I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8

If you are at all like me you will have attended a few graduation this season. Maybe you know a kindergartener who is transitioning into the grade levels that for some reason start with numbers but those go away once you hit high school, doesn’t add up to me. Maybe you know an 8th grader who is about to embark on the sometimes daunting but very rewarding adventure of high school. It’s very possible you know a senior in high school who is transitioning into adulthood and will either be joining the workforce or continuing their education into higher education. I do not want to leave it outside the realm of possibility that you know someone who is graduating from higher education whether it be an undergraduate, graduate or some other program. No matter the case you have reason to celebrate! What I love about graduation is that we can all come together to celebrate. But I realized something: we are all taking a class that one day will have the world's biggest graduation and spoiler alert, the conditions for passing this class isn’t a certain grade or paper, it’s attendance! Sounds too good to be true? Keep reading, you’ll want to know more. 

So what class are you taking right now? It’s not so formal that you sit in lectures, write papers, turn in assignments and get grades back. However, I bet if you were to ask any eighth grader about their favorite project, class or assignment they wouldn’t describe the grading process they would describe the learning process. You see learning in school and learning in life don’t have to be separated by grading systems and assignments. The best learning you can do is the learning that feels like life. That’s the learning that Jesus is calling you into. 

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 29:11

In Matthew 11:29 Jesus is calling you to a way of life that is tied to learning. I know you might not want to go back to class but here is the thing about this class. Jesus is asking that you take it into your life! I don’t know if your last stressful class assignment was last week or 30 years ago but what this professor or Rabbi as the Bible calls Him is offering you a class that will actually be peaceful! Doesn’t that sound great?

 Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess. Deuteronomy 5:33

So what are the requirements? As I mentioned earlier there are no grades. Crazy right? There is no final paper or project really. Instead Jesus is asking you to simply walk with Him. The old testament command is “Walk in obedience”, Jesus in Matthew 16:24 simply says “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” It’s that simple. 

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. Revelation 22:17

So we know the teacher, we know the curriculum but what about the outcome? That’s a great question, my hypothetical question asker! When our Rabbi, professor, teacher, comes again to present us with our diplomas He isn’t checking a grade book. According to Revelation 22:17 the simple final test is will you respond to Him? The apostle Paul puts it another way when he says “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Your graduation with Jesus is a gift! You do not have to put in any work to get it. 

The graduation to come is nothing like the graduations we have here today. The graduation that celebrates graduates from Kindergarten through college and university degrees requires a ton of work and long hours. Maybe some stress, tears and late nights are involved. The graduation that Jesus is offering you and me is much simpler. Do you want to take part in that celebration one day? If you do, the teacher is asking for one simple thing, “follow me”. Will you respond to the invitation to join the greatest life journey? Will you learn from the creator of heaven and earth and enroll in His life changing teachings? I want to see you there on that graduation day with Jesus, let’s enroll together!