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DAY 2

WALKING WITH JESUS

Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. (Mark 2:13-14 NIV)

I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! (Psalm 139:7 NLT)

Love consists, so often, in simply showing up. To be present with someone communicates far more than words. In a friend’s moment of grief or need, our presence is a far greater gift than anything we might bring or do, or even say.

The Incarnation is the ultimate example of “showing up.” But even now, two millennia later, if we pay attention, we will notice when Jesus shows up. He makes good on his promise to abide with us. His constant “being with” can be a source of comfort and joy. His inescapable presence consoles but also convicts. Our response varies by day, or even by moment.

Jesus is fully present with us, no matter where we go. The question is, do we acknowledge that presence? And do we, for lack of a better term, take advantage of it? Do we fully exploit and enjoy the fact that Jesus himself is nearby, looking at us with love? How would we live if we fully embraced this incredible truth at all times?

How do we gain that awareness? We can look to the example of disciples before us, beginning with the first-century laborers who dropped their nets and took off after this blue-collar rabbi they called Yeshua.

Jesus made it fairly simple, at least to start. He said, “Follow me.”

The word follow, diluted by our culture, begs for a biblical definition. In English, you can follow the directions (or not); you can follow a sports team (by simply reading the paper or watching TV); you can “follow your bliss” (though that might not get you beyond yourself); you can follow someone on Twitter (even if you don’t actually know them).

When Jesus invited a group of first-century Jewish fishermen and political Zealots to follow him, he didn’t mean “Let’s just keep in touch.” He literally meant, “Come with me, right now. Live as I live. Learn a way of life and faith from me by watching.” And some people did, but others did not. It was hardly surprising that young men working in their father’s fishing business walked away from that. The most highly revered career in that time was to be a rabbi. To “give up” a blue-collar job to become the follower of a rabbi (and therefore go into training as a potential future rabbi) was a no-brainer.

A rabbi’s followers, known as his talmidim in Hebrew, went everywhere with him, not just to hang on his every word and learn theology from him. They followed him everywhere so that they could mimic what he did. They didn’t just want to know what he knew; they wanted to do what he did, live as he lived.

Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg note:

To follow a rabbi … involved a literal kind of following, in which disciples often traveled with, lived with and imitated their rabbis, learning not only from what they said but from what they did—from their reactions to everyday life as well as from the manner in which they lived…. This approach to teaching is much more like a traditional apprenticeship than a modern classroom.¹

Jesus still says to us today, “Follow me.” He never told us to gain a lot of knowledge about him, but rather, to be with him, to remain in him (see John 15), and then, to live as he would in our place—to do what he did.

We are separated from Jesus’ earthly life by two thousand years, and even larger gaps culturally and religiously. And yet, we can walk through our days with Jesus by our side, trying to live as he lived, gaining strength, comfort, wisdom, and power from his presence.

PRESENCE PRACTICE

Today, as you go through your day, imagine that Jesus is with you—a strong, loving presence. All day, whether you are doing housework or caring for children, trading stocks or stocking shelves, driving a forklift or running a company, imagine him alongside you, guiding you.

When you awaken, lie in bed for just a minute. Say “Good morning, Jesus.” Think about what challenges the day will bring. Ask him to help you face those with courage and wisdom. Ask him to make his presence known to you throughout your day.

As you eat breakfast, thank him for his provision. As you drive, do so as if Jesus were sitting in the passenger seat. (Do you drive differently than usual as a result? Perhaps you’ll want to ponder that.) Instead of listening to the radio, simply talk to him.

As you complete the day’s tasks, ask him to help you. When something goes well, thank him. When you face challenges, ask for his help.

It’s quite likely that you will forget about Jesus when your day gets busy. If so, give yourself copious amounts of grace. Just gently redirect your thoughts back toward him.

At the end of your day, thank Jesus for his presence with you through your day. Ask him for rest, for the ability to trust. As you fall asleep, ask that he would be your first thought in the morning.

Check here when you have completed today’s Presence Practice.