Jesus was walking by the sea of Galilee when He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and Andrew, fishing, casting a net into the sea. He said to them “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” and they dropped everything and followed Him.

Moving on from there, Jesus saw two more brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, with their father mending their fishing nets, and He called them, and they immediately left the ship and their father and followed Him.

This is a familiar story in Jesus’ life for many. One we’ve heard or read over and over again.

Here we have four young men, according to Jewish tradition in their mid-teens, who are willing to drop everything and leave family and friends to follow Jesus, to become the disciples of a Jewish Rabbi who just happened to pass by.

This is a man that they probably heard about, probably even met before (John 1:40), who walked up to them one day and said “Follow me.”

And they did!

What great faith they must have had to do what they did.

In talking to people, I find that many did the same thing when they heard about Jesus, that He could take away their sins and reconcile them to God, all they had to do is believe and follow Him.

I must admit, I was not one of them.

Growing up Jewish and then hearing that Jesus was the Messiah, my reaction was not very positive. In fact I set out to prove, from the Old and the New Testaments, that Jesus could not have been the promised Messiah.

God won that battle! There’s just too much evidence that Jesus fulfilled all the Old Testament prophesies about the promised Messiah.

What then does it mean to each of us when Jesus says “Follow me?” Does it mean I should go to church Sunday’s, and then do whatever I want the rest of the week? Does it mean I should read the Bible every now and then?

No!

It means that I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and I believe in my heart that God raised Him from death to life. It also means that I am willing to drop everything I have and everything I do, and that I am willing to follow Him wherever He leads me.

It means that I attend a good Bible believing church, that I read the Bible every day so I can get to know God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, that I obey His teachings, that I love all His followers, that I serve His church using the gifts He gives me, and much more.

It means that I am willing to deny myself, to take up His cross, and follow Him. That is, I am willing to let Jesus live His life through me, setting aside what I want to do to do what He wants me to do; that I am willing to be persecuted for His name the way He was, and serve others the way He did; and that I am willing to obediently follow Him whenever and wherever He leads me in life.

It means that I am identified as a follower of Jesus Christ by all who know me.

Are you willing to follow Jesus today, and every day for the rest of your life?

Are you willing to be know by the world as a follower of Jesus Christ?

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Writings

Biblical Commentaries:

  Matthew  (in process)

Prophetic Messages:

  Genesis - the Promise

  Exodus - the Redeemer

Topical essays:

  For Love or Justice

  Choosing or Chosen

  My Father's Kingdom

Notes to Ken's World Religions class

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Ministry

  Shepherd's Table, Inc:  A food bank ministry in Kootenai County Idaho.  Providing food in Jesus’ Name for people in Kootenai County Idaho who are having difficulty making ends meet. 

        Webpage:    www.ShepherdsTableInc.org

        Email:          Info@ShepherdsTableInc.org

        Phone:         (208) 964-4144

  Shepherd's Table @ Valley Church:  A food bank ministry at Valley Church in Cupertino CA, set up to help feed people who are having difficulty making ends meet.  

        Webpage:    www.valleychurch.org/showing/shepherdstable.html

        Email:          ShepherdsTable@valleychurch.org

        Phone:         (650) 383-8097

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