Follow Me... Would you?

In this episode, Jesus asks Nicodemus the question: Will you follow Me?

Nicodemus answers: I am of the Sanhedrin. That is the first doubt he experiences. And there are several more doubts.

Jesus complements them. What could stop you from following Me?

I have a family!

I am elderly!

Jesus then says : "I understand, but the invitation still stands."

“The invitation to what?” does Nicodemus say. A wandering existence? Giving up who I am?

“It is true,” says Jesus, “you will lose much, but what you will gain is many times greater and more valuable.”

Also in Mark 10 this call emerges, "Follow Me." Here too you see the struggle of a rich young man. I want to, but does it really mean that I have to get rid of everything? That I have to give up who I am? It makes him sad, and in the end he too makes the choice not to do it.

What about you? Why should you follow Jesus or why shouldn’t you?

Maybe you recognize yourself in Nicodemus' doubts or in the young man's struggle. Maybe you yourself have things you struggle with: it costs me something, I have to do all kinds of things, I am not allowed to do a lot of things.

Or maybe you also see something else: that following Jesus is something very beautiful. Yes, it is leaving something behind, but also the start of something new—no longer catching "fish," but "people,” seeing the Kingdom of God grow bigger, seeing miracles, seeing more and more of Jesus. And when we find ourselves at the end of our possibilities, when our "riches" get in our way, there is that phrase from verse 27 to remind us: With God, all things are possible.

What you will gain if you follow Jesus is many times greater and more valuable than what you leave behind.

“Follow Me.” Would you do it?

Take the following questions to think about:

• Who do you identify with: Nicodemus or the rich young man?
• Do you believe that what you will gain is many times greater and more valuable.
• What does it do with you when Jesus says with God all things are possible?
• What stops you from following Jesus?

Prayer:

"Lord, here I am, and how much I want to follow You. Would You help me to actually do that. Lord, would You take away the things that block that? Because I very much want to say yes to Your invitation "Follow Me." In Jesus' name. Amen."

P.S. This is the last day of this reading plan. We hope it has helped you as a follower of Jesus and that you have enjoyed it, but, of course, there is much more to discover.

The materials in this reading plan come from Alongsiders, a European discipleship movement and Jesus.net.

Do you want to take the next step? Do you have a heart for discipleship and want to know how to really follow Jesus?

Click here for more reading plans and opportunities to grow in discipleship.