www.bible.com/1713/1jn.2.6.csb
In Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” the stranded party happens upon Dr. Frankenstein’s castle. They are met by the butler/ assistant to the young Dr. who tells them to “walk this way” to meet their host. Instead of just following their guide, the party apes the man’s walk as well, with a pronounced hunch. I wonder if that is what John had in mind?
John had literally walked with Jesus. He had followed Him around Judea and Galilee. John knew how the man moved. He would be able to recognize how Jesus walked. We recognize this today as kinesthetics, or identifying someone by the way their body moves. So for John, walking as Jesus walked had a different dimension to it. That causes me to wonder how much John intended is to walk like Jesus? Would He have walked like Jesus to show his followers how the Master did it? Would he have demonstrated, even into his old age, what Jesus was physically like? What He ate, how He slept, or how He prayed?
We have watered this concept down through 2000 years of church history, and we’ve probably missed some things along the way. The sound of His voice, the gentleness of His touch, all of those we’ve missed, but His message, His love and His joy remain. Would you follow Him? We may not know how He walked, but we know His walk was faithful and upright. And that’s probably more like what John was after anyway.
May you make today a day walking with Jesus. Follow in His steps, both mercy and sacrifice. Giving and loving. Sternness and encouragement. Offering wise counsel and stern rebuke when needed. Every day we face the same situations Jesus did. Like Jesus, we need to follow His counsel in dealing with them. Read His Word. Listen for His voice in it. You can hear it. He is saying, “Follow Me.”
God bless you today.
Meritt Musings 