How to Become a Hero When You Really Want To Run
Throughout His ministry on earth, Jesus was preparing the apostles to be the men who would be the leaders of the church. They would be tasked with spreading the good news of the gospel. He was preparing a group of men and women who would be the first followers of Christ—the earliest Church. They would face opposition, trials, and great distress as they went about the task of spreading the good news of the resurrection of Christ. Indeed, they would lose their lives for their commitment to bringing the truth of salvation to the world. Often, we look at the early church and see all these people as “larger than life” heroes who must have been supermen and women to start with. Yet, the truth is—they weren’t any different than you or I. They were simple people. Many were uneducated laborers. They were fearful, full of doubts, and slow to learn faith. Jesus had three years to transform this bunch of misfits into the heroes they would become. How did He do that? What can you and I learn from their journey?
Can God really make me a hero? How?
picture used by permission of Ronald Barba, all copyrights are his.
In chapter 11 of John we are shown a glimpse of Jesus teaching His apostles about faith and revealing to them a glimpse of God’s Glory. There is no hope for salvation without first seeing a glimpse of God’s glory and desiring it above all else. Jesus needed for these followers to see the Father’s Glory as revealed in the Son. Only then, could their own lives
be transformed to display God’s Glory to the world. Even though God’s Glory surrounds us every day in the beauty of the creation, in the miracles of life, in the moments of grace that pass through our lives and the random acts of kindness we face; yet, we too often close our eyes to their display. We need to have our eyes open to see His Glory. We need to understand the greatness of His power toward us. My desire for me and for you is “17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead” (Ephesians 1). This is what Jesus needed these followers to also understand before He went to the cross. He needed to prepare them for what was to come.
JESUS PURPOSEFULLY TARRIED IN HIS ARRIVAL
So, when Jesus heard of Lazarus’ illness; he waited. We looked at the reasons He waited in Monday’s post. We know that He waited because He loved Mary, Martha and Lazarus so much that He wanted to display God’s Glory with such power that they would not ever need to fear again. He wanted to show them what real joy could be found through faith. He wanted them to know the truth in their heart of hearts, not merely in their mind. He wanted the same for His apostles and many who would believe as a result of the miracle He was about to perform.
A GRUMBLING GROUP OF COWARDLY FOLLOWERS
When Jesus then turned to the apostles and said, “Let us go into Judaea again” (John 11:7). Of course, we expect the apostles quickly said, “Yes, Lord where ever you want us to go we are willing to follow.” Right? No, that wasn’t what happened. Instead much like you and I do too often, they presented an argument against the idea. Listen to their response in John 11:8. “His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?” In other words, “Really Jesus? Don’t you remember they tried to stone you? You want to go there?” They were not wanting to face those “stone throwers” again. After all they might get hit with stones as well.
JESUS RESPONDS
So, Jesus responds with, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. 10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him” (John 11:9-10). That would clear everything up, right? Or do you think they stood there scratching their heads much like we do to that response? Jesus had already told them that He was the light of the world. As long as they are with Him, they have the light and cannot stumble. He is all they need where ever they might go. The same is true for us. So the first step to becoming a hero when we want to run is to recognize that He is with us every step of this journey. He will light our path. In Him, we will never walk in darkness.
COWARD’S OBJECTION #2:
So, then Jesus tells them that Lazarus is sleeping and He must go to awaken Him from the sleep. To this they responded, “Well, if he is sleeping; he must be doing well; so why should we go? Shouldn’t we just let him sleep?” They were rationalizing why not to go—still being frightened by the “stones” they might meet. Don’t we do the same in reference to those who are “sleeping their unbelief?” We rationalize that we shouldn’t try to reach those whom we meet along the street. After all shouldn’t we only witness to those who come to the church? Shouldn’t we reserve our testimony for those who want to hear? Let them stay in their state of spiritual sleep!! It is safer that way. Jesus reply, “Lazarus is dead.” Here the truth comes forth, “those who are asleep spiritually are actually dead spiritually.” Unless we go to awaken them, they will remain eternally dead. So, step 2 to becoming a hero when we want to run: Recognize the cost of our running may be the eternity of a soul. What is the value of one person’s eternal soul? Of everything else that we think is valuable to us on earth, isn’t the salvation of one person’s eternity of greater value? This entire life is but a blink of an eye compared to eternity.
COWARD’S OBJECTION #3
Then Thomas says to the other apostles, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16). Ok, Jesus, we will go and face our death because you say go; but, why should we just go and die when he is dead already. Have you ever sounded that way? “Ok, God. I am doing what you said; but I really think this is a bad idea!” I would expect that all of us have at some time. I know I have at times pouted as I faced whatever God had asked of me. Only, afterward was I able to see the magnificent Glorious Miracle of God in the midst of what I had thought was hopeless. That is exactly what happened here. Jesus called forth Lazarus from the dead—He displayed God’s Glory to all who were present. Even those who had reluctantly followed were a part of this magnificent display of God’s splendor and glory. Step #3: Recognize that God will display His Glory in us, through us, and surrounding us in the midst of our most difficult circumstances; because of His love for us. This is true even when we reluctantly follow like the apostles did in this case. When we run we only run away from realizing His joy and hence we head straight into miserable.
So how do we become heroes when we want to run? We rely on the only one who is our light, our hope and our truth. He will accomplish His work in us and through us. He will display for us His Glory with such magnitude step by step until we too will one day stand like heroes instead of running away with excuses.
The song I chose for you today is: We have seen God’s Glory by Steve Green. As you listen closely, realize that as we see His Glory we will display that Glory—step by step we too are transformed into the image of Christ. “we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header, the picture used today and who designed my logo is Ronald Barba. Feel free to email me at Artedabarba@gmail.com or purchase his art at http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/ronald+barba/all
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.