Following Christ Closely

In the John 21 narrative we have the account of one of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances to the apostle Peter. With great sensitivity in conversation with the restored disciple, our Lord focused on three fundamental elements inherent in a healthy disciple-Lord relationship: loving Him, serving Him, and following Him. As we know, Simon Peter had failed miserably when his loyalty to Christ was put to the test. Though he had vehemently sworn allegiance to his Master, he did so without knowing his true self—how fallen and fragile, how weak and vulnerable, how frail and faulty he really was. He loved Christ, but not always with the purest of motives. He ministered in Christ's name, but his ministry was tainted with an admixture of unsanctified self. He followed Christ, but he often did so reluctantly.

If Peter was to mature and become the person Christ envisioned, then his interior life must be radically altered. His heart had to change. Jesus must become his sole passion, purpose and possession. Peter must be "dethroned"; Christ must be "enthroned."

What this disciple experienced—and who this disciple experienced—on the day of Pentecost, supplied his fundamental lack. Peter was in need of more than a Christ to die and rise for him. He was in need of a death to self and a contemporary, living Christ to reign in him.

But we're getting ahead of our story. In John 21 Jesus asked Simon Peter three times, "Do you love me?" Three times the broken, repentant disciple replied in the affirmative. In response to Peter's affirmations of agape and affectionate love for the Lord Jesus, Jesus called Peter to a lifetime of vocational ministry: shepherding Christ's lambs and sheep.¹

Then we come to a very touching exchange. Jesus informs Peter: " 'I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.' Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. The he said to him, 'Follow me!' "²

This is the open secret in developing an authentic relationship with the Lord Jesus: loving Him, serving Him and following Him. To love Christ is to serve Christ. To serve Christ is to follow Christ. To follow Christ is to love Christ.

Having addressed in previous articles something of what it means to love Christ, I want to expand on that theme here by addressing this matter of following Christ—following Christ closely.

Discipleship in Relationship

The call to become a disciple of Jesus is a call to follow Jesus—for life. Three years prior to the event recorded in John 21, Jesus called Peter: "Come, follow me."³ Three years later this call is reaffirmed and remains the same: "Follow me."⁴ To be a disciple of Jesus is to follow Jesus. To be a Christian is to follow Jesus.

U.S. News & World Report magazine published the results of a survey recently, finding that over 84% of Americans identify themselves as a Christian. However, reported in that same magazine article was the stunning statistic that only 24% of the Christians surveyed believed that Jesus was the only way to God. Should it be surprising—given the anemic condition of the American Church—that many Christians do not believe that following Jesus is a necessary part of their faith? Can we separate the Christian faith from the person of Jesus? Can we call ourselves a Christian without pursuing a devoted relationship with the Lord Jesus? Impossible!

The call to follow Jesus is the call to follow a Person—the crucified, risen, ascended, interceding Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Father's Son, the sinner's Friend, the Christian's Elder Brother, the mediating High Priest, and our coming King.

The call to follow Jesus is not a call to follow simply a historical Christ; it is a call to follow a contemporary Christ. Jesus was crucified—and He carried those wounds into Heaven where He presently intercedes for all of His followers. Jesus did rise from the grave—but He is alive now in the 21st century. Jesus died for us—but He now lives in us: "Christ in you …"⁵

Sometimes we hear Christians say how wonderful they think it would have been to see Christ in the flesh two thousand years ago. But to have seen Christ in the flesh should not be confused with knowing Christ after the Spirit. To know Christ through His indwelling presence is to know Him to a degree that his earthly followers could never know.

Does this sound strange to our ears? Listen to what the apostle Peter wrote to a group of Christians many years after the event recorded in John 21—Christians who had never seen Christ in the flesh: "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy."⁶

Here were first-century Christians who were living in a dynamic, vital relationship with Jesus—a Jesus they had never seen. Yet, they were enthusiastically enthralled with the reality of His personal presence in their lives. This is the essence of a vibrant Christian faith—the living Christ residing in the hearts of His followers which produces a radiant testimony to the glory of God.

Dear reader, does your concept of what it means to be a Christian consist in anything other than following Jesus—actually following Jesus Himself?

The late J. Sidlow Baxter relates that when he became pastor of a church in Scotland years ago, he began to hear many appreciative remarks about a former deacon who had died a few years earlier. Baxter related how his people said of this brother, "that it was almost impossible to think or speak unworthily in his presence." They said, "he always brought a sense of God's presence when he came into a room." This dear follower of Christ, Baxter said, made a difference in the church's board meetings: "If a discussion ever seemed to be getting edgy or uncharitable, he would quietly rise and lead the brethren in such a prayer that afterward the discussion could only continue on a high spiritual plane."⁷

The man's name was W.T. Longstaff, and he wrote a hymn which provides us with the secret to his resemblance to the Master. One verse of that hymn reads:

Take time to be holy,
   The world rushes on.
Spend much time in secret
   With Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus
   Like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct
   His likeness shall see.⁸

A creedal Christianity apart from Jesus is a cold Christianity. A legal Christianity is a dead Christianity. A formal Christianity is a lifeless Christianity. Some of us are worshiping Moses instead of bowing at the feet of Jesus. Others are living as though they never heard of Pentecost. Men like W.T. Longstaff are not shaped into the likeness of Jesus without walking in a day by day, moment by moment relationship with one Person—the living Christ.

Living Life With A "Yes"

When the convicted Saul of Tarsus heard the call of Jesus on the Damascus Road, he cried, "What shall I do, Lord?"⁹ To follow Jesus is to begin this spiritual pilgrimage with a "yes."

Some years ago at the conclusion of a worship service, the preacher asked a question of the congregation that I don't think can be improved upon when it comes to extending an invitation to seekers. The question was, "Did you say 'yes' to Jesus during the message?"

To begin a journey with Jesus is simply to say "yes" to everything Jesus speaks to us about. To continue this journey in a loving, obedient relationship with Jesus is to keep saying "yes" to Jesus. For the disciple of Jesus, there is no place for a stiff neck or a hard heart. On occasions this "yes" may take great effort and even seem foolish. But we need to remember that Christ cannot reign as Lord in our life if we begin to embrace an idol.

As far as I know, there's nothing intrinsically wrong with the game of bowling. After all, what can be evil about rolling a ball down an alley, trying to knock over ten pins? But some years ago when pastoring in upstate New York, there was a rather unusual event that took place during the invitation I gave at the conclusion of the service. Here was Mary Slater, a recent convert to Christ, walking down the middle aisle carrying a bowling ball. Upon arriving at the altar, she carefully and resolutely placed the ball on the altar and then knelt to pray. What a scene!

Afterward she shared this explanation: "Pastor," she said with a beaming face, "I know it looked crazy what I did this morning, but bowling has been my life; and God showed me that it had become an idol. I told Jesus this morning that I would never again allow bowling to dominate me. I said 'yes' to Jesus."

Now I don't recall if that meant for Mary to quit bowling or to modify how often she bowled—that was between her and the Lord. But I'll never forget that dramatic Sunday morning object lesson, unintentionally given by a new follower of Jesus.

Are you, dear reader, living life with a "yes"—a "yes" to Jesus?

Safety in Proximity

The nearer we live to Jesus in loving service and obedience, the safer we are from falling into sin. We will only fail Jesus if we stray from the heart of God—and the heart of God is Jesus.

The psalmist expressed his desire to live near to God by remembering how he once saw a bird building a nest in God's holy Temple:

Even the sparrow has found a home,
   and the swallow a nest for herself,
   where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
   O LORD Almighty, my King and                                                               
my God.¹⁰

This thirsty-hearted Old Testament saint wasn't content to live on the spiritual outskirts, the fringes. He wasn't going to allow a lowly bird to experience something he couldn't—a nearness to God, a closeness to God. He must be close to God. He must live in God's very presence. Nothing must keep him from God.

We bring trouble upon ourselves when we live our lives at a distance from Jesus. Our prayers and Bible readings become rushed. Personal and corporate worship become hollow. Slowly and imperceptibly Jesus is no longer our first love. Other things and activities have displaced Jesus. We have lost the zest for living. Jesus has quietly left. He's always a gentleman, you know. He never stays where He isn't welcome.

Oh, we're still religious. We may still read the Bible and pray and attend the means of grace, but something is missing—Someone is missing. Jesus is missing. Just as Mary and Joseph traveled for some distance without discerning that the child Jesus wasn't with them, so we, too, can continue our religious routines without Jesus being vitally present. And when Jesus is absent, He always takes the joy, love, and peace with Him.

An authentic Christian is a follower of Jesus, a disciple of Jesus. William Barclay, the renowned Greek scholar and university professor once said on this subject: "Once someone was talking to a great scholar about a younger man. He said, 'So and so tells me that he was one of your students.' The teacher answered devastatingly, 'He may have attended my lectures, but he was not one of my students." Then Barclay observes: "There is a world of difference between attending lectures and being a student. It is one of the supreme handicaps of the Church that in the Church there are so many distant followers of Jesus and so few disciples."¹¹

Dear reader, do you wish to follow the Lord Jesus closely? Do you cravenly desire to be a devout disciple? Do you ask, How can I do this, how can I follow Jesus closely? Permit me to offer the following brief practical pointers.

1. Renounce yourself. Die to self. This you can only do as the Spirit enables you. Our pride keeps us from following Jesus.

2. Confess when you've failed to follow Christ closely. Peter got in trouble when he followed Christ at a distance.

3. Spend time alone with Jesus. You will never develop a mature relationship with Jesus—on the run.

4. Fellowship with those who live close to Jesus. You will begin to want to do the same.

5. Always live life with a "yes" to Jesus. There's no such thing as living near Jesus and saying "no" to Jesus.

6. Keep your eyes focused on Jesus—not on people, even good people. Jesus will never disappoint.

7. Remember, it's the indwelling Christ Himself empowering you. Nothing will be impossible to you with Him.

In conclusion, let us all ponder the question our Lord asked through the prophet Jeremiah: "who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?"¹²●

- Soli Deo Gloria -

1.   See John 2:15-17
2.   John 21:18-19
3.   Matthew 4:19
4.   John 21:19
5.   Colossians 1:27
6.   1 Peter 1:8
7.   Going Deeper by J. Sidlow Baxter, pp.   134-135
8.   Take Time to Be Holy by W.T. Longstaff
9.   Acts 22:10
10. Psalm 84:1-3
11. The Gospel of Luke by William Barclay
12. Jeremiah 30:21