Where was Jesus left?

If you haven’t had an opportunity to hear Dr. Reno Likins (from the Gospel Light Baptist Church in Hot Springs) you’ve missed a very lively sermon.

The scripture reference for Sunday morning was Luke 12:41-49. There were several points to his sermon. But today I want to think and comment on “Where was Jesus left?”

No, not by his parents. We know they left Him in Jerusalem. They weren’t the only ones to assume that Jesus was with them, headed the same direction, yet they walked off and left Him behind.

Dr. Likins pointed out, quite graphically, that it does take longer to go back after taking a wrong direction. Joseph and Mary were a day’s journey away from Jerusalem, but it took them three days to find their son.

But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; (Luke 2:44a)

And it came to pass, that after three days they found him (Luke 2:46a)

Do we make a similar assumption? That we are walking with Him, cease to pay attention and find that we’re a long journey ahead? I believe I have at times.

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Matthew 4:19)

Get that? Let me make it plainer: FOLLOW. Not lead, but follow Him.

Matthew got it: And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. (Matthew 9:9)

There were some places where He could not be followed, except by a selected few: And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. (Mark 5:37)

There are some who turned back, ceasing to follow: From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. (John 6:66)

Some turned back to find Him: And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, (Luke 17:15)

We must be certain it is Jesus we are following, too: And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. (Luke 17:23)

There are consequences to our following Him: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:27-28)

This, then, is where we stand. We should check our leader, our direction, our walking companions. If necessary – if we find ourselves without Him – we need to go back to where we left Jesus, return to following Him instead of leading astray.