Finding God's PresenceSýnishorn

Where Jesus Can Still Be Found

If Jesus walked the earth today, where would you find Him?

I once saw Jon Tyson plot out the events of Jesus' life and ministry on a spectrum, moving from places and people that were “safe and comfortable” on one side of the scale, to places and people that were downright “scary, dangerous, and dark” on the other.

On which side of the scale do you think Jesus spent more of His time?

Imagine the stampede of pigs running over the bank when Legion was cast out in today’s Scripture reading. Remember the confrontations Jesus had with all the major political and religious groups of His time. He ate with sinners, touched lepers, and sent out His disciples to preach a radical message, two by two. It’s not very comfortable or safe to leave the 99 to chase after the 1 or to care for the Samaritan on the side of the road.

How much of Jesus’ ministry was comfortable and safe?

Tyson’s point was that Jesus spent most of His time at one end of that spectrum, but much of our discipleship and church programming is spent on the opposite, safer side.

The way forward and the way to experience God’s presence more often are the same:

Listen and obey.

If men follow Jesus to the places where He spent most of His time and put His teaching into practice, we’ll generally experience His presence more.

Jesus is often found outside the camp and amongst the “wrong” people in the most uncomfortable or dangerous places.

This is pretty revolutionary teaching if you see it clearly, yet the revolution typically begins with little steps.

Tyson isn’t inviting us to go looking for places of danger and darkness as much as promising that if we listen to, follow, and walk with Jesus, we’ll naturally end up in those places.

If men aren’t ending up in those places, we probably aren’t listening and obeying.

Don’t be anxious or rush to flip everything upside down. The disciples didn’t go looking for discomfort or danger; they just followed Jesus and put His teaching into practice. If you do the same, you’ll experience the same.

You’ll be glad you did, because you’ll find Him there with you.

Prayer: Lord, give me the courage to mean it when I ask You to lead me and the power to listen and obey. Your glory is revealed by changing ordinary lives like mine. Let Your Kingdom come, and Your will be done in my life and church. Amen.

Reflection: What passages of Scripture are challenging you these days? Where has His Spirit been nudging you? Is there any sign He’s leading you to love difficult/lost/sick people, spend time in less comfortable places, or take steps of obedience that you’ll find challenging?