Not a Fan…

Scripture:
“But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”
— John 5:40

Reflection:
There is a real difference between admiration and relationship. You can admire a preacher, a teacher, an author, or a leader from a distance. You can read their books, quote their words, imitate their style, and still not know them at all. That can also happen with Jesus.

It is possible to admire Jesus as a teacher, quote Jesus as an example, use Jesus as a symbol of compassion, and still not actually come to him, trust him, worship him, or surrender to him as Lord. That is what makes this distortion so subtle. It does not always look cold or cynical. Sometimes it looks thoughtful, serious, moral, and even compassionate. But underneath it, Jesus has slowly become optional.

In John 5, Jesus speaks to people who know the Scriptures and take religion seriously, yet he says, “You are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” That is such a searching word. The issue is not whether they know things about God. The issue is whether they are actually coming to the Son. Perspective is everything, right? The heart of faith is not merely agreement with truth. It is relationship with the living Christ.

We can drift into a kind of fan relationship with Jesus. We like what he says. We appreciate his moral vision. We want some of what he offers. But discipleship is not fandom. It is surrender. It is trust. It is coming to him not just for inspiration, but for life.

Application:
Ask yourself today: do I mainly admire Jesus, or am I actively coming to him in trust and surrender?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, keep me from being content with admiration alone. Draw me beyond ideas, beyond distance, beyond selective agreement, and into real life with you. Teach me to come to you, trust you, and receive the life only you can give. Amen.

Song: The Long and Winding Road — The Beatles