Follow Me

 Two simple words. A very simple concept. So simple in fact, children play a game called follow the leader. So simple and yet so profound. Follow Me.

Let's imagine the scene in Matthew 9:9. Jesus saw Matthew while He was traveling through the area where Matthew worked. Matthew was a tax collector. The Jews hated tax collectors. They not only were responsible for collecting taxes for Rome, but also added extra fees so they could pad their own pockets. Tax collectors were despised. The excessive taxes of the Roman Empire were crippling economically. The fact that tax collectors swindled people out of more money made them despised even more as traitors. Traitors because Matthew was a Jew. It felt like he betrayed his own people for financial profit. 

We learn that Jesus saw Matthew sitting in the tax collector's booth. When everyone else saw a ruthless government agent profiting off other people's pain, Jesus saw something different. He saw a disciple. He saw an author of one of the gospels. He saw a man of influence. 

It makes me wonder what we see in other people. Do we see what God sees in them? Do we notice the unique ways God gifts people to carry out His divinely designed plans? 

Jesus' approach was direct. There were no formal introductions. No interview. Just two simple words. Follow Me. If we had been Matthew, how would we have responded. Matthew had a pretty good gig going. This itinerant preacher does not even ask Matthew to follow. He tells him to, "Follow Me." To forsake his livelihood, career, home, and his whole way of life. 

The most amazing part of this story for me is found in the phrase, "And he got up and followed Him." He resigned his job on the spot. No two weeks notice. He forsook his vocation to follow a complete stranger. We have no indication that Jesus and Matthew had ever met before. 

It makes me wonder. What did Matthew see in Jesus eyes? What did he hear in the Messiah's voice? What authority did Jesus speak with in those two words follow me? Follow Me was more than a command. It was an invitation to a grand adventure. Matthew saw and experienced things we can only dream about. He had a front row seat to witness miracles, life transformations, healings, demonic deliverance, the crucifixion, the resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. All of that came at the invitation to follow Jesus. 

Jesus still shows up in people's lives. He still calls people to follow Him. Following Jesus still leads to some to grand adventures. The question is will we follow His lead?