Following Jesus

 "So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him."

Luke 5:11

After Jesus taught the people from Peter's boat, He directed the experienced fisherman to launch out into deeper water and lower his nets for a catch.  Peter was not enthused about their chances, for they had fished all night and caught nothing.  "Nevertheless," Peter replied, "at your word I will let down the net."  He and his fellow fishermen were shocked when their nets were full of fish and breaking apart, and it required two boats to carry the net full of fish--and their boats were sinking under the weight of their haul!  Peter, James and John were astonished at the great number of fish they had caught.

Peter exclaimed, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man!"  Jesus replied in Luke 5:10, "...Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men."  When they had brought their boats and catch of fish to shore, these fishermen forsook all and followed Jesus.  This was a truly monumental decision that is much more important than a massive catch of fish and the money they were worth.  Notice the fisherman did not say, "We need you to come fishing with us more often."  They realised their business, boats, tackle and fish they had caught were nothing compared to knowing and being with Jesus, to go where He went and to do what He said.  They decided to leave their families, friends and all that was familiar to go wherever Jesus was going.  They would come to realise by faith in Jesus all their needs for life and godliness would be abundantly supplied.

Later in the same chapter, Jesus healed a paralytic to demonstrate He had the ability to forgive sins and thus was God in human form.  Luke 5:27-28 says, "After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." ²⁸ So he left all, rose up, and followed Him."  Levi, also called Matthew, was a Jewish tax collector who worked for the Roman government, and it was a very lucrative role.  While he was working in the office, Jesus walked up to him and simply said, "Follow Me."  Levi considered the cost of quitting his job and losing regular income as nothing to gain the privilege to answer Christ's call to follow Him.  His heart sang to leave all before he stood up to follow Jesus wherever He was going.  Following Jesus is a simple thing to do, for a child knows how to follow a parent as they walk along.  But it is impossible and unthinkable if we value our business, money, livelihood or earthly comforts more than Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is worthy to be followed, and to follow we must forsake all.  This does not mean we abandon our God-given responsibilities, knowing when our priority is obedience to Christ He will never lead us wrong.  Jesus said if anyone would come after Him, they needed to deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow Him.  They were to count all loss that they might gain Christ.  Paul freely chose to follow Christ, and when it was revealed chains and affliction awaited him he said in Acts 20:24:  "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."  Jesus set the pace for Paul, and by God's grace he faithfully followed Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit and finished his race with joy.

Though Jesus called some to be apostles, He calls all who are hungry and thirsty to come to Him and be satisfied.  He calls all sinners to repentance and calls every one of them to be His disciples:  to know Him, the power of His resurrection, the fellowship of His suffering, and experience eternal life by faith in Him.  Jesus extends His invitation for all to come to Him and learn of Him, that He is meek, lowly and in Him alone we find rest for our souls.  Yet we must come to Jesus in the exclusive way He requires by repenting of sin and trusting in Him.  You may have decided to follow Jesus, but do you still count your life dear to yourself?  Have you left all?  Are you following Him today?