7/23/2025
"As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus
sitting at the tax office, and He said to him,
'Follow Me.' So, he arose and followed him.
Mark 2:14
What was it that made Matthew (Levi) leave his job, no doubt a lucrative one, and follow Jesus? Just like that?! There's no indication in scripture that he had previous contact with Jesus, so what happened?
I enjoy watching the series The Chosen, and the story of Matthew presents a possibility that seems plausible. Tax collectors were not well liked or respected, and choosing this profession, working for the Roman government brought shame on the entire family. In the series, the character of Matthew is portrayed as being autistic with noticeable quirks in his behavior, nonetheless a young man of unique capabilities - strategically sound wisdom, unmatched organizational skills, and a genius mathematically. He has done well for himself as a tax collector, and has become quite wealthy, but his father has disowned him, because of the shame he feels for Matthew's chosen vocation. Alphaeus, who once had his own business, lost it for the same reason, disgraced by his son's choices, so he had to travel from home with his new line of work. Once a respected member in the community, he also lost his status. But things changed when Jesus asked Matthew to "Follow Me."
In the series, Matthew had observed Jesus with the people as He taught and performed miracles. He also witnessed the huge catch of fish Jesus had provided for Peter and Andrew. This was enough to peak Matthew's interest and bring more confusion to his troubled mind, as Matthew did not understand nor could he reason out the miracle he had witnessed. When Jesus passed by, looked eyeball to eyeball, and Jesus said "follow Me," Matthew heard the call and accepted it. Just like every other disciple. In John 10:27 Jesus, speaking to the crowd, said: "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." Somehow Matthew and each of the disciples heard and understood, and they chose to follow Jesus.
Whatever made the difference in Matthew's life, gave him the desire to radically change his life, giving up wealth, possessions, and a position with the Roman government, it took courage to throw it all away, to accept a life of poverty, having no home, traveling places where they may not be welcomed, entering the unknown. The other disciples had their own questions, I imagine, as total surrender did not come easy for any of them, and yet, He changed their thinking in an instant. For many, their testimonies are similar. When they encountered the living Son of God, they were blown away. The decision to follow Him was spontaneous.
For some, it comes naturally, no one's conversion to Jesus Christ has ever been the same. I was eight years of age when I made my decision to follow Jesus. For me it was an easy. I grew up going to church whenever the doors were open. My Mama and Grammy read their Bibles daily, served in church teaching the little children, giving to missionaries, tithing, and all the other things we are taught to do. They taught me to love the hymns. They taught me to pray, although I began to talk to Jesus at a very early age. He was my friend as I have testified before. I imagine it is the same or similar for many who are raised in the South, in country or rural areas, where we are protected from the outside in many ways. That is, until we become teenagers, and we become more aware of what was happening outside our four walls or those in the area around us. Our schools were country schools with teachers who lived in the area, were friends with our parents and grandparents, and many were school teachers, principals, deacons in our churches, or known locally. That's the way it was in rural America for me. I did not realize what a privilege it was until later in life. I wish more children were able to grow up loved and guided in this way. We still made mistakes, but we knew we were loved. But then, there are always exceptions, varying influences. Sadness and trauma. I know a bit of this also.
Television was not available to the public at large until the late 1940's and early 1950's, and I do not recall the first time our family had one. I was born in 1950, and we were not well off financially, so we may not have been able to afford a television until much later, and my Daddy was very protective of us when we did have one. Strangely, I do remember when Sputnik was launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957, but as a small, tender child, I could not fully understand the significance of entering the space age. Children see "outer space" as the beautiful heavens we can see with our innocent eyes - sun, moon, stars, like a window to glimpse the face of God. We are taught of the kindly "man in the moon." Blessed with many creative gifts, my imagination had no boundaries, so I dreamed big dreams. God moved on my heart in so many ways back then in my early years.
I do not remember the first television evangelist, but I do remember attending every revival Central Baptist Church, Church Road, Virginia held when I was a child until my early adulthood. That's a lengthy legacy, and I am so grateful. When Jesus called me to give my life to Him, to follow Him, I was eight years old, and I approached the pastor to the following familiar words:
"Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!"
If my experience is like Matthew's, minus the mental challenges, although my son may say otherwise, then the power of the spoken Word, and the mysteries of the Gospel concerning Jesus Christ and His miraculous sojourn on this earth, are alone sufficient to draw a hungry and thirsty heart to Jesus when they hear Him say, "Follow Me."