Wednesday Bible Blurb Follow Me 1 28 2026
Follow Me
“Follow me where I go, what I do and who I know, make it part of you to be a part of me.
Follow me up and down, all the way and all around, take my hand and I will follow you”. (John Denver).
We were hiking through the mountainous trails of the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana one Spring Day, when I said, “Follow me”. I was sure I knew a short cut to the waterfall we were going to way up high in Bass Creek. Struggling through high brushes, prickly bushes and climbing uphill we finally arrived at our destination where we saw the real trail, nice, neat and easy to traverse. My leadership on the trail resulted in us being scratched, tired and covered in ticks. It was not my best “follow me” moment. Following a man can get one in trouble.
Jesus, on the other hand wants us to follow Him as He was no simple man. He was the Messiah who had come to save the world. He asks us to follow Him. “And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” (Matt. 4:18-20 [NKJV]). How much are we willing to give up to follow Him? “The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me’.” (John 1:43). What would we do if Jesus walked right up to us, looked us in the eye and said, “Follow Me?” Would we be so willing to drop everything in our life and follow Him?
Not long after, Jesus was out by the Sea of Galilee when He happened to pass by the hated tax collectors booth. The Jews who collected taxes for the Romans were considered lower than the Samaritans in social religious status. They were traitors, taking what little money the Jews had and then giving it to the Romans. “As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So, he arose and followed Him.” (Matt. 2:14). Levi (Matthew), the lowest of all, a man who would have grown wealthy on the backs of his fellow Jews quit his high paying job and followed Jesus. How willing are we to follow Jesus?
Are we willing to pay the cost of discipleship like the disciples of Jesus did? Do the cares of this world, our everyday life get between us and our Savior? What excuses do we make? “Then another of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” (Matt. 8:21-22). It seems like a very reasonable request to go and bury your own father. Jesus was pointing out how much we must be willing to give up to follow Him in this life. We become His and He is to be first above all things. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matt. 6:33). Jesus starts the LORD’s prayer with, “Our Father in heaven…” (Matt. 6:9b). Even Jesus put His Father first and He did His will. Jesus “…made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.” (Phil 2:7). He came as a servant; He gave up His life to follow Him. Are we willing to follow Him so deeply that we would give up everything?
Things were starting to get rough on the trail following Jesus around Judea. The time of His coming execution was approaching and He knew it. “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matt. 16:24). They had no comprehension as to what He was talking about. How rough would it get while following Jesus? He seemed peaceful enough. Is He not the savior of Judea? What do you mean by “cross”? He meant we are to give our all to Him as we follow Him.
Never fear, our Shepherd is near. For the last thirty plus years I have been raising sheep. They know my voice and I know their baahs, their wants and needs. I am their shepherd, their protector. Jesus is our Shepherd and protector. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28). Jesus is with us as we follow Him. He knows our wants and our needs and when we baah He hears and recognizes our voice. Follow Him to salvation as He is giving us eternal life and we will never perish.
I can imagine Jesus and His disciples hiking around the dry wilderness mountains of Judea. The dusty trails and scant water with long empty walks only to be greeted by throngs of people looking for help. The day my friends followed me cross country to reach the waterfall, turned into a rough hike. Jesus said to His disciples, “Follow Me.” Those who do follow Him gain eternal life with Him.
“Follow me where I go, what I do and who I know, make it part of you to be a part of me.
Follow me up and down, all the way and all around, take my hand and I will follow you”. (John Denver)
Follow Jesus.
