Following JESUS until the end

Wherever the LORD went, multitudes followed Him. They followed because He had much to offer to them. He healed them of sicknesses, He even fed them and He taught them the word of life. He was very compassionate and attractive and people were drawn to Him. We too, as followers of JESUS, know this.

JESUS spoke to the 12 disciples at least 3 times, clearly, that the situation would change. He said to them that the Son of Man would be delivered to the gentiles to be mocked and insulted and spat upon. He would be scourged and killed. And He would rise again on the third day. 

Would they still  choose to follow Him?

Then, when it really happened at the Garden of Gethsemane, all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

 Luke 18:31-34

How about me?

When persecution arises because of the name of CHRIST, would I still follow? 

Peter followed JESUS at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. 

Matthew 26:56

Then the LORD had to carry His cross. They compelled Simon of Cyrene to bear His cross. 

Wouldn’t JESUS have desired to see Simon Peter follow Him closely and volunteer to bear His cross?

Matthew 26:58

Then JESUS was taken, mocked, tried and scourged and was crucified like a criminal.

Matthew 27:32

There stood by the cross, John, Mary the mother of JESUS, and two other Marys. 

John 19:25

 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Matthew 16:24

Am I a follower of JESUS?

Then they took the body of the LORD down from the cross, wrapped it in linen and laid it in a tomb.

The women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid.

 Luke 23:50-24:6

The bruised, beaten body of JESUS, now dead, wasn’t something pleasant to follow after.

Their love for the LORD, enabled these women to continue to follow after JESUS.

The women expected the body of JESUS to begin to putrefy. Putrefying flesh I think, is the most repulsive thing to a human being. Yet their love for the LORD caused them to follow after His body. 

Although JESUS is not physically on earth anymore, we, as His followers, represent and reflect the body of CHRIST. In many ways, the body of CHRIST is bruised and wounded because of broken relationships, hurtful words, wrong attitudes and lack of love. 

Even when the Church, the Body of CHRIST is in such a situation, would I still stick with JESUS and his Body, and follow JESUS?

The women prepared spices and fragrant oils that would help overcome the stench of the dead body, and they returned to the tomb. 

GOD is looking for intercessors who would stand in the gap and plead His blood to bring healing of broken relationships in His Church. 

And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand.

Revelation 8:4

Even when we allow our selfish nature to bring hurt to the body of CHRIST, It is by His stripes that our relationships can be put right and our souls healed.

Is 53:5

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

1 John 4:17

Let each one of us make a decision to closely follow after the LORD JESUS so that as the Body of CHRIST, we may reflect the glory of the Risen LORD!