Not a Tame Savior

Imagine you are Simon at this point. You have met this compelling figure and followed him, abandoning your livelihood. You have seen him heal your mother-in-law, and crowds are gathering at your house to be healed and delivered by him. It’s exciting and frightening all at once because he is still a bit of an unknown, unpredictable person. You might think the healings and miracles are the best part. You might want to see more of them, too. In fact, you might hope for the total transformation of Capernaum, your town, so it would no longer be the butt of jokes. Jesus, however, has a different agenda. He is aware of his life’s mission and it moves him on, but it also takes him deeper. His time with his Father in prayer was the source for the direction of his ministry. We can tend towards either pushing forward with new ministry opportunities or spending deep time with God, depending on our personalities. Jesus models the necessity of doing both. Some of us are energized by constant activity and some of us prefer regular, quiet meditation. Jesus calls us to a fruitful balance.