Recently we were chatting about the simplicity of following Jesus and not getting caught up in confusing and sometimes mind-boggling theology. There’s nothing wrong with theology, we absolutely need it for greater understanding, but we don’t need to be confused when there is such simplicity in looking at the way Jesus lived and acted and for us to join him and do likewise.
He said, “follow me.”
“look at me and what I do and do likewise.”
“you will see the Father if you see me.”
He didn’t make it complicated for us.
He was fully human and so he did the human things that we can also do.
He was a servant.
Look for the behaviour around you that is servant like, gracious and filled with love and compassion.
I had a moment a little while ago of being very aware of the vulnerabilities for certain people. I had prayed for a widow and in the moment I forgot to pray for the son too who had also experienced loss in losing his Dad and I suddenly thought how different contexts get us thinking of some people being more connected to the grief than others. In this particular context there was the wife and the child who was grieving.
In some instances in our personal social spaces, say for instance if my Mom had to die, the people around me, as in my day to day friendship circles, would mostly relate to me (singular) grieving. In wider circles my sister would also be included by those who know her personally and by those who know us both, as she lives far away.
I was then thinking when my Mom dies, I would technically become an orphan. (Even though this is way more urgent if the person is a child who needs greater support.)
If Marc dies I become a widow.
I am so thankful I serve a God who comes alongside and fills those gaps.
And then I realized how Jesus could see these vulnerable positions and how they would need people to come around to love, support and protect them from exploitation etc. He mentioned this and spoke about it and asked people to be aware of the needs and to step in and help where needed.
Not that long ago we knew of a couple where the husband, who was not well, suddenly pulled away from his wife. They found out there was another person taking financial advantage of him. It took a long time and some interventions to get this situation resolved.
In grief you might suddenly lose those who have been your protection factor.
Be the missing pieces or missing people to create beauty for them again. To create beautiful pictures and to live in wholeness. (My husband loves puzzles and completed this one in the December holidays of 2024. I thought it was the perfect illustration for this blog.)
It got my mind thinking to those who are differently abled, the poor and to all the minority and marginalised groups of people. Those pushed to the margins. All the people that Jesus mentioned.
He was extra concerned for those who needed help and protection.
They were vulnerable and easier to exploit for gain or harm. There is easier access to them because some of the normal protection factors are missing.
He asked us to look out for them.
Let’s fill the gaps and be Jesus to those around us.
