John followed Jesus, but following Jesus meant Jesus had to change John. In Luke 9, Jesus and His disciples were traveling toward Jerusalem when a Samaritan village refused to receive Him. James and John were offended. They asked Jesus, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” (Luke 9:54).

They loved Jesus. They were loyal to Jesus. They were angry because people had rejected Jesus. But their zeal for Jesus did not yet look like Jesus. John wanted judgment to fall on people Jesus had come to save. Jesus rebuked him. John still had to learn that following Jesus meant more than defending Jesus. It meant becoming like Jesus. Jesus was not traveling toward Jerusalem to destroy those who rejected Him. He was traveling toward Jerusalem to die for those who rejected Him. John wanted to call fire down, but Jesus was going to lay His life down.

But keep following John’s story. Years later, in Acts 8, the Gospel was preached in Samaria and the Samaritans received the Word of God. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard about it, they sent Peter and John to them. This time John did not come asking God to send fire upon the Samaritans. He came praying that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

John went from wanting the Samaritans burned up to wanting the Samaritans filled up.

What happened? John followed Jesus. He watched Jesus love people who rejected Him. He watched Jesus show mercy to sinners, forgive His enemies, and ultimately give His life for them. Somewhere along the journey, the heart of Jesus began changing the heart of John. The same man who once wanted judgment to fall on Samaria eventually prayed for the Spirit to fall on Samaria.

That is what following Jesus does. Following Jesus is not merely learning what Jesus taught. It is allowing Jesus to confront what is in us that does not look like Him. Sometimes He has to change our ambition from status to service. Sometimes He has to change our attitude from judgment to mercy. Sometimes He has to change what we want for people who reject us.

The same John. The same Samaritans. But not the same heart. That is what happens when we follow Jesus. Following Jesus changes us. It changes our attitude toward our enemies. ©