The Value of Sitting
But Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near (John 6:3–4).
Continued Commitment
When we read these two verses in John 6, we can lose sight of some information, such as continued commitment by both Jesus and His disciples. How so? This is the second time we read about Passover in John, the first time being in John 2:13, which follows Jesus’ first miracle of turning water into wine. Over a year has passed, and here we see Jesus and His disciples still together, sitting on a hillside.
Many things happened that year that the Scriptures do not record, but the disciples are still with their Master! Life is a daily walk with our Messiah, from the miraculous to the mundane, including pillows soaked with tears, nights of uncertainty, days filled with laughter, or difficult choices. Time marches on, but Jesus is still with us, and we with Him.
Being Intentional
Buzzwords and phrases may be overused, to the point where their meaning becomes so diluted or undefined that the speaker and hearer are on the same road but with different destinations in mind. “Being intentional” is one such phrase. People often employ the phrase “being intentional” to mean they have purposeful goals, a designed path to achieve something. However, “being intentional” sometimes becomes simply filling time with jobs, duties, and meetings … which may keep a person or group busy, but achieves little in the end. Maybe it is time to be intentional to sit!
Sitting with Jesus
Keeping our verses from John 6:3–4 in context, Jesus’ time of sitting with His disciples may have been brief, as they will soon have a crowd around them (verse 5). But short and long periods of time spent sitting with Jesus should be an important part of our lives if we are followers of the Messiah. This includes prayer, meditating on God’s word, and listening, as we allow the Scriptures and their meaning to penetrate our hearts and minds.
Jesus Expects Us
I walk every day — it is good exercise, it clears my mind, and I can pray and think about things. I often walk beside a large canal in our city at about the same time every day when I’m home. One day, as I was on my walk, a man exited a small car on the brick road next to the canal. Upon seeing me, he smiled warmly and struck up a conversation.
This man was about my age told me he saw me walk by every day as he sat by his window. He commented that it was great I walked regularly and encouraged me to continue, saying it was nice to finally greet me. I had become part of this person’s life, something steady in his routine, and it was as if we were friends in an odd way.
The next day was gloomy, with rain off and on, a dark cloud cover, and very cool temperatures. I thought, “I’ve got other things to do today and will skip my one hour walk.” And then I thought of the man I met the day before. He would be sitting by the window, expecting me. So I walked.
As I walked, I realized something wonderful. Jesus waits every day. He expects to see us — He wants to see us — and we do not want to disappoint Him. He is always there for us, asking us to sit with Him. He who sat on the hillside with His disciples now sits at the right hand of the Father.[1] Soon, the feast of Passover will be upon us too, and I want to challenge you if you are reading this and have never come to believe who Jesus truly is: the One Moses wrote about, the Promised Prophet;[2] The One Isaiah called the Servant of the LORD;[3] and the One David wrote about in Psalm 2 and Psalm 110.
If you are curious about Him, we would be happy to speak with you and to show you through the Scriptures who Jesus is. Are you willing (possibly for the first time) to sit and read the New Testament book called the Gospel of John? If you are seeking a relationship with God, one which is real and made possible through His Son, please contact us, and you can find out how to obtain a peace which surpasses all understanding through Jesus.[4]
Written by Jeff, Life in Messiah staff
When was the last time you sat with Jesus? Whether it was just this morning, or you haven’t done so in a long time, He delights in fellowship with you. He is always there for you, and He is waiting (Revelation 3:20)!
The New Testament records Jesus often sat with those on the fringes of society — whether it was to share a meal, perform a miraculous healing, or tell them about God’s kingdom. Is there anyone you can “sit with” this week to share Jesus’ love in a tangible way?
If you want to know more about who Jesus is and what the Scriptures say about Him, you can contact us here.
Endnotes:
[1] Psalm 110:1; Matthew 26:64; Mark 16:19; Acts 7:55–56; Romans 8:34; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 10:12; 1 Peter 3:22; Revelation 5:1–14; 7:17.
[2] Deuteronomy 18:15–19; Acts 3:22–23; 7:37; Hebrews 1:1–2; 3:2–6; Luke 9:28–36.
[3] Isaiah 42:1–9; 49:1–8; 52:13–53:12.
[4] John 14:27; 1 Peter 1:8–9; Isaiah 9:6.