Jesus said, "Follow me."

Photo by Robert Edwards     http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/3763

I was listening to Brian on Daily Audio Bible last night. He was reading the last chapter of John. He pointed out that the last words Jesus spoke was, “Follow me.”

Peter had been asking Jesus what would happen in the future to John. Jesus told him it really wasn’t any of Peter’s business. Peter was to simply follow him. Peter had turned to look at John, but Jesus said to him, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!"   John 21:22

We can’t follow someone if we are looking around at the scenery or other people. I remember so many times people would come to visit us in California. We would all be going somewhere and Dad would say, “Just follow me.” 

Yes, on a freeway while going 70 miles per hour! Lol  My poor uncle and his family got lost when the freeway split into two parts going the opposite direction. I forget how we finally found each other. No cell phones in those days.

Many times, my father took us on one of his famous “short cuts”. He didn’t follow the regular routes. On the map the “short cut” looked, well, shorter! It never was because the map we used didn’t show the mountains to go over or the slow speed limits. He did that in Nevada and I got a bit of heat stroke. No air conditioning then either! Every trip was either an adventure or some kind of torture.

We have the freedom to follow whomever we wish. Free will. It’s what keeps us from being robots. Some will follow evil; some will follow good.

I want to follow Jesus. I want to follow him all the way to heaven.

Dear Father, help us to keep our eyes on Jesus. Help us all to fall in love with him. Help us to want to be just like him. Keep our eyes from wandering; especially keep us from looking at other people and ourselves. In the name of Jesus, amen.

“… let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:1

“As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector's booth; and He said to him, "Follow Me!" And he got up and followed Him.”  Matthew 9:9

“He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."  Matthew 4:19

Follow Me.

A pilot truck leads vehicles through the fire zone.

Photo: Oregon Department of Transportation

Who is God?

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them...   When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”  Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”  John 21:20-22

God's advice to us is to keep our eyes on him; he knows if we don't we can get sidetracked and lose our way.

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  Matthew 16:24

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."  John 10:27


Who am I?

Peter was always looking around at other people. I have the same problem.

I think about my family, all the in-laws, those in the news, the people I meet online and in books. I  want everyone to be saved so I start worrying. I pray for these people and then look for signs they have heard the voice of God in their hearts. It is hard for me to leave people's salvation in the mighty hands of God.

When I feel sad about someone I love, I find that looking at Jesus lifts me up. I then feel hope and happiness. It is hard to look at Jesus and feel bad! God keeps reminding me to keep my eyes on Jesus and I'm thankful for this.

If we keep our eyes on Jesus we will learn from him how to live and we will learn how to trust in God the Father as he did.