2nd Opinion: Follow the leader

The Miraculous Draught of Fishes by Raphael, 1515.

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As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come; follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-20)

“Come; follow me.”

This is an imperative, a command. It also is an invitation.

eric black130 Eric Black“Come; follow me.”

But who is this guy? And what reason did Peter and Andrew have to follow him? Had he already turned water into wine? Had he already made a name for himself around the Sea of Galilee?

As far as we know, Peter and Andrew didn’t know anything about Jesus, yet when Jesus said, “Come; follow me,” they did.

And they left everything to follow him.

When Jesus told the rich man to sell everything he had, give it to the poor, and then “come; follow me,” the rich man went away sad. Jesus said it’s nigh impossible for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. The disciples were astonished, and Peter, who—unlike the rich man—had left everything, said with astonishment and worry, “We have left everything to follow you!” What about us? (Matthew 19:27)

They knew nothing about Jesus


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“Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father, Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.” (Matthew 4:21-22)

Peter and Andrew, James and John—the first four disciples. They knew nothing about Jesus. They had seen nothing to cause them to follow Jesus. Jesus simply said, “Come; follow me.” And they did.

And what of us, who know the whole story? These four, knowing nothing, followed—without hesitation. And they left everything!

We know the whole story. We know all the miracles—the many healings, the feedings, raising Lazarus from the dead. We know the incredible teachings—taught with unparalleled authority. We know the very end—how Jesus rose from death and showed himself as Lord. And we know Jesus still says simply, “Come; follow me.” Knowing all this, do we hesitate?

What a cost!

Yes, we know the whole story. We know to follow Jesus is to give up everything. We know to follow Jesus is to remain with him, close to him, to be his companion. And what a cost! For it is to give up everything. And in giving up everything, to follow him is to put ourselves at risk by giving up everything.

Yes, we know “Come; follow me” is an imperative, a command—even if offered as an invitation—and so we dare not disobey, for we also know whose command it is. Yet, to give up everything? How frightful!

So, we tamper with the meaning of “follow.” We loosen the requirement. We shorten the list. We give up Sunday mornings. The really spiritual among us also give up Wednesday evenings. The saints give up Sundays and Wednesdays and a little money.

But the command is “Come; follow me,” and those four—Peter and Andrew, James and John—in response to the command and knowing nothing about who it was who commanded them and without hesitation gave up everything.

He is asking everything

And the one who commands, “Come; follow me,” knows exactly what he is asking of those he commands. He is asking everything. Peter and Andrew, James and John left behind their livelihood, their identity in the world, their families. Yes, Jesus asks everything.

And the one who commands, “Come; follow me,” is himself the object of the command. Of all that we might follow, we are commanded to “Come; follow me.” We are commanded to let go of everything, to leave everything behind, to give up everything to follow him, to follow the One about whom the story is that he came teaching and healing and feeding and raising—first Lazarus and then himself—him who is the conqueror of sin and death and who reigns forevermore, him who commands, “Come; follow me.”

Eric Black is pastor of First Baptist Church in Covington, Texas.


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