28 (see Ex 23:20, 23). They were forbidden to either stop on the way or to go further of their own accord. In the Book of Numbers, we read that, fearing the pagan people, the Israelites refused to enter Canaan. As a result of their rebellion, God orders them to remain in the desert for 40 years. Then the Israelites showed contrition and willingly declared their readiness to enter Canaan. God, however, does not trust their readiness, thus making them unable to enter the Promised Land. Thus, following is an expression of entrusting oneself entirely to God, in other words: it expresses faith and obedience. The prophet Samuel would tell Saul: “Does the Lord so delight in holocausts and sacrifi ces as in obedience to the command of the Lord? Obedience is better than sacrifi ce, and submission than the fat of rams” (1 Sam 15:22). The attitude of obedience goes hand-in-hand with heeding the voice of God. The Israelites’ profession of faith, which is still a part of their daily prayer, starts with the exclamation: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone!” (Dt 6:4), while in the Book of Isaiah, the Servant of the Lord, which is the person of Jesus Christ, says: “Morning after morning He opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back” (Is 50:4-5). Following Christ as Shown in the New Testament If following God in the Old Testament meant walking in the ways by which He led His people, in the New Testament it means to walk in the ways pointed out by the Son of God. From the beginning of His public life, Jesus selects His disciples and tells them: “Come after me” (Mk 1:17). To follow after Christ means not only recognizing His teachings, but above all sharing His life and destiny. In the passage describing the appointing of the Twelve, the Evangelist says: “He appointed twelve [whom He also named apostles] that they might be with Him and He might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons” (Mk 3:14-15). Thus, the fi rst reason for appointing the Twelve was not for their tasks, but keeping Jesus’ company, sharing His destiny. The Gospels, especially the Synoptics, present Jesus as walking towards Jerusalem. Thus, in the New Testament, following Jesus or keeping Him company and sharing His destiny takes on a very clear paschal meaning, connected to the passion. The disciples who follow Jesus think about their personal benefi ts, which they will derive from their participation in His glory, but Jesus corrects their ideas. To Peter, who expects to be rewarded for giving up all he had, Jesus says that there is no one who has given up everything for His sake who will not
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