“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:19-20 NIV
As Christians we seem to find this an easy concept to grasp, so why do you think our Lord says numerous times throughout the Bible “Follow me?” Are there times we need a reminder? It is said that anything written or said more than once in Scripture – is very important.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, the definition of follow is: Go or come after (a person or thing proceeding ahead); move or travel behind. Or to: come after in time or order.
What, then, is our Lord asking us? To walk with him? I would submit that is true. Yet to follow him is not only to be a disciple, but to “come after him,” or to pick up where he left off. This is where our reminder may come in.
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24 NIV
Our Lord, Christ Jesus, does not want us to simply walk in a line behind him, but to spread his truth. This is why we are here. To say we are followers of Christ cannot simply mean to worship, it means we must fulfill the Great Commission.
Jesus further says;
If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. John 12:26 NIV
I believe, at times, we all need a subtle reminder to follow Christ, and Our Lord reminds us of this over and over throughout his word. Regardless of our circumstances, all Christians need this reminder, and we are in very good company, even the Apostle Peter needed it from time to time. As we’ve read, when Jesus was arrested, Peter denied our Lord three times. After his resurrection, on the shores of Galilee we see a restoration, then again a reminder to follow him!
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” John 21:15-21 NIV
After all this, Peter was so easily distracted by John, so Jesus again had to remind him to come after or “follow me.” In this case, “you MUST follow me”
We are here to serve, simply said, and our lives are not our own. Praise Jesus!
Barnabas
Special thanks for this guest submission by Barnabas.