You Follow Me!

You Follow Me!

Jesus wants us to be happy in our service of God. It was not like this with the scribes. In all their magnificence, they were strong, self-satisfied, cold, and merciless. Jesus spoke to His disciples in Matt. 16:24, and invited them to a new life: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Jesus speaks to those who are willing, and for those who are willing it is entirely possible to become His followers. In His invitation, Jesus did not set any requirements for special qualifications or characteristics as a human being to be able to follow Him. He only asks if I am willing to deny myself and take up my cross. Jesus does not entice His disciples to follow Him by promising them earthly riches or any glory in this world. Instead He showed them the way of self-denial and suffering. If I choose to suffer with Him, I become a true follower of Jesus. I am able to walk in Jesus’ footsteps: “‘Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth’; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.” 1 Pet. 2:22-23.

In John 21:18-22, Peter is concerned about what would happen to the one who Jesus loved and who leaned on His breast at the Last Supper. Jesus answered: “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” Following Jesus should not be based on any expectation of something or support from anyone here on earth, but solely on a burning love for Christ. Earlier in the chapter, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. It was as if Jesus wanted to be absolutely sure that Peter loved Him more than everything and everyone else on earth. Even after Peter had so clearly expressed his great love for Jesus, he nevertheless asked Jesus about something that did not concern him and that was irrelevant. How quickly we can become preoccupied with various things which have no significance and which we absolutely cannot do anything about. This consumes our thoughts and time. Then Jesus’ words must ring in our ears: “What is that to you? You follow Me!”

Mary had chosen that good part, which would not be taken away from her. Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word, which was so precious to her and gave her something that nothing or no one could ever take from her. There are many things that will one day be taken from us as human beings: ministries, spiritual gifts, wealth, etc. The instruction we receive from the Master is the way of humiliation. Through Jesus’ instruction in our inner being, we partake of wisdom, yes, of life itself, which is the most glorious and exalted thing a person can receive. Among the seven leaders of the churches in Revelation, we see that five of them had departed from simple faithfulness to Christ in the midst of their service. If we become the slightest bit concerned about our name and honor in all our service, we too will quickly drift away. May it always ring out clearly to us: You follow Me!