Following Jesus
Matthew 4:12–25
Follow me. Matthew 4:19

The words “follow me” occur twenty times in the Gospels. But in addition, there are scores of references in which one person or another is said to have followed Christ. Why are these two words so important? They are important because they teach important truths about what it means to be Christ’s disciple.

1. Obedience. The words “follow me” are an imperative, a command—which is why those commanded to follow Jesus did in fact immediately leave their nets, boats, counting tables, or whatever else was occupying them and follow Jesus. Without obedience there is no genuine Christianity. Those who are truly Christ’s sheep both hear and obey his call from the beginning and thus enter a life in which obedience is a chief characteristic.

2. Repentance. When Jesus called Matthew, he called one who knew he was a “sinner.” Jesus emphasized repentance (Matt. 9:13), but the need for repentance is no less evident in the calls of the other disciples. It is impossible to follow Christ without repentance. How could it be otherwise? Jesus is the holy, sinless Son of God. Anyone who is following him, therefore, must by definition turn his back to sin and set his face toward righteousness. Christians do sin, but when they do, they must confess their sin and turn from it, being restored to fellowship again.

3. Submission. In one of his most important sayings about discipleship, Jesus describes submission as putting on a yoke. This suggests a number of things, but chiefly it suggests submission to Christ for work assigned. Submit comes from the Latin words sub (meaning “under”) and mitto (meaning “to put” or “place”). Therefore, submission means being placed under the authority of another. How could it be otherwise if the one we are following is our true King and Lord, and we are truly his disciples?

4. Trust. It is impossible to follow Christ without trusting him, for a lack of trust will cause us to deviate from the path he takes or cause us to choose to leave him. By contrast, it is impossible to genuinely trust Christ and not follow him, since a failure to follow means a person is committed to some other goal or is trusting some other thing or person.

5. Perseverance. Following Christ also involves perseverance because following is not an isolated act, done once and for all and never to be repeated. Rather, it is a lifetime commitment that is not fulfilled until the race is won, the final barrier crossed, the crown received, and all rewards laid gratefully at the feet of Jesus. Following Jesus is not only a door to be entered but a path to be followed, and the true disciple proves the reality of his discipleship by following that path to the end. A true disciple is one who follows Christ to the end of everything.

Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865

Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.