J. C. Ryle John

We learn, for another thing, from our Lord's words, that if we profess to serve Christ, we must
follow Him. "If any man serves Me," is the saying, "let him follow Me."
That expression, "following," is one of wide signification, and brings before our minds many
familiar ideas. As the soldier follows his general, as the servant follows his master, as the
scholar follows his teacher; as the sheep follows its shepherd, just so ought the professing
Christian to follow Christ. Faith and obedience are the leading marks of real followers, and will
always be seen in true believing Christians. Their knowledge may be very small, and their
infirmities very great; their grace very weak, and their hope very dim. But they believe what
Christ says, and strive to do what Christ commands. And of such Christ declares, "They serve
Me, they are Mine."
Christianity like this receives little from man. It is too thorough, too decided, too strong, too real.
To serve Christ in name and form is easy work, and satisfies most people, but to follow Him in
faith and life demands more trouble than the generality of men will take about their souls.
Laughter, ridicule, opposition, persecution, are often the only reward which Christ's followers get
from the world. Their religion is one, "whose praise is not of men, but of God." (Rom. 2:29.)
Yet to him who follows, let us never forget, the Lord Jesus holds out abundant
encouragement--"Where I am," He declares, "there also shall my servant be; if any man serves
Me, him will my Father honor." Let us lay to heart these comfortable promises, and go forward in
the narrow way without fear. The world may cast out our name as evil, and turn us out of its
society; but when we dwell with Christ in glory, we shall have a home from which we can never
be ejected. The world may pour contempt on our religion, and laugh us and our Christianity to
scorn; but when the Father honors us at the last day, before the assembly of angels and men,
we shall find that His praise makes amends for all.
JOHN 12:27-33
"Now my soul is greatly distressed. And what should I say? ‘Father, deliver me from this hour’?
No, but for this very reason I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name." Then a voice
came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd that stood there and
heard the voice said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to him. Jesus
said, "This voice has not come for my benefit but for yours. Now is the judgment of this world;
now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw
all people to myself." (Now he said this to indicate clearly what kind of death he was going to
die.)
These verses show us what Peter meant, when he said, "There are some things hard to be
understood" in Scripture. (2 Pet. 3:16.) There are depths here which we have no line to fathom
thoroughly. This need not surprise us, or shake our faith. The Bible would not be a book "given
by inspiration of God," if it did not contain many things which pass man's finite understanding.
With all its difficulties, it contains thousands of passages which the most unlearned may easily
comprehend. Even here, if we look steadily at these verses, we may gather from them lessons
of considerable importance.
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