Follow the Leader

Have you ever played a game called, "Follow the leader" as a kid? 

 

In Christianity, we talk a lot about this "following Jesus." Or walking with God.

In order to fully understand what that phrase means for us we must look at the original context. Who was Jesus talking to? What would people think when they heard that phrase?


One of the examples of this is found in Mark Chapter 1:

"Jesus saw two brothers fishing with their father for they fished for a living. He called out to them, 'Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.' At once they left their nets (and their father) and followed Jesus."


Jesus was doing something radical. He was calling fishermen to follow Him. But why couldn't fishermen follow Jesus.

Well, Jesus was Jewish. And He was/is a Rabbi. (Teacher).


In the First Century, Jewish boys desired more than anything in the world to be a Rabbi but in order to be a Rabbi they had to work under a Rabbi for many years. But this was no easy task.

You couldn't go to college or seminary. No, this process began in childhood. The child needed to memorize the Torah (first five books of the bible) by age 12. If he (yes only males were included) could not memorize the Torah he would stop his education and learn his father's trade. (Fishing, carpentry, shepherding, etc).

But if he memorized the books he would continued his education. Learning most of the Old Testament and oral tradition of the Jewish Religion. Around the age of 16, If they passed on their test they would would hope that a Rabbi would pick him to follow that Rabbi.

If no Rabbi picked them(which happened often) they would have wasted the their time (many years) and be shipped off to learn their families business. But If they were chosen. They would spend years following their Rabbi (their teacher). They would learn what it meant to be a follower of God, a holy man, by following him. And then, one day they themselves would become a Rabbi.


So why am I boring you with this history lesson? (Much simplified)

I told you all this to remind you what Jesus did was radical. He bypassed the whole system. He chose the rejects. He chose teenagers to follow Him. And more than that: He chose unschooled, rednecks.

We applaud the disciples because they made a great choice. But honestly did they even have a choice? A Rabbi wanted them! He told them to follow Him and they did because why wouldn't they?

So, when we look at the words of Jesus to us: "Come, follow me!"

He isn't asking, He is telling. He is commanding. He is instructing. He is more than inviting. He is declaring what will happen.

He is saying You can do it! I chose you! I want you! Follow me! I will be your Rabbi and you will be my grasshopper.

I know, this fights against everything we are taught in American Christianity. We are taught that we need to a choose to follow God and I'm not saying there is no choices.

We have the choice if we are going to daily surrender to God.
We have the choice if we are going to love others.
We have the choice how deeply we engage God and encounter His presence towards us.


Bottom Line

It's important that we believe in Jesus but it's more important that He believes in us.


A few reflection questions to consider:

1) How does it make you feel that God chose you? 

2) In response to his love, what actions does He call you to?