What does it mean to follow Christ? What does it mean to follow God?

Today many Christians describe themselves as followers of Christ, but are they really followers based on the bible’s interpretation? Have we taken the phrase ‘Follower of Christ’ and relegated it to a tag line, # Follower of Christ. The dictionary definition of the word follow;

• The word follow is an active verb.
• To go or come after a person or thing proceeding ahead.
• To move or travel behind.
• To go after someone in order to observe or monitor.
• To happen after something else as a consequence.
• To act accoring to an instruction or precept.
• To pay close attention to something or someone.
• To understand the meaning or tendency of a speaker or arguement.
• To keep track of the moverment or direction of something.

Keeping the above definitions in mind we will explore John chapter 21 where I believe we get a glimpse of the true meaning of what it means to follow Christ. In this chapter Christ had been crucified, they were aware his body was no longer in the tomb. Peter decided to go fishing again back to his past profession and some of the disciples including John (the disciple whom Jesus loved) went with him. We all know Jesus appeared on the shore and the disciple whom Jesus loved recognized Jesus first. Then Peter ran to the Lord and in their meeting Christ’s goal was to reinstate Peter, his goal was to reconnect Peter to his purpose and to him. He invalidated the condemnation that would have caused Peter to revert to his past profession, under the weight of the guilt from his betrayal. He reminded Peter of his first love then asked him to follow him. Why would he ask Peter to follow him, when that is all Peter did up to the point Christ gave him self up to be crucified. This is apostle Peter, Christ himself renamed him because of the revelation God gave Peter that Jesus was the Son of God the Christ. Maybe there is more to following Christ than just being known as a followr of Christ, observing him daily and having revelation.

The difference lies in John Chapter 21 verse 20 – 22:

20. Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on his breast at the supper, and said “Lord, who is the one who betrays you?” 21. Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, ” But Lord, what about this man?”.  22. Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow me.”

The above verses show Christ telling Peter to follow him, but it could be inferred that the disciple whom Jesus loved was already following Chirst. This led me to take a look into the relationship apostle John had with Christ verses the relationship Peter had with Christ. The difference between the two relationships was Peter spoke of his love for Christ and was told to follow Christ, but John spoke of Christ’s love for him and was assumed to be following Christ. Peter focused on his love for Christ, John focused on Christ’s love for him. Can we truly follow someone while focusing on ourself? Seems impossible based on the definitions of the word follow. To be a follower you would have to embody certain characteristics such as:

• The ability to hear.
• The ability to see.
• The willingness to follow leaving everything behind.
• The need to be available and occupied.
• A basic knowledge of who you are following.
• Complete faith in his provisions for you and not your limited supply.
• By the world’s standards a risk taker.
• The ability to deny oneself.
• The ability to sacrifice of self in discipleship.
• The ability to eradicate your ego and one’s individuality.

Both disciples loved Jesus but their approach to their relationship with him prior to Jesus’s meeting with Peter was different. You discover this when you compare and contrast their interactions with Christ as mentioned in the bible;

When you dig into these instances you begin to see a pattern emerge on the way both John and Peter related to Christ. The difference between the two was Peter spoke of his love for Christ and tried living in such a way to express that fact, how much he loved Christ. John grew to observe Jesus’s life and spoke of Christ’s love for him, because he truly saw Christ as the living God that was merciful and loving. Peter received the revelation of who Christ was, but blinded by his love for Chirst he did not see its limitations. This is why it appears on many instances, he was contradicting Christ’s purpose and was rebuked. John on the other hand heard the revelation and gained understanding by accepting Christ’s love for him. Understanding that the focus is not on your love for Christ and what you can do for him. That is why he could have been at the end of Christ’s death not intervening, but allowing Christ to do what he came to do. The difference in how John and Peter related to Christ shows that focusing more on Christ’s love for us and what he has done for us more than how we love him, places us in the position of a deeper relationship with Christ. John referred to himself as the apostle whom Jesus loved, was he the only one that Jesus loved? No, but at that time he was the only one that was beginning to see and understood the love of Christ. That is why he was found laying on Christ’s boosom in an affectionate way, as a child would lay on his father. This is why Christ gave John his mother to take care of and love as a son.

It is important to note that when Christ appeared to Peter and John again it was John not Peter that recognized the person on the shore of the beach was Christ. He was able to do that because of his deep connection with Christ through love.

Can you still be lacking after receiving revelation?

END PART 1