Following at a Distance is still Following

Throughout the Gospels, people responded to Jesus in a variety of ways.  So often we're concerned about who's IN and who's OUT, but today I want to propose the thought of getting comfortable with letting people follow at a distance, because 

...following at a distance is still following!

We do this today on blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram... follow people we're interested in at a distance.  If you're one who posts content on social media, you quickly learn that there are people from all over the world who follow (hey, take a moment to type the name of your town, state, or country into the comments section).

Let's take Nicodemus as an example.  He's mentioned by name in only 5 verses of John's Gospel.  Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council.  We first meeting him as he comes to Jesus under the cover of night in Jerusalem to have a conversation, having recognized that Jesus has come from God, yet Nicodemus is not fully understanding what Jesus is ushering in.

Nicodemus has been paying attention and following at a safe distance

Some are not yet ready to follow closely,
some are afraid,
some have questions,
some have past hurt or harm to be reconciled,
and some have misunderstandings to work through...

When someone is trying to follow, let us not be hasty!

Nicodemus shows up again in Mark 7 after Jesus has been teaching in the temple courts.  The Pharisees were rule followers, focused on strict obedience to the law.  A dispute erupts as the crowd tries to determine who Jesus is.  Nicodemus is now asking questions that challenge the prevailing thinking.

Life can be like a maze!  

Sometimes people begin to follow from the middle of a mixed-up and confusing journey. Rather than trying to determine who's IN or who's OUT, Mission, Jesus style invites us to notice who is trying to follow Jesus. Sometimes it's the most unlikely people, like Nicodemus, who are trying to figure it out at a distance, and yet FOLLOWING.  

Jesus never told Nicodemus he was OUT
Jesus just kept helping him know how to follow.

Our last encounter with Nicodemus is after the crucifixion when those that had been following at a distance began to come forward.  We also meet a man named Joseph of Arimathea, who had also been following Jesus from a distance.

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.  JOHN 19:38-40 

This was not a high-risk endeavor and took much courage,

but they had followed long enough to fully TRUST Jesus with their lives!

I believe that living in a rhythm of mission, Jesus style, is to not be concerned with who's IN or who's OUT, but live in ways that just point people to Jesus, showing them how to follow.

Let the message of Christ dwell in you richly, be generous in sowing gospel seeds, and let go of the expected outcomes to let the Spirit of God do its work!

In the Comments section, tell me where you're from and HOW you do this!  Thanks!!!