From the Old Testament we heard of Job travelling to witness his faith in God to the godless culture of Ninevah (after a false start that found him stranded in the stomach of a whale). Surprisingly to Job, the people of Ninevah liked what they heard, and were prepared to change. This story shows us that we too can make a difference to people as we follow Jesus.

The writer of Psalm 62 provides us with an insight into the faith of his culture. He feels a call from the word of God sending him into the world, with all its tottering walls, its scarred and ruined landscapes, its broken promises and compromises; a world that still devises its own destruction, selling life for passing prizes. Yet this is the world that God loves and suffers for. Following Jesus means there is a responsibility on us to love this world and the people around us as tenderly as God does.

In Mark’s gospel we heard Jesus calling disciples to abandon their culture - leave their home, their family business, their employees, and instead to follow a new expression of living by faith. Like those first disciples, the challenge for us is to invest in our faith, and to follow Jesus whatever the cost in terms of dis-comfort or disruption.

In the letter to the Hebrews, the writer points up the ways in which the Old Testament scriptures underpin the New Way of understanding faith, and asserts that a Jewish person can be confident that following Jesus is compatible with traditional faith and culture, but with a new twist. The reading is all about the place where the High Priest traditionally conducted his ministry and the sacrifices he made.

Firstly the place: In the book of Exodus, there are instructions on how to construct a tabernacle for priestly ministry (Exodus 26:1-37). Later, King Solomon built a Temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 6). Later still, King Herod built a replacement Temple (John 2:20). But, Jesus, as Great High Priest, does not need such a man-made Temple; he conducts his ministry in the Holy Place, which is heaven, and is indestructible.

Secondly, the numerous sacrifices that the priests of old offered year after year: these could never take away sins. In contrast, the single sacrifice offered by Christ on the Cross is sufficient to deal with sin, and sanctifies everyone.

Reading this, any Jewish person who embraced the Christian faith would find plenty to confirm the validity of their decision to follow the risen and ascended Jesus.

 This is all clever stuff. But, as St Peter once asked Jesus, what’s in it for us?

Here are three thoughts we can take away with us, which confirm the validity of our decision to follow the risen and ascended Jesus: 

First, in faith we should always recognise the activity of God around us.

Second, we should note the place from where Jesus operates, alongside God in heaven. 

 Third, we are all included within the scope of the sacrifice Jesus made; there are no exceptions.

As we continue to grapple with life changing issues from Covid, Climate Change, and Political Argument; our following of Jesus has a lot to offer the people around us:

in Faith we can share in the activity and future of God, 

in Faith we can be certain that Jesus our Great High Priest prays for us, and 

in Faith our job, as people for whom Jesus sacrificed his life, is to join in and share the love of God with everyone that God loves.

As Jesus said: “Follow me”. Following Jesus is quite a challenge – but it is worth the effort.

The Revd Malcolm France