I am a Jesus pusher!!! For a moment I ask you to imagine going about your normal day. You have schedules to meet and obligations to fulfill. Jesus casually approaches you. You know Him and have experienced many of His crusades. His preaching powerfully moved you and brought you to a new hope. But there is something different about this particular experience. It is obvious that He specifically came to your place of work. He has come with a purpose. What does He see in you that attracts His attention?
His call is simple. “Follow Me,” (Matthew 4:19). Follow in the Greek language (deute opiso) is an expression of two words. The first word (deute) literally means, “come here.” It is an imperative statement. The second word (opiso) means, “after.” This identifies the place to which you are to come. Jesus says, “Your place is following after Me!” Is there any better place? This is to be your new location, dwelling place.
Matthew gives further clarity to this meaning as he describes the response of the four disciples (Matthew 4:20, 22). Matthew reports that they followed Him. The Greek word (akoloutheo) is a combination of “together” and “a way.” The meaning is “to attend, to accompany, to go with, or follow a teacher.” This Greek word occurs ninety times in the New Testament. Only eleven of these are found outside of the Gospels. In the Gospels, this word stands primarily as a term for discipleship to Jesus. Altogether seventy-three of the ninety occurrences of this verb refer to being a disciple of Jesus. This is my place; I am going after Jesus. I am a Jesus pusher!!!