TWO SIMPLE WORDS, ONE RADICAL CHANGE
“Follow Me.” (Matthew 4:19)
In vv.15-16 Matthew quotes Isaiah 9:1-2 to declare that Jesus is the light of the world and the hope for all people. He then records how Jesus was “teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people” (v. 23).
The ministry of Jesus consisted of proclamation of the good news of the kingdom alongside demonstrations of the greatness of the King.
In fact if you read Matthew 1-3 you see that Jesus is declared to be the Saviour, the Messiah, the One promised to come in the kingly line of David and from Abraham, the father of Israel. He was fully human and fully divine, the One to whom wise men from the nations bow down. He is the Saviour King and Righteous Judge of the world, perfectly filled with God’s Spirit and loved by God the Father. He is the only man who has conquered sin.
It is against this background that Jesus gives the command “Follow Me”
We are following One who is worthy to be followed – the only One truly worthy. And He is to be followed. It is not really a question of accepting Jesus – that really is ridiculous – the real question is whether He will accept us. Indeed the promise is that He will accept those who in faith follow Him.
David Platt rightly points out ‘There is only one conclusion to draw when we hear the invitation “Follow Me”: Jesus is worthy of far more than church attendance and casual association. He is worthy of total abandonment and supreme adoration. Everything is different once you meet this King. That’s why we know that people who profess to be Christians but whose lives look just like the rest of the world are lying.’
We are called to be committed learners and followers of Jesus, living the Kingdom Life which He describes in the Sermon on the Mount. The question we should be asking ourselves is, ‘Am I following Him?’ No more important question can be asked.