Following the Lord Jesus Christ: #1 The Journey

This blog marks the beginning of a new journey for me and I plan on taking you with me, dear reader, if you are willing. I recently pulled out an ancient map that was a beloved part of my youth, and it is the map of Jesus’ life on earth, the good news of the Savior as recorded in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

In my early teens, I would read about his miraculous birth, his gentleness and his giving and forgiving ways to those in need, and his sharp rebuke of those who opposed the ways of God, his Father. And I read of his sacrifice of love, giving himself over to the violent and murderous ways of his enemies to be tortured and ultimately, to give his life as the Son of God, a ransom for us all.

And I wanted to be just like him! But I knew there was no way I could even come close. It was only with the greatest strength of my will that I could be nice to my little sister. How would I ever be able to love a stranger? Or give of my life to help a neighbor in need? I couldn’t even picture it. So I prayed to God that He would show me how to love like Jesus.

God answered my prayer in my second year of college at UC Berkeley. At the time, the “Jesus Revolution” was in full swing, along with plenty of other “spiritually enlightening” offerings from Buddhism to Transcendental Meditation to Scientology to multiple versions of Christianity. Moonies, monks, and colorful street preachers (Holy Hubert was a favorite) lined the streets between my dorm and my classes. I learned quickly how to avoid them all.

All except one! And that one young man brought me to a Christian ministry that taught the whole Word of God and how to study it for myself—exactly what I needed. I’m so thankful for the Word of God that I received there over the years. In particular, I discovered in the “Church Epistles” (letters from the apostle Paul to the “church”, the body of Christ, in various locations from Rome to Thessalonica) who I am and how to live for my heavenly Father and love others in Christ.

But because the predominance of the practical instruction for so many years of my life was centered in the epistles, I find myself now longing for a greater working knowledge of Jesus Christ and his earthly ministry.

For instance, I learn from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians that I am to “speak the truth in love” so that I “may grow up into him (Christ) in all things” (Ephesians 4:15). Well wouldn’t it make sense then (I’m saying to myself) to have a good look into the gospels to see how Jesus himself handled so, so many different situations by speaking the truth in love? After all, he was tempted just as I am to be hurt by false accusations, or to condemn himself when so many walked away from his teaching, or to be angry at his disciples when they were dull of hearing.

Hebrews 4:15:
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

I’m trusting my heavenly Father to enlighten the eyes of my understanding of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, that my life may be more of a glory to Him as I mature in Christ. I will be sharing my journey through the gospels with you and my hope is that you too will find the joy of discovering more about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and who we are in him.

We will take our direction from the map provided by God’s Word in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. And at times we may find added information about the terrain in the Old Testament or the other books in the New Testament.

The route we will follow is the timeline of Jesus’ life that I have taken from a most excellent time-and-place coordination of the gospels, a book entitled, “The Acceptable Year of the Lord” by Walter J. Cummins. You can purchase one if you like from www.continuinginthescriptures.com. I highly recommend it!

And finally, this will not be a thorough examination of every detail or even every event covered in the gospels, but rather a contemplative reflection of those things that God impresses on my heart to convey in writing as we go. I would love to hear from you also about what you are learning along the way and I encourage you to write to us at freedomlifelight@gmail.com. See you next time at the beginning of the trail!

NEXT: Following the Lord Jesus Christ: #2 Introductions