by Rev Douglas Brauner

Following Jesus is an adventure into the great unknown.

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“Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, ‘Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.'” 
Matthew 8:19-20 New Living Translation

I’m that teacher who boldly declared his desire, and willingness, to follow Jesus wherever he would go. In fact that has been my prayer, more in the past than in the present. Age has a way of tempering enthusiasm.

We constantly face choices. It’s easy to want to choose the path we know, but more exciting to choose the path that leads to adventure.

Like Lewis and Clark, venturing out to find the Northwest Passage, there is something romantic about the adventure of following Jesus. Undoubtedly this teacher had been captivated by Jesus’ person, teaching, and works. He wanted to be a part of something bigger than himself.

Don’t we as well?

“Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”

Lewis and Clark experienced tragedy on their adventure…a horrendous winter, mountains, and unforgiving rain. They left behind a world they knew to chart a course into the great unknown.

There are two paths that head in opposing directions in this picture. The one to the right is familiar to me. I have taken it many times. The path to the left is unfamiliar. The adventure to the left is appealing, but I continue to travel the path to the right.

The Holy Spirit calls us to an adventure where the “Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Jesus didn’t tell the teacher he couldn’t follow him. He pictured what the adventure would be like for him. Through our baptism into Christ, into his death and resurrection, we have been commissioned for this adventure.

Though we may not know what lies ahead as followers of Jesus, we know that he will always be there. That’s what makes the adventure worth the cost.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado