Who Should Lead? Luke 6:39-42

Jesus concludes this sermon/discourse with “a parable,” actually with a series of parables.  The first three parables speak of teachers and teaching.  They begin with the familiar question, “Can the blind lead the blind?”

To me, this is a startling statement not for its content which seems obvious but for its presence here without transition or stated connection to what Jesus had been saying.  The image is at once comical and ridiculous, but to understand it better, I need to closely examine the references.  At the beginning of this chapter, Jesus was criticized by the scribes and Pharisees for things he had done on the Sabbath (vv. 6-11).  This first parable was addressed to them or about them and emphasized implied contrasts.

·         Contrast between the blind and the not blind – those who cannot see must be lead by those who can see

·         Contrast between leaders and followers – those who can see have certain responsibilities to those who cannot

This parable rests on understanding who is the one who can see and how do we who follow know he can see.  One who needs to be led will know whom to follow by:

·         The leader must say or claim he can see.  All that Jesus had taught shows that He is the One who sees clearly

·         The leader must have demonstrated His sight for those who cannot see.  This is exactly what Jesus has done in His sermon.

Remember, this sermon is addressed to His disciples, the ones whom He has chosen to follow Him.  Jesus repeated this parable here to give the disciples confidence in the One who had called them to follow Him.

Let me make an application in today’s Christian experience.  A leader worthy of following should:

1.      Be able to clearly see the “landscape.”  That necessitates seeing the spiritual landscape as it truly is with all the contemporary destruction, construction, and confusion.  Looking at a 40-year old picture of what it used to be will not work.

2.      Have a clear view of the destination.  Our journey is THROUGH this landscape to a Kingdom that lies BEYOND our horizon.

My guess is that if a leader is enjoying the scenery and amenities of the journey, he’s not going to the right place.

coram deo