MATTHEW 4:18-22
A friend of mine observed an elderly rabbi passing the Wailing Wall while visiting Jerusalem. The five young men walking behind the elderly rabbi caught his attention. Like their rabbi, they were also limping and walking with a hunched posture. If an Orthodox Jew were to observe them, he or she would understand why they were copying their master. They were “followers.”
One of the most esteemed roles in Jewish history for a Jewish man was the right to call oneself a “follower” of the local rabbi. While the rabbi taught, followers sat at his feet. They would listen to his remarks and observe his actions and reactions to life and other people. A follower would view helping his rabbi with even the most mundane tasks as the highest honor. They were also anxious to emulate their rabbi because they respected him.
Jesus’ invitation to His disciples to follow him (Matthew 4:19) was a call to be transformed by him, to become like him, and to share his zeal for those who are in need of a Saviour. Being His follower is an honour, and it should reflect in our daily lives. As we speak, think, and behave just like Jesus—the rabbi, the teacher, of our souls—we have also been invited to draw the gaze of the watching world.
🙏Thank You, Lord, for the high honour of being called to follow You.
