06/07/2026
Cure for Insomnia Version
“Follow Me” / Jesus' imperative/command
Matthew 9:9-13
My uncle, Dallas Dixon, who passed away a few years ago, was both a carpenter and a Pentecostal preacher. His son Greg, who also passed away a few years ago and was close to my age, used to call me "Rev. Nutt," though I never understood why. One summer, Dallas let me work with him and Greg for a week, roofing a house. Each morning before breakfast, Uncle Dallas would read Scripture. After breakfast, we headed to the job site. I once asked Uncle Dallas why he chose carpentry. He replied, "Jesus said, 'Follow me.'"
For Uncle Dallas, following Christ was not only a spiritual calling but also a vocational calling. Even as a teenager, I realized that I lacked the skills and desire to be a carpenter. If you need a house built, call the right person. Uncle Dallas manages every aspect of construction: leveling and preparing the ground, laying block, installing flooring, plumbing, electrical systems, and roofing. In retrospect, I am continually impressed by his comprehensive skills in building a house from the foundation upward.
In today's Scripture reading, a carpenter, who was also the son of a carpenter, issues a command consisting of only two words. These words are especially powerful given their source. Unexpectedly, this command is directed toward a tax collector, an individual few would anticipate. The tax collector's response transformed his life. Notably, Jesus did not say, "Accept me as your personal Lord and Savior," but rather, "Follow me!" Following Jesus involves more than emotional commitment; it requires both heart and mind. It demands wholehearted dedication to the crucified Messiah. This call echoes the Great Commandment: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and your neighbor as yourself." Jesus Christ exemplified this life and challenges us to "follow him" in this regard.
The disciples initially misunderstood the nature of Christ's call. It was more about power than love, but after the Messiah's crucifixion and resurrection, they understood it was about love. Although Peter chose to follow Jesus, he was far from perfect. He denied Jesus during the crucifixion but later became a prominent leader in the early Church. He proclaimed the Good News and endured suffering for his faith. Tradition holds that Peter was ultimately crucified upside down, believing himself unworthy to die in the same manner as Jesus. When Jesus called Matthew and said, "Follow Me," Matthew immediately rose and followed him. Tradition further suggests that Matthew later preached the Good News in Ethiopia.
The disciples did not focus on memoirs that made them the central focus; rather, they followed Jesus and shared the Good News he embodied. They embarked on a journey to improve the world while anticipating the fulfillment of the kingdom to come. Similarly, we find ourselves in this position: awaiting that day yet striving to use our time to do good. Although we are not disciples in the same sense as the original twelve, we are the result of their efforts within Christ's Church. We continue to learn, as they did, to become followers of Jesus. We are in the process of learning to be disciples. May we, like Matthew, rise and follow Jesus, working to bring healing and restoration to the world.
