“Follow Me.” The words of Jesus to each disciple as He called them into His seminary internship program. Each one made a difficult life choice to turn towards Jesus and away from the work of their hands. Rabbi Jesus offered an opportunity to go and learn. This was an opportunity that did not usually find fisherman and carpenters – the blue collar workers of their day.
Matthew already lived with harsh words, darting eyes and the ridicule of both his own people and his Roman employers. Jesus offered acceptance within a community of his people. I imagine they all had their very good reasons to want to jump at the chance to follow Jesus.
Did they stop to consider what this choice would cost them? Did the eager disciples consult anyone for advice before making such a significant life choice? I doubt they considered anything other than the opportunity to be chosen and included in something new.
I didn’t ask anyone if I should follow Jesus when I first received His invitation. I was a 9-year-old child. This for me was the opportunity of a lifetime and I ran at the chance to be included. I just wanted to be invited and so for me the decision to follow Jesus was a slam dunk. I mean, who in their right mind would choose the devil and the flames of hell? Much like the disciples, I saw an opportunity to follow Jesus and live a good, and adventurous life.
Yes, count me in.
“Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?”
Mark 8:34-36 NLT
Adulthood, brought the realization that following Jesus was requiring much more of me. There was a discipline to following Jesus, and I soon learned, a cost to following Him wholeheartedly. Surrender to His Lordship was the biggest step for me.
I would suggest that surrender is probably the hardest and most significant step for any follower of Jesus. It changes the landscape of the game. We become participants rather than spectators. The time came when I heard Him invite me to take up my cross and follow Him.
I still said yes. A more contemplative and somber yes.
How about you? Have you received Christ’s invitation to take up your cross, and follow Him?
“Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.””
John 20:21 NLT
Jesus told His disciples, “As the Father has sent Me” into the world…
I’ve read those words and thought about them for years. Probably, you have too. Especially, at Christmas, during Advent. For sure, we ponder the miracle of God lowering Himself to be born as a human baby. We ponder the miracle of the virgin birth, and Christ’s submission to earthly parents. Intuitively, many of us know and agree with the truth that the Father sent His Son, Jesus, into the world. He is Immanuel (from Isaiah). He is the Word become flesh (from John).
However today, I’m pondering further along the timeline of Jesus’ life on earth. As the resurrected God-man, He spoke these words to His disciples.
Jesus told His disciples, “As the Father has sent Me, so I am sending you.”
These are not prophetic words – they are fulfilled words. And as Jesus set the example of Himself being sent before His stunned and grateful disciples experiencing their Savior returned from the grave; He wasn’t just giving them an assignment, He was once again offering an invitation to follow.
Jesus wanted His disciples to see that He had lived the pattern before them. Following Him would likely cost their lives. Absolutely, suffering and sorrow were going to be permanent companions. This was the pivotal moment of decision. He wanted His disciples to dig deep and count the cost of following Him.
Here’s the context of these words of Jesus:
“That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
John 20:19-22 NLT
The resurrected Christ was giving His disciples experiential knowledge of the cost of following Him. After Christ fulfilled the mission for which the Father sent Jesus, now that they could look back and put some of the pieces together, He called them to keep following His example.
As a good teacher would do, Jesus catered to all the learning styles. He spoke. He showed. He allowed them to touch. He exemplified how to be sent in humility and obedience. And He gave the most important aspect, He offered the presence of the Holy Spirit, who would be their comforter, counselor, and intercessor.
If you know Him, you are sent. You have received His invitation to take up your cross and follow Him. You and I have the privilege of being sent into the world as the Father sent Jesus. And in the pattern Jesus laid out before us, He sends us out.
Will you still say yes?
Are you counting the cost?
You should.
But here’s the thing. Life in the 21st century is hard. Challenging circumstances are going to find us one way or the other. However, with Jesus, we don’t have to persevere alone. Jesus, Immanuel, promised His withness. He promised to send the Holy Spirit of God to dwell in us and never leave. We will struggle in life, but we don’t have to struggle alone. We don’t have to cry alone because along with God, He gives us a whole big family of believers.
What do ya say?
I’m sent. I’m taking up my cross. I’m asking Jesus for a daily reminder of the resurrecting power of the Holy Spirit which raised Christ from death and now lives in me. I’m asking Jesus to make His words alive and active in me because I have the example of our Lord and Savior, and the examples of the saints who have gone before me.
I’m asking for help because I testify to the truth, life is hard. It’s become painful and full of sorrow, but not absent of joy. For my dear man and me, taking up our cross is a fulfilled truth. Our task is to finish well, crawling across the finish line possibly, flanked on either side by suffering and sorrow. And yet, there’s great JOY in knowing we are called, sent and never alone. God’s grace is with us.
I’m looking for those brothers and sisters who are saying yes to link arms with and move out in action. There’s a bunch of people who still need to receive this invitation. Let’s be carriers of God’s good news together. Let’s take up the cross of pain, sorrow and suffering and follow Jesus. He’s going to lead us straight to those who are lonely and well acquainted with sorrow. What if we are able to speak their language with our testimonies?
Eyes on Jesus and Shine,
Lisa
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