“…so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, ‘You can’t work on the Sabbath! The law doesn’t allow you to carry that sleeping mat!’ But he replied, ‘The man who healed me told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ‘Who said such a thing as that?’ they demanded. The man didn’t know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd.” (John 5:10-13 NLT)
When we face a crisis, a confrontation that can easily escalate, or a circumstance that can certainly interfere with your purpose as a child of God, try using the crisis management technique used by Jesus in the passage above. Notice! Jesus did not stay back on the scene to fight against the Jewish leaders. Jesus did not lean back and ready Himself to waste His time counterpunching with words; arguing with those who opposed Him. That would have delayed Him from carrying out His ministry. Additionally, note that both the “stay back” and the “lean back” would have set a bad example for those who would choose to follow Him.
Instead of the “stay back,” or the “lean back,” Jesus did the “step back” and disappeared into the crowd. That’s in the text!
Can we use that technique? Of course we can! We can use time and space to keep situations from elevating to a devastating and dangerous crisis by simply doing the “step back.”
One parent gave me an example this week of how he used the “step back” with his child who was being obstinate and overstepping the limits of what he knew was proper conduct. The parent could have employed the “stay back “and used his greater strength to put the child in his place. The parent could have also done the “lean back,” and physically, within parental rights and nothing close to abuse, to adjust the child’s beh…er…behavior. But the parent did not use the “stay back” or the “lean back.” Like the Christ, the parent used the “step back,” literally taking ten steps back. After ensuring he had composure, he addressed the child’s behavior immediately, in a timely way, teaching him two lessons. One lesson was about the issue that sparked the obstinate reaction, and the other lesson taught the child a way to handle crisis in the future: both as a child and as an adult. Hmmm? We could write a song about it! “Step back! Step back! Step back!” Smile but know that I am being serious about this topic.
Now, I pray that your day is filled with peace and that conflict with another or others does not interfere with your tranquility on this Saturday morning. I pray that you will discern when it is proper to do the “step back.” In the event you find opposition that is starting to head toward an obvious crisis, be prepared. Look at Jesus’ example and plan ahead. Don’t do anything on this Saturday in your interactions with others that will interfere with your witness tomorrow, on Sunday, as you go to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth. Be blessed!
“Don’t wait until you are in a crisis to come up with a crisis plan.” (Quote by Phil McGraw)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King