by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Following Jesus’ Leading Lines

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

One of the greatest challenges artists face is how to create a 3D image on a 2D platform. Whether the image is in a sketch book, on canvas, or photo paper, most of the time the artist wants to draw us deeper into the picture.

One tactic to accomplish this is to use leading lines. They’re called leading lines because they draw our eyes further into the picture. Our eyes naturally want to follow lines. In doing so, the artist creates the appearance of a three dimensional image.

What draws us deeper into our faith journey? In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is on a “straight line,” a road to Jerusalem. Mark invites us to go deeper into the person of Jesus by following him on this road as he leads his disciples to Jerusalem.

“And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you discussing on the way?’ But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.” (Emphasis added)
Mark 9:33-34 English Standard Version

To follow deeper with Jesus on his journey to Jerusalem, the disciples are confronted with the road they had been walking. Previous to his question, Jesus had been teaching the Twelve that he would be handed over to death and rise again. Jesus was being led deeper into his great work of redemption. The disciples’ human nature was leading them deeper into their self-centeredness.

In giving us these details, Mark is challenging us to go deeper into the picture of Jesus’ life, to follow his leading lines. To do so means that we, like the disciples, need to come to grips with our desire for greatness. It means following Jesus on the road of abandonment, the road of his cross.

As is often the case when you follow leading lines, they guide us to an unclear distant object. We don’t know where Jesus is leading us; the future is murky. Yet we follow, trusting that the adventure is worth it.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado