Followers of Christ

When God Calls Your Name He Calls You A Follower of Christ   

Matt 9:9, As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's office; and He said to him, Be My disciple [side with My party and follow Me]. And he rose and followed Him. AMP

The French philosopher Voltaire was once challenged by a friend to ad-lib a story involving thieves. Voltaire thought for a moment and then began: "Gentlemen, there was once a tax collector. . . ."

Tax collectors were widely regarded as thieves in Jesus' day as well, a reputation that was often well deserved. Matthew's job before Jesus called him was to collect the tolls and customs due from those who brought merchandise in and out of Herod's territory. This task was assigned to the highest bidder, who then leased the responsibility to tax gatherers, lower officials who were responsible for actually collecting the money. These tax gatherers, or publicans, were allowed to keep any money that was collected over and above the promised amount. Some tax gatherers actually practiced a form of extortion by levying an amount that they knew could not be paid, and then charging high interest on the unpaid bill.

If being a tax collector was an unlikely career choice for Matthew because of its unpopularity, becoming a follower of Jesus the Rabbi was downright unimaginable. Matthew's friends provide us with a window into his lifestyle. They were primarily other tax collectors and "sinners," a technical term used in the New Testament for those who ignored the Torah and lived immorally. Jesus called Matthew away from all of this with the command to "follow me." The Greek verb used here meant to walk behind someone or to follow in their path. For Matthew, this was literally true. He "left everything" and immediately became a disciple of Jesus, traveling with Him from place to place (Luke 5:28). However, Jesus' invitation called for more than a change of residence. It also required a change of behavior. Matthew abandoned both a sinful lifestyle and a lucrative—but dishonest—livelihood.

This was not true of everyone who was given the opportunity to become a follower of Jesus. Some refused Christ's invitation to follow because of the uncertain conditions Jesus' disciples faced (Matt 8:18-20). Others were unwilling to break family ties (Matt 8:21-22). Still others were afraid of the financial loss they would incur as a follower of Jesus (Matt 19:21). Although ultimately unwise in their decision not to follow, their estimation of the cost of following Christ was accurate. Jesus warned that those who wished to be known as His followers must be willing to say "no" to self and follow the way of the cross (Mark 8:34), and that they must make a daily decision to identify themselves with Him (Luke 9:23,26). He said that their allegiance to Him must take precedence over every other human relationship: "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels" (Mark 8:38).

Instead of being ashamed of Christ, Matthew threw a large party for all his friends and made Jesus the guest of honor. A number of Pharisees were also there, probably not as guests but as observers, watching from the street. The Pharisees, whose name literally meant "separated ones," purposely avoided contact with the common people, or "people of the land," because they were not strict enough in their observance of the Law. In addition to the regulations found in the Law of Moses, the Pharisees were especially concerned about obeying the additional commands of the oral tradition that had been handed down to them by those who had interpreted the Law. A Pharisee would not confide in the common people or accept their testimony in court. In the Pharisees' view, the common people did not make suitable marriage partners because the Pharisees considered their women "unclean." In fact, the Pharisees taught that the "people of the land" were so unclean that it was unlawful even to eat with them. Consequently, when they saw Jesus not only associating with such people, but willingly attending a feast with tax gatherers and notorious sinners, they were outraged. When they asked for an explanation, Jesus replied: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (Matt 9:12-13).

When John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as President of the United States, he electrified his audience and mobilized an entire generation with the challenge to: ". . . ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." Like President Kennedy's challenge, Jesus' call to His followers was one to serve. However, it is service grounded upon a different foundation. Normally, a leader looks for the most qualified candidates to be followers. But Jesus' choice of Matthew reveals a different agenda. He did not select His disciples on the basis of what they could do for Him but on the basis of what He could do for them. Because of this, the fundamental prerequisite for becoming a follower of Christ is faith.

As Christians, our confidence is not in our own suitability to the task, but in Christ's willingness to extend mercy to us. When we choose to follow Jesus, we exchange our lives for His, placing ourselves completely at His disposal. As Henrietta Mears has said: "God does not always choose great people to accomplish what He wishes, but He chooses a person who is wholly yielded to Him." It is this more than anything else, that will determine the kind of follower we become.

Lord Jesus, I accept the call to follow You and place my life at Your disposal. Empower me by Your grace to choose the way of the Cross each day and to introduce others to You. Amen.

Thanks to John Koessler for allowing us to publish his material.www.johnkosessler.com
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John Koessler serves as chair and professor of pastoral studies at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. He is married to Jane and has two sons, Drew and Jarred. John is the author of ten books and numerous articles. He also serves as a contributing editor for the Moody Bible Institute publication Today in the Word, where you can read his monthly “Theology Matters” column. You can contact John via email at John.Koessler@moody.edu or by phone at (312) 329-4077.