What Did Jesus Mean When he said, "Come follow me?'

Artwork by Friar Robert Lenz

Author's Note: What follows is a simple reflection on G-d. I'm not a theologian or a minister. So this is offered humbly, for what it's worth, mostly as an effort to deepen my own, and possibly a few readers' understanding.

A lot has been made of a saying, attributed to Jesus, "follow me."

For some, it's taken as a blanket stamp of approval from Jesus, that their own particular take on Christianity is the one true version.

It should probably be noted, upfront, that Jesus never started a new religion. He was Jewish. He worshiped at a synagogue, and he adhered to Jewish tradition. He also lived in Galilee, meaning Jesus was immersed in middle-eastern culture. He didn't have a Western mindset.

In these current times, religion has come to be a source of division. Even among Christians who claim to be following Jesus.

Maybe we begin to heal by being humble enough to admit that our own version of G-d isn't complete. And that the process of understanding G-d is a life-long journey.

Especially with a journey of faith, this includes doubts. Could it be that faith, without doubt, isn't really faith? Here's one definition of faith from Merriam-Webster: "Belief and trust in and loyalty to God; belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion; firm belief in something for which there is no proof."

Absolute proof doesn't exist in the realm of faith. 

And for some reason, we seem to have forgotten that key point.

In Western society, we're becoming increasingly uncomfortable with recognizing and admitting that there may be more to the story than we can comprehend. Where any doubt is seen as heresy. And it quickly follows that if you simply say, "I don't know," it's taken to mean you have no faith at all.

So, what could Jesus have meant when he said, "Come follow me?"

Maybe he wasn't talking about a particular religion as much as a way of life.

Is it possible that we could begin to connect the dots by mentioning another quote attributed to Jesus? Once a lawyer asked Jesus: "Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the law?" (Matt. 23:36). Jesus answered: "Love the Lord your G-d with all heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And the second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matt. 23: 37-40).

Jesus didn't mention belief. He mentioned love as a way of living.

[It's interesting that Jesus tied loving your neighbor to loving yourself - implying that, to the extent that we truly love ourselves, we will be able to love our neighbors. Jesus also explained that our neighbor is everyone. Not just those who look like, think like or live like us.]

When Jesus said, "come follow me," it's possible that he meant, very simply, love as you see me loving. 

I'm not sure that Jesus intended to start a new religion. During his own lifetime, he seemed perfectly content being a Jew and going to synagogue. 

What made Jesus radically different was the way he lived. Not a particular organized way of believing. 

In another parable, Jesus said that our life can be summed up in the way we treat others. It's found in the 25th chapter of Matthew. 

Jesus welcomes those who feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the unhoused, and visit the sick and imprisoned. (Matt. 25: 31-46).

"Peace Be Still," by James He Qui 

In fact, he stated that people who do these things will inherit "eternal life." Not those who believe in a certain brand of Christianity. So, those who are his closest followers might be those who adhere to a lifestyle of loving. Keeping this in mind, it's entirely possible for Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, and those practicing no formal religion to go to heaven or inherit "eternal life."

This understanding can be truly humbling, breaking down many of the religious barriers between different faiths. It should give us cause for great hope.