Follow Me

In Matthew, Jesus walked up to Simon and Andrew with the cryptic "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men" (Matt 4:19). Cryptic because it was so plain and yet so complex. Amazing because they did. Jesus called the fishing brothers and the tax collector (Mark 2:14) with the same call -- "Follow Me." He said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me" (Matt 16:24). He told the rich young ruler that the way to inherit eternal life was to to surrender what he owned and "come and follow Me" (Mark 10:21). The young man didn't. Jesus called some to follow Him and they gave Him "but." "Permit me to first go bury my father" (Luke 9:59). "First let me say good-bye to those at home" (Luke 9:61). But Jesus accepted nothing less than immediate submission. In fact, "Christian" simply means a follower of Christ. But have we given that any thought?

The Greek means basically to be united with the road. Where He walked, then, we are to walk. Where did He walk? He emptied Himself, humbled Himself, and was obedient ... all the way to death (Php 2:5-8). He preached the gospel (Mark 1:15). He obeyed the Father (John 12:49). His sole concern was His Father's concerns (John 17:4). He laid down His life (John 15:13).

"Followers of Christ." That's what we're supposed to be. I'm not sure how often we consider what that means. You do that by seeing where He goes and going there. It is, at the outset, a "less of me and more of Him." It is a lifelong walk of sacrificing self and glorifying God. And, as He rose again to glory, so shall we (Rom 8:30). God's purpose to which we are called (Rom 8:28) is to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom 8:29). That's ultimately accomplished by following Him -- becoming one with the road He walked for us. It is accomplished first by responding to the call and dropping what we have. Good start.