Tuesday’s post was about Jesus’ invitation to side with his life-party. This is not a raise-your-hand, say-a-prayer, or sign-a-card decision made without careful consideration, but a total, lifelong commitment regardless of the consequences. To grasp the enormity of this, contemplate the verses where this phrases appears in the Amplified version of the Bible:
- …became His disciples [sided with His party and followed Him] (Matthew 4:20).
- …joined Jesus as disciples [sided with His party and followed Him] (Matthew 4:22).
- “Be My disciple [side with My party and follow Me],” (Matthew 9:9).
- “…be My disciple [side with My party and follow Me]” (Matthew 19:21).
- …become Your disciples [sided with Your party and followed You] (Matthew 19:27).
- “…you who have [become My disciples, sided with My party and] followed Me,” (Matthew 19:28).
- …followed [with] Him [joining Him as disciples and siding with His party] (Mark 1:18).
- …went off after Him [to be His disciples, side with His party, and follow Him] (Mark 1:20).
- Follow Me! [Be joined to Me as a disciple, side with My party!] (Mark 2:14).
- …take up his cross, and [joining Me as a disciple and siding with My party] follow with Me (Mark 8:34).
- “…we have yielded up and abandoned everything [once and for all and joined You as Your disciples, siding with Your party],” (Mark 10:28).
- …they left everything and joined Him as His disciples and sided with His party and accompanied Him (Luke 5:11).
- “Join Me as a disciple and side with My party and accompany Me” (Luke 5:27).
- And he forsook everything and got up and followed Him [becoming His disciple and siding with His party] (Luke 5:28).
- “Become My disciple, side with My party, and accompany Me!” (Luke 9:59).
- “I will follow You, Lord, and become Your disciple and side with Your party,” (Luke 9:61).
- “…follow Me [become My disciple, join My party, and accompany Me],” (Luke 18:22).
- …many believed in His name [identified themselves with His party] (John 2:23).
This is what it means to follow Jesus.
[See biblical references to Jesus’ party and a few others too.]
A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.