In this post Christian era, I have made a change and now call myself a ‘Christ follower’ vs a Christian.
‘Following’ is a big deal to Jesus as we can see here:
Matt 4:19 – ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men’
Matt 8:22 – ‘Follow me and let the dead bury the dead’
Matt 9:9 – ( to Matthew) ‘Follow me’.
Matt 10:38 – ‘Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me’
Matt 16:24 – ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow ‘
Matt 19:21 – ‘Go, sell your possessions…. then come and follow me’.
Mark 1:17 – ‘Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men’
Mark 2:14 – ‘Follow me, Jesus told him. Levi got up and followed him’.
Mark 9:34 – ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me’
Mark 10:21 – ‘Go, sell everything…. then come and follow me’.
Luke 5:27 – ‘He saw Levi and said to him, follow me’.
Luke 9:23 – ‘If anyone would come after me he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me’
Luke 9:59 – ‘He said to another man, follow me’.
Luke 18:22 – ‘Sell everything you have…. then come and follow me’.
John 1:43 – ‘Finding Philip, he said to him, follow me’.
John 10:27 – ‘My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me’.
John 12:26 – ‘Whoever serves me must follow me’.
John 21:19 – ‘Jesus to Peter, Follow me’
John 21:22 – ‘Jesus to Peter, you must follow me.’
There are other references to following Jesus but these lay out what seems to very clearly be a primary command – follow me.
QUESTION: In what ways are you following Jesus right now?