Follow Me
What a whirlwind the Christmas season is. The church moves swiftly from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day. Then there are the Festivals of St. Stephen, St. John, and the Holy Innocents. Then we remembered King David on December 29th followed by Christmas 1 and New Year’s Eve. Then we have the Feast of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus followed by Epiphany and The Baptism of our Lord. With an early Easter this year, the Epiphany season will be short. The Transfiguration of our Lord is not long away; soon, we will return to the dust and begin our Lenten journey.
Even though Lent is right around the corner, we should not rush our Ephiphany journey without stopping to listen to what Jesus has for us.
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to Him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
John 1:43–51 ESV
Much can be said of this text. Weedon points out the importance of Philip’s invitation to ‘Come and see.’1 Others will comment on the closing verse. But today, just for a moment, we might focus on Christ’s first words in this passage: “Follow Me.”
Today’s world doesn’t have much time for following. A brief look at business literature will leave you drowning in research about leading. Building yourself up as a leader. Developing yourself and your leadership skills. Defining the characteristics of different leadership strategies. There is nothing wrong with this. The world needs good leaders who make good decisions and act with virtue. In fact, I’m sure many of you set some goals in the new year centered around leadership.
Yet, a good leader, at his or her core, is a follower. Jesus’ call isn’t for you to take the reigns and lead. His call is to follow. To be His disciple. To walk after Him. Greenleaf posited that “the great leader is servant first.”2 I might contend that a great leader is follower first. One who heeds Christ’s call to “Follow Me.”
As you contemplate all that may be this new year, let all of your contemplations come as you imitate Philip and follow our Lord. Walking after Him. Being His disciple. Rejoicing in the good things He has for you. Happy Epiphany, friends.
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From President Buss
I don’t remember the weather, but I do remember the date: December 19, 1986. Place: The Chapel of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne. And the chapel speaker was Dr. David Scaer. I do not remember what he said, but I do remember what happened right before chapel that day.
My girlfriend was down to Fort Wayne to visit from college at Concordia University Wisconsin. (The added advantage of her presence was that she would iron my shirts. LOL) The day had come and I was going to “pop the question.” I had received some advice from Steve, a fellow seminarian, as we lived in the same dorm. As you ask her hand in marriage, say to her, “Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together.” (Psalm 34:3)
Well, I asked if she would marry me, nervously mumbled the passage, and the rest is history. I’m not sure Marie remembers I quoted the passage either.
The fact that we sinners can glorify the Lord and exalt His name is pure grace and gift. Our togetherness as forgiven people in Christ is pure mercy and the work of the Gospel!
Weedon, W.C. (2017) Thank, Praise, Serve, and Obey Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO
Greenleaf, R.K. (1970) The Servant as Leader
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