So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”
The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
Mark 14:13-16
I’ve met a lot of people that say that they want to know the will of God. They emotionally pour out their hearts, saying all the right religious words. They’re desperately pleading with God. They want him to speak. They go on and on about how they want to hear from God. They make a big and loud deal about wanting to know the will of God.
Now, I’m not criticizing them, but they never seem to go anywhere. Do anything. They seem to be frozen in place. Never going anywhere. Never doing anything. Never saying anything.
They ask. And ask. And ask. And ask. They seem to be stuck in asking mode and never get off the place they’re standing or siting. They seem to want to know exactly everything before they will move an inch. They want to know the destination before they start the journey.
But God doesn’t work that way. He wants us to follow him by faith. And faith is the next step. Here’s how God is pleased to work with us.
We stop to listen.
He speaks.
We listen.
We obey, taking the next step.
Repeat.
David clearly understood this.
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.
Proverbs 16:9
That’s exactly how Jesus works with his disciples.
Step 1 – Go into the city. They don’t know exactly where to go, only to be on the lookout once in the city. This takes an initial step of faith because they certainly don’t know the end from the beginning. They only know this first step.
Step 2 - A man carrying water will meet them. They don’t need to know the man, he will find them. They will not need to recognize the man, he will reach out to them. This is the second step of faith, a stranger will approach them.
Step 3 – Follow the man. Again, another step of faith. They’re to follow an unknown man. A stranger. The end location is also unknown. It’s a strange place.
Step 4 – When they arrive. They’re in the dark until they arrive. Then they’ll give a message that they didn’t come up with. And it’s to be spoken to yet another stranger. More faith.
Step 5 – This last stranger will lead them upstairs. It’s one thing to meet and talk with strangers in public. But it’s something else to go inside to an unknown place with a stranger. It was here that they were to get to work. To prepare for the feast.
Once they see and experience what Jesus told them, they then have a part to play. They’re to make preparations for Jesus and the other disciples. And that’s what they did. They prepared the Passover. They got everything ready.
The room was furnished. Yes, all things needed were there. But they still had to prepare the Passover. This included having the wine and bread ready. They also had to roast a lamb for everyone to share.
Yes, Jesus directs. Yes, Jesus provides. Yes, Jesus instructs. Yes, Jesus performs miracles. But we have a part to play.
Listen – we have to be ready to hear what Jesus says and understand what he’s saying.
Respect – as we hear what Jesus says, we need to realize that it’s coming from God. The one who made us. The one who loves us. The one who wants nothing but the best for us.
Act – knowing what he said, and who he is, can we do anything less than actually following his direction?
Follow – the act is a start, but we must continue along and through with his plan and direction.
Imagine what would have happened if the disciples left Jesus full of energy and excitement. As they walk boldly into the town, low and behold, they see a guy carrying water. They’re filled with excitement. But as they walk along with this guy, they get distracted. Or they get bored. Or they get tired.
All they have to do is keep following the guy that Jesus predicted would lead them.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
So, let’s go. Follow and stay. Stay at the task God has put in front of us.
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