DO YOU NOT KNOW, HAVE YOU NOT HEARD?
THE LORD IS THE EVERLASTING GOD.
THE CREATOR OF THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.
HE WILL NOT GROW TIRED OR WEARY
AND HIS UNDERSTANDING NO ONE CAN FATHOM.
HE GIVES STRENGTH TO THE WEARY
AND INCREASES THE POWER OF THE WEAK.
EVEN YOUTHS GROW TIRED AND WEARY
AND YOUNG MEN STUMBLE AND FALL,
BUT THOSE WHO HOPE IN THE LORD
WILL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH.
THEY WILL SOAR ON WINGS LIKE EAGLES
THEY WILL RUN AND NOT GROW WEARY,
THEY WILL WALK AND NOT FAINT.
ISAIAH 40:28-31
SOME OF THE NAMES OF MESSIAH
The Author of Eternal Salvation Hebrews 5:9
The Bright and Morning Star Revelation 22:16
A Clef of the Rock Exodus 33:22
Dwelling Place Psalm 90:1
El Shaddai- The Almighty God Genesis 17:1
A Friend that Sticketh Closer than a Brother Proverbs 18:24
God of My Strength Psalm 43:2
A Hiding Place from the Wind Isaiah 32:2
The Image of the Invisible God Colossians 1:15
Jesus Christ the Lord Romans 7:25
The King of Peace Hebrews 7:2
The Lifter-up of Mine Head Psalm 3:3
The Man of Sorrows Isaiah 53:3
A Name Above Every Name Philippians 2:9
Ointment Poured Forth Song of Solomon 1:3
A Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6
Of Quick Understanding Isaiah 11:3
A Restorer of Thy Life Ruth 4:15
A Stronghold in the Day of Trouble Nahum 1:7
The Tender Mercy of God Luke 1:78
The Upholder of All Things Hebrews 1:3
A Very Present Help in Trouble Psalm 46:1
Wonderful Counselor Isaiah 9:6
The Yokefellow Matthew 11:29-30
The Zeal of Thine House John 2:17
Jesus said “follow me” thirteen times in the Gospels. He used these two simple words to call Peter, Andrew, James, and John as his disciples:
“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.” Matthew 4:18-20 NIV.
“Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”
Matthew 4:21-22 NIV.
Jesus called Matthew, the tax collector, similarly:
“As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax
collector’s booth. ‘Follow me’, he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.”
Matthew 9:9 NIV..
What Did Jesus Mean When He Said Follow Me?
Jesus was calling these men to leave their livelihoods immediately and to physically and spiritually follow him. Jesus was a Rabbi- a Teacher- and for Him to ask them to follow him in His travels and learn from Him was an honor. The most excellent rabbinical students would never have left school to take a trade job such as fishing or tax collector. So for these men, it meant continuing their spiritual education with the Messiah himself! (Even if they weren’t exactly sure what that meant…)
When Andrew met Jesus for the first time, he spent the day with Him and then
rushed home to tell his brother, “We have found the Messiah!”
John 1:41 NIV.
All these men left their jobs at once; leaving their old lives behind. They didn’t pepper Jesus with questions or hesitate indecisively. They were “all in” to follow their Teacher and Messiah and commit to His lifestyle and mission.