Command 2: Follow Me
Study Question
Q: Why did Jesus require His disciples to be with Him to the end of His ministry while Moses and Paul taught their followers by writings that they received through the Holy Spirit?
A: Jesus had power that He wanted to transfer to His disciples, but He knew that they would not obtain it unless they stayed with Him to the end. After His resurrection, He called His disciples and breathed on them and said unto them, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (John 20:22). He later said, “Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). This they did.
As Moses and Paul spent time with God, they reflected His light to others by their writings. Their goal was not to create their own followers, but rather for people to be drawn to Christ and to follow Him.
How Can We Follow Jesus Now That He Is in Heaven?
When the disciples followed Jesus, they were with Him 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 3 years. They learned how He thought, how He answered questions, how He lived, and how He gave Himself for people.
Jesus is now in heaven; however, He made provisions for us to continue to be with Him 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for the rest of our lives. First of all, He is within every believer, as the Scripture states: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
He also sent His Holy Spirit to live within us and to guide us in His ways. (See John 14:16–18.) Just as the disciples walked with the Lord and did only those things that the Lord directed, so we are to walk in the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.
The result of this fellowship is that the Lord can accomplish more through our lives than He accomplished in His earthly ministry. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12).
The more time we spend with Christ by meditating on His Word, the more we will be able to reflect the light of His truth to others.
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This study question and answer is adapted from the Commands of Christ, Series 1, book. For further study, this book may be purchased from our Online Store.