Whoever does not carry their cross
and follow me cannot be my disciple.
—Luke 14:27
“Follow me” was frequently on the lips of Jesus.
Some said, “Yes!”
“Follow me,” he said to a quartet of his first disciples—and they left kin and career and followed him (Mk 1:16–20).
“Follow me,” he said to Matthew—and he left his lucrative tax booth and followed him (Mk 2:14).
“Follow me,” he said to Philip—and he found Nathanael and brought him to Jesus (Jn 1:43–47).
Some said, “No!”
“Follow me,” he said to a rich young man—and he walked away because Jesus was asking too much (Mt 19:21–22).
Some said, “Yes”—conditionally.
“Follow me,” he said to two would-be disciples—and they said they would, but had other matters to take care of first (Lk 9:59–61).
And you?
“Follow me,” Jesus says. Will you? Will you?
Jesus’ “Follow me” demands an answer.