Sometimes problems cannot be fixed.
Our job environment is so abusive that no amount of money is worth it. Our car repair bills have outgrown the price of replacing our vehicle. One last fight with our mother-in-law. Abandoned again by one we thought to be a friend. Betrayal. Lies. Heartache.
Sometimes we want to bail out, to just cut our losses and run away.
Walk away from that job. Dare the loan company to repossess the car. Tell off those who have done us wrong.
We want to disappear in the midst of all that troubles us, and just walk out the door.
Not very spiritual, is it? But wait. Jesus did that very thing.
In the midst of one of the worst days of his life, he chose to cut and run.
Look in John 8. Throughout the chapter, Jesus did everything right. He was polite, well-mannered, and answered the questions of the religious leaders with wisdom and authority.
The problem was, he told the truth, and the truth was not what the religious leaders of the day wanted to hear. In fact, his word so incensed them, that they were angered beyond all reason.
Verse 59 says they took up stones to cast at him.
It was going to be a stoning, right there and then. They intended to punish Jesus by taking his life into their own hands and ending the matter right there.
How bad could it get?
Jesus’ response? 911, right? Call the local Roman legion in, contain the violence, and set the Jewish leaders on their ears.
Nope. Not even close. Rather, Jesus did what we all want to do from time to time. He cut his losses and ran.
The final half of Verse 59 tells us that Jesus hid himself, and he left the temple, passing through the midst of them.
He simply walked away and left the problem to fend for itself.
Now, whether you believe Jesus miraculously disappeared, lost himself in the crush of people, or blinded the eyes of his attackers doesn’t matter. The important thing is that he walked away when it was time to walk away. He left the confrontation behind.
Did he shirk his message? No. Did he wimp out in any way? Absolutely not. He chose not to fight someone else’s battle.
He knew there was a better time and a better place, for the real enemy was the devil, and not the lost unbelievers who walked blindly in misguided faith.
Jesus’ behavior in John 8:59 is an example to us all. When we want to cut and run, is it because we don’t want to fight someone else’s fight, or is it because we want to shirk our duties? If we simply want to shirk the responsibilities we’ve taken on, then we are bailing out for the wrong reason. If we want to gather our strength so that we can continue to walk in faith and trust in the Lord, then it may be time to cut and run.
Just remember that when we do, the problems haven’t gone away. We’ve only put them off to another day.
When we follow Jesus’ example, we will never go wrong no matter where he leads us.
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