In a youth choir years ago, I learned a round that is the epitome of a sticky song.  Even last week, I found myself singing the song while working because the trigger words that mark the opening lines and the title ran through my mind: “come, follow me.”  While they have nothing to do with the Bible in that particular song, the power of this double imperative took on new meaning recently as I thought about its use in the four gospel accounts of Jesus’ ministry.

Early in all four gospels, groups of believers are called to come and follow Jesus.  They leave good, worthwhile things for something better.

• Matthew—wise men leave their homes and follow the star to Jesus
• Mark—fishermen leave their livelihoods and follow Jesus
• Luke—shepherds leave their flocks and follow the angels’ message to Jesus
• John—disciples leave John and follow Jesus

Jesus demands from mankind a choice—then and now—much as his prefigure Joshua in the Old Testament does of Israel after they conquer Canaan: “‘Choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord’” (Joshua 24:15).  There is no middle ground, no third choice.  You will either come and follow in obedience or go away in disobedience and ultimately sorrow.

In Mark, a man runs to Jesus, kneels, and asks what he must do to gain eternal life.  After addressing the man’s understanding of who Jesus is and asking him about his obedience to the second table of the Ten Commandments, Jesus, “looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me’” (Mark 10:21).  Mark tells us that the man “went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (10:22).

In the passage immediately prior is Jesus’ well-known story where he tells the disciples to “let the little children come to me” (10:14), and after the rich man leaves comes Jesus’ promise to his disciples of rewards and eternal life for those who have left home, family, or possessions for his sake (10:29–30).

The contrast between the two calls, the two choices, and the two rewards is clear.  Will you give up your all, whatever it may be, to follow Christ, who offers an even greater reward?

I noticed another contrast too.  Jesus’ “go” is as important as his “come, follow me.”  Matthew and Mark end with Jesus’ command to go and proclaim the Gospel to the world, Luke with his exposition of Scripture and command to wait until the Spirit comes (and then an implied “go” that is carried out in Luke’s second book Acts), and John concludes with Jesus telling Peter two times to “follow me” (21:19, 22) when he starts getting distracted by less important matters—in a beautiful echo of Peter’s first calling (Matthew 4:18–19).

Often, after people have sought Jesus in faith for help or healing in the gospels, he tells them to come, answers their request, and ends by telling them to “go.”  He sends them away changed, and they are so overcome with joy that they can’t stop talking about what he has done for them.  May this be our response to his transforming call as well!  And may we, with believers of ages past, come and go throughout our lives through Christ, for Christ, and to Christ.