Following!

Sometimes in the grocery store I will get a little ahead of my wife with the shopping cart and I will turn and say, “I’m following you.” This is usually followed by her response, “I can tell.” Following is not going ahead, but rather coming after!

As Jesus began to clearly reveal to His disciples that He would be rejected by the Jewish leaders, killed, but then would rise again ( Mark 8:31-32), Peter refused to accept the possibility. Mark’s account tells us Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked Him. ( Mark 8:33) Jesus in turn rebuked Peter by saying, “GET BEHIND ME, Satan!” and told Peter he did not have in mind the things of God. ( Mark 8:33) Instead of following, Peter was trying to do some leading here. Instead of trying to be in front, he needed to FALL BEHIND JESUS, remembering He was to be Master and Peter was to remain disciple.

Note what Jesus went on to emphasize.
“And he called to him the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him DENY HIMSELF and TAKE UP HIS CROSS and FOLLOW ME.” ( Mark 8:34 ESV)

Jesus expressed three directives here associated with being His disciples: the denying of self (surrendering of our will to His), being willing to take up our cross (enduring as faithful disciples for His Name’s sake) and following (allowing Him to continue to do the leading). Each of these are to be characteristic of our MANNER OF LIVING as Christians. Our cross is not taken up to die there, but to PRESS ON with. Jesus was not referring to an end, but rather to an ONGOING LIFE OF FOLLOWING Him.

Remember when the psalmist stated…
“Even THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” ( Psalm 23:4 ESV)

The valleys were the route to the higher country for seasonal pasturing of the sheep and there were a variety of dangers for which a good shepherd would be on the look out. David, viewing God as his loving Shepherd, saw himself not left in the valley of the shadow of death to die, but rather LED THROUGH it. And He was comforted and encouraged to have the care and guidance of God on which to depend.

It is possible we could literally experience the giving up of our physical life for the cause of Christ. Perhaps such a moment would not be found to be too difficult. However, the real challenge is maintaining a willingness to continue on day to day denying self, carrying our cross, and following Christ the Good Shepherd ( John 10) As His true disciples, such should be characteristic of our MANNER OF LIVING.

Let us remain BEHIND JESUS, allowing Him to do the leading. As we do this in life, we will be prepared to eventually be led by Him into eternal glory with Him. May we continue to daily PRESS ON after Him.

Have a great day LIVING ON DAILY FOR THE LORD!
Carl

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