On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?” And He sent two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him; and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is My guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ And he himself will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; prepare for us there.” The disciples went out and came to the city, and found it just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover. Mark 14:12-16
Sometimes we miss the practical implications of stories in the Bible. This story concerns preparations that were made for our Lord’s last Passover with His disciples. The disciples of Jesus expressed a simple desire to know the Lord’s will. “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?” That simple question was the beginning of a journey of obedience for two of our Lord’s disciples.
The Journey of Obedience Begins with a Desire to Know God’s Will
As followers of Jesus, before we can can expect to know the Lord’s will in any setting, we must ask. They were not content to seek a plan of their own. Their question was, “Where do You want us to go?” There was a journey required, and once they arrived there were actions to take. “Where do You want us to go and prepare…?” Their journey and subsequent preparations would lead to an encounter with the Lord Jesus. “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You…?”
The Journey of Obedience Always Leads to an Encounter with the Lord Jesus
When God met Moses at the burning bush, He called him to a journey of obedience leading to an encounter with God for all of God’s people at Mount Horeb. When God sends you, He never sends you away from Himself, but to a place where you will learn more of Him than you know where you are.
The Journey of Obedience is an Individual Responsibility
The same assignment was not given to all the disciples, but to these two. “And He sent two of His disciples and said to them, ‘Go…’” When Jesus was discussing Peter’s future, Peter was concerned about the Lord’s plan for John. But their assignments were different. Their life journeys would be different!. Peter’s life mission, his life journey, would not be the same as John’s. What is God’s assignment for you? Remember, before you can expect to know the Lord’s will in any setting, you must ask.
The Journey of Obedience Requires Specific Guidance
They were given detailed directions based on the Lord’s wisdom and not their own. It was not enough to feel a responsibility and go to a place of their choosing. They asked, “Where do you want us to go?” Even then, specific guidance was needed upon arrival in order to know what to look for.
Do you suppose the Lord is willing to give us specific guidance for our journey of obedience? Without His daily guidance, how will we recognize divine appointments like the one the Lord arranged for these disciples.
On the Journey of Obedience, Timing is Critical
It was only in their going at the Lord’s timing that events would line up to give them perfect guidance. “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water;”
It was a specific man, performing a specific duty, at a specific hour. In order to meet that divine appointment, the timing of their obedience was critical. Not only so, detailed obedience was necessary. They were to do exactly as they were told. “Follow him.”
The journey of obedience was not the end of their obedience. There was a next thing. That next thing would need to be in complete obedience to the Lord’s direction.
On the Journey of Obedience, There is Always a Next Step of Obedience
Are you seeking God’s guidance for your life? Do you believe He has such detailed guidance for you? You have not because you ask not. They were given guidance because they sought the Lord’s will. They acted upon the guidance they were given, while being alert to the time sensitive nature of their obedience. They gave step by step obedience to the Lord’s direction.
The Journey of Obedience Always Leads to the Center of God’s Will
If they followed obediently, they would come to the right place, and in that place they would find a person with a prepared heart. Most of the closed doors and disappointments of our life arise from failing to seek and follow our Lord’s guidance. As they did, they met this man with a prepared heart, who was sympathetic to the Lord’s work.
On their journey of obedience they found a prepared place. The resources they needed were also provided.
Those Who Make the Journey of Obedience Find All the Resources Needed Are Provided
I have found this to be true in my own life. God always has a plan to provide. Commenting on this story in their book Experiencing God Day by Day, Henry and Richard Blackaby observe, “Don’t wait until you have it all figured out and it makes perfect sense to you. Sometimes God will lead you to do things that you will not fully understand till after you have done them.” In fact, included in the blessngs of obedience, are those remarkable discoveries one makes about God along the way.
Many divine appointments await you on your journey of obedience. What is it the Lord wants you to do? Your journey begins at His feet as you ask Him about His plan for your life.
Photo by Diana Simumpande
