Banquet With The King: Follow Me And Be My Disciple

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Follow Me And Be My Disciple

Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector's booth. "Follow me and be my disciple," Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him. Mark 2:13-14

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector's booth. "Follow me and be my disciple," Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. Matthew 9:9

Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector's booth. "Follow me and be my disciple," Jesus said to him. So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him. Luke 5:27-28

Meditate. Consider Jesus’ calling, “Follow Me.”

Pay your taxes.
Give to Caesar what is Caesar's.
Give to God what is His.

Taxes. Are you ready for the 2025 taxes? Maybe you’ve already prepared yours—time is drawing close since the Tax Deadline is less than a month away. The Romans oppressed the Israelis—and all the Roman Empire—during Jesus’ time with taxes. The farmers were taxed until they sold their land to pay their taxes, and then they became the tenant farmers of the land they once owned. Can you imagine that the Sea of Galilee was even taxed as if the fishermen were renting the area where they fished? And then the fisherman were also taxed for their catches. That is just what is described in the book “Life in Year One” by Scott Korb. It is no wonder that the Israelites felt oppressed, overtaxed, and rebellious. This is the condition of the society where Levi, a young Jewish man also known as Matthew, lived and worked as a tax collector for the Romans. The Jews didn’t trust him, but Jesus called him to become a disciple. Levi obediently followed. He left everything and became a believer in Jesus as the Messiah.

What do we learn about Jesus from this passage? Jesus chose men from all different walks of life, and they followed Him. I imagine that He had a charismatic personality. People were drawn to Him. There is no mention of Jesus healing anyone at this point in His chronological story, but it is possible that He spiritually healed Levi, as the tax collector joined Jesus troupe. Read on in the story.

How about you? Are you willing to give up everything and follow Jesus? Do you hear Him calling you?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, help me to see others as You see them. Levi wasn’t well-liked by the Jewish community. They didn’t trust him, but You did. Is there someone who needs to know and trust You? You had Solomon write in Proverbs: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6. Actually, different translations say it a bit differently. The NLT says… Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6. Seek His will in all you do…that is important. We have the promise that if we seek Him, we will find Him. I love You and seek You, Lord, with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Here You are…with me. Thank you.

Verse of Salvation ~ I trust in you for salvation, O LORD! Genesis 49:18

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

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