[CYM] 3.0 Follow Me, Come after Me

One of the most direct and compelling commands Yeshua gives is the call to Follow Me or Come after Me. This invitation is central to discipleship and appears repeatedly across the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

In Matthew, Yeshua calls His first disciples with the words, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). This call signals a total commitment to leave their former lives and join Yeshua in His mission. Throughout Matthew, following Yeshua involves self-denial and taking up one’s cross, emphasizing sacrifice and obedience. He says, if any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me (Matthew 16:24).

The book of Mark also begins with Yeshua’s call: come ye after Me (Mark 1:17) urging immediate response. Mark highlights the urgency and cost of discipleship, where following Yeshua means denying oneself and embracing a new way of life. Parallel to that recorded in Matthew 16:24, in Mark 8:34 also it is recorded where Yeshua says, whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

In Luke, Yeshua similarly invites individuals by saying follow me.  In Luke 5:27, Yeshua says to Levi (Matthew), Follow Me. Luke adds stories that illustrate the challenges and rewards of following Yeshua, including the need to prioritize the kingdom of God over material concerns.

In Luke 9:23-25 Yeshua says, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? Yeshua teaches that following Him requires putting Him above all else.

The book of John offers a more relational invitation: Yeshua tells His first disciples, Come and See. In John 1:39 Yeshua saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. And later commands, Follow Me. In John 21:19,22 Yeshua saith unto him (Peter), Follow Me. John emphasizes that following Yeshua is not just physical movement but a deep, abiding relationship that leads to eternal life.

Across all four books, i.e. books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the command to Follow Me or Come after Me is an invitation to radical commitment, transformation, and participation in God’s redemptive work through Yeshua.