In the New Testament, we can read 19 times of Jesus’ direct call to different people to follow Him 19 times. The more specific appeal of taking up their cross and following Him occurs 4 times in the 4 gospels. “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34). However, if we branch out throughout all history, we can see this appeal take many shapes and forms. Ever since the great revolt in heaven, where Lucifer and his angels rebelled against God, all the way down to today, we can hear God’s call, “Follow Me.”

Matthew and Mark tell the story of the rich young man. Luke calls him the rich young ruler. Though not much detail is told of his background, it is understood he was part of the small minority that held power and riches. In the time of Jesus, Palestine was a place where the majority of the people were farmers or herders and just earned enough to live. Only a very small percentage of the population were able to accumulate vast riches by living in port cities and working as successful merchants. An even smaller sector was also rich by being part of the ruling class, part of the Sanhedrin or connected to the Roman government.

“Andwhen [Jesus] was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17).

Notice that he came running to see Jesus. He ignored all propriety due his station and kneeled before Jesus. He wanted to show that he was a willing learner.

“And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother” (Mark 10:18, 19).

“Jesus desired to test the ruler’s sincerity, and to draw from him the way in which he regarded Him as good. Did he realize that the One to whom he was speaking was the Son of God? What was the true sentiment of his heart?”1

“And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth” (Mark 10:20).

“This ruler had a high estimate of his own righteousness. He did not really suppose that he was defective in anything, yet he was not altogether satisfied. He felt the want of something that he did not possess. Could not Jesus bless him as He blessed the little children, and satisfy his soul want?”2

“Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me” (Mark 10:21).

“Jesus saw in this ruler just the help He needed if the young man would become a colaborer with Him in the work of salvation. If he would place himself under Christ’s guidance, he would be a power for good. In a marked degree the ruler could have represented Christ; for he possessed qualifications, which, if he were united with the Saviour, would enable him to become a divine force among men. Christ, seeing into his character, loved him. Love for Christ was awakening in the ruler’s heart; for love begets love. Jesus longed to see him a coworker with Him. . . . If the ruler had then given himself to Christ, he would have grown in the atmosphere of His presence. If he had made this choice, how different would have been his future!”3

“And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:22).

“Christ gave this man a test. He called upon him to choose between the heavenly treasure and worldly greatness. The heavenly treasure was assured him if he would follow Christ. But self must yield; his will must be given into Christ’s control. The very holiness of God was offered to the young ruler. He had the privilege of becoming a son of God, and a coheir with Christ to the heavenly treasure. But he must take up the cross, and follow the Saviour in the path of self-denial.”4

“The rich young ruler represents many in our world today. God has entrusted His goods to them that they may advance His kingdom by planting the standard of truth in places where the message has never been heard. But they do not carry out God’s purpose. The words, ‘Deny thyself, take up thy cross, and follow me,’ cut directly across their cherished plans, and they refuse to obey.”5

“How many have come to Christ, ready to cast their interests in with His, and, like the rich young ruler, earnestly desiring to inherit eternal life. But when the cost is presented to them, when they are told that they must forsake all, houses and lands, wife and children, and count not their lives dear unto them, they go away sorrowful. They want the rich treasures of heaven, and the life that measures with the life of God, but they are not willing to give up their earthly treasures. They are not willing to surrender all to obtain the crown of life.”6

“Only those who will become coworkers with Christ, only those who will say, Lord, all I have and all I am is Thine, will be acknowledged as sons and daughters of God. All should consider what it means to desire heaven, and yet to turn away because of the conditions laid down. Think of what it means to say ‘No’ to Christ. The ruler said, No, I cannot give You all. Do we say the same? The Saviour offers to share with us the work God has given us to do. He offers to use the means God has given us, to carry forward His work in the world. Only in this way can He save us.”7

Judas’s story is a very interesting parable from which we can learn. The gospel of Matthew shares an interesting little story. In chapter 8 after recounting the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ success in healing many, and the multitudes that follow Him, a scribe asks to follow Jesus everywhere He goes. Jesus gave a rather cold reply, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20). Then another disciple asked for time to go and bury his father first. “But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead” (Matthew 8:22).

No more information is given regarding these two people, but shortly afterwards Matthew gives the complete list of the disciples in chapter 10.

“And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him” (Matthew 10:1–4).

“Judas had joined the disciples when multitudes were following Christ. The Saviour’s teaching moved their hearts as they hung entranced upon His words, spoken in the synagogue, by the seaside, upon the mount. Judas saw the sick, the lame, the blind, flock to Jesus from the towns and cities. He saw the dying laid at His feet. He witnessed the Saviour’s mighty works in healing the sick, casting out devils, and raising the dead. He felt in his own person the evidence of Christ’s power. He recognized the teaching of Christ as superior to all that he had ever heard. He loved the Great Teacher, and desired to be with Him. He felt a desire to be changed in character and life, and he hoped to experience this through connecting himself with Jesus.”8

The accounts in Matthew 8:18–22 and 10:1–4 appear to be related. It would certainly explain why Judas was given charge of the group’s money bag. Jesus welcomed him into his disciple group with a notice of all that needed to be sacrificed in following Him.

In any case, Judas had a great privilege—living with Jesus during his 3 years of ministry. He heard and saw everything that Jesus said and did. He also received power to perform miracles.

However, despite all these high privileges, he still did not surrender his heart to Christ.

“The Saviour did not repulse Judas. He gave him a place among the twelve. He trusted him to do the work of an evangelist. He endowed him with power to heal the sick and to cast out devils. But Judas did not come to the point of surrendering himself fully to Christ. He did not give up his worldly ambition or his love of money. While he accepted the position of a minister of Christ, he did not bring himself under the divine molding. He felt that he could retain his own judgment and opinions, and he cultivated a disposition to criticize and accuse.”9

“Judas was blinded to his own weakness of character, and Christ placed him where he would have an opportunity to see and correct this. As treasurer for the disciples, he was called upon to provide for the needs of the little company, and to relieve the necessities of the poor. . . . In ministering to others, Judas might have developed an unselfish spirit. But while listening daily to the lessons of Christ and witnessing His unselfish life, Judas indulged his covetous disposition. . . . Often when he did a little service for Christ, or devoted time to religious purposes, he paid himself out of this meager fund. In his own eyes these pretexts served to excuse his action; but in God’s sight he was a thief.”10

Judas was too worried about getting to do what he wanted, that he did not look at what God wanted him to do. What about you, dear reader? Are you too concerned with getting your way, that you don’t hear God’s call for you?

After Jesus was judged by the Sanhedrin, He was brought to Pilate to be condemned to death. Pilate was used to dealing with all kinds of people, and yet he was surprised when he saw Jesus.

“Pilate looked at the men who had Jesus in charge, and then his gaze rested searchingly on Jesus. He had had to deal with all kinds of criminals; but never before had a man bearing marks of such goodness and nobility been brought before him. On His face he saw no sign of guilt, no expression of fear, no boldness or defiance. He saw a man of calm and dignified bearing, whose countenance bore not the marks of a criminal, but the signature of heaven.”11

Pilate was a man who had to constantly deal with politics. He always had to think what would be of greater advantage for himself. Yet when it came to dealing with Jesus, this was not politics—this was his heart speaking to him. When interviewing Jesus, Pilate listened with his whole heart, and we can almost feel the tension rising as he was inwardly debating whether or not to submit to the calling he knows is from on high.

“Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all” (John 18:33–38).

Right at that crucial moment, those few seconds between the asking of that vital question and the silence, Pilate determined his fate. He decided not to wait for the answer, and not to give in to the silent appeal. Even when his wife gave him a warning that he should not condemn Jesus, Pilate did not listen to heaven’s warning and listened instead to the crowd.

“Pilate longed to deliver Jesus. But he saw that he could not do this, and yet retain his own position and honor. Rather than lose his worldly power, he chose to sacrifice an innocent life. How many, to escape loss or suffering, in like manner sacrifice principle. Conscience and duty point one way, and self-interest points another. The current sets strongly in the wrong direction, and he who compromises with evil is swept away into the thick darkness of guilt.”12

Let us now look at a couple of examples in the opposite direction.

“Of the Roman officials in Palestine, none were more hated than the publicans. The fact that the taxes were imposed by a foreign power was a continual irritation to the Jews, being a reminder that their independence had departed. And the tax gatherers were not merely the instruments of Roman oppression; they were extortioners on their own account, enriching themselves at the expense of the people. A Jew who accepted this office at the hands of the Romans was looked upon as betraying the honor of his nation. He was despised as an apostate and was classed with the vilest of society.”13

Levi (or Matthew as he is known today) was a tax collector and though not much more is known about his background, we can easily imagine that he was also well-to-do. He had the means to live an easy life, though despised by his own people. Yet when the call came, he left all to follow Jesus.

“And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him” (Luke 5:27, 28).

“Matthew ‘left all, rose up, and followed Him.’ There was no hesitation, no questioning, no thought of the lucrative business to be exchanged for poverty and hardship. It was enough for him that he was to be with Jesus, that he might listen to His words, and unite with Him in His work.”14

“To Matthew in his wealth, and to Andrew and Peter in their poverty, the same test was brought; the same consecration was made by each. At the moment of success, when the nets were filled with fish, and the impulses of the old life were strongest, Jesus asked the disciples at the sea to leave all for the work of the gospel. So every soul is tested as to whether the desire for temporal good or for fellowship with Christ is strongest.”15

“Nicodemus held a high position of trust in the Jewish nation. He was highly educated, and possessed talents of no ordinary character, and he was an honored member of the national council. With others, he had been stirred by the teaching of Jesus. Though rich, learned, and honored, he had been strangely attracted by the humble Nazarene. The lessons that had fallen from the Saviour’s lips had greatly impressed him, and he desired to learn more of these wonderful truths.”16

Due to his position, Nicodemus had to meet Jesus in the darkness of the night. However, that one meeting changed his life. Though he kept himself apart from Jesus for the duration of His ministry, he kept his heart open to the working of the Spirit. He was a Pharisee, well-versed in the Scriptures. Unlike his fellow Pharisees, he allowed the Word of God to convince him that Jesus was the Messiah prophesied in the Scriptures.

During that first encounter, Jesus spoke of the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart and compared it to the wind.

“While the wind is itself invisible, it produces effects that are seen and felt. So the work of the Spirit upon the soul will reveal itself in every act of him who has felt its saving power. When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life. Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love, humility, and peace take the place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy takes the place of sadness, and the countenance reflects the light of heaven. No one sees the hand that lifts the burden, or beholds the light descend from the courts above. The blessing comes when by faith the soul surrenders itself to God. Then that power which no human eye can see creates a new being in the image of God.”17

This is the work that was being done in Nicodemus’ heart. He did not surrender immediately, however, God was using him where he was so that when the time was right, he then could offer his life over to the Lord completely.

“After the Lord’s ascension, when the disciples were scattered by persecution, Nicodemus came boldly to the front. He employed his wealth in sustaining the infant church that the Jews had expected to be blotted out at the death of Christ. In the time of peril, he who had been so cautious and questioning was firm as a rock, encouraging the faith of the disciples, and furnishing means to carry forward the work of the gospel. He was scorned and persecuted by those who had paid him reverence in other days. He became poor in this world’s goods; yet he faltered not in the faith which had its beginning in that night conference with Jesus.”18

Throughout history there are multiple examples of people who accepted the call given to them. A story relevant to our lives today is that of Eric Liddell. He was the son of Scottish missionaries in China. As a young boy his parents sent him and his brother back to Scotland to attend boarding school. In school, his gifts of speed, strength and a sharp mind soon made him the favorite. He attained many honors in rugby and as a sprinter. During his time in the University of Edinburgh, Eric was known for being the fastest runner in all of Scotland. In 1924 he went to Paris as an Olympic athlete to represent the United Kingdom in the Olympics. He was a sports star on the rise.

However, Eric was a Christian. He had given his heart to the Lord and was determined to honor God in all he did. During the 1924 Olympics he had decided not to race in the 100-meter race (his specialty) because it was held on a Sunday. According to what he had been taught as a child, Eric believed that Sunday was the Lord’s day—and even though his coaches and teammates all criticized him for not running, he stood firm on his decision to honor God in harmony with what his conscience thought to be true. He had spent the previous months training for the 400-meter race, knowing that one was going to be held during the week. He was not a favorite for this race, and when racing, he was deprived of a view because he drew the outside lane. Eric was forced to race the entire race as a sprint, won the race, and set a record for the 400-meter race that was only broken as long as 12 years later! We can truly see that God honors those who seek to honor him.

But this is not all to his story. After finishing his education, Eric set out to return to China as a missionary. Though he was famous as an athlete and he was winning more and more fame, he decided to leave it all behind and pursue his calling: working for the salvation of the Chinese people. Yet there’s more. . . . World War I had started, and Japan was invading China. Fear of danger for his family, Eric sent his wife and daughters away to Canada and chose to remain in China to encourage those in need during those perilous times. In 1943, when the Japanese reached the city where he was working, Eric was put in Weihsien Internment Camp. There, Eric was a faithful example of fidelity and Christian to all in need, even though he himself was suffering from a brain tumor. When he died 6 months before liberation in 1945, he was greatly missed by all the other prisoners, since he always knew how to bring comfort through God’s word.19

Reader, as you look over these stories you might think to yourself, “I am not rich, I do not have any special talents as these people mentioned here.” Think of the words of the Hymn # 205 in the Reformation Hymnal: “Jesus Is Tenderly Calling”

Jesus is waiting oh, come to Him now

Waiting today, waiting today;

Come with thy sins, at His feet lowly bow,

Come, and no longer delay.

God is calling you to give Him your heart. What will your answer be? Will you follow the example of the rich young ruler, Judas, and Pilate? Or will you follow the example of Matthew, Nicodemus, and Eric Liddell?

Whatever your calling, whatever your hope, listen! “If any man will come after Me,” He says, “let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). Obeying these words, in entire dependence on the Saviour, go forth to give to the world an example of what it means to be a Christian. Yoke up with Christ. This is the only bond of the gospel. Learn daily how to carry out more acceptably the instruction Christ has given. Live as becomes the subjects of His kingdom. To carry out the words “Thy will be done on earth, as it is done in heaven”—this is our lifework.”20