the "death watch" car).
I had not ever really thought about Jesus's traveling party. I guess I just thought the apostles and Jesus went from place to place with little need of a supporting cast. Our passage today sheds light on Jesus's traveling crew and adds serious juice to the old adage: behind every great man is the support of a woman (OK maybe I changed it it a little :) Just on a side note: why do you think Jesus chose women to accompany Him when there were surely more influential men that could provide more opportunity for His ministry?
Luke 8:1-3 says: After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
How incredible would it be if we were with Jesus everyday and every night of His ministry. What questions we could have asked, what insight could we receive. Can you imagine the camp fire talks: "Jesus, when you say that the Kingdom is near....?" Would faith come easier to those that were there and witnessed Jesus's very footsteps? Would spiritual hearing come easier to
those that heard his every word? I often think how much easier it must have been. However, knowing my cynicism and knowing of my many character flaws, I also often wonder where I would have been standing or with whom I would have been associating during His ministry.
God's love gave us the best of both worlds. He provided the Word to live with us every day and every night. He also gave us the history and the supporting evidence establishing the truth of the Word. When you really stop and think about it, we really have the same basic opportunities as
those people during Jesus's ministry. It is our choice: will we spend our days and nights supporting Jesus, traveling everywhere with the Word; will we wait to hear the whistle blow so that we can get a glimpse; or, will we want to have nothing to do with Him?
I do not have to ask where I would have been, I get to decide where I will be today.
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RE: "Would faith come easier to those that were there and witnessed Jesus's very footsteps? "
... Faith would come a lot easier if we witnessed his very footsteps AND had the whole Bible at our disposal. What is difficult for us now is not what was difficult for them then...and vice versa. If we were to witness his footsteps, you'd have to also know that you would not know how it would all end. You would probably be plagued with questions of "How and when is He going to overthrow the Romans?" "Will the temple be rebuilt to rival Solomon's?" "Who is He going to assign as his Secretary of State?" (so to speak)
Its a good thing to ponder. I'm kind of like Mike Baskett: "I can't wait for Friday night videos in heaven!" I want to see how it all went down. Then again, when we try to comprehend witnessing "the glory of God" for eternity, my guess is "how it all went down" won't matter in the least.
But now I'm starting to drift off topic . . .
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