Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - June 16/55

Contributor - John J. F. Endeitt

Title - And Jesus Saw a Man and Said "Follow me"

Topic - Discipleship

MATTHEW 9:9

I think the modest Jew, going down that road upon which Jesus was walking with His disciples and passing the house of the tax collector, did not see in Levi just another man, but much more a despised one in all Israel. At the sight of a tax collector Jewish hearts became filled with hatred, especially when such a man belonged to. their own race. Such men collaborated with Rome and were traitors to the people of Israel. The Jews had no use for them.

Their opinion was based upon shallow reasoning.

Do not we have a similar attitude towards our fellow man? Are not we led by our likes and dislikes in forming our opinions concerning our fellow man? Do not we too often condemn where we should love?

However, when Jesus encounters men, He is not led by superficial thoughts. When Jesus looks upon men, He sees "the man". Men created after the image of God. But also men who gave themselves up to sin. He sees men for whom He came into this world to reconcile them unto God. Jesus came into this world to seek and to save a lost humanity. Jesus came to save men from sin and eternal death and to restore them, to bring them back into full harmony with their creator.

That is why we so often read in the Bible "And Jesus was moved with compassion".

Jesus sees men as they are, but He also sees what they can be through the grace of God. A creature to whom God puts all things in subjection under his feet (Hebrews 2:8, 9).

Jesus sees you exactly as you are. My dear reader , He sees all your weaknesses, your narrowmindedness, your self-centeredness, your enviousness, your meanness, in short, He sees you as a sinner, who lies under the eternal wrath of God.

But blessed be the Lord. He sees more. He is not hopeless concerning you and your eternal future. He sees you because of Gods love and salvation restored into perfect harmony with God. Jesus sees you as a sinner, but He also sees you through His reconciling blood justified before God. He sees You as one of the saved ones. In Dutch we sing: "Een zondaar, ene verlost' o Heer, en nu geen zondaar meer" (Gezang 171:1, A sinner, but a saved one 0 Lord and therefore no more a sinner).

And Jesus said to Levi: "Follow Me". He did not say: "Levi, you are a fine fellow with marvelous qualities". He did not say: "Love your fellow man" or "Levi, do not cheat the people, and God will be satisfied with you". He did not even say: "Levi, accept My philosophy of life and all will be well with you".

Jesus said: "Follow Me". To follow a person means, that in following we will arrive at the same place where the one whom we follow goes. Where did Jesus. go? The Lord Jesus Christ came for one purpose in this world: to go from Bethlehem to Calvary's Hill to give His life for the salvation of many. Jesus did not come to teach us a new way of life. He came to save. That was the sole purpose of His incarnation. When Jesus says: "Follow Me" then it means to follow Him to Calvary, to die with Him. There is only one way for a sinner to be saved. To die with Christ unto sin.

"Knowing this that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed" (Romans 6:6)

My friends, that is just the thing we do not want. We are willing to follow Jesus and to be witnesses of His great power, but when it comes to, dying with Him, then we say: "No thank you Lord, not me".

That is why we Christians are often lingering beside the road which leads to Calvary. We are building there our own kingdoms and digging trenches around them and erecting high barbed wire fences. We a-re putting up signs and bill boards, advertising that we have the truth, that we are the only true soul-saving church. We advertise that if people do not exactly believe as we do and live as we live, they go to hell.

I do not speak about the various denominations. I am writing for the Reformed Church family and about the disunity in our own church. There is dis-unity in our beloved church because we are sitting along the roadside. This disunity in our beloved church can only disappear and will then only be removed when we axe willing to leave our own erected kingdoms and follow Jesus to die with Him. Dying with Him means that we also will be raised with Him.

"Like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4)

That is conversion . Conversion is to renounce your own kingdom and to be raised (to be born again) in the kingdom of Christ.

Let us look a moment upon Levi. Levi was a money-grubber, shunned by his society. Because of his following Jesus and dying with Him unto himself, he became Matthew, which means "Gift of Jehova". He became the writer of the first Gospel.

Do you not agree that a real change came in his life? When a man gives up his love for money, a lucrative business, and becomes a witness of the Lord Jesus Christ, he must have been changed.

And Levi was changed, he became a new man. Instead of cheating the people and collaborating with the enemy of Israel he became the man who urges the people: "Come unto Jesus, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and He will give you rest". He is the man who tells you that Jesus is moved with compassion concerning you.

It is Matthew who calls you to participate in the great commission, "Go ye therefore and teach all nations".

Do you not agree that it is time for us Christians to decide what we are going to do? Are we to, continue in our lingering on the road-side, building our own kingdoms or are we to follow Jesus.

Let us remember, that Jesus Himself said: "Not everyone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father, which is, in heaven (Matthew 7:21 The will of the Father is that we should follow Jesus to die unto ourselves. Following Jesus means that we will also be partakers; of 'His glory.

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