Wherever He Leads, I’ll Go
By Rev. Dan Mahan
Luke 9:23 “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross DAILY and follow me.”
A man was out fishing in his boat, when he hooked into a large bass. He fought the fish for quite awhile, and finally got it reeled into the boat. He could not believe his eyes. It was a 37 pound striper, a prize keeper. On the shore, he ran into a second fisherman who had a stringer with a dozen blue gill. The second fisherman looked at the bass, turned to the first fisherman and said, " Only caught the one, eh?"
It was the beginning of Jesus’ ministry on earth. As he was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Mark 1:14 tells us that Jesus saw Simon (Peter) and his brother Andrew fishing. They were busy with the ordinary things of their day-doing the things they were the most comfortable doing. Jesus calls out to the pair of brothers, “Come, follow Me”. That same day, in vs 19, two more brothers James and John were also fishing. Jesus issues the same call to then. “Follow Me” he calls. At a later date, Levi, also called Matthew, was sitting at his tax collector booth. ”Follow me, “Jesus calls to Matthew. Jesus’ call to all was the same-“Come, Follow me, “And in each one of these cases, all men immediately left what they were doing to follow Jesus.
They immediately followed Jesus. I wonder what it was about Jesus that made them respond without hesitation. We follow Jesus today because we know what He did for us on Calvary. But if some stranger were to ask you to follow them, would you follow? It’s not likely! Jesus did not tell them where they were going or what they were going to do.
There must have been something about Jesus that made them respond immediately, no questions asked. At once, when Jesus called them to follow, these men left their nets or their tax collector booth and followed. They did not know where Jesus was leading them. They did not know exactly what it was that he was calling them to do. But they did realize Jesus was calling them to something important. And they followed.
What was Jesus calling them to? Yes, Jesus was calling them to physically follow
But Jesus was also issuing them a call to fellowship with him. These disciples and Jesus became good friends. For three years, they were constant companions. But Jesus’ calling was much more than that. It also was a call to discipleship, to belief in Him as their Savior. Luke 5 tells us that on the day that Jesus called these fishermen, the disciples had fished all night and caught no fish. Have you ever been there? I have! Darlene and I love to fish. We fish for fun. We like to catch fish, but we release what we do catch (because I like fishing, but not cleaning!) Even though we are not fishing for fish to eat, it is still frustrating to fish for hours and not catch any fish. I can imagine it’ s much more frustrating when you are fishing for a living like the disciples and then you catch no fish. Jesus tells them “Fish on the other side of the boat.” Now Darlene and I do that quite often. If we aren’t catching fish on this side of the boat, we pull our lines in and cast them out on the other side. Sometimes, we still don’t have any luck! We need Jesus as our fish finder! For when the disciples pulled their nets in and cast them out on the other side of the boat, their nets were so full of fish; they had to call out for help to drag them in. Their fish catch filled both boats-Simon and Andrew’s boat and James and John’s boat- so full, the boats began to sink. Notice in Luke 5:8 what Peter does. “When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said... “Lord, I am a sinful man. “ Jesus first call to us is a call to believe in Him as our Savior.
But Jesus’ call does not end with belief. Jesus call is also a call to commitment!
“Now that you have made me your Savior, make me the Lord of your life.” Jesus’ response to Peter “From now on you will catch men, Peter.” The Scripture says the men pulled their boats up on shore AND LEFT EVERYTHING and followed Jesus.
Jesus called the disciples to fellowship, belief and discipleship. Jesus was also calling them to new territory. He was inviting them to leave the comfort zone of the familiar waters of the Sea of Galilee to go to places they had never been before. Jesus was calling them to new jobs, new tasks. He was beckoning them to do things they had never done before. Now I am sure the disciples were uneasy that day when the seemingly madman, demon-possessed, came out of the tombs, all bloody from cutting himself with stones, screaming blood-curried screams. That is, until Jesus sent the demons into a herd of pigs. I am sure the disciples felt uncomfortable beside the bedside of a young dead girl and her mourning parents. They were in new territory. I wonder if they watched with wonder as Jesus fed the hungry multitude or attended to the sick and afflicted. I wonder if they ever felt like saying as they watched Jesus “I will never be able to help or serve folks like that, Jesus. I have never done this kind of thing before. Remember, I am just a fisherman (tax collector).
Jesus’ call to the disciples was also a call to service-service to God and service to others. Jesus later tells Peter, “Peter, do you love me? If you do, Peter, then feed my sheep. If you love Me, if you want to follow Me, then be a servant to others. Feed my sheep, Peter.”
Jesus’ calling to the disciples was also a call to spiritual understanding. The disciples spent three years with Jesus, hearing Him teach about God. He told them of His purpose in coming to earth. He told them about His death and Resurrection, even though they did not understand at the time. They spent three years under Jesus’ teaching and training. Even after the Resurrection, Jesus spent 40 days on the earth, giving further instructions to the disciples. This week, Darlene begins a new job. She has known for over 2 months she may be offered this position. She has been preparing a detailed training manual to leave behind. This week she has been doing extensive training with the 4 people who will be taking over her duties after she quits. But, she also left them her phone #: “Call me.”, she said “if you have questions or need further instructions. “ The training and learning will continue even after she is gone. The disciples’ training did not end with the Ascension, when Jesus was physically gone. He left the Holy Spirit for continued guidance. He wanted them to continue in spiritual understanding. Their ministry also did not end upon Jesus’ ascension. Jesus gave them a commission “Go and make disciples…..”
Jesus calling to the disciples was a lifetime calling to follow. His calling to them was a calling to continuous discipleship, more intimate fellowship, a deeper understanding. His calling was for a LIFE TIME of service to God. Jesus knew that the continued spreading of His teachings and His ministry depended upon these men renewing His call to them daily. Jesus said “Take up your cross (what?) DAILY and follow me.” They were to take up their cross of SACRIFICE. “If you want to be my followers, a sacrifice is involved.” Yes, this sacrifice usually involves the giving of time, talent, and treasures. But mostly it involves a sacrifice of self, a giving up of our own desires to follow Jesus. I like the way the Living Bible puts it: “Anyone who wants to follow me must put aside his own desires and conveniences.”
In Mark 8, Jesus and the disciples were walking along the road. Jesus made the same calling he made to the disciples to two other men that day. “Follow Me”, he called. But these two men’s response was not the same as the fishermen and tax collector. They responded “I will follow you, Jesus, but first….” Apparently, these two men were believers in Jesus. But they were not willing to make the sacrifice necessary to follow Jesus. Sadly, that is our response far too often. “Jesus, I will accept you as Savior—Jesus, I will spend more time in fellowship with you— I will become more dedicated and serve you more, Lord--but FIRST…”
Jesus’ calling to us to follow is first a call of belief. It is a call to accept Him as Savior. It is a beckoning to seek his forgiveness. Sadly for many that’s where the following ends. But Jesus calls us not just to belief; He calls us also to follow in a deeper understanding and in service to others. Yet, His calling does not end there either. Jesus calls out to us to take up our cross DAILY, to give up our own desires and sacrifice our own self to His will.
People, Jesus NEVER stops calling us regardless of our age. He NEVER stops calling us regardless if we are a new believer or a believer of 50 years. There is always more we can learn about God, always a need for a deeper commitment, always something you can do DAILY to serve God, your church, or to serve others. God may not call you as a missionary, but He may call you to minister to the homebound widow in your neighborhood, You may not be able to teach Sunday School, but can you watch the church nursery one Sunday every 3 months? You may not be able to play the organ like Wilma or run the sound system, but can you scrub bathroom floors in the church or clean out storage rooms? Dear Dottie, stricken with Cerebral Palsy, one day expressed her desire to serve. She stated she didn’t know what she could do, with her physical handicaps. I told her, “Dottie, you can be a great servant by praying for your pastor daily. Would you do that?” She eagerly accepted the task. There is always service to do in our neighborhood, always a way to serve in our church. You may say “I’ve never done it before. I’ll just let someone more experienced do it.” Folks, Jesus never calls us to a task He will not empower us to do. How often as a pastor I hear these words: “I’ve served my time. I’ll let someone else do it now.” Do you know what I say to that? DAILY! Doesn’t daily mean every day--each day of our life?”
One of the four fishermen Jesus called that day, John, lived a long life. He taught and served many years. Regardless of the circumstances, regardless of his age, he still served Christ. While in prison, John still served. While exiled, John still served. At the end of his life, you still find John serving God, serving the church, and serving others.
Jesus calls each of us DAILY to follow Him. He is always leading us to new territory, new tasks, new responsibilities and new service. He daily calls us to deeper understanding. He always calls us to a life of sacrifice, day by day. “If anyone follows me, let him take up His cross (What?) daily!” Notice there is no time period given here. Does it sound like your task is done? Does it sound like your service to God, to the church and to others is finished? Does it sound like your spiritual growing is complete? NO! Jesus is calling you daily to follow more, to learn more daily, to serve more daily and to give every day more sacrificially. Jesus’ calling to us never ends. Sadly though, our response to Him often does end. We stop listening to His call.
Rev. R.S. Jones was a missionary to Brazil. He had many years of Christian service. In 1936, he was retiring due to ill health. At the Southern Baptist Convention that year, this missionary was talking to the songwriter BB McKinney. Jones told McKinney that his doctor would not let him return to Brazil to continue his missionary work. McKinney asked about his future plans. Jones replied: “I don’t’ know, but wherever He leads I’ll go.” These words stuck in McKinney’s mind. Before that evening was over, McKinney had written the words of our invitation hymn:”Wherever He leads I’ll go, Wherever He leads, I’ll go. I’ll follow my Christ who loves me so, Wherever He Leads I’ll go” (Crusader Hymns and Hymn Stories by the Billy Graham Team,, Hope Publishing Co, 1966)
Jesus is calling you today to follow. Is that your response? “Wherever You lead, Lord.
If You lead me down the aisle to ask forgiveness of my sins and to make You my Savior, then I will follow. If You lead me to unite in this church fellowship, Lord I will follow. Lord, You are calling me today, as you always do, to a deeper understanding and deeper relationship with You. Today, Lord, I will follow by seeking ways to know You better.
Lord, today You are calling me to a deeper commitment and more sacrificial service, Lord, I will follow You. Whatever decision You want me to make-wherever You desire me to serve-Lord, Wherever you lead, I’ll go.”
