John 8:12: Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
The word translated “followeth” means to be in the same way with, or to accompany. Those who accompany Jesus Christ in this life will not walk in darkness but will have the light necessary to live. Look at how lives were changed for following Jesus Christ.
Follow the leader
Matthew 4:18-23:
And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
What an exciting adventure to begin with their new master! Jesus Christ brought the good news of his Father and healed every sickness and disease. What a joy it is to be “in the same way with” Jesus Christ.
Look at what happened next in verses 24 and 25.
And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.
Jesus Christ brought physical and spiritual deliverance to many, and they followed him. The same is true today. God’s Son, our lord and savior Jesus Christ, can heal and bless and deliver those who are in the way with him.
Deciding to follow
Sometime later, as recorded in Matthew 5 through 7, Jesus taught a multitude from a mountain area. He set forth God’s Word that applied to the daily lives of those he ministered to. The Word of God burned in these people’s hearts, and the light of life shown brightly to them.
Look at what they did with their lives after hearing the truth.
Matthew 8:1:
When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
They were in the same way with and accompanied Jesus as he made known his Father. Many may have wanted to follow Jesus, but it took some commitment to stay with him.
Matthew 8:19-23:
And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
Those who were disciples, who made the decision to stay in the way with Jesus, followed him. People will follow Jesus Christ when they are ready and when they decide to. That is what happened to Matthew.
Matthew 9:9:
And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
There is a personal responsibility each day to follow our savior, but there are rich rewards for those who do.
Matthew 10:38,39:
And he that taketh not his cross [personal responsibility], and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life [where Jesus Christ is lord and not ourselves] for my sake shall find it.
Following the master’s example
Even when under attack from those who did not understand him or approve of his actions, Jesus Christ continued to do God’s will and minister to those who followed him.
Matthew 12:14,15:
Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all [every one].
Personal emotions did not stop Jesus Christ from caring for those who followed him. After receiving the distressing news of his cousin’s (John the Baptist’s) death, Jesus Christ had compassion on those who needed his help.
Matthew 14:13,14:
When Jesus heard of it [John’s death], he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.
And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
Jesus continued to heal those who needed his help, those who followed him.
Matthew 19:1,2:
And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;
And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.
Following together as a team
Jesus taught others about this life of service while in Jericho. After building the right attitude in those who decided to serve with him, others followed Jesus as he ministered with the team he was building.
Matthew 20:25-29:
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
Look at what happened next in verses 30 through 34.
And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?
They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
Jesus Christ asked these two blind men a simple question: “What will ye that I shall do unto you?” You could ask yourself the same question today. What would you like Jesus to do for you? You can be healed, learn the Word of God, and take up your daily personal responsibility to your heavenly Father when you follow him.
