As I sit down to write this article, we are five days away from caucus day in Iowa. Within the past few weeks, many candidates have frequented Muscatine: from Biden showing up at the Riverfront, Yang making an appearance at MCC, Klobuchar milling around with patrons at Boonie’s, and Warren speaking at West Middle School.
But in listening to the various candidates, and in overhearing the almost constant political rhetoric that fills our airwaves and internet streams, I’ve begun to wonder: what it means to truly follow someone…and why do we choose to follow in the first place?
Thinking ahead to caucus night, there will be some who will adamantly align themselves with one candidate over another. In all, it could be for many reasons. Perhaps it’s because they’ve been captured by the vision of that leader. Perhaps it’s because they’ve been given something to believe in. Or perhaps because they’ve been given a hope of a different tomorrow. Whatever it is, for those who intentionally choose to follow a specific leader, it’s typically the result of some sort of promise, hope, or dream that has been offered.
So if that’s what drives us to get up and follow political candidates, what makes us get up and follow Jesus?
It might seem like an odd comparison. But in truth, as we enter into this portion of Epiphany, we’ll hear in worship Jesus give his “platform speech.” Beginning on Feb. 2, we’ll hear Jesus begin his Sermon on the Mount as he speaks what has commonly become known as “the Beatitudes.” Then, in the weeks to come, we’ll continue to hear Jesus spell out a vision—not a plan, but a vision—of what life in the kingdom of God looks like. And from that vision that Jesus teaches, we, too, might just find ourselves caught up in a hope of a different tomorrow.
So, returning to our original question: what makes us get up and follow Jesus? Well, perhaps, we are drawn to Jesus much like we are drawn to other leaders of our time. Because like the many presidential candidates, Jesus is also offering us a renewed vision; Jesus is also giving us something to believe in; and Jesus is also offering us a hope of a better tomorrow.
But the difference? The difference is that God, alone, has the power to fulfill those promises that have been given to you, to the world, and to all creation. And time and time again, our God has proven to his people that God IS faithful and that God WILL keep his promises. So much so that our God will not stop chasing after you, and all his people, to join him as disciples in God’s ever-expanding kingdom. So what makes us get up and follow Jesus? Simply, it’s God’s promise that has been offered TO US…regardless of our response. With that promise extended to us, it is God’s desire for us to take his hand, accept his invitation, live in this kingdom, and become fellow servants of God’s good news.
Looking to the leaders of our time, it might be nice to think that any one candidate will be able to set the world “right” again. But if we’re honest, we know that no one person will be able to do that. And in truth, we don’t need that. Because as people of faith, we already have our Savior: Jesus Christ. And following his lead, we have already been given what we need to live in God’s kingdom, even as we await it’s fulfillment.
So as we live together in this kingdom of God right here and right now, I encourage us all to first and foremost look to Jesus as the one who has the power to fulfill his promises. And then, having looked to Christ as the only one worth following with our whole lives, we can consider who around us has the capability to help lead us closer to God’s vision of wholeness in the world today. To be sure, we won’t all agree on “who” might be the best leader, and we won’t all agree on the “best” way to move society forward. But perhaps, as people of faith, that isn’t the main point. Instead, perhaps simply living together as people who follow Christ—first and foremost—will give us what we, and all the world, are really looking for.