We Will Follow

 

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered at Pilgrim Reformed Church on Sunday morning, the 18th of May, 2025.  A recording of our service should be available on our YouTube streaming channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch1992/streams.]

Family, through the Lenten season and Easter and even the last few weeks after Resurrection Day, I’ve mentioned how Jesus kept trying to tell His disciples what would happen soon.  Right up to the very end, at the last supper they all shared together, He gave hints and glimpses of the near future, even clearly stating His upcoming fate.  They just never could seem to get it.

For one thing, they couldn’t understand when He talked about Him having to die.  From their questions and actions, it seemed that they were still waiting on Him to destroy the Romans and end their subjugation, restoring the nation of Israel.  I feel that maybe they had fully embraced that Jesus was the Son of God, was God in His authority.  But they lost track of the fact that Jesus was also human - fully God, yes, yet fully Man, too.  Surely God couldn’t die.

At that last meal together, there in the upper room, Jesus again tried to impress His followers with the truth of what was to come in the next few days.  As He passed a cup of wine for all to share, He mentioned that this would be the last time they would eat and drink together, until the kingdom of God comes.  He foretold of the cruel beating and execution He would suffer when He broke the bread and told them it was His body, broken for them, when He again passed the cup and said it was the new covenant with God, sealed by His blood which would be shed for them.  And He spoke those words to us across the span of time – His body broken for us, His blood shed for us.

Then Jesus claimed that one of them – one of His chosen twelve – would betray Him over to the authorities.  He didn’t name names, but Judas Iscariot suddenly left the room, going to make a deal with the Pharisees and chief priests.  Please listen and follow along to the Apostle John’s reporting of the discussion that followed Judas’ departure, between Jesus and the remaining eleven, as recorded in the 13th chapter of John’s Gospel account, verses 31 through 36, and I’ll be reading from the New Living Translation of our Holy Bible this morning…

31 As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into His glory, and God will be glorified because of Him. 32 And since God receives glory because of the Son, He will give His own glory to the Son, and He will do so at once. 33 Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for Me, but you can’t come where I am going. 34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.”

36 Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are You going?”

And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with Me now, but you will follow Me later.”

--John 13:31-36 (NLT)

Let us pray…  Heavenly Father, we thank You for making sure that we would have Your Son’s life story to read and study, even after all these years.  Thank You for inspiring the men who recorded the events in Jesus’ life, especially during His ministry.  But Father, we admit that we usually don’t take the time to study what has been saved for us.  Too many things in life distract us, pulling us away from what is really most important.  We’re more like Martha, busy and worried and troubled about many things, than Mary, who chose the good part, to listen to the word of our Lord.  Please forgive us these times, Father.  Strengthen our faith, and our resolve to grow ever closer to You and Jesus.

Speak to us now, Father, that we might hear Your voice through Your Spirit within us and better grasp the message You have for us this day.  Please keep us strong in our faith, of one mind and one purpose in our love, our worship, and our service.  And please keep us healthy and safe through these trying times.  This we pray in the precious name of Your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.

Back in 1994, the little “Our Daily Bread” magazine had a story about Eli Black, a brilliant businessman best known for two events in his life: one, that he masterminded the multimillion dollar takeover of the United Fruit conglomerate, and two, that he jumped to his death from the 42nd floor of the Pan Am building in New York City.  The story went like this:

In the book An American Company, an executive described a business lunch he had with Eli Black.  When the waitress brought a plate of cheese and crackers as an appetizer, Black reached out and took them, placed them on the table, blocked them with his arms, and continued talking.  The executive hadn't eaten for hours and hinted that he would like a cracker.  But Black acted as though he hadn't heard him and went on with the business meeting.  After a while, Black placed a cracker and cheese on the tips of his fingers and continued to talk.  Several moments later, Black placed the cracker on the executive's plate and then blocked the rest as before.  It was clear that Black was in charge, manipulating others as he pleased.  When you play "follow the leader", check to see who is at the head of the line.  Eli Black, for all his power, ended up in suicide. Jesus Christ, in all His humility, ended up the Savior of the world.

A number of studies over the years have found that Christians tend to be among the happiest people.  They are among the most content with their station in life, better able to deal with tribulations.  And it kind of makes sense if you think about it.

For one thing, we take it as truth, a promise that will be fulfilled, when Jesus said we will have life eternal through Him.  He also said we’d have trials and tribulations in this life, so we expect them to happen, we are mentally prepared to deal with them.  Which all means that all we have to do is get through this life so we can enjoy the next, with Jesus.  Knowing what awaits us keeps us strong, content, and happy.

Eli Black apparently believed only in himself.  He was power hungry, always had to be in control, pulling strings and manipulating people for his own benefit alone.  Without an anchor, a solid foundation, he ultimately had no hope, no tomorrow, no reason to continue walking through this life.  So he threw himself out a skyscraper’s window.

Then we see Jesus.  Although God in the flesh, He acted as the most humble of men, seeking only to serve others rather than to be served.  And though His life on earth was short, His impact on humankind has endured for 2000 years, and will continue to endure forever.

Brothers and sisters, we are the called.  At the start of His short ministry, Jesus called twelve men to follow Him.  He has called us as well, called us to follow Him, to be His disciples.  And He promised that we will follow Him, follow Him to heaven once our life on this earth is finished.  Follow Him to live with Him forever.

This is just one of the ways Jesus promised us everlasting life with Him and God in heaven.  Another time He assured us of this wonderful future was spoken not to one of His twelve, but to someone who had just come to believe in Him, in the last minute as it turns out.

Jesus was crucified alongside two common criminals.  One of the two joined in with the crowd mocking Jesus, while the other defended the Lord.  Jesus’ words to this man include the promise that heaven awaits those who believe, even if they turn to Christ with their last breath.  Listen to how the Apostle Luke relates this brief back-and-forth in the 23rd chapter of his Gospel account, verses 39 through 43…

39 One of the criminals hanging beside Him scoffed, “So You’re the Messiah, are You? Prove it by saving Yourself — and us, too, while You’re at it!”

40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this Man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom.”

43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”

--Luke 23:39-43 (NLT)

Add this to what John recorded in the 14th chapter of his Gospel account where Jesus said, “...that where I am, there you many be also” (John 14:3b (NKJV))

Now this man understood that he deserved his fate, but he also saw that Jesus didn’t.  And more than that, he also recognized that Jesus was more than just a man.  Before his own death on the cross, he accepted that Jesus was Lord, and was saved.

I’d like to briefly look at one more time we are promised that we will follow Jesus to heaven, to live there with Him for all eternity.  This comes from the last book in our bible, when Jesus revealed to John what will happen at the end of the age.  In the first 7 verses of the 21st chapter of the Book of Revelation, John reported…

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then He said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” 6 And He also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega — the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be My children.”

--Revelation 21:1-7 (NLT)

All who are victorious, all who get through this life with their faith intact, will share in the inheritance with Jesus of God’s heaven and all His blessings.  God will be with us, and we – His children - will be with Him, forever.

We follow Jesus now, as we walk this broken road.  And when our time comes to leave this sod, we will follow Jesus again.  We’ll follow Him to heaven, and eternal life.  Stay strong, and keep the faith.  In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our King.  Amen.

Let us pray…  Almighty God, thank You for sending Your Son to the world, that the world might be saved through Him.  Through Jesus, through our faith and belief in Him, we have been redeemed of our sin, freed from our chains, ransomed even from death.  Thank You, dear Father.  Sadly, though, there are so many souls who will never accept Jesus as Lord.  And there are many who have not heard of Him, have not been told of all He did and taught.  We admit that we have not done as good a job as we could reaching out to these people.  Too often we find excuses not to carry out our mission of making more disciples.  Sometimes we’re too busy, too distracted.  Sometimes we’re just too hesitant, too afraid of getting it all wrong and doing more harm than good.  Please forgive us those times, dear Father.  Please help us reach out to the lost, to anyone who does not know Jesus as their personal friend.  Help us be more like Your Son in our interactions with the world.  Help us show Your love to others by giving of ourselves, giving of our love freely, unconditionally, sacrificially, just as Jesus gave of Himself for us.  And please help us share our Lord Jesus with others so that they too may be saved by Your mercy and His sacrifice.  

Father, please shield us from Satan as he attacks our faith, trying to make us his own.  Help us be better servants, glorifying You in all we do so that the world can see You in us, through our deeds, in how we live.  And help us remain strong, faithful, and true to You in all things, no matter what comes our way.

Please hear us now, Father, as we pause for just a moment to speak to You through Your Spirit within us, promising to be more obedient to Your commands, and seeking Your help to do so…

Lord Jesus, You promised us that if we will follow You now, we will follow You to heaven when our days in this life are at an end.  And we see this promise repeated, in different forms maybe, throughout our bible and especially in the New Testament, including in the letters to the early church.  Thank You, Jesus, for assuring us of a blessed future.  You also promised that in this life we would have trials and tribulations.  But it’s the promise of a greater future, of everlasting life in paradise, that is our hope, that makes this life bearable.  Lord, we’re ashamed to admit it, but sometimes we struggle to do as You commanded us.  It's so hard to love all others.  And too often we hesitate to witness to You and the Gospel.  As the Apostle Paul said, we seem to do the things we shouldn’t do, and we don’t do the things we should.  Please help us in our struggles, Lord.  Help us be more like You, loving all others, even those who hate us and wish us harm, without any concern for reward or recognition or even being loved in return.  Help us reach out to the non-believing world, sharing the Gospel message, showing Your love through our love.  Give us the words to say, show us the deeds to do to lead the lost to You.

And Jesus, please shield our minds and our hearts from Satan’s lies and the world’s empty promises.  Guide us around all the devil’s traps and snares.  Help us see though his temptations.  Help us keep our focus on the things of heaven and the needs of others rather than on anything this world might offer.  This we pray in Your blessed name, Christ Jesus our Lord and our Savior.  Amen.