Listening and Following

This week in our reading from The Gospel of Mark, Mark 3:13-4:34, we’ll read of how Jesus appointed his 12 disciples.  These disciples would learn from Jesus and would stay close to Him throughout His ministry.  Those two characteristics, learning from Jesus and staying close to Him, are essential for us as His disciples today.

Wes Aarum, a pastor at The Chapel Church in New York wrote, “A disciple is someone who daily follows Jesus and compels others to do the same.”  Similarly, here at Chapel of the Cross, we identify our purpose as “equipping others to know Jesus and follow Him.”

Aarum goes on to say that “knowing Jesus and following Him goes beyond mere self-identification with labels like Christian or churchgoer.” As a disciple, you rest in the conviction that you have a personal, ongoing, life-giving relationship with the God who created everything. He not only created you, but He loves you unconditionally. He wants to give you a life that matters, and He wants to change your eternity – beginning today. And since God authored life itself, He knows how it works best. That’s why knowing Jesus must lead to following Jesus. It requires one step of obedience after another.

In using the metaphor of a shepherd and his sheep, Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:10). As the Good Shepherd, Jesus knows how and where to lead us. But we must listen to His voice, and we must follow Him. Listening and following is what reveals whether we are disciples who know Jesus.

So as you reflect on the passage this week, ask yourself how well are you listening to Jesus? And as you listen, are you following Him?

Personal Study Time And Reflection Questions:

As you read Mark 3:13-4:34, consider in what ways did Jesus initiate His relationships with His disciples? 

Amid the throngs of people flocking to Jesus, some were just there for the excitement – the “show.” But Jesus longed for people to come to Him not because they wanted to be entertained, but they wanted more of God. To quote Max Lucado, “…they seemed more interested in His wonders than His words.”  In Mark 4:24-25, Jesus encouraged them to pay attention to His message. What promise did He then make to those who were determined to understand? How can you apply these verses to your life?