My name is Paul. I'm an investor in Houston, Texas. I've been a ministry partner with Desiring God for 18 years

You are listening to the Ask Pastor John podcast with John Piper

That is my friend Paul and I want you to meet him in just a moment

But today we feel the question from a listener named Mark who lives in Midlothian Virginia Mark writes this pastor John

I am eternally thankful for your life in ministry. My question is why Paul refuses to use the phrase follow Jesus when speaking about

Saving faith or in his imperatives to the church

Jesus spoke this way a lot in Matthew 419

He said to his disciples follow me and I will make you fishers of men

Jesus's command to follow seems significant in all four gospels in Matthew 8.22

He says follow me and leave the dead to bury their own dead in Mark 10.21

He says you lack one thing go sell all that you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven and come follow me

In Luke 9.23. He says if anyone would come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and

Follow me and in John 10.27. He says my sheet hear my voice and I know them and they follow me

Keytex all of them the Greek word for follow up here is 89 times in the New Testament

But only once in Paul in 1 Corinthians 10.4 basically Paul avoids the language of following Jesus

Why and was this terminology more appropriate for those who could literally follow Christ during his ministry on earth?

I think that last sentence

namely that while Jesus was here in his bodily presence

the words follow me

had a very distinct and particular meaning with reference to Jesus actual movements

physical movements and behavior on the ground

That's very very significant when when he said to the fisherman

...