Not for wimps and curiosity seekers

Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.


Jesus said this when He and His disciples where in Bethany six days prior to the Passover Feast. They were having dinner at Lazarus' house, whom Jesus had just raised from the dead, and getting ready to enter Jerusalem the following day.

Now, a great crowd was following Christ because they had heard about Lazarus being raise from the dead and the Pharisees where fit to be tied because of all the attention that Jesus had attracted.


Some Greek men talked to Phillip and Andrew about meeting with Jesus. His reply was an explanation as to why He had to die. He also said "Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me"


At first this seems like an odd response to a request for a meeting, but after further observation Jesus' indirect answer is a message to them. Getting to know Him isn't for curiosity seekers and wimps. If you want to get to know me it's through serving me and following me

He goes on to say that He is "the light" and says the the light will only be with them a little while longer. "Put your trust in the light, so that you may become sons of light."


He is inviting them into relationship with Him. We don't know what the Greek men did, if they believed or not, but Jesus, true to His character, never misrepresents the cost of following Him. He also promises that His Father will honor those who serve Him.


Sometimes it's just downright uncomfortable to serve Christ. Following Him sometimes means that our own interests are not being catered to. It means that we will serve in areas that are unattractive, scary, and beyond our natural abilities. Jesus often went into areas that were unattractive and scary by society's standards.


We should not expect our lives, as believers to be any less difficult. We must follow where our Savior leads, for where he is His servants will also be.


This statement is folowed by a promise; maybe not in this life, but Jesus promised that God, His Father will honor those who serve Him.



Prayer: Dear hevenly Father,
Serving where you lead is not always easy, but you are my Savior and where you are I want to follow. Service here on earth may be done in dark places, shadowed by the pomp and circumstance of this world, but obedience in following where you lead shines like the noon day sun in the presence of God our Father.