One of the curious things in the New Testament is the call
for Christians to “consider Jesus.” Wouldn’t you think that was why people were
Christians in the first place, they had already considered Jesus and said,
“Yes?” Certainly, the Christian community is always inviting others to consider
Jesus. This invitation is based on the fact that we believe any serious
comparison with other options will come up short when measure up against Jesus.
But we are invited by the writer of
Hebrews to “consider Jesus”( Hebrews 3:1). It is a communal consideration
because the author identifies holy brothers and sisters who “share in the
heavenly call.” Only those who share in such a call can fully grasp together
what it means to really consider Jesus. Such consideration opens us up to who
Jesus really is and what he is up to.
He is the Apostle and High Priest of
our confession. Some people have thought that this confession is actually found
in the Prologue of the letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 1:1-4). Jesus being
called an “Apostle” simply means that he was sent with a mission. We are to
collectively consider that mission. When we say on occasion that “it is not
about us,” we need to further declare that “It is about Jesus being sent with a
mission, and we join him.”
Jesus is also High Priest. Since
most of us have not come to the faith from a background of Judaism with its
sacrificial practices attached to the priestly role, it may be hard to grasp
Jesus in these terms. But this metaphor is to indicate the humanity of Jesus,
the priestly role of Jesus, the sympathizing role of Jesus, and his being
appointed by God. No wonder we are challenged to consider his role more
closely!
We never get too “holy” or too
“faithful” or too “good” but what we need to periodically stop and consider
Jesus! Who was he and what was he up to when he came to this earth? Am I aware
of his various roles and the daily difference it makes in my spiritual journey?
For Christian leaders, this may seem
too elementary, but it is not. There is a communal call to consider Jesus that
grounds leadership in its servanthood posture. Christian leaders who consider
Jesus also consider others! Leading is nothing more than visionary serving!
When we Christian leaders consider Jesus we also consider the impact of our
loving service on the health of the community of faith. When we consider Jesus,
we also consider the morale of the group. High morale is an outcome of
servant-leading. Faithful expectation, living hope and deference to others as
way of servant-leading is only possible from spending time in the presence of
Jesus considering him!
In my own lifetime of pastoral
leadership, I am painfully aware of those situations and opportunities where I
did not consider Jesus. I considered myself too much. The relinquishment of
self and the surrender of personal agendas only comes about when considering Jesus.
As is evident from all of this, wise discernment and spiritual maturity comes
about when we spend time considering Jesus.
In
Christian love, Curtis
