A Good Word - Faithful
by Gary Johnson
Faithful, Not Successful
A few weeks ago, I returned from a trip to Israel. By God’s grace, I was able to lead a group of friends and family to this incredible land on the other side of the globe. Each time I do so, I encourage those going with me to consider when they experience one of the most powerful moments on the pilgrimage.
For me, I had two such moments. First, I was deeply moved when two of my granddaughters were baptized in the Jordan River – and this grandpa was privileged to help in that moment. Second, our group happened to visit a place that was NOT on the itinerary, and that place was the Via Maris, or more commonly known as the Jesus Trail. In the photo, my son, Aaron, and I are standing on the trail with Nazareth behind us over the hills and the Sea of Galilee within sight before us.
Because of my hiking hobby on mountain trails, this spot was deeply moving to me – knowing that Jesus actually walked the Via Maris, a 40-mile trail from Nazareth to Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee (and I hope to return in February 2024 to hike the entire trail). This was a common route, a well-known trail among the people living in the first century. While walking a few hundred yards on the trail, I wondered what Jesus felt emotionally while making this significant hike.
Having been raised in Nazareth, there came a time when He read from the scroll of Isaiah (61:1-2) when He was in the synagogue. After reading the prophecy of the Messiah, He told His listeners, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” In short order, many of the Jews in Nazareth became so angry with Jesus, that they attempted to kill Him by throwing Him down a cliff. Yet, Jesus was able to walk through a crowd and made His way to Capernaum – some 40 miles away – where He began His ministry.
While walking those 40 miles, what emotions did Jesus feel? What thoughts ran through His mind? Remember, Jesus was not only fully God; He was fully human. Did He struggle with anger towards those who attempted to kill Him? Did He wrestle with failure over what He just experienced in the synagogue? Did he fear the future and the suffering that awaited Him? After all, Jesus was human.
Think with me for a moment. We find ourselves “on the road,” moving from place to place, and task to task. Everyday, we process events, conversations, situations and more while “on the road.” What feelings do we experience? What thoughts occupy our minds? By the looks of our culture, it is safe to assume that many Americans want to be successful while “on the road” of life.
Success in and of itself is not always a bad thing. For example, wanting the cancer treatment to be successful is good and right. Wanting the marriage counseling to be successful is honorable and healing. But there comes a time when striving to be successful morphs into selfish motivation that is far from God-honoring.
Wanting to be successful can take a wrong turn (several, actually). While “on the road” of life, we want the appearance of success. From the clothes we wear to the vehicles we drive, to the addresses of our homes to the trips we take, we want to look successful. Did Jesus?
Did Jesus want the appearance of living a successful life? It all depends on one’s definition of success. Jesus did not write one book. He did not own a home. He was born in a cattle stall and His crib was a feeding trough. His earthly father was a carpenter. Yet, no other individual has so shaped and impacted all of humanity more than this one humble man, the Son of the Living God.
I speculate that while walking 40 miles on the Via Maris that Jesus did think about something, and that something was to be faithful. Jesus agreed to be our Messiah, who was chosen to be our sinless Savior before the universe was even created (1 Peter 1:19-20). Jesus knew and accepted His mission. Moreover, He protected His mission day-by-day and from His cross, He declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30). In other words, it was “mission accomplished!” Why? Jesus chose to be faithful. Hanging dead on a cross looked far from successful, but in the eyes of His Father in heaven, God’s one and only Son proved faithful. Will we?
While “on the road” of life, are we more concerned about being successful or about being faithful? What would it take for us to be faithful to our spouses, our children, grandchildren, and extended family? What does it look like to be faithful to our friends, co-workers, and neighbors? If we are in church leadership, how do we prove faithful? After all, we are told that “those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2).
Never once do we read in the Scriptures the command “be successful.” One of the final words of Jesus says something to the contrary. In His letter to the church in Smyrna, Jesus said, “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).
Let us resolve, that in the strength of the Lord, we choose to be faithful.
