Christ Jesus is a household name worldwide even among unbelievers. However, not everyone knows why we follow Jesus. In Mark 10: 17-21, a man ran up and knelt before Jesus, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”… Jesus said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, and follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
What was the object of Jesus’ call?
From the passage, follow me meant to emulate my example of showing unconditional and sacrificial love for God and our neighbours. Jesus said in Matthew 22: 37-40, “You shall love the Lord thy God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.” Wealth must not obstruct our salvation but rather enhance it through love.
We will fail if we lack the spirit of unconditional and sacrificial love. Love without sacrifice is no love. Leviticus 19: 18 says you shall love your neighbour as yourself. Jesus also said so in Matthew 4: 43-45, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. Difficult as it may appear, it is God’s command underlying the follow me principle.
Jesus said in Matthew 10: 37-38 whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Without unconditional and sacrificial love, we cannot follow Jesus. Following Jesus is sometimes costly. Are we ready for a costly sacrifice for God? What does follow me demand?
Sacrificing for others
It demands that we must leave everything behind for the sake of others. We must consider the welfare of others first before our and that is the essence of Jesus’ call. Philippians 2: 3 says do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. This is why Jesus died for us. Romans 5: 8 says but God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. The attitude of self-importance has no place in following Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 2: 24 says he himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wound you have been healed. Our acceptance to follow Jesus must have a positive effect on the lives of others and give them a hope to live and to smile. Jesus affected lives positively and wants us to do likewise. He said in Matthew 11: 29 take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Denying worldly pleasures
James 4: 4 says do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Worldly pleasures differ from heavenly pleasures. It is anathema to obedience to God’s unconditional and sacrificial love for God and neighbours. Jesus died for us selflessly in spite of all the pleasures of this world at his feet. He was tempted with the pleasures of the world but he did not give in. We must also deny worldly pleasures.
Coming back to God through Jesus
Jesus’ call means we are either lost, or will most likely miss the way. Only he knows the way, can show the way, can lead the way and is ordained to lead the way. Jesus said in John 14: 6, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Jesus said in John 1: 18, no one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known. He also said in John 6: 46 not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Jesus was thus inviting the world back to God as our only life compass.
Accepting Jesus as the true provider
Jesus told the man to sell his property and give the proceeds to the poor and come and follow him, he wanted him to appreciate that he was the provider. Jesus wants us to fully depend on him to provide our needs. Paul wrote in Philippians 4: 19 my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. There is no true provider but Christ Jesus.
Being obedient to his invitation
We only need to obey Christ Jesus. 1 Samuel 15: 22 says to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. Jesus said in John 10: 27 my sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. Have we heard the voice of Christ Jesus? And are we following him? Does Jesus know us? He is inviting us by name individually to follow him. He said in Matthew 19: 29; Mark 10: 29; Luke 14: 26, everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, we have heeded your call to come and follow today. Help us to leave the world behind us and to look up to the cross on which you bled and died for us. Touch our hearts to know you more and to observe in truth what you require of us. Give us your humble spirit of obedience so we may be able to honour your ordinances in your holy name, Amen!!
