Follwers of Jesus

Key verse: ‘Follow Me’ (Mathew 9:9)

If a great chief or king sent an invitation to us asking us to come and live with him, so that we could be with him on all his journeys, we would be very happy. It would give us great joy to think that such a wonderful man had chosen us to be his friends. The Lord Jesus Christ has invited us to follow Him and be His friends! What greater honor could we have?

One day as Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee. He saw two men, Peter and Andrew. They were fishing. Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men’ (Mathew 4:18, 19). Another day Jesus passed an office where a man called Mathew was collecting custom fees, and He said to him, ‘Follow me’ (Mathew 9:9). When these men received invitation from Jesus they immediately left everything behind and followed Him. They were willing to leave their work and families and walk with Jesus? It was because they knew that Jesus was the son of God, and it was a great honour to receive an invitation to be one of His followers. They knew that Jesus was able to give them eternal life and this was of more value than the worldly things they were leaving behind (Luke 18:29, 30).

Although Jesus has now gone to heaven He is inviting us to follow Him. He invites us through His word, the Bible.

First we find that the invitation is for everyone. ‘I will never refuse the person who comes to me,’ He says in John 6:37. Peter tells us in acts 10:34, 35 that God does not favor one person more than another, but the invitation is to people of every tribe. Perhaps you who are studying this lesson have thought that God is not interested in you because of your family, or your tribe, or because you do not have much education. If so, you can be rejoice and be full of joy because the invitation from Jesus comes to you as well as everyone else (Acts 2:38).

Then there are special invitations to those who have special needs. There is one for those for those who are weary and tired because they are carrying a heavy load of sin. Perhaps for many years they have carried this load and they have found it very, very heavy. As one sinful habit after another have been formed in their lives the load has become heavier. To people like this Jesus says, ‘Come to me’, and I will give you rest (Mathew 11:28-30). And Jesus cuts the rope that bind these burdens.

Another special invitation is given to those who are thirsty. We know what it is like to be thirsty of water. How we long for a lovely refreshing drink after a hard job or difficult walk, and if there is there is no water near, we cannot do anything else before we find some. But the invitation we are thinking about here is not for just for those who are thirsty for water. It is for those who are thirsty in their souls. many people are unhappy. They do not have joy and they are looking for something that will give them real joy in their hearts. Many have tried beer dancing, adultery, and other things but they are still thirsty. To them, Jesus calls, ‘if anyone is thirsty, let them come to me and drink’ (John 7:37; see also Revelation 22:17).

Jesus promises that those who drink of His water will never thirst for sinful pleasures again, because water will be like well inside them (John 4:14)

Another special invitation comes to those who are like lost sheep (Isaiah 53:6). Many are wandering in the ‘bush’ of sin. They have lost the right path and everything is dark around them. The wild animals are following them, and unless someone can find them and lead them, Satan will take them to hell. Is there anyone who can bring them back to the path that leads to heaven? Yes, there is One! It is Jesus. He calls to the lost sheep, “He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). If the sheep will follow Him they will not be lost in sin anymore, because His voice will lead them (John 10:4, 27)

How thankful we should be for these invitations to follow Jesus, the Son of God. If we are weary and tired, or thirsty, or lost, we should come to Home today, accept His invitation, and become one of His followers. The following bible study will point out to us from scripture how we can follow Jesus.