Follow me!

Major Andrew Vertigan wonders what our response is to Jesus’ invitation

JOHN 21:15–22

OUR study passage is one that has hounded me throughout my ministry. Let me explain. It would be fair to say I wrestled with William Booth College and my training experience. I knew I was called to follow the leading of Christ, but boy did I struggle with the college experience.

When I was challenging what I saw and experienced, someone regularly quoted this passage to me. ‘Don’t worry about them,’ he would say. ‘Follow him!’ How I grappled with what this person repeatedly told me. I thought: ‘How dare he! Can’t he see what those others are doing?’

It is easier to look at others than it is to examine your own heart and motivations, but we are called to follow the example of Christ (see v22).

‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus declared to the first disciples (Matthew 4:19). What an outrageous statement to make! Many were waiting for a messiah – we are told that many had heard people profess they were the messiah, even that they were to be the saviour. So what made Jesus’ statement so compelling to respond to?

Jesus declared in his words not so much a set of rules or principles but a calling to follow a person. He said: ‘Come, follow me.’ His statement was not only provocative but also could be seen, and indeed was seen by some, as revolutionary. Jesus’ words were powerful, even though his actions spoke far louder.

I often quote a saying that some attribute to St Francis of Assisi and that I think Jesus truly embodied: ‘Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary use words.’

QUESTIONS

*Who are you following?

*Is anyone following you?

As I write this, I have been made aware once again of the power of words, particularly in relation to social media, where they can affirm or destroy in one fell swoop.

So many people, especially young adults, appear to build their identity and success by the number of social media followers they have. It seems the more outrageous or outspoken you can be, the more likely you are to have people follow you. At the heart of humanity is a deep desire to be part of the crowd, accepted and befriended by others.

Social media is certainly being used in some positive, but also some destructive, ways. I’ve found myself ‘unfollowing’ some people, because I did not like what I read or saw being demonstrated through their words or lives.

QUESTIONS

*What qualities make someone worth following?

*Why have you decided to follow Jesus?

I wonder how we would have responded if we had found ourselves in the place of Peter and those first disciples, when Jesus asked them to leave everything behind and follow him.

So often we get sidetracked into following other ‘gods’, idols and icons or even people. Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians about how early Christians wrestled with whom to follow, when he tackled the danger of following personalities (see 1 Corinthians 3:5–7).

QUESTION

*Can you identify ways in which you have been sidetracked from following Jesus closely?

In our study passage, we see the beautiful, redemptive and compassionate heart of Jesus when he not only challenges Peter but also affirms their love relationship (vv15 – 19). Peter was fully aware of how his words had denied Jesus at his greatest moment of need. Yet Jesus was allowing Peter’s words not only to be restorative but also transforming. We can hear and feel the raw emotion as Peter pours out his heart: ‘Lord, you know that I love you’ (v16).

All is going well as the disciples commune with Jesus. They are, I imagine, captivated in the conversation and intrigued by all that Jesus is saying. Could we say they are transfixed by his majesty? His personality?

All is well until Peter turns his gaze from Jesus and looks at others. Here is where I so often fail myself. Maybe you do too. Everything is fine when

I’m walking closely with Jesus and my eyes are fixed on him. It’s when my eyes turn from him that the wrestling begins.

QUESTIONS *How did Jesus so captivate his followers?

*What caused Peter and the other disciples to take their eyes off Jesus, so quickly and so regularly?

*In 2020, what does this teach us as disciples of Jesus?

Today, as Jesus invites you to follow him, how are you responding? Is it out of a deep love relationship or because you are told to?

MAJOR VERTIGAN IS FRESH EXPRESSIONS MISSION ENABLER, THQ

Through the week with Salvationist

– a devotional thought for each day by Major Freda Benneyworth

SUNDAY

Will you come and follow me/ If I but call your name?/ Will you go where you don’t know/ And never be the same?/ Will you let my love be shown,/ Will you let my name be known,/ Will you let my life be grown/ In you and you in me?

(SASB 695)

MONDAY

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.

(Mark 1:16–18)

TUESDAY

In simple trust like theirs who heard,/ Beside the Syrian sea,/ The gracious calling of the Lord,/ Let us, like them, without a word/ Rise up and follow thee.

(SASB 456)

WEDNESDAY

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me,’ he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

(Matthew 9:9)

THURSDAY

Mine to rise when thou dost call me,/ Lifelong though the journey be;/ Thine to measure all its windings,/ Leading step by step to thee./ I am thine, O Lord and Master,/ Thine to follow to the end./ Thou art mine, O Christ my Saviour,/ Guide and helper, lover, friend!

(SASB 661)

FRIDAY

Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’

(Luke 9:23)

SATURDAY

Unto thee, O Saviour-King,/ Our allegiance now we bring,/ Body, soul and spirit, all/ In obedience to thy call./ Naught have we thou didst not give,/ By thy life and grace we live,/ Selfish aims do we forsake,/ Service with our Lord to take.

(SASB 686)