The Road Less Traveled

Good morning, my brothers, and sisters in Christ. Today, we continue our series on following God, even when it means going in a different direction than we initially planned. Our scripture reading for today is from Mark 1:35-39, in which Jesus goes the other direction to preach.

This passage reminds us of the importance of discipleship and following God's call in our lives. It challenges us to step out of our comfort zones and take risks to spread the message of Jesus. Let us delve into this scripture and explore what it means for us as followers of Christ.

Read Mark 1:35-39

Mark 1:35–39(CEB): Early in the morning, well before sunrise, Jesus rose and went to a deserted place where he could be alone in prayer. 36 Simon and those with him tracked him down. 37 When they found him, they told him, “Everyone’s looking for you!”

38 He replied, “Let’s head in the other direction, to the nearby villages, so that I can preach there too. That’s why I’ve come.” 39 He traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and throwing out demons.

Introduction

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood… I took the one less traveled, and that has made all the difference.

In the poem "The Road Not Taken," Robert Frost talks about two different paths and how he chose the one less traveled. This poem came to me when I read the scripture of Jesus telling Peter that he must go into the next towns. In our spiritual lives, we are faced with choices every day.

Sometimes, we are tempted to take the easier path, the one that seems more comfortable or familiar. But Jesus calls us to take the road less traveled the one that may be more challenging but ultimately leads to a deeper relationship with Him.

The Comfort of Capernaum

You see, Jesus could have stayed in Capernaum, where he was very successful. He was healing the sick, casting out demons, and preaching with authority. The people were amazed by his teachings and miracles. Capernaum could have become a place of comfort for Jesus, where he could have easily chosen to remain. But instead, Jesus decided to go the other direction and continue his ministry in the next towns.

This challenges us to examine our lives - have we become complacent in our faith?

Are we too comfortable in our spiritual growth?

True discipleship requires us to step out of our comfort zones and embrace new challenges.

Jesus says in John 15:16 that he has chosen us and appointed us to bear fruit as God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous, so we must be strong in the Lord as we embrace the new challenges in our spiritual journeys.

The Risk of the Unknown

Leaving Capernaum meant venturing into the unknown for the disciples, but Jesus had a purpose and was sticking to God’s plan to preach the Gospel. As disciples, we are called to trust in God's guidance and take risks for the sake of the Gospel.

Peter knew this. Jesus told him, “ I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish” (Jn. 21:18). With these words, Christ foretold the death Peter would be called upon to die.

A Christian preacher named Stephen learned the risk. When he delivered a sermon that angered enemies of the faith, Stephen was beaten to death with stones (Acts 7:57-60).

James, the son of Zebedee, learned of the risk: “Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword” (Acts 12:1-2).

Certainly Paul the apostle knew the risks: beatings, imprisonments, stoning, scourging, shipwreck, and more (2 Cor. 11:22-26).

And no one better appreciated the risks of obeying God than the Son of God Himself, who “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28; Mk. 10:45; 1 Tim. 2:6).

At times, we will choose the less traveled road because that is what disciples do. Remember, we don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but we let God transform us into new creatures.

In the risk of the unknown, let us be wise Christians and decide that most of this worldly behavior is off-limits. We must refuse to conform to this world’s values, and it must go deeper than the surface level. You see, friends, it is possible to avoid most of the trends of the world and still be proud, covetous, selfish, stubborn, and arrogant. Only when the Holy Spirit renews, reeducates, and redirects our minds are we truly transformed.

And so let us understand that it is easy to become content with the familiar, but when we step into the unknown, our faith is truly tested and strengthened. God calls us to new places, new people, and new experiences; through these encounters, we grow and impact lives for His glory.

The Urgency of the Message:

Answering Simon and the disciples, he says, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also because for this purpose I have come forth.”

An important lesson from this passage is the urgency of spreading the message of Jesus. Jesus did not want to confine his ministry to one place; he desired to reach as many people as possible.

Security is always a temptation that stands off against risk. Yet, in the purpose of God, the movement is always forward through open doors and broader horizons.

Christians who have stopped going and growing are the most miserable of creatures. They clog up churches with undue caution and infect the body of Christ with their frustration. They are inventors of paralysis by analysis and the creators of strangulation by regulation.

Thank God Jesus chooses risk over security. He has no idea whether He will meet the rejection of Nazareth or the fame of Capernaum in the next town down the road, but He goes on to fulfill the purpose for which He came.

As followers of Christ, we are called to continue spreading the message of Jesus to new people and places. We cannot be content with our salvation alone but must be passionate about sharing the good news with others. Let us not underestimate the power of our testimony and its impact on someone's life.

If we followed Jesus in taking the road not taken by taking our witness to the next person, the next neighborhood, the next town, and the next nation, the Great Commission would soon be fulfilled.

Conclusion:

I know that following Jesus can be challenging at times. It may mean sacrificing our desires and plans for the sake of His will. But we can take comfort that Jesus faced many challenges and hardships during his time on earth. He was tempted in the wilderness, rejected by his people, and died on the cross. But through it all, he remained faithful to God's plan for his life.

So, my brothers and sisters, as we continue our journey of discipleship, let us be willing to take the road less traveled. Let us follow Jesus, even when it means going in a different direction than we initially planned. And let us trust that God will guide us every step as we seek to live out His will for our lives. Amen.