The Call to Walk Away

Forsaking all to follow Jesus is not always easy to figure.  Two men who were disciples of John the Baptist gave up their spiritual guide.  How long they had been a part of the small group that looked to John the Baptist for leadership we cannot know.  What can be seen is that he had become their spiritual mentor.  He was the one who was leading them in their walk toward God.  They surely depended on him and could not imagine their spiritual journey without him.  And, then suddenly everything changed.

 

What changed came about because of something their spiritual mentor said to them.  One day out of the blue, He looked at the man they had come to know as Jesus and said, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world."  (John 1:29)  No doubt this pronouncement was followed by inquiring conversation.  And then the next day they found themselves once again near where Jesus was walking and heard their spiritual guide once again saying, "Look, here is the Lamb of God." (John 1:35)  This time their hearts had been prepared to act and the Word speaks of that moment as it says, "The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus." (John 1:37) 

 

The choosing to follow Jesus was also about choosing to leave the one who had great influence on their spiritual lives.  It is not an easy thing to choose to walk away and outside of the sphere of influence of one who has been a spiritual model, an example of faith walking, and a teacher of truths that have shaped the heart.  There are times when going on with Jesus means turning loose of the hold we have of a strong spiritual role model.  The truth is sometimes another person becomes so much of a spiritual force in our life that we do not think that we can walk the journey apart from that person's influence.  Faith in Jesus is about depending on Him.  Unfortunately, a relationship with a spiritual mentor can take the place of the One we set out to follow.  When it happens, there is a call to walk away.