Sadly, good and useful phrases can become dulled with repetition. Probably the phrase “spiritual journey” has suffered this more than most! (Nowadays, there are even churches named “Journey”; one I saw in Houston had the slogan, “Our journey is helping you with your journey”!) Nevertheless, the concept of the Christian life as a journey is worth keeping and exploring. Did you know that, before it was called “Christianity,” the religion founded by Jesus was known as “The Way”? (Compare Acts 9:2 and 11:26.) The Gospel of Luke depicts Christian discipleship as a journey with Jesus. The journey starts in Luke 9:51—“As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” He arrives in Jerusalem ten chapters later (see Luke 19:28).
Those ten chapters in Luke are punctuated by ‘journey notices’—e.g., “The Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.” (Luke 13:22.) Interestingly, these journey notices are geographically vague: Which towns? Which villages? Luke’s vagueness seems deliberate: the journey as metaphor is more important to him than the geographical (literal) details.
For us, the readers, the ‘journey’ narrated by Luke is really an exploration of the radical contours of the Christian religion. Luke’s journey narrative includes a couple of famous parables that themselves have a journey plotline: the parables of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). Jesus, on a journey, tells stories about journeys! Journeys necessitate change. Even a literal journey requires changes in location. In my personal bible reading this summer, I have slowly trekked with the disciples of Jesus, by reading a paragraph a day from Luke’s journey narrative (9:51—19:48). If you are seeking a deeper exploration of how to follow Jesus, I encourage you to meditate on those chapters, and to pray yourself into a deeper participation in Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension.
– Dr. Adrian Smith