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Follow the Leader
During the early fifties two well-known English songwriters wrote this: “Mud! Mud! Glorious mud! Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood. So, follow me, follow, follow down to the hollow, and there let us wallow in glorious mud.” Too many of you are willing to follow anything and anyone, just to please, even if it means ending up in the mud. But there is a better way - the way of the Lord - the way of righteousness.
Matthew 9:9 says, “As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.”
Here we find Matthew’s simple and humble account of his own call. As a tax collector, Matthew and his fellow officials were hated intensely by the Jews because of their unscrupulous behaviour, because of the oppressive taxes they demanded, and most of all, because they served the interest of the Roman Empire. As Jesus passed the tax office, He said to Matthew, “Follow Me,” and the response was instantaneous and unequivocal. Matthew arose and followed, leaving behind a traditionally dishonest job to become an instant disciple of Jesus (and an instant success). As someone once said, “Matthew lost a comfortable job, but he found a destiny. He lost a good income but he found honour. He lost security but he found true adventure - a life far beyond anything he’d ever dreamed of.”
Too many Christians are believers but not followers of Christ. Being a follower of Christ is the most exciting and exhilarating existence. It is packed with adventure and personal triumph. It’s a life that is recognised and often applauded by all those around you. Mark Twain said, “Let us endeavour to live so that when we come to die, even the undertaker will be sorry.”
When you became a believer (a child of God), you did so by simply trusting in Christ and confessing Him to be the Son of God. However, you can only become a disciple of Jesus Christ by earnestly following after Him. The Greek word translated “follower” is literally “a close companion,” hence, “one going in the same way.” It expresses “true likeness” or “sameness.” Observe, Jesus called Matthew to become His close companion. And, by hanging around with Jesus, Matthew’s mind would be renewed and he would be transformed into a true likeness of Christ. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed (fashioned) to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 8:29 declares, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed (fashioned) to the image of His Son.”
The Greek word “follow” is used 77 times in the Gospels, referring to following Christ (metaphorically of discipleship). And discipleship is not for the chosen few but for all of mankind. Jesus Himself declared that we should make disciples of all nations, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” [Matthew 28:18-19]. As a disciple of Jesus Christ you have been given the authority to proclaim His Lordship over all the nations of the earth and make disciples of them. In this context, a disciple is “one who teaches others to teach others.” It’s a self-perpetuating procedure.
Remember, you have been given all authority “to teach others - to teach others,” to follow after Jesus Christ. And as a result of this, whole nations will change by being fashioned into the image of Christ. When a nation’s citizens become legitimate disciples of Jesus the very heart of that nation is transformed. Christianity, in fact, holds the solution to all the world’s problems. And this includes the Middle East.
“Mathetis” (disciple) is not a pupil but an imitator. Essentiality discipleship is to deny oneself and take on the exact likeness of your teacher. But note, it doesn’t mean that you should assume some simulated, external religious persona, but rather to whole-heartedly put Christ’s interests first and foremost in your life. True discipleship is about total abandon. In Mark 8:34-35 when Jesus had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save hiss life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.”
You can only be considered a disciple of Christ when you have surrendered your all to Him, that is, taking up your cross and following Him. If you choose to live for yourself, you loose your life. But if you live for Christ, you save your life and glorify God. Discipleship saves you from the tragedy of a wasted existence. Yes, there may be some suffering in taking up your cross to follow Jesus; but any measure of suffering will always lead you to glory (victory). And to take up your cross does not mean that you should endure some irritating or debilitating burden, but rather to willingly renounce all self-centred ambitions and personal agendas. Such sacrifice will lead you to the fullest experience of kingdom life. It will draw you toward the abundant life Jesus promised (Mark 10:30).
A visible attribute of discipleship is a driving desire to replace and replicate oneself. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also, and even greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” [John 14:12]. Jesus wants you to become the perfect and exact representation of Him here on earth. His plan, in going to the cross, was to make disciples of all nations through the awesome authority that He has handed over to you.
However, the big questions is this, “Are you merely believers, or are you true disciples?” Believers can “talk the talk,” but disciples “walk the walk, and work the work!” Which one are you? Are you putting to use the great authority you’ve been given to change and transform lives? And how many disciples do you have following after you? As a true disciple of Christ, you need to be able to boldly confess what the apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1? “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” Another translation says, “Follow me, exactly as I follow Christ.” Only true disciples can make this statement.
Let’s now turn it on it’s head and ask, “Who are you being discipled by? In other words, “What or who are you following after? In God’s kingdom, the most conspicuous trait of any disciple is that he is being discipled himself - he is imitating a teacher. You must follow the leader (Jesus Christ), but you must also be following a leader (the authority that God has placed over you).
Therefore, in order to put the records straight, and clear up some confusion, let me explain the difference between biblical discipleship and a “guru” mentality. Disciples of Jesus Christ sit at His feet to become just like Him (in order to do the work that He did and even more). Students of a “guru” however, sit at his feet to be taught philosophies and techniques that develop dependence on their master. They become slaves to his beliefs. Look at the difference! Jesus wants you to be just like Him, but the “guru” wants you only to aspire to be like him. Jesus wants to replace Himself and replicate His “Divine Self” in you, but the “guru” only wants to replace your beliefs with his beliefs. Isn’t it sad that there are so many leaders with a “guru” mentality in the church today? I believe this is why there are not many disciples being raised up. Where are all the true followers of Jesus Christ?
It’s interesting to note that you choose your leader. Through your freewill, you choose to follow after anyone or anything. No leader can choose to disciple you without you having chosen first to be discipled. And after you’ve made your choice, it’s up to you to press in and get exactly what you want - giving honour where honour’s due. But remember, the leader you’ve chosen to imitate is not Christ Himself, but an example and a pattern to follow. Paul in Philippians 3:17 declares, “Join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.”
The leader sets the course and then urges and encourages you in that direction, but the choice is still yours. In 1 Corinthians 4:16-17 the apostle Paul said this, “Therefore, I urge you to imitate me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.” Paul is saying, “Be just like me. And in order to show you what I mean, I’m sending Timothy.” How many of you can be referred to by any leader as “my beloved and faithful son or daughter in the Lord?” Have you ever chosen to be discipled by someone in authority over you, and thereafter, stayed faithful?
Discipleship saves you from the tragedy of a wasted existence. But it all starts with “taking up your cross and following Jesus.” Without first following Christ and becoming His disciple, there’s no where else to go. And if you choose this life, you must be prepared to complete the course - running your race with patience and endurance.
I urge you; become a true disciple of Jesus Christ. One who is being discipled, but who is also discipling others. |
Chris Demetriou, 08/06/2011 |
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