Many were the times that Jesus would charge the disciples to go before him: to obtain victuals, to go before him to a distant shore. However, most of the time, they as the sheep of his pasture would follow Him. But just before the crucifixion He gave the disciples an astonishing directive: “Whither I go, thou canst follow me now, but thou shalt follow me afterwards” John 13:36. I suspect a two-fold meaning: that they would again follow Him upon His resurrection; that they and every believer will follow Him in Resurrection: the dead in Christ first, and immediately following, we which are alive and remain! (Those who ‘serve’ a dead god; of what sort of following have they?) But to serve a living and Resurrected Christ!!! ( * See addendum at the end of the article. )
The post-resurrection instruction given: “But after I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee” Mark 14:28. The reminder to the disciples from the Voice of the risen Christ: “But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you” Mark 16:7. But why go into Galilee to meet a Savior who is no longer in the land of the living? Eight days after the resurrection the disciples still sat behind closed doors. We often speak of Thomas, who would not believe their witness; but there was equal witness against them: “And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her [Mary Magdalene], believed not. After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and unbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen” Mark 16:11-14. Two separate occasions, two unrelated witnesses, yet the disciples, in unbelief and hardness of heart, had refused to believe. Thomas, you’re in good company!
The disciples are next seen in Galilee. Their obedience is belated. (But of what value, obedience, if it is not accomplished in faith?) “After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; [Galilee]. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. . .They went forth. . .and that night they caught nothing” John 21:1,3. (“Without Me ye can do nothing?”)
The disciples had laboured, toiled all night, and were doubtless weary and in need of rest. “But when morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore. . .‘Children, have ye any meat?’ They answered him. No. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” Matt. 11:28,29. One may labor without result, but if the labor be found in Christ, he “resteth while he laboreth! “Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find” vs. 6. And just what did they ‘find’? They found that which (hopefully) we know: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” Phil. 4:19.
“As soon as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. . .Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. . .Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise” John 21:9,12,13. Where did Jesus get the fish and ingredients to bake bread? I don’t know. Tell me, how did he take five loaves and two fishes and feed the five thousand? In light of this, read again Philippians 4:19! And remember, this is He who spoke all of Creation into existence!
Jesus, having fed the disciples, now charges them: “Feed my Sheep.” He has fed these men, but there is enough left over to feed the five thousand, yea, all who will come: “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” Rev. 22:17. (I dare say, that includes bread and fishes!) Are there not 12 baskets remaining? Let us take them to “everyone that thirsteth. . .and he that hath no money.” To the hungry, give the call of the Savior : “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live!” Isa. 55:1,3.
* Notice, Jesus ‘appeared’ to the women at the tomb; He appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus; He appeared twice to the disciples, once in the absence of Thomas; He appeared to them upon the shore of the sea of Galilee. It does not appear that they were ‘following’ Jesus, Yet He had said, “but thou shalt follow me afterwards.”
In I Corinthians 15:4-8 we read, “. . .he arose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once. . .After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.” He was seen? Yes! The word seen in all instances is optomai, to gaze (i.e. with wide open eyes, as at something remarkable!)
Of course, we have little difficulty in realizing that by the indwelling Spirit, we are well able to “follow” Christ - even though He is in heaven at the right hand of the Father, and not bodily in our midst!
“Thou shalt follow me afterwards?” After He has ascended to the Father? “Whom having not seen, ye love, in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory! I Peter 1:8.
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